Thoughts

    Make Those Five Seconds Count

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    I’ve written brand strategy documents that no one reads. Detailed creative briefs that get skimmed at best, ignored at worst. Spent hours crafting messaging frameworks, only to have someone ask, “So… what’s the takeaway here?” after flipping past 30 pages. It’s not that people don’t want information—they do. They just don’t have the patience to…

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    Controversial Takes on Brand Marketing in 2025

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Marketing is always evolving, but not every shift is a step forward. Some trends are driven by data, some by fear, and others by industry groupthink. Looking ahead to 2025, here are a few marketing shifts I see happening—whether they’re good for business or not. Many Brands Will Pull Back from DEI Initiatives For the…

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    Marketing Trends Coming in 2025

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Marketing keeps shifting, and 2025 looks like a year where the gaps between companies that adapt and those that don’t will grow even wider. I’ve been watching a few trends closely—some exciting, some concerning. Here’s where my head’s at right now. Every January, I put together a trend report—not just as a way to track…

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    DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT – From Their Perspectives

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    What happens when you ask two AI platforms to analyze each other? Curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to see how ChatGPT and DeepSeek would describe one another. The results were fascinating. The Experiment I asked ChatGPT about DeepSeek and DeepSeek about ChatGPT. The goal was simple: to compare how these tools…

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    What’s Really Going On With TikTok’s Latest Legal Troubles?

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Let’s talk TikTok. The latest legal battles surrounding the platform have been setting off alarms across industries—privacy concerns, geopolitical drama, and even some whispers of good old-fashioned overreach. If you know me, you know I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next marketer who’s had too much caffeine and late night blue…

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    Welcome to the Brandverse

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    Great brands don’t just sell products or services—they build worlds. These worlds are immersive spaces where customers not only feel seen and understood but experience a visceral connection that pulls them in, allowing them to escape the noise of daily life. This concept has been the backbone of my branding philosophy for years: create a…

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    The Birth of Catiki Originals

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    It all started with an idea that combined two of my passions: creative experimentation and Tiki art. I’ve always believed that you don’t wait for the right opportunity—you create it. That’s how Catiki Originals was born. I wanted to build a fun, playful creative platform where I could test the latest AI tools and see…

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    Why Political Science Majors Excel at Marketing

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Marketing isn’t just about selling products or services; it’s about building trust and moving people to act. As a political science major turned brand marketer, I see the connection every day. Political science is a training ground for persuasion, storytelling, and strategy — the same core skills that drive great marketing. My years studying campaigns,…

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    Jaguar Release Day

     1024 574 Michael Kraabel

    Today isn’t just another day for Jaguar—it’s potentially the day. The iconic carmaker is poised at a crossroads: one path could redefine their legacy, and the other might cement the idea that they’ve missed their moment. I’ll be live-blogging the action as it unfolds, sharing the wins, the stumbles, and everything in between. Whether you’re…

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    Why I Love Conspiracy Theories (Even If I Don’t Believe Them)

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Let me start by saying this: I don’t actually believe most conspiracy theories. That’s not what draws me in. What I find fascinating about them is the sheer creativity—the way they challenge the obvious and spin alternate realities that feel like mental mazes. It’s like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope where every twist…

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    The Power of “We” in Presenting Creative Work

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    Presenting creative work is a collaborative team effort. Presenting from the “We” approach not only ensures that clients understand the breadth and depth of contributions from the entire team, but also fosters an environment where all members of the team share responsibility, be it for success or failure. Over the years, running agencies and leading…

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    My Mind-Blowing Experience with ChatGPT’s New Voice Model

     1024 576 Michael Kraabel

    I’ve always been intrigued by AI, especially the growing capabilities of language models like ChatGPT. They’ve been fun to play around with, helpful at times, but more often a source of curiosity than anything world-changing. But recently, I encountered something that took me from being entertained to being downright stunned—the new ChatGPT voice model. This…

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