TLDR MARKETING 2026-03-27

LLM ADS RAISE CONCERNS: EXPERTS DISCUSS MEASUREMENT AND BRAND SAFETY RISKS

AI search ads will expand quickly but lack clear measurement and brand safety standards, which raises risks for marketers. Platforms like OpenAI and Google are testing ads, but early ROI data will be limited and controlled by the platforms. Experts recommend a “trust but verify” approach as marketers wait for better metrics and third-party validation. There are also significant brand safety concerns due to sensitive topics, misinformation, and the personal nature of chatbot conversations. Performance measurement may shift away from clicks toward actions like being recommended or chosen, though early tests show that clickthrough rates lag behind traditional search.

TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICAN MARKETERS WOULD FAIL A BASIC MARKETING TEST

New research shows that most American marketers lack foundational marketing knowledge. Half couldn't define penetration, over 40% didn't understand positioning, and two-thirds failed to identify a quantitative research method. The strongest variable separating those who passed from those who failed was formal training, which made marketers 6x more likely to demonstrate baseline competency. Formally-trained marketers also reported being more influential, more strategic, and more satisfied in their careers.

MASTERING MEDIA PITCHES WITH JONI SWEET

Journalists receive 200+ emails a day and ignore most of them, so relevance and targeting are critical for successful media pitches. Small, focused outreach lists outperform mass emails. Strong pitches lead with a clear story idea, headline, and angle instead of long press releases. Relationships increase response rates because familiar and reliable contacts get priority in crowded inboxes, but trust depends on being responsive and delivering on time. Data and timing can improve results, such as using search trends to show demand. Quality versus quantity depends on goals, so it should align outreach strategy to whether it needs broad visibility or one high-impact placement.

HOW TO ANALYZE LINKEDIN POSTS WITH CLAUDE (2 MINUTE VIDEO)

AI can automate LinkedIn analytics using Claude and Playwright scripts to pull metrics like impressions, saves, and follower growth into Notion. This removes manual tracking and copy paste work. It also enables faster content scaling. Top posts can be repurposed into blogs, patterns can inform guidelines, and AI writers can be trained on tone.

HOW LOWE'S CREATOR NETWORK IS WINNING OVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF SHOPPERS

Lowe's is using its Creator Network to build brand affinity with Gen Alpha well before they become homeowners. Launched last June, the program includes partnerships with creators like MrBeast, who introduced a curated storefront of tools and DIY projects and served as a building partner for season two of "Beast Games". The strategy focuses on making home improvement feel approachable and fun rather than driving immediate purchases. Lowe's sees creators as especially important for reaching younger women who increasingly make buying decisions based on who they follow on Instagram and TikTok.

Gemini, and Perplexity. See the Framework Behind the Results.

HOW TO EXPAND DOWNMARKET WITHOUT LOSING YOUR POSITIONING (WEBINAR)

This webinar on April 8 covers how to expand from enterprise to midmarket without weakening positioning or splitting go-to-market strategy. It focuses on evolving ICP and personas, adapting messaging and sales motion for midmarket expectations, and keeping a consistent brand across segments. It also explores how AI is changing buyer behavior and how to move quickly without diluting your core identity.

LINKEDIN ADS ON A BUDGET: HOW ONE PLAYBOOK DROVE SUB-$10 CPL

LinkedIn Ads delivered sub-$10 CPLs in a test campaign that spent less than $1,000 promoting a 23-page demand gen playbook to B2B marketing decision-makers. The document ad format, which lets users preview content before downloading, drove a 76% lead form completion rate. Audience research using SparkToro, Reddit, and client meeting notes shaped both the content and targeting before anything was created. Of three ad variations tested, the one with the hook "Steal our best demand gen ideas" captured nearly all impressions and drove the best results.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SPENDING 70% OF OUR GROWTH BUDGET ON AWARENESS

Sentry puts about 70% of its growth budget into awareness, focusing on podcasts, influencers, and OOH. Performance channels are plateauing, with ~60% of Google searches ending without a click and organic CTR dropping ~40% when AI Overviews appear. At the same time, YouTube drives about 16% of LLM citations. Their approach is phased, starting with niche ICP channels, then expanding to broader audiences and cultural affinities.

BICYCLES FOR THE MIND

AI is shifting from general tools to personalized intelligence that mirrors an individual's mind. Sentience creates digital clones trained on personal data like emails, notes, and conversations, which allows it to recall information, act on a user's behalf, and answer questions with high context accuracy. This approach contrasts with platforms like ChatGPT and Claude, which rely on broad datasets and produce more uniform outputs over time. The system functions as a memory and context layer across apps, addressing fragmented data and missing reasoning behind decisions. Memory and context are emerging as key AI breakthroughs that unlock new use cases, similar to how smartphone features enabled companies like Instagram and Uber. The concept raises privacy and ethical concerns, but it also offers a path to preserve individuality and personal “taste” in an era where AI risks becoming standardized.

HOW TO MAKE LINKEDIN CAROUSELS THAT CONVERT

An 8-step framework to build a repeatable Canva system.

HOW TO CATEGORIZE YOUR CONTENT LIBRARY

Organize content into 3 buckets: 1) Keep & optimize 2) Consolidate 3) Kill.