News and Insights
No…This – November 2025
November 17, 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of No…This, our news digest unpacking the need-to-know shifts in communications and marketing.
This month, we’re diving into the new frontiers of visibility, trust, and tech disruption. Explore how media forensics is becoming a must-have for protecting brand credibility in an era of misinformation – and why Instagram’s new competitor-tracking tools might reveal more noise than insight.
Then, uncover how Reddit is rewriting SEO with “Answer Engine Optimization,” and what YouTube’s latest AI prompts and doomscroll limits say about the future of content discovery. We wrap up with a forward-looking take on the manufacturing sector’s 2026 playbook – and how smart communication strategies can turn uncertainty into market advantage.
Ready to dive in?
The New Information Disorder: Using Media Forensics to Protect Brand Trust
What’s New
In an era of rampant misinformation, health and science brands face unique threats to their reputation. The strategy for protecting truth and trust is evolving. Navigating this “new information disorder” requires a specialized approach, using media forensics to identify, analyze, and counteract threats before they erode public confidence.
In The News
- Forbes, The Business Cost Of Fake News: Lessons For Leadership In An Era Of Misinformation
- Newsweek, Crisis PR Will Be a Lifeline When AI Supercharges Misinformation
Instagram Offers Competitor Tracking – But Is It Data or Just a Distraction?
What’s New
Meta is rolling out “Competitive Insights” for professional accounts, allowing users to compare performance against up to ten other profiles. While the dashboard shows follower growth, posting frequency, and Reels activity (even on hidden-like posts), it lacks the depth of true analysis. Without reach, saves, or conversion data, it shows what’s happening, not what’s working. It’s a pulse check, not a strategic proof point.
In The News
- Social Media Today, Instagram Adds Competitor Insights for Professional Accounts
- Medium, Instagram adds Competitive Insights to let creators compare accounts
Forget SEO: Reddit Is Pushing ‘Answer Engine Optimization’ (AEO)
What’s New
Reddit is formalizing a major shift with its new “Answer Engine Optimization” (AEO) guide. The platform is urging brands to move beyond traditional SEO and focus on showing up in the real conversations that feed AI-generated answers. This mirrors the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), reinforcing that the future of brand discovery isn’t on a search page – it’s inside the discussions themselves.
In The News
- WIRED, Forget SEO. Welcome to the World of Generative Engine Optimization
- Forbes, Answer Engine Optimization – What Brands Need To Know
- Search Engine Land, Answer engine optimization: 6 AI models you should optimize for
YouTube’s New Playbook: AI Prompts, ‘Doomscroll’ Limits, and Desktop Expansion
What’s New
In a polarized world, communication is a lifeline for credibility. A recent FINN Partners panel at Climate Week NYC emphasized that organizations are moving past lofty claims to focus on data, case studies, and human-centered stories. The key takeaway: effective sustainability communication must use adaptive language – framing the narrative around resilience, value, and competitiveness – to earn trust and connect purpose to performance.
In The News
- Trellis, Why the business case debate for sustainability is over
- Fast Company, The ‘business case’ for climate action
The 2026 Outlook: Three Strategies for Manufacturers to Win Market Share
What’s New
Manufacturers heading into 2026 are up against some tough challenges—from rising costs to supply chain issues—but clear, confident communication can turn those hurdles into growth opportunities. The key is to highlight the value of aftermarket services, make sure your brand shows up in AI-driven B2B searches, and keep building personal connections through face-to-face interactions. Companies that stay visible, transparent, and genuinely engaged with customers will be the ones that earn trust and win market share.
In The News
- World Economic Forum, Accelerating transformation in manufacturing, from the factory floor to the boardroom
- Deloitte, 2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey: Navigating challenges to implementation
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