LinkedIn Launches Free AI Certification Courses | How The New York Times Is Using Generative AI As A Reporting Tool | How To Evolve Your Marketing With AI In Social Media + More!


Neal Schaffer

November 01, 2024

Hey Reader,

Every year I remotely teach a class as part of a professional certification class at at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This class is geared towards financial sales professionals and their use of LinkedIn.

I will be teaching this class later this month, and as part of it, I audit the LinkedIn profiles of each participant based on my proprietary list of 20 components to give everyone a score from 1 to 100 (I plan to provide this audit to anyone once my new store is opened - stay tuned!).

I have been teaching this class annually for several years, but this is the first year in which I believe the LinkedIn algorithm has significantly changed even more than previous years. I write about this in Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth—and am working on an expanded version of the book with even more advice—but let me give you a feel for what I see based on the data for my own posts.

These are the types of posts which I got the most impressions for on a quarter-by-quarter basis:

  • 2023 Q1: Photo, Text, Photo
  • 2023 Q2: Newsletter, Newsletter, Photo
  • 2023 Q3: Newsletter, Newsletter, Newsletter
  • 2023 Q4: Newsletter, Livestream, Image
  • 2024 Q1: Photo, Livestream, Photo
  • 2024 Q2: Livestream, Photo, Photo
  • 2024 Q3: Newsletter, Newsletter, Newsletter

Now, I don't expect all of you to livestream and publish newsletters on LinkedIn, so outside of those content formats, my main message to you is:

Treat LinkedIn Like a Professional Version of Instagram

Those that are successful today in the LinkedIn newsfeed have this mentality.

Of course, being able to analyze your LinkedIn content is half the battle and not easy to do inside of LinkedIn. That is why I recommend this tool so that you can get a clear view like I provided you above.

In other news, I am excited that Digital Threads hit bestseller status on Amazon USA this week in the Marketing for Small Businesses category!

If you love listening to audiobooks, and you are new to Audible, you can claim a free copy of the Digital Threads audiobook by signing up through this link.

Now on to this week's news!


This Week's Podcast Episode

EPISODE 385 - The Intersection Of Marketing And Customer Experience: A Conversation With Dan Gingiss

Unlock the potential of your business as we unveil the secrets to customer experience marketing with insights from expert Dan Gingiss. Imagine transforming dissatisfied customers into loyal advocates through memorable experiences that naturally generate positive buzz. Gain exclusive access to strategies that identify at-risk customers early, incorporating their feedback to enhance their journey and differentiate your brand through exceptional service. Whether you're a small business owner or a seasoned marketing professional, discover how impactful small gestures can rival large-scale projects when it comes to winning over your audience.


Maximizing LinkedIn For Business Growth

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


This Week's Top Articles

NEWS OF THE WEEK

LinkedIn Launches Free AI Certification Courses

LinkedIn now offers free AI certification courses to help professionals enhance their AI knowledge. Covering foundational AI topics, practical applications, and ethics, these courses are suitable for all experience levels and aim to boost career opportunities. Completing the courses earns users a LinkedIn certificate, which can increase visibility to employers and demonstrate AI expertise. This initiative aligns with LinkedIn's mission to equip members with relevant digital skills in a rapidly evolving market.

Are We On The Verge Of A Self-Improving AI Explosion?

Researchers are advancing the use of AI to improve other AI models, a method known as “AI to build AI.” This approach uses large language models (LLMs) to automate tasks like optimizing algorithms and refining data, aiming to create more efficient models while reducing resources. Challenges include ensuring accuracy, managing ethics, and addressing biases. Companies like Google DeepMind and OpenAI are leading these efforts, with AI-driven tools set to play a key role in future research.

Meta Is Reportedly Developing A Search Engine For Its Chatbot

Meta is reportedly building a search engine for its AI chatbot, aiming to improve user access to information within its ecosystem. The tool will leverage advanced AI capabilities, allowing Meta's chatbot to provide more direct, relevant answers rather than redirecting users to external links. This move aligns Meta with broader AI trends, similar to advancements by Google and other tech giants in integrating AI with search functionality.


Featured Tool Of The Week

Write Memorable LinkedIn Posts 10x Faster!

You don’t need to be a professional writer to build your personal brand on LinkedIn. ContentIn is designed to write engaging content in your style, creating posts that resonate with your readers.


More Top Articles For The Week

SEARCH ADVICE

How Pillar Pages Will Help Your Search Engine Rankings

Pillar pages serve as comprehensive content hubs that cover broad topics in-depth, while linking to related, more focused pieces—supporting both user experience and SEO. This structure helps readers find answers easily and improves search rankings by signaling content depth. For effective pillar pages, choose a core topic relevant to your audience, create supporting content, and use internal linking to unify the theme. Pillar pages can also streamline your content strategy by aligning related topics and keywords, helping Google better understand your site's organization.


EMAIL ADVICE

When And How To Use Images In B2B Emails

Using images in B2B emails can enhance engagement when done right. Use visuals to support your message, not overpower it. Include images for product demos, infographics, and client testimonials. Make sure images are responsive and test for display on different devices. Always add alt text to ensure accessibility. Balancing visuals with concise text keeps the email effective without overwhelming recipients, increasing click-through rates and improving reader experience.


SOCIAL ADVICE

How You Can Use Social Media KPIs To Increase Your Brand Awareness

Social media KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) help track and measure the effectiveness of your social media strategy. Key metrics include engagement (likes, shares, comments), reach, follower growth, click-through rate (CTR), and conversions. Analyzing KPIs allows marketers to understand audience preferences, optimize content, and align social efforts with business goals. Setting clear KPIs based on your objectives ensures focused, data-driven insights that drive stronger results across your social channels.


AI ADVICE

How The New York Times Is Using Generative AI As A Reporting Tool

The New York Times is integrating AI tools to support, not replace, its reporters. AI assists in tasks like summarizing interviews, transcribing audio, and analyzing large data sets, allowing journalists to focus on creative storytelling and investigative work. The goal is to enhance efficiency while maintaining human oversight in content creation. This approach aims to responsibly balance technological innovation with journalistic integrity, ensuring AI complements rather than overtakes traditional reporting methods.


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 Evolve Your Marketing With AI In Social Media

AI is transforming social media marketing by automating processes and personalizing user experiences. From content creation to customer service, AI tools enable brands to produce targeted, high-quality posts efficiently, analyze audience behavior, and engage customers in real-time. With AI-driven insights, brands can improve social listening, refine ad targeting, and even detect trends early. My new blog post offers insights into the most impactful AI applications for social media to help marketers enhance their strategy and reach.


13 Recommended Social Media Search Engines

Social media search is a powerful tool for marketers to discover trends, monitor brand reputation, and engage with audiences directly. By using advanced search techniques across platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, brands can gain insights into customer sentiment, competitive activities, and industry developments in real time. Leveraging social media search effectively helps businesses stay informed, tailor content to audience preferences, and address customer needs proactively, enhancing both engagement and brand loyalty.


Digital First Mastermind Community

Have a question or need some help with your digital or social media marketing? Join my mastermind! Click here or on the image for more details!

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. Please let me know what you think of this new format if you haven't already!

If I can be of any help to you or your organization please consider joining my Digital First Group Coaching Membership Community or considering hiring me as a Fractional CMO.

Warm regards,

Neal Schaffer

Fractional CMO / Author / Speaker / Educator

P.S. Pressing the unsubscribe button at the bottom will remove you from all communication from me. If you'd like to keep in touch and only receive monthly, instead of weekly, newsletters, please click here. Thank you!

3943 Irvine Blvd., Suite 90, Irvine, California 92602
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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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