Latest Digital / Social Media Marketing News & Insights

​Presented by Neal Schaffer​

In this week's newsletter:

• LinkedIn is cracking down on engagement pods and automated comments.
• Let’s break down exactly what OpenAI does and doesn't give advertisers.
• You may already be closer to generative engine optimization than you think.

Hey Reader,

I made it back to my home in Southern California this week, where I found it to be similar cold weather like I had in Japan!

Something I've been thinking about a lot lately — especially after conversations I have had this week after my return — is how the world seems to be splitting into two parallel tracks right now.

On one side, AI is making it possible to automate and streamline work in ways that would have seemed like science fiction even two years ago. Marketing workflows that used to take hours can now be streamlined with the right tools.

On the other side, there's a growing realization that being human matters more than ever. IBM recently reversed course and started hiring more entry level staff after discovering the limits of AI adoption. And anyone scrolling LinkedIn or social media can feel it — the flood of AI-generated content is making authentic, human voices stand out more, not less.

I think the marketers who win in 2026 will be the ones who figure out how to ride both tracks: use AI to handle the operational work smarter and faster, while doubling down on the human creativity, judgment, and relationships that no algorithm can replicate.

On the automation side — that's exactly why I'm excited about a free webinar I'm hosting this Tuesday (February 24 at 9 AM Pacific) with Vugar Javadov, founder of Obsera. He'll be doing a live demo of 6 AI-powered modules that replace disconnected marketing tools with coordinated AI agent workflows. If you've been curious about what 'agentic AI' actually looks like in practice for marketers, this is your chance to see it firsthand.

​Click here to register — spots are filling up and you won't want to watch the replay when you can ask questions live!

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

New Clutch And Conductor Data Reveals 87% Of Content Marketers Increasing Budgets In 2026 As SEO Expands Into AI Search - New research from Clutch and Conductor reveals a massive shift: 87% of content marketers are increasing budgets in 2026, and one in four now create content primarily for LLMs. Rather than retreating from AI disruption, teams are leaning in—prioritizing original research and authoritative content that earns citations in AI-generated answers. The big takeaway? Visibility in AI search is becoming the new measure of content success. MarTech Series​

ChatGPT Conversion Rates: 2026 Report - New research from FirstPageSage analyzing 160+ companies reveals ChatGPT conversion rates by industry—and the numbers are eye-opening. Hotels & Resorts lead at 7.0%, while Legal Services and Healthcare also outperform. The key insight? ChatGPT traffic converts higher than traditional SEO across every industry studied, likely because conversational AI pre-qualifies leads more effectively. Essential benchmarks if you're investing in generative engine optimization. FirstPageSage​

Meta Launches Manus AI Integration In Ads Manager - Meta is rolling Manus AI directly into Ads Manager, giving advertisers access to AI agents for tasks like report-building and audience research. Following last month's acquisition, all advertisers can now find Manus under the Tools listing. With Meta pouring billions into AI with limited monetization so far, this integration signals where they see the most immediate value—helping ad partners streamline results. Worth exploring if you run Meta ads. Social Media Today​

LinkedIn Outlines Measures To Combat Engagement Pods - LinkedIn is cracking down on engagement pods and automated comments. VP Gyanda Sachdeva announced that bot-generated comments will be removed from the "Most Relevant" view, limited to the commenter's network only, and repeat offenders could face account restrictions. If you've been frustrated by fake engagement flooding your feed, this is welcome news. It's also a reminder to keep your own LinkedIn strategy authentic and human-first. Social Media Today​

This Week's Sponsor

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More News

How To Measure ChatGPT Ads (And What You Can’t — Yet) - ChatGPT ads launched with a $60 CPM—but no conversion tracking, no pixel, and no attribution path. By design. This guide from Top Growth Marketing breaks down exactly what OpenAI does and doesn't give advertisers, plus five practical workarounds using UTMs, brand lift studies, and incrementality testing. The bottom line? Treat this as a brand awareness channel and benchmark against CTV and podcast, not Google Search. Top Growth Marketing​

5 Ways Emerging Businesses Can Show Up In ChatGPT, Gemini And Perplexity - Think your business is too new to show up in ChatGPT or Perplexity? Katie Artz shares a fascinating 12-week experiment proving otherwise. A brand-new B2B company with zero history appeared in 16.5% of AI responses within six weeks. The secret isn't age—it's how AI evaluates trust signals and entity clarity. Five actionable steps inside to make your brand machine-readable and citable. Search Engine Journal​

Generative Engine Optimization For Small Business: How To Win With A Small Budget In 2026 - If you're already doing SEO, you're closer to generative engine optimization than you think. This HubSpot guide by Ramona Sukhraj shows small businesses how to get cited in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity—without big budgets or new hires. With AI referral traffic to SMB sites up 123%, the window to establish authority is now. A practical 7-day quick-win checklist inside gets you started with free tools. Hubspot​

The New Rules Of Social Discovery And Distribution - Dash Social's latest data confirms what many suspected: follower count no longer drives growth. By late 2025, FYP impressions surged from 31% to 58%, and Instagram non-follower views jumped from 30% to 49%. The real reach now comes from people who don't follow you yet. Their 2026 report covers four key trends, from creative quality over quantity to why you need platform-specific strategies for each channel. Marketing Dive​

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