Latest Digital / Social Media Marketing News & Insights

​Presented by Neal Schaffer​

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In this week's newsletter:

• Explore what's eroding social media credibility - and what you can do about it.
• In a world of AI content, it's not (just) about good storytelling.
• If you want your content discovered in AI search, read up!

Hey Reader,

Happy New Year!

Greetings from Orlando, Florida where I am attending Podfest and learning a lot about the latest AI tips and tools for multimedia content repurposing and more. Can't wait to share with you all what I am learning after only 1 day with 2 days remaining!

I also wanted to remind you of the webinar I will be presenting on next week with my friend at Riverside on How B2B Brands Can Win Attention in 2026:

Click the image above for more information and registration is free!

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

LinkedIn Articles Are Getting More Citations In AI Responses - Google referral traffic is down 21% globally—but here's the silver lining. New research from SEMRush and Spotlight shows LinkedIn is now the second most-cited source in AI chatbot responses, trailing only Reddit. Even more striking: ChatGPT and Perplexity are citing LinkedIn sources up to 5x more than before, with LinkedIn Pulse articles driving the majority. If you're rethinking your content strategy for AI visibility, publishing on LinkedIn just became a much smarter move. Social Media Today​

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Social Media Trust Is Breaking Down (And How You Can Rebuild It) - With only 22% of people trusting social media companies, Donna Almonte at SEJ explores what's eroding credibility—and how to earn it back. The culprits? Undisclosed AI content, overly polished posts, and tone-deaf campaigns (think Coca-Cola's AI holiday ad). The fix? Micro-influencers, transparency, and UGC. A key stat: 94% of consumers want AI content disclosed. The brands winning today are the ones that feel more human. Search Engine Journal​

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The Vast Majority Of Marketers Are Preparing For AI-Driven Changes To Search - New research from Funnel reveals that 64% of marketers expect customers to use traditional search engines less frequently over the next 2-3 years. In response, over half are already creating content for AI and conversational search, while 44% are training teams on new visibility practices. Only 16% aren't preparing at all. If you haven't started adapting your search strategy for AI, this data suggests you're falling behind the curve. Marketing Charts​

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Companies Aren’t Looking For Storytellers. They’re Looking For Meaning. - Kath Pay challenges the buzz around the WSJ's "Companies are Desperately Seeking Storytellers" piece with a sharper take: the real problem isn't storytelling—it's sense-making. In a world where AI floods us with content, what's actually scarce is coherence and context. Companies want trust, clarity, and connection, but they're hiring for the wrong solution. Pay argues that until brands build shared meaning internally, even the best storytellers will fall flat. Martech​

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

​Bringing The Traditional Marketing Funnel To The Online World​

Funnel Boost Media helps businesses win more customers through proven, white-hat SEO strategies that boost rankings and drive qualified organic traffic. Their expert team combines in-depth keyword research, on-page optimization, and technical SEO to turn search visibility into real leads and revenue. If you’re ready to grow smarter and faster through search, Funnel Boost Media is a partner worth working with.

More News

How We Built A Content Optimization Tool For AI Search [Study] - Semrush just dropped a massive study on what makes content get cited by AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. After analyzing over 300,000 URLs, they found five qualities that matter most—clarity, E-E-A-T signals, Q&A formatting, section structure, and structured data. The surprise? A promotional tone showed a negative correlation. If you want your content discovered in AI search, this research reveals exactly what to optimize. Semrush​

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SEO Writing: The Complete Guide To Writing Content That Ranks - I break down how SEO writing has evolved beyond just stuffing keywords—it's now about creating content that both search engines and real people love. I cover everything from keyword research to advanced strategies like featured snippets and schema markup. Plus, I share how to future-proof your content in the age of AI. Ready to turn your website into a lead-generating machine? Neal Schaffer​

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How I Went From Zero To Make.com-Like Automation In WordPress (The Easy Way) - If Make.com's webhooks and complex setups have left you frustrated, this WPBeginner guide offers a simpler path. Nouman Yaqoob walks through how Uncanny Automator brings Make.com-style workflows directly into WordPress—no APIs or coding required. The tutorial shows how to auto-generate AI blog summaries and save them to Google Sheets, all from your dashboard. For WordPress users wanting powerful automation without the learning curve, this is worth bookmarking. WP Beginner

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How To Use Social Media Analytics To Drive Real ROI (Not Just Vanity Metrics) - Here are the details on why likes and followers alone won't grow your business. Real social media analytics goes deeper—connecting your online activity to actual leads, sales, and customer loyalty. I walk you through the metrics that matter, the tools worth your time, and how to turn raw data into actionable insights. Ready to stop guessing and start measuring what counts? Neal Schaffer​

This Week's Sponsor

​Monitor, Analyze, Get Insights With Brand24​

Get AI-powered access to mentions across social media, news, blogs, videos, forums, podcasts, reviews, and more.

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

How To Post On Pinterest: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026) - New to Pinterest? In my latest guide, I walk you through exactly how to post on Pinterest—from desktop and mobile, for images, videos, and carousels. Here's why this matters: 85% of weekly Pinners have purchased based on brand Pins. Most businesses fail on Pinterest because they treat it like Instagram, but it's actually a visual search engine where people actively look to buy. This step-by-step guide shows you how to make that work for your business. Neal Schaffer​

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What Is Shopify? How It Works + Pricing Guide (2026) - I often get asked about Shopify, so in my new blog post I break down everything you need to know about the e-commerce CMS—from setup to pricing to whether it's actually right for your business. With over 5.6 million live stores and checkout conversion rates up to 36% higher than competitors, there's a reason it's the go-to platform. I walk you through the features, real costs, and step-by-step setup so you can launch with confidence. Your first store could be live in just a few hours. Neal Schaffer​