Hiya,

We are sooo back and ready to lay out all the hot gossip in digital marketing.

• Google’s September Spam Update took longer than previous updates. It also produced considerable visibility volatility in rank trackers (like AWR) “which people searching on Google didn’t see reflected” in their results. We are keeping a close eye 👁️ on long term impacts of the update.

• “Want lasting AI brand visibility? Stop looking for hacks” discusses leveraging a cross-departmental visibility framework to drive real results. It’s music to our ears as we have long embraced and encouraged this approach. The article also shares a roadmap to help achieve this collaborative environment.

• Demandsphere reports “AI Overviews on branded queries tripled in September.” There is no identified explanation for the surge, and there is no click and CTR data to indicate how that visibility translated into website traffic. Even if this spike doesn’t continue, it is a good reminder that your brand needs to be considered a topic for AI optimization just like your products/services.

• Americans don’t have a positive view on social media’s impact on democracy, according to Pew. High-income nations in general seem to have a more negative view of these channels. You can see this view trickles down to teen and child social media restrictions.

• Getting a degree in Content Creation is no longer a far-out dream. Colleges like Arizona State, Stanford, and Syracuse have introduced classes and degrees focused on the creator economy… not just for the front-end, but the back-end analysts, operators, managers, etc. The world’s changin’, y’all.

What are solar cookers, you say? This organization’s name immediately got my attention. According to their website, “3 in 7 people lack sustainable fuel to cook meals and make water safe to drink. So, Solar Cookers International provides cookers that use the power of the sun to purify water and cook food. To learn how you can help (and see what solar cookers look like), visit their website: Solar Cookers International.

Keep it real, y’all ✌️

Natalie

Just in case you forgot…

You’re awesome.