Hi, 

*Natalie unapologetically slaps a briefcase on the table while simultaneously unclasping the locks and opening the lid with a thwack. She pulls out a stack of neatly stapled articles and slides them across the table toward you.*

After a review of the marketing material (AKA articles), here’s what you need to know.

• Gather up your SEO tools — we’re in a “GEO Rush!” Here’s what search representatives have to say about it as quoted from Search Engine Roundtable….
  • Danny Sullivan from Google: “Are you doing things that are useful for human beings?” he said. “That’s what we want to reward.”
  • Krishna Madhavan from Microsoft: “Think beyond keywords to user intent, question‑answer structure, and machine‑readable cues that make your content easy to parse.”
  • Jesse Dwyer from Perplexity: “AI removes the “friction” of search and lets people buy things just by asking for them. As a result, building a strong brand will become increasingly important, he said.”

• The AI optimization name game remains without consensus yet. Search Engine Land provides a recap of its research into the 10-12 acronyms currently in play based on a survey of their subscribers, search trends, LinkedIn/Reddit positive sentiment usage, and labor market job postings. AISO (AI Search Optimization) — which is awfully close to DBE’s SAIO (Search AI Optimization) — isn’t as well known but seems to be gaining relevance. For our take on the naming kerfuffle, read Marc Engelsman’s most recent blog “What’s in a name? That which we call SAIO by any other name would smell as sweet success.”

• You know how food shelf life seems to be growing longer? Welp, that may not be happening with your site’s evergreen content. As AI platforms look for the latest information, older content starts to look… well, stale. MARTECH recommends keeping evergreen content on a 90-day refresh cycle.

• MARTECH covers two key 2026 strategic priorities from the recent Association of National Advertisers Masters of Marketing Conference: “bring back real-world brand experiences and get ready for AI-led discovery.” You’ve heard a lot about AI from us, so we’ll focus on the IRL experience priority. Harris Poll data shows “physical brand encounters now serve as social signals” for the Gen Z and Millennial generations. What the article doesn’t mention is sharing those experiences digitally can also be useful to extend your brand visibility and authority IRL and online.

• Tell me without telling me… a social media trend that teaches the world’s best writing advice. How can you say something without saying it directly? Try it in your marketing copy — it’s a fun exercise!

Quick! What organization has distributed 708 million toys to 314 million deserving children? You’re right if you guessed Toys for Tots! The Marine Toys for Tots Program’s mission is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. Learn how you can support them: Toys for Tots.

Hey, how are you? What smells permeate? How do your clothes feel on your body? Is there a taste on your tongue? Lift your head, and soak in the sights around you.

Welcome to the moment. We’re glad you’re here.

[Do this multiple times a day to ground yourself in the present.]

Happy December!

Natalie

The Obvious: Rest is important.

The Not-As-Obvious: Yoga Nidra can teach you how to rest. 

It’s a simple, guided meditation that often starts with a simple body scan. Try it out! (Here’s the scientific proof.)

Here’s a Yoga Nidra Playlist from Ally Boothroyd. Choose a practice based on your time and focus. 🙂