Whew, happy Friday.
One of our ideas for today’s intro had to do with cereal.
Just for giggles, we decided to look back at the intro we wrote two years ago for June 27… and it was about cereal.
So weird. Guess we have to eat a bowl now…
AI summaries come to YouTube
Google must really, really love AI Overviews (AIOs).
Because YouTube’s getting them, too: Premium users in the US will now start seeing AI-generated search carousels in the app.
For example, if you search for “best beaches in Hawaii,” YouTube will surface a carousel of video clips, short AI-written descriptions, and other relevant content to speed up discovery.
That may be great for users, but as with AIOs, there’s a chance that if viewers get answers directly in a carousel, they won’t click through to the actual videos. Hm…
Oh, and YouTube is expanding its conversational AI tool to certain non-Premium users.
It will be interesting to see how all of this affects content discovery…
X kills hashtags, and TikTok’s ad spend thrives despite ban threats
#bye.
… And they’re gone: You might be waking up to a very different X.
Elon Musk posted yesterday that hashtags are being removed from X Ads to end the “esthetic nightmare” starting tomorrow… which is now today.
Yes. Elon wrote “esthetic.” Not “aesthetic.”
Will this impact discoverability? That’s hard to know, but as one founder pointed out, hashtags “invite the user to leave the ad and dive into a broader conversation” anyway.
And what marketer wants that?
Still, we’ll have to see how it all plays out…
You’re yes then you’re no: The US TikTok ban has been postponed again, and advertisers aren’t worried anymore.
In fact, TikTok’s ad spend continues to grow despite the impending ban—ad spend hit $588M in May, with top brands leading the charge.
Guess those CPMs are just too juicy. Might as well keep the ads and videos coming…
Sound like the sharpest marketer in the room… even if you only skim this over coffee
Keeping up with market shifts gives you a real strategic edge.
But when you’re juggling campaigns, meetings, and budgets, who has time to read dense business reports or decode finance-speak?
That’s why over a million professionals—marketers included—read The Daily Upside.
It’s the newsletter that breaks down the latest in business, economics, and investing with speed and clarity.
Here’s why marketers love it:
- It’s written in plain English—no jargon, no fluff.
- It gives you a clear view of the business landscape in 15 minutes or less—perfect with your morning coffee.
- It’s bias-free and data-driven, so you get insights you can trust—not spin.
With this kind of intel in your back pocket, you’ll become your team’s go-to for sharp takes that influence smart marketing decisions.
What “inbox zero” behavior reveals about email marketing
For many people, an empty inbox often feels like an achievement, like you’ve “completed” your emails.
… Does the thought of your customers getting to inbox zero make you feel uncomfortable?
Fair enough. But it also reveals an opportunity for marketers.
Because inbox zero isn’t about organization—it’s about psychology.
Take a look: Tyler Cook studied numerous articles about inbox zero strategies and habits to analyze the thought process behind them.
He realized that when someone opens their inbox, they’re not just “checking emails,” they’re scanning with purpose.
They’re looking for tasks, or team updates, or sales leads, or shipping notices… or maybe just some juicy drama.
Getting to inbox zero is just one of the ways of helping them do this. It clears the clutter.
So instead of only obsessing over subject lines or deliverability tactics, think about:
- How people organize their inboxes.
- What their mental states are throughout the week.
- How you can match your emails and content accordingly.
For example, instead of sending “5 Productivity Tips” on a Monday when they’re likely overwhelmed, send “Weekend Reset: Plan Your Week in 10 Minutes” on Sunday night.
Many people are in prep mode at this time, so this message is going to reach them when they’re ready and in the right mindset.
Our takeaway? Email marketing strategy isn’t about hacks, it’s about timing content and attention.
The better you understand how and why your audience uses their inbox, the more effective your strategy will be.
2x your conversion rate and AOV with simple tests you can set up in minutes
How’d you like to go behind the scenes of the agency that has optimized the funnels of six and seven figure brands?
Carlos Valdivia has doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled conversion rates for 300+ DTC brands.
So we kidnapped him… er, kindly asked him to give away all his systems, SOPs, and frameworks.
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How do you validate your product for Gen Z?
Shopping online is not unique to zoomers.
But one thing that might be unique to them is how they shop online.
This is something we mentioned in our recent Data Story.
When zoomers stumble on something sketchy, be it a bad review or content that feels off, they don’t just back away. They go deeper:
Instead of trying to hook them once and convince them from a single-page funnel—or trying to “acquire” them and then retarget—it’s best to just be everywhere.
And it’s not because 47% say they keep researching until they’re confident in their decision. Other generations claim the same.
Zoomers are more likely than anyone to do three additional things:
- Check other social platforms.
- Ask their trusted friends.
- Look for more negative reviews.
What this means for you: Let’s call this “cross-referencing” the funnel. Zoomers will look at how you stand on other platforms, including reviews and UGC.
They also seek out negative reviews to see what the worst-case scenario is.
What you can do: Create cohesive messaging, visuals, and social proof across all your touchpoints, particularly Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, or even comment sections.
Assume your product will be Googled, DMed, and dissected. Be ready for it.
And if you want to be 100% ready for zoomer-related shopping, check the entire report here.
GROWTH MARKETING: Too busy with client work to grow skills? Just seven minutes weekly is all you need to sharpen your marketing skills and get more wins for your clients. Tactics sends one actionable strategy you can implement immediately every Saturday. Get it for free.*
GOOGLE: To offset traffic losses from AI Overviews, Google just launched Offerwall, a new Ad Manager tool that lets publishers monetize traffic through surveys, micro payments, watching ads, or newsletter signups. So far, early tests showed revenue boosts up to 20%. Are we getting a new way to advertise soon?
SEARCH: AI search is growing, but it still drives less than 1% of traffic for most sites, and Google still dominates. So don’t ignore SEO. Focusing too much on AI now could hurt visibility across Google’s features, including AI Overviews. Remember to stay balanced.
META: We mentioned it before, but along with Opportunity Score, Meta is rolling out the new Advantage+ campaign setup globally. It streamlines Sales, Leads, and App campaigns, replaces Advantage+ shopping, and simplifies targeting. Jon Loomer’s mini guide is helpful if you want to familiarize yourself with it.
*This is a sponsored post.
In Okmulgee, Oklahoma, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why?
You can find the answer here.
POOLSIDECHAT
Cool tech, (funny) business, lifestyle and all the other things marketers like to chat about while sipping cocktails by the pool.
What futuristic cars looked like to people in the past
Back in the 1940s and 50s, designers had a field day imagining what vehicles of the future might look like.
Fast forward to now, and… no, we’re still not hovering to work. Unfortunately.
But the artists’ concepts were full of wild curves, rocket-like shapes, and panoramic glass everything.
Their ideals of the future may not have panned out, but one thing’s for sure—they were very pretty.
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