Today’s the day!

The sun is shining! The digital marketing news is here!

• Microsoft caught onto the SAIO trend and released a blog: “Optimizing Your Content for Inclusion in AI Search Answers.” Their POV for (S)AIO success “starts with content that is fresh, authoritative, structured, and semantically clear.” Their recommendations to achieve success include:
  • Title, descriptions, and H1s
  • Q&A formats, lists and tables, and Schema markup
  • Write for intent (not just keywords), avoid vague language, add context, and use synonyms and related terms.
  • Hopefully, this all sounds familiar to those who have been following this newsletter since we launched SAIO a couple years ago.

• How’s this for a premise: Marketers are learning that without strategy, generative AI can make them less creative — not more productive. It’s worth the read to gain perspective on the potential of AI to make marketers dumber as “outsourcing your thinking [to AI] too often weakens your ability to think in general.” The solution is to leverage AI as a tool, not a crutch, and lead the “machines” with clear strategies in mind. After attending Pam Didner’s Marketing Profs webinar last Wednesday… I am convinced that humans need to create on our own and use AI to refine and inspire.

• Yext provides some interesting data on the fragmented search journey that can include Traditional Search, AI Search, and Social Media:
  • 45% of U.S. consumers still start product research on a traditional search engine.
  • 73% say they’ve used AI-powered search tools more in the past year, and 45% use them daily — 54% use AI for research.
  • 52% say they use social media to find reviews, 48% use it for local recommendations, and 47% for how-to-guidance.
  • It all points to having an overarching search marketing strategy that generates and reinforces visibility for your brand in all these searchable places.

• Are you reading this story on Chrome? Check the top of your screen where the “X” button is. Do you see a little purple star? Some of us have noticed a Gemini button. Is it a test? Will it make people use Gemini more? We’ll have to see in next month’s analytics!

• You probably know the 4Ps of Marketing (Product, Placement, Promotion, and Pricing). Let’s spice it up with the 4Ms of Marketing Plans:
  • Market Intelligence: Whom are you addressing? What does this sliver of audience need to meet their challenges?
  • Modeling: Map out an ongoing customer experience. Make sure other teams (i.e., Sales) get their say here as they may have insights Marketing may miss.
  • Mix: Which platforms will help you reach those goals?
  • Measurement: Make sure you set your KPIs first. Then, ensure you have the tools to assess them before your campaign launches.

Over 90% of teachers pay for supplies for their classrooms from their own pockets. If you know a teacher, think about asking them if they have a list of items needed for their rooms and if they would like help funding those. Every little bit helps!

What expectations do you have for yourself?

Now, I really want you to think…. How many of those expectations are externally motivated?

These expectations slide in through a back door and leave crumbs on the couch of your restless mind. These expectations may not have bad intentions, but they are entitled by the outside forces that put them there. Some of these expectations overshadow their internally motivated cousins who wait patiently for their chance to speak.

Just because society sets rules for you, doesn’t mean those good-hearted internal dreams have to sit by the wayside. Listen to which goals call to your heart. 🩷

Best Wishes 🌠

Natalie

Just in case you didn’t get my reference in the intro…. 😁 

(I cannot hear “Today’s the day” and not think of this.)