Welcome to 🚀 Progress. My weekly update where I share my stories and behind-the-scene insights into my journey playing the Internet game and seeking to provide value for this world as an entrepreneur/creator. Every week I will transparently show my progress from the beginning on.
Who is this for?
For people who want to play the internet game and learn from my story.
You think I’m a dreamer? That I shouldn’t even try and give up?
Remember: Quitters never win. Winners never quit. Play the long game.
⬛️ 🟧 ⬜️ Notes on brand creation
The power of imagery in an ad
This week I saw a TV commercial from Audi. Without having seen the logo in the commercial, I realized from the beginning that it was an Audi commercial. Why did I notice it? I think because of the building in the background of the story, because of the composition of the colors or the person shown in the video. For me, this has shown how much branding depends on the visual language with which you communicate to the customer. It’s not just the logo that creates the connection, but also the composition of the colors or the objects in the ad.
Branding in an Instagram account
During the week I got interested in an Instagram account which has blown up from last Sunday from 11k followers to 55k followers in one week. The editing of the videos is really cool and they use some unique branding on their account. This got me really excited to dig down into video filming and editing.
Here is what they used to brand their account:
- green lighting colors
- logo placed in the videos on objects (like on the cap or screens)
- logo placed in the thumbnails
- fast editing style and good storytelling
- same white font on green background
- uses content/videos from authorities like Steve Jobs, Joe Rogan or David Goggins to tell stories
What I take away from the Audi ad and the Instagram-channel:
- Place logo subtly in images and videos
- Use the branding color more often
- Make the logo a physical object
- Use powerful imagery
- Idea for my own branding: Black and white images with orange illuminated objects
Storytelling is the missing X in my equation
What I have to learn is storytelling. Here are some thoughts about that:
- Highlight people’s challenges, the process of overcoming them, and the positive outcomes achieved. I have to ask where do my people are right now and where do I want to take them?
- I have to be able to convey the message of the brand as simple as possible.
- I have to do something that’s related to the customers sense of survival. To solve a real, existing desire and offer a sense of meaning.
- A fight against villains. What stops people from doing this or that?
- Providing resources and educational content that empower individuals to discover the meaning in their pursuits.
What to work on?
Starting my social media journey on X was a gift. I learned many things on there.
I think writing is the best way to start this adventure and it’s a good source of inspiration for other platforms.
I think it’s necessary as a creator/entrepreneur to first ask yourself what activities you want to pursue and additionally answer the question: Who do I want to become on the internet?
Here’s my maxim at the moment:
- Develop a faceless brand with short-form videos, photography and writings with the values that I want to pursue in it.
- Creating physical or digital products in the name of the brand
- Building my skillset while being the owner of an online universe around my interests
There are so many possibilities out there:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Video editing
- Photography
- Creating animations
- Designing graphics
- and much more…
With the information about what you want to do, you can select a channel:
- Writing – Twitter, Threads, Medium
- Speaking – Podcasts
- Filming, Video editing – Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
- Photography – Instagram, Pinterest
- Creating animations – Instagram
- Designing graphics – Instagram, Twitter
- …
Instead of focusing on X as my main platform I will switch over to Instagram for my main activities. I will view this an art project first and create stuff that represent my values.
From now on I try to set a schedule for my next week:
- Create a new logo which is more fitted to the mood of the brand
- Create a moldboard around the visuals I want to use
- One short-form video about the brand
🔎 Interesting Internet things:
Here’s a collection of interesting finds, tools and people that I have discovered this week in the depths of the internet and that I think are worth seeing:
🔎 #1 These animations are insanely good.
This guy does animations for big clients like Apple, Adobe or Nespresso. He has a huge Instagram account and a big YouTube account. He also sells courses to help people learn drawing and lettering. I think that’s what creators should look for. To have a special skill and a unique style in their work and to inspire other creative people and clients.
https://www.instagram.com/stefankunz/?hl=de
🔎 #2 The Ad Professor
A guy who breaks down the most creative ads on the internet. The ads he mentions are really inspiring.
🔎 | #3 Ralph Lauren Documentary
Ralph Lauren Documentary – Very Ralph
If you’re reading this, I can’t thank you enough. I appreciate the time you’ve spent with reading my things. I hope you found valuable insights and perhaps a touch of inspiration to find your way.
With gratitude,
Jan
English 
German