Latest Digital / Social Media Marketing News & Insights

​Presented by Neal Schaffer​

In this week's newsletter:

• AI has already caused a 20% headcount loss in early-career marketing roles - but this isn't the full story.
• Data shows podcasts have officially overtaken talk radio in the U.S.
• Did you know 14% of consumers across all ages now prefer ChatGPT over Google for search?

Hey Reader,

Something pretty surreal happened this week that I want to share with you.

The 2nd edition of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth hit #1 on Amazon — not in one category, but three: Internet Marketing, Social Media for Business, and Business Office Skills.

When I pulled up the best-seller list and saw my book sitting alongside authors I've admired for years — Donald Miller, Allan Dib, Russell Brunson, Brendan Kane — I had one of those "pinch me" moments.

But here's what really struck me about the timing.

When I published the 1st edition in 2024, I thought it would stay current for a while. I was wrong. LinkedIn has changed so fundamentally — the algorithm, the role of AI in content creation, the shift from social network to strategic business engine — that updating the book meant essentially rewriting it from scratch.

And that seems to be resonating. I think it's because so many professionals are feeling the same thing: the LinkedIn playbook from even two years ago just doesn't work anymore. The strategies that build visibility, generate leads, and create real business opportunities in 2026 look completely different.

If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, the Kindle edition is just $0.99 for a limited time. I honestly don't know how long I'll keep it at that price, so if you've been on the fence, now's the moment.

👉 https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon​

And if you've already read it, and you haven't already, I'd be incredibly grateful if you'd leave a quick review on Amazon. As you have heard me say, reviews are the single biggest factor in helping a self-published book reach new readers, and every one makes a real difference.

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

Gen Z Preference For TikTok Over Google Drops 50% - Remember the "TikTok is replacing Google" narrative? New Adobe Express data tells a different story. Gen Z saying they prefer TikTok over Google dropped from 8% to 4% since 2024. Meanwhile, 14% of consumers across all ages now prefer ChatGPT over Google for search—double TikTok's number. The real competitive threat to Google may not be social video after all. It might be AI chatbots. Search Engine Journal​

LinkedIn Shares Top Skills On The Rise In Marketing For 2026 - LinkedIn's latest research reveals the top marketing skills on the rise for 2026—and the list is guided by actual hiring data, not just trends. Performance analysis ranks #1, AI literacy comes in #2, with social media branding and community engagement also in the top seven. LinkedIn is offering free Learning courses on these skills through March 23. Worth checking where your own skill gaps might be. Social Media Today​

Americans Now Listen To Podcasts More Often Than Talk Radio - A milestone for podcasters: Edison Research data shows podcasts have officially overtaken talk radio in U.S. listening time for the first time—40% versus 39%. Video podcasts are fueling growth too, with 700 million hours watched monthly on TVs via YouTube alone. Yet 80% of listeners still consume both audio and video formats. If you've been considering launching or growing a podcast, the audience has never been larger. Tech Crunch​

Google Launches Nano Banana 2 Model With Faster Image Generation - Google just launched Nano Banana 2, its fastest image generation model yet, now the default across the Gemini app, Google Search, and Google Lens in 141 countries. It creates images up to 4K resolution, maintains consistency across multiple characters, and handles complex prompts with richer detail. Developers get API access too. If you use Gemini for visual content, this is a significant upgrade worth exploring. Tech Crunch​

This Week's Sponsor

​AppSumo AI Week Is Here!​

Looking to find the latest AI software to help with your marketing? Check out the special deals that AppSumo has this AI Week...but look fast because it ends today at noon Central Time!

By the way, I purchased this tool from the list and am testing it out - would love to hear what YOU end up buying!

More News

Will AI Take Your Marketing Job? Here’s What Two AI Experts Are Seeing - Christopher Penn and Rachel Woods don't sugarcoat it: AI has already caused a 20% headcount loss in early-career marketing roles. But displacement isn't the full story. In this Social Media Examiner deep dive, they share the skills that actually matter now—critical, creative, and contextual thinking—plus tactical steps like building AI playbooks and multi-agent workflows. Their golden rule? "Own the playbooks, rent the tech." Social Media Examiner​

How To Monitor Brand Mentions In ChatGPT - Ahrefs' Louise Linehan tackles a growing blind spot: ChatGPT mentions your brand to millions of users, but gives you zero analytics. This guide walks through both a free manual audit method and Ahrefs' Brand Radar for ongoing tracking. The key insight? Brand mentions and citations require different fixes—and knowing whether you're invisible, inaccurate, or outranked determines your entire strategy. A must-read for AI visibility in 2026. Ahrefs​

Link Building For Small Businesses: Ethical Strategies That Actually Work In 2026 - Here I break down why most link building advice is outdated—and what actually works in 2026. Google has downgraded links as a ranking factor, but they still matter for discovery and E-E-A-T signals. I share a phased framework covering everything from internal linking (your free secret weapon) to digital PR, now rated the #1 tactic by nearly half of SEO pros. Ready to shift from chasing links to earning authority? Neal Schaffer​

Your B2B Buyers Are Building Shortlists On Reddit. Are You Even In The Conversation? - Foundation's Ross Simmonds makes a compelling case: Reddit now holds over 8,300 top-3 Google positions for "best software" keywords, and its threads are cited millions of times by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews. Your B2B buyers are building shortlists there—with or without you. The surprising recommendation? Start with paid ads, not organic. This piece lays out exactly how to enter Reddit's high-intent communities strategically. Foundation Inc​

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Latest From My Blog

How To Do A Content Audit: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide (2026) - In my latest guide, I show you how to move content audits from gut feeling to statistical certainty. Most teams collect data but have no framework for action—so I share a scoring model using percentile ranks, quartiles, and variance analysis to turn every post into a comparable, prioritized asset. If your blog has become a content warehouse instead of a growth engine, this repeatable system tells you exactly what to fix first. Neal Schaffer​

Social Media Marketing For Small Business: Your Complete 7-Step Action Plan - Looking to revamp your social media marketing strategy? In this recently published post I lay out a complete 7-step action plan for small business social media—from defining SMART goals and buyer personas to measuring what actually matters. The key? Focus on 2-3 platforms where your audience lives, build content pillars for consistency, and remember that engagement beats broadcasting every time. With 43% of small business owners spending just six hours weekly, this plan helps you make every minute count. Neal Schaffer​