Community | University 

Mar 18, 2026

Hello, GrowthHackers! 

Welcome to your daily unfair advantage.

Every morning, we cut through the noise to bring you sharp insights, fast news, and fresh sparks to light up your brain and fuel your hustle. From scrappy hacks to big tech moves, AI shifts to culture flips this is your intel to stay ahead, move fast, and break boring.

Think of it as your growth-fueled espresso shot.
Short. Smart. Addictive.

Let’s dive in.👇

Quick Hits

1. AI Search Trends for 2026 & How You Can Adapt to Them
   (If AI can’t understand your brand, it can’t recommend it)

2. Facebook launches a new monetization program to attract popular creators from TikTok, YouTube
   (Meta said: come for the reach, stay for the check)

3. Google’s data center power playbook comes into focus
   (Turns out the future of AI is also a utilities story.)

The Growth joke of the day

Why is everyone adapting to AI search in 2026?
Because if you don’t show up in the answer… you don’t show up at all.

What's New in Growth Hacking/Growth Marketing?

Strategies

• Search Referral Traffic Down 60% For Small Publishers, Data Shows

  Chartbeat data shows search referral traffic fell 60% for small publishers over two years, compared with 22% for large publishers, per an Axios report.

• How To Build An AI SEO Strategy That Outlasts Tactics
  Most AEO “strategies” are tactic lists dressed up as long-term direction. They often break the first time a platform changes or leadership asks questions. A real AI SEO strategy starts with the business problem, builds on your brand’s unique advantages, and lets tactics come last.

• Pinterest shares rising trends in new report
  Pinterest has published its spring trends report for 2026, which highlights all of the topics that have been gaining more traction in the app as we head into the warmer months.

• Email personalization has an overuse problem
  We’ve got AI-driven data reporting, we’ve got personalized greetings, personalized subject lines, user-based product recommendations and a whole range of other tools to help us better connect with email subscribers.

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People

• Kalshi’s legal troubles pile up
  Arizona attorney general Kris Mayes has filed criminal charges against prediction market platform Kalshi for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business in the state without a license and for election wagering.

Did you miss our latest episode of GrowthHackers?
No worries, we've got you covered! ⬇️

A Founder’s Journey in Microscope

In this episode with Dean Arnett, we discuss the radical transformation of the global media landscape. We dive into how to scale content production without losing the human "spark," the ethics of synthetic media, and why the "Documentary Mindset" is the ultimate growth hack for modern brands.

Dean Arnett is an award-winning filmmaker and former BBC producer who now consults for global giants like the Associated Press and the Financial Times. He bridges the gap between decades of broadcast excellence and the cutting-edge tools of generative AI.

If you are a creator looking to scale, a brand trying to break through the noise, or a student preparing for a tech-driven media landscape, this episode is essential listening.

Can you handle the reality that awaits?

What's New in Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

• Google AI Overviews Cut Germany’s Top Organic CTR By 59%
  SISTRIX analyzed over 100 million German keywords and found AI Overviews reduce the position one click rate from 27% to 11%. Impact varies by industry.

• Ad for AI editing app which said it could 'remove anything' banned
  An advert for a video and image editing tool that implied viewers could digitally remove a woman's clothing has been banned by the UK advertising regulator.

How Jennifer Anniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads

The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Anniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.

Learn more