Keeping up with social media trends and updates sometimes feels impossible. Algorithm changes, new features, and even entirely new platforms are popping up regularly. From the uncertain future of TikTok in the U.S. to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) reshaping the digital landscape, 2024 saw its fair share of changes to social media. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’re diving into the most significant social media shifts of 2024 and sharing our predictions for what’s on the horizon in 2025.

In 2024, an astonishing 40% of all consumer goods will be sold on Amazon, and an even more impressive 56% of shoppers will start their product searches there. If you’re selling products that could shine on Amazon but aren’t showing up in a meaningful way, you’re missing out—big time.

In this edition of Plain Talk, we’re diving into how to use Amazon Seller Central. Yes, the learning curve is steep, but as a full-service marketing agency that’s waded through the depths of this e-commerce ocean, we’ve uncovered some pearls of wisdom. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or just starting out, this guide will break down Amazon’s unique (and occasionally frustrating) algorithm to help you make it work for you.

For the past dozen years or so, the advertising industry has been pushing the value and effectiveness of social media influencers hard. There’s been some pretty solid logic backing those recommendations up too. Influencer product pitches and endorsements, everything from unboxing to live demos, have helped businesses in many verticals see significant improvements from brand affinity to sales. But are times changing? Recent data, driven largely by Gen Z and younger millennials, shows new attitudes toward influencer authenticity, dwindling engagement rates, and increases in private micro-communities. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll look at what these changes may mean to how you balance the social media plan in your marketing mix and when it still makes sense to work with influencers.

No digital marketing strategy is an “island.” The days of stand-alone strategies are over as smart businesses realize that meeting their goals requires a more holistic approach. Enter the dynamic duo of search engine optimization (SEO) paired with conversion rate optimization (CRO), two seemingly distinct disciplines that, when united, become a force multiplier for growth.

You know those pop-ups you see when you first land on a website? The ones that say something like, “This website uses cookies, blah, blah…” This little “cookie banner” has become the center of a growing area of digital marketing compliance that brands cannot ignore because this cookie banner and what it represents is at the center of global data privacy regulation. And as regulations are implemented across the world and back home in individual states, the increase in privacy-related litigation has become noteworthy. So, in this edition of Plain Talk, we will dig into the somewhat murky world of “consent management” and what marketers need to know to stay out of hot water.

Generation X (born 1965–1980) was the generation of injuries from plywood bike ramps, latchkey kids, and drinking from the garden hose. Their mostly Silent Generation (1928–1945) parents were anything but helicopter parents. Millennials (born 1981–1996) wore bike helmets, attended aftercare, and drank bottled water. As birth rates dropped from 3.5% to below 2%, their baby boomer (1946–1964) parents became more involved. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll look at potential generational changes to the family dynamics of eldercare and insights into the new “sandwich generation”: Generation X and millennials.

The restaurant’s staff was “in the weeds” a lot more than a typical Saturday night and it was starting to overtake the kitchen. A full house of four and six-top tables loaded with hungry guests was starting to get antsy, and the manager knew that her reputation was on the line every time they got slammed like that. But it’s OK. She knew it was coming. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll reveal the most direct cause of customer loyalty. Then, we’ll look at improving the employee experience and how it flows into creating customer loyalty.

Imagine sitting in a waiting room, watching your car’s oil change when a marble suddenly blocks the funnel, causing oil to spill everywhere. As absurd as this scenario seems, it mirrors a common marketing blunder—focusing on mid-and top-funnel activities while neglecting the clogged bottom of the funnel. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore real-world examples of bottom-funnel issues across various sales models and provide insights on how to audit, communicate, and resolve these costly problems.

After Google’s “Helpful Content Core Update” in March 2024 and the recent notification in May that they will be adding AI Overviews to the top of organic search results, you might rightfully be wondering what Google will do next to challenge your ability to drive organic search leads. Well, the wait is over. On July 31, 2024, Google will discontinue the call history and chat features in all Google Business Profiles (GBPs).

We suspect one of the most intimidating challenges marketers face is the prospect of a rebranding effort. We’ve been contacted many times to provide expertise on the topic. This often comes from prospective clients whose business may be experiencing a sluggish period where they suspect their “brand” is the problem. The phone call to the agency goes something like, “I think we need to rebrand.” Then we’ll say something like, “Hmm, tell us more about why you think that,” then the conversation often veers into things like logos, TV commercials, slow sales, and “Brand X who is stealing our share because their branding is way better.”