Latest Digital / Social Media Marketing News & Insights

​Presented by Neal Schaffer​

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In this week's newsletter:

• Ads may soon become part of ChatGPT responses, not just sidebars.
• Organic reach in social media isn’t dead—it’s changing.
• These are the must-attend marketing conferences in 2026.

Hey Reader,

Hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season. I took some time off to spend time with my brother's family in Scottsdale, Arizona, and I came back to Southern California refreshed and energized for 2026!

That said, let's close out 2025 together whit this final newsletter of the year.

I want to thank you for your trusting my content and appreciate those that have reached out to me over the year to say how much they look forward to receiving this newsletter.

I look forward to continue serving you in 2026, and hope to be able to provide the content you need to continue to grow your business and career.

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

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 News

ChatGPT Ads May Prioritize Sponsored Content In AI Responses - Ads may soon become part of ChatGPT responses, not just sidebars. This article explains reports that sponsored content could get preferential placement inside AI answers or appear later in conversations. If true, it could reshape search, trust, and visibility for brands and users alike. A must-read if you care about where AI information comes from—and who pays to be seen. SEO Rountable​

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Fresh Content: Why Publish Dates Make Or Break Rankings And AI Visibility - Publish dates aren’t just decoration—they’re a real freshness signal for both Google rankings and AI citations. This Ahrefs piece explains why stale pages lose clicks and slide over time, which topics need the most updates, and how to find refresh targets at scale. You’ll also get practical refresh tips—update stats, fix gaps, adjust schema, add “Last updated,” and track lifts in rankings, CTR, and AI mentions. Ahrefs​

This Week's Sponsor

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More News

AI Brand Impact: How To Measure Value Beyond Clicks - AI search is breaking the old traffic = success model. This article explains why zero-click results and AI Overviews don’t mean failure—and what to measure instead. Learn how to track brand visibility, AI mentions, branded search, and share of voice to prove real impact. If clicks are down but awareness is up, this reframes SEO value for 2026 and beyond. Wordstream​

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TikTok Shop Case Study: How Your eCommerce Store Can Grow In 2026 - TikTok Shop is turning eCommerce into one-tap buying: discovery, trust, and native checkout in the same scroll. This case study explains why that matters for 2026—lower CAC, more creator-led trust, and better closed-loop attribution with GMV Max ads. It also shows how tools like Cruva can scale a “creator army” so you can test tons of UGC fast and amplify winners. Top Growth Marketing​

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How To Get Karma On Reddit: A Beginner’s Guide - Reddit isn’t just “another channel”—it shapes Google results, influences AI answers, and can steer buying choices early. This guide breaks down what karma is, why community karma matters most, and 7 practical ways to earn it: pick the right subs, lurk first, follow rules, comment early, post value, stay consistent, and time posts well. Build trust first, and access + visibility follow. Foundation Inc.​

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More News

The Death Of Organic Reach: What Works Right Now - Organic reach isn’t dead—it’s changing. This article explains the shift from social media to interest-based algorithms, where AI decides what’s recommendable, not who you follow. Learn why video retention, packaging, and platform-native content now matter most, how to build real human connection, and why a business-first mindset beats chasing viral views. Smart strategy still wins. Social Media Examiner​

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How To Get Employees To Share On LinkedIn: A B2B Guide - Getting employees to share on LinkedIn isn’t about motivation—it’s about removing friction. This guide explains why B2B employees stay silent, how LinkedIn favors personal voices, and what makes employee advocacy work at scale. You’ll learn how to build simple systems that boost credibility, not promotion, and how to measure real impact beyond vanity metrics. A smart read if reach and trust matter. Oktopost​

Recommended Newsletters Of The Week

​Digital Threads​

This comprehensive playbook demystifies digital marketing, offering a clear roadmap to building and growing your brand on a realistic budget.

Latest From My Blog

The 15 Best Social Media And Digital Marketing Conferences To Attend In 2026 - Want to make 2026 your breakout year in marketing? In this blog post I wrote, I share the 15 conferences that are actually worth your time—covering social media, SEO, AI, content, B2B, and the creator economy. I also break down costs, how to pick the right event, and my best tips to get real value from sessions + networking. Your calendar (and career) will thank you. Neal Schaffer​

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Content Planning: The Complete Guide To 15 Essential Elements For Success - If your content feels random, your results will too. In this blog post I wrote, I break down content planning vs content strategy, then share a simple 6-step framework and 15 must-have elements—from SMART goals and audience personas to calendars, SEO, promotion, and email tie-ins. Use it to build a repeatable system that boosts ROI and saves you time. Neal Schaffer​