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This edition is serving up some tough love for marketers: a cure for lazy nurtures, smarter ways to push back on bad pitches, a crash course in paid growth. Plus AI ad tools, Pinterest updates, and a reality check on what “community” really means.

IN THIS ISSUE

• 🤝 Join SUM!

• 🎧 SUM Podcast 

• 🌎 Around the Web

• ✍️ SUM Poll

• 📅 SUM Community Events

• 😂 In the Meme Time

🎧 StartUp Marketing Uncut

Most brands still treat their customers like transactions, and it’s costing them everything. In this episode of Startup Marketing Uncut, we sit down with Christina Garnett, fractional Chief Customer Officer and author of Transforming Customer Brand Relationships, to talk about how empathy, authenticity, and community can transform your bottom line.

AROUND THE WEB

• Google Ads has introduced a new Text Guidelines tool that lets advertisers steer AI-generated ad copy to match their brand tone, style, and legal requirements. [Search Engine Land]

• New research shows that most social media users (63%) prefer short videos (90 seconds or less) from creators. [eMarketer]

• Most nurture programs fail because they confuse automation with connection. True nurture is more dialogue than drip. Moni Oloyede’s R.E.A.L. framework shifts the focus from pushing content to asking better questions, uncovering real barriers, and earning trust. [MarTech]

• Pinterest has introduced new user controls that let you limit how much AI-generated imagery you see in your feeds. [Pinterest]

• What to do when you’re asked to pitch a bad story? Allison Carter gathered insights from 100+ communicators on how to handle those moments without damaging relationships or credibility. The consensus? Don’t just say no. Ask why. [PR Daily]

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SUM COMMUNITY EVENTS

Good News! Expert Sessions are back, so block off Thursdays at 1 pm ET for your weekly power hour of growth, insights, and actionable takeaways. These events are exclusively available to SUM members. Not a member? 👉 Join now for free 👈

Expert Session with CoEfficient Labs

IN THE MEME TIME