TLDR MARKETING 2026-05-25

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AI IS NOT THE FUTURE OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE LAST DYING GASP OF THE PAST

AI companies are creating more user friction so they can sell tools that manage the friction. Google's push toward “interactive experiences” shows how far the industry has moved from solving real customer problems. Modern software incentives reward engagement and feature sprawl over efficiency, which turns unnecessary tasks into profitable business models. The “Annoyance Economy” costs families in the US at least $165B in wasted time and lost money each year. Products that remove effort and deliver direct outcomes will stand out as users grow tired of AI-generated clutter and engagement loops designed to keep them inside platforms longer.

KEEPING CONVERSATIONS REAL ON LINKEDIN

LinkedIn wants to preserve authenticity in professional conversations as AI-generated “low-effort” content becomes more common. The platform warns that overuse of AI can dilute real human insight and is rolling out systems to detect and reduce distribution of generic or automated posts and comments. Early testing shows it can identify such content with 94% accuracy, limiting its reach beyond immediate networks. LinkedIn is also expanding verification tools across 100M+ members to help users engage with real professionals and reduce bots and fake profiles.

ARE YOU SELLING WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE BUYING?

DiamondBack Covers increased conversions by 26% after replacing lifestyle-focused creative with product messaging aligned to customer priorities. Research showed buyers valued security most, but the homepage emphasized camping and off-road imagery that created confusion. The winning version used benefit-driven copy and close-up product visuals highlighting durability and weather protection. The result reinforced that above-the-fold messaging should lead with the core purchase driver rather than atmosphere or brand storytelling.

B2B INFLUENCER MARKETING IS BECOMING A REVENUE CHANNEL. MOST TEAMS STILL RUN IT LIKE SOCIAL

55% of B2B marketers already run influencer programs, and 85% of enterprises plan to increase investment over the next five years. However, most teams still manage it like social content. The main constraint is operational maturity, not creator supply. As a result, ROI is harder to prove and scaling remains limited. Creator-led influence is not yet consistently tied to pipeline impact.

‘FIX EVERYTHING' IS THE WRONG SEO STRATEGY

Chasing a perfect audit score is one of the most common resource drains in SEO, with teams closing tickets on minor HTML issues while pages sitting just off page one go unoptimized. Up to 67% of in-house SEO teams cite competing dev priorities as the top barrier to technical fixes, making prioritization critical. The recommended approach is "strategic neglect", deliberately deprioritizing low-impact issues like legacy 404s and cosmetic Lighthouse warnings in favor of content refreshes and internal linking.

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TYPESHARE

Typeshare is a digital writing and publishing platform designed to help creators build an online audience. It provides templates and other tools to help writers draft, optimize, and cross-post content across social media channels. Typeshare is free to use.

GOOGLE'S AI CART WILL REMAKE ECOMMERCE

Google is building a Universal Cart that follows users across its apps, letting them track product prices and complete purchases in one place. Alongside the Universal Commerce Protocol and Agent Payments Protocol, it connects merchant data, enables cross-channel checkout, and supports AI-driven purchasing under user rules. Merchants still fulfill orders, but Google increasingly handles discovery and coordination across a persistent shopping experience that spans platforms.

WHAT INTUIT'S LAYOFFS MEAN FOR MAILCHIMP CUSTOMERS

Intuit is repositioning Mailchimp from a core growth engine to a profit-focused asset after failing to sell it, cutting investment as growth stalls. User numbers are flat at 11 million, revenue lags other segments, and pricing remains high versus competitors. While the platform still offers strong tools and scale, slower innovation and unclear roadmap direction are pushing marketers, especially those needing advanced automation, to seriously evaluate alternatives.

META BUILT A REDDIT RIVAL OUT OF FACEBOOK GROUPS

‘AI WASHING': FIRMS ARE SCRAMBLING TO REBRAND THEMSELVES AS TECH-FOCUSED

The rush to brand everything as AI is creating a credibility problem for marketers. PR executives say clients are forcing AI language into product names, press releases, and executive commentary even when the technology is simply better automation. With one account director estimating that half his outbound pitches overstate AI capabilities, the resulting journalist fatigue is making earned media placement significantly harder for companies with genuine AI stories to tell.

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HOW TO SET UP YOUR NUMBERS ON GOOGLE, WEBSITE, CITATIONS

Use call tracking without hurting SEO by keeping your real number on citations and using tracking on Google and your site.

GOOGLE SEARCH: HOW PEOPLE ARE USING AI MODE IN THE US

Top 10 topics people search in AI Mode include factual information, image editing, and date night recommendations.