WhatsApp Usernames: What Meta’s Move Means for Privacy, Brands and Digital Marketing

WhatsApp Usernames: What Meta’s Move Means for Privacy, Brands and Digital Marketing

WhatsApp is preparing for one of its biggest identity changes in years.

The platform is introducing usernames, giving users a way to connect without immediately sharing their phone numbers. For a platform that has always been built around mobile numbers, this is not a small product update. It changes how people are found, how businesses receive enquiries, how customers build trust, and how brands protect their identity online.

On June 29, 2026, WhatsApp announced that users can start reserving optional usernames ahead of the full rollout later in the year. The company said usernames are meant to make WhatsApp more private by allowing people to chat without handing over their phone numbers in some new conversations. WhatsApp also said there will be no public username directory and no suggestions, meaning someone will need to know your exact username before contacting you for the first time.

At Samodigital Agency, we see this as more than a WhatsApp feature. It is part of a wider shift in how brands will build direct relationships with customers in a more private, mobile-first and conversation-led digital environment.

What Are WhatsApp Usernames?

WhatsApp usernames will allow users to reserve a unique handle that can be shared instead of a phone number.

This means that instead of giving someone your mobile number immediately, you may be able to share a username such as @yourname or @brandname, depending on availability and WhatsApp’s rules.

The feature is optional. WhatsApp is not removing phone numbers completely. Users will still need a phone number to register an account, and people who already have your phone number may still see it. The privacy benefit mainly applies to new conversations with people or businesses that do not already have your number.

WhatsApp is also introducing an optional username key. This adds another layer of control because a person may need both your username and your key before they can message you. This is meant to reduce unwanted messages, spam and abuse if your username becomes public.

Why Meta Is Introducing WhatsApp Usernames

1. Privacy and Identity Protection

The biggest reason is privacy.

A phone number is not just a contact detail. It is tied to mobile money, banking, family, work, business accounts, two-factor authentication, social media, and many other parts of everyday life. Once someone has your number, they can contact you outside the original reason you connected.

This has always been one of WhatsApp’s weak points. The app offers end-to-end encrypted conversations, but it has not always protected the user’s identity at the point of contact. If you join a group, attend an event, network with new people, or contact a business, sharing your number can feel too personal.

WhatsApp usernames are meant to reduce that exposure. They give users a lighter way to connect without immediately handing over a sensitive personal identifier.

2. More Control for Users

People increasingly want to control how they are found online.

On Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn and Telegram, users are already familiar with social media handles. WhatsApp has remained different because it is built around phone numbers. That has made it feel personal, but also less flexible.

Usernames give WhatsApp a modern identity layer without turning it into a fully public social network. This distinction matters. WhatsApp says there will be no public directory, no username browsing and no suggestions. Someone will need to know your exact username before contacting you for the first time.

That means WhatsApp is not trying to become Instagram. It is adding a private contact option, not a public discovery system.

3. Competition With Other Messaging Platforms

WhatsApp is also responding to what users already experience on other messaging platforms.

Telegram and other messaging apps have offered username-based contact options for years. Users now expect to have some way of connecting without exposing their phone number immediately.

WhatsApp is arriving late to this feature, but its scale makes the update significant. WhatsApp says it has over three billion users, which is one reason username reservation is being opened early to reduce overlap and give people time to claim names that matter to them.

4. Business and Customer Communication

WhatsApp is no longer just where people chat with family and friends. It is where customers ask about products, schools send updates, churches coordinate members, chamas communicate, small businesses receive orders, creators build communities, and brands handle customer care. This is not surprising, given that WhatsApp ranks as Kenya’s second most-used social media platform, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya’s April 2026 Audience Measurement and Industry Trends Report. For businesses, usernames could make customer communication smoother. A customer may be more comfortable messaging a business username than saving a phone number or exposing their own number at the first interaction.

For creators, businesses and organizations, WhatsApp is also allowing eligible users to claim existing Instagram or Facebook usernames where available. This supports cross-platform consistency across Meta’s ecosystem.

What Users Gain From WhatsApp Usernames

1. Better Privacy in New Conversations

The biggest user benefit is privacy.

A username gives people another way to connect without exposing their phone number at the first point of contact. This matters in online communities, WhatsApp groups, professional networking, events, customer enquiries, training sessions and marketplace interactions.

For example, a trainer can share a WhatsApp username after a workshop instead of sharing a personal number. A freelancer can receive enquiries without exposing their direct line. A student can connect with classmates without giving out a number to everyone in a group.

This does not remove phone numbers from WhatsApp completely, but it reduces unnecessary exposure.

2. Safer Public Sharing

Many people already share WhatsApp numbers on posters, social media bios, websites, event pages, campaign material and business profiles.

That creates risk. A phone number can be copied, saved, added to spam lists, or used outside the original purpose.

A username is safer to share publicly because it is less tied to a person’s full real-world identity. This is especially useful for creators, small business owners, consultants, trainers, journalists, public-facing professionals and anyone who receives enquiries from people they do not know personally.

3. More Control Over Who Can Reach You

The optional username key is one of the most important parts of the update.

Without it, someone who knows your exact username may be able to message you. With a username key, your username alone may not be enough. The person may also need the key before they can reach you.

This gives users more control, especially when a username is shared publicly or circulates beyond the intended audience.

4. Reduced Phone Number Harvesting

WhatsApp usernames will not end spam, but they can reduce one common problem: phone number harvesting.

Today, once your number is visible in a group, poster, directory or public page, it can be copied and reused. With usernames, users can create a contact layer that does not immediately expose the number behind the account.

Scammers will adapt, but WhatsApp is removing one of the easiest ways bad actors collect personal contact details.

What Businesses and Creators Gain

1. Stronger Brand Identity

For businesses, usernames make WhatsApp more brandable.

A handle is easier to remember than a long phone number. It can be placed on websites, social media bios, ads, posters, packaging, email signatures, influencer campaigns, newsletters and customer support material.

Instead of saying “save this number,” a business can say “message us on WhatsApp at @brandname.”

That sounds simple, but it matters. Easy contact points reduce friction. In digital marketing, reduced friction can increase enquiries, conversions and customer engagement.

2. Easier Customer Entry Points

Many customers are comfortable using WhatsApp, but not everyone wants to expose their phone number to every business they interact with.

Usernames may reduce that hesitation. A customer can start a conversation with a business without feeling like they have given away too much personal information too early.

This could make WhatsApp even stronger for lead generation, bookings, product enquiries, customer service, after-sales support and social commerce.

3. Cross-Platform Consistency

A consistent handle across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and a website domain helps customers identify the right brand. This is important because impersonation is already a major online problem. If a brand uses one name on Instagram, another on Facebook, another on WhatsApp and another on X, customers can easily get confused.

WhatsApp usernames could become part of official brand identity. For some organizations, the WhatsApp handle may soon become as important as the website domain, Instagram username or verified page.

4. Better Professional Boundaries

For founders, consultants, creators, trainers, sales teams and customer service staff, usernames can help separate personal numbers from professional communication. Many people currently use their personal phone numbers for work because WhatsApp is convenient. Over time, usernames could give professionals a cleaner way to manage public contact without exposing private numbers everywhere.

This is useful for SMEs, consultants, agencies, schools, churches, public offices, community groups and service-based businesses that already depend on WhatsApp for communication.

5. New Customer Identity Systems

There is also a technical side that businesses must not ignore.

For businesses using WhatsApp integrations, usernames affect how customers are identified in backend systems. Twilio says WhatsApp usernames introduce a Business Scoped User ID, or BSUID. When a user adopts a username, their phone number may no longer appear in some webhook payloads. Instead, the business may receive the BSUID in fields such as ExternalUserId.

This matters for businesses using CRMs, WhatsApp Business API integrations, chatbots, automation tools, helpdesks and reporting dashboards.

The simple version is this: businesses should not assume every WhatsApp customer identifier will always be a phone number. Systems may need to handle phone numbers, usernames and business-scoped IDs.

The Downsides and Risks of WhatsApp Usernames

1. User Confusion

WhatsApp’s biggest strength has always been simplicity.

You have someone’s number, you message them. That is easy to understand.

Usernames introduce another layer. Some users may not immediately understand the difference between a phone number, display name, profile name, username and username key.

This may create confusion, especially during a gradual rollout where some users have the feature and others do not.

2. Phone Numbers Are Still Required

Usernames are not a complete replacement for phone numbers.

WhatsApp users will still need a phone number to register. The feature improves privacy in some new conversations, but it does not remove the phone number from WhatsApp’s core account structure. Reuters also reported that WhatsApp said the feature was not yet live and would roll out slowly later in 2026, with phone numbers still required for registration.

This distinction matters. A username protects how you are contacted in some situations. It does not make WhatsApp completely phone-number-free.

3. Impersonation Risk

Any platform that introduces unique handles also creates competition for names. Public figures, businesses, government agencies, media houses, schools, banks, creators and organizations will need to secure official usernames early. If they do not, someone else may claim a confusingly similar name. WhatsApp has said some high-profile names, including those linked to celebrities and politicians, have already been reserved to prevent others from claiming them.

That is useful, but it does not remove the risk completely. Impersonators can still use misspellings, extra dots, underscores, abbreviations or lookalike names.

4. Username Squatting

Username reservation creates a digital land-grab moment. We are already seeing conversations online where some Kenyan users have posted about securing names linked to prominent people, while others have joked about taking up handles associated with brands. At first, it may look like harmless online banter. But it points to a real brand and reputation risk.

Usernames are digital real estate. Once people understand that a WhatsApp handle can represent a person, company, media house, public office, school, bank or creator, the race for recognizable names becomes serious.

5. Brand and Reputation Risk

For brands, the risk is not only losing a preferred username. The bigger concern is customer confusion and impersonation. A fake or confusing WhatsApp username could be used to pose as a bank, delivery company, school, government office, media brand, ecommerce store or customer care desk.That could lead to scams, fake payment instructions, personal data collection, phishing or reputational damage.

This is particularly important in markets where WhatsApp is deeply embedded in daily communication. If someone imitates a trusted name, the damage can move quickly through private chats, screenshots and groups.

6. Regulatory Concerns

The rollout has already attracted regulatory attention. Reuters reported that India asked WhatsApp to halt the username rollout in the country until consultations are complete. According to Reuters, Indian authorities raised concerns that the feature could increase online fraud, phishing and impersonation because bad actors could contact victims without revealing phone numbers. India is WhatsApp’s biggest market, with more than 500 million users. That concern is not limited to India. Any country dealing with mobile scams, phishing, fake customer support accounts and online fraud will be watching this feature closely.

The tension is clear. Users want privacy. Regulators want traceability and accountability. WhatsApp will have to prove that the feature can protect both.

7. Scammers Will Adapt

Scammers follow user behaviour. If usernames become common, fraud tactics will shift. We may see fake bank support handles, fake government service handles, fake school accounts, fake delivery support handles, fake customer care accounts and fake creator accounts. This is why businesses will need to educate customers clearly.

Just as brands tell customers not to send money to unofficial numbers, they will need to tell customers which WhatsApp username is official.

How WhatsApp Usernames Will Shape Digital Marketing

1. Messaging Will Become More Central to Customer Journeys

Social media feeds are crowded. Posts move fast. Ads are becoming more expensive. Algorithms keep changing. Messaging is different because it creates direct customer relationships. WhatsApp already plays this role for many businesses. Usernames could make the platform even more useful because customers may feel safer starting conversations without exposing their phone numbers immediately.

For marketers, this means WhatsApp should not be treated as an afterthought. It should be part of the customer journey, from awareness to enquiry, conversion, support and retention.

2. Handles Will Become Trust Signals

A WhatsApp username may soon become part of a brand’s trust infrastructure.

Customers will ask: Is this the real handle? Is this the official account? Is this the same name used on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or the company website?

That means brand monitoring will need to go beyond social media pages. Businesses will also need to watch for username squatting, impersonation attempts, fake support accounts and confusing variations.

3. Brand Protection Will Become More Urgent

Many organizations are reactive when it comes to digital identity. They wait until there is a fake account, scam page or public complaint before acting. WhatsApp usernames should change that mindset. Brands should reserve official handles early, communicate them clearly and monitor lookalike names. This is especially important for banks, schools, media houses, public institutions, ecommerce brands, hospitals, churches, political actors and service businesses.

4. Customer Data Systems Will Need to Evolve

For businesses using WhatsApp at scale, customer identity will become more complex. It will no longer be enough to think only in terms of phone numbers. Businesses may need to track usernames, phone numbers, BSUIDs, CRM records, consent, customer history and support interactions.

This is especially important for brands using WhatsApp Business API, chatbots, CRMs, automated responses, lead management systems and customer support dashboards.

5. Content and Conversion Strategies Will Change

When brands promote WhatsApp usernames, calls to action will become simpler. Instead of asking users to save a number, click a long link or fill a form, brands can direct them to a memorable WhatsApp handle. This could improve conversion in campaigns, especially for service businesses, ecommerce, events, education, training, real estate, health services and customer support.

For example:

“Message @brandname on WhatsApp to book a consultation.”

“Need help choosing the right package? Chat with us on WhatsApp at @brandname.”

“Join the class updates through our official WhatsApp username @brandname.”

This creates a cleaner bridge between social media content and private customer conversations.

What Businesses Should Do Now

1. Reserve Your Official Username Early

Businesses, creators, public institutions, media houses, schools, banks, agencies and high-profile individuals should reserve their preferred WhatsApp usernames as soon as the feature becomes available.Where possible, the username should match existing handles on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and the brand’s website domain.

This is not a small admin task. It is brand protection.

2. Audit Your WhatsApp Presence

Organizations should check how they currently use WhatsApp. For instance, do you use one number or multiple numbers? Do you use the WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp Business Platform? Do you have CRM integrations, bots, customer support tools or automation workflows? Or do customers know which number is official? This audit will help businesses prepare for usernames and avoid confusion later.

3. Update Customer Communication

Once your username is active, communicate it clearly. Add it to your website, social media bios, customer service scripts, email signatures, posters, packaging, ads, booking pages, newsletters and support materials. Do not assume customers will automatically know your official handle.

4. Train Customer-Facing Teams

Sales, marketing, community and customer support teams should understand how WhatsApp usernames work. They should know what customers will see, how to explain the feature, how to handle confusion, and how to report fake accounts or suspicious activity. This is especially important for businesses that deal with payments, personal data, bookings, deliveries or sensitive customer information.

5. Monitor Impersonation

Brands should monitor for fake or confusing variations of their names. This is important for banks, schools, media houses, public institutions, creators, agencies, e-commerce brands, hospitals, churches, political actors and service businesses.

A fake handle can damage trust quickly, especially on a platform where conversations are private and screenshots can move fast.

6. Prepare Your Systems

Businesses using WhatsApp APIs, CRM systems, chatbots or helpdesk tools should check whether their systems are ready for BSUIDs and username-based interactions.

If your system assumes every WhatsApp customer must be identified by a phone number, this is the time to review that setup.

What This Means for Brands in Kenya

For Kenyan businesses, this update matters because WhatsApp is already deeply woven into how customers communicate. People use WhatsApp for customer care, product enquiries, school updates, chama coordination, church groups, delivery communication, event planning, community mobilization and business transactions.

That makes WhatsApp usernames more than a privacy update. They are likely to influence how Kenyan brands manage visibility, trust, customer conversations and reputation. A business that secures a clear WhatsApp username early will have an advantage. It will be easier to promote, easier to remember and easier to verify.

A business that waits may face confusion, missed usernames or impersonation risks.

Final Thoughts

WhatsApp usernames are not just another app update.

They represent a shift in how people and businesses connect on one of the world’s most important communication platforms. The phone number will still matter, but it will no longer be the only way to start a conversation.

For users, this means more privacy and control, while for businesses, it means stronger branding, smoother customer entry points and a need to protect official handles.

On the other hand, for marketers, it means WhatsApp should be treated as part of the customer journey, not just a chat app. For scammers, it creates new tactics, which means brands and users must stay alert.

Meta is trying to solve a real user problem without turning WhatsApp into a public social network. Whether it succeeds will depend on how well the rollout handles safety, impersonation, user education and business readiness.

For now, one thing is clear: WhatsApp identity is changing.

Any brand, creator, public institution or marketer that uses WhatsApp should start preparing early. At Samodigital Agency, our advice is simple: secure your brand identity, update your customer communication, monitor for impersonation, and make WhatsApp part of a wider digital marketing and customer experience strategy. The next phase of digital marketing will not only happen on public feeds. It will also happen in private conversations, trusted handles and direct customer relationships.

Is SEO Dead or Evolving in 2026? How AI, AEO and GEO Are Changing Search

Is SEO Dead or Evolving in 2026?

 

Every few years, someone declares SEO dead.  This happened when social media grew. It happened when voice search became popular. It happened when Google introduced featured snippets. Again, it is happening because of AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and other answer engines.

But SEO is not dead. What is dying is the narrow version of SEO that depended on keyword stuffing, thin blog posts, weak backlinks and chasing page-one rankings without understanding user intent.

SEO in 2026 is no longer just about appearing in blue links. It is about being discoverable, trusted, cited and chosen across search engines, AI answers, social search, voice search, local search and generative discovery.

The real question is not whether SEO is dead. The better question is whether your SEO strategy has evolved enough to match how people now search.

Search Behaviour Has Changed

SEO in the age of AI has changed. People are no longer searching only with short phrases such as “SEO agency Nairobi” or “best PR firm Kampala”. They are asking full questions, comparing options, using voice, searching on TikTok and YouTube, and expecting summarized answers.

For instance, a user might ask, “Which digital agency is best for SMEs in Kenya and why?” or “How can a PR team measure online reputation after a crisis?” These are no longer simple keyword searches. They are intent-rich questions.

Search systems are now trying to understand context, meaning, credibility and usefulness. This is why the old SEO playbook is not enough. Ranking for a keyword still matters, but it is no longer the full game.

Your content must answer real questions, show expertise, prove authority and be structured well enough for search engines and AI systems to understand it.

Why SEO Is Still Important in the Age of AI

Google itself has been clear that SEO best practices remain relevant for AI features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode. Google says its generative AI features are rooted in its core Search ranking and quality systems.

In simple terms, if your website cannot be crawled, indexed, understood and trusted by Google, it is unlikely to perform well in AI-driven search experiences.

That is an important correction to the noise around “AI SEO hacks”. You do not need to abandon SEO. You need to strengthen it.

• Technical SEO Still Matters

Your website must be fast, mobile-friendly, secure and crawlable. A slow, broken or poorly structured website will struggle to rank, even when the content is useful.

Search engines need to access your pages, understand your structure and index your content correctly. Without that foundation, your visibility is already weak.

• On-Page SEO Still Matters

Your titles, headings, internal links, images, schema, meta descriptions and page structure still help search engines understand your content.

Good on-page SEO is no longer about forcing keywords into every paragraph. It is about helping both humans and search engines understand what the page is about, who it serves and why it is useful.

• Off-Page SEO Still Matters

Credible backlinks, media mentions, reviews, social references and brand mentions still shape authority. In the AI era, reputation across the open web matters even more because AI systems rely on trusted signals when deciding what to retrieve, summarize or cite.

The Evolution: From SEO to AEO and GEO

Modern visibility now has three connected layers: SEO, AEO and GEO. These three are not competing ideas. They work together.

SEO: Getting Discovered in Search Results

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the foundation. It helps search engines discover, crawl, index and rank your website.

It includes technical SEO, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, local SEO, image SEO and video SEO. Without SEO, your website is harder to find and harder for search engines to understand.

AEO: Getting Selected as the Direct Answer

AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is about making your content easy to select as a direct answer.

This matters because users increasingly get answers without clicking through several websites. AEO focuses on question-led headings, concise explanations, FAQs, structured content, featured snippets, voice search and People Also Ask results.

For example, a weak paragraph might say:

“Our organization offers many services designed to improve digital presence.”

A stronger AEO-style answer would say:

“A digital marketing agency helps businesses attract, convert and retain customers online through SEO, paid ads, social media, content marketing, analytics and conversion optimization.”

The second version is clearer, more specific and easier for a search system to use as an answer.

What is GEO: Getting Cited by AI Answer Systems

GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, is about making your brand, expertise or content more likely to be retrieved, trusted, synthesized and cited by AI answer systems. GEO matters because AI tools do not always show users a traditional list of links. They summarize information and cite selected sources. To be cited, your content needs to be credible, current, original and easy to interpret.

Why AEO and GEO Do Not Replace SEO

The mistake many brands are making is treating AEO and GEO as replacements for SEO. They are not replacements. They are layers on top of SEO.

You cannot win in generative discovery if your basic website structure, content quality and authority signals are weak.

SEO in the Age of AI: What Has Changed?

AI has changed search in several important ways. These shifts explain why marketers, communicators, PR professionals and organizations need to rethink how they approach search visibility.

• Users Are Asking Longer and More Complex Questions

Instead of searching “media monitoring tools”, a user may now ask, “What is the best media monitoring tool for PR teams in Kenya tracking brand sentiment across social media and news?”

That kind of query needs more than a keyword-matched page. It needs a useful, contextual and credible answer.

• Zero-Click Search Is Growing

Many users now get answers directly on the search results page. They may see a featured snippet, People Also Ask result, knowledge panel or AI-generated summary before clicking any website.

This means brands must measure visibility differently. A click is still valuable, but visibility, mentions, snippets and citations also matter.

• Search Is Becoming Multimodal

People now search using text, images, video, screenshots and voice. This makes image SEO, video SEO and structured visual content more important.

A brand that only optimizes written articles is missing part of the search opportunity.

• Authority Is Becoming Harder to Fake

AI systems and search engines need trusted sources. Clear authorship, expert credentials, original data, case studies, reviews, reputable mentions and consistent brand information now matter more.

Generic content is easy to produce. Trusted content is harder to build. That is where serious brands can win.

• AI Search Uses Query Fan-Out

AI search can break one user question into several related searches before generating an answer. This means your content must cover topics deeply, not just target one narrow keyword.

If your website has one shallow blog post on a topic, that is not enough. You need depth, related pages, evidence, examples and a clear point of view.

How to Do SEO in the Age of AI

SEO in 2026 needs a stronger operating rhythm. It is not a one-off website task. It sits at the intersection of content, communications, product, analytics and leadership.

1. Start With the SEO Basics

Many brands want to jump into GEO before fixing the foundation. That is a mistake.

Check whether your website is indexed. Use Google Search Console. Fix crawl errors. Improve page speed. Make sure your site works well on mobile. Use HTTPS. Remove broken links. Update old pages.

A technically weak website loses visibility even when the content is good.

2. Build Content Around Intent, Not Just Keywords

Keywords still matter, but they should guide your understanding of what people want.

For every important topic, ask:

• What does the user want to know?
• What decision are they trying to make?
• What fear, confusion or problem are they bringing to search?
• What answer would actually help them?

A page that answers intent will outperform a page that simply repeats keywords.

3. Create Answer-Ready Content for AEO

Use question-based H2 and H3 headings. Give a direct answer immediately after the heading before expanding. Add FAQs to service pages. Use tables where comparison is needed. Use numbered steps for how-to content.

Write in a natural style that can be read aloud for voice search. This is how you build for Answer Engine Optimization.

4. Create Original, Expert-Led Content for GEO

AI can summarize generic content easily. It cannot replace your real experience, data, local insight, client work, industry observations or case studies.

In East Africa especially, there is still a major gap in credible local content. This is an opportunity for consultants, agencies, universities, public sector organizations, NGOs and brands to own their niche through original explainers, research reports, local examples and expert commentary.

If you want AI systems to cite you, publish content worth citing.

5. Strengthen Your Entity Signals

Search engines and AI systems need to understand who you are, what you do, where you operate and why you should be trusted.

Keep your organization name, address, phone number, service descriptions and profiles consistent across your website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, media mentions, directories and partner pages.

Add author bios. Show credentials. Link to credible sources. Publish an About page that actually explains your expertise.

6. Use Structured Data, But Do Not Obsess Over It

Schema can help search engines understand your content and qualify your pages for rich results.

Use the FAQ schema, Article schema, LocalBusiness schema, Product schema or HowTo schema where relevant. But schema is not a shortcut for weak content. It supports clarity; it does not create authority by itself.

7. Build Topic Clusters

One blog post is rarely enough to prove authority.

If you want to rank and be cited for digital marketing, PR measurement, media monitoring, social listening or AI search, build a cluster of related pages.

Create pillar guides, practical how-to articles, FAQs, case studies, glossary pages, comparison pages and industry insights. Search engines and AI systems reward depth, consistency and topical authority.

8. Do Not Ignore Local SEO

For businesses in Kenya and East Africa, local visibility is still powerful.

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile. Keep your name, address, and Phone number consistent. Encourage reviews. Respond to reviews. Add local service pages. Use natural location references such as Nairobi, Kenya, Kampala, Dar es Salaam or Mombasa where relevant.

Local SEO is especially important for agencies, consultants, training institutions, restaurants, health facilities, public services, real estate firms and professional service businesses.

9. Optimize for Images, Video and Social Search

Search is no longer limited to Google’s traditional results page. Users search on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and AI tools.

Use descriptive file names, alt text, captions, transcripts and clear titles for images and videos. Repurpose strong articles into carousels, short videos, explainers and LinkedIn posts. This improves discoverability across platforms where audiences are already searching.

10. Measure Beyond Rankings

In 2026, SEO reporting should not stop at keyword rankings.

Track organic traffic, impressions, click-through rate, indexed pages, Core Web Vitals, backlinks, featured snippet ownership, People Also Ask visibility, local pack appearances, branded search growth, AI Overview appearances, AI citations and conversions.

The master metric is visibility share: how often your brand appears across traditional search, answer engines and AI-generated responses for the conversations that matter in your sector.

What This Means for Brands and Organizations

The brands that will win search in 2026 are not the ones producing the most content. They are the ones producing the most useful, credible and findable content.

Organizations need to stop treating SEO as a technical task left to one person after the website is built. SEO now affects brand reputation, thought leadership, customer acquisition, public communication and digital trust.

• A public institution should ask: are citizens finding accurate answers from us or from third-party summaries?
• A PR team should ask: when people search our brand during a crisis, what do they find first?
• A university should ask: are prospective students finding clear programme pages, credible faculty profiles and useful application information?
• A business should ask: when AI tools recommend service providers in our sector, are we visible or invisible?
• These are no longer small questions. They are visibility, reputation and revenue questions.

So, Is SEO Dead?

To conclude, No. SEO is not dead. It is becoming more strategic, more technical, more content-led and more reputation-driven.

What is dead is lazy SEO. Publishing generic articles, adding keywords mechanically, buying weak backlinks and hoping Google will reward you is no longer a serious strategy. The brands that will win in 2026 are the ones that understand how people search, how AI systems retrieve information, and how trust is built across the open web.

SEO has evolved from ranking pages to earning visibility. AEO helps you become the answer. GEO helps you become the cited source. But SEO remains the foundation that makes both possible.

If Google, ChatGPT or Gemini introduced your organization to a stranger today, would you be proud, worried, shocked or invisible?

That is the real SEO audit for 2026.

Contact us for SEO and Website Optimization services at info@samodigitalagency.com

AI Slop in Marketing Isn’t Failure: Ketepa, NTSA, and the Messy Middle

TLDR: AI-generated marketing can misfire — or create what’s called AI slop. Ketepa Tea, NTSA, and Coca-Cola show how public feedback and iteration turn AI missteps into stronger campaigns.

February is the month of love,  a season when brands lean heavily into emotion, gifting, and cultural moments. This year in Kenya, however, Valentine’s conversations went beyond flowers and chocolates. The Central Bank of Kenya cautioned against the misuse of banknotes amid the growing trend of money bouquets, highlighting how cultural moments, regulations, and public behavior intersect.

Against this backdrop, brands and public institutions turned to AI-generated images to participate in the moment. Ketepa Tea shared an AI-generated image of tea sachets arranged as a bouquet, prompting criticism around tone, timing, and authenticity. 

Around the same time, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) faced backlash after publishing an AI-generated #UsalamaBarabarani image that appeared to contradict its own road safety message. In both cases, audiences quickly identified the gaps and voiced their feedback.

These moments sparked a broader conversation about AI-generated images and videos in marketing and the growing phenomenon often referred to as AI slop. More than isolated missteps, they reveal how brands are learning to use AI in public — navigating feedback, iterating in real time, and refining their approach as audiences become more AI-aware.

What is AI slop in Marketing?

AI slop refers to low-quality, obviously AI-generated content that fails authenticity tests and lacks the human oversight necessary for quality marketing. It is characterized by visual tells like distorted hands, impossible physics, nonsensical text, and, perhaps most critically, missing cultural context that make content resonate.

AI slop is not simply “bad content.” It often results from:

• Over-reliance on AI tools
• Weak or rushed prompting
• Limited human oversight
• Speed prioritized over strategy

Crucially, AI slop reflects process gaps, not proof that AI itself does not work. Many of these outputs are not failures, but early-stage experiments published too quickly.

 But here’s what makes AI slop particularly problematic in 2025: today’s consumers are AI-literate. They can spot it instantly, and they expect better.

Why AI Slop Happens, Especially With Images and Video

AI slop is most visible in visual marketing for several reasons.

First, AI lacks lived context. Generative tools do not understand cultural nuance, regulation, emotion, or local realities. They work from patterns, not experience. Without human review, inconsistencies slip through.

Second, AI accelerates execution faster than judgment. What once took days of creative review can now be produced in minutes. When thinking does not keep pace with production, mistakes become public.

Third, visual content leaves no room for explanation. Audiences interpret images instantly. A single contradiction can undermine an entire message.

A Global Example: Coca-Cola’s Christmas Controversy and AI-Generated Creativity

In 2024 and 2025, Coca-Cola attempted to recreate its iconic “Holidays Are Coming” Christmas campaign using AI generation. The result? A soulless recreation that lost all the warmth and nostalgia of the beloved hand-crafted original. Visible AI artifacts and uncanny valley effects prompted hashtags like #BoycottCokeAI to trend. The message from consumers was clear: when you’re a heritage brand built on emotion, AI cost-cutting feels like betrayal.

Kenyan Case Study: NTSA and the #UsalamaBarabarani Campaign

Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority’s campaign  #Safewalking #UsalamaBarabarani (Road Safety) campaign, advocating for zebra crossing usage, offers a clear example of contextual misalignment. 

One of their AI-generated image shared on social media showed both a zebra crossing and a footbridge in the same frame. The public response was immediate: “Why would anyone use a ground-level crossing when there’s a safer footbridge option?” The image undermined the entire safety message, demonstrating AI’s inability to understand contextual logic. 

NTSA deleted the post, but the damage to credibility was done. Here is the next post they shared on X.

Every minute saved is not worth a life lost.
Use the footbridge, it’s there to protect you.
#SafeWalking #UsalamaBarabarani pic.twitter.com/NBsFRiLWW3

— NTSA KENYA (@ntsa_kenya) February 4, 2026

Ketepa Tea: Turning AI Backlash Into Iteration

Unlike the others, Ketepa’s response became a masterclass in crisis management. Ketepa Tea’s response stands out as a positive example of how brands can move forward after criticism.

After backlash over its AI-generated sachet bouquet, Ketepa did not defend the output or disengage. Instead, the brand listened. Here is the post that received a lot of criticism online.

Ketepa wishes to remind the public that section 1 of the Love Languages Code – aka the gifting of Ketepa Tea bags in decorative and romantic bouquet displays during this month of love is an enshrined freedom that all Kenyans across all walks can engage in without fear of… pic.twitter.com/c6rmS4ZGgb

— Kenya Tea Packers (@KetepaLtd) February 3, 2026

 

Kenya Tea Packers followed up with a new post featuring real flowers, real tea sachets, and a human presence, accompanied by the message “From AI to real tea.”

Ilibidi tutea.

Ketepa Tea Bouquet iko official,
romantic, inabrew love live.
Mapenzi ni vitendo… na tea ni lugha yetu.#KetepaTeaBouquet#ChaiNiKetepa#BrewLove pic.twitter.com/bbdehAiMOD

— Kenya Tea Packers (@KetepaLtd) February 6, 2026

This shift mattered. It showed responsiveness, humility, and an understanding that AI should support storytelling, not replace human connection.

The Messy Middle of AI in Marketing

These examples illustrate what can be described as the messy middle, the phase between experimentation and mastery.

Marketing has always evolved this way. Early social media content was awkward. Early mobile ads were intrusive. AI is no different. The difference today is visibility. AI compresses timelines and exposes learning curves publicly.

The case of Coca-Cola, Ketepa Tea, and NTSA, among others, who have boldly shared their AI-generated campaigns are example of brands that are no longer iterating behind closed doors. They are doing so in real time, with audiences actively participating in the feedback loop.

They proved that listening and adapting create more trust than getting it perfect the first time.

Each public failure trains marketers on what doesn’t work. Failed examples become case studies that refine our collective understanding of AI’s appropriate use. Community feedback improves prompt engineering industry-wide. The messy middle isn’t where brands get stuck; it’s where they build the institutional knowledge that leads to mastery.

Today’s Awakened Consumer

What makes 2026 different from even two or three years ago is audience sophistication. Some consumers can increasingly spot AI-generated content through visual tells, tonal genericness, and logical inconsistencies. More importantly, they expect better. The sentiment  you see on social media isn’t “don’t use AI”, it’s “if you’re using AI, at least make it good.”

This creates what is known as the authenticity paradox: brands must use AI for efficiency and creativity, yet audiences crave human connection and genuineness. The solution is not choosing between AI and authenticity. It needs brands to use AI as a tool while keeping humans as decision-makers.

Moving From AI Slop to AI-Smart Marketing

The difference between AI slop and AI success comes down to process. Successful AI marketing follows this framework:

• Generate multiple versions using AI for speed and scale. 
• Review through multi-stakeholder quality checks that include cultural consultants and brand guardians. Refine based on expert input and cultural context. 
• Test with small audience segments before full rollout. Approve only after final human sign-off confirming brand alignment. 
•  Monitor real-time sentiment post-publication. Iterate continuously based on learnings.

The critical element? Human oversight at every stage. AI should accelerate creativity, not replace judgment.

Brands must also build internal AI governance: documented learnings, prompt libraries with proven results, brand-specific guidelines, and team training on AI literacy. Quality thresholds should be established before generation begins, not after problems arise.

Conclusion

AI slop is not the end state of AI in marketing. It is a transitional phase that reflects experimentation, learning, and adjustment.

What defines strong brands is not the absence of mistakes, but how they respond. Brands that listen, iterate, and humanize their use of AI will build stronger trust and more resilient connections with their audiences.

In marketing, progress has never been perfectly polished. With AI, the learning just happens in public and when handled well, that visibility can become a strength rather than a weakness.

How to Run Effective Facebook and Instagram Ad Campaigns: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Run campaigns on Facebook and Instagram?

I am sure you have come across sponsored posts on Instagram or Facebook, and you are wondering how you can run ads for your business, organization or personal brand.

Well, Meta’s advertising platform, which includes both Facebook and Instagram, provides businesses with an unparalleled opportunity to reach and engage their target audience. However, running successful campaigns requires a strategic approach, precise targeting, and continuous optimization.

This guide walks you through the essential steps on how to run campaigns on Facebook and Instagram.

1. Set Up Meta Business Manager

Before launching your ads, the first step is to set up Meta Business Manager, a centralized platform that allows businesses to manage ad accounts, pages, and permissions. Start by creating a Meta Business Manager account. This tool helps you manage your Facebook Pages, Instagram account, ad accounts, and team roles—all from one place.

Here’s what to do:

• Link your Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Add or create your ad account.
• Assign access to team members.
• Add your preferred payment method under Billing.

A proper setup avoids interruptions and keeps your campaigns organized.

2. Choose the Right Campaign Objective

Meta offers a range of advertising objectives designed to align with specific business goals. Selecting the right objective is crucial, as it dictates how the platform optimizes ad delivery. 

Businesses looking to increase brand awareness should opt for the reach or brand Awareness objectives, while those seeking engagement and website traffic should choose Traffic or Engagement objectives. You can read more on How to choose the right ad objective in Meta Ads Manager

For direct sales and lead generation, Conversion-based objectives work best. Meta Ads Manager offers a variety of objectives based on your marketing goal. Your selected objective tells Meta how to optimize your campaign.

Choose from:

• Awareness: Reach, Brand Awareness
• Consideration: Traffic, Engagement, Video Views, Messages
• Conversions: Leads, Sales, Website Purchases

 Example: Want more sign-ups? Choose “Leads.” Promoting a blog post? Go with “Traffic.”

3. Implementing Meta Pixel for Tracking

One of the most powerful tools available to advertisers is the Meta Pixel, a piece of code that tracks user interactions on your website. To install the Pixel, navigate to the Events Manager. 

If you have a website, the Meta Pixel is essential. It’s a tracking tool that helps you measure performance and retarget users who visit your site.

To install the Pixel:

1. Go to Events Manager.
2. Click “Connect Data Sources” → Web → Meta Pixel.
3. Name your Pixel and copy the code.
4. Paste it into your site’s <head> section—or use integrations like Shopify or WordPress.

This enables better ad optimization and conversion tracking.

Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce offer built-in integrations for easy setup. The Pixel enables businesses to track conversions, retarget visitors, and gather valuable insights into audience behavior. Ensuring proper Pixel setup allows for more accurate performance measurement and improved ad optimization.

4. Target the Right Audience

Reaching the right people is key to maximizing return on investment. Meta’s advertising platform offers robust targeting options, including Custom Audiences, Lookalike Audiences, and Detailed Targeting. Custom Audiences allow businesses to retarget website visitors, upload customer email lists, and engage with users who have interacted with their content.

Lookalike Audiences enable businesses to reach new potential customers who share characteristics with existing customers. Detailed Targeting refines audience selection based on demographics, interests, and behaviors, helping businesses connect with those most likely to convert.

5. Select Ad Placements for Maximum Impact

Meta provides multiple placement options, including Facebook Feed, Instagram Stories, and the Audience Network. Beginners may benefit from Automatic Placements, which let Meta optimize ad delivery across different platforms. 

However, Manual Placements allow advertisers to tailor their strategy by selecting specific placements that align with their goals. 

Instagram Stories work best with engaging vertical videos, while carousel ads in the Facebook Feed are effective for showcasing multiple products. Choosing the right placement ensures better engagement and improved performance.

6. Craft Engaging Ad Creatives and Copy

Compelling visuals and persuasive copy are at the heart of successful ad campaigns. High-quality images and videos that are optimized for mobile viewing perform best. When using video ads, it’s essential to capture attention within the first few seconds and include captions for viewers who watch without sound. 

Copy should focus on the benefits of the product or service, use clear and concise language, and include a strong call-to-action (CTA) such as “Shop Now” or “Sign Up.” Running A/B tests on different creatives and headlines helps determine what resonates most with the audience.

6 Tips for winning ad creatives:

1. High-Quality Visuals: Use sharp, clear, and high-resolution images or videos.
2. Grab Attention Quickly: Hook your audience in the first 3 seconds and include captions.
3. Keep it Short: Keep copy short, benefit-focused, and action-oriented.
4. Include Strong CTA: Include a strong CTA (e.g., “Shop Now,” “Book Today”).
5. Incorporate Branding Subtly: Include your logo and brand colors clearly but without overwhelming the creative.
6. Test Different Copy Variations: Experiment with different headlines, primary text, and descriptions.

7. Set Up a Budget and Bidding Strategy

How do you want to spend on your ads? Budgeting plays a crucial role in campaign success. You can choose between a daily budget, which sets a consistent daily spend, or a lifetime budget, which allocates a total spend over a fixed campaign duration. 

Meta’s bidding strategies include Lowest Cost, Cost Cap, and Bid Cap, each serving different objectives. If you are new to paid advertising, starting with a small budget allows for testing and optimization before scaling up. Analyzing performance metrics helps determine where to allocate more budget for the best results.

8. Monitor, Analyze, and Optimize Performance

Once your ad is live, go back regularly to track its performance in Meta Ads Manager.

Key metrics to monitor:

• CTR (Click-Through Rate)
• CPC (Cost Per Click)
• Conversions and Leads
• ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)

Always pause underperforming ads, reallocate budget to strong performers, and keep testing new creatives. Meta’s breakdown reports let you dig into which placements, age groups, or devices are working best.

Final Thoughts

Running effective Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns requires a blend of strategic planning, audience targeting, compelling creatives, and continuous optimization. Staying updated with Meta’s evolving ad policies and experimenting with different strategies ensures long-term success. By following these steps, businesses can harness the full potential of social media advertising to drive growth and achieve their marketing objectives.

You can email us via info@samodigialagency.com to book a free strategy call today and we can help you run and set up Meta Ads

 

How TikTok Is Shaping the Future of Music Discovery and Streaming

TikTok has changed the way we discover, engage with, and consume music. What used to take weeks of radio play or curated playlists now happens in seconds on a 15-second video. But beyond the viral dance challenges and catchy hooks, TikTok is evolving, with its “Add to Music App” feature that creates a direct pipeline from viral clip to full-stream playback.

This blog breaks down:

• How TikTok influences music discovery and streaming
• Whether it’s a good platform to promote music
• Its overall impact on the music industry

What is the Add to Music App Feature on TikTok?

In December 2023, TikTok introduced a game-changing feature called the Add to Music feature. The goal? To leap at hearing a 15-second clip on your For You Page to stream the full track on your favorite music app as effortlessly as a tap.

This new feature is available in the U.S. and U.K. (with more countries expected soon), and it’s already transforming how users save and engage with music, while offering artists a powerful new way to convert TikTok virality into real-world streams.

How Does TikTok Influence Music Discovery and Streaming?

TikTok has become a cultural accelerator for music. Its algorithm-driven content serves up sound-backed videos that often lead users to fall in love with a song before they even know the title or artist. Research shows that TikTok users are significantly more likely to both discover and share new music content in the app, while 75% of its users also find new artists via TikTok clips.

Here’s how TikTok drives music discovery and streaming:

• Algorithmic exposure: TikTok surfaces content based on what you engage with, and music plays a big part in that. Trending sounds quickly gain traction and visibility.
• Viral loops: Users create thousands of videos using a trending sound, compounding its reach.
• In-app audio identification: You can tap the song name in a TikTok video and see other content using it, leading to deeper listening.
• Now: “Add to Music App”
  This feature allows users to add a song to Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music directly from TikTok. It eliminates the need to manually search for a song you liked in a video—just tap and it’s in your library.

In short, TikTok isn’t just a music discovery tool anymore—it’s a music streaming funnel.

Is TikTok a Good Place to Promote Music?

Yes, arguably one of the best right now.
Whether you’re an independent artist or a major label, TikTok offers:

• Unmatched reach: A single piece of content can go viral and reach millions without paid promotion.
• Authentic fan engagement: Fans don’t just listen; they create. TikTok encourages interaction through duets, challenges, remixes, and trends.
• Short-form storytelling: Artists can tell the story behind their music, share behind-the-scenes moments, or even test unreleased tracks.

And with the new Add to Music App integration, TikTok now gives musicians a direct path to monetization. If your song gains traction, users can easily save and stream it, turning likes and shares into actual plays.

What Is the Impact of TikTok on the Music Industry?

TikTok has had a seismic impact on how music is made, promoted, and consumed for :

  Artists:

• Launchpad for careers: Many artists, like Lil Nas X, Ice Spice, and PinkPantheress, gained mainstream success after going viral on TikTok.
• Data insights: Artists and labels can use real-time engagement data to decide which songs to release, promote, or even remix.
• More control for independents: You don’t need a record deal to blow up. Creativity and consistency can take you far on TikTok.

The Industry:

• Influencing charts: A viral TikTok song often climbs Billboard and Spotify charts days or weeks later.
• Shaping sound: Artists now create songs with TikTok in mind—short intros, catchy hooks, and strong beats are designed to “hit” within 5–10 seconds.
• New marketing models: Traditional music marketing has shifted toward influencer partnerships, TikTok challenges, and trend-hopping.

Listeners:

• Interactive discovery: Fans feel like they “find” a song before it hits mainstream radio.
• Faster access to music: Features like “Add to Music App” make saving and streaming immediate.

Final Thoughts

TikTok has evolved from a fun video-sharing app to a powerful music ecosystem. It blends discovery, social interaction, and streaming into one seamless experience.

Whether you’re a music lover, an artist, or a marketer, understanding how TikTok influences music—and now powers it—could be the key to unlocking new opportunities in the digital music era.

With tools like “Add to Music App” becoming more visible in the For You Feed, TikTok is no longer just about trends—it’s about what’s next in music.

If Social Media Went Dark Tomorrow Would Your Brand Still Reach People?

Picture this: It’s the launch day for your latest campaign. You’ve been engaging with customers on X, answering queries in real-time and building buzz. Suddenly, at 10 AM, the social media platform you intend to launch campaign goes dark. Your team can’t log in, customers can’t reach you, and your carefully planned campaign stalls. Complaints pile up, and you’re left scrambling with no immediate way to respond.

This isn’t just a hypothetical. It’s what many brands faced during the X outage on May 22, 2025. A data center issue, possibly linked to a fire in Hillsboro, Oregon, knocked out login, signup, notifications, and Premium features for over 24 hours, leaving users and businesses worldwide in the lurch.

 

We’re still experiencing issues from yesterday’s data center outage. Login and signup services are unavailable for some users, and there may be delays in notifications and Premium features.

Our team is working 24/7 to resolve this. Thanks for your patience—updates soon.

— Engineering (@XEng) May 24, 2025

As marketers, creators, and businesses, this raises a crucial question:

What’s your plan when your primary platform goes offline?

If your brand relies on one social platform for:

• Customer service
• Community engagement
• Lead generation
• Product or content updates

…an unexpected outage could mean lost visibility, frustrated customers, and missed opportunities.

For Users:

X is a hub for news, networking, and communication. Outages disrupt these activities, causing frustration and potentially eroding trust, especially with X’s history of technical hiccups.

For Brands:

• Customer Service Disruptions: Brands relying on X for support couldn’t respond to inquiries, risking customer dissatisfaction. For instance, I tried reaching out to my internet service provider via X direct messages who has been reliable with X support but I couldn’t. I had to make a phone call!
• Reputational Risks: Unanswered queries can damage your brand’s image, pushing customers to competitors.
• Lost Engagement: Reduced visibility during outages can hurt marketing campaigns and sales.

What Smart Brands Should Do

1. Diversify Your Channels Don’t rely solely on one platform. Maintain a presence on others like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
2. Invest in Owned Media Build direct lines to your audience through your website, blog, email newsletter, and even SMS or WhatsApp.
3. Use Independent Support Tools Adopt help desks, chatbots, or ticketing systems that aren’t tied to social media.
4. Back Up Customer Data Regularly export important interactions and audience insights from platforms you use.
5. Have a Contingency Plan Monitor platforms, and be ready with messaging alternatives when your go-to platform goes down.
6. Be Transparent: Inform customers promptly about disruptions to maintain trust.

Why avoid relying on one platform?

Depending solely on X can leave you vulnerable to:

• Single Point of Failure: An outage can halt your entire customer service operation.
• Infrastructure Risks: Issues like data center fires or cyberattacks are beyond your control.
• Policy Shifts: Platform changes can disrupt your strategy.
• Customer Frustration: Unreachable support can drive customers away.

Don’t wait for the next outage to rethink your strategy. Diversify your channels and prepare for the unexpected.

Final Thoughts

Social media has transformed how we connect, market, and support our audiences. But as recent outages have shown, platforms can and will go silent without warning. For brands, businesses, and creators, the key lesson is this:

You don’t own your audience on social media—platforms do.

Relying solely on one channel is like building your business on rented land. When the landlord has issues, your access, visibility, and communication can vanish in seconds.

Now is the time to future-proof your digital presence. It is important to diversify your platforms. Strengthen your owned media and have contingency plans. The brands that thrive long-term aren’t just social they’re strategic, resilient, and always ready.

How do you handle platform outages? Share your tips below!

SEO in the Gemini Era: How Google’s AI Updates Impact Search Optimization

At the just concluded Google I/O 2024, Google announced expanded AI features for Google Search. How will this impact search engine optimization? Google has been making changes to Google search to improve how users find information in the search results.

The generative AI has even accelerated the improvement since the introduction of Gemini and the search lab’s search generative experience.

Here are some of the updates coming to Google Search in the Gemini Era

Google Search is introducing a new feature called AI Overviews.

AI overviews are summaries of search results that are designed to give users a quick overview of a topic without them having to click on multiple links. The feature has been tested in Search Labs, and users liked that they could get a quick summary and then links to learn more if they wanted. Google is rolling out AI Overviews to everyone in the US this week and expects to bring them to over a billion people by the end of the year.

Ability to Customize AI Overviews

Google Search will soon let you customize AI Overviews. You’ll be able to choose to simplify the language for easier understanding or get a more detailed breakdown of the topic

Search is getting smarter!

You can now ask complex questions in one go, thanks to a new AI model called Gemini. This means you can include all the details you want in your search, like location, criteria, and comparisons.

Google gives an example “For example, maybe you’re looking for a new yoga or pilates studio, and you want one that’s popular with locals, conveniently located for your commute, and also offers a discount for new members. Soon, with just one search, you’ll be able to ask something like “find the best yoga or pilates studios in Boston and show me details on their intro offers, and walking time from Beacon Hill.”

Plan Ahead!

Search can now help you create meal plans and trip itineraries. You can search for things like “easy 5-day meal plan for a group” and get recipe suggestions. Google says you can even customize the plan by asking for vegetarian options. You can then export the plan to Docs or Gmail. This feature is currently in testing but will be expanded to include other planning categories like parties and workouts.

Get AI-organized Results Pages

They’re introducing AI-organized results pages to help you brainstorm ideas. These pages will use AI to categorize different websites under unique headings, giving you a broader perspective on your search topic. This will be available first for searches related to dining and recipes, with plans to expand to movies, music, and more.

Google Search is getting a video search upgrade!

You’ll soon be able to search using videos. This means you can record a problem, like a malfunctioning record player, and Search will use AI to understand the video and provide solutions with steps and resources. No more struggling to describe the issue with text!

What does this mean for SEO?

The SEO Impact of Generative AI in Google Search

In my view, the question of how generative AI in Google searches will affect search engine optimization (SEO) has been a major concern. Is SEO dead? While the impact is undeniable, I believe SEO will adapt rather than become obsolete.

Firstly, website traffic might be affected. Users may get some answers directly from search results, reducing clicks to websites for basic information.

Secondly, content creators like bloggers and writers will face a challenge in crafting high-quality, relevant content that stands out for AI algorithms. However, Google’s inclusion of recommended articles within the search generative experience suggests that valuable content will still be crucial.

In essence, generative AI offers easier information access for users but presents a challenge for content creation.

What are your thoughts?

Using Generative AI in Digital Marketing: Opportunities & Challenges [Presentation]

Generative artificial intelligence became popular in 2023 thanks to the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. It has become a hot topic for marketers and businesses with each trying to see how they can weave in generative AI in their marketing strategy or day-to-day operations.

On 1st December 2023, I was privileged to give a talk on Using Generative AI in Digital Marketing at the 6th Marketers Conference and Awards 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya hosted by the Top Marketers Club.

What are the opportunities and what are the challenges for digital marketers in Kenya? In this article, I will give a summary of the points that I touched on at the conference. Here is how it started.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI refers to deep-learning models that can generate high-quality text, images, and other content based on the data they were trained on according to IBM Research. Simply put, it includes language learning models that generate texts like ChatGPT, Bard or text-to-image such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL·E 2 among others.

The generative AI market is projected to reach USD 110.8 billion by 2030, and 80% of organizations have already adopted generative AI or plan to do so in the next three years.

What are the Benefits of Generative AI for Marketers in Kenya

I also touched on the benefits of generative AI. I mentioned that generative AI in marketing offers benefits such as:

• Creating high-quality visuals with fewer resources
• Enhanced content creation
• Personalized customer experiences
• Improved efficiency and productivity
• Improved customer service
• Trend forecasting and predictive analytics.

9 Generative AI Opportunities for Marketers in Kenya

Now let’s look at some of the opportunities that generative AI presents for digital marketers 

• Content Generation

Have you started using AI tools to create content? Generative AI presents opportunities for content generation, including content idea generation, converting long-form content to social media posts, creating content outlines, writing the first draft of content, writing press releases, and conducting content research and data analysis. For content generation, you can use tools like ChatGPT or Jasper AI

• Search Engine Optimization

Also, generative AI  can assist marketers with search engine optimization by conducting competitive and keyword research, creating SEO titles and meta descriptions, generating content, and editing and proofreading drafts. You can use tools like Surfer, Bard and ChatGPT to get keywords and cluster keywords.

• Video Creation and Editing

Moreover, generative AI can be used for creating and editing videos, including explainer videos to introduce new concepts or products, promotional videos for marketing purposes, and product demos to showcase features and benefits. You can use tools like Virbo AI, Synthesia, Designs.ai and Rephrase.ai

• Image Creation

You can use AI text-to-image platforms to create images for your social media posts, blog cover ads and even your infographics. It’s time-saving and you can play with different elements. Some of the popular text-to-image websites include Imagen, DALL-E 2, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion

• Voice Generation

Voice generation using AI allows marketers to create unique audio content with customized brand voices for advertisements and marketing campaigns. It also enables businesses to develop AI-generated voice-overs for commercials, podcasts, and interactive advertisements, as well as realistic voice-overs for animations and video games. Examples of AI voice generators include Replica Studios, Lovo, and Synthesys.

• Chatbots and Virtual Assistants

Generative AI can enhance chatbots and virtual assistants by improving natural language processing, personalizing customer interactions, automating content creation, generating insights from data, creating creative content, automating lead nurturing, analyzing sentiment, providing proactive customer service, supporting multiple languages, and continuously learning. This allows marketers to deliver personalized, engaging, and data-driven customer experiences, ultimately driving business growth and success.

• Sentiment Analysis

ChatGPT’s natural language processing capabilities make it a powerful tool for sentiment analysis, enabling businesses to gain insights from customer feedback, reviews, and social media interactions. Marketers can harness this power to uncover customer sentiment trends, identify potential issues proactively, craft tailored customer service responses, predict future customer needs, track brand reputation, and make data-driven decisions that enhance customer experiences.

• Hyper-Personalization

We are now used to personalization but generative AI takes personalization to a new level by predicting and generating content based on customer preferences, allowing businesses to deliver more personalized experiences that customers are more likely to engage with. This can include creating custom promotional offers, personalized shopping guides, or unique user experiences tailored to each customer.

• Automating Process

AI tools that combine public and private AI models with CRM data are becoming increasingly popular for businesses. These tools can help businesses automate tasks, generate personalized content, and gain insights from data. They are often built on robust AI platforms, enabling them to integrate seamlessly with existing business systems. An example of this is Einstein GPT integrated into Salesforce CRM

Challenges of Using Generative AI in Marketing

Some of the challenges that come with using generative AI in marketing include

• Hallucination

Hallucination in AI refers to the generation of outputs that may sound plausible but are either factually incorrect or unrelated to the given context. It leads to misinformation and disinformation and users may lose trust in the

• Copyright infringement

Also, generative AI models can be trained on copyrighted data without permission, generating outputs that mimic copyrighted works or creating counterfeit products.

• Bias, Stereotypes, Discrimination

 While Generative AI is powerful and versatile, can also introduce biases and stereotypes into marketing campaigns if not carefully considered and implemented.

• Data Privacy Issues and Breaches

As you know, generative AI models often require vast amounts of personal data for training and operation, raising concerns about data collection practices and the potential for misuse of this sensitive information.

• Ethical Issues and Regulations 

Lastly, generative AI is a powerful tool with the potential to revolutionize marketing, but it also raises significant ethical concerns and data privacy challenges. To ensure responsible and ethical use of generative AI in marketing, companies must prioritize transparency, fairness, data security, and compliance with relevant regulations.

Conclusion

To conclude, generative AI is revolutionizing digital marketing globally. It allows you to generate high-quality content, personalize experiences, and automate tasks. While it is promising it has inherent challenges that a marketer needs to know such as hallucination, bias and privacy issues. Marketers must stay informed and tap into the power of generative AI

Best SEO For Law Firms Tips: 9 Ways to Improve SEO for Law Firms Website

How can I improve my SEO law firm website?

When people search for something on Google, they are more likely to click on the results that appear at the top of the page. Therefore, it is important to for any business to rank high including your law firm in Kenya.

How will you achieve this? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that your law firm’s website ranks well in search engine results and attracts potential clients. With countless law firms in Kenya vying for online visibility, it’s crucial to employ effective SEO strategies to stand out from the competition. 

In this article, we will explore some key steps to improve the SEO of your law firm website and be more discoverable

What is SEO for law firms?

SEO for law firms is the process of optimizing your law firm’s website and online content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This helps potential clients find your website when they search for legal services related to your practice areas.

Why is local SEO important for law firms?

Local SEO is important for law firms because it helps them attract potential clients who are looking for legal services in their area. When people search for a lawyer online, they are often looking for someone who they can meet with in person. Local SEO helps law firms rank higher in search results for local keywords, such as “lawyer near me” or “divorce lawyer in Kenya” or “commercial lawyer in Nairobi”

Here are some of the specific benefits of local SEO for law firms:

• Increased visibility: Local SEO helps law firms show up in the local search results, which is where many potential clients start their search for legal services.
• Targeted traffic: Local SEO helps law firms attract visitors who are more likely to become clients, because they are looking for legal services in the firm’s area.
• Improved credibility: Local SEO can help law firms build credibility and trust with potential clients, because it shows that the firm is active and engaged in the community.
• Higher conversion rates: Law firms with a strong local SEO presence tend to have higher conversion rates, meaning that more visitors to their website turn into clients.

How to Improve Your SEO for a Law Firm Website

1. Have a User Friend Website

To start with you need to have a website for your law firm and not just a website but a user friendly website. A user-friendly website not only improves SEO but also encourages potential clients to easily engage with your firm services. Ensure your website is easy to navigate, has clear calls-to-action (CTAs) and links are clickable. The easier it is for users to find information, the longer they are likely to stay on your website. If you don’t have a website, you can either hire best web designer in Kenya or use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Wix to create your own website

2. Do Keyword Research

Start your SEO journey with thorough keyword research. Identify relevant keywords and phrases that potential clients might use when searching for legal services. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, Ahrefs or Keyword Tool that can help you discover high-value keywords. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website’s content, including blog posts, practice area descriptions, and meta tags.

3. Create High-Quality Content

Content is king in the world of SEO! You cannot rank high on search engines without content.  Therefore, you need to create informative and engaging content that addresses the legal needs and questions of your target audience. You need to use  keywords that are related to legal issues to generate content for your blog. For instance, if you are divorce lawyer, some of the topics that are most searched in Kenya are

• Divorce lawyers near me
• How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Kenya?
• How much does it cost to file a divorce case in Kenya?
• family lawyers near me

By publishing blog posts, articles and guides will showcase your expertise and authority in various legal areas. You can also outsource high-quality content to Samodigital Agency. We will help you create optimized content that not only attracts visitors but also encourages them to stay on your site longer, improving your search rankings.

4. Mobile Optimization

How does your website behave when viewed on a mobile device? Google puts great emphasis on mobile-friendliness when ranking websites. Ensure that your law firm website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices. A mobile-friendly website not only provides a better user experience but also boosts your SEO rankings. You can run a mobile friendly test for your website and improve it 

5. Page Speed Optimization

Page speed is another crucial factor in SEO. Slow-loading websites frustrate users and can lead to a high bounce rate. Incfact, statistics show that 83% of people expect a website to load in 3 seconds or less. Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to identify and rectify issues that may be slowing down your site. You also need to optimize pages that you upload. Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize unnecessary scripts to improve load times. You can install relevant plugins to make your work easier.

6. Local SEO

Law firms often serve specific geographic areas for instance, Nairobi, Kisumu or Mombasa or Kenya. The goal then is to attract local clients, optimize your website for local search. One way to do so is to claim and complete your Google My Business profile. 

Statistics show that 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information. Therefore, ensure that your firm’s business name, address, and phone number are consistent across all online directories. Encourage clients to leave reviews, which can significantly impact your local search rankings. In your descriptions, also use local keywords and remember to add social media profiles to Google My Business.

7. Link Building

 Link building is the process of getting other websites to link to your website. It is one of the most important factors in search engine optimization, as it helps to improve your website’s authority and ranking in search results.

You need to create good quality content to build high-quality backlinks from authoritative legal websites, directories, and local blogs. Guest posting, partnerships, and participating in legal spaces and events can help you earn valuable backlinks that boost your website’s authority.

8. On-Page SEO for Law Firm

Another way to improve SEO for your law firm is doing on-page optimization. Optimize your website’s on-page elements, such as title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags. These elements should contain your targeted keywords and provide clear and concise information about your services. Having well-structured content with proper headings not only helps with SEO but also enhances readability for people seeking services at your law firm

9. Regular Analytics and Monitoring

Once all the essential SEO for a Law firm is implemented, you need to regularly monitor your website’s performance. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Analyze user behavior, track keyword rankings, and identify areas for improvement. Use this data to refine your SEO strategy and stay ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

Improving your law firm website’s SEO is an ongoing process that requires dedication and continuous effort. Implementing on page and off page  optimization will enhance your online visibility, attract more potential clients, and ultimately grow your legal practice. Also, SEO is a dynamic field, so staying informed about the latest trends and algorithm updates is key to long-term success in the digital landscape.

If you need help with writing monthly blogs and optimizing your law firm website in Kenya, contact us at Samodigital agency at info@samodigitalagency.com

8 Effective Ways To Use Twitter to Grow Your Business

How To Use Twitter to Grow Your Business

Twitter is one of the most powerful social media platforms that you can use to raise awareness about your business, engage with customers, and generate leads. Twitter boasts 229 million daily active users as of April 2022. So, if you are still wondering if you should use Twitter to grow your business, the answer is “Yes.”

All you need to know is how to set up your account and connect engagingly with people. Remember, people, go to Twitter to discover what is trending and not to be marketed to by brands. Therefore, when your business is on Twitter, you need to have conversations that matter to your community that will help your business grow and thrive.

This article looks at ways to use Twitter to grow your business. But first, let us look at what account you need.

Types of Accounts Available on Twitter

In the past, Twitter used to have one general type of account. However, in the recent past, Twitter introduced the following:

• Twitter for Professionals is meant to provide businesses, creators, publishers, and developers of all industries and sizes to showcase and highlight their content, products, and services directly on Twitter for free.
• Twitter Blue which is a monthly subscription that gives the most engaged people on Twitter exclusive access to premium features

Tip: Set your regular Twitter account and switch to Twitter Professional.  This will help you  specify the category and account type as a business. It will be easier to grow your business on Twitter.

Ways to Use Twitter to Grow Your Business

Create an Outstanding Profile

Begin by setting up your business account. Choose a display name that is easy to read. Also, use and handle that is consistent with your brand. You may not get the handle that matches your brand name because it’s been taken, but try to use something that still aligns with your brand name. For instance, @SamodigitalAgency was taken, we used @SamodigitaA

Next, you need a cover photo that compliments your brand colours and acts as an ever-changing billboard showcasing what’s new with your business. If you have offers or promotions or are celebrating a season, you can change it accordingly. Also, have a profile photo which preferably should be your company logo. The ideal dimension of a Twitter profile photo is 400x400px, whereas the cover photo dimension is 1500×500.

After that, you need to create a memorable bio that provides Information like your business mission statement, value proposition, location, branded hashtag, or operating hours.

Pin a Tweet

Once you have set up your profile, it’s time to send out Tweets. You will have to create different tweets daily or weekly. If you had created a tweet showcasing your brand, it would get overshadowed by the latest tweets. Therefore, it’s advisable to pin the tweet. A pinned tweet will appear on top of your Twitter profile, and you can change it anytime you have something new you want to inform your audience.

Here is an example of pinned Tweet

Why should you monitor social networks as a brand/ business?
Social media monitoring is the process of tracking hashtags, keywords, and brand mentions in order to stay informed about your audience and industry trends & topics
We can help you do social media monitoring in Kenya pic.twitter.com/20CHEc88XK

— Brandmoran- Social Listening Tool (@BrandmoranKE) December 17, 2021

 

Create Engaging Content

You need to create engaging content to capture the attention of your followers and target audience. Try and  express this through different supported formats like texts, videos, images, infographics, GIFs, and memes.

You can also combine all the formats, as Twitter now lets you post images, videos, and GIFs in a single tweet.  Be creative in how you create your content. Ensure they are informative and educational and add value to your clients.

Also, add some humour to your content. Humour humanizes your brand. It’s also memorable and easily shareable. A brand like Mwango Capital uses memes to recap and share news about the business in Kenya.

????? ???? ????’? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? @CAK_Kenya:

1. KRA is set to come down hard on Kenyans as the President has set them a target of doubling double tax collections by the end of his first term.#MwangoMemes pic.twitter.com/7gtRjY04pr

— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) October 29, 2022

Work with Influencers

Influencer marketing has proven to be one of the most effective marketing strategies. Influencers help create brand awareness, reach a new target audience, raise brand advocacy, and increase sales. Moreover, people trust consumer recommendations. You must work with the right influencers within your industry and niche, even when they have a small following. According to a blog post by Twitter, brands are now shifting to working with micro-influencers over mega-influencers since they offer trusted reviews and have built a strong following that can be valuable to brands.

Here is an example of how ShowmaxKenya worked with one of the top social media influencers, Janet Machuka to promote their shows

On my Twitter Spaces tonight sponsored by @ShowmaxKenya!

A chat on a documentary called “Love Crimes of Kabul.”

Joining link: https://t.co/KEVR2sj9qb #Showmaxing pic.twitter.com/BTjFOSZYEy

— Janet Machuka (@janetmachuka_) October 31, 2022

Be Consistent

Another way to grow your business effectively on Twitter is by being consistent on the platform. Tweet at a specific frequency, depending on what works for your brand. For some brands, tweeting three times a week works for them, while tweeting daily works for others. Choose what works for you and stick to that.

Connect with People

As a business, you are also free to follow other accounts. Follow the people within your industry, thought leaders, partners, stakeholders, brand advocates, customers, and fans. These groups of people will likely follow back and engage with your content and eventually help to create brand awareness.

Leverage Twitter Spaces

During the Covid-19 pandemic, social audio content emerged that helped people connect while keeping their distance. We saw the emergence of platforms like Clubhouse, Facebook audio rooms, and Spotify Greenroom among others. To keep up with this trend, Twitter introduced Spaces. Spaces are live audio conversations on Twitter.

As a business, you can host spaces to discuss industry topics, get feedback about your product or answer questions about your product. Twitter Spaces helps you get real-time engagements, build a community, connect with cultural moments and get instant feedback. Try to host spaces consistently or one of your team could participate in other spaces within your niche.

Below is an  example of how Synnefa a Kenyan Agribusiness Startup is using Twitter Spaces

The future is calling, and it is here to stay. With the development of new innovative technologies, farmers are leading the way.

Join us tonight at 8PM as @taitangetich shares his journey with @FarmersStories!

Twitter Spaces Link: https://t.co/5ru8oPOqw7#Agri4Value pic.twitter.com/h35GU5ghli

— Synnefa (@synnefa_KE) March 16, 2022

Promoted Tweets

You can also promote your tweets through Twitter ads to reach a wider audience. Twitter ads campaigns allow you to achieve your marketing goal, like brand awareness, increasing followers, driving consideration, or delivering conversions. Twitter lets you quickly promote your posts, grow your followers, and increase your reach if you build brand awareness.

Conclusion

Twitter offers you immense ways to grow your business. Whether you are a solopreneur, a small business, or a large business, you can connect with fans, communities, audiences, and partners and grow your brand. Just understand the platform and use the above ideas to grow your business, get leads and make conversions.

If you need help with creating social media content or blogs, contact us at info@samodigitalagency.com.