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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Your Storytelling Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Brand | Has The AI Bubble Burst Or Is AI Primed For A Resurgence? | Shopify Pushes For ‘Open Trade’ As Trump Delays Import Exemption + More!
I spent a crazy yet fruitful week last week in Nagoya, Japan attending Japan's largest conference all about startups, TechGALA.
I had a chance to interview several of what many expect to be Japan's next "unicorns," and one thing that struck me was their focus on technology or product.
In other words, when given the microphone, all of their conversations revolved around their feature sets.
Of course, this is essential information, but outside of that I wanted to know more, such as:
What prompted them to create this product?
What challenges did they face when they created this product?
What are the hurdles they face in terms of competition or government regulations?
In other words, evert startup has a story to tell, and from these stories, emotional connections are created that go above and beyond a mere feature set. It also is a fundamental way of developing content for digital marketing as well as serving as a way to begin the foundations of branding and differentiation.
If you haven't dug deep into your own stories as a startup, entrepreneur, or brand, hopefully this will give you some inspiration to do so.
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.
"If you're spending money on marketing and not seeing results, it’s time to rethink your approach."
Are you working with an agency, a consultant, or considering a fractional CMO? Each has its pros and cons, but one might be the smartest investment for your business. In this episode, I break down the key differences and share why a fractional CMO could be the best path to long-term marketing success.
Shopify is taking a stand on U.S. trade policy, advocating for open trade and protections for small businesses. With the Trump administration temporarily delaying changes to the de minimis rule, which allows low-cost goods to enter the U.S. tax-free, Shopify warns that removing it could hike costs and disrupt supply chains for online sellers. As a major player in global e-commerce, Shopify is also adapting—rolling out new tools to help merchants navigate international sales. Stay tuned as trade policies continue to evolve.
Pinterest is on the rise, hitting record highs in active users (553 million) and revenue ($1.2 billion in Q4 2024). More users are flocking to Pinterest for shopping and product discovery, especially in Europe, while the U.S. remains its top revenue driver. The challenge? Monetizing global markets and expanding ad reach beyond the U.S. With AI-powered ads and improved search tools, Pinterest is poised for even bigger growth—but will it invest enough to fully capitalize on its momentum? Stay tuned! Pinterest is generating the most traffic from social media to my blog, so if you aren't following me, here I am! --> https://pinterest.com/nealschaffer
Sprinklr has announced another round of layoffs, cutting 15% of its workforce (about 500 employees) due to underperforming business results. This follows earlier layoffs in 2023 and 2024. While the company says it will refocus investments on AI-powered experiences, C-level roles remain unaffected. With big names like Microsoft and Samsung as clients, Sprinklr is under pressure to adapt. It’s the latest in a string of tech layoffs, signaling ongoing challenges in the industry. Will AI innovation be enough to turn things around? Time will tell.
With TikTok’s future uncertain, YouTube is making a bold move—offering creators three months of free access to Repurpose.io to automate cross-posting TikTok and Instagram Reels to YouTube Shorts. With 70 billion daily views, Shorts is YouTube’s fastest-growing format, and this tool makes it easy to expand your reach with no extra effort. Whether TikTok stays or goes, now’s the perfect time to diversify your audience and maximize visibility. Will you take advantage of this opportunity?
Email blasts can be a game-changer for your marketing—if you do them right. This guide walks you through how to design effective email blasts that engage your audience, improve deliverability, and drive conversions. You'll learn about different types of campaigns, best practices like segmentation and personalization, and how to avoid spam filters. Whether you're new to email marketing or want better results, these tips will help you maximize your reach without annoying your subscribers.
Want to know how your social media engagement stacks up? A new Socialinsider report analyzed 125 million posts to benchmark engagement across platforms. TikTok leads with a 2.5% average engagement rate, far ahead of Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). TikTok posts also get more likes and comments, while X struggles the most. These insights help contextualize your performance so you can set realistic goals and maximize impact. Is it time to shift your strategy?The data might have your answer.
AI is transforming digital marketing, and if you’re not using it yet, you’re missing out. In my latest blog post, I break down 27 practical ways to leverage AI for content creation, customer engagement, automation, and optimization. Whether you want to improve SEO, personalize user experiences, or streamline ad campaigns, AI can help you work smarter, not harder. Plus, I share actionable tips for getting started.
Is AI innovation slowing down, or are we just in a temporary lull before the next big breakthrough? While generative AI made waves with large language models, progress has stalled, exposing limitations like lack of true intelligence, data dependencies, and copycat products. But don’t count AI out just yet. The next wave—whether it’s general intelligence, smarter applications, or entirely new models—is coming. The question isn’t if AI will advance, but when and how. Stay tuned, because this story is far from over.
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Understanding the difference between copywriting and content writing is key to maximizing your marketing ROI. Copywriting drives immediate action and conversions, while content writing builds long-term trust and authority. My latest blog post breaks down when to use each approach, how to measure success, and how to integrate both for a winning strategy. With AI shaping content creation in 2025, knowing how to balance persuasion and education is more crucial than ever.
Video content is king, but editing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In my latest blog post, I share 13 of the best online video editors that make it easy to create high-quality, engaging videos for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube—without needing advanced skills or heavy software. Whether you need AI-powered tools, collaboration features, or quick templates, these platforms have you covered. If you’re ready to step up your video marketing game, check out my recommendations and start creating today!
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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 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...
Neal Schaffer January 31, 2025 Hey Reader, I've been thinking a lot about the clients I work with and why they work with me. A lot of smaller businesses don't realize it, but they are often limiting the scope of their digital marketing to the staff that they employ. Let me explain. Often smaller businesses have a skeleton marketing department which has one decision maker sometimes accompanied by various assistants. What I find is that these marketing decision makers often base their decisions...
Neal Schaffer January 24, 2025 Hey Reader, I had a pre-sales call with a small business yesterday that is in the B2B space and thus focusing solely on LinkedIn as their strategic digital marketing channel. While their intention is spot-on, they still were confused as to why their LinkedIn Company Page posts weren't getting traction. Or the myriad of LinkedIn ad format and targeting options they had. People were signing up to their webinars but they weren't generating leads. They were...
