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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Turn ChatGPT Into Your Marketing Consultant + Google’s AI Mode Is Finally Here + Reddit’s New Rule Checker + 350+ IG Caption Ideas + more!
I know it is not for everyone, but I have found an interesting trend in professionals (and their PR agencies) reaching out to me to apply to be a guest on my own Your Digital Marketing Coach podcast.
Even though I only interview 25 people a year, I have already had nearly 70 people ask to be on my podcast so far this year, and it is only early March!
Now, I am certain that not every podcast receives such attention, but it is a reminder that there are always opportunities, even in seemingly niche marketing channels like podcasting, to make a splash.
I have already discussed the ROI of podcasting, which you can see in my video below, but there are many benefits on many levels to those that invest the time.
I always wanted to remind you, as mentioned here before, that I am considering launching a new AI-First Community to help others on their AI journey. I already have a Digital-First Group Coaching Community, so this would be a similar one for an AI-First Community, where it is ALL about AI. If you might be interested in joining this, please indicate your interest by clicking here - you'll be sent to one of my blog posts but it will tag you for further follow up. Or you can just reply to this email to let me know. Thank you!
Now on to this week's 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.
“Using ChatGPT only for copywriting is like using a Steinway to play Happy Birthday.”
Most businesses are using AI all wrong.
If you’re using ChatGPT just to write emails or summarize documents, you’re barely scratching the surface. AI has the power to be your strategic partner, helping you analyze customer behavior, refine your messaging, and even act as your Chief Marketing Officer.
In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with AI expert Stephen Lewis to discuss how AI can transform your business beyond content creation—from running focus groups with synthetic personas to optimizing your pricing strategy.
Watch now and discover how to make AI work for you!
"If you're only using data for reporting, you're missing out on real opportunities for growth."
Most businesses track analytics, but few know how to turn that data into real strategy. In this episode of Your Digital Marketing Coach, I sit down with marketing insights expert Brett Townsend to uncover how businesses can dig deeper into consumer narratives and use insights to drive success.
We discuss:
The difference between data points and real insights
How consumer narratives shape buying decisions
Why empathy is essential in marketing
Stop just reporting numbers—start transforming your business with insights. Listen now!
Google has officially launched AI Mode, a new search experiment that enhances reasoning, thinking, and multimodal capabilities. Available first to Google One AI Premium users, this feature provides real-time web data using an advanced "query fan-out" technique. Unlike AI Overviews, AI Mode has a dedicated tab in Search, making AI-driven results more structured and discoverable. This could change how we interact with Google, especially for complex queries.
With just a month left in TikTok’s 75-day negotiation window, no formal discussions are happening because the U.S. government hasn’t assigned an official to lead them. This uncertainty is stalling potential deals that could allow TikTok to keep operating under new ownership. However, legal loopholes could extend the deadline indefinitely. Right now, TikTok is technically banned, but enforcement remains murky. The situation remains unpredictable—stay tuned.
A new Advanced Web Ranking study shows that AI Overviews (AIOs) appeared in 42.51% of Google searches in Q4, causing organic CTRs to drop—especially for informational queries. Industries like science, careers, and shopping saw major declines, while law and politics benefited. Mobile searches fared better, but the report confirms ranking #1 no longer guarantees traffic. Businesses must adapt by tracking pixel depth and refining SEO strategies to stay visible.
Reddit is rolling out new tools to help users follow subreddit rules and find the right communities for their posts. Rules Check flags potential violations as you type, while Community Suggestions recommend better subreddit options. Plus, Clear Community Info highlights posting requirements before you hit submit. New post insights will also show views, upvotes, and shares. These updates should reduce removals and improve engagement on the platform.
Want more referral traffic from AI-powered search? Start by optimizing your site for AI crawlers—improve page speed, use internal links, and ensure mobile-friendliness. Next, target conversational queries, structure content for featured snippets, and boost your E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). Finally, track AI-driven traffic to refine your strategy. AI search is evolving—stay ahead and get discovered!
Eye-catching visuals grab attention, but your captions drive engagement and boost reach. A strong Instagram caption can spark conversation, encourage likes and shares, and help you grow your following. Whether you want something funny, motivational, or brand-focused, using the right words makes all the difference. Need ideas? This guide has 350+ caption examples and even an AI tool to generate custom ones. Level up your Instagram game today!
Last year, Instagram advised against 90+ second Reels, saying users preferred shorter content. Now, after expanding Reels to 3 minutes in January, they’re saying longer clips are fine—becauseInstagram wants them to be. The takeaway? Platform trends aren’t just user-driven—they’re dictated by what Instagram wants to promote. If you’re a creator or marketer, stay flexible and align with IG’s shifting priorities to maximize reach.
AI can streamline content creation, but one-click content won’t rank if it lacks depth and relevance. The solution? Use AI strategically—for ideation, content briefs, editing, optimization, and repurposing—while keeping human oversight. This guide breaks down AI-powered workflows to help you scale content effectively, meet search quality standards, and maintain brand voice. Smart automation + human expertise = content that performs.
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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 February 28, 2025 Hey Reader, I had an amazing interview yesterday with journalist turned copywriter Steven Lewis (you can watch it here). He talked about how you can literally use ChatGPT as your CMO. While that might sound far-fetched for some, he provided some very tactical and actionable feedback to help you think differently about AI, similar along the lines of what I talked about last week. The writing is on the wall: AI can help amplify your IP and bring your business or...
Neal Schaffer February 21, 2025 Hey Reader, This week I had an epiphany moment regarding AI in my work. Many are talking about the LLMs or certain prompts, but I think everyone is missing the point. Just as I talk about how you need a Digital-First approach in your marketing in Digital Threads, I think a similar approach is needed to get the most benefits from AI. What that means is that you need an AI-First approach to your marketing. What about Digital-First then, you ask? It's simple:...
Neal Schaffer February 15, 2025 Hey Reader, This week was a catch up week coming back from my second trip to Japan so far this year. You can read my complete report of my attending Japan's largest startup conference, TechGALA, in my LinkedIn newsletter here: Inside TechGALA: How Central Japan Is Transforming into a Global Startup Powerhouse We are now entering speaking season, so I am now focusing on content creation for my upcoming presentations over the next few months. Can't wait to share...
