Don't ask AI this

Haaaiiiii!!
I’m still in full tourist mode! After Morocco, I’ll be hiking in the Swiss Jura by the time this newsletter reaches you. 🗻 But as I always say: lots of fresh air means lots of fresh ideas! I swear, I’m working on some exciting things behind the scenes. I am so ready for my next chapter - I’m already sharing a few hints in this newsletter ✨ Because babes, honestly, I’ve missed you all. Holidays and breaks are great, but inspiring you and writing this newsletter… well, it’s a close race!

➡️ Brandlove: Donald Trump

It was the biggest event of last week, and ok, maybe “love” isn’t the right word here. Like many Europeans (and a fair part of Americans), I’m still in shock over the outcome of the last U.S. presidential election. But let’s be real—we’re not exactly surprised. If there’s one thing Donald Trump has nailed, it’s a consistent personal brand.

People either love or hate him, but … he’s predictable. A personal brand sets an expectation of experience: What’s it like to work with you? Do your actions align with your values? Can you clearly express what you stand for? Do you understand your audience and what they need or want? Yes, Trump nailed it all.

Love him or not, Trump is an example of a personal brand that’s authentic, consistent, and impactful. Trump shows exactly why I keep hammering on the importance of brand consistency: a strong, consistent brand sticks. It shapes perceptions, influences decisions, and creates a lasting impact that people can’t ignore. And also.. it gets you into the White House. Even with multiple indictments hanging over your head. 🤷‍♀️

➡️ Marketing: Sell outcomes. Not actions

What we also can learn from Mister President? Sell outcomes. Not actions.
Replace your CTAs with CTOs.

Yes, that’s what Trump did.
Instead of the usual “Support me” , he hit hard on the outcome: “Make America Great Again”, or other big promises of economic revival, security, and prosperity.
He has never communicated a real plan, nope, his messaging is focused on what his supporters get out of backing him. “A Great America”. It’s not a simple Call to Action; it’s a Call to Outcome, a vision his base can stand behind. And that’s the magic power: he connects with their emotions by selling a future they can imagine, which keeps them fiercely loyal to his brand.

➡️ Don’t ask AI: to build your brands heart

In two weeks, I’ll be giving my first Power Session: From Product to Personality!

Yes, after years of reading, observing, and reflecting, I’ve gathered all my insights and knowledge (and that’s a lot!) to create a series of Power Sessions. The first one asks the big question: In a world filled with AI, why is it essential to give your brand a heart?

Because in today’s market, customers are overwhelmed by choices. They aren’t just looking for another product—they’re looking for something they can trust and connect with. Did you know that studies show that loyal customers spend 67% more than new ones, and just a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25% to 95%.
Wait, what?! A brand with heart doesn’t just sell; it builds loyalty that truly pays off!

Yet, strangely enough—and I can confirm this after studying brands intensely over the past decade—not many brands truly seek out their unique personality. Why not? 🤔
Because:

1. They’re afraid of not appealing to everyone (boring!)

2. They’re inconsistent in their messaging or across channels.

3. Or—most commonly—they don’t know where to start and are overly focused on product features rather than building a narrative.

Here’s an example: I had a soundboarding meeting of one little hour last week with a super cute new fashion brand. They’re selling gender-neutral shirts, sustainably made and timelessly high-quality. It’s a really great product, and you should definitely follow their Instagram page! But their messages were mainly focused on these product features—not on the solutions they offer to the customer. Fine, I get that it’s a quality product, but how does it make me feel? What’s in it for me.
Together, we had a quick brainstorm about a potential narrative and tone of voice. Now, I’m curious to see what they’ll do with it!!

➡️ Do ask AI to do this: a day of your perfect life

My friend Chatty (yes, I mean ChatGPT, but we’re on a first-name basis now) and I have been fooling around with a little manifestation exercise. I picked up the tip on TikTok—funny what you find when you spend a lot of time in airports.

So, manifesting. Do you ever do it? Do you know what it is? It means visualizing your goals and dreams as if they’re already happening—essentially, creating a mental “blueprint” for the life you want. The idea is that by focusing on your vision with positive energy, you’re more likely to attract it into reality.

@sabrina_ramonov

ADVANCED ChatGPT Dream Life Prompt Script - this version will ask you a series of clarifying questions to dive deeper into your dream life... See more

Obviously, I tried it. I don’t know yet if my visions will come true, but… I’m feeling confident about it. It already feels real and reachable, and I think that’s the most important part!

➡️ Do also ask AI to make a podcast: This Is Crazy 😱

It seems like everyone has a podcast these days (or they’re writing a book—sorry). And it’s only going to grow. Why? Because Google has just launched the first AI podcast, and it’s both fascinating and mind-blowing!

Have you heard of Notebook LM? It’s essentially ChatGPT for audio. You upload a range of sources—documents, websites, YouTube videos—and it processes all the information to create an crazy human-sounding conversation around it. Two AI hosts, one male and one female, discuss whatever topic you’ve fed them, and they genuinely sound like a real podcast duo!! Their speech has all the ums and ahs of real people. It’s so perfectly imperfect that you quickly forget you’re listening to AI reworking internet content.

It really blew my mind—because, of course, I tested it!

I uploaded two paragraphs I wrote about the Branding Donkeys Newsletter and why you have to subscribe, and my CV. The briefing took me literally three minutes. Maybe even two.

What could I create if I dedicated 20 minutes of my time?!! 🤯

Tip: Again, before you start creating, know what your message is. Make your brand consistent and put some heart in it.

➡️ BrandLove: Meditation App ‘Calm’

I found this move by Calm so smart! You know this meditation app? It bought 30 seconds of silence on CNN and ABC News during the intense U.S. election coverage. In the middle of all the noise and stress, they offered viewers exactly what they needed: a moment to breathe. This is so simple and incredibly powerful - really brandlove in action! Because it was an unexpected move that builds loyalty and connection right in the brand heart! 👏👏👏

legendofmarketing

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➡️ Reading: A classic One

I’m reading the classic of all classics: Influence by Robert Cialdini. If you want to understand the psychology behind why people say “yes,” read this. (That’s what people told me, at least, so now I’m diving in!)

In short, Cialdini breaks down the science of persuasion into six principles—like reciprocity, scarcity, and social proof—offering insights into how influence works in business, marketing, and everyday life. A game-changer for anyone in branding, sales, or communication!

See you next week!

x Ingrid

P.S. Don’t forget to send in your cases or questions!
I’m offering one free soundboard session per week!