Masthead

*Stares into the void* Happy Friday...? #masthead #meme #marketingmeme #funny #funmarketing #ai #aifun?

Ever thought about completely deleting your personal email and starting over? I'm so, so there right now. ??? This week I had to pay for even more storage on my 20-year old Gmail account because I just can't keep up with unsubscribing and deleting. The amount of junk we all receive daily is just staggering. And thanks in part to AI, its also become a lot tougher to *send* an email that anyone actually sees (I wrote about this recently—Masthead's open rates were in the single digits). Turns out, it's not just an issue of clogged inboxes—email deliverability itself has gotten a lot more complicated. Validity Inc.'s just-released Email Deliverability report makes it clear reaching inboxes has never been trickier. Here are the trends they called out: ?? One in six legit marketing emails failed to reach the inbox in 2024, a drop from previous years. Global spam placement rates nearly doubled from Q1 to Q4, highlighting increased filtering by mailbox providers. ?? AI may be helping marketers with segmentation, copywriting, and automation, but it’s also influencing spam filtering. AI-generated summaries can misrepresent email content, causing reduced engagement and higher spam complaints. The spike in AI-generated spam is also eroding trust in legit emails. ?? Gmail and Yahoo recently intro'd stricter requirements for bulk senders, (including DMARC authentication, one-click list-unsubscribe, and maintaining spam complaint rates below 0.3%). Despite these measures, Gmail's inbox placement fell almost 5% due to increased AI filtering and account deletions. ?? With inbox placement rates of 75.6%, Microsoft is currently the most challenging mailbox provider for deliverability. They've deployed advanced AI for spam filtering, making it more difficult for senders to reach their audience. ?? The US is more lax on double opt-ins. We leg behind European countries, who have stricter double opt-in regulations, resulting in a 6% lower inbox placement rate (Germany, with its rigorous double opt-in standards, continues to lead in deliverability). ?? Spam complaint rates surged after Gmail and Yahoo began enforcing new bulk sender requirements. Only a quarter of senders maintained complaint rates under 0.1%, the industry standard for strong sender reputation. ?? We're sending more email than ever: Global email volumes increased significantly, particularly during peak retail periods like Black Friday. This added pressure contributed to higher spam placement and missing rates. ?? Gmail and Yahoo are actively deleting dormant accounts: that means you really have to clean your email lists regularly. Sending to invalid addresses increases bounce rates...and that can damage your sender reputation ?? Spam is everywhere (thanks AI!) The explosion of AI-generated spam has led to more aggressive spam filtering and skepticism from recipients, making it harder for legitimate marketers to maintain strong engagement. Are you seeing these trends IRL? #emailmarketing

In the era of generative AI, low-effort content is on the rise. And cheap and fast always “reign supreme” when it comes to content creation, Google’s John Mueller says. But it’s noticeable, and the real experts are paying attention. Cheap and fast will inevitably hurt your brand. What are your thoughts? Let us know below. #masthead #genai #contentcreation #contenttips #marketing

Organic search traffic—more every year!—was practically a given for brands that consistently created and optimized content. Now, the rules are all changing and many marketers are struggling to make sense of what to do next. The good news: there is a clear pattern emerging. Masthead's head of SEO Jamie W. shares some surprising insights and search trends that could affect the way you're discovered (or overlooked) across digital platforms: - Think Beyond SEO – Not all content needs to rank on Google! Leverage newsletters, social media, and thought leadership to diversify your reach. - Own Your Branded Keywords – Optimize for brand-related searches to control the narrative and capture high-intent traffic. -Search is Bigger Than Google – Platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube are reshaping how people search—make sure your brand is discoverable. SEO isn’t just about traffic—it’s about converting the right audience. How are you updating your strategy for 2025? https://lnkd.in/ewZY_N6U #masthead #search #seo #seotips #seoandai #marketing

Strategy strategy strategy… it’s in the little things. #masthead #reminder #marketing #funny #funmarketing

In marketing, there can be no better growth hack than talking to your customers Credit: agarwal__gaurav on Twitter/X

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We want to use the day that’s in it as a reminder: Content marketing isn’t about luck. It’s about consistency, strategy, and data-driven decisions. Focus on content that brings value—no pot of gold required. ??? #masthead #funny #stpatricksday #paddysday #contentmarketing

??Limited spots left!?? Don’t miss your chance to join Women in Content Marketing Association’s Be Your Own Content Marketer Workshop on April 29. This isn’t just another webinar—it’s a hands-on session designed to help you market yourself as effectively as you market your clients. We’re keeping this event intimate and impactful, so space is limited. Register now before it’s full ?? https://lnkd.in/g5fTm_SX #masthead #wicmas #contentmarketing #womenincontentmarketing #content #marketing

If you had to delete one from your strategy, which would it be? Comment why!

Just give us the time back, pls. ?? #masthead #funny #oscars2025 #office #officehumor #funmarketing