![\"CURRENT](\"https:\/\/www.sanctuarymg.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Chart.png\" "\\"Chart\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
What you need to know:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nCreator Ad Spend Explodes to $37 Billion in 2025<\/strong>
Spending on creators and influencers is expected to hit $37 billion this year, growing four times faster than the broader media industry. Mid-tier creators (50k\u2013500k followers) are getting the bulk of the investment, and brands are using AI to scale briefs, edits, and testing while still relying on creators for authenticity and reach. This is a clear signal that \u201ccreator-first\u201d is becoming a default media strategy, not a side experiment. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Google Algorithm Updates Shift SEO Toward Trust and Experience<\/strong>
Google\u2019s November 2025 updates are tightening expectations around content quality, user experience, mobile performance, and real E-E-A-T signals. The changes are hitting rankings in local search, featured snippets, and AI-driven discovery, punishing thin or generic content and rewarding sites that demonstrate expertise, clear value, and strong UX. This is another step away from \u201cSEO tricks\u201d and toward search as a trust and experience channel. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital Marketing Roundup: Ads in ChatGPT, TikTok Ownership, and Missing Google Trend Data<\/strong>
Here’s a roundup of news that includes movement toward ads in ChatGPT, renewed pressure for a U.S.-based TikTok owner, and disruptions to Google\u2019s organic trend data. For marketers, it means two things: conversational AI is becoming an ad channel, and planning that leans heavily on any single platform\u2019s data is getting riskier. Diversification and first-party data become even more important. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nSystems Thinking Becomes the New Marketing Strategy<\/strong>
Across the industry, leaders are moving from campaign-by-campaign thinking to connected marketing systems. Instead of siloed SEO, social, and email efforts, the focus is on journeys that connect awareness, nurture, sales enablement, and retention across channels. The brands winning right now treat marketing like an ecosystem that compounds over time, not a series of one-off stunts. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nSmall Businesses Are Worried About Inflation but Still Planning to Grow<\/strong>
Bank of America\u2019s latest survey shows 70 percent of small and mid-sized business owners still rank inflation as their top concern. Most are raising prices to keep up with costs, yet 74 percent expect revenue growth by 2026, and nearly 60 percent plan to expand. The message for marketers: pricing, value communication, and ROI proof are not optional. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nOwners Expect Stronger 2026 and Are Leaning Into AI<\/strong>
In the same BofA data, 77 percent of business owners report adopting some form of AI over the last five years, and 43 percent plan to hire rather than cut staff. Leaders are betting that technology plus talent will drive the next wave of growth, even with economic uncertainty. Agencies and marketers who can plug AI into real business outcomes will have a clear advantage. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nEconomy: Strong Fundamentals, Weak Sentiment for Small Businesses<\/strong>
The U.S. economy is currently growing at about 3.8 percent with consumer spending up 5.6 percent, but small-business hiring turned negative in October and sentiment is at its lowest point this year. It is a classic \u201cvibes vs. data\u201d gap: fundamentals are solid, but owners feel uneasy. This is exactly when clear forecasting, scenario planning, and performance reporting from marketing partners becomes more valuable. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nNew Federal Business Trends Survey Gives Near Real-Time Signals<\/strong>
The U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Business Trends and Outlook Survey now provides high-frequency data on revenue changes, employment, and expectations across nonfarm sectors. For anyone selling to businesses, this is a reliable, regularly updated source to track shifts in demand and confidence instead of relying on headlines alone. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSocial Media Experimentation, Social Listening, and Generative AI<\/strong>
Hootsuite\u2019s 2025 social trends report highlights three big themes: brands are loosening their visual \u201crules\u201d to push more creative content, using social listening as a performance and trend-detection tool, and layering generative AI into everything from copy to content variations. The opportunity is to test more, listen better, and treat social as a learning engine, not just a posting channel. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short-Form Video Still Rules, but Authenticity Is Outperforming Polish<\/strong>
TikTok, Reels, and Shorts continue to dominate attention, but the winning content has shifted toward behind-the-scenes clips, voiceover commentary, and opinionated, less polished videos. Highly produced, trend-chasing content is losing ground to personality and point of view. Brands that let real people lead the story are seeing better engagement. Read More<\/a>
On that note… <\/strong>consider subscribing to the thoughts and opinions of our founder, Chris Auman, with his weekly Marketing Brief<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nAI and Automation Are Becoming the Backbone of Marketing, Not a Side Tool<\/strong>
Deloitte\u2019s 2025 trends report frames generative AI and automation as the infrastructure that powers personalization, content creation, and localization at scale. The focus is shifting from \u201cexperimenting with AI\u201d to embedding it in workflows so teams can move faster, create more relevant experiences, and connect data across channels. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Email Marketing: Hyper-Personalization and Lifecycle Automation<\/strong>
Current research points to three converging trends in email: AI-driven personalization, lifecycle automation across the customer journey, and more interactive content. Brands using behavior, purchase history, and real-time data are seeing better engagement than those relying on generic blasts. For many businesses, email remains the most controllable, highest-ROI channel if it is treated as a system rather than occasional campaigns. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nData Privacy: From Compliance Burden to Growth Strategy<\/strong>
Data privacy laws keep tightening globally, and marketers are being pushed to rethink how they collect and use customer data. Recent analyses argue that treating privacy as a core part of the marketing value proposition leads to higher opt-in rates, better data quality, lower acquisition costs, and stronger trust. The businesses that get ahead of compliance now can turn privacy into a competitive advantage. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nBusinesses Lean on Talent and Tech to Power Growth<\/strong>
New survey data shows that even with a softer macro outlook, about six in ten businesses still expect to grow over the next year and are leaning into both skilled people and new technology to make it happen. AI, automation, and smarter hiring are being used together, not in competition, which has big implications for how agencies position their services. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat “Return Results” Actually Means
<\/strong>Every organizations talks about results. It\u2019s one of those words that sounds powerful in a meeting or looks good on a website, but it can mean almost anything these days. For Sanctuary and other marketers and business leaders, \u201cReturn Results<\/a>\u201d can’t be just a slogan. It\u2019s a promise. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWEBSITE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n2025 Planning: Cost Considerations for a New Web Design & Development Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Cost](\"https:\/\/www.sanctuarymg.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01-cost-considerations-hero-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re planning a new website, one of the first questions that comes up is, \u201cHow much will it cost?\u201d It\u2019s a fair question, but the answer depends on a range of factors that go well beyond design alone.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSOCIAL MEDIA<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSocial Media Is the New Search Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Social](\"https:\/\/www.sanctuarymg.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01-social-media-search-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGone are the days when social media was just filled with pictures of your grandparents and controversial opinions that you don\u2019t care to read. It has evolved to be much more and is arguably more powerful than ever before. People are now using social media channels as a search engine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSTRATEGY<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGrow Your Organization’s Revenue with a Comprehensive Digital Marketing Plan<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"Discovery](\"https:\/\/www.sanctuarymg.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discovery-1024x1024.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDo you need a digital marketing strategy but you’re not sure where to start? Or maybe you\u2019re unhappy with the results from your current plan? At Sanctuary, we focus on strategies that get results and help you grow your business. We\u2019re leaders in marketing, and partners in growth. Learn more today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLEARNING “ON THE GO”<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSubscribe to Our Podcast<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlmost 100 free episodes of advice and conversations around improving and aligning your marketing, sales and operations to grow your business. Check it out here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nKEEPING UP<\/h3>\n\n\n\nNews Archive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHave you missed our email and need to catch up on recent marketing and business news? We have a complete archive on our website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check it out here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGet our newsletter in your inbox<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Creator Ad Spend Explodes to $37 Billion in 2025<\/strong> Systems Thinking Becomes the New Marketing Strategy<\/strong> Small Businesses Are Worried About Inflation but Still Planning to Grow<\/strong> Owners Expect Stronger 2026 and Are Leaning Into AI<\/strong> Economy: Strong Fundamentals, Weak Sentiment for Small Businesses<\/strong> New Federal Business Trends Survey Gives Near Real-Time Signals<\/strong> Social Media Experimentation, Social Listening, and Generative AI<\/strong> AI and Automation Are Becoming the Backbone of Marketing, Not a Side Tool<\/strong> Data Privacy: From Compliance Burden to Growth Strategy<\/strong> Businesses Lean on Talent and Tech to Power Growth<\/strong> What “Return Results” Actually Means If you\u2019re planning a new website, one of the first questions that comes up is, \u201cHow much will it cost?\u201d It\u2019s a fair question, but the answer depends on a range of factors that go well beyond design alone.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gone are the days when social media was just filled with pictures of your grandparents and controversial opinions that you don\u2019t care to read. It has evolved to be much more and is arguably more powerful than ever before. People are now using social media channels as a search engine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you need a digital marketing strategy but you’re not sure where to start? Or maybe you\u2019re unhappy with the results from your current plan? At Sanctuary, we focus on strategies that get results and help you grow your business. We\u2019re leaders in marketing, and partners in growth. Learn more today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost 100 free episodes of advice and conversations around improving and aligning your marketing, sales and operations to grow your business. Check it out here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you missed our email and need to catch up on recent marketing and business news? We have a complete archive on our website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check it out here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spending on creators and influencers is expected to hit $37 billion this year, growing four times faster than the broader media industry. Mid-tier creators (50k\u2013500k followers) are getting the bulk of the investment, and brands are using AI to scale briefs, edits, and testing while still relying on creators for authenticity and reach. This is a clear signal that \u201ccreator-first\u201d is becoming a default media strategy, not a side experiment. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Google Algorithm Updates Shift SEO Toward Trust and Experience<\/strong>
Google\u2019s November 2025 updates are tightening expectations around content quality, user experience, mobile performance, and real E-E-A-T signals. The changes are hitting rankings in local search, featured snippets, and AI-driven discovery, punishing thin or generic content and rewarding sites that demonstrate expertise, clear value, and strong UX. This is another step away from \u201cSEO tricks\u201d and toward search as a trust and experience channel. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital Marketing Roundup: Ads in ChatGPT, TikTok Ownership, and Missing Google Trend Data<\/strong>
Here’s a roundup of news that includes movement toward ads in ChatGPT, renewed pressure for a U.S.-based TikTok owner, and disruptions to Google\u2019s organic trend data. For marketers, it means two things: conversational AI is becoming an ad channel, and planning that leans heavily on any single platform\u2019s data is getting riskier. Diversification and first-party data become even more important. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the industry, leaders are moving from campaign-by-campaign thinking to connected marketing systems. Instead of siloed SEO, social, and email efforts, the focus is on journeys that connect awareness, nurture, sales enablement, and retention across channels. The brands winning right now treat marketing like an ecosystem that compounds over time, not a series of one-off stunts. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bank of America\u2019s latest survey shows 70 percent of small and mid-sized business owners still rank inflation as their top concern. Most are raising prices to keep up with costs, yet 74 percent expect revenue growth by 2026, and nearly 60 percent plan to expand. The message for marketers: pricing, value communication, and ROI proof are not optional. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the same BofA data, 77 percent of business owners report adopting some form of AI over the last five years, and 43 percent plan to hire rather than cut staff. Leaders are betting that technology plus talent will drive the next wave of growth, even with economic uncertainty. Agencies and marketers who can plug AI into real business outcomes will have a clear advantage. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. economy is currently growing at about 3.8 percent with consumer spending up 5.6 percent, but small-business hiring turned negative in October and sentiment is at its lowest point this year. It is a classic \u201cvibes vs. data\u201d gap: fundamentals are solid, but owners feel uneasy. This is exactly when clear forecasting, scenario planning, and performance reporting from marketing partners becomes more valuable. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Business Trends and Outlook Survey now provides high-frequency data on revenue changes, employment, and expectations across nonfarm sectors. For anyone selling to businesses, this is a reliable, regularly updated source to track shifts in demand and confidence instead of relying on headlines alone. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hootsuite\u2019s 2025 social trends report highlights three big themes: brands are loosening their visual \u201crules\u201d to push more creative content, using social listening as a performance and trend-detection tool, and layering generative AI into everything from copy to content variations. The opportunity is to test more, listen better, and treat social as a learning engine, not just a posting channel. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short-Form Video Still Rules, but Authenticity Is Outperforming Polish<\/strong>
TikTok, Reels, and Shorts continue to dominate attention, but the winning content has shifted toward behind-the-scenes clips, voiceover commentary, and opinionated, less polished videos. Highly produced, trend-chasing content is losing ground to personality and point of view. Brands that let real people lead the story are seeing better engagement. Read More<\/a>
On that note… <\/strong>consider subscribing to the thoughts and opinions of our founder, Chris Auman, with his weekly Marketing Brief<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deloitte\u2019s 2025 trends report frames generative AI and automation as the infrastructure that powers personalization, content creation, and localization at scale. The focus is shifting from \u201cexperimenting with AI\u201d to embedding it in workflows so teams can move faster, create more relevant experiences, and connect data across channels. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Email Marketing: Hyper-Personalization and Lifecycle Automation<\/strong>
Current research points to three converging trends in email: AI-driven personalization, lifecycle automation across the customer journey, and more interactive content. Brands using behavior, purchase history, and real-time data are seeing better engagement than those relying on generic blasts. For many businesses, email remains the most controllable, highest-ROI channel if it is treated as a system rather than occasional campaigns. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Data privacy laws keep tightening globally, and marketers are being pushed to rethink how they collect and use customer data. Recent analyses argue that treating privacy as a core part of the marketing value proposition leads to higher opt-in rates, better data quality, lower acquisition costs, and stronger trust. The businesses that get ahead of compliance now can turn privacy into a competitive advantage. Read More<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New survey data shows that even with a softer macro outlook, about six in ten businesses still expect to grow over the next year and are leaning into both skilled people and new technology to make it happen. AI, automation, and smarter hiring are being used together, not in competition, which has big implications for how agencies position their services. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Every organizations talks about results. It\u2019s one of those words that sounds powerful in a meeting or looks good on a website, but it can mean almost anything these days. For Sanctuary and other marketers and business leaders, \u201cReturn Results<\/a>\u201d can’t be just a slogan. It\u2019s a promise. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWEBSITE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2025 Planning: Cost Considerations for a New Web Design & Development Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSOCIAL MEDIA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Social Media Is the New Search Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSTRATEGY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grow Your Organization’s Revenue with a Comprehensive Digital Marketing Plan<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLEARNING “ON THE GO”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Subscribe to Our Podcast<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nKEEPING UP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
News Archive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get our newsletter in your inbox<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n