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7 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CRITIQUING PRODUCT DESIGN

HOW THE NEW YORK TIMES IS USING GENERATIVE AI AS A REPORTING TOOL

NYT reporters use AI to extract themes and key moments from vast datasets, streamlining their research.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA SCROLL RIGHT NOW

We are no longer in a linear scroll environment — it is now chaos fueled based on interests, emotional connection, and shock-value shareability.

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6 OUTDATED AI MARKETING TRENDS YOU SHOULD RETIRE IN 2025

Outdated tactics like basic chatbots, limited sentiment analysis, and historical-data-only predictive analytics no longer meet the demand for real-time, personalized interactions. AI now enables context-aware recommendations that anticipate user intent, while voice search optimization has shifted toward functional voice commerce. Instead of basic demographic segmentation, advanced AI-driven micro-segmentation now provides real-time audience targeting across multiple channels.

DISCOVER TIKTOK SHOP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

TikTok Shop is enhancing its BFCM experience with exclusive promotions and tools. From November 13–27, "Brand Palooza" will spotlight brands like Philips and Benefit Cosmetics with special offers, while "Super Livestreams" will feature high-profile hosts to make shopping more engaging. Shoppers using Venmo from November 30 to December 2 can enjoy discounts, including 25% off for first-time buyers and repeat shoppers meeting specific spending limits. TikTok Shop also launched an affiliate app, holiday playbook, and matchmaking events to help sellers and creators reach wider audiences.

THEY BUILT A $100K/MO BUSINESS WITH LINKEDIN

FletchPMM reached $100K/month by focusing on one target audience, a single service, and using LinkedIn as its primary marketing channel. Its streamlined offer addresses complex B2B messaging needs through workshops and wireframes. By consistently sharing expert content and messaging frameworks, it established itself as a specialist in B2B messaging, building brand recognition, and generating leads. Its visually distinct posts, paired with a 5-step content funnel, keep it top of mind for potential clients.

HOW I CREATE CONTENT THAT ATTRACTS CUSTOMERS

To create content that sells, develop mini-guides based on your expertise and share your offer weekly. Engage with peers by compiling a list of 10 rising stars (5K-20K followers), as they likely have your ideal ICP on their radar. Optimize readability by varying line lengths, using bullet points and one-line sentences, and ensuring the text is visually appealing. This post provides examples of how to apply the PAIS (Pain, Agitation, Ideal situation, Solution) and Future Pacing frameworks to content.

Nexla, Spacelift, and Aras. Reserve your virtual seat

GOOGLE'S NOTEBOOKLM IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL USE CASES FOR AI

Google's NotebookLM enables users to gain insights from notes, documents, links, and recordings. Recent updates include customizable audio summaries, team collaboration, and multimedia analysis, enhancing its ability to organize and explore content. As an experimental service, Google may alter or discontinue NotebookLM at any time.

INSTAGRAM DOWNGRADES VIDEO QUALITY FOR LESS VIEWED CLIPS

The quality of video for Stories and Reels posts can be reduced or increased at different times based on the engagement that each video receives. This means that less-viewed content's reduction in playback quality will likely inhibit engagement and compound that initial lack of views even further over time.

HOW L'ORÉAL'S BIGGER PINTEREST BETS ARE WINNING OVER GEN Z

To connect with Gen Z, L'Oréal increased its investment in Pinterest, with Maybelline alone boosting its spending by 90% YoY. Leveraging Pinterest's exclusive Collages Remix feature, Maybelline created interactive, shoppable content around Gen Z trends, achieving 5X the average engagement. Searches for “maybelline” have also risen by 32%, largely driven by Gen Z interest. For Halloween, Maybelline used insights from Pinterest's trends report and its influencer network to produce seasonal tutorials.

MONETIZING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE BUSINESS OF FITNESS WITH STRAVA CFO LILY YANG (51 MINUTE PODCAST)

Strava CFO Lily Yang discussed in this podcast how the company's diverse activities, global reach, and brand partnerships boosted revenue and engagement. She shared retention strategies for subscription-based B2C models and the unique challenges of forecasting within a seasonal consumer base. Yang also detailed Strava's tactics for increasing conversion rates and maintaining competitiveness in the digital fitness space.

HOW TO AVOID THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF EMOTIONLESS ADVERTISING

Marketers often prioritize short-term gains through rational, product-focused campaigns, which undermines long-term brand health. The 7 deadly sins, greed, wrath, sloth, lust, pride, gluttony, and envy, each reflect common pitfalls in advertising. By avoiding these mistakes, brands can foster stronger relationships with their audiences. Research shows that emotional campaigns are nearly twice as effective at driving profit growth, showing that meaningful connections can lead to lasting brand success.

GEN Z AND GEN ALPHA DICTIONARY FOR MARKETERS

20+ words and phrases that Gen Z and Gen Alpha commonly use.

NETFLIX'S NEW ‘MOMENTS' FEATURE LETS YOU SAVE AND SHARE CLIPS FROM YOUR FAVORITE EPISODES

Netflix's "Moments" feature now allows iOS users to save and share clips directly from their favorite episodes.

WHY WE MUST STOP GOOGLE

A POV on how Google's strategy of offering rebates reshaped ad budgets, making advertisers prioritize its platforms.

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REACH DETHRONES ENGAGEMENT RATE IN INFLUENCER MARKETING SUCCESS

Marketers now prioritize reach, which measures total audience exposure, over engagement rate, which has dropped to 48% as a key metric. Budgets continue to rise, with more brands spending over $5 million annually, while Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube remain the top platforms. Creator-generated content is increasingly being repurposed for paid and brand-owned channels, broadening the impact of influencer assets. Traditional agency partnerships are declining - 76% of brands plan to consolidate with a single influencer agency in 2025.

WELCOME TO ‘CHAOS PACKAGING'

Chaos packaging involves using unconventional containers to make products stand out, especially on social media. Examples include Flo tampons in ice cream tubs to address both cravings and shelf appeal and Vacation sunscreen packaged in whipped cream cans. While startups benefit from the flexibility to innovate with packaging, established brands often rely on familiar designs to maintain consumer trust. Overly chaotic designs can lead to confusion, as seen with Puracy's soda-like containers, which raised safety concerns.

8 REAL-WORLD CONTENT EXPERIENCE EXAMPLES

This piece shares SEO content examples that serve search intent without relying on lengthy blog posts. Aptamil's FAQ-style page quickly addresses pregnancy-related questions in a concise format. Wise's currency converter page and Coolors' interactive color palette generator attract millions of visitors monthly by offering straightforward, tool-based content. Platforms like Planable and Alphabetimals use interactive tools to target specific audiences, while Red Bull's and Storylane's interactive storytelling showcase the benefits of immersive and visually engaging experiences.

THE STEP-BY-STEP PLAYBOOK TO HIJACK SPOTIFY WRAPPED

This year's Spotify Wrapped will dominate social feeds with personalized recaps of user activity on December 4. Ride the wave by launching your own Wrapped-style campaigns — personal, industry-based, or humor-driven — using data only you can provide. Fast execution and employee engagement are critical to successfully capitalize on Spotify's release.

YOUR BRAND GUIDELINES ARE NOT ENOUGH

Brand guidelines often lack the depth needed to build a distinct brand, focusing too narrowly on static elements like logos and colors. In contrast, a Brand Playbook captures the brand's personality through real examples of actions, campaigns, and partnerships. Brands like Liquid Death stand out because they go beyond guidelines, using bold actions to communicate their identity across all channels. Building a Brand Playbook involves mapping out key touchpoints, aligning on positioning, and providing actionable examples that inspire fresh ideas.

PUT AI TO WORK FOR MARKETING TEAMS: GO BEYOND CONTENT GENERATION (WEBINAR)

OpenAI's Head of Strategic Marketing is hosting a webinar on October 31, sharing tangible, high impact ChatGPT use cases that go beyond content generation. The session will cover how the marketing team at OpenAI use ChatGPT to make data-driven decisions, reclaim time for strategic work, and refine and edit messaging with canvas.

MY 9 FAVORITE GROWTH FRAMEWORKS

Growth Loops encourage sustainable growth through self-sustaining cycles, while the Racecar Framework separates essential growth activities to maintain balance. The Adjacent User Theory helps expand beyond initial product-market fit, and Brian Balfour's Four Fits stresses the importance of aligning product, channel, and market. Additional frameworks include Founder-Led Growth, S-curves, and Opinionated Defaults.

RETHINKING SEO: BUILD PRODUCTS, NOT JUST CONTENT

THE FRAGMENTATION OF SEARCH: WHY SEARCH AND DISCOVERY JUST ISN'T THE SAME ANYMORE

With search behavior fragmented across apps, TikTok and Instagram have become key platforms where users discover brands, replacing some of Google's original role. Search intent varies across platforms: users browse TikTok for inspiration while visiting Amazon with the intent to purchase. Brands that embrace these shifts by offering personalized, niche content will better engage with today's audience.

HOW SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS SOLVED THE CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM: A CASE STUDY OF TINDER, UBER, AND AIRBNB

These two-sided platforms overcame early-stage challenges by attracting both sides of their user base and driving growth through word-of-mouth.

WHY YOU'RE PROBABLY UNDERUTILIZING EMAIL SEQUENCES

Limiting email sequences to cold outreach overlooks their potential to automate customer feedback, nurture leads, and build partnerships effectively.

AN OVERVIEW OF YOUTUBE AD FORMATS AND TIPS

An infographic covering YouTube ad formats along with tips on how to use them.

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WHY SOME MULTILEVEL MARKETERS ARE DITCHING THE MLM MODEL

Multilevel marketing (MLM) is facing increased scrutiny, leading some companies to move away from the model. MLM's reputation has been damaged by regulatory attention, concerns about the legality of its practices, and low earnings for most participants. Companies like Avon and Amway defend the model, but others are shifting toward affiliate models or direct sales. Critics argue that the MLM model is outdated and unsustainable in the current market. Some firms are exploring alternative sales channels such as e-commerce, which introduce new pricing challenges.

HERE IS NOTION'S EMAIL CLIENT

Notion, with over 100 million users, unveiled Notion Mail during its “Make with Notion” event, previewing an AI-integrated email client designed to enhance workflows. This new feature allows users to organize emails through AI prompts and manage scheduling seamlessly with a calendar integration. Notion Mail reflects design cues from the recently acquired Skiff, hinting at the company's focus on creating a cohesive productivity suite.

IS META'S ANTI-POLITICS STANCE A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY?

Meta's independent Oversight Board raised questions about over-enforcement this week. Threads' avoidance of political content could hinder its growth as a real-time news platform. While Meta's focus on entertainment content like Reels has proven successful, its vague definitions of "political" content and censorship alienate key contributors.

THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COMPETITIVE RESEARCH FOR PRODUCT & GTM TEAMS

Competitive analysis is vital for marketers refining positioning, messaging, and strategy – especially in B2B SaaS. Customers often request direct comparisons with competitors, so marketers must gather specific insights to meet these demands. Tools like G2 reviews, Google SERPs, and keyword analysis help marketers identify content gaps, optimize ad spend, and shape go-to-market strategies. Competitive intelligence also aids in crafting differentiation narratives and sales enablement materials. While gathering this data might seem time-consuming, it's essential for driving marketing effectiveness, improving customer targeting, and staying ahead in the market.

5 QUICK WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR YOUTUBE AD CAMPAIGNS

Link YouTube to Google Ads for better targeting and performance tracking. Create a well-structured ad campaign and choose objectives and subtypes that align with your goals. Use YouTube Studio's promotion area to easily set up and manage video ads with targeted reach. Use the platform analytics tools to understand exit points as well as which videos bring in new subscribers. Optimize organic video content with compelling thumbnails, SEO-friendly titles, engaging intros, and calls to action to attract and retain viewers.

9 B2B MARKETING TACTICS

Automate repetitive tasks with AI-powered tools like Zapier to improve productivity. Create a YouTube channel for hosting SEO-optimized sales content and develop quarterly case studies that can be repurposed into social media posts. Establish a community platform for customer engagement and set up a task force to gather continuous audience feedback. Prioritize warm outreach and social selling by connecting with individuals who already follow your content.

FLETCHPMM'S UPDATED POSITIONING & MESSAGING CANVAS

A template on how to develop a use case-based positioning strategy. It includes dedicated sections for your differentiation and position strategy summary.

REPHONIC

Rephonic simplifies the process of identifying relevant podcasts across different niches. It provides data such as listener demographics, download numbers, and contact information. Users can build target lists, access contact details, and use tools for pitching. Rephonic is useful for those seeking guest appearances, cross-promotion, or podcast sponsorships.

HOW TO DO MULTI-CHANNEL MARKETING (HINT: IT'S NOT JUST TWO PLATFORMS)

Brands need to adopt a truly multi-channel strategy, expanding beyond just TikTok and Instagram to reach diverse audience segments. Long-form content is gaining traction, particularly on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Underutilized platforms like Reddit, Snap, and Pinterest present opportunities for brands to connect with younger audiences through community-building and influencer marketing. Successful examples include Formula 1's cross-platform strategy and luxury brands leveraging Reddit's peer recommendations. To stand out in 2025, brands must be bold, constantly adapt, and engage audiences where they already are.

WHAT SETH GODIN REALLY THINKS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA

CELEBRATING INSTAGRAM'S CREATORS OF TOMORROW

Instagram announced its list of 2024 Creators of Tomorrow, categorized by DM-worthy Icons, AI Accelerators, and the Creator's Inspo.

SIZZLING MARKETING INSIGHTS FROM META'S RESTAURANT SUMMIT

“Webrooming” or researching online before buying in person, has risen 1.95X over the last 4 years.

FIVERR'S TASTELESS NEW AI AD FAILS TO READ THE ROOM

Fiverr's “Nobody Cares” musical ad misses the mark.

GAMES MARKETING FIRM LIVEWIRE ON THE ATTENTION ECONOMY ACROSS GENERATIONS

Gen Z and Gen Alpha expect brands to engage with them in-game through immersive experiences, not just traditional ads. 76% of Gen Alpha gamers enjoy branded in-game moments like custom worlds or character skins, compared to 54% of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials. These younger generations prefer playable experiences over video ads and value immersion in gaming and advertising. Brands must adapt to this shift by creating engaging, authentic in-game experiences to capture attention. Games companies also need to work closely with advertisers to meet these new expectations.