Marketing Trends Now by Katie Brinkley

What if AI didn’t just help you think — what if it actually started doing the work you hate to do? That’s the question Katie tackles in part three of this four-part AI series. So far, this series has covered two major ideas: first, most business owners are using AI too narrowly, mostly for output instead of execution. Second, if AI doesn’t sound like you yet, it’s not because it can’t — it’s becau...

What if AI doesn’t sound like you — not because it can’t, but because you’ve never actually shown it how? That’s the shift Katie Brinkley tackles in part two of this AI series. In this episode of Marketing Trends Now , Katie breaks down one of the biggest frustrations business owners have with AI: it feels generic, off-brand, and like it creates more editing instead of less. But the issue usually...

What if AI isn’t saving you time — not because it isn’t powerful enough, but because you’re using it the exact same way as everybody else? That’s the real question behind this episode. In part one of this new AI series, Katie Brinkley breaks down why so many business owners are using AI, but still not feeling the payoff. Because yes, AI can help you write a caption, brainstorm an email, or draft a...

Have you ever had a video get views, but nothing actually came from it? No leads. No engagement. No traction. That’s the trap so many business owners fall into on YouTube: they see views and assume something is working. But not all views are created equal. In this episode of Marketing Trends Now , Katie Brinkley breaks down the YouTube metrics that actually matter if you’re using video to grow you...

If you’ve been following AI video this past year, there’s a good chance you heard “Sora” and thought, this changes everything . And honestly, it did. But now OpenAI is reportedly moving away from Sora as a standalone app — and that matters for business owners more than most people realize. Because this isn’t really about one app going away. It’s about what AI companies are prioritizing now, what t...

If your Instagram comments have slowed down, your LinkedIn posts feel quieter, or Threads suddenly seems a lot less lively, you’re not imagining it. Engagement is shifting across platforms — but the real story is bigger than “the algorithm hates me.” In this episode, Katie Brinkley breaks down the recent engagement trends across major platforms and explains what’s actually happening behind the sce...

AI promised to save us time. Faster captions. Faster blogs. Faster videos. Faster everything. But if you’ve actually tried using AI in your business, you already know the truth: it doesn’t always feel faster. In this episode of Marketing Trends Now , Katie Brinkley breaks down the gap between the promise of AI and the reality many business owners are experiencing. Because while AI adoption is expl...

Have you ever opened your podcast dashboard, looked at your downloads, and immediately decided whether your show was a success—or a failure? You’re not alone. Most podcasters are judging their show using numbers they don’t actually understand, and it’s quietly wrecking their confidence and their strategy. In this episode, I break down what your podcast stats are really telling you, what they’re no...

If you’re staring at your analytics thinking, “Something’s not working,” this episode is for you. Yes, engagement rates are down across all platforms. That’s real. But most entrepreneurs are trying to fix the wrong problem. They’re trying to fix engagement when they should be fixing positioning, audience alignment, and conversion pathways. In this solo episode, I walk you through what engagement b...

When you hear “industry benchmarks,” it sounds official and scientific—like there’s one magical engagement rate you’re supposed to hit to win. But here’s the truth: if you treat benchmarks like goals, they will quietly wreck your strategy. In this episode, I break down why most people use benchmarks the wrong way, how they turn into vanity metrics, and how to reframe them so they actually help you...

What happens when the tool you use to think, plan, and create starts showing ads? In this solo episode, I break down OpenAI’s move to test ads inside ChatGPT for free and Go plan users, and what that really means for marketers, creators, and small business owners. This isn’t just another ad unit. This is the start of ads entering a high-intent, conversation-first environment. I’m not here to panic...

In this episode of Marketing Trends Now , Katie Brinkley dives into Sprout Social’s 2026 Social Media Content Strategy Report and uncovers why most marketing strategies aren’t working. She breaks down the growing disconnect between what brands post and what audiences actually want, offering data-backed insights on platform selection, AI content use, and engagement practices. Top 5 Takeaways: More...

TikTok didn’t just roll out a new feature—it became a different company in the U.S. With a new ownership structure, data oversight, and a retrained algorithm, everything from your reach to your results could start shifting. This episode breaks down what’s actually changed, what to expect next, and how smart business owners can adapt their content strategy without spiraling or overcorrecting. What...

Instagram just rolled out a small-looking pop-up that signals a much bigger shift: Meta is letting users train the algorithm — and if you run ads, this changes everything. In this solo episode, I break down what this update means for your targeting, your ad creative, and your conversion rates moving forward. What You’ll Learn: What Instagram’s new “interest selection” prompt actually means How Met...

Podcasting just entered the Hollywood chat — literally. In 2026, the Golden Globes awarded “Best Podcast of the Year” for the first time ever. But this moment isn’t just about celebrity winners. It’s about what this means for trust, credibility, and content marketing moving forward. In this episode, we cover: Why this award changes how podcasting is perceived by brands and audiences The ripple eff...

YouTube is quietly testing something that feels very not YouTube : image carousels inside the Shorts feed. But this isn’t just a feature drop — it’s a signal. This solo episode breaks down why this small test could reshape how you use YouTube, and how it ties into a bigger trend: every platform becoming… the same. Key Takeaways: YouTube is testing swipeable photo posts (up to 10 images) inside Sho...

If your best-performing platform changed the rules tomorrow, would your business survive it? Most people say no. That’s why this episode exists. In this solo 2026 forecast, I break down the real shifts that will define how we grow, engage, and show up on social this year — so you can stop guessing and start getting ahead. Key Takeaways: Why AI is no longer optional for content creation workflows H...

Facebook just overhauled the algorithm, layout, search, and engagement tools — and that means big opportunity if you know how to adapt. Let’s be honest: most of us treat Facebook like an obligation. We post there because we feel like we should. But Meta’s latest updates tell us one thing loud and clear: they want our attention back , and they’re betting big on visuals, immersive design, and search...

If you're relying on Facebook to drive traffic to your offers, this new update is going to change everything. Meta has quietly rolled out a link-sharing limit that affects businesses, creators, and anyone using Facebook Pages or professional-mode profiles. But this episode isn’t just about what’s changing — it’s about how to pivot smarter . What You’ll Learn: What the new link limit actually says...

Still typing “write me a caption” into ChatGPT? It’s time to level up. In this solo episode of Marketing Trends Now , I’ll teach you how to turn AI from a novelty into a core part of your marketing workflow — with a clear roadmap I call the 90-Day AI-Ready Framework . Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to AI in Marketing 00:28 The Problem with Prompt-Only Marketing 02:13 Understanding the 90-Day AI Re...

Almost every company is investing in AI — but only 1% say it’s actually moving the bottom line . McKinsey’s 2025 AI report just confirmed it. In this episode, I break down the top findings from McKinsey’s data and translate them into plain English so you can stop experimenting and start using AI to drive real results. If you’re a founder, CEO, or marketing leader wondering why your GenAI investmen...

What happens if Instagram disappears tomorrow? Would your business still have a way to reach your people? In this episode, I’m breaking down why email is having its biggest comeback yet — and how your list might be the secret weapon you’ve been underusing. With ad costs soaring, tracking falling apart, and algorithms playing games, your owned data is now your most valuable marketing asset. And tha...

Let’s be real — the minute you show up consistently online, someone’s going to have something negative to say. And when it happens? It stings. But here’s the truth: how you respond speaks louder than the comment ever will. In this episode of Marketing Trends Now , I’m sharing how to handle negative comments online in a way that protects your peace and elevates your brand. Whether it’s a rude DM, a...

SEO isn’t dead — but it is being rewritten by AI . If you're still optimizing content like it's 2015, you're already falling behind. In this episode, I break down Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — the new way to make sure your content shows up when AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews answer questions without sending users to your site. Let’s get ahead of the curve — before you’re...

Let’s be honest—nobody’s impressed by another boring AI-generated post. But it’s not AI’s fault—it’s the prompt. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact formula I use to turn boring, robotic AI output into sassy, strategic, audience-focused content that actually sounds like me and performs like a pro. Whether you’re using ChatGPT, Claude, or anything else—this episode will help you stop blending in...