Hi friends,

Are you ready for some digital marketing? (You: YES!) Well, let’s go!

• Two Google AI Mode stories this week:

• • First, the Google AI Mode roll out to all US users appears to be happening now (see pic below).
  • Second, Google is now including AI Mode traffic data in Google Search Console reporting. But the traffic is getting wrapped in with your existing totals and not appearing as a separate category that can be filtered. Time will tell how or even if Google will ever open its AI data doors.

• Google’s documentation around AI Mode also stated, “The best practices for SEO remain relevant for AI features in Google Search.” It is unclear if the use of “relevant” was an intended word choice given the growing importance of “Relevance” as a key guideline for ranking. (Remember H-E-E-A-R-T?)

• There is nothing new in this article about “How to get started with AI Optimization…” that we haven’t already covered here over the past two years… EXCEPT for this nugget buried in the middle: “ChatGPT relies on Google.com more than other sites.” And by a lot according to the accompanying chart. The clear implication is SEO success can help with SAIO success.

• Building a WordPress website soon? Planning saves you time in the long run. This article from Search Engine Journal gives you a great hopping off point. Also, here are a few tips I’ve picked up throughout the years:
  • Plan SEO titles/tags for major pages BEFORE putting your content on the site. It saves you the hassle of editing it later.
  • Generally assemble the elements on your pages and then put your content in. After you’re done there, you can start playing with designs, animations, etc. (Do it vice versa, you’ll find you’ve perfected the title animation, but didn’t leave any room for the date and author bar… or the actual article text… the thing people visit your page for.)
  • If you have a unique issue, 9/10 times there’s a free/low-cost plugin for it. Make sure it is compatible with your theme and has been updated frequently! Some of my favorites are Yoast (SEO), Redirection (automatically redirects pages when URLs change), and ShareThis Share Buttons (for social sharing).

• Curious about TikTok and Insta influencers in 2025? SocialFly just released an Influencer Benchmark Report comparing Influencers tiers from nano (5k-10k followers) to macro (250K-2M followers). Where should you be focusing your influencer marketing efforts? It depends on whether you want higher engagement rates or view rates.

• TikTok is expanding its Symphony suite of GenAI tools, one of which converts static pictures to 5-second videos. Adobe Express is also offering social content creation in partnership with TikTok. Check it out: TikTok GenAI.

Improved access to health for those in underprivileged areas and/or disaster situations… that’s the mission of Heart to Heart International. Through hygiene kits, disaster response, medical care, supplies, medications, and more, this charity works to improve healthcare access in the U.S. and abroad. Learn more: Heart to Heart International.

Thoughts to Take With You… 💞

Why do we need to be the best?

The greatest driver… the high-performing athlete… the smartest in the room… the board game master… who can fix anything while balancing the world on their shoulders.… Yes, applying ourselves is the key to growth, but, scientifically, making mistakes increases the “activation of the neural circuits that increase alertness” in our brain… helping us learn. We don’t stretch ourselves by being the best of anything. In fact, that’s how we stagnate.

Growth doesn’t always come from winning — it stems from learning.

Until Next Time!

Natalie

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