Your Website Could Be Your Best Customer Service Rep + Industry News and Insights
Field Tips is a biweekly email series bringing you the latest marketing trends and topics directly to your inbox. Covering everything from digital marketing and social media to content strategy and more, we curate the industry’s top stories and present them as easily digestible insights. The content contained within this post comes directly from our October 8, 2025 issue. If you’d like to receive Field Tips, subscribe to our email or on LinkedIn.
Your website shouldn’t just look good, it should work hard.
When Renaissance Benefits came to Responsory, their site was outdated and creating friction. Users couldn’t find what they needed. Support calls were piling up. And their digital brand story wasn’t matching the modern, tech-forward company they’d become.
We paired a comprehensive website audit, User Experience (UX) studies, data with persona development, and stakeholder interviews with teams from Sales, Customer Service, Claims and HR, to lay the foundation for a user-first, compliance-ready site strategy grounded in real audience needs and business priorities.
See, a website redesign isn’t about aesthetics (though that matters), it’s about solving real problems for real people. For Renaissance’s new site, that means fewer support calls, higher user confidence and a platform that reflects the brand’s promise.
Thinking about a website refresh? Ask yourself: Is your site creating friction or solving problems? The answer might surprise you.
If you want to transform your digital experience into a strategic asset, contact us to start a conversation.
Facebook’s Algorithm Change Lets Users Shape Their Reels
WHAT’S HAPPENING. Meta announced an algorithm update that offers users greater control over the videos they see. People can mark Reels as “Not Interested,” and the system will adjust recommendations accordingly. The changes may help address user frustration with reels that are deemed scammy, annoying, or filled with low-quality AI-generated videos. The update also promotes newer content (50% more Reels from the same day) and adds features like AI search suggestions and “friend bubbles” showing which friends liked certain posts.
WHY IT MATTERS. This shift means Meta is leaning toward giving power to users’ preferences and feedback — so “spray and pray” video strategies are less likely to cut it. Marketers will need to be more thoughtful about content quality, freshness, and relevance. Also, the ability for users to opt out/change what they see means retention matters more than ever. You’ll need to monitor which videos are flagged or ignored—and adapt quickly.
Pharma Marketers Face Regulatory Whiplash
WHAT’S HAPPENING. Pharma marketers are facing serious uncertainty because of shifting political signals and regulatory changes under the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) push. Trump-era rules, plus statements from RFK Jr. and the White House, are stirring skepticism about Big Pharma and hinting at tighter controls on drug advertising. As a result, pharma brands are scrambling to adjust communication strategies, leaning more into digital channels (vs. mass media) and rethinking how they deliver compliant but compelling messages.
WHY IT MATTERS. For regulated industries like pharma, this kind of “regulatory whiplash” is a real risk factor. Marketing plans built under one set of rules may suddenly become obsolete or non-compliant. Brands must be more agile, legal partners more involved, and creative teams more strategic about how and where they speak (rather than just what they say). And because public trust is fragile, communication has to be transparent, ethics-forward, and aligned with evolving regulations.
Google Tests AI-Generated Search Snippet Descriptions
WHAT’S HAPPENING. Google is experimenting with using AI to generate or replace the snippet (description) shown under search results. They might either fully replace the meta description you set or insert an AI‑summary of the page’s content. These AI snippets have a small “Gemini” badge next to them in tests.
WHY IT MATTERS. This could shift control away from you in how your pages are described in search results. Even if you craft perfect meta descriptions, Google might override them. That means your ability to influence click‑through (via compelling language) is reduced, and ensuring your content is clear, well structured, and aligned with user intent becomes even more critical.
More To Explore
AI Transparency, Data Privacy Top Consumers’ Concerns on Social Media
Over half of consumers (52%) say the top worry about brands on social media is that they’ll post AI‑generated content without disclosing it, tied with mishandling personal data as their biggest concern. Unpack the full chart on eMarketer.
Consumers Don’t Trust First Search Results
A new Yext survey shows that only 11% of U.S. consumers trust the first result when they search, with nearly 90% double‑checking elsewhere. What’s more: 73% say they’ve used AI-powered search tools more in the past year, and 45% use them daily. Read more on Search Engine Land.
FTC Launches Inquiry Into Tech Companies Offering AI Chatbots To Kids
The FTC is looking into regulating how AI chatbots interact with children, focusing especially on safety, data privacy, and transparency. Dive into the details at Mashable.
New Report Reveals an 8% Mobile Landing Page Conversion Gap
Most landing pages are built for mobile traffic, but a new report shows they still convert 8% worse than desktop, and your copy’s reading level could be a big reason why. Read the full breakdown on Search Engine Journal.
Threads Is On Track To Exceed X (Twitter) in Active Usage
Data from Similarweb suggests Threads is on track to surpass X (formerly Twitter) in daily active users, though estimates aren’t definitive. Check out the full story on Social Media Today.
About the Author
A prominent marketing strategist and nationally recognized thought leader, Grant A. Johnson is president and CEO of Responsory. He is a sought-after public speaker, direct marketing trainer, copywriter, award-winning author and the creator of Direct Branding℠, Responsory’s method for producing sure-fire measurable results.
