Mondays can feel overwhelming, Reader, but don’t worry... we’ve got your social media marketing and AI updates covered. Here’s a quick rundown to help you start the week strong.

In today’s edition:

• How to get more watch time for your videos

• This isn’t your everyday giveaway campaign

• YouTube Updates: Creator tools, promoted Shorts, and more

• The many ways to use Perplexity AI every day

• 🗞️ Industry news from Reddit, YouTube, and more

Ever Wonder Why You Can't Stop Watching Certain Marketing Videos?

Ever notice how some videos keep you glued to the screen while others lose you in seconds? It's all about open loops – those strategic hooks that keep a brain engaged and craving closure. They work because our minds naturally want to complete unfinished information.

Jessica Stansberry breaks down three types of open loops and explains how you can strategically place them at points where viewers typically drop off, creating a chain of curiosity that pulls viewers through the entire video.

This technique works for presentations, pitches, and even newsletters. Watch more here.

A Giveaway Strategy That Delivers Leads AND Sales Simultaneously on Facebook

Check out this ingenious evergreen giveaway funnel that breaks all the accepted rules. Unlike traditional giveaways that drain your budget, this approach stays ROAS-positive from day one.

The secret? Optimizing for purchases instead of just collecting emails. By using Meta's Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns with a 0% existing customer cap, you can found people ready to buy, not just enter contests.

What makes it work? Click through for the step-by-step breakdown you can implement today. Read more here.

This Is It, Reader!

You have only 13 days to grab your All-Access Ticket to Social Media Marketing World 2025–taking place March 30 - April 1 in Sunny San Diego. 

Are you ready to join thousands of marketers and discover strategies that will change the course of your business in 2025 and beyond?  

It’s time to make a choice. Will you be there?

"It's all the little details this conference brings to create fun and excitement that elevate it from great to spectacular," said Jennifer Morton.

I don't want to miss this event!

Discover ​​YouTube's latest updates, including creator tools enhancements with Veo 2 AI for Dream Screen, improved Replace Song features, and Voice Reply comments.

We also explore the Shorts Promote button and optimized mid-roll ad placements, plus we cover BrandConnect’s Creator Partnerships feature.

Wondering How AI Fits In Your Business?

Are you struggling to figure out how to use AI to save time AND improve your marketing? If so, here’s something you won't want to miss. This year, we added a full track at Social Media Marketing World dedicated to helping you get the most out of AI.

Here’s a small sampling of the AI experts ready to support you: Matt Wolfe, an AI tools expert; Chris Penn, data scientist and author of AI for Marketers; Nicole Leffer, an AI advisor for B2B marketers.

Check out the full speaker line up.

Perplexity AI: Why Power Users Are Nerding Out

What's the most-used AI model in Matt Wolfe's toolbox? He uses Perplexity multiple times daily for everything from fact-checking X claims to planning trips to Kauai.

Beyond basic searches, Perplexity shines with features most users overlook. You can switch between web, academic, or social media searches and create custom "spaces" for project research. The Discover tab functions as your personalized AI newspaper, curating tech news based on your interests.

The practical applications are endless - you can get SEO keyword suggestions or have PDFs explained (even handwritten notes!). The mobile app adds voice commands and camera integration.

Then, there's the Deep Research mode that delivers comprehensive analyses of complex topics within minutes. Plus, you can export responses as PDFs or markdown for reference later.

Matt covers it all in this 25-minute video. Watch more here.

Google Assistant Upgrades to Gemini on Mobile: Over the coming months, more mobile users will be upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini. Google will also be upgrading tablets, cars, and devices that connect to phones (headphones, watches) to Gemini. Later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores. Source: Google

Reddit Hide an Ad Feature: The update will allow Redditors to hide an ad from their feed, automatically hiding future ads from that advertiser account for at least a year. Users can hide ads for any reason but should use the "report" option if they believe an ad violates Reddit's policies. Reporting an ad will also automatically hide it and future ads from the same advertiser. The 'Hide' option will be available for any ads that appear in feeds, such as home or subreddit feeds. The update will gradually roll out across iOS, Android, and the Reddit website over the next several weeks. Source: Reddit

YouTube BrandConnect Updates: To help brands connect with creators, a dedicated space within Google Ads called "Creator Partnerships" now allows brands to manage creator collaborations. Source: Google

Did You Know?

The flowers that produce vanilla beans bloom for only one day. If they’re not pollinated during that day, no vanilla bean pod!