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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Neal Schaffer March 21, 2025 Hey Reader, My spring speaking tour continues to Ohio next week, where I will be speaking at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio! I don't know how many of you might be in the area, but I thought I would let you know in case you wanted to attend as it will be a free event and chance to meet in person! You can find the details below. Click on the image to register or click here. Now on to this week's news! Please note: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate...
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