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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AI Overviews are Impacting SEO. Here’s What to Do About It | Delegation 2.0: Scaling Content Creation with Generative AI + Freelancers for <$1K A Month | Marketers Have Lots of AI, But Not Enough Direction + More!
I have lived in Irvine, California since 2005, but I have never joined its chamber. This is despite the fact that I have spoken at other local chambers, and Irvine itself is a booming economic capital of Orange County.
At the meeting, I was reminded that marketing is about connection.
You see, there were a lot of new potential members like myself as well as others that had signed up recently and were attending a meeting for the first time.
The chamber CEO, in his opening speech, reminded us that networking and meeting strangers was not natural, and it was OK to feel uncomfortable. However, we were all there for the same reason, despite some of us feeling awkward: Connection.
And it reminded me that marketing should really be about connection as well. Many don't feel comfortable selling or over-promoting. Why don't, instead, we truly try to first connect with others and develop relationships through serving other first?
That is how I network, and if I end up joining the chamber, how I hope to serve the greater business community here.
Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce? If so I'd love to hear from you about your experience!
Now on to this week's Top 10 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.
In this episode, I sit down with SEO legend Bruce Clay to dive deep into how AI is reshaping the SEO landscape. Bruce shares insights from decades of experience and explains why we should feel optimistic about the new SEO—which includes everything from AIO (AI Overviews) to SERP visibility strategy. If you're unsure how to adapt your content and SEO efforts in an AI-driven world, this episode is full of perspective and actionable advice you won’t want to miss.
In this episode of Your Digital Marketing Coach, I’m giving you a real, step-by-step system for scaling content creation with AI + freelancers—and doing it all for under $1,000 a month. Whether you're a solopreneur or small business, you'll learn how to balance quality, consistency, and budget without burning out. If content has you overwhelmed, this episode is your tactical roadmap to do more with less. Stick around to the end!
Google I/O 2025 just dropped a tidal wave of updates—and AI is front and center. From AI Mode in Search and the Gemini 2.5 upgrade, to the launch of real-time Gemini Live video, Flow (AI filmmaking), and even a $250/month AI Ultra plan, Google is all-in on AI across its ecosystem. Add in Project Astra, Android XR, and SynthID for watermark detection, and it's clear: Google isn’t just updating tools—they're redefining how we interact with tech.
Google just supercharged Search with AI—and it’s a big deal. At I/O, they announced the U.S. rollout of AI Mode, plus a global expansion of AI Overviews to 200+ countries and 40+ languages. With features like Deep Search, Live Visual Search, AI shopping tools, and even AI agents to help book tickets and tables, this is a huge shift in search behavior. If you do SEO or content, this is your cue to adapt—fast.
AI Overviews are stealing clicks—but your SEO strategy doesn’t have to suffer. This post breaks down how Google’s AI answers are reshaping search and gives you actionable ways to stay visible, from building “AI-resistant” content to optimizing for snippets and strengthening your brand authority. If you’re serious about protecting traffic and leads in this new era of search, this is your must-read playbook for adapting, not panicking.
Influencer seeding is a smart, low-risk way to build real relationships with creators before jumping into paid partnerships. This guide breaks down how to send products without expectations, track results, and grow long-term loyalty. If you’re looking to create authentic buzz, stretch your budget, or test influencer fit before investing, this post gives you the exact playbook to do it right.
Despite all the AI hype, most marketers still don’t have a plan. According to the 2025 State of Marketing AI Report, 64% of teams lack an AI roadmap, and over half have no AI policies, ethics, or governance in place. But the good news? Those numbers are improving. This post is a reality check—and a call to action—on why strategy, training, and structure are essential if you want to compete in the AI-powered future of marketing.
Worried AI will water down your brand? This guide shows you how to train AI to sound just like you—so you can create more content, faster, without losing your voice. Using the Brand Blueprint method, you’ll learn how to align AI with your identity, message, and style for content that feels real, not robotic. If you're scaling content, this is your shortcut to authenticity at scale.
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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.
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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Every second Wednesday, I share fresh ideas to help you rise above the noise and communicate more clearly, confidently, and YOU-ly (Yes. That’s a word now).
I wrote this post to help you stop treating your LinkedIn photo as an afterthought. A strong headshot is more than a nice picture—it’s your digital first impression and a key driver of profile views, trust, and opportunity. Whether you're going pro, DIY, or trying AI, this guide walks you through what to wear, how to pose, and how to align your photo with your personal brand and industry.
If you've ever wondered how to truly measure the success of your influencer marketing, this is the post for you. I wrote this guide to break down what ROI really means in influencer marketing—because it's more than just sales. From engagement and reach to content value and long-term impact, I’ll show you how to track the metrics that matter and build a smarter, more profitable influencer strategy.
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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.
Read more from Weekly Digital Marketing & Generative AI for Marketing News from Your Digital Marketing Coach
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Neal Schaffer's Top 10 Weekly News May 09, 2025 Hey Reader, Writing to you from San Diego where I just got off the stage at DigiMarCon San Diego. I ended up doing two presentations, one where I talked about how UGC can help you reimagine your social media marketing strategy for exponentially better results, and another where I did a workshop going through the main tactics that I teach in Digital Threads. Overall good reception, got to see some of my fave influencers (that's you Dennis Yu and...
