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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LinkedIn Shares Posting Tips To Boost Presence | How Reliable Are ChatGPT Search Answers? Not Very, Say Researchers | TikTok’s In-App Sales On Black Friday Top $100M + More!
As we wind down the year, I feel that the pace of business has simply gotten faster, especially since the introduction of Generative AI.
I feel we are all chasing many shiny objects and trying to do too much just to stay afloat.
While I am a fan of a quarterly approach to marketing and business activities, I think its time to shorten that view into monthly and weekly approaches. In fact, a topic for a future podcast episode I plan to record is the Atomic Habits Approach to Digital Marketing.
Create micro-habits that you can continue on a daily basis that will bring you closer to your long-term goals on a daily basis. If you read Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth, I cover this in the last chapter where I talk about creating a playbook for your daily activities in LinkedIn.
You can expand that to think of your daily activities on any social network site, content creation, email marketing, etc. I find when you divide up long-term goals into short-term activities, they become a LOT more digestable.
On another note, I am hosting a business book giveaway that you might want to check out. All of these are free ebooks which are immediately downloadable, and you can pick and choose the ones you want and download selected ones. If you haven't downloaded the previous version of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth, Maximizing LinkedIn for Business, you can download that here too!
Below is a snapshot of the free books, and you can preview them for downloading by clicking here.
I had a fantastic time interviewing branding expert James Hurman about some science-proven methods to improve your advertising. James takes a refreshing approach to marketing, and one of the main takeaways is to think of brand awareness marketing not as a luxury just for big brands, but as an investment in your future sales. Watch for the deets!
OpenAI’s "12 Days of OpenAI," which started December 5, promises daily announcements of AI innovations until December 20. Possible reveals include the Sora text-to-video model, a new reasoning AI, or multimodal breakthroughs like DALL-E 4. These updates could reshape competition with rivals like Google and Anthropic. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or a professional, this event is a must-watch for its potential to redefine the tech landscape.
OpenAI has launched the ChatGPT o1 model, touted as the smartest AI yet, alongside a Pro plan for $200/month. The Pro tier offers unlimited access, enhanced computational power, and an "even-smarter" mode for more reliable, nuanced answers, particularly in fields like programming and law. While the o1 model excels in speed and features, it limits uploads to image files, sparking curiosity. This release marks a leap in AI capability, ideal for power users and professionals.
ElevenLabs has unveiled a Conversational AI platform enabling businesses to build voice agents that support natural turn-taking, handle interruptions, and work in 31 languages. This tool is designed for use cases like 24/7 customer support, outbound sales, and interactive training. With real-time responsiveness and integration with major LLMs like GPT or Claude, it’s a leap toward more human-like interactions, making it a valuable asset for improving customer engagement and productivity.
TikTok’s in-app shopping strategy is gaining traction, with TikTok Shop tripling Black Friday sales compared to last year, hitting $100 million in a day. Highlights included celebrity-hosted live streams, with Nicki Minaj drawing record viewers. A third of sales came from small businesses, spanning categories like beauty, home goods, and fitness. While in-stream shopping in the West isn’t as big as in China, TikTok’s growth signals it’s making headway with younger, purchase-ready audiences.
Whip up graphics for social media, ads, blogs, and more—even if you're not a graphic designer. Over 30 million images (and counting!) have been created using Snappa!
Choosing the right hosting provider is more than technical—it’s the backbone of your website’s success. Poor hosting leads to slow sites, downtime, and security risks that harm customer trust and conversions. This guide highlights essential factors: site speed, reliability, built-in security, and responsive customer support. Providers like Hostinger stand out with fast cloud hosting, robust security, and 24/7 assistance. Invest wisely to ensure a smooth, secure, and impactful online presence.
The holiday season is a golden opportunity to boost sales and build connections with your audience, and email newsletters are the perfect tool for this. Keep your content focused, short, and visually appealing to grab attention. Ideas like showcasing new products, offering exclusive deals, or creating gift guides can drive engagement. Adding festive designs and personal touches like greetings or behind-the-scenes looks helps your brand stand out.
Micro-communities are transforming social media marketing by enabling brands to connect with niche, highly engaged groups. These tight-knit communities offer trust, nuanced discussions, and valuable insights for personalized strategies. For marketers, success lies in providing authentic value—sharing relevant content, fostering conversations, and leveraging user-generated content. By tapping into micro-communities, brands can boost loyalty, refine product strategies, and cultivate meaningful relationships that drive growth and retention.
TikTok offers immense potential for creators and brands to grow, with its algorithm leveling the playing field for all users. Building a loyal follower base enhances visibility, credibility, and monetization opportunities. To thrive, focus on your target audience, participate in trends, and collaborate with other creators. Use strategies like creating content series, optimizing hashtags, and crossposting on platforms like Instagram Reels. Stay consistent, prioritize quality, and track your progress to succeed.
LinkedIn’s latest tips focus on crafting engaging posts and building your professional community. Start with a strong hook—like a bold statement or surprising stat—and close with a clear call-to-action (CTA) that invites opinions or encourages sharing. Share your personal perspective on industry trends, achievements, or business updates to stand out. Engage with others' posts and use relevant hashtags for discoverability. These strategies help you maximize LinkedIn’s potential for networking and thought leadership.
A Columbia Tow Center study reveals that OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search tool often misattributes sources, raising concerns for publishers. Analyzing 200 quotes across 20 publishers, researchers found 76.5% of ChatGPT’s responses were partially or entirely incorrect, with the tool rarely admitting uncertainty. This highlights challenges in AI’s reliability for source attribution. OpenAI emphasizes ongoing efforts to enhance accuracy and respect publisher preferences, but the findings spotlight the need for cautious use in journalism and research.
AI is revolutionizing Facebook Ads, enabling smarter targeting, better creative processes, and improved ROI. Tools like Revealbot and Zalster optimize campaign budgets and automate repetitive tasks, while platforms like Adcreative.ai and Canva streamline ad design. Caption generators like Anyword and ChatGPT boost engagement with tailored messaging. For marketers, integrating these tools means saving time, refining strategies, and driving higher conversions. Test free trials to find the perfect fit for your campaigns and maximize success!
B2B email marketing focuses on educating decision-makers and fostering trust. Success hinges on tools like automation and CRM, engaging lead magnets, and personalized, segmented messaging. Optimize performance by A/B testing subject lines, perfecting send times, and re-engaging inactive subscribers. Clean email lists regularly to maintain deliverability. By focusing on value and relevance, B2B marketers can effectively nurture relationships and drive conversions in the complex business buying process.
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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
Neal Schaffer's Top 10 Weekly News July 04, 2025 Hey Reader, To my American friends, Happy 4th of July! I have been spending time preparing for an updated and expanded version of my latest book on LinkedIn, Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth. So if you are reading this I have a few humble requests: If you have read the book and haven't reviewed it yet, would you consider adding a review to help improve its visibility in Amazon? You can do so by clicking here. I am looking for feedback on...
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