Reddit Isn’t a Traffic Source Anymore. It’s a Search Engine.

This is the change happening with all platforms. Everything is a search and discovery engine now.

Specific to Reddit:

Reddit is no longer just a ranking factor inside Google. It’s becoming the destination where buying decisions are researched and finalized, and because Reddit content is now one of the most-cited sources in AI answers.

Don’t ask where your Google traffic is going.
Ask where your traffic is coming from now.
And where it should be coming from.

via Viral Shorts


TikTok Data Tracking: US vs China Changes

The TikTok ownership transition provides an interesting comparison of data collection practices between the US and China (or at least this particular ownership group and whatever agreements they had in place to facilitate the sale).

Here are the three biggest changes to TikTok’s privacy policy

Adds Precise Location Tracking

Previously this was just based on SIM card and IP signals, now GPS and location data is folded in.

Now Tracks AI Interactions

This is net new to the privacy policy, so it’s hard to tell what used to happen. Seems similar to most LLMs now.

Expands Its Ads Network

The Meta Audience Network play. TikTok will use the data it collects about you to deliver ads via its Ad Network on other sites and apps.


What’s the story you’re trying to tell?

This is the root of everything.


A companion quote from James Clear for yesterday’s post:

Success is often found by practicing the fundamentals everyone knows they should be doing, but find too boring or basic to practice routinely.

A dogged dedication to the boring stuff can get you far.

I think what makes my team special is that they all want to grow while continuing to refine the basics of their role. We look for people that want to keep working in the platforms, not “outgrowing” them.


To simplify before you understand the details is ignorance.

To simplify after you understand the details is genius.

-James Clear on Picasso’s Hill

Similar to having to know the rules before you can bend/break them. You have to understand the systems and processes before you can simplify them.

You have to know the tactics before you can craft the strategy.


Match the medium and the message.

EMARKETER shares about Gen Z:

spends 58% of their video time on social media rather than streaming services, according to Deloitte

&

Nearly 90% cross-check results across multiple platforms before making decisions , according to Yext, suggesting they’re comfortable synthesizing text from multiple sources rather than relying on a single video explainer.

It’s not video vs text. It’s both, just in the right contexts.

Video is for entertainment in bite-sized forms.
Text is for decision making.

Match your message to the user’s mindset.


Your marketing strategy isn’t a recipe—a step-by-step guide.

It’s a list of ingredients and ideas on how they can be combined.

Things change. Opportunities arise. Resources fluctuate.

Adaptable approach »> prescriptive instructions


OpenAI is taking the Netflix approach to launching ads in ChatGPT and going for the premium price point from the jump

From Adweek:

OpenAI is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200,000 as it rolls out beta ads

From The Verge:

OpenAI is reportedly asking a high price to advertise on ChatGPT, around $60 per 1,000 views, or triple what ads on Meta’s platform usually cost

It’s likely that these cost targets plus a long road to figuring out what works best means it’ll be a while until self-serve ChatGPT ads are available to most advertisers.


Revisiting this quote by Tristan Bernard today:

In the theatre the audience want to be surprised—but by things they expect.

The internet is the theatre and we are all both players and audience.

And now AI is both joining us and getting its own theaters.

Are you not entertained?


Why is OpenAI focusing on creating a social media platform?

I know every big tech company wants one for attention and data capture. But how does this vision overlap with the core OpenAi brand premise?

Biometric verification is not synonymous with OpenAI in my mind. Is it just a slop spot?