How have you used another social media or digital platform (such as Snapchat, Medium, Substack, Mastodon, Discord, Tumblr, BeReal, or others) to tell stories in a way that deserves recognition? Please provide a link to your profile, channel, or story.

On TikTok (@nickii, 7.4M followers) I've turned short-form video into a storytelling stage where horror feels both cinematic and intimate. My content weaves together folklore, true crime, and paranormal investigations in serialized arcs that hook viewers with cliffhangers, makeup transformations, and immersive sound design. What sets my work apart is the interactive nature of the stories. Fans submit their own ghost encounters, vote on outcomes, and join in decoding mysteries, transforming passive viewing into an experience that feels like a haunted sleepover with millions of best friends. I've created series like the Mary Trilogy, Haunted Objects, and Mothman Sightings that blend entertainment with cultural folklore, sparking viral conversations across platforms. This approach has built not just a following, but a community—the Banshee Society—where storytelling becomes a shared moment. By fusing horror aesthetics with audience participation, I've proven that TikTok can be more than quick content: it can be a place where people gather, scream, and connect through story. Everyone has a ghost story, even if they don't believe in them. tiktok.com/@nickii

Hi, I am Maksym Zakharko ( Chief Marketing Officer / Marketing Consultant), expert in media buying, user acquisition, and team leadership. Published author, industry speaker, podcaster and judge. 170+ certifications, MBA, and 10+ years in digital marketing, more information about me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maksymzakharko/ https://maksymzakharko.com https://maksymzakharko.com/certifications/ My Answer: In my work as a marketing consultant, one of the most interesting experiments I ran was using Medium not as a blogging platform, but as a storytelling engine for a client in the health and wellness space. The brand's own blog struggled to gain traction because it had low domain authority, so we decided to publish thought-leadership pieces and customer stories on Medium, where the built-in audience and recommendation system gave us much higher visibility. One of the stories we told was about how vitamin drip therapy was helping local entrepreneurs manage burnout. Instead of a sales pitch, we published a narrative-style article that blended personal anecdotes, medical insights, and a subtle call to action at the end. What happened was eye-opening—within a few weeks, the article had been recommended hundreds of times, reached a readership far outside our usual audience, and started driving referral traffic back to the clinic's booking page. The biggest lesson for me was that on platforms like Medium, authenticity and story-first content outperform traditional marketing. By leaning into storytelling instead of promotion, we built credibility and tapped into organic reach we couldn't achieve on the brand's site alone. Here's a link to my Medium profile where I've shared similar marketing insights: https://medium.com/@maksymzakharko

I've chosen Quora as my storytelling platform, to share insights, experiences, and approaches in a way that fosters trust and initiates value-building conversations around useful information for my audience. Quora is unlike traditional blogging or social media content, readers are likely to engage and share responses, knowing they are getting answers from someone with expertise in an area. Quora is an ideal space for thought leadership. On my Quora profile (https://www.quora.com/profile/Syed-Irfan-Ajmal), I have answered a number of questions related to concepts of digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and personal development, as systemic responses that are helpful and concise. Each response is meant to feel more like a mini case study, rooted in real-life experience and practice rather than theory. The format of Quora responds well to allowing enough to depth while avoiding any needless fluff, meaning I am better able to connect with an audience that is interested in something of value without style. Quora is able to turn the simplest everyday questions, posed by people trying to make meaning of their situation, into meaningful stories. Whether I am simplifying a marketing tactic for a regular person in business, or simply reflecting of my development as a business person and what my journey has looked like, the goal is always the same—to share something useful, honest, and if lucky, memorable.

I've leaned heavily on LinkedIn to tell stories that cut through the noise in a way founders and investors can both relate to. Instead of just posting updates, I've made it a practice to share short stories from my journey at spectup, moments when a pitch deck opened doors, when an investor pulled out last minute, or when a founder nearly gave up before we helped them reposition. One post that got strong traction was about a founder who walked into a call with a 40-slide deck and left with a concise, 12-slide version we crafted together; the story resonated because it was painfully real for many entrepreneurs. Those kinds of authentic, slightly behind-the-scenes accounts have built more trust than any polished marketing campaign could. What I've learned is that people on LinkedIn don't just want frameworks or advice; they want to see the scars and the small wins. I keep my tone personal, mix in reflections, and occasionally allow humor to show that even consultants don't always have perfect days. Over time, that's helped spectup's brand feel approachable rather than corporate. If you'd like to see how I do it, here's my LinkedIn profile where I share these stories: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nschlopsna/

I've been using Medium as my main digital platform to tell stories that go beyond quick social posts and dive deeper into ideas that matter. What makes Medium special is its ability to blend personal voice with a professional look, allowing me to write long-form pieces that people actually spend time reading. Over the past year, I've focused on sharing stories around how generative AI, remote work, and digital marketing trends are reshaping the way we connect online, while also weaving in personal experiences to keep it relatable. Instead of just pushing information, I experiment with interactive storytelling techniques—like structuring articles with bite-sized takeaways, embedding visuals, and linking to real-world case studies—so readers feel like they're part of a conversation, not just consuming content. This approach has helped me build an engaged audience that comments, shares, and even reaches out directly for collaborations. I believe my work on Medium deserves recognition because it shows how a platform often seen as "just blogging" can actually become a space for meaningful dialogue and community-building. You can view my stories here: [Your Medium Profile Link].

I've used Medium not just to publish content but to grow visibility, credibility, and connection in ways my own blog alone could not achieve. On my Medium profile (medium.com/@calebkingston) I've written about design thinking, visual hierarchy, task analysis, and collaborated with Adobe on articles. But more than content I see Medium as a platform with its own audience of people already seeking design and product insight. Posting on Medium gives me access to built-in readers who may never find my blog but are curious about UI/UX design, tools, and case studies. It lets me test ideas, see what resonates, and amplify my reach without carrying all the weight of traffic acquisition. When I collaborate with bigger partners, I get cross-promotion and credibility by association. That makes each story not just something I publish but something that builds my authority. As a design instructor I tell stories about how design works, not just in theory but in real tools and workflows. On Medium I'll show sketches, data, and decision points in a way that speaks to both learners and professionals. Because the audience is already expectant of depth I can dive into what's normally skipped: why design decisions matter, how they impact user behavior, how to use tools well. Advice for others: use platforms like Medium to supplement your blog. Write there to grow brand awareness and reach people beyond your existing audience. Align your content with what people are already searching for in that space. Then use that momentum in your own channels—link back to your site, include lead magnets or teaching tools, invite people to follow you elsewhere. And when you create content that does well on Medium, promote it through your network so you amplify both reach and credibility.

We took over a Tumblr project called WhoPaysInfluencers.com, which originally published anonymous submissions of what brands paid creators. It got picked up by Digiday, business insider & multiple press. URLs: https://digiday.com/marketing/pays-influencers-new-site-crowdsources-influencer-marketing-rates/ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-do-influencers-get-paid-2016-5 https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opinion/the-paradox-of-buying-influence/en-gb/2389 We've since rebranded the site an agency front to help creators find brands because Tumblr's no longer active for our audience and we stopped getting submissions. Still, it told real stories that helped creators price fairly.

On Medium, I have shared stories that highlight how technology and human creativity come together. I often write about the way AI supports writers and creators, not as a replacement but as a partner. A favorite example I wrote about is the book 1 the Road, where Ross Goodwin and an AI shaped a story from road trip data. That project inspired me to think about how AI can help storytellers break through blocks and discover fresh angles. I also covered unique projects like the short film Sunspring, written by an AI named Benjamin, and how interactive games such as AI Dungeon allow people to build their own stories in real time. These examples give a clear picture of AI as a creative assistant. In my own work, I've drawn from similar tools. Sudowrite, for instance, has helped me suggest dialogue and plot twists that sparked new ideas when I felt stuck. That practical benefit is worth sharing because it shows how accessible these tools have become. Writers, students, and professionals can apply these lessons to their own work. My advice is simple: don't see AI as the final word, but as a collaborator that pushes your imagination forward. Always disclose when you've used AI so readers understand the process. At Tech Advisors, Elmo Taddeo and I have often reminded clients that accuracy and integrity rest with the human creator.

I have used the LinkedIn social media platform to publish in-depth articles on SEO. I worked on a project where an article was posted every day for a specific time period. It involved creating content on the different aspects of SEO. The main purpose was to increase awareness about SEO. The project took off slowly, with posts of limited word length, and as it progressed, the length of the articles increased. The articles provided in-depth knowledge, which led to an increase in shares, likes and comments. The content was later converted to infographics and videos to improve engagement. We connected with the audience by replying to the comments. We created content on SEO that the audience would like to engage with. The content covered the latest trends and Google core updates, which helped to increase the engagement. Different topics covered were how to improve a website's rankings, on-page seo, off-page seo, technical seo, link-building, SEO tools, and more. The articles were created in detail to educate the audience on various SEO subtopics. A spreadsheet was created to keep track of the content published. By publishing content every day, we provided a new topic to the audience daily. Our LinkedIn profile page link - https://www.linkedin.com/company/supramind-digital-pvt-ltd/

I used Substack to build a narrative-style newsletter where each post followed the behind-the-scenes journey of growing my brand, almost like serialized chapters. Instead of short social updates, I treated it like long-form storytelling—tying lessons to real moments, successes, and mistakes. It created a deeper connection with readers who began replying, sharing, and even becoming clients because they felt part of the story. That slower, more personal format stood out in a world of quick content bursts.