Generative engine optimization for small business: How to win with a small budget in 2026
In a past work life, I stole search rank positions #1 and zero and even featured snippets from much larger companies, including HubSpot. That’s why I firmly believe bootstrapped small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMB) can compete with big-budget corporations. Strategies like SEO, social media, and generative engine optimization for small business make it possible.
24 generative engine optimization statistics marketing leaders should know
I never thought I‘d see the day when “Googling” something and sifting through links would become passé. But, like many marketers over the last year, I’m seeing a massive shift in how people find brands, products, and answers online. More and more consumers are getting their answers directly from AI platforms like ChatGPT, and marketers […]
What is an attribution window in marketing? What marketers need to know
An attribution window is the defined time period when a marketing touchpoint — such as an ad click, email open, or page view — can be credited for a conversion. Window length directly affects how conversions are counted, how channels perform, and how budget decisions are made. Platforms use different defaults, and these differences often […]
Marketing operations tech stack audit: A proven checklist for operations teams
Marketing tech stacks often expand fast, leading to sprawl. The result is low tool usage. Gartner estimates that only 49% of marketing technology tools are actively used by teams. A marketing operations tech stack audit brings structure back to teams with bloated software.
AI engine optimization audit: How to audit your content for AI search engines
An AI engine optimization audit evaluates brand visibility, accuracy, and citations in AI-powered search engines. It highlights how a brand appears across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot, and identifies gaps in the facts, descriptions, and links these systems rely on. In contrast, a traditional SEO audit focuses on website rankings and technical health in […]
Answer engine optimization vs. traditional SEO: What marketers need to know
Understanding answer engine optimization (AEO) vs. traditional SEO has become mission-critical for content managers and marketing leaders as search shifts toward AI-generated responses, voice results, and zero-click experiences. While page ranking on Google is still important (for now), success increasingly depends on whether a brand stays visible when an AI system summarizes an answer.
Adaptive marketing: Proven strategies for growing companies
The best marketing isn’t chiseled in stone. Apative marketing is alive, responding to new tools, shifting consumer preferences, trends, and real-time data. Changing with the trends gives brands a competitive edge, if marketing teams handle it correctly.
Email marketing reporting: Our top best practices and tool recommendations for 2026
Here’s a (maybe) mildly spicy hot take: Email marketing reporting is the backbone of any performance-focused email strategy. Without it, you’re sending campaigns into a void, unable to see what’s working, what’s falling flat, and most importantly, what’s driving revenue.
Introducing the Agentic Customer Platform
The Gap Between Output and Outcomes Over the past two years, I’ve had hundreds of conversations with business leaders about AI. The pattern is always the same: initial excitement about what AI can do, followed by frustration about what it actually delivers.
Use the Ick to Create Better Marketing
Our expert this week has a few hot takes.