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Hey Reader,
By the time you read this, I will have probably finished my keynote at the Multifamily Social Media Summit in Napa, California.
The topic of my keynote is revealed in this week's podcast episode and the latest one I am publishing today (which will be in next week's newsletter) continues on theme of re-imagining our company's social media presence.
For anyone that has read Digital Threads, you already know what I am talking about, but if not, let me share a quote of mine directly from my book:
The concept that brands need to generate 100% of their own content for social media is not just wrong; it is a fundamental misunderstanding of how to operate on social media. Listen to this week's podcast episode to learn more about the why and what brands should be doing instead.
Note that this is only a perspective on social media for businesses, not individual people like business owners or entrepreneurs. Social media was made for us, and our personal brands are more important than ever.
Now on to this week's news!
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.
This Week's Podcast Episode
The Death Of Traditional Social Media Marketing (And What Comes Next)
The old way of using social media is dead!
Follower count doesn’t matter anymore—content does. If you’re still posting like a business instead of a content creator, you’re falling behind.
The good news? You have two paths to success:
- Become a content creator
- Leverage user-generated content (UGC)
Which one is right for your business? In my latest episode of Your Digital Marketing Coach, I break it all down and share how you can thrive on social media in 2025.
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This comprehensive playbook demystifies digital marketing, offering a clear roadmap to building and growing your brand on a realistic budget.
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This Week's Top Articles
NEWS
Google AI Mode - It's Here - Here Is How To Access It
Google has officially launched AI Mode, a new search experiment that enhances reasoning, thinking, and multimodal capabilities. Available first to Google One AI Premium users, this feature provides real-time web data using an advanced "query fan-out" technique. Unlike AI Overviews, AI Mode has a dedicated tab in Search, making AI-driven results more structured and discoverable. This could change how we interact with Google, especially for complex queries.
Report Finds AI Tools Are Not Good At Citing Accurate Sources
AI search tools aren’t as reliable as they seem. A new Tow Center for Digital Journalism study found that over 60% of AI chatbot responses contained incorrect information, with Elon Musk’s Grok 3 being 94% inaccurate. Worse, some AI tools access content they shouldn’t, ignoring copyright restrictions. While AI can enhance research, it can’t replace critical thinking—a key lesson for younger users growing up with AI as their go-to search tool. AI is a tool, not the answer.
Data: Google Search Had 22% Growth In Searches Year Over Year
Google Search is thriving, not shrinking. A new Sparktoro report reveals that Google searches grew 21.64% year over year, defying concerns that AI-driven answers would reduce search volume. Even with the rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini, Google remains dominant—handling 14 billion searches per day, compared to ChatGPT’s 37.5 million. This data underscores the continued importance of SEO and search marketing in the AI era.
The Top 3 YouTube Trends To Pay Attention To Right Now
YouTube is more powerful than ever, and marketers need to take notice. From AI-driven search results featuring YouTube content to the rise of YouTube Shorts and TV viewership, the platform is evolving fast. AI Overviews are citing more how-to videos, product demos, and tutorials, while Shorts are booming, fueled by new AI tools. Plus, with TV screens now the top way people watch YouTube, brands must rethink their ad strategies. Don’t get left behind—this is the future of video marketing.
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Featured Tool Of The Week
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is the email-first operating system for creators! Kit helps you foster deeper connections to build a business with purpose that's profitable and sustainable—a valuable business.
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More Top Articles For The Week
SEO ADVICE
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): SEO For ChatGPT And AI-Driven Search Engines
AI-driven search is changing the game, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the future. Unlike traditional SEO, GEO ensures your content ranks in AI-generated responses by optimizing for natural language, structured data, and contextual relevance. This guide covers key strategies like allowing AI crawlers, implementing IndexNow, optimizing for featured snippets, and increasing brand mentions. As AI reshapes search, brands must adapt or risk becoming invisible. Stay ahead with GEO and future-proof your content strategy today!
A Practical Guide To Increasing Your Website’s Domain Authority For Better Rankings
If you’re looking to boost your website’s search visibility, understanding and improving Domain Authority (DA) is key. In this blog post, I break down exactly what DA is, why it matters, and the proven strategies to increase it—covering everything from backlink quality and content authority to technical SEO and internal linking. Whether you're building a new site or refining an existing one, these insights will help you drive sustainable SEO success.
SOCIAL ADVICE
We Spent >$1 Million Sponsoring Creators. Here’s What We Learned About B2B Influencer Marketing
Sponsoring creators isn’t just about throwing money at influencers—it’s about smart, strategic partnerships. After spending over $1M on creator collaborations, the leading SEO tool company Ahrefs has shared what they learned works: low-friction offers, brand credibility, thorough vetting, and smart negotiation. From using ChatGPT to find partners to negotiating fair rates and analyzing reports, their approach ensures every dollar spent delivers impact. If you want to maximize your influencer marketing, this guide lays out the blueprint.
Social Media Culture: Why Cultural Fluency Is A Must For Brands
Social media culture isn’t just a trend—it’s the heartbeat of modern communication, commerce, and community. This deep dive from my friends at Sprout Social explores how brands can stay culturally fluent, from leveraging influencers and viral trends to embracing sub-communities and user-generated content. With 93% of consumers expecting brands to keep up, understanding social media’s evolving landscape is essential for relevance and engagement. Ready to future-proof your brand? This guide has everything you need.
Report Looks At Best Time To Post To Social Apps In 2025
When’s the best time to post on social media? The answer depends on your audience, but Hootsuite’s latest research offers valuable insights. Instagram sees high engagement on weekday mornings and evenings, while Facebook favors early mornings (4-6 AM, Tue-Fri). LinkedIn performs best on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and TikTok peaks in the afternoons. These aren’t universal rules, but they’re a great starting point for optimizing your content strategy. Test and tweak to see what works for your brand!
AI ADVICE
AI Assistants: How To Level Up Your Work
AI assistants can revolutionize your business. Whether you need 24/7 support, streamlined content creation, strategic planning, or personalized brand voice consistency, AI can boost efficiency and productivity. Using frameworks like RICCE, you can train AI models to handle specialized tasks, from marketing strategy to podcast production. This guide walks you through building, customizing, and leveraging AI assistants—helping you save time, stay focused, and scale smarter. Ready to level up your workflow? Let AI be your work buddy!
Stuck In A Creative Rut? 5 AI Prompts To Help Your Content
Struggling with content creation? AI can help! Whether you need fresh ideas, research assistance, content structure improvements, or format variations, AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity AI can boost creativity and efficiency. This guide shares five powerful AI prompts to help you break out of creative ruts, improve readability, and enhance engagement. If you’re tired of writing the same thing over and over, these strategies will make your content stand out—and make your life easier.
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Recommended Newsletters of the Week
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Strategic AF
by Adriana Tica
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. |
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Julia Campbell
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! |
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Zakery Rathbone-Scott
Helping B2B Coaches & Consultants Build Authority Online
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. |
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Brian W Piper
Husband, father, author, speaker, adventurer
If you're a content marketer or content creator who wants to know how to make the most of your time and optimize your content. |
Latest From My Blog
Why UGC Ads Are The Future Of Advertising (And How To Use Them)
User-generated content (UGC) ads are changing the game in advertising, offering authenticity, trust, and engagement that traditional ads struggle to achieve. In my latest guide, I break down how to create effective UGC ads, the best platforms to use, and proven strategies to encourage high-quality customer content. Whether you're looking to boost conversions, cut ad costs, or enhance credibility, this guide will help you harness UGC’s full potential for your brand.
15 Best Marketing Automation Tools To Streamline Your Strategy In 2025
Marketing automation tools are essential for streamlining your email campaigns, audience segmentation, and lead management. In my latest guide, I break down the best tools for 2025, from ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp to Klaviyo and Drip, helping you choose the right one for your business. Whether you’re a small business or a growing enterprise, these platforms will save time, improve targeting, and boost conversions—all while integrating seamlessly with your marketing stack.
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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!
If I can be of any help to you or your organization please consider joining my Digital First Group Coaching Membership Community or considering hiring me as a Fractional CMO.
Warm regards,
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Fractional CMO / Author / Speaker / Educator
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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!
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