Hello Reader!

Guess what? In the next couple of weeks, Content Connect will be adding a VIP membership option. You ready to become a VIP (you know, like a Kardashian, but...nerdy)?

Content Connect VIP subscribers will get more, including:

• Industry updates 1-day early
• New and old expert interviews
• All Content Connect products + templates + asset library
• Invitation to member-only Slack community
• More robust job leads
• Deep dives

It's gonna be awesome! More details soon.

I'd love to hear more about what would interest you most in a VIP membership. Hit "reply" and let me know.

Thanks for being here. Excited to start this new chapter,

​Ashley R. Cummings​

P.S. Do you want to share Content Connect? Click the button, type in the email, and hit send.

Or share on your favorite social platform:

​​​

Sponsored by: Superhuman AI​ Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily. AI won't take over the world. People who know how to use AI will. Here's how to stay ahead with AI: 1- Sign up for Superhuman AI. The AI newsletter read by 1M+ pros. 2- Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day. 3- Become 10X more productive using AI. ​Join 1 million pros and start learning AI​

​

Industry Trends

Trends to watch: What’s changing in content marketing, search, and social — and what it means for your work.

💡 AI-powered search is growing fast

Why it matters: More consumers are researching products through tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity—often before (or instead of) visiting traditional search results. This shift means marketers can’t rely solely on Google rankings for visibility.

What marketers should do: Structure content so it’s easy for AI systems to understand and cite—use clear headings, direct answers, and consistent brand mentions. Test prompts related to your category to see how your content surfaces in AI results.

💡 Traffic as a standalone metric is losing relevance

Why it matters: With AI summaries and rich results reducing click-throughs, visibility no longer guarantees engagement. Marketers need to shift from measuring visits to measuring value—what content moves people closer to purchase, sign-up, or brand recall.

What marketers should do: Design content with clear intent and outcomes. Focus on conversion paths, lead capture, and brand mentions across channels. Track assisted conversions, not just traffic volume. In a zero-click world, focus on influence.

💡 Visual content still drives clicks in AI summaries

Why it matters: AI Overviews can summarize text, but they can’t yet display full images, videos, or product galleries, making these assets a powerful reason for users to click through.

What marketers should do: Invest in visual formats: charts, photos, image galleries, comparison tables, and walkthrough videos. These improve UX and give users a reason to leave the AI box and visit your site.

Expert Interview | Alexa Creavey

Free consulting: One smart expert, one focused conversation that you can apply to your work.

1/ How did you get started in copywriting and content strategy, and what led you to your current focus on growth marketing and storytelling?

Honestly, I fell into copywriting by accident. I was planning to go into publishing and eventually become an English Lit professor—but life had other plans. I started out as an intern for a recipe blogger, Christina Hitchcock (check out itisakeeper.com if you need dinner inspo!). She taught me all about blogging and content marketing, and that’s really where it all began.

A few years later, I joined a B2B SaaS startup, and one of the directors mentioned this program she’d taken called Growclass. It stuck with me, and eventually, I took the leap and got certified. That experience totally changed the game for me. The Growclass team helped me fall in love with growth marketing—it showed me how powerful storytelling can be when it’s tied to real strategy and connection. Now I get to do something I genuinely love, and that’s a pretty awesome feeling.
​
​2/ What’s your approach to recognizing and managing burnout, especially when it stems from misalignment rather than workload?

Burnout from misalignment hits differently. When you’re overwhelmed with work, that’s one thing—but when you’re working in a place that doesn’t align with your values or you’re under leadership that drains you? That kind of burnout messes with your head. You start doubting yourself, your skills, your purpose.

For me, the best way to handle it is to get back to the things that make me feel like me. Watching Season 3 of Bridgerton might be comforting, but it doesn’t fix the root of it. You’ve got to get out of that toxic space and reconnect with what lights you up—whether that’s gardening, biking, baking, or re-reading a book you love (all the things I did!). It’s about reminding yourself who you are, because no job or manager gets to define that. You do.
​
​3/ How do you balance amplifying a founder’s voice with maintaining clarity, authenticity, and strategic goals in ghostwriting?

Founders are big-picture thinkers, which is great—but sometimes they’re ten steps ahead of where the audience is. My job is to help them get there by building the bridge, step by step.

It really comes down to communication and trust. I always try to explain why we’re doing things a certain way, and that it’s not about watering down their vision—it’s about making sure people actually get it. We’re on the same team, chasing the same goal. I just help shape the message so it lands clearly, feels true to them, and actually drives results.

Must-Read Content This Week

Think smarter, faster: Each week, I share the articles that are shaping where content marketing is going, so you don’t have to dig.

1/ What Does Effective B2C Content Marketing Look Like in 2025?​

Traditional content playbooks are out, and in 2025, traffic alone won’t cut it. This guide breaks down how the best B2C brands are using new content strategies to show up across every channel.

2/ How To Win In Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)​

This article outlines how to influence AI-generated answers through grounding, consistency, and source visibility. It includes concrete steps to improve how often your content is selected.

3/ AI isn’t the enemy: How bloggers can thrive in a generative search world​

Blog traffic may be down, but visibility inside AI tools is up for grabs. This article explains how bloggers can adapt their content, structure, and brand to show up in AI answers.

AI Updates + Tools To Watch

Don't get left behind: The most useful AI updates and content tools worth paying attention to this week.

Resources

Let's Connect!

​​​