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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Meta Launches Opportunity Score To All Advertisers | The Latest Study on The Impact Of AI Search On SEO Traffic | Using AI-Inspired Social Content To Grow A Loyal Audience + More!
This week another issue arose that was a reminder that we always need to have a replacement tool in our back pocket.
On Thursday there was a massive Internet outage (click here for the details), and although you might not have noticed it, one of the tools that I regularly use is still unable to be used as I type this: Calendly.
Calendly has become the gorilla in the scheduling app space, but because of their inability to mitigate risk in their cloud deployment and lack of complete recovery, I am forced to look for another solution.
You might not be in the same boat, but if you are, after doing some research for a scheduling tool that integrates with Google Calendar, Zoom, and accepts payments, I found this tool that I have started migrating to: Simplymeet.me
I have yet to book my first appointment using their calendars, but I was able to migrate most if not all functionality from Calendly there. And they have a free plan which, although you have to manually refresh it every month, might be enough for my needs to save me some $$$.
Were you effected by the Internet outage or Calendly going down? Would love to hear from you!
Now on to this week's Top 10 news!
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 podcast episode is a must-listen for any business owner or marketer who still sees mobile marketing as a side channel. I sit down with Dr. Mary Beth McCabe, a global expert and textbook author, to explore why mobile is no longer optional—it's the center of your customer's world. From RCS messaging to AI-powered insights, we dig into how mobile impacts everything and what you're probably missing out on right now.
We know you’re always on the hunt for tools that genuinely improve your life—which is why we're excited to introduce you to Brain.fm's groundbreaking focus music.
Brain.fm’s patented audio technology was recently validated in a top neuroscience journal, showing how it actually changes your brainwaves to enhance concentration. They even offer a specialized ADHD mode, specifically engineered for brains that process attention differently.
Brain.fm is a powerful companion for any serious writing or deep thinking work.
Google’s new AI-powered search tools are shaking up the news world—hard. Major publishers like The Washington Post and Business Insider are seeing traffic drop by over 50%, as Google's AI now summarizes content right on search pages. This has sparked serious concern about fair use, content theft, and the future of journalism. If you care about where your news comes from—and how it’s funded—this is a must-read.
Lowe’s just launched a full-blown creator network—and it’s going big. With MrBeast headlining and a custom storefront already live, this move aims to connect with millennials and Gen Z through creators they already trust. It’s not just influencer marketing—it’s a new way to blend content, commerce, and community. If you're a creator or brand pro, this shift signals where digital partnerships are heading fast.
Meta just rolled out its Opportunity Score to all advertisers, offering a 0–100 rating to show how well your campaigns follow Meta’s AI-backed best practices. While the score is based on setup—not real results—it gives instant feedback to help you fine-tune campaigns. Early testers saw a 12% drop in cost per result, so it’s worth a look if you're running Meta ads and want an easy way to optimize before launch.
YouTube just made it easier to get seen—without even posting a video. Now, Posts (like polls, images, or text updates) will show up in the Shorts feed, giving creators new ways to reach viewers while they scroll. This move could be huge for visibility, especially for those who don’t make vertical videos. If you're a creator looking to grow with less effort, this is a smart update to explore.
Struggling to stay consistent on social? This deep-dive from Social Media Examiner shows how to use AI tools not just to post more, but to post smarter—saving hours each week while building real audience loyalty. With practical tips on research, content creation, testing, and repurposing, this piece is gold for creators looking to grow without burning out. A must-read if you're serious about AI-powered marketing.
This deep-dive study from SEMrush reveals that AI search could drive more traffic than Google by 2028—and AI visitors are 4.4x more valuable than traditional ones. Even small businesses have a shot at visibility, especially when creating LLM-friendly, niche-specific content. Platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews cite a wide range of sources—including lower-ranked pages—so now’s the time to optimize your content for AI discovery, not just search engines.
This is my guide to help you make sure your emails actually land in inboxes—not spam folders. I break down what email deliverability really means, why it's crucial for your business, and the 16 best practices you need to follow. If you send emails for business, this is a must-read guide to get better ROI, improve reach, and keep your sender reputation clean. Don't let great emails go unseen.
Sendible is your brand’s sidekick: invest in a reliable tool that maximizes your social media reach, stays on top of audience interactions, and sources fresh content!
You Are The Media (YATM) is the home for marketing misfits. It started in 2013 at the seaside, in England 🌊 The community is built around creativity, interdependence, visibility, experimentation and co-learning.
Tired of marketing advice that’s either obvious or outright shady? Strategic AF flips the script. It's the only newsletter that treats solopreneurs, founders, and marketers like grown-ups, not toddlers looking for the next shiny toy. Subscribe to get sharp, no-nonsense strategy advice without the cringe. No bro-marketing, no fluff — just real, sustainable growth tactics. Subscribe if you want results. Scroll past if you prefer gimmicks.
Named as a top thought leader and one to follow by Forbes and LinkedIn for Nonprofits, Julia Campbell is a nonprofit digital consultant, speaker, and author on a mission to make the digital world a better place. Host of the acclaimed Nonprofit Nation podcast, she’s written two books for nonprofits on social media and storytelling, and her online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking. You can learn more about Julia at www.jcsocialmarketing.com/blog
Check out the resources I offer below and sign up for my newsletter!
Every second Wednesday, I share fresh ideas to help you rise above the noise and communicate more clearly, confidently, and YOU-ly (Yes. That’s a word now).
Here's my advice to help you master TikTok’s Green Screen feature—one of the most powerful tools for standing out with creative video content. I walk you through step-by-step how to use it, plus give you marketing ideas, educational tips, and best practices to boost performance. Whether you're a business or creator, this guide will help you turn basic videos into scroll-stopping content that actually gets noticed.
This is a blog post that I personally wrote to help you turn your podcast into a money-making machine—even if your audience is still small. I break down 13 proven ways to monetize, from sponsorships and affiliate marketing to selling digital products and even public speaking gigs. If you’re podcasting and not making money yet, this guide shows you how to start smart and grow income with the right strategies.
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!
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
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