TLDR MARKETING 2026-10-14

the human touch. Get the plays →

META'S TIKTOK AD BAN TURNS PLATFORM RIVALRY INTO A TRAFFIC WAR

Brands that find creators on TikTok and then use Meta's targeting to reach a wider audience may lose that route, since Meta reportedly now rejects third-party ads that send people to TikTok and other ByteDance properties. The ban took effect October 8 in seven markets, including the US and Canada, and also covers ByteDance's own ad buying on Facebook and Instagram. Campaigns that run across both platforms may now need Meta-native destinations, neutral websites, or separate creative and measurement for each platform.

YOUR ALGORITHM, YOUR WORDS: NEW WAYS TO SHAPE WHAT YOU SEE ON FACEBOOK

Facebook is using AI to let users shape Feed and Reels recommendations by describing their interests in their own words. Its new “Your” algorithm tool lets users add and manage topics, while expanded feedback options let them explain why they want more or less of certain content. Large language models combine this direct feedback with existing engagement signals to update recommendations in real time, including during the same session.

HOW TO SPOT AND FIX CRAPPY CASE STUDIES

B2B case studies often underperform because they document completed projects instead of telling compelling customer stories. Audit your last 3 by checking whether they explain the customer's original problem. If the stories feel interchangeable, interview a customer stakeholder for 30 mins to uncover what went wrong and what improved. 3-5 distinctive case studies can be more persuasive than 20 generic ones. Use anonymous stories when needed and repurpose them across newsletters and social media.

SHOW AI INFLUENCERS WITH REAL PEOPLE

AI influencers are seen as less trustworthy because they can't actually use the products they promote. Showing them in everyday moments with real people, like grabbing coffee or going for a run, helps close that gap. In a study of 9,500+ posts and 4 experiments, these scenes drove 20.7% more engagement and made people up to 17.5% more likely to choose the product.

2026 GURU CONFERENCE (VIRTUAL EVENT)

This free virtual email and digital marketing event is hosted by Constant Contact on November 12-13. Keynote speakers include actor and writer Molly Ringwald and Emmy-winning creator Dan Levy. Marketing experts Ann Handley, Amy Porterfield, and Jay Schwedelson will share industry insights alongside Kath Pay and Ross Simmonds.

CAN I GET 3,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 90 DAYS?

Growth in Public is an experiment by Chenell Basilio to gain 3K email subscribers from social media in 90 days. The site tracks subscriber growth by platform in a live scoreboard and documents which tactics drive signups. After posting just 43 times in the past year and seeing newsletter growth stall, Chenell plans to post daily across LinkedIn and other social platforms to test whether social can become a reliable growth channel again.

SHOPPING IS PART OF THE PRODUCT

AI is changing e-commerce discovery by presenting shoppers with product shortlists instead of sending them to search results. A study on AI Mode found that 74% of participants chose the top-ranked product, while only 10% chose a product ranked third or lower. The author outlines a five-stage organic growth loop: earn AI recommendations through product feeds and third-party signals, convert visitors with tools such as quizzes, encourage user-generated content through packaging and product experiences, generate repeat purchases through customer relationships, and build brand recall. Shopping infrastructure and marketing automation are increasingly table stakes, while customer relationships, creator partnerships, community, first-party data, and brand recall create longer-term advantages.

WHAT POKEMON POKOPIA TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MARKETING

Creativity comes from experimenting and adapting rather than simply generating a finished result. As AI makes content production faster, marketers risk losing the problem-solving and creative judgment that come from hands-on work. A study in 2024 found AI-assisted stories were rated as more creative but also more similar to one another. To stand out, teams should automate repetitive tasks while protecting time for play and experimentation to develop distinctive taste.

WHAT DOESN'T GET CHEAPER

AI is making websites cheap enough to build for short-term experiments and one-off events that previously weren't worth the cost. However, enterprise websites still require complex integrations. AI can automate production and support decision-making but cannot eliminate the human effort needed to align stakeholders. Generative tools also create collaboration challenges when multiple companies need to edit the same work. As production costs fall, experimentation will expand while complex projects remain expensive because coordination still requires people.

32% OF US ADULTS PREFER HIGHLIGHTS OVER FULL EPISODES

The share rises to 43% among Gen Z, and 37% of Americans say they already use their streaming service more since it added vertical video clips.

DUO THE OWL'S NEXT BIG ACT IS AN ANIMATED SERIES

Duolingo is effectively building an entertainment arm around characters that bring in an estimated 15% of new users through organic social.

38 THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT BUILDING AI PRODUCTS

Lessons from 4 years of building AI products at PostHog.