Today, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued the following statement proclaiming July 2025 as “Made in the USA” Month:
“In honor of our nation’s independence, the Federal Trade Commission has designated July as ‘Made in the USA’ month. As Chairman of the FTC, I am responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit companies from making false or unsubstantiated claims that a product is ‘Made in the USA.’ It is important to protect Americans from deceptive advertising, and also important because it provides consumers with confidence that when they buy something that says ‘Made in the USA’ they are actually supporting American workers, American manufacturers, and American communities.”
Don’t check your heart at the door. Ever thought about why some messages really GRAB ATTENTION while others seem to disappear?
Persuasion has been around forever and is mandatory for your business, but you need to understand how it works. It impacts our choices, shapes decisions, and prompts action.
If you want your business to thrive, get a grip on this art. There are only two ways to persuade.
1. Significant Emotional Events and 2. Repeated Messages
First, at the core lies psychology, particularly significant emotional events like crises… …or amazing great news… …and second, the repeated message strategy, much like ads and commercials.
These two ways can boost your influence on customers, businesses, and government entities.
You have just 0.05 seconds to grab someone’s attention on social media* before they scroll past, making design your most powerful tool to stand out.
That’s why I created the “Made You Look” banner/cover/masthead, a bold and eye-catching header perfect for all my social media platforms. The design uses primary colors—blue, red, yellow, and a touch of green—alongside a stark black-and-white contrast to ensure it stands out in a crowded digital space.
Why Primary Colors?
Primary colors are the building blocks of the color spectrum, universally recognized and emotionally evocative. Blue conveys trust and reliability, red demands urgency and passion, yellow radiates optimism, and green adds a sense of balance and the urge to GO! Together, they create a visual harmony that’s impossible to ignore.
In the “Made You Look” banner, these colors are arranged in a geometric layout inspired by modernist art**, giving the design a timeless yet contemporary feel. The black outlines and text provide a sharp contrast, ensuring the words pop against the vibrant background, while the gray section adds a subtle balance to avoid overwhelming the viewer.
The Importance of Grabbing Attention First
On social media, users scroll through endless content at lightning speed. If your header doesn’t stop them in their tracks, your message—no matter how insightful—will go unnoticed.
Did you know that a staggering 54% of viewers suspect brands of “pandering” when local ads feel inauthentic?
This surprising revelation from The Local Lift white paper, conducted by Locality and The Harris Poll in November 2024, highlights a critical pitfall most businesses overlook: authenticity is non-negotiable in marketing.
The study shows 71% of Americans expect localized messaging, with 81% of 18-34-year-olds prioritizing it.
Local video ads far outshine national ones in relevance (68% vs. 13%), trust (47% vs. 12%), and purchase intent (63% vs. 13%). Viewers are 6x more likely to see brands in local ads as community members (63% vs. 11%), forging stronger bonds.
The report underscores the power of combining local streaming, broadcast, and social media video with over 70% of viewers agreeing local ads enhance relevance (74%), trust (73%), and curiosity (73%).
Using local news and sports as part of your marketing campaigns – and regular social posts – are an even better way to localize your content. – R. Michael Brown
Are you drowning in vanilla content, where commonplace rules? Are your competitors soaking in the drivel too – or are they beating you?
Inject a dose of rebellion – or a fresh impression – into your brand’s narrative. Maverick freelance writer, R. Michael Brown, is ready to shake up your content strategy.
Deloitte Digital’s new research on Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in marketing content production reveals that Gen AI is already reshaping content production giving brands an advantage.
See the research that should compel you to collaborate with a forward leaning Gen AI content marketer.
The Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved an agreement to participate in a TV show’s makeover of the downtown Circle Park Drive area with the network proposing to spend about $1 million and the CRA pitching in $1.35 million.
Downtown Circle in Sebring, Florida
Show hosts Erin and Ben Napier of Home Town Takeover has been renewed for season 3, and they will be taking their renovation expertise to Sebring. Their original and still running show is Home Town, which has eight seasons on HGTV, starting in 2016.
“Home Town Takeover” previously stopped in Wetumpka, Ala. in Season 1 and Fort Morgan, Colo. in Season 2.
Brownie Bytes 