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-driven discovery.

In this episode, I break down exactly what’s changing — and what you need to do right now to stay ahead of the curve as a business owner or content creator.

• The 6 major Facebook changes you need to know about
• Why visual-first, mobile-friendly content is now essential
• How Facebook is turning search into discovery (finally!)
• Why comments, profiles, and marketplace are more important than ever
• How to stay relevant when users can now tell Facebook to “hide” your posts

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Facebook's Major Updates

00:45 Why Facebook is Making These Changes

03:31 Visual and Feed Updates

05:18 Navigation and Search Enhancements

08:09 Algorithm and Comment Section Improvements

10:26 Summary and Strategic Takeaways

11:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is your cue to stop autoposting and start optimizing. Look at your Facebook strategy with fresh eyes — visuals, conversations, and community are your leverage points.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the new link limit actually says (and doesn’t say)
• Why this change isn’t random — it’s part of a bigger shift
• How Meta is prioritizing content engagement over outbound links
• What strategies still work for driving traffic and conversions
• The right (and wrong) way to use links on Facebook in 2026
• Why this is the wake-up call your content strategy needed

Timestamps:

00:00 Facebook's New Link Restrictions: What You Need to Know

01:29 Understanding the Impact on Business Pages

02:28 Adapting to Facebook's Strategy Shift

03:45 Effective Content Strategies for Facebook

05:52 Meta Verified and Its Implications

07:52 Clarifying the Two Links Rule

09:05 Future-Proofing Your Facebook Marketing

10:33 Conclusion and Next Steps

If your Facebook strategy depends on dropping a link and crossing your fingers, it’s time for a change. Test one of the alternatives from this episode and let me know what gets you better results.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Ready Framework

02:37 Phase 1: Building a Strong Foundation

03:48 Phase 2: Letting AI Influence Decisions

04:47 Phase 3: Orchestrating Your Marketing with AI

05:28 Real-Life Applications of AI in Marketing

07:00 From Prompts to Protocols: The Mindset Shift

08:20 Conclusion and Next Steps

Ready to stop reacting to trends and start building your AI strategy? Try one weekly protocol from this episode and let me know how it changes your workflow.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 investment isn’t translating to ROI — this is your wake-up call.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI adoption is high but financial return is still low
• The #1 factor separating high-ROI companies from the rest
• What true AI maturity looks like in 2025
• Why governance and workflow redesign matter more than tools
• How to spot if your team is using AI without your oversight (and what to do)

Timestamps:

00:00 Unveiling the Truth Behind McKinsey's 2025 AI Report

00:38 Introduction to Marketing Trends with Katie Brinkley

00:57 Key Findings from McKinsey's AI Report

01:58 AI Adoption and Its Current Impact

04:35 The Real Value of AI: Workflow Redesign

05:56 Leadership's Role in AI Governance

07:01 Employee Engagement with AI

08:31 Addressing AI Risks and Governance

09:46 Summarizing McKinsey's AI Insights

11:11 Actionable Questions for Leaders

12:36 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Don’t let AI just be a tool in your tech stack — make it part of your strategy. Take one insight from this episode and bring it to your leadership table. That’s how the 1% are pulling ahead.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 that starts with your email list.

Whether you’ve got 50 subscribers or 50,000, I’m showing you how to segment, nurture, and actually monetize the list you already have — no shady funnels required.

Key Takeaways:

• Why email is outperforming social for ROI and stability
• What first-party and zero-party data mean (and why they matter)
• 4 easy places to collect smarter audience data
• 3 simple campaigns to increase engagement and conversions
• The exact segments I use in almost every client strategy

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The Social Media Dilemma

00:58 The Shift to Owned Data

03:15 Understanding First Party and Zero Party Data

04:24 Maximizing Your Email List

05:46 Practical Data Collection Tips

07:46 Effective Email Segmentation

08:44 Email Campaign Strategies

09:58 Conclusion: The Power of Owned Data

Pick one idea from this episode and implement it this week — whether it’s a segmentation question, a check-in email, or a fresh welcome sequence. You don’t need fancy tools. Just a smarter strategy.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 troll in your comments, or someone who just doesn’t vibe with your voice, I’ll walk you through:

• When to engage vs. when to walk away
• How to build boundaries without losing authenticity
• The tools every platform gives you to keep your digital space safe
• Why amplifying positivity is just as important as filtering out the negativity

This episode is for every entrepreneur, coach, and creator who’s ever felt blindsided by a comment thread — and wants to show up with more confidence, calm, and clarity.

You’re not just posting content — you’re hosting a conversation. Let’s make sure it’s the kind that reflects who you really are.

If this episode resonated, take a second to DM me or tag me. I’d love to know how you protect your peace online and what boundaries you’ve found helpful as you grow your brand.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 left behind it.

What You’ll Learn:

• What GEO actually means for marketers
• Why search engine rankings aren’t the only game in town anymore
• How ChatGPT and Google AI select sources (and how to be one)
• The new “content trust signals” AI is trained to look for
• Actionable shifts you can make today to future-proof your content

Check out this episode, then take a look at your last blog post and ask yourself: Would AI trust this enough to cite it? That’s the question we all need to be asking right now.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and start standing out.

Key Takeaways:

• The most common prompt mistakes creators and marketers make
• The 3 types of prompts that are working right now
• Why AI is your new marketing intern—and how to manage it
• How to implement Katie's 4C Prompt Formula: Clarity, Context, Constraints, Call to Action
• Why “AI Content” should just become “great content” in 2026 and beyond

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The Problem with Generic Content

00:13 The Power of AI in Marketing

00:27 Welcome to Marketing Trends with Katie Brinkley

00:46 Rethinking AI Usage in 2025

01:31 The Importance of Effective AI Prompting

02:25 Using AI as Your Marketing Intern

02:54 Three Effective AI Prompting Techniques

04:56 Common AI Prompting Mistakes

05:23 The Four C Prompt Formula

07:43 The Future of AI in Content Creation

08:31 Conclusion: Elevate Your Content with AI

Want to stop settling for boring content that sounds like everyone else? Use the 4C Formula to level up your prompts, sharpen your voice, and let AI work with you, not just for you.

For real-world tested prompts and frameworks to plug into your business, head to https://yournextstep.agency/

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.