Google's Marketing Playbook (That Nobody's Talking About) 🤫

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Just read something fascinating from Google's marketing team that made me rethink everything I knew about marketing. And no, it's not about SEO or ads.

Turns out, while we're all obsessing over AI tools and social media hacks, Google's been quietly rewriting the marketing rulebook. Here's the spicy part: They think most of us are doing it wrong.

The Four Rules Google Actually Follows 🎯

Let's break down what the folks who literally control the internet think about modern marketing:

1. "Everything Is Media" Is Not Just a Cute Phrase 🧐 

Here's where most brands mess up: They think "media" means "places we put ads." Google's take? That's like saying "food" only means "things you eat at restaurants."

Check this out:

• Uber's VP of Marketing admitted their polished ads often get beaten by quick influencer content

• The McDonald's Grimace Birthday phenomenon? Started as a random agency idea

• Most viral moments of 2024? None of them were planned campaigns

2. The AI Truth Nobody's Telling You 🙃 

While everyone's debating whether AI will replace creativity, Google dropped this truth bomb: AI isn't replacing anything – it's foundational to everything.

Here's what Hubspot's CMO revealed:

• AI is better at "strategic guessing" than most marketers

• One-to-one marketing is finally possible at scale (think ABM on steroids!)

• The winners aren't those using AI tools, but those rebuilding their entire process around AI infrastructure

3. The Culture Hack That Actually Works 💯 

Remember when brands tried to "join conversations"? Google's saying that's backward. 2 brands which have gotten it right:

👉️ McDonald's Grimace Strategy:

Don't tell people what's cool → Watch what they naturally love → Amplify what's already working and → Let them create the phenomenon!

 👉️ Walmart's Three-Step Culture Rule:

• Be it

• Do it

• Then (and only then) say it!

4. The Money Move That Changes Everything 🤑 

Here's the part that made me spit out my coffee: Google thinks we're measuring success wrong.

The New Math:

• Old way: Likes + Shares = Success

• Google's way: Every marketing dollar should return atleast $1.20 in profit

Why this matters:

• Marketing becomes a profit center, not a cost (long due!)

• CFOs start loving marketing teams

• Budgets get easier to justify (making marketers’ lives easier!)

What This Means For 2025 💥 

✅ Stop Planning, Start Listening: Your best marketing opportunities probably aren't in your marketing plan. They're happening right now, in places you haven't looked.

✅ Rebuild Around AI: Don't just use AI tools – rebuild your entire marketing process assuming AI is part of every step.

✅ Follow The Money: If you can't connect your marketing directly to profit, you're probably doing it wrong.

Until next week..

P.S. Quick question: When was the last time your marketing plan started with "How will this make money?" instead of "How will this get attention?" Yeah, me too. Let's fix that.