{"id":1382,"date":"2026-01-07T04:19:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/?p=1382"},"modified":"2026-01-07T04:21:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:21:37","slug":"ai-is-choosing-winners-now-are-you-one-of-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/07\/ai-is-choosing-winners-now-are-you-one-of-them\/","title":{"rendered":"AI is choosing winners now. Are you one of them?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1382\" class=\"elementor elementor-1382\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95f5749 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"95f5749\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1494426 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1494426\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image1-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" \/><\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0364281 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0364281\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03d40bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03d40bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome back to the <\/span><b><i>Weekly Side-Income Roundup<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big shifts are already locking in for 2026, and this week\u2019s issue is all about staying visible while others quietly disappear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what we\u2019re digging into today:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why AI is replacing search faster than most marketers realize<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple way to win with cold email again<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What X\u2019s newest engagement data reveals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two tools to plan smarter marketing moments<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A surprising OpenAI move that signals what\u2019s next<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s jump in.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>THIS WEEK\u2019S BIG IDEA<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc49\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f449.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/martech.org\/6-things-marketers-need-to-know-about-search-and-discovery-in-2026\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Search Is Dying. Discovery Is Being Curated.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people still think \u201csearch\u201d means Google.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s already outdated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This MarTech breakdown explains how discovery in 2026 is happening inside AI assistants, not search result pages. Buyers are asking questions conversationally, and AI is deciding what brands even show up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few big signals stood out:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over half of searches now end without a click<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI assistants are becoming the \u201cfirst stop\u201d in buying decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visibility is shifting from rankings to relevance and trust<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brands can vanish overnight when AI models update<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scary part is most businesses won\u2019t even know they disappeared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This isn\u2019t about SEO tweaks. It\u2019s about structuring your content so AI can understand, trust, and recommend you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Our Take: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re still optimizing only for clicks, you\u2019re playing last decade\u2019s game. The winners in 2026 will optimize for AI visibility, clarity, and usefulness. Start structuring content like answers, not ads.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/martech.org\/6-things-marketers-need-to-know-about-search-and-discovery-in-2026\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read The Full Guide!<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><b>TOOLS OF THE WEEK<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two resources worth opening this week:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83d\udd25\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f525.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialmediatoday.com\/news\/hubspot-publishes-new-guide-to-reddit-marketing-for-b2b-brands\/808779\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HubSpot\u2019s Reddit Marketing Guide for B2B<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reddit is quietly influencing buying decisions, and even AI answers. This guide shows how brands can participate without sounding like marketers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83d\udd25\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f525.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketingdive.com\/news\/super-bowl-60-ad-tracker-2026\/803383\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Super Bowl 60 Ad Tracker (2026)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This tracker reveals which brands are already planning, what formats they\u2019re testing, and where attention is headed early.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Our Take: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One tool helps you earn trust inside conversations. The other helps you read where big money is placing bets before prices spike. Both help you think ahead instead of reacting late.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><b>TODAY\u2019S QUICK WINS<\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\u26a1\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/26a1.svg\"> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialmediatoday.com\/news\/x-formerly-twitter-shares-q5-engagement-data-marketing-tips\/808447\/\"><b>X Shares New Engagement Data<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<p> X just released fresh insights on what actually drives interaction now. Replies beat impressions, and conversation beats broadcasting.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83d\udce7\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f4e7.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/martech.org\/cold-email-works-if-you-stop-trying-to-sell\/\"><b>Cold Email Still Works (If You Stop Selling)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most cold outreach fails because it tries to sell too soon. This piece explains how value-first emails are getting replies again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Our Take: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, change one thing. Ask a question instead of pitching. Invite conversation instead of pushing an offer. Platforms and people are rewarding dialogue again.<\/span><\/i><\/p><i>\n<\/i><p><i><\/i><b>FROM OMC<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83d\udcc5\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f4c5.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/18\/the-2026-affiliate-offer-calendar-best-promo-windows-and-what-to-sell-when\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2026 Affiliate Offer Calendar Is Live<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We just published our full breakdown of the best promo windows, seasonal opportunities, and what to sell throughout 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve ever wondered <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to promote instead of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to promote, this gives you the roadmap.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Our Take: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most affiliates struggle because they promote at the wrong time. Timing fixes more problems than tactics. Plan once, profit all year.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><b>AI SPOTLIGHT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83e\udde0\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f9e0.svg\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialmediatoday.com\/news\/reports-suggest-that-openai-may-be-looking-to-acquire-pinterest\/808773\/\"><b>OpenAI May Be Eyeing Pinterest<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports suggest OpenAI is exploring a potential acquisition of Pinterest, and that\u2019s a massive signal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinterest isn\u2019t social media. It\u2019s visual discovery. Combine that with AI, and you get intent-driven answers powered by images, taste, and context.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Our Take: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI isn\u2019t just about text anymore. Visual discovery is the next battleground. If your business relies on ideas, aesthetics, or inspiration, this is your early warning.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><b>UNTIL NEXT WEEK\u2026<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week isn\u2019t about doing more. It\u2019s about adapting faster.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Structure one piece of content like an answer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start one conversation instead of blasting a post<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan one promotion ahead instead of reacting late<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small moves now create unfair advantages later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk soon,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aidan<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>P.S.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Are you on our SMS List? We have some HUGE news coming this month and you definitely don\u2019t want to miss it. The #1 way to always hear from us is by SMS. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/sms\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opt-in right here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and never miss another update!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Make these moves before the week gets crazy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-letter"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3.png",1536,1024,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3.png",1536,1024,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3.png",1536,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3-300x200.png",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3-1024x683.png",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3.png",1536,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image5-3.png",1536,1024,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Aidan","author_link":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/author\/admin_omc\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/category\/news-letter\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Newsletter<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Make these moves before the week gets crazy","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1382"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1386,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382\/revisions\/1386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlinemarketingclassroom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}