Issue #1: ChatGPT Now Delivering Leads, HubSpot's AI Subject Line Generator, and Google's Helpful Content Update

Isn't it wild how rapidly inbound marketing is changing??

I don’t know about you, but when I go on LinkedIn, I see fewer of my friends in marketing celebrating wins and more talking about not getting the same results from inbound marketing as they did before.

Well friends, there's a reason behind it - or, in my opinion, four! If you joined us for the last HubSpot User Group Meetup - you’re already aware of these massive changes threatening the Inbound Marketing playbook we’ve been using for the last 18 years.

But, I’m seeing this happening every day. ChatGPT is the fastest-growing app ever…ever! And what do you think people are using it for? Everything - blogs, websites, images, videos and more!

How are we supposed to keep up with it all?

I’ve found the key is to stay informed on what matters most:

1. Inbound Marketing TRENDS
2. Inbound Marketing TOOLS
3. Inbound Marketing COMMUNITY

Even though a lot of that is already out there, I still get people coming to me asking these questions and searching for resources.

So, I’ve decided to do something about it.

That’s why, each week, I pledge to provide my network with the following:

? Bleeding Edge Tactics: As we go forward in inbound marketing, with the 4 Horsemen of the Inbound Apocalypse nipping at our heels, we all have to be at the top of our game. And who better to learn from than the industry’s top minds? I’ll highlight how others are taking on the 4 Horsemen challenges with new, even more impactful inbound marketing strategies.?

? HubSpot Product Updates: HubSpot’s changing ALL the time. It’s time-consuming to try and keep up. Each week, I’ll cut through the noise to feature one new HubSpot feature that’s worthy of your time.

?New in the INBOUND Community: The platforms, tools, and spaces where we carry out our inbound marketing strategies are also changing ALL the time. Each week, I’ll feature one need-to-know update on the platforms we all use (social media, Google search, etc).

Sound good enough already? Click on the “subscribe” button on the top right to ensure you get this update each week.

Still wondering if this is worth another alert in your inbox? Read the first edition below (feedback is always welcome, don’t be shy about your comments).

With that out of the way, here's what's cookin' this week:

Bleeding Edge Tactics: ChatGPT is Now Delivering Leads... Seriously! ??

The world of search is evolving, and it's time to adapt. Just look at these examples from some of my favorite thought-leaders in the industry, Marcus Sheridan from IMPACT and Neil Patel from NP Digital .

See Marcus' full post here.

I think Marcus says it best in his video, “the world is-a-changin’!” And once again - just like he was with his “They Ask, You Answer” methodology - he’s ahead of the game and thinking about how ChatGPT is changing everything, including lead generation and search.?

Neil Patel and his team at NP Digital always have an eye on the future. As the masters of SEO, they’re predicting this as “The biggest opportunity in SEO”, and I couldn’t agree more. These are just two examples of how search is being impacted by generative AI tools like ChatGPT. As we discussed during our last HubSpot User Group meetup, this represents just one of the 4 Horsemen of the Inbound Apocalypse.

HubSpot Product Update: AI Subject Line Generator ??

One of the biggest time-sucks in marketing is the creative block that we all encounter from time to time. But, HubSpot's brand-new AI Subject Line Generator is your secret sauce for crafting email subject lines that shine, in no time.?

Powered by HubSpot's email insights and best practices, this generative AI tool whips up three subject lines faster than you can say "open rates." Just a click, and boom, you're ready to roll.?

Oh, and it's desktop and mobile-friendly!

Why did I pick this new tool to feature? Because according to HubSpot, a whopping 64% of email open decisions hang on that subject line.?

Check it out today, and get ready to level up your email game! ???

Here at Growth Spurt, we’ve already started playing around with it - read more about our experience here. What about you? Comment below with your thoughts.

See a full list of What’s New in HubSpot here.

New in the Inbound Community: Google's "Helpful Content" Update Unveiled! ??

The other thing I want to make sure I’m sharing with you is a highlight from the other platforms and channels that make up the Inbound Community, beyond mother HubSpot. And what better platform to shift our focus to than the granddaddy of them all, Google?

If you didn't catch it already, Google finally dropped its Helpful Content update, and I’d like to break it down for you!

• Improved Classifier: Google's mysterious "improved classifier" is in play, enhancing helpful content.
• Third-Party Content: Hosting it? Be cautious. Google might consider it for site-wide signals and recommends blocking it from being indexed.?
• Content by People or Machines: AI-generated content? Google says, "Bring it on!"
• Self-Assessment: If your traffic has been impacted or hit by these changes, Google’s enabling you to self-assess and improve – it's a win-win.
• Expert Review: Get those experts in for a content check! Google’s revised its expertise questions section.?
• Date Changes: Don't tweak dates just for show. Google's watching! Make sure your updates include more than just switching the publish dates.
• Adding/Removing Content: Be strategic, not sneaky. Google's onto those tricks too!

Google’s new system is all about providing helpful website content to its searchers and rewarding websites this well. If your site has lots of content, but it’s not all that helpful, even your good stuff won't rank well. Google’s caught on to tactics of “writing for search” and gaming SEO. The focus shift in 2023 needs to be about helping your audience first!

What hasn’t changed is Google’s steadfast commitment to users. What has changed is they’re weeding out the tactics that once worked to game search.

Read more about the Helpful Content update here.

What’s Next?

If you enjoyed this first issue of the newsletter, make sure to subscribe by clicking the “subscribe” button at the top of the page. Also, watch out for next week’s issue where I’ll be updating you on HubSpot’s new 1:Many SMS sending tool, YouTube’s new creator tools, and we’ll dig into the question of, “Can you get your website to rank on ChatGPT?”

All this and more next week!