Greetings Rainmakers!
We’re seeing a lot of upheaval with the big website platforms right now, including a trademark war between the WordPress copyright holder and one of the biggest WordPress hosting providers, with millions of sites affected by the feud.
This month’s Dispatch includes an overview on that feud and a snapshot of the current content marketing landscape right now … and it’s a challenging one. “Free” has never been free, and it’s less so today. This month’s Dispatch is a great reminder: platform-specific information is only viable until that platform changes the rules. You need to own your presence if you want to thrive.
We know you do understand the importance of that; you’re signed up for the Dispatch, which means you understand the value of your digital presence. But if you know someone who hasn’t yet brought their business online, share our Essentials of Digital Marketing eBook and show them how to thrive in 2025. As a special incentive for those that download the guide before the end of October, downloaders will be entered to win a free Rainmaker Platform site setup and three months of licensing (a $1500 value). Pass it on:
https://rainmakerdigital.com/thrive/
In the meantime, here’s the best of the web this past month.
Automattic Demanded Web Host Pay $32M Annually for Using WordPress Trademark
Read this story, if you read nothing else from this month’s Dispatch. As Jon Brodkin breaks down for Ars Technica, this is about more than just Automattic vs. WP Engine. This is a development you need to keep your eyes on.
Lessons from a Decade of Digital Marketing
We talk a lot about how much marketing has changed, but when I sat down and looked at how much it’s really evolved in my 10 years of writing for the web, it was a little jarring. Understand how we got here … and what we can learn from that history.
The 2024 Guide to TikTok Marketing
TikTok is one of the most powerful platforms in the current social media market, and Alyssa Hirose wrote a great primer for HootSuite on how to use it. There are some great specifics here to get you started.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): A Marketing Primer
As AI becomes integrated into search engines, it’s going to be important to create content that will show up in AI search results. Nick Nelson breaks down for TopRank how GEO and SEO are different and what your content focus must be to stand out from the pack.
You’re Not the Hero — Your Customer Is
A good marketing campaign runs off the same timeless principles, regardless of the platform. For HubSpot, Caroline Forsey breaks down some great tips from StoryBrand’s April Sunshine Hawkins on how you can appeal to your audience.
Structured Data and SEO: What You Need to Know in 2025
Structured data used to be nice to have, but it’s swiftly becoming a central part of SEO strategies. Uses for this technique are going up. Olya Ianovskaia explains how it works for Search Engine Land.
Thanks for reading. And if you need a hand with anything, just drop us a line, anytime.
See you next month with a new edition of The Rainmaker Dispatch!
Best Regards,
David Brandon
Copywriter
Rainmaker Digital Services