– Your Bright Brothers Team
David Romako / Josh Yeager /  Brandi Walsh

It’s like a never-ending rollercoaster ride trying to keep tabs on what’s happening with Twitter since Musk got involved. And with near-daily discord, massive employee attrition, free speech fears (and threats) of all kinds — many are opting out of the once-ubiquitous platform for news, thought leadership, quips, memes, porn and bots. Twitter’s future (and Musk’s as well at the helm) continues to come into question. Millions in advertising dollars have evaporated from the formerly-favorite platform, and the entire chaotic ride has shaken many users to the core — and to the point of looking for alternatives. While there’s no clear consensus today as to how things will shake out, various existing apps and platforms are gunning as replacements. Tumblr saw a marked uptick in new users. Yes, that Tumblr, (which is now owned by Automatic of WordPress fame), and new usurpers are on the rise (think Mastodon, Hive Social, Post, Project Mushroom and others) and are looking to take a bite out of Musk’s meal. Where will it all lead? We’re not sure, but one WIRED writer believes that LinkedIn may be the answer. We’re super active on LinkedIn (shameless plug for a follow!) and not sure these predictions make sense. What are your thoughts? We’d love to chew the fat with ya on this one!

Photo credit: Chris J. Davis, Unsplash

We’ve talked a lot this year about painted crosswalks and public art, and while opinions may differ (some pro, some con), Bloomberg’s “Asphalt Art Initiative” is going strong and allocating much-needed funding to cities for amelioration of their streetscapes. In this compelling podcast with Next City’s E.D. Lucas Grindley and David Anderson from Bloomberg, they cite a stat that quantifies, at least to some degree, the value of enhanced crosswalks. Recent research indicates a massive decrease of 50% in pedestrian and cyclist crashes due to the hand-painted trottoirs. One of the things we like most about the Asphalt Art Initiative is that part of the application process requires articulated metrics for success. And while we all know the aesthetic value of public art, Bloomberg demands metrics be submitted, and even offers a checklist of common KPIs for measuring success of your newly vibrant street crossings. 

Photo credit: Downtown San Francisco

…that for all that anticipation, conversation and consternation around the metaverse, the immaterial realm may now be dead in the water? Along with this year’s implosion of cryptocurrencies, the narrative around NFTs, web3 and the metaverse has radically shifted over the past few weeks, and MarketingBrew posits that a branded web3 may be over and done with already. The temperature outlook is tepid these days with various forces colliding to cause the cooldown, including Facebook/Meta’s overhyped reimagination of our collective virtual reality, advertisers’ curtailed spending in response to a volatile global economy and recessionary fears, as well as big brands’ bumpy and chock-a-block forays (and some failures) into the cyber realm. It’s not entirely doom and gloom for the metaverse, although it may be a longer road ahead and a very different experience than the one hyped by pundits over the past several years. The outlook is TBD, but for now the groundswell seems to be dissipating — like those last few autumn leaves that have been clinging to branches as we head right into winter this week. Perhaps there’ll be a new year rally.

Photo credit: Mathew MacQuarrie, Unsplash

Probably the biggest trend we’ve discussed this year is TikTok. And while some government entities are blocking the app from municipal phones, your everyday Joe and Jane are all in. We’ve advocated its use by districts, encouraged downtowns and DMOs to jump on the trend, and even taught merchant marketing classes to help ratepayers leverage the extraordinary impact of short-form content — with great success, we might add! If you’ve been too afraid to dip your toe into the abyss, as of yet, here’s a five-point primer from HubSpot for getting your arms around one of the fastest growing platforms out there. We all know that storytelling is the key to MarCom, and there is no rival when it comes to TikTok’s peerless presence. Need help harnessing the power? Give us a shout and we can help your district rocket to the top in 2023!

Photo credit: Malte Helmhold, Unsplash

While recreational use of cannabis is not necessarily legal in Philadelphia, it is decriminalized (up to 30 grams), and public consumption is evident (it’s in the air and everywhere). So we weren’t shocked to see this piece from Billy Penn that provides a stoner itinerary of some of the trippiest murals in town. Philadelphia is home to the oldest mural arts program in the country, and with more than 4,000 murals within the city limits, Philly is a literal open-air museum for cannabis fans and straight folks alike. So spark a doob, queue up The Modern Lovers on your earbuds and take a tour of some of Philly’s most mind-blowing jawns. You’re welcome. Now pass to the left.

Photo credit: Jose Antonia Gallego Vazquez, Unsplash