September 2026 Newsletter

Hi Friends,

September has been a busy month in the digital world, and there is plenty for small businesses to keep an eye on.

LinkedIn is cracking down on “AI slop,” Meta is putting new business tools behind paid subscriptions, and Google rolled out another global spam update. This month, we’re breaking down what those changes actually mean, and more importantly, how you can use them to make smarter decisions about your digital strategy.

We’re also answering a question we’ve been hearing a lot lately: Do you need to pay to boost your social media posts? (Spoiler: absolutely not.) Plus, we’re featuring our latest guide to choosing the right website builder, looking ahead to end-of-year planning, and sharing an update on our upcoming Digital Strategy Coffee Hour.

And, of course, October gives us plenty of reasons to have a little fun with our content. From pumpkins and pets to meaningful opportunities to recognize the people and communities around us, our Something to Celebrate Every Day calendar is back with plenty of inspiration.

Grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s catch up!

What Changed in September & How Can Small Businesses Apply It?

LinkedIn is Actively Cracking Down on "AI Slop"

LinkedIn is getting more aggressive about reducing the reach of generic, repetitive, low-value AI content, what the platform and users call “AI slop.” Users can now flag posts and comments as “Seems like AI Slop,” and LinkedIn reports that views of content it identifies this way have already dropped 40%.

That does not mean businesses should stop using AI completely. It means your content still needs you. AI can help brainstorm, organize ideas, polish writing, and turn expertise into content, but your experiences, opinions, examples, and perspective should drive the message.

For businesses, this presents an opportunity. Rather than asking AI to generate generic industry content, begin with something you have learned, experienced, or want your audience to understand. Then use AI to help communicate it effectively.

AI should only be used as a tool, not as a replacement for your work and your voice.

Meta Added Useful Business Features Behind a Subscription

Meta recently introduced Meta One, with paid business plans ranging from $14.99 to $499 per month. The entry-level Essential plan focuses primarily on credibility and customer communication, including verification, impersonation protection, and expanded access to Meta’s AI-powered Business Agent.

The bigger marketing tools arrive with the Advanced plan, starting at $49.99 per month. This tier adds features like scheduling Stories up to 30 days in advance, adding links to organic posts and Reels, exporting analytics, accessing deeper audience insights, and giving team members access without shared passwords. Expert ($149) and Max ($499) offer even greater feature access and Business Agent capacity for businesses operating at scale.

For some businesses, $49.99 could be well spent. For others, it may be another subscription they simply do not need. Before upgrading, consider which features support your goals, how heavily you rely on Meta platforms, and whether those tools will save time or improve results.

Your strategy should determine what tools you use, not the other way around.

Not sure where your time and marketing budget is best spent? A Strategy Session can help you identify what is working, where the opportunities are, and which tools are actually worth your investment.

Google Rolled Out a Global Spam Update

Google rolled out its spam update toward the end of August, affecting search results globally and across all languages. The update improved Google’s systems for identifying websites and content that violate its spam policies.

For businesses, this is another reminder that affective SEO and AGO is increasingly about creating a useful website for people, not finding shortcuts to impress an algorithm. Clearly explain your services, answer questions customers actually ask, keep important information current, and create original content that demonstrates real expertise.

You do not need to panic every time Google announces an algorithm update. Focus on being genuinely useful to the people searching for what you offer, follow sound SEO practices, and continue improving your website over time.

Top Questions Answered:

Do I Need to Pay to Boost My Posts?

No. You do not need to pay to boost your posts to build an audience on social media.

Paid advertising can absolutely have a place in your strategy. If you are promoting an upcoming event, launching a new service, or running a specific campaign, putting money behind the right content can help you reach a larger, targeted audience quickly.

But paying for reach should not replace building it organically.

Organic growth may be slower, but it gives you a clearer picture of what resonates with your audience. Which posts start conversations? What gets shared? What makes someone visit your profile, follow your business, or eventually reach out? Regularly boosting content can make those signals harder to interpret and can leave you dependent on spending money every time you want more visibility.

Our preference is to build the foundation first. Create useful content, show up consistently, engage with your community, and give people a reason to stick around. Then, when there is a strategic reason to advertise, your paid campaign can amplify something that is already built on a strong foundation.

Slow and steady growth may not produce the flashiest numbers overnight, but the right connections are much more valuable than reach for reach’s sake.    .

This Month's Featured Blog:

Which Website Builder is Best for Your Small Business?

WordPress, Duda, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, GoDaddy… there is no shortage of options for building a website. But which one is actually right for your business?

The answer depends on much more than which platform has the prettiest templates or lowest introductory price. Scalability, maintenance, SEO/AGO capabilities, design flexibility, cost, and ease of use can all make a major difference in how well your website serves you over time.

In this blog, we break down six popular website builders, where each one shines, where you may run into limitations, and what small business owners should consider before choosing (or switching) platforms.

Whether you are building your first website or wondering if you have outgrown your current one, this guide can help you make a more informed decision. 

October's Something to Celebrate Every Day Calendar

Staring at a blank content calendar? Sometimes you just need a reason to post.

October certainly isn’t short on inspiration. Unsurprisingly, pumpkins and fall take center stage, with Pumpkin Spice Day, Pumpkin Seed Day, Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, National Pumpkin Day, and of course, our favorite: Halloween. You’ll also find seasonal observances ranging from National Chili Week to Snow Blower Maintenance Week.

October also offers plenty of opportunities to recognize people and communities, too. LGBTQ History Month runs throughout October, alongside LGBT Center Awareness Day and National Coming Out Day.

You can celebrate the people who make a difference with observances like Techies Day, National Hero Day, and First Responders Days.

And we can never forget the pets! National Cat Day and Make a Dog’s Day are perfect excuses to introduce your audience to the four-legged members of your team. Yes, even businesses can post pet pictures! Sometimes showing the people (and pets!) behind the business is exactly the kind of content that helps your audience connect with you.

You don’t need to celebrate everything. Pick the moments that genuinely fit your business, your team, your values, and your audiences. Have a little fun with them! 

Looking Ahead

Get Ahead of the End-of-Year Rush

October is nearly here, and the end of the year will arrive faster than we think! Now is the time to start looking beyond this month’s to-do list and plan for November and December.

Consider upcoming holiday promotions, fundraising campaigns, seasonal events, end-of-year communications, and any website or social content you will need before holiday schedules get busy.

Don’t forget the little things! If your office will be closed or operating on different hours during the holidays, plan to update your Google Business Profile holiday hours so customers aren’t greeted by a locked door when Google says you’re open.

A little planning now can make the last few weeks of the year considerably less hectic.

Our Digital Strategy Coffee Hour is Still Brewing

Last month, we shared that a Digital Strategy Coffee Hour was in the works, and we’re still brewing it!

We’re using October to plan the details, with our first virtual Coffee Hour coming in early November. The goal is simple: an approachable, interactive space to bring your coffee, your questions, and the digital marketing challenges you are trying to figure out.

In the meantime, we want to hear from you! Send us a message and tell us what questions you would love to have answered. Websites, social media, SEO, content, analytics, strategy. Nothing is too big or too small.

An official date and registration details are coming soon. Stay tuned!