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Pinterest’s 2026 Trend Report is a story about emotional resonance, individual expression, and creative freedom.
These insights can be helpful for anticipating and approximating what kinds of styles, products, or content will resonate in 2026 and why.
So, here’s a quick breakdown of major themes:
Dig into the full report for more.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but insults will help me make a great ad. Or something like that.
Recent research shows using not-so-nice feedback for ad concepts can significantly boost engagement.
A study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Duke University, and The University of Hong Kong found that reappropriating unfair or irrelevant criticisms can increase ad click-through rates by up to 27%, making brands appear more confident, humorous, and likable.
(Of course, you can preemptively create clever ads without waiting for criticism.)
Here’s how to do it:
Check out the data from Science Says.
LinkedIn has introduced some new ad options to make scaling personalized creative and boosting awareness easier, more efficient, and measurable.
Here’s what’s new:
Head to LinkedIn for Marketing to get the full scoop.
YouTube has finally rolled out Title A/B testing globally after months of limited access.
Every creator with advanced features can now experiment with up to three titles, thumbnails, or title–thumbnail combos inside the Test & Compare tool.
YouTube is prioritizing watch time as the deciding metric, not CTR. So, instead of rewarding clickbait titles, this system will elevate titles that attract and retain viewers. Not slop.
Here’s what to know:
This is great news for marketers, creators, and anyone who wishes YouTube never got so… weird.
Check out Search Engine Journal for more.
The secret to generating leads on social is treating it as the top of your funnel, not the entire engine.
Social is a visibility tool. It keeps your brand top-of-mind, shows proof of life, and builds familiarity. But real lead generation comes from what happens after someone discovers you.
Here’s what actually works:
Relying on virality, outsourcing your entire strategy to someone promising magic leads, or building your business on a single platform doesn’t work.
Check out Entrepreneur for more.
Meta has shared some research-backed tips to help you get more performance out of your Reels.
The study, conducted with Toluna across a wide range of brand-originated content, highlights what actually moves the needle on Facebook and Instagram.
Here are 5 Reels strategies for brand building:
And here are 6 Reels strategies for direct response:
Put a pin in it for 2026.
Not to be dramatic, but 2026 is looking to be a year of structural shifts.
Here are the 7 trends shaping the next year:
Think like a builder, design like a creator, and communicate like a real person. Take a closer look at Marketer Milk.
Evergreen content isn’t looking so evergreen anymore. *Collective sigh.*
LLMs prioritize signs of active upkeep over age, authority, or word count. A post updated last month often beats a masterpiece from 2023.
Our lifesaving “evergreen” content now decays in 90 days. LLMs reward new examples, updated data, current screenshots, and clear signals that the infi reflects the moment.
To stay visible, you need refresh cycles.
Here’s what LLMs treat as “fresh” content:
Treat evergreen pieces like they have a built-in expiration date. Add refresh tasks to your content calendar, tier your library by business impact, and schedule updates before visibility slips.
Check out MarTech for more.
TikTok’s new data suggests creator-led ads outperform traditional brand ads across every meaningful metric.
At the same CPM, creator content drives a 70% higher CTR and a 159% higher engagement rate.
Why? Because creators are native to TikTok’s rhythms in a way brands rarely are. They understand the jokes, the jump cuts, the micro-communities, and the unwritten rules that make content feel native rather than forced. And that creator fluency shows up in performance.
Here are the three core advantages creators offer campaigns:
Check out the insight at TikTok for Business.

Rich O'Donnell

Rich O'Donnell

Shannon Sankey

Rich O'Donnell

Rich O'Donnell

Rich O'Donnell

Shannon Sankey

Shannon Sankey

Ian David
