Weekly Digital Marketing & Generative AI for Marketing News from Your Digital Marketing Coach
Every Friday I provide a curated newsletter for thousands of marketers, entrepreneurs, business owners and content creators that covers the latest news as well as actionable advice on all things digital, content, influencer, and social media marketing. I try my best to also provide advice on the latest developments of generative AI and how to leverage it for marketing as well as personal branding for your digital presence.
Share
27% Of CMOs Remain Reluctant To Adopt Generative AI | Instagram Will Now Let You Schedule And Pin DMs | B2B Marketing On TikTok: What You Need To Know+ More!
This week I had an epiphany moment regarding AI in my work.
Many are talking about the LLMs or certain prompts, but I think everyone is missing the point.
Just as I talk about how you need a Digital-First approach in your marketing in Digital Threads, I think a similar approach is needed to get the most benefits from AI.
What that means is that you need an AI-First approach to your marketing.
What about Digital-First then, you ask?
It's simple: Digital-First marketing is about engaging with the outside world, AI-First marketing is how you optimize all of your internal marketing operations.
You can listen to the entire episode here (or through the Spotify embed below), but I am so excited about the potential of this mindset that I am thinking of creating a new community to help assist you in implementing what I teach. I already have a Digital-First Group Coaching Community, so this would be a similar one for an AI-First Community, where it is ALL about AI. If you might be interested in joining this, please indicate your interest by clicking here - you'll be sent to one of my blog posts but it will tag you for further follow up. Or you can just reply to this email to let me know. Thank you!
Please note: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you.
“Google doesn’t care if content is AI-generated. They care if it’s spam.” – Jon Gillham
In this episode of Your Digital Marketing Coach, I sit down with Jon Gillham, co-founder of Originality.ai, to talk about the risks and realities of AI in content marketing.
Does AI content get penalized?
How can businesses use AI responsibly?
What tools help maintain quality and originality?
If you're creating content, this is a must-listen!
A new Gartner report reveals that 27% of CMOs are still hesitant to embrace generative AI, despite its growing impact on high-performing marketing teams. While nearly half of adopters see major benefits in areas like campaign evaluation and content creation, others remain skeptical due to costs, ethical concerns, and unclear ROI. The takeaway? Ignoring AI could put brands at risk, while leaders are already using it to optimize strategy and stay ahead.
Instagram DMs just got a serious upgrade.You can now schedule messages up to 29 days in advance, pin up to three chats, and even translate messages in 99 languages. Plus, music sharing lets you sync up with friends without leaving the app. Whether you're keeping group chats organized or bridging time zones, these updates make Instagram’s messaging experience more seamless, social, and fun. Rolling out globally!
Fiverr is embracing AI, letting freelancers train models on their own work and sell access to them. With its new Fiverr Go suite, creators in fields like graphic design, copywriting, and voiceovers can monetize AI models while keeping control over their creative process. However, Fiverr warns that exclusive outputs aren’t guaranteed. This shift signals a new era for freelancers, blending AI’s efficiency with human expertise—but also raising questions about originality and ownership.
US online media spend soared to $360.9 billion in 2024, growing 14.2% from the previous year.Search and social media led the way, with social growing the fastest at 19.6%.CTV, influencer marketing, and digital video also saw strong gains, while digital audio and mobile gaming lagged. In 2025, online spend is expected to hit 69.2% of total ad spend, with digital video projected to lead growth.Brands must adapt to shifting media trends to stay competitive.
AI Overviews are shaking up SEO, but not as fast as expected. A meta-analysis of 19 studies shows that AI Overviews mostly impact informational, long-tail queries, pushing organic results down and reducing click-through rates—unless your site is cited. To adapt, optimize for citations with concise, high-quality answers and test content on platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn. AI isn’t replacing SEO, but it’s changing the game—stay ahead by evolving your strategy now.
If you’re serious about improving your email marketing, tracking sales outreach, or understanding customer engagement, the right email tracking software is a game-changer. This guide covers 15 top tools that provide real-time open notifications, click tracking, and in-depth analytics to help you optimize performance. Whether you’re a marketer, salesperson, or business owner, these insights will help you boost conversions, refine your messaging, and improve follow-ups—so you can send smarter, more effective emails!
B2B marketing on TikTok? Absolutely. While the platform is often seen as a Gen Z playground, decision-makers are getting younger, and TikTok’s reach extends well beyond viral dances. With short-form video, in-app shopping, and a trend-driven culture, brands can educate, engage, and build trust in a fresh, authentic way. This guide breaks down strategies, best practices, and real B2B success stories—proving TikTok is a must for modern marketers.
Social listening is a game-changer for B2B marketers looking to stay ahead of industry trends. By monitoring online conversations, brands can track sentiment, uncover growth opportunities, and refine their marketing strategies based on real-time data. This guide covers five best practices, from analyzing competitors to leveraging influencer marketing, helping businesses turn insights into action. Start listening today to improve engagement, enhance brand reputation, and drive smarter decision-making.
Recommended Newsletters of the Week
The Full-Stack Marketer
Everything marketing for small teams.
Weekly marketing strategies for small businesses with efficiency and effectiveness in mind.
Named as a top thought leader and one to follow by Forbes and LinkedIn for Nonprofits, Julia Campbell is a nonprofit digital consultant, speaker, and author on a mission to make the digital world a better place. Host of the acclaimed Nonprofit Nation podcast, she’s written two books for nonprofits on social media and storytelling, and her online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking. You can learn more about Julia at www.jcsocialmarketing.com/blog
Check out the resources I offer below and sign up for my newsletter!
Through my newsletter I explore the foundations of marketing, how to implement them in your business, and lessons from the great campaigns of the past.
Tired of marketing advice that’s either obvious or outright shady? Strategic AF flips the script. It's the only newsletter that treats solopreneurs, founders, and marketers like grown-ups, not toddlers looking for the next shiny toy. Subscribe to get sharp, no-nonsense strategy advice without the cringe. No bro-marketing, no fluff — just real, sustainable growth tactics. Subscribe if you want results. Scroll past if you prefer gimmicks.
As a content creator juggling blogging, podcasting, YouTube, and social media, I know the right tools can save time, boost engagement, and improve rankings. This guide breaks down the 20 best content creation tools, from image editors like Canva to AI writing assistants like Jasper and video tools like CapCut. Whether you're crafting blog posts, designing visuals, or editing videos, these tools will streamline your workflow and help you create high-quality content more efficiently!
This comprehensive guide to website monetization breaks down proven strategies for turning your site into a revenue-generating asset. Whether you’re just starting or managing an established website, I explain key revenue models like display ads, affiliate marketing, digital products, and consulting services—each with different traffic and revenue potential. If you’re serious about making money from your website, this article will help you strategically choose and optimize the best monetization methods for long-term success!
Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. I hope you enjoy the new high-contrast white background and that the text is easier to read! Please let me know what you think!
P.S. Pressing the unsubscribe button at the bottom will remove you from all communication from me. If you'd like to keep in touch and only receive monthly, instead of weekly, newsletters, please click here. Thank you!
Weekly Digital Marketing & Generative AI for Marketing News from Your Digital Marketing Coach
Neal Schaffer
Every Friday I provide a curated newsletter for thousands of marketers, entrepreneurs, business owners and content creators that covers the latest news as well as actionable advice on all things digital, content, influencer, and social media marketing. I try my best to also provide advice on the latest developments of generative AI and how to leverage it for marketing as well as personal branding for your digital presence.
Read more from Weekly Digital Marketing & Generative AI for Marketing News from Your Digital Marketing Coach
Neal Schaffer February 28, 2025 Hey Reader, I had an amazing interview yesterday with journalist turned copywriter Steven Lewis (you can watch it here). He talked about how you can literally use ChatGPT as your CMO. While that might sound far-fetched for some, he provided some very tactical and actionable feedback to help you think differently about AI, similar along the lines of what I talked about last week. The writing is on the wall: AI can help amplify your IP and bring your business or...
Neal Schaffer February 15, 2025 Hey Reader, This week was a catch up week coming back from my second trip to Japan so far this year. You can read my complete report of my attending Japan's largest startup conference, TechGALA, in my LinkedIn newsletter here: Inside TechGALA: How Central Japan Is Transforming into a Global Startup Powerhouse We are now entering speaking season, so I am now focusing on content creation for my upcoming presentations over the next few months. Can't wait to share...
Neal Schaffer February 10, 2025 Hey Reader, I spent a crazy yet fruitful week last week in Nagoya, Japan attending Japan's largest conference all about startups, TechGALA. I had a chance to interview several of what many expect to be Japan's next "unicorns," and one thing that struck me was their focus on technology or product. In other words, when given the microphone, all of their conversations revolved around their feature sets. Of course, this is essential information, but outside of that...
