The Impractical Joker's Guide to Building A Raving Fanbase

What if the secret to business breakthroughs was hiding in your TV remote?

That's the power of structured creativity, as revealed by Impractical Jokers' Emmy-nominated producer and 'creative fixer' Simmy Kustanowitz in my newly released interview. Let's dive into how the fast-paced world of television can transform your business innovation.

Watch my full interview with Simmy. Don't be shy: like, comment and subscribe.

In this newsletter, we'll dive into:

• Why embracing the ticking clock could be your creativity's secret weapon

• How quantity breeds quality in the idea factory

• The art of turning problem-solving into a game (and winning every time)

• Strategies for injecting TV magic into any industry (yes, even yours)

Headlines

Google Loses Major Antitrust Case (NPR)

• Google has been found guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly over online search and advertising by a federal judge, marking a major victory for the Justice Department.

• This ruling underscores the growing regulatory focus on big tech. With increased scrutiny, there could be new opportunities and challenges in the search and advertising markets. Stay agile and ready to adapt.

LinkedIn’s Fastest-Growing Format: Video (Lindsey Gamble)

• LinkedIn has seen a significant surge in video content, making it the platform’s fastest-growing format according to Microsoft’s Q4 FY24 earnings report. Video uploads on LinkedIn have increased by 34% year-over-year, with 1.5 million pieces of content shared every minute.

• Video content is becoming a crucial tool for engagement on LinkedIn. To capitalize, your businesses should invest in creating high-quality video content for storytelling and professional branding. Leveraging LinkedIn’s growing video format can enhance visibility and engagement, positioning your company at the forefront of professional networking and content marketing.

TikTok’s Spending Boosts Microsoft’s AI Business (The Information)

• TikTok is spending $20 million per month on MSFT's Azure OpenAI API. These substantial investments have significantly contributed to the growth of Microsoft’s AI business. It was previously reported TikTok was $3 million per day on paid ads alone. The scale of their expenditures are enormous.

• TikTok’s aggressive spending strategy underscores the importance of substantial investment in AI and digital advertising. This approach can rapidly accelerate growth and market dominance (doesn't hurt to be backed by a government). Businesses should consider strategic investments in AI and digital advertising to stay competitive and capitalize on emerging technologies.

TikTok Faces New Legal Challenges: Potential Market Disruptions Ahead (Digital Information)

• TikTok is once again under scrutiny as the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a new lawsuit against the platform for violating children’s privacy laws and breaching an FTC agreement from 2019. This adds to a series of ongoing investigations and private cases against the company .

• TikTok remains a can’t-miss opportunity for brands, offering unparalleled engagement and reach. However, relying solely on TikTok is risky given its ongoing legal challenges (and shady behavior). As a brand or creator, it’s prudent to diversify your audience distribution channels to avoid being overly dependent on any single platform. I'm building an alternative, Connyct, a new, safe, U.S.-based social media app that can provide a secure and reliable way to maintain audience engagement and growth.

TV's Secret Sauce for Business Innovation

Simmy Kustanowitz isn't just the guy behind hit shows like Impractical Jokers. He's a creative alchemist, turning TV production techniques into gold for businesses across industries.

Here's the breakdown:

1. Embrace The Ticking Clock

In TV, time isn't just money – it's everything. Simmy dropped this truth bomb: "When you don't have the crutch of a lot of time, your brain can unlock in ways that allow you to generate solutions."

2. Quantity Is Quality’s Best Friend

"People always ask, is it quantity or quality? When it comes to solving problems, you start with quantity and then quality comes," Simmy shared. It's counterintuitive, but it works.

3. Creativity Loves A Good Framework

Forget the myth of the chaotic creative genius. Simmy's "Rethink the Way You Think" workshops prove that structure is creativity's best friend.

4. Turn Problem-Solving Into A Game

Who says work can't be play? Simmy's all about gamifying the ideation process. It's not just fun; it's incredibly effective.

We’ve been implementing Simmy’s processes at Emerald Digital and Connyct. Give him a shout or drop a line on his website.

Building Your Brand's Fan Base

In our conversation, Simmy emphasized the power of audience engagement in creating a loyal fan base. He shared how shows like Impractical Jokers maintain their relevance by treating their audience as part of the creative team.

"The Jokers are so good at staying close with their fans and interacting with them on social media," Simmy explained. "Because of that 360-degree relationship, which I think is how we drive the show to its success, I see a big part of my job as staying in touch with those audience members and making sure that they feel heard."

This approach isn't just for TV shows. Here's how you can apply it to your business:

1. Create "Must-Share" Experiences: Design products, services, or content that your customers can't wait to tell others about.

2. Engage in Two-Way Communication: Use social media, surveys, and events to consistently gather and act on customer feedback.

3. Offer Exclusive "Behind-the-Scenes" Access: Give your most loyal customers insider looks at your processes, upcoming products, or decision-making.

4. Recognize and Reward Loyalty: Create a system to acknowledge and thank your most engaged customers, turning them into brand advocates.

5. Build a Community: Foster connections not just between your brand and customers, but among customers themselves.

Remember, as Simmy puts it, "TV shows ignore fan feedback at their own peril." The same goes for any business looking to build a devoted following.

The Showrunner's Corner (aka My Two Cents)

After my chat with Simmy, I'm convinced we're all in show business now. Whether you're selling software or sandwiches, you're putting on a show for your audience. And like any good show, it needs to evolve, surprise, and delight.

Here's what's got my mind buzzing:

1. The 5-Minute Revolution: We're all guilty of overthinking. But what if we treated every problem like we only had 5 minutes to solve it? I bet we'd cut through a lot of the fluff and get to some real innovation.

2. The Feedback Loop Fast-Track: Simmy's approach to audience engagement is gold. In my own projects, I'm looking at ways to shrink the feedback loop. Could we be getting real-time input from users? Could we be iterating on the fly?

3. Cross-Pollination is King: The most exciting innovations happen when we bring techniques from one field into another. What other industries could we be learning from? Fashion? Architecture? Meteorology? The possibilities are endless.

4. The 'Yes, And' Mentality: Improv comedy has this rule – always say "yes, and" to build on ideas. What if we brought this into our businesses? It could transform brainstorming sessions and customer interactions alike.

5. Fail Fast, Fail Funny: In comedy, bombing can lead to the biggest laughs if you handle it right. In business, we need to get more comfortable with failure – and maybe even learn to laugh at it. It's often the fastest path to real innovation.

Remember, in the words of the great philosopher Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." The same goes for business. Don't blink – you might miss your next big breakthrough.

Ready to turn your business into a hit show? 

Let's talk about bringing some TV magic to your innovation process. After all, in business as in television, it's all about captivating your audience and keeping them coming back for more.