🔮 Fabricating your future

It's our last newsletter of 2024! We hope you've enjoyed your year as much as we've enjoyed ours, and we know 2025 will be even better. During this time of reflection, you're probably asking yourself, "How is 2024 already over? Didn't Brat Summer just end? Where is Raygun now?" We wish her the best. This week's newsletter is about making next year's marketing strategy uniquely you, what web design trends to watch for, and how to achieve your new creative goals. Let's go!

In this week's issue 📨

• Marketing tips for 2025
• What's trending in web design
• Accomplish your creative dreams

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To market, to market

What's your marketing mood moving into the new year? Some might say 2024 was the year of Artificial Intelligence, but has it made your marketing strategies better or worse? Maybe both? Whatever your AI belief system is, the universe is all about balance, and 2025 is poised to be the year of personal points of view and unique experiences so that you stand out in a sea of mass-produced AI content.

Rob Glover, senior copywriter for WordStream, breaks down some beneficial marketing advice from the industry's leading marketing pros.

Use AI to your advantage

• In the right hands, AI can be efficient and creative, but you can't just throw in a random prompt and expect magic. You should start with training your AI tools on past, human-written content that embodies your style and brand. This will allow your AI sidekick to generate content in your distinctive voice.
• AI has empowered the public to easily create content, but a lot of it ends up being incredibly generic. If you're ready to use more AI tools in 2025, ensure that whatever they're helping you create is authentic, memorable, and practical. Try using real questions from your customers vs. keywords as a guide.

Empower and expand

• If you've got a hardworking team behind your content, bring them to the forefront in 2025 to humanize your brand. Empower them to share company links from personal social media accounts to receive more engagement. You know you've done things right if your squad is excited to help influence.
• It's understandable if most of your marketing focus has gone into the SEO game this year, but it's time to expand into email marketing. Instead of depending solely on site visits from unpredictable traffic sources, invest your power and resources in platforms you have more control over.

Slow down and solve problems

• The internet is overwhelming, and selective attention is our brain's natural defense against all the buzz. If you want to make sure speedy scrollers stop to peruse your content, try incorporating your work into relatable stories that catch people's attention and keep them engaged.
• Another way to fix the eyes of the distracted public is to fix their problems. Your marketing copy should focus on customer challenges and provide actual actions they can take to solve them. If your followers know you can help them succeed, you'll have them for life.

Embrace the negative

• Perfect scores from your readers are great, but believe it or not, 1-star reviews can improve conversion rates. Being honest about customer experiences tells site visitors how authentic you are, can help set future expectations, and shows that your positive reviews can be trusted. Critiques are a learning experience!
• When it comes to your marketing calendar, leaving "negative space" between launches gives your audience time to get curious about what you'll do next. You should know when to speed up and when it's time to slow down. If you've built a loyal following, they'll be there when your engine starts again.

Interesting stories & ideas 📚

• 2025 journalism predictions – Nieman Lab
• Declutter your digital life – Tiago Forte
• Australia bans teens from social media – Digiday
• How breakthrough ideas are born – Animalz
• The power of digital holiday traditions – Embedded

Design patterns

These days, web surfers want tailored, immersive, and authentic experiences. If you're looking to give your publication a fresh coat of paint, 2025 will bring some interesting web design trends to meet modern needs. Whether you have the expertise or hire an expert of your own, you can transform your website into a home where your readers will want to move in permanently.

Helen Alexander, freelance writer for Envato, provides some bold web design predictions for 2025 so you can stay ahead of the pack.

#1 Playful and interactive websites will be all the rage because your followers want to get involved with what you do. Just make sure your design decisions have a purpose instead of being different for the sake of being different.

#2 Artificial intelligence has made web design more accessible and efficient than ever. What once required hours of coding can now be achieved almost instantly, but don't count out web designers who still hold the human experience.

#3 Anti-design and brutalism are back in a big way, so don't be afraid to embrace what was once considered "ugly" and push your design boundaries. Asymmetrical layouts and clashing colors? We love this hideous journey for you!

#4 Voice search is streamlining product discovery and adding an extra layer of convenience for customers. People are discovering they'd rather talk than type, so you may want to focus on optimizing for conversational content.

#5 Sustainable web design is an eco-friendly approach that minimizes your carbon footprint. Optimize your media for reduced data transfer, use responsive design techniques, and adopt energy-efficient coding practices.

#6 Less reliance on trending tools is about rebelling against what everyone else is using, which leads to most websites looking the same. Just because the tools are there doesn't mean you have to use them. Think outside the trend box.

#7 Returning to design fundamentals creates an appealing calm in a hectic web design world. Consider silencing your bells and whistles so your publication's key message rings loud and clear. Keeping it super simple can be super smart.

#8 Authentic imperfections are what make us human, and your website should reflect that. AI tends to make everything overpolished, destroying the attractive grit of human-made design. Find the beauty in your blemishes.

Let yourself cook

A new year is all about starting with a clean slate so it can be better than the last, but the pressure of the unpredictable can sometimes stifle your creative spirit. What if you don't have the know-how or knack to fulfill your 2025 dreams? Fret not. Being a successful Creator isn't just about talent; it's also about resilience and determination. If you have the drive, you'll meet each and every challenge.

Tom May, a freelance writer for Creative Boom, outlines some realistic ways to achieve your creative goals in 2025.

‣ Strip away distractions like muting electronic notifications, sticking to a consistent working schedule, and having a dedicated workspace. Distractions are the silent killer of productivity, and you won't get anything done if you don't set firm boundaries. Turn everything off and let your creativity flow.

‣ Ask for what you want instead of sitting back and waiting for opportunities to come knocking. You know your perfect project or customer, so go out and get them. Start networking, make connections, and allow your authenticity to shine. If things don't work out, reassess and get back out there.

‣ Be more curious to maximize your creative potential. If your niche is feeling a bit dim, put more fuel on your fire by trying new things, making new friends, and putting yourself in new situations. Playing with your creativity and stepping outside your comfort zone is guaranteed to reignite your passion.

‣ Learn new skills to add more branches to your creative tree. What's a piece of software you've always wanted to master? What can you learn from an expert in your niche? Have you mastered the delicious art of Shakshuka? Expanding your skills can be a gateway to creativity you never knew you had.

‣ Elevate intention over goals if you're unsure what you'd like to achieve in 2025. If you don't have specific goals in mind but you'd still like to grow creatively, focus on what your intentions are instead. What work from 2024 needs reviewing? What do you wish you did more or less of? Keep things flexible and pressure-free.

‣ Don't overdo it to avoid creative burnout. While staying vigilant throughout the year is crucial, you won't accomplish your dreams if your personal needs aren't met. "Hustle" culture can be destructive, so know your limits and surround yourself with a positive support system.

Curator's pick ✍️

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