Ash Rathod

You already know storytelling is essential for your business and brand. But storytelling is much more than the words on your website, content and other communications. The right narrative can inform your short and long term strategy, help align your team, outmanoeuvre the competition and build a tribe of ambassadors.It can help you attract and retain the right customers who are willing to pay you more for a longer period of time and tell others to do the same.It's about high level performance. ie. increasing profits for the business and providing unique value to the people you serve.I specialise in guiding businesses do exactly this. My philosophy centres on a "Story-First Approach," a method that has proven to be the missing link for many who struggle with brand identity and growth.The challenge most people face when building a brand is twofold: either they're paralysed by indecision, never taking the first step, or they jump in headfirst, producing content without a coherent strategy. Both paths lead to a stagnant or unclear identity. The root cause? A lack of strategic direction.  I can help with that.---I studied media and communications specialising in script-writing, where my love for storytelling started. I worked in TV media alongside the London arm of global ad agencies such as StarCom, OMD, PHD Media and many smaller DRTV agencies. My portfolio stretched across global FMCG, (P&amp;G and Unilever) and automotive (Ford and Toyota) brands before moving to Turner Broadcasting (now Warner Bros. Discovery) to work on kids brands (such as Mattel and Hasbro). As the online world began to grow, I moved into Digital Marketing where I helped scale the Manchester office of a Bournemouth based media agency, going from media owner to client side, which consisted of a team of 20+ designers, marketers, copywriters and BDMs.Then after a short sales role at BT, I decided to start my own creative agency, to help start-ups to SMEs with with their communications online.This was almost 16 years ago. I'm proud to say I still run and I own that brand consultancy and design studio in the UK which has focused on serving start-ups to corporations over those years. Right now my focus covers:L&amp;D Training (1:1 &amp; Corporate teams)Speaking at eventsBrand Strategy workshops for start-ups and SMEs.None of these are an overnight fix.But if you are serious about shaping and growing your brand, I can help you do this faster than most.NB. My profile picture has been touched up with AI to change the colour of my shirt and  background

Brand Story Strategist | Managing Director

A brand strategy + design collective specializing in creating compelling content for digital communications. We work with forward-thinking founders, c-suite stakeholders, and marketing teams who passionately strive to lead the change in making the world of work a better place for all.

Our capabilities include:

Brand Strategy

  - Storytelling for brands 
  - Storytelling for leaders

Activation

  - Content Production
  - Media Planning

I fixed myself. 

AI has given me what I thought I could never have. 

A glimpse into what I’d look like if my skin colour stayed the same.

Or if I removed all the pigmentation on my skin (which can be done in real life. I had the option but declined) 

So which one do I prefer? For me, it’s a no brainer. The real me, in the middle. 

The left and right image was created by Nano Banana Pro. 

Which to be honest, as a tool, it’s amazing. In fact I’ve been playing with it a lot. I have been playing with a lot of AI tools. Image. Music. Vibe coding. And I will be using them a lot in my content, in my work processes and creating new business ideas. 

The next wave of AI tools will open doors for many people. I really am positive but cautious about it all.

Because it has to be used the right way and the right way for me is this:

Don’t be lazy with the tools (Use it to add a layer to the great work you do vs diluting it)
Don’t just blindly copy others. (‘differentiate or die’ mantra is still relevant. Now more than ever)
Don’t hide behind it (ie. pretend you’re something you’re not or try hiding the fact you’ve used AI. Especially if it’s likely to be in doubt for others)

I’m sure there are many other pros and cons. (let me know yours in the comments)

What I will be doing is making sure I inform my audience when I do use AI. For example, I am playing around creating a digital twin. And it's a lot of fun. But I won’t pretend it’s me. I’ll let others know when it’s not. Even when the tech becomes much better than it is now when even more  people won’t be able to tell. 

I think in this new phase, the people that are honest and upfront about how they communicate to their audience are going to be the ones that build trust. And ultimately the ones that win.

For me, I don’t want to fool anyone. Including myself. 

And more importantly. I don’t need to fix myself.

I already did that. 

When I accepted myself for who I really am.


---

#PersonalBranding and #Storytelling in an #AI world

Brand Storytelling in an AI World | Creative AI Workflow Consultant

This is not a real ad. 

And here's more context. 

I set myself a challenge to see what these AI tools were capable of and created this. My main learning out of all of this is, this still took a lot of human thinking, time and general input. 

So my challenge was to create a completely speculative ad using just AI tools. 

I chose a brand that I love. Love for their messaging and what they stand for. And then got to work. 

I would say this is still rough around the edges and an important thing to note is that I have no real idea what the brand strategy is so this should be considered. Real creative campaigns take time and a lot human collaboration. I did this completely on my own (and it shows I think :)  

There are also inconsistencies in the creative given the time I gave myself to create this. 

But in the main, I think the tools that are out there are really impressive. And I had a lot of fun with this. 

Tools I used were:

Weavy for workflow
LTX Studio for storyboarding
FreePik as the main base suite and character dev
Higgsfield (It's Popcorn element to experiment with characters)
Nano Banana for stills
Magnific for upscaling still resolutions 
Topaz to upscale video resolution
Kling 2.5 Turbo 2 for video
Seedream 4 Edit - Varied camera angles
Eleven Labs for VO and SFX
Suno for Music 

Then the usual tools I use:

Photoshop to retouch certain stills
After Effects for speed ramping elements
Premiere Pro for Editing

I plan to do a full walkthrough in the next few weeks if time permits ! :)

Would love to know your thoughts.


#Storytelling #AI

Anyone who says “AI content is quick and easy” is wrong. 

Well, sort of.

Producing AI creative content can be more efficient than many traditional methods but we’re not talking about a lot of the AI slop we’re accustomed to seeing on our feeds.

And those well versed in the traditional workflows (storytellers, designers, content strategists, ad creatives and marketing teams) shouldn't fear losing their jobs. If they up skill, they will actually rise to the top because they have the strongest superpower. Talent, experience and a way of thinking that comes from years of putting in the work that will make them stand out. 

But when working with clients or in collaboration with others, it’s important to have systems and workflows in place. This includes traditional workflows, not just AI. And by the way, the two still have a place in this world. It’s not as binary as many make out.

That’s why at DFC Studio we use Weavy. Weavy, (recently acquired by Figma) is a node based workflow system for creative AI work with a lot of the AI image and video tools in one place. It gives you, your team and clients an overview of the process from start to finish. 

Some clients won’t want to see this but some will. But for sharing and collaborating with your team it's great as it's important that you have systems in place that are transparent, repeatable and scalable. 

Or even if you’re working on your own you can go back quicker and reiterate/refine when client feedback comes back. 

If you’re interested in up skilling your team, At DFC Studio we offer consultancy and workshops to help you do this. These can be done in person or remote. If interested, please reach out (below or in my DM)

---

#Storytelling #Creative #AI #Marketing #Workshops

What Visionary Leaders Get Right About Brand

Brand isn’t just built by the things you do externally.

It's about how you show up internally too.

How your team feels every day.

In this weeks Watercooler Brand Talks (4pm Friday UK), we’ll be talking about the link between leadership, culture, and brand.

Why the strongest brands aren’t built by marketing teams alone. 

They’re shaped by the people leading from the front.

We’ll cover:

– What visionary leaders actually do differently
– How culture quietly builds (or breaks) your brand
– Why brand is the outcome, not the starting point

Join us live and definitely bring a question or two as we have two of the most visionary brand legends in this week as our secret guests who's brains you'll really want to pick.

This is going to be soooo much fun! See you there!

What Visionary Leaders Get Right About Brand

AI took me backwards, not forwards.

In a good way. 

The deeper I get into AI led creative work, the more I find myself leaning on traditional film theory.

At university, (many years ago :)) I specialised in script writing. Dialogue was the starting point, but it never stopped there. I fell into camera movement, physics, timing, weight, motion. How things enter a frame. How they leave it. Why something feels real even when we know it is not.

What fascinated me most was not learning the rules. It was learning them well enough to bend them. To stretch credibility without breaking belief. That’s the magic of film making. Whatever medium. To create moments that feel grounded, even when logic tells you they are constructed.

That mindset has been shaping my use of AI today.

The tools are new. The thinking is not.

If you treat AI as a shortcut, the output shows it. But if you approach it like film making, with intent, some restraint when needed, and an understanding of how humans read motion and story, the work will land very differently.

The recent sizzle reel is a snapshot of that experimentation. It’s not perfect but continuing to dig into what’s possible. 

Essentially storytelling principles wearing new clothes.

Those on the look for someone with a huge amount of experience with operations, delivery, automations, content production and more importantly leadership, Ryan is your man! 

If you're considering working with Ryan and want to speak to me then please do. 

A fab colleague he was.....and an extremely kind human being who is always ready to help, support, upskill and progress the team he works with.

What a loss to PodFirst and what a potentially huge gain for the next company that bags Ryan on their team!

Straight-Talking Guy | Cutting Through the Crap to Deliver Solutions, Growth, and Results That Actually Matter 💥

I have now left PodFirst and I am officially on the lookout for my next role. The timing isn’t perfect with Christmas approaching, but sometimes life pushes you into a new chapter sooner than expected. I made the decision because it was the right one for me and where I am heading next.

I am proud of what I achieved during my time there. It was challenging, fast paced and full of opportunities to grow, and I am grateful for the experience and everything I learned along the way.

For those who don’t know me well, here is what I bring to the table.

I am someone who cares about the work and the people involved. I take responsibility seriously and I show up fully. I work best in environments where pace, clarity and ownership matter. I enjoy solving problems, building systems, improving processes and keeping things moving even when things get busy. I thrive in roles where I can bring structure, calm and direction without losing the human side of it all.

My experience covers operations, delivery, leadership, automation, content production and working directly with clients to get projects over the line. I am at my best when I am trusted to own outcomes and make things happen.

So now I am looking for the right place to bring all of that into something new. If you hear of anything or know someone looking for someone with my skill set, I would really appreciate you pointing them my way.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far.

Onwards.

visible.

Helping founders, executive coaches, and B2B leaders turn LinkedIn into their biggest growth channel.

At visible, we don’t do fluff, templates, or copy-paste “content calendars.”

We ghostwrite for leaders who want their LinkedIn presence to:

- Attract inbound opportunities (clients, investors, speaking gigs)
- Build authority and trust at scale
- Drive pipeline without begging for attention

How we do it:

- Hooks that stop the scroll
- Stories that stick
- Messaging that positions you as the go-to authority in your space

What are the results we deliver, you ask?

Profiles that transform from ghost towns into credibility engines.

Content that sounds human, smart, and bold.

A LinkedIn presence that sells for you while you’re off running the business.

Founder

Mad Marketing Media

Head Of Content

Tonic Worldwide

Copywriter

Copywriting Intern

Personal Branding for CXOs, Founders, and Executives.

LinkedIn is noisy.

Everyone’s posting. Few are remembered. Even fewer convert.

Most feeds look identical.

Buzzwords, recycled advice, and templated content that could’ve been written for anyone.

That sameness is your enemy. It drowns out your voice, your perspective, your credibility.

That’s where I come in.

I run visible, a ghostwriting agency for founders, executive coaches, and B2B leaders who want their LinkedIn presence to:

- Attract opportunities (clients, investors, speaking gigs)
- Build trust at scale
- Drive pipeline without chasing leads


How do I do it?

Through stupid good writing. Writing that actually sounds like you. Writing that makes people stop scrolling, think, and DM.

My approach isn’t templates or gimmicks. It’s:

- Hooks that demand attention
- Stories that stick
- Messaging that positions you as the authority in your space


That’s why my clients, CEOs, coaches, and leaders across industries, see their feeds transform from ghost towns into credibility engines.

If you want LinkedIn content that feels human, sounds smart, and sells for you while you’re off doing actual work…

Let’s talk.

Prakhar Sharma

Them: "We don't use ChatGPT to write LinkedIn posts, nooo, that'd be so lame, come on."

Also them:

"In today's fast-shifting wobbleverse, only the flibberflop can outpace the snizzle.

Because it's not about crinkling the plop. It's about splonking the whizz.

No rizz. No fizz. Just whizz.

Here's the truth:

True leaders don't just bizzle. They full-throttle skadoosh into the wobbleflop."

See the point?

Your reputation is aligned with your content.

And when your posts sound like a custom GPT that decided to have a field day, your reputation will take a beating.

The same holds true for Al-generated comments as well.

Seriously, skip the GPT.

P.S. - If you want your LinkedIn content to ACTUALLY sound like you (and not like some shabby old bot), send me a DM. That's what I do for a living.

P.P.S. - I wrote and published this post 2 months ago and it did fairly well, so yes, this is a shameless repost. Still better than most AI-generated sh*t I see on my feed everyday.

They call me the LinkedIn guy || Building authority & pipeline for founders, execs, & b2b leaders through LinkedIn content

I'm doing everything wrong on LinkedIn.


- I don't schedule my posts.
- I hardly ever post pictures or videos.
- I don't even remember the last time I used a hashtag.

My approach goes against every piece of advice shared by the gurus.

That's because I'm holding on to just one piece of advice:
Staying true to myself on LinkedIn.

Social media is noise.

And with ChatGPT and templates, it's ridiculously easy to become a part of that noise.

Your best bet to stand out is to not do what everyone else is doing.

And stick to what works for you.

It's text-based posts for me. It could be pictures for you.

Find what works.
Double down on it.
Rinse and repeat.

That's how you cut through the noise on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn reach is in the toilet right now. Soon, you'll start seeing posts that claim numbers don't matter.

"Oh, the algorithm hates me."

"I'm not focused on the engagement numbers right now."

"I don't really care about impressions, it's more about the substance."

I say bullshit.

Numbers do matter. Impressions, reach, engagement, they all matter.

Because if no one sees your content, no one hears your ideas.

If no one hears your ideas, no one trusts your expertise.

And if no one trusts your expertise, good luck building a pipeline.

Numbers aren't the ultimate goal, sure. But you can't deny the fact that they bring in visibility.

The kind of visibility that warms up a cold audience, opens doors, starts conversations, and shortens sales cycles.

So before you convince yourself that numbers “don’t matter,” ask one simple question:

If your content reached the right 1,000 people every week - how different would your business look in 6 months?

Exactly.

If you want help getting your content actually seen (and not just written), send me a DM.

Nothing to see here. Just a list of 5 things you should do to make your post sound less like AI and more like you.

(Because I know you naughty nancies won't stop using ChatGPT to write LinkedIn content)

1. Stop writing like you're submitting a college essay. Loosen up.

2. Use the words you actually use in real life, not “henceforth” and “thereafter.”

3. Tell one real story per week. Even a tiny one does the job.

4. Cut every sentence that feels like it was written by a corporate handbook.

5. Read your post out loud. If you cringe, rewrite it.


That’s it.

Simple fixes. Huge difference.

Or you could just skip the whole charade and hire me to write your LinkedIn content.

Much simpler, faster, and better.

I was boarding a flight last week when I got a text from a client.

It was a very short message.

Just this:

“Need a post for tomorrow’s keynote. Can you pull it off before takeoff?”

I had 18 minutes before they closed the cabin door.

Opened Notes.
Sketched the angle.
Wrote the post.
Edited twice.
Hit send.

By the time the air hostess walked by saying “phones on airplane mode,” my phone buzzed one last time:

“Brilliant. Invoice settled.”

That was the whole exchange.

No discovery call or approval chain.

When people know your work, trust your process, and like the way you think, the friction disappears.

That’s what a strong LinkedIn presence buys you.

It builds familiarity long before a conversation happens.

It turns cold strangers into warm believers who already trust your judgment.

And when trust is already in the room, everything moves faster - decisions, approvals, payments.

You stop chasing.
People start coming to you pre-sold.

If you want that kind of ease and deal-flow from LinkedIn, send me a DM. 

That's exactly what I do for a living.

Me: 
*writes a rant post about how the LinkedIn reach is in the toilet and it's getting difficult to stack up impressions*

LinkedIn, the next day:

Last week, my client's post did 800+ reactions and 127,000 impressions. That was followed by a ton of connection invites, DMs, and collaboration requests.

All the numbers and applause felt great, I won't lie, but I was excited about something else.

The post was all words.

No pretty pictures, no carefully curated graphics, nothing at all. 

Just. My. Damn. Words.

So if you've been waiting for the perfect pictures to go with your posts, or that profile design revamp that just can't wait, stop kidding yourself. 

It's not waiting, it's glorified procrastination.

Use your words. Use them right. 

That's all you need on LinkedIn.

Last year, I met a DJ in Dubai. And he wanted to grow his LinkedIn. (Crazy, I know)

You'd think it's impossible. It isn't.

Here's the strategy I came up with:

1. Talk about the numbers:
No, not the chart numbers. Talk about how his music brings in loyal customers to the club every weekend.

2. Talk about your passion for music:
People like people who are passionate about something. Show it to them.

3. Connect with the right stakeholders:
Restaurant owners, marketing managers of hotel chains, etc.

Before, he was clueless.

He knew LinkedIn had potential, but no idea how to tap into it.

Now, he has direction.

He has a way to stand out on LinkedIn.

Now, he is visible. 

That's what I do at my agency.

More visibility.
More awareness.
More opportunities.

You don't need to be a big shot marketer or a tech founder to make some noise on LinkedIn.

All you need is a story.

Along with the right writer who can turn that story into engaging LinkedIn content.

And I think I might just know someone.

This might upset a few of my designer friends, but I think the days of raking in impressions and engagement using fancy graphics on LinkedIn are behind us.

They look great. No doubt about that.

All those colors and shapes. Fun.

But the platform has shifted.

People want to read you.
Your perspective.
Your stories.
Your lived experiences.
Your clarity and conviction.

A good graphic might stop the scroll.
A good sentence keeps people there.

And here's what I've noticed after writing hundreds of posts for founders, execs, and B2B teams:

Words outperform design here.
Authenticity outperforms aesthetics.
And consistency outperforms everything.

You don’t need a design team or a “visual identity.”

You just need something to say and the courage to say it well.

If you're struggling with that part, I help founders and executives turn their real experiences into high-performing text-only posts.

DM me and I’ll show you how.

Most of you don't post on LinkedIn because you don't know what to post. Let's fix that today.

Here are 10 questions that will help you write super engaging posts.

(I've created this list from the same questions I ask my ghostwriting clients.)

Use them. Steal them. Do whatever you want to do with them.

1. What's a client question you've answered 50 times this year?

2. What's the biggest misconception about your work?

3. What's a painful mistake you made that your audience can avoid?

4. What do most people in your industry get completely wrong?

5. What's one lesson from outside business (sports, travel, family) that shapes how you work?

6. What was the hardest decision you made this year, and how did you choose?

7. What's one process or system you swear by and why?

8. What's the most underrated skill in your industry right now?

9. What's a belief you had starting out that turned out to be false?

10. What do you want every new client to know before working with you?

Answer these and you'll have 10 posts ready to go.

The truth is you don't need more "content ideas."

You need sharper questions that expose the stories and insights hiding in plain sight.


P.S. If you'd rather focus on running your business and get high-performance LinkedIn posts like these written for you → DM me.

That's what I do for a living

Most of you treat LinkedIn like it’s a Hogwarts potions exam and Professor Snape is glaring at you from two feet away.

Drop 17 comments before posting. 
Reply to all recent DMs.
Add a bit of bezoar.
Mix it with some murtlap tentacles.
Finish it off with mistletoe berries.

Seriously, please stop.

Here are 4 things that actually move the needle:

1. Write interesting posts that actually feel like they were written by a living, breathing human. (Or get someone to do it for you)

2. Add relevant people to your network. (Creators and target audience)

3. Spend time in the DMs. Get those conversations going. 

4. Support your peers via comments.

That's it. Everything else is just noise that is distracting you from the real stuff. 

Take my advice, keep things simple. Simple works.

(If you don't believe me, just ask Harry)

taplio

The Battle

Ash Rathod

Prakhar Sharma

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taplio

The Battle

Ash Rathod

Prakhar Sharma

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ash Rathod's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreAsh Rathod's LinkedIn Performance