Latest Digital / Social Media Marketing News & Insights

​Presented by Neal Schaffer​

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In this week's newsletter:

• Google’s new AI Mode is changing the rules of search—again.
• Target is stepping up its AI game—launching a ChatGPT app!
• Adobe just made a bold $1.9 billion move, acquiring Semrush.

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Now on to this week's top news and insights!

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This Week's News

Pew: 84% Of Adults Use YouTube As Platform Growth Continues Pew’s latest research confirms it: YouTube is still king, with 84% of U.S. adults using it—more than any other platform. In this quick but data-packed update, you’ll get insights on where real growth is happening (think TikTok, Instagram, Reddit) and how platform use shifts by age, gender, and education. If you're planning content or ad strategy, this gives you a clear roadmap on where to focus and how to tailor your message. Search Engine Journal​

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Adobe Bolsters AI Marketing Tools With $1.9 Billion Semrush Buy Adobe just made a bold $1.9 billion move, acquiring Semrush to supercharge its AI marketing game. This isn’t just about SEO—Adobe’s aiming to merge search intelligence with its creative tools to help brands understand how they show up in search, social, and even AI bots like ChatGPT. If you care about content visibility, AI strategy, or digital marketing trends, this deal signals a big shift worth paying attention to. Reuters​

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Creators Say Their Content Performs Best On TikTok Even though Instagram is more popular, creators say TikTok delivers the best performance for their content. In this new CreatorIQ report, 1 in 3 creators rank TikTok as their top-performing platform—outpacing Instagram and YouTube. While brands still lean toward Instagram for ROI, agencies side with creators. If you’re working with creators or planning influencer campaigns, this highlights a key shift: performance is happening on TikTok, not just presence. Marketing Charts​

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Target To Launch ChatGPT App With Multi-Item Baskets, Fresh Food Target is stepping up its AI game—launching a ChatGPT app that lets you shop for multiple items, including fresh food, with personalized suggestions and flexible pickup or delivery options. This makes Target one of the first retailers to go deep with commerce inside ChatGPT. If you're a marketer or retailer, this signals a big shift: AI-driven shopping is no longer experimental—it’s here and getting smarter. Retail Dive​

Recommended Digital Marketing Agency (see all of my recommendations on my Clutch Digital Marketing Agency List)

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More News

96% of Businesses Are Already Leveraging LLM Models Like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity For Content Creation: Goodfirms Survey A new Goodfirms survey shows 96% of businesses are already using LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for content creation—and not just for blogs. From SEO and market research to campaign design, AI is quickly becoming the norm, not the experiment. If you’re still on the fence, this is your sign: AI-driven marketing isn’t optional anymore—it’s the standard. Learn what’s working, what’s risky, and how to stay competitive in this shifting landscape. Martech Series​

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Google AI Mode Changes The Customer Journey — Your Content Strategy Must Too Google’s new AI Mode is changing the rules of search—again. This isn’t just about rankings anymore; it’s about becoming the trusted source AI chooses to cite. In this sharp, must-read article, Pierre DeBois breaks down how AI Mode impacts visibility, why zero-click searches are rising, and what your team needs to do now to stay discoverable. If organic traffic matters to your business, this is your AISO (AI Search Optimization) wake-up call. CMS Wire​

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The Role Of Brand Authority And E-E-A-T In The AI Search Era As AI-generated answers reshape how people find and trust information, brand authority and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) are becoming your new SEO power tools. In this deep dive, Duane Forrester shows why being ranked isn’t enough—you need to be trusted enough to be cited by AI. If you rely on organic search, this piece is your playbook for staying visible in an era where answers come before clicks. Search Engine Journal​

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How A Simple Google Sheet Helped Me Post Consistently On LinkedIn For The First Time In 5 Years If LinkedIn consistency feels impossible, this post is your permission slip to simplify. Oluwaseun Akinlembola over at Buffer shares how a basic Google Sheet + a 3-part framework (KLA: Know, Learn, Aspire) helped him finally post regularly—and land real gigs. No hacks. Just a smart, repeatable system that tracks what works, builds momentum, and sparks connection. If you’re tired of overthinking LinkedIn, this article shows how to make it doable—and even fun. Buffer​

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​Maximizing LinkedIn For Business Growth​

Explore and learn key strategies to leverage LinkedIn effectively, based on my latest book, Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth.​

Latest From My Blog

How To Start A Faceless YouTube Automation Channel If you've been curious about starting a YouTube channel without showing your face, this is the no-fluff guide you need. In this blog post I personally wrote, I walk you through how to build a scalable, automated YouTube business—from picking the right niche to using smart tools and avoiding pitfalls. If you're serious about growing income without being on camera, this is the realistic roadmap you’ve been looking for. Neal Schaffer​

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How Pinterest Works (And How To Make It Work For You) Pinterest isn’t just about pretty pictures—it’s a powerful visual search engine that’s wildly underused by professionals and creators. In my latest post, I’ll show you how to use Pinterest to organize ideas, spark creativity, and even drive traffic to your content. Whether you're planning a brand launch or building a swipe file, this guide gives you real, actionable ways to make Pinterest work smarter for you. Neal Schaffer​