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.
Share
Social Media Advertising Costs In 2025: A Comprehensive Guide | How To Format A Blog Post With SEO And LLMs In Mind | Monetizing Your Personal Brand In The Post-AI Era: Advanced Strategies For Modern Creators + More!
Greetings from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where I am teaching an Advanced Masters Class in Organic and Earned Social and Content Marketing for the program that the Solvay Business School in Belgium has here.
It has been amazing seeing how different the Vietnamese social media market is yet how much they have in common with how we market here in North America.
More reflection on what I have learned to come in a future podcast episode, but I have been sharing LOTS of content regarding my experiences here traveling for the first time in Vietnam, so make sure you are following me on Instagram to see it all as I experience it!
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.
In this deep-dive podcast episode, I share key insights from my UCLA Extension class on personal branding and monetization, updated with a sharp AI-driven focus. If you're ready to go beyond just brand deals and unlock new, data-backed income streams for your personal brand, this one's for you. I break down real tools, strategies, and examples to help you monetize smarter and scale faster—no matter where you're starting.
This perspective on Meta's trial update dives into a critical question: Is connecting with friends and family still the core of social media? Meta says no—it’s all about content discovery now, thanks to TikTok’s influence. But the FTC argues Meta still dominates the personal social space. With Zuckerberg admitting “the magic of friends has fallen away,” Meta’s trying to redefine social media itself to avoid monopoly claims. This moment could reshape how we all define—and use—social platforms.
Facebook referral traffic is making a comeback—up 74% year-over-year for major publishers, according to Similarweb. After years of suppressing political content, Meta is quietly reversing course, and it’s boosting traffic for select news sites. But don’t call it a full comeback yet—not all publishers are seeing the lift, and Meta’s algorithmic favor still feels… selective. If you're in content or media, keep an eye on this shift. It might be your moment to re-engage.
This data-driven breakdown challenges Google's AI Overview claims—and the numbers don’t lie. After analyzing 300K keywords, researchers found a 34.5% drop in CTR for top-ranking pages when AI Overviews are present. While Google says AI links get more clicks, they’re not sharing transparent data. If your site relies on search traffic, this is a trend you can’t afford to ignore. The era of zero-click searches is here—time to rethink your SEO game.
Instagram just dropped “Blend,” a new invite-only Reels feed that mixes your video recommendations with a friend’s—all inside your DMs. It’s a fun way to see what kind of content your friends are into, discover fresh Reels, and get a peek at how Instagram’s algorithm really personalizes feeds. If your Reels are feeling repetitive, this could be the refresh your scroll needs—or at least a new way to laugh at your friend’s oddly specific For You vibes.
If you're blogging for visibility, engagement, or growth, this one’s a must-read. In this guide I wrote, I break down how to format your blog posts not just for people and Google, but also for AI-powered tools and LLMs. With clear structure, enriched content, and smart metadata, your posts won’t just look good—they’ll perform. It’s everything you need to level up your blog for today’s digital world.
Hypefury automatically reposts your best posts, giving them a second life. Reach your audience in multiple time zones without any extra effort. We help you create engaging posts, maximize reach and build an income online.
If you're unsure how much to spend—or where—on social media ads, this guide is for you. It breaks down how ad costs work across platforms, what drives pricing (think CPC vs CPM), and how to build a smart, flexible budget. With insights on ad formats, cost ranges, and pro tips for managing spend, it’s a must-read whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned marketer. Start spending smarter, not more.
This post is such a relatable and real look at batching content for real life. Instead of chasing perfection, it shows how to build a flexible, low-pressure system that works even when life gets busy. From smart content pillars to lightweight text drafts and a mini backup library, it’s packed with practical steps you can actually stick to—especially if you’re planning travel or entering a full season. Bookmark-worthy for sure.
Recommended Newsletters of the Week
Strategic AF
by Adriana Tica
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).
Through my newsletter I explore the foundations of marketing, how to implement them in your business, and lessons from the great campaigns of the past.
This is a blog post I personally wrote to show why LinkedIn recommendations still matter—a lot. I break down what makes a strong testimonial, share 15 standout examples across roles, and offer templates and strategy tips to help you get (and give) recommendations that actually boost your visibility, credibility, and career. If you want your profile to stand out and convert, this guide is a must-read.
I recently wrote this post about my role as an Adobe Express Ambassador, walking you through my 7 favorite features of this powerful yet simple design tool. Whether you're a content creator, marketer, or entrepreneur, Adobe Express makes it easy to create professional visuals without design experience. From ready-made templates to commercial-safe generative AI, this post is packed with real examples of how I use it—and how you can too.
Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. I hope you enjoy the new high-contrast white background and that the text is easier to read! Please let me know what you think!
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
Neal Schaffer's Top 10 Weekly News May 09, 2025 Hey Reader, Writing to you from San Diego where I just got off the stage at DigiMarCon San Diego. I ended up doing two presentations, one where I talked about how UGC can help you reimagine your social media marketing strategy for exponentially better results, and another where I did a workshop going through the main tactics that I teach in Digital Threads. Overall good reception, got to see some of my fave influencers (that's you Dennis Yu and...
Neal Schaffer's Top 10 Weekly News May 02, 2025 Hey Reader, I am excited to announce that I will be speaking at DigiMarCon San Diego next week. If you plan on attending or are based in San Diego let me know so that we could potentially meet up! I will be presenting on a topic that I have found great demand for: User-generated content. By itself the topic has been around for awhile, but once you see it as a strategic way to transform your social media strategy as I do, you will rethink your...
Neal Schaffer's Top 10 Weekly News April 26, 2025 Hey Reader, Just got back last night from speaking at NOVA Southeastern University's first ever Digital Marketing Summit. My presentation was both a look at the top digital marketing trends, but more importantly, the skills that Gen Z college students both bring to the table when it comes to marketing and those new skills they should possess to be successful in a marketing career in global corporations. I look forward to sharing this message...