Discovery is no longer a search engine activity. And for many users, social is becoming the internet (AOL 2.0?).
When asked which were their main sources of website traffic, SMBs named social media (64%) more often than even SEO (52%).
In fact, 35% of small businesses operating without a website said that the traffic and leads they get from social (and other platforms like marketplaces) are the primary reason they don’t plan on launching one.
Beware building on rented land.
Technicality monster argument, everything is a search engine now so all content has SEO.
via Wordstream
Brilliant
Travelodge introduces free wrapping rooms in three of its UK hotels, giving parents a private space to wrap gifts and keep Christmas surprises intact.
via TrendWatching
2026 might let you run ads in Apple Maps.
This is a good time to get your Apple Maps listing in order either way.
A helpful Monday thought from James Clear, especially as the sprint to the holidaze is in full swing
Greatness takes guts. And often, it’s the courage to eliminate the things you can do fairly well so you have the capacity to do one thing exceptionally well. Have the courage to take more off your plate.
Delegate to elevate.
You’re renting something (attention, server space, distribution).
The key is knowing what you’re renting.
And building something you own while you rent.
Is hope the trending gift of this holiday season?
Consumer sentiment lifted 2.3 index points in early December
This month’s increase was concentrated primarily among younger consumers. Overall, while views of current conditions were little changed, expectations improved
but…
the overall tenor of views is broadly somber, as consumers continue to cite the burden of high prices
Mass culture is dead, replaced by a collection of fandoms of varying sizes.
Some 91% of 18- to 25-year-olds say “mainstream” pop culture no longer exists
KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most successful property ever and has, on average, basically been viewed by every subscriber once. Which equates to ~4% of the global population.
But plenty of people have watched it multiple times (kids LOVE KPDH).
culture is driven by consumers constructing their identities around their interests that matter most to them
Mass is dead. Meaning is key.
via EMARKETER
Theory comes first but is useless without practice. Like ideas and execution.
-Musonius Rufus
A useful quote for marketers, specifically strategists (and plenty of non-marketing humans as well).
Holiday Shopping Weekend 2025: More Spent on Less
Shoppers spent plenty over Black Friday Cyber Monday this year, but there is a good chance they got less for those dollars.
Data from the National Retail Federation, Adobe, Mastercard, Salesforce, and Klarna shows plenty of activity, but higher prices could be a lump of coal in the shopping stocking.
As an analyst at TD Securities summed it up (bolding mine):
“We are seeing spending. We’re seeing a consumer that does have plenty of anxiety, that’s looking for great deals. That being said, the consumer still has money, wants joy.”
Consumers weren’t confident entering the holiday season, and they may not feel much better post-BFCM.
Maybe we need to be singing louder for all to hear. At least until more indicators drop later this week.
2025: the year where consumer spending (and AI investment) kept a vibecession from becoming a recession?
What The Data Says
Compared to 2024…
According to the National Retail Federation:
- Total shoppers up 3%
- In-store shoppers up 3%
- Online shoppers up 9%
- Average purchase amount up 7%
According to Salesforce:
- Completed purchases down 1%
- Average selling price up 7%
According to Klarna:
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) use up 45%
According to Adobe:
- All BNPL usage up 11%
Friday will give us the gift of Department of Commerce price index and University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index releases. This could be the nerd’s version of Santa’s Christmas cheer Clausometer gauge.
