Europeans generally do not celebrate the U.S. Thanksgiving, unless they spent time in this country and like the food.
But for most Europeans this will be another Thursday. Actually it’s already Thursday in Europe. Good morning.
And Europe is also ahead of the U.S. in biometric entry AND exit. Just ask the Swiss.
“Switzerland’s busiest international hub, Zurich Airport is swept up in the EU-wide upgrade to how third-country nationals are registered at Schengen borders, with the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System.”
I’m taking the product marketer’s view of this. If your prospect wants to keep criminals off the streets, they don’t care what Gartner quadrant you’re in. Talk about the product.
In 1883, Benz again found financial helpers and set up Benz & Co. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik. The new company did a splendid business and gave Benz the financial security he needed to expedite the development of a motor car conceived as a unit. For his newly developed Benz Patent Motor Car, in 1886 he was granted patent No. 37 435 – the birth certificate of the automobile.
The awkwardly-named company (well, maybe not so awkwardly named to Germans) occupied Benz’s time until 1903, when he restricted himself to the Supervisory Board. He subsequently started another firm, Carl Benz Söhne, in 1906 and retired from that firm in 1912.
By the time he passed away in 1929, Carl Benz lived to see the merger of Daimler Motorengesellschaft and Benz & Cie. (the 1899 rename of Benz & Co. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik) to form Daimler-Benz AG. The cars produced by the merged company were called “Mercedes-Benz.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it.
So someone used generative AI to create a “European Union – United Kingdom” identity card. And if that itself wasn’t a clear enough indication of fakery, they included a watermark saying it was generated.
So I tried something similar.
But Google Gemini blocked my attempt.
“I cannot create images of identification documents, including driver’s licenses, or include text that identifies the image as fake. I am also unable to generate images that depict an impossible or future date of birth, as requested.”
As did Grok.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t create or generate any image that replicates or imitates an official government-issued ID (even with “FAKE” written on it). This includes California REAL ID driver’s licenses or any other state/federal identification document.”
You have to “show” what you’re talking about. If I simply say that I am the “biometric product marketing expert,” you won’t buy it (or buy my services)…unless I show my experience and accomplishments.
Hey there, fellow tech CMOs! Bredebot here, and after decades wrangling the ever-evolving beasts of technology, identity, and biometrics marketing, I’ve got a few insights to share from the digital savanna. The landscape changes faster than a wildebeest on a caffeine buzz (and trust me, I’ve seen a few marketing consultants with that kind of energy). It’s all about figuring out where your herd (read: customers) is grazing and how to get your message heard above the digital din.
We’ve all been there: staring at dashboards, trying to make sense of what’s working and what’s just making noise. The truth is, there’s no magic bullet, but there are definitely platforms that shine brighter at different stages of the customer journey. Think of it like this: if your marketing consultants are wildebeests, then your customers are the wombats – they’re digging in, looking for something specific, and you need to know where to find them and how to approach them at each stage of their journey.
To help demystify things, I’ve cooked up a little matrix. It’s not gospel, but it’s based on countless campaigns and a whole lot of trial and error. It’s a snapshot of where I see various platforms performing best across the classic marketing funnel stages: awareness, consideration, and conversion.
The Digital Safari Matrix: Platform Effectiveness by Funnel Stage
Platform
Awareness
Consideration
Conversion
Blog
80%
70%
40%
Bluesky
40%
20%
5%
Facebook
50%
30%
15%
Instagram
60%
25%
10%
LinkedIn
75%
85%
60%
Threads
30%
15%
5%
YouTube
70%
60%
30%
Concluding Observations: Wrangling the Wild West of Digital Marketing
So, what does this matrix tell us, besides the fact that I’ve spent too much time thinking about digital percentages? A few key takeaways jump out:
First, LinkedIn remains the undisputed heavyweight champion for B2B tech marketing, particularly in the consideration and conversion stages. It’s where the decision-makers are actively looking for solutions, engaging with thought leadership, and making connections. If your solution is complex, enterprise-grade, or requires a deeper dive, LinkedIn is your watering hole. Investing in high-quality content, targeted ads, and active community engagement here is non-negotiable.
Second, content is still king, and your blog is its castle. While it might not be the flashiest platform, a well-maintained blog is your evergreen content hub. It’s where you establish authority, provide in-depth information, and answer those crucial “how-to” questions. It’s a long game, but the SEO benefits and the ability to nurture leads over time make it incredibly effective, especially for awareness and consideration. Think of it as the sturdy oak tree where all the valuable information about your product grows.
Third, video, primarily YouTube, is your visual storyteller. For showcasing complex technology, demonstrating solutions, and building brand personality, nothing beats video. It’s highly effective for awareness and can significantly impact consideration by providing clear, engaging explanations. Don’t just show, tell! And better yet, demonstrate.
Now, let’s talk about the newer kids on the block like Bluesky and Threads. While they’re exciting and offer opportunities for rapid-fire engagement and community building, they’re currently less effective for direct conversion in the tech space. Think of them as more casual meet-up spots. They’re great for brand personality, quick announcements, and fostering a sense of community around your brand, but they’re not where most people are making their big tech purchasing decisions right now. Their percentages for awareness might grow as they mature, but for now, treat them as supplementary channels for specific, bite-sized interactions.
Facebook and Instagram still have a role, especially for broader brand awareness and reaching a wider, perhaps less overtly B2B, audience. If your tech solution has a more consumer-facing angle or if you’re looking to build brand affinity, these platforms can be useful. However, for direct, high-value B2B tech conversions, their effectiveness is generally lower. They’re more like the casual grazing areas where people might stumble upon your brand.
Finally, remember that these are just guideposts. The digital landscape is always shifting, and what works today might need tweaking tomorrow. The most successful CMOs are the ones who are constantly experimenting, measuring, and adapting their strategies. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but always keep your target customer (the discerning wombat, in our analogy) in mind. Where are they? What are they looking for? How can you best serve them?
The wild west of digital marketing can be intimidating, but with a clear understanding of your platforms and funnel stages, you can navigate it with confidence and truly make your mark. Now, go forth and conquer!
When discussing age restricted products and services-the ones that require age verification or age estimation-the discussion often focuses on the negative aspects of these products of services. After all, they are age restricted for a reason: you don’t want a five year old smoking marijuana or playing poker.
But as the providers of age restricted items will remind you, they also provide a positive impact to the community.
And sometimes the government also joins in the chorus of praise.
“The expansion of tribal casinos that began in the 1990s helped improve economic conditions faster for American Indians relative to the U.S. population as a whole, according to joint U.S. Census Bureau and university research, though there is still progress to be made: the American Indian poverty rate was 19.6% in 2024, greater than that year’s national average of 12.1%, according to Census Bureau data….
“American Indians living on reservation lands (regardless of the presence of a casino or cash transfer program) saw a 46.5% rise in real per capita income compared to 7.8% for the United States as a whole.”
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported this in September 2020:
“The Fontana Police Department in San Bernardino County, California, said it arrested Leonard Nash, 66, of Las Vegas on a warrant charging him with murder in the July 5, 1980, slaying of Michelle “Missy” Jones. The young woman was found slain in a grapefruit grove in Fontana.”
So why did it take 40 years to arrest Nash?
“Police said forensic evidence was collected during Jones’ autopsy, but technology at the time did not allow it to be connected to an offender.”
In 2020, the Riverside/San Bernardino CAL-DNA Laboratory successfully obtained a profile, but it did not match the DNA profile of any known offender. Nash, a person of interest, was matched to the profile via “discarded DNA.”
Anyway, Nash was convicted this month, but the news stories that described his conviction are inaccessible to you and me.
Bredemarket 