Marketing Brief: What You Need to Stay Ahead This Week

Hello everyone! There’s so much news and information out there. You can’t read it all — even if it’s a short list of the best articles. So, let me do my part to help with the struggle and summarize three important things that I think you should know this week.

Last week I was on a panel that was discussing LinkedIn best practices and there was a lot of great advice from the participants. Here are 3 big areas where you can focus and improve your own presence.

Start with the obvious. Make sure that you have a great headshot that shows your personality. Utilize all the available space in your headline to say who you are, what you do, and to sell your value. Then utilize your summary to either sell yourself and/or reinforce your value statement. This is valuable real estate that will ensure that you make your best first impression.

Utilize all the available features. Don’t sleep on powerful features like Creator Mode, the Featured Section, LinkedIn Newsletters, and keyword-optimized headlines. But one of the most underutilized features is one of the most obvious––the reaction buttons. Engage with people and give them a thumbs up if they’re delivering value or deserve a celebration. It’s the easiest way to engage, and yet most people don’t do it enough.

Don’t sell. Consistently deliver value and engage with your followers to stay top-of-mind. When it comes to content, go for real and relevant, but you don’t have to write a book for every post. Mix in short industry insights, personal stories, short videos, and interactive posts 3 to 5 times per week. Comment with intention, send personalized messages, and spend just 10–15 minutes a day honestly and actively engaging. The investment of time will pay off.

BONUS: Here are 5 more things that caught my eye this week:

Manufacturers Embrace Digital Marketing to Accelerate Growth

Manufacturers hesitant to dive into digital marketing are discovering it’s never too late to start. By integrating strategies like search engine optimization (SEO), targeted pay-per-click (PPC) ads, and email campaigns, companies can transform their websites into lead-generating machines. One manufacturer revamped its site and, within a year, saw new leads pour in, equating to the work of several additional sales reps. Four years later, their online revenue doubled annually. The takeaway? Digital marketing isn’t a replacement for traditional relationship-building; it’s the rocket fuel propelling existing approaches to new heights. READ MORE

Shoppers Turn to AI for Online Retail Therapy

Shoppers are cozying up to generative AI for their online retail needs. A recent report reveals a whopping 1,300% surge in traffic from AI sources to U.S. retail sites during the recent holiday season, with the trend holding strong. Consumers are tapping into AI for product research, recommendations, and snagging deals, leading to more engaged browsing sessions. However, while AI-driven visitors linger longer and explore more pages, they’re a tad less likely to hit that “buy” button compared to their non-AI-using counterparts. READ MORE

Google’s AI Mode: A Game-Changer for Marketers

Google’s new AI Mode is shaking up the search scene, offering more immersive and personalized results. For marketers and SEO pros, this means adapting strategies to ensure visibility in AI-generated overviews. Notably, deep content pages—those nestled a couple of clicks away from the homepage—are getting the spotlight, accounting for over 80% of citations. The lesson here? Investing in detailed, specialized content could be your ticket to riding the AI wave. READ MORE

SEO in 2025: Adapt or Get Left Behind

The SEO landscape is evolving at warp speed, and 2025 is all about keeping up. Search engines are morphing into answer engines, delivering instant, context-rich responses. To stay in the game, businesses need to focus on content relevance, structure, and building topical expertise. It’s not just about keywords anymore; it’s about providing genuine value and insights that resonate with users’ evolving search behaviors. READ MORE

Five Digital Marketing Hacks to Amplify Your Online Presence

In the bustling digital marketplace, standing out is a must. Here are five savvy tips to boost your online game.

1. Master SEO: Optimize your content not just for search engines but for all platforms where your audience hangs out.
2. Diversify Your Channels: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Mix up your marketing efforts across PPC, social media, email, and content marketing to cast a wider net.
3. Know Your Audience: Dive deep into understanding who your customers are and tailor your strategies to meet their unique needs and preferences.
4. Stay Trendy: The digital world is ever-changing. Keep your finger on the pulse of the latest trends to keep your strategies fresh and effective.
5. Measure and Adapt: Keep an eye on your performance metrics and be ready to tweak your approach for continuous improvement.

By embracing these tactics, businesses can enhance their visibility, engage more effectively with their audience, and drive growth in the digital realm. READ MORE