So far in this course, we’ve taken a deep dive into video editing. You started by creating a full 3-minute video using Adobe Premiere, and then we ruthlessly edited that down to a 1-minute cut using CapCut. Now, we are going to push your skills even further and create a highly engaging, high-retention 30-second video using Canva Premium and Google Gemini.

When we made the jump from 3 minutes to 1 minute, a common trap was simply chopping out a few clips and framing it as, “Here is a shorter version of my previous video.” But in digital marketing, that approach misses the mark. Understanding how to truly adapt content is crucial. You aren’t just cutting for time; you are completely redesigning the concept and delivery to match a different format and a much shorter attention span.

The Pizza Example: Think about making a video about baking a homemade pizza:

• The 10-Minute Video: You dive deep into the details—the science of the yeast, the hydration ratios of the dough, the history of the recipe, and a slow, step-by-step walkthrough.

• The 1-Minute Video: You drop the history and science. It becomes a straightforward, visual recipe showing the ingredients mixing, the dough rising, and the pizza baking, guided by a quick voiceover.

• The 30-Second Video: The concept changes entirely. It’s no longer a tutorial; it’s an experience. It’s a fast-paced, energetic montage: a slam of flour on the counter, a quick dough toss, bubbling cheese in the oven, and a dramatic cheese pull.

For this assignment, we will be editing our how-to videos down even further. Instead of simply chopping up your 1-minute cut, I want you to completely rethink your concept to deliver a fast-paced, high-impact 30-second narrative. Think of this not as a shorter tutorial, but as a visually engaging teaser that grabs the viewer’s attention instantly.

To accomplish this, you will use Gemini as your creative assistant to help brainstorm your new hook and generate custom background music, and we will use Canva Premium as your fast-paced editing suite to bring that new vision to life. Let’s get started.

Step 1: AI Brainstorming & Concepting (Gemini)

The secret to a high-performing 30-second video isn’t just faster editing—it’s developing a completely fresh concept before you even touch the timeline. In this step, you will use Gemini as your own personal AI producer. You are going to feed your previous 1-minute video into the AI, ask it to analyze your content, and collaborate with it to brainstorm a new angle, script a scroll-stopping 3-second hook, and figure out exactly what fluff you need to cut.

Provide Your Video to Gemini: Open Gemini. You have two ways to share your 1-minute video so the AI can analyze it:

• Direct Upload (MP4): Click the “+” icon next to the prompt box and select your exported 1-minute MP4 file to upload it directly.

• YouTube Link: If you uploaded your 1-minute cut to YouTube (it can be set to Public or Unlisted), simply paste the YouTube URL directly into your prompt. Gemini’s YouTube extension will analyze the video from the link.

Suggested Prompt: > “Act as a social media marketing producer. Watch this 1-minute video and tell me how to restructure it into a high-retention 30-second Reel. What should the 3-second hook be, what is a completely new angle I could take, and what fluff can I cut entirely?”

**

Refine and Iterate: Treat Gemini like a brainstorming partner. Review its suggestions, and if you don’t love the first idea, ask follow-up questions to refine the concept!

• Examples: “Can you give me an idea for a hook that is more controversial/funny?” or “Which specific shots from my video do you think are the strongest to keep for the background visuals?”

Decide on Your Direction: Review Gemini’s final suggestions and lock in your new angle before moving to Canva.

Review Gemini’s suggestions and decide on the new angle for your 30-second cut.

Refine and Iterate: Treat Gemini like a brainstorming partner. If you don’t love the first suggestion, ask follow-up questions to refine the concept!

• Examples: “Can you give me an idea for a hook that is more controversial/funny?” or “Which specific shots from my video do you think are the strongest to keep for the background visuals?”

Decide on Your Direction: Review Gemini’s suggestions and lock in your new angle before moving to Canva.

Here is Step 2 with a clearer, more straightforward title and the industry jargon removed:

Step 2: The 30-Second Visual Edit (Canva Premium)

Now that you have a solid game plan from Gemini, it’s time to execute that vision. In this step, you will take your raw footage into Canva Premium to build your high-impact 30-second cut. You’ll set up a vertical video workspace, aggressively trim your clips, add engaging text elements, and finalize your visual edit before we even think about music.

1. Setting Up Your Project

• Log into Canva Premium and select a vertical format. For this workflow, selecting the TikTok Video or Mobile Video template will work perfectly.

• Once your workspace opens, you’ll see your timeline at the bottom and your tools on the left-hand sidebar.

2. Importing and Arranging Clips

• Go to the Uploads tab on the left sidebar to bring in your raw video files.

• Drag and drop your clips directly onto the video timeline at the bottom of the screen.

• Navigation Tip: You can scroll left and right on the timeline, or hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and scroll your mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the timeline so you can see all your clips at once.

3. Basic Cutting and Splitting

• Press the Spacebar to play and pause your video.

• To make a cut: Drag the playhead (the vertical line on your timeline) to the exact spot you want to cut. You can either right-click the clip and select Split, or simply press the S key on your keyboard.

• To delete a clip: Click on the section you want to remove, right-click, and hit Delete (or just press the Backspace/Delete key). Canva will automatically snap your remaining clips together so there is no dead space.

4. Adding Text and Elements

• Click the Text tab to drag and drop basic text or pre-made font combinations onto your video.

• Click the Elements tab to add graphics, shapes, or stickers.

• Once an element or text box is on your screen, it will also appear as a purple block on your timeline above your video clips. You can click and drag the edges of this purple block to make the text stay on screen for a longer or shorter duration.

5. Managing Original Audio (No Music Yet!)

• If your video clips have spoken dialogue, make sure you can hear it clearly. You can click on any video clip in the timeline, click the speaker icon, and adjust the volume.

• Do not add any background music yet! Focus entirely on getting your visuals, text, and spoken audio perfectly timed. You need to finalize your exact 30-second visual edit first.

6. Export Your Visual Cut

• Once your 30-second video is perfectly edited, click Share in the top right corner, then Download.

• Select MP4 Video and download it to your computer. You will need this file for the next step!

Step 3: AI Music Scoring (Gemini)

Now that you have your final 30-second visual edit exported, it needs the perfect soundtrack. Gemini generates exactly 30-second music tracks, making it incredibly simple to custom-score your Reel or TikTok. Whether you need a clean, upbeat instrumental for a marketing video or a hilarious 90s-style rap diss track about pizza, you can create it in seconds.

1. Open the Music Tool

• Go back to Gemini and look for the Create Music button.

2. Prompting Your Track You have two main ways to approach getting the perfect sound for your video:

• Let AI Analyze Your Edit: Upload the MP4 of your 30-second Canva edit directly into Gemini. Tell it: “Analyze this video and generate an audio track that perfectly fits the pacing and vibe.”

• Write a Custom Prompt: If you already know exactly what you want, just tell Gemini the specific genre, mood, and tempo.

  • Example (Professional): “Generate an instrumental short-form reel track that is modern, upbeat, and clean.”

  • Example (Creative/Funny): “Write a 90s hip-hop diss track background music about making pizza.” (Note: You can even give Gemini specific words or themes you want it to rhyme!)

3. Review and Download

• Gemini will generate a track for you based on your prompt. Listen to it and see if it fits your video’s energy. If it doesn’t, tweak your prompt and try again.

• Once you have the perfect track, click the download button and select Audio only. This will save the file as an MP3 to your computer, which you will need for the final step.

Here is a quick video showing exactly how to make music with Gemini:

Step 4: The Final Mix & Export (Canva Premium)

You have your perfectly timed 30-second visual edit and your custom AI audio track. Now it’s time to bring them together for the final mix.

1. Back to Canva

• Return to your open Canva project with your 30-second video edit.

2. Import Your Music

• Go back to the Uploads tab on the left-hand sidebar, click Upload Files (or drag and drop), and bring in the MP3 track you just downloaded from Gemini.

3. Drop it on the Timeline

• Drag your new audio file onto the timeline, placing it directly beneath your video clips. Since Gemini generates exactly 30 seconds of audio, it should fit your edit perfectly!

4. Balance the Audio

• Click on the audio track in your timeline, click the speaker icon at the top, and adjust the volume. If your video features spoken dialogue, make sure the background music is turned down low enough that your voice is still the star of the show.

5. Final Review & Export

• Watch your video all the way through one last time. Does the 3-second hook grab attention? Are the cuts fast? Does the music elevate the vibe?

• If it looks and sounds great, click Share in the top right corner, then Download.

• Select MP4 Video (make sure the quality is set to 1080p), hit download, and you are ready to submit your final assignment!

Wrapping Up

Mastering short-form content isn’t just about knowing how to use editing software; it’s about understanding your audience’s attention span and knowing how to adapt a core message for different platforms. By using AI to brainstorm fresh angles and generate custom audio, and pairing that with a fast-paced editor like Canva, you are building a modern, highly efficient content creation workflow. Have fun with this one, get creative with your AI prompts, and I can’t wait to see your final 30-second cuts!

The post The 30-Second Pivot: Adapting Content with Canva and Google Gemini appeared first on The Digital Marketing Professor.

This itinerary focuses on western Crete’s best beaches, one iconic hike, and a mix of adventure and relaxation. It’s designed for early June, when the water is warm, the gorges are open, and crowds are still manageable. The emphasis is on outdoor movement, swimming, and food rather than cities or sightseeing.

Day 1: Arrival in Crete (Chania)

Arrive at Chania Airport and pick up your rental car. After a late arrival, keep things simple. Check into your hotel near Chania and settle in for the night.

Day 2: Beach + Chania Day

Start the day with a beach stop near Chania.

Choose a nearby beach like Marathi for a swim and a relaxed morning by the water.

Return to Chania Old Town in the evening for dinner along the harbor and a walk through the streets.

Day 3: Samaria Gorge

Drive to Omalos Plateau and start the Samaria Gorge hike at Xyloskalo.

The trail descends through forest, riverbed, and narrow canyon sections, finishing at the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli. Expect a long but steady downhill hike with changing scenery throughout.

After the hike, swim in the sea, eat lunch, then take the ferry and shuttle back to your car.

Drive back to Chania.

Day 4: South Coast Adventure (Preveli + Gorge)

Drive south to Kourtaliotiko Gorge.

Stop to see the waterfalls and dramatic canyon views.

Continue to Preveli Beach, where a palm forest meets a river and the sea. Swim, explore, and relax before heading back to Chania.

Day 5: Transfer to Falassarna + Balos Lagoon

Check out and drive west toward Kissamos.

Take the boat to Balos Lagoon. Balos is shallow, calm, and visually striking, with white sandbars and vivid turquoise water. Arriving by boat avoids rough access roads and keeps the experience relaxed.

Spend the day swimming and relaxing before heading to Falassarna.

Day 6: Elafonissi Beach + Kedrodasos Beach

Drive south to Elafonissi Beach.

Elafonissi is known for its pink-tinted sand and warm, shallow water that extends far from shore. Go early, explore the sandbars, and enjoy the lagoon before crowds build.

In the afternoon, visit Kedrodasos, a wild beach backed by juniper trees with no infrastructure and far fewer people.

Day 7: Falassarna Beach Day

Spend the day at Falassarna Beach.

Falassarna is a wide, open beach with clear water, coarse sand, and plenty of space to spread out.
It’s perfect for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying one of the best sunsets in Crete.

Sunset Dinner at Taverna Mouraki

Day 8: Seitan Limania + Departure

Drive toward Chania Airport and stop at Seitan Limania Beach.

This small, dramatic cove is known for its striking cliffs and deep blue water.
Take the short but steep walk down, swim, and relax before heading to the airport.

Return your rental car and depart.

This itinerary minimizes backtracking, keeps driving efficient, and balances activity with beach time.

Foods to Try in Chania:

Crete is arguably the top food destination in Greece, and Chania is its crown jewel. The local “Cretan Diet” isn’t just a healthy lifestyle; it’s a collection of intense, wood-fired flavors and artisanal ingredients you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

The “Pastry & Bakery” Essentials

These are the heart of a Cretan morning. While you’ll find similar pastries across Greece, Chania has its own unique rules—specifically regarding the use of olive oil and local Mizithra cheese.

Bougatsa (Chania Style) A thin, crispy filo pastry filled with Mizithra (a tart, creamy goat and sheep cheese). Unlike the sweet custard versions in Northern Greece, Chania’s bougatsa uses local olive oil in the dough instead of butter, giving it a lighter, crunchier texture.

The Spot: Bougatsa Chania (Iordanis). This is the 100-year-old “Institution” and a mandatory first stop.

Kalitsounia Small, hand-held pies that come in two distinct styles. You’ll see Sfakianopita (flat and fried, served with honey) or Lychnarakia (little “lamps” or flower-shaped pastries filled with sweet cheese).

The Spot: Mitraki Kaiti Bakery for the authentic spinach and fennel savory version, or Kalounas for a modern take featuring smoked pork.

Mizithra Biscuits Traditional flower-shaped cookies that feature a foamy, creamy cheese center. They are the perfect balance of savory and sweet.

The Spot: The Oldest Bakery (Est. 1940), located near the Municipal Market.

Loukoumades Greek “donuts”—deep-fried dough balls soaked in local honey syrup, topped with cinnamon and sesame seeds.

The Spot: While often served as a complimentary dessert at tavernas, they are an iconic street food in the Splanzia District.

The “Meat & Traditional” Heavy Hitters

Crete is famous for its mountain-raised livestock. Because the animals graze on wild herbs like thyme and oregano, the meat has an incredible depth of flavor.

• Kleftiko (Lamb in Paper) “Thief’s Lamb”—this dish is slow-braised for hours in parchment paper with local herbs and cheese until it literally falls off the bone.

  • The Spot: To Xani in the Jewish Quarter for an atmospheric dinner, or Dounias in the White Mountains for the ultimate wood-fired experience.

• Staka with Eggs The ultimate Cretan comfort food. Staka is a rich, buttery “cream of goat milk” (somewhere between butter and cheese). It is traditionally served poached or fried with fresh farm eggs.

  • The Spot: Taverna Limeri in the mountain village of Theriso.

• Apaki A lean pork delicacy. The meat is marinated in vinegar, smoked with aromatic mountain herbs like sage and oregano, and often finished with a sweet honey-lemon glaze.

  • The Spot: Taverna Limeri or Dounias.

• Tsigariasto A rustic mountain dish of goat or lamb slow-rendered in its own fat and high-quality olive oil. It is simple, tender, and incredibly flavorful.

  • The Spot: Taverna Plateia on the Askyfou Plateau or Dounias.

• Pork Gyro (The “Oasis” Style) Don’t expect your standard fast-food gyro here. In Chania, the pork is thinly sliced and heavily seasoned with wild oregano.

  • The Spot: Oasis. Be warned: they are so popular with locals that they often sell out by 3:00 PM.

• Cretan Sausages These aren’t your average links. They are typically marinated in vinegar or citrus, making them lighter, tangier, and more “peppery” than standard sausages.

  • The Spot: Kypros Tavern (the “Sports Temple”).

Pro Travel Tip:

Many of these spots are multi-generational family businesses. At places like Kypros Tavern, the owner is often a local character (and a huge sports fan), so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation—it’s all part of the hospitality!

Beer, Wine, and What to Drink in Crete

If you’re expecting a huge craft beer scene, that’s not really what Crete is about. Most places serve simple, refreshing beers that pair well with heat, beach days, and long meals. That said, there are a few solid options, and knowing what to order makes a difference.

Beer Options You’ll See Most Often

Harma Beer
A local Cretan brewery (Chania area). This is your best bet if you want something closer to craft. Most places serve their lager, but occasionally you’ll find a pale ale or IPA version. If you see Harma, order it first.

Lyra Beer
Another Cretan beer, typically a clean lager. Slightly more character than mass-market options, but still light and easy drinking.

Mamos Beer
A well-known Greek pilsner. Smooth, slightly malty, and very drinkable. A solid fallback if local beers aren’t available.

Nymfi Beer
A basic Greek lager. Very light and refreshing, but not much flavor. This is more of a default option than something to seek out.

For IPA Drinkers

Crete is not IPA-heavy, especially at beach tavernas. Most beers are around 5% and lean toward lager styles.

If you want something hoppier:

• Ask if they have an IPA — sometimes they do, especially in Chania
• Look for Harma IPA or other Greek craft options like Septem or Voreia
• Don’t expect it everywhere — it’s more of a bonus when you find it

The best approach is to enjoy lighter beers during the day and save the hunt for craft options when you’re in town.

Wine and Local Drinks

House Wine
Usually local and served in a carafe. This is often the best value on the menu and pairs well with most meals.

Raki
A local spirit similar to grappa. Strong (around 40%), but smooth. You’ll often be given this for free after meals whether you order it or not.

Ouzo
An anise-flavored spirit (licorice taste). Typically diluted with water. Not for everyone, but worth trying once.

Retsina
A traditional white wine infused with pine resin. Very distinct flavor. Try it once, but it’s not something most people drink all week.

What to Actually Do

• Beach / daytime: Harma or Lyra
• Dinner: house wine
• After dinner: raki

Crete isn’t about chasing specific drinks. It’s about having something cold in your hand after a swim and something simple with dinner while the sun goes down.

The post Crete appeared first on The Digital Marketing Professor.

At this point, you’ve written an article using AI as part of the content creation process. Writing the content is only one step. The next step is learning how to publish that content on a real platform, where it can live on the internet, be shared, and be referenced professionally.

In this class, we’re not setting up personal blogs or full websites, so instead we’re going to use Medium as our publishing platform. Medium allows anyone to publish articles publicly without needing to manage hosting, design, or technical setup. You focus on the writing and structure, and Medium handles the rest.

What Is Medium?

Medium is an online publishing platform designed for long-form writing. People use it to publish articles, essays, tutorials, opinion pieces, and thought leadership content. Articles on Medium are public by default, indexed by search engines, and easy to share. Many professionals use Medium as a way to demonstrate expertise, build credibility, and showcase their thinking.

Because Medium has strong domain authority, articles published there can show up in Google search results, especially for informational or educational topics. This makes it a useful platform if you want your writing to be discoverable beyond just sharing a link.

How Medium Compares to Substack

Another popular publishing platform is Substack. Substack is primarily designed around newsletters and subscriptions. Writers publish posts that are sent directly to subscribers, and over time they can build a dedicated audience.

Medium and Substack can both host written content, but they serve slightly different purposes:

• Medium is better for public discovery and one-off articles
• Substack is better for ongoing publishing and audience ownership

For this assignment, Medium is the better fit because it’s simple, public, and does not require building a subscriber list.

Why Content Creators Use Platforms Like Medium

Many content creators, marketers, and professionals publish written content online as part of a broader strategy. Platforms like Medium make it easy to publish quickly, share ideas publicly, and demonstrate expertise in a topic area.

Medium can also be used as a starting point for content-driven strategies like affiliate marketing. If you want to write articles that include affiliate links or product recommendations, Medium allows you to publish content without first building a website. This makes it useful if you want to test ideas, topics, or writing styles.

That said, Medium is not a replacement for owning your own website. Long-term, the strongest strategy is typically having your own site with many articles focused on one topic, where you control the structure, internal links, and monetization. Medium works well as an entry point or supplemental channel, especially early on.

Instructions: Publishing Your Article on Medium

Step 1: Go to Medium and Sign In

1. Go to Medium.com.
2. Sign in using your Gmail account (or another email address you prefer).

Step 2: Select Your Topics and Interests

1. Medium may ask you to choose topics you’re interested in.
2. Select a few that match what you typically want to read or write about.
3. Continue to the next step.

Step 3: Continue With the Free Account Option

1. Choose the option to continue with a free account.
2. This is all you need for publishing your article.

Step 4: Start a New Article

1. Once you’re logged in, click Write (or Write a story) in the top-right corner.
2. In the editor, enter your title and paste/type the text of your article.
3. Format your article using section titles, subtitles, clean spacing, and bold text where appropriate so it is easy to skim.

Step 5: Press Enter to Create a New Line and Reveal the Plus Button

1. Click in the article body where you want your image to appear.
2. Press Enter to create a new line.
3. On the left side of the new line, you should see the plus (+) icon.

Step 6: Click the Image Icon

1. Click the plus (+) icon.
2. Select the image option from the menu.

Step 7: Insert Your Image (Generated With Gemini)

1. Generate a relevant image using Gemini that supports your article (not just decorative).
2. Upload that image into Medium.
3. If you don’t know how to generate an image in Gemini, use ChatGPT to figure out how to do it and then complete the step.

Step 8: Click Publish

1. Once your article is complete, formatted, and includes your image, click Publish.

Step 9: Fill Out the Publish Options, Select Topics, and Publish Now

1. Choose a preview image for your article (you can keep the default or change it).
2. Select relevant topics based on what your article is about.
3. Click Publish now.

Step 10: Copy the Link and Submit It

1. After the article publishes, copy the URL of your published Medium article.
2. Submit that link for your assignment.

Quick Checklist Before You Submit

• Your article has a clear title and clean paragraph spacing
• You used subtitles/headings to organize the article
• You bolded key phrases where it improves readability
• You included at least one useful image (generated with Gemini)
• You published the article and selected relevant topics
• You copied and submitted the correct Medium link

The post How To Publish An Article On Medium appeared first on The Digital Marketing Professor.

How To Download The Ultra Theme If You Have Not Already

Click here to access the member’s area once you are signed into Themify

This will take you to the dashboard for your Themify account. We are going to download a template from Themify called “Ultra” and upload it into our WordPress. To download the theme click on “Ultra Theme.” Save this to your computer.

You will now need to log into your client WordPress website.

This is your second WordPress installation, not your resume website. Themify is already installed on your resume site.

For this class, your client website lives in a subdirectory called /client.

To log in, enter your website URL followed by /client/wp-login.php or /client/admin.

Example base URL:
https://arnierobinson.me

Client site login URLs:
https://arnierobinson.me/client/wp-login.php

or
https://arnierobinson.me/client/admin

Important: If you see a message saying the theme is already installed, you are logged into the wrong WordPress website. That means you are still in your resume site.

Logging in will take you to the WordPress login screen for your client site.

Enter your login information that you set up when you loaded your WordPress installation in Namecheap and Click the “Log In” button.

When you click “Log In” you will be redirected to your WordPress Dashboard which will look like this:

We want to install the template which is located under Appearance (See Above).

Once you Click the Themes button look at the top and Click “Add New”

Then Click “Upload Theme” (see below)

Then Select the file you downloaded from Themify which is called:   “Themify-ultra.zip”

Then click “Install Now.”

Doing this will upload your theme to WordPress. After uploading you will get a screen where you need to activate your upload.

You’ll then be asked which skin you want to import. For now you can just import the default skin. Click on Import under the first option as shown in the picture below:

 Once you do that it takes you to the theme options:

Do not worry about these right now. We will import these later. Include all builder images if it asks.

Click “Proceed Import”

The next thing we want to do is to learn how to set up the built-in layouts in Themify so we can quickly and easily get a website set up with little to website design experience. But first we need to add a few plugins from Themify to make sure all the functionality of the templates work.

Upload The Builder Contat Plugin Into WordPress:

In Themify find the “Builder Contact” in downloads. It should open up a download box where you can download the file to your computer.

Once downloaded you can upload your plugins in the plugin section of your WordPress dashboard.  In the Dashboard on the left side find the Plugins tab and then select “Add New”

Then at the top you will select Upload Plugin

Select the zip file that you just download from Themify (builder-contact.zip) and then click Install Now:

And Don’t Forget to Activate it!

The post How To Install Themify Into A New Website appeared first on The Digital Marketing Professor.

• Use your real name or a variation of it. Adding something like “the real” in front of your name can make it unique.
• Incorporate your interests or niche. For example, if you love baking you could be “Sarah’s Cakes” or “The Baking Geek”.
• Make up a clever phrase or word combination related to you or your content. Some examples are “CraftyTiffany” or “SoccerDude1234”.
• Use alliteration. Alliterate your first or last name with a descriptive word, like “CreativeCarla” or “MelissaMakes”.
• Borrow from pop culture. Combine a favorite TV show, movie, or character with your name or interests. Like “DrWhoMegan” or “StarWarsSam”.
• The key is to stand out while remaining consistent with your brand. Brainstorm meaningful words and combinations.
• Check availability too – you may have to get creative with spelling!

Profile Review 1

Profile Review 2

Part 2: Write An Account Bio For Your Creator Accounts

Just write the first line of your BIO that lets people know what your account is about.

• Comedian & New York Times Bestselling Author
• Sutton’s Roofing. Got a leak? Call us up, we’ll do sutton about it.
• Workout vids, dog pics, motivational quotes served over a bed of sarcasm.

Part 3: Pick A Color Scheme and Font For Your Creator Accounts

Once you have a name for your channel you need to come up with your branding and color scheme which will stay consistent throughout this project.

For example, check out the profile grid of Brock Johnson:

Brock Johnson Instagram Account

You can see that he has a color scheme and certain fonts that he likes to use. He doesn’t use the fonts and colors in every post but he uses it enough so that you can get a sense of his branding when visiting his account.

Part 4: Put together a branding board for your channel.

Search Canva for any of the following:

• Brand Style Guide – Typically includes logos, colors, fonts, and tone of voice.
• Brand Identity Board – Focuses on visual identity.
• Content Style Guide – Emphasizing how content looks and feels.
• Social Media Branding Guide – Tailored for social, covering logos and palettes.
• Brand Kit – A concise version of a style guide.

Check out the Wicked Tequila Room page (run by a former student): Facebook Page

Here is the color scheme they set up ahead of time:

Here is another branding board a student put together for Noco Party Bus:

For this assignment, create a similar graphic. It must include:

• Three or four colors with color codes (HEX codes)
• A heading font and paragraph font
• The name of your channel
• Three simple sample posts at the bottom:
  • “Five Cooking Tips”
  • “Best Foco Coffee”
  • “5 Weekly Tips”

Tools to help you:

1. Eye Dropper For Chrome: Use this to pick out color codes from a web page.
2. Just Creative: Visuals for 15 font combinations.
3. Fontpair.co: Browse Google Font combinations.
4. Reliable PSD: High-end visual font pairings.
5. WhatFont: Chrome tool to identify fonts on any page.
6. Brand Style Guides On Canva

AI Prompts to try:

• I need to come up with a creative name for an instagram channel that is about pizza. Ask me 5 questions, one at a time, to get to know my channel.
• Write a tagline for my Instagram channel about pizza.
• Write an alliteration tagline for my Instagram channel about pizza.
• Write a rhyme tagline for my Instagram channel about pizza.
• Rewrite this tagline to sound more (professional, casual, humorous, etc.): [Insert Tagline]

The post brand guide appeared first on The Digital Marketing Professor.

The Rundown AI is one of the most useful AI newsletters I’ve found for staying current without drowning in hype or fluff. It sends short, skimmable daily updates that cover real AI tools, product launches, workflow ideas, and practical use cases that you can actually apply to school, work, and creative projects. It also surfaces new tools early, explains what they do in plain language, and links out to demos or examples so you can explore further when something is relevant to what you’re working on.

I assign The Rundown AI to my students because it builds baseline AI literacy fast. After a few weeks of reading it, most students start recognizing tool categories, understanding what’s realistic versus vaporware, and getting ideas for how to use AI in marketing, content creation, analytics, automation, and design.

The signup process is not hard, but it is slightly confusing the first time because there are extra screens, optional offers, and a delayed confirmation email that makes people think it didn’t work. This guide walks through every step so you know exactly what to click, what to ignore, and what to expect.

One important caveat up front: after you enter your email, The Rundown does not always send the confirmation email immediately. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. That delay is normal. Do not re-enter your email over and over thinking it failed. Just wait and watch your inbox (and spam folder).

Step-by-step: How to sign up for The Rundown AI

Step 1: Go to the Rundown AI signup page

Open your browser and go to The Rundown AI website. You’ll see a headline that says “Learn AI in 5 minutes a day” and a large email entry box.

Use this link sign up for The Rundown: www.therundown.ai/subscribe

Step 2: Enter your email address

Type your email into the “Enter your email” field and click the “Join for free” button. This submits your signup request.

Step 3: Ignore the extra newsletter offers

After you submit your email, you’ll see a screen that says “You’re subscribed to The Rundown!” followed by a list of other newsletters (Robotics, Tech, The Hustle, etc.). These are optional cross-promotions.

Click “Maybe later” at the bottom of the screen. You do not need to subscribe to any of the additional publications to get The Rundown AI.

Step 4: Enter your name

You’ll be taken to a welcome screen that says “Welcome to The Rundown!” and asks “What’s your name?” Enter your first name and click “Continue.”

Step 5: Answer the AI tools question (or just select what applies)

Next, you’ll see a screen that asks which AI tools you already have subscriptions to. This includes options like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, Zapier, Notion AI, Canva AI, and others.

Select anything that applies to you. If none apply, choose “None yet.” Then click “Continue.”
This step just personalizes recommendations later. It does not affect your subscription.

Step 6: Skip the learning plan upsell

You’ll then see a results screen with suggested tools and a big green button that says “Get learning plan.” Under that button is a small text link that says “No thanks, just send me the newsletter.”

Click “No thanks, just send me the newsletter.” You do not need the learning plan to receive The Rundown AI emails.

Step 7: Wait for the confirmation email

At this point, your signup is almost done, but you are not fully subscribed yet. The Rundown AI will send you a confirmation email that says something like “Confirm your The Rundown AI subscription.”

Important: this email is often delayed. It can take a few minutes or a few hours to arrive. This is normal.
Check your spam or promotions folder if you don’t see it in your main inbox.

Do not re-sign up while waiting. That just creates duplicate records and slows things down.

Step 8: Click the confirmation button

When the email arrives, open it and click the blue “Confirm Subscription” button inside the message.

Once you click that button, your subscription is officially active.

What to do if you don’t get the email
If you don’t receive the confirmation email after a few hours:

• Check your spam folder
• Search your inbox for “The Rundown AI”
• Make sure you typed your email correctly during signup
• Wait at least a few hours before trying again
• If needed, re-enter your email once and repeat the process

What happens next
After confirming your subscription, you’ll start receiving The Rundown AI emails in your inbox. They typically arrive daily and take about 3–5 minutes to read. You can unsubscribe at any time, but I recommend giving it at least a couple of weeks so you can see how useful it becomes once patterns and tool categories start clicking.

This is the exact process I expect students to follow. If you complete all the steps above and click the confirmation link in the email, you are fully subscribed—even if the confirmation email takes longer than expected to show up.

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