SMB Marketing Weekly: Aug 4-11, 2025
Here are the five biggest stories from the past week that every small business owner and marketer should know about.
1. Google Ads Rolls Out Enhanced Smart Bidding Controls
Google announced expanded controls for its Smart Bidding strategies, giving advertisers more granular options for setting performance targets across campaigns. The update includes new seasonality adjustments and device-level bid modifiers within automated strategies.
Why it matters: Small businesses running Google Ads can now fine-tune automated bidding without abandoning it entirely. If you have been frustrated by Smart Bidding overspending during slow periods, the new seasonality controls let you tell the algorithm when to pull back. This is especially useful for businesses with predictable traffic patterns.
2. TikTok Shop Expands Access for Small Sellers
TikTok expanded its TikTok Shop program to more small business sellers in the US, lowering the follower threshold for in-app selling and introducing a simplified onboarding flow. The platform also announced reduced commission rates for new sellers during their first 90 days.
Why it matters: If you sell physical products, TikTok Shop is becoming harder to ignore. The lower barriers mean businesses with even modest followings can now sell directly through the app. The 90-day commission break gives you a low-risk window to test whether the channel works for your products.
3. Meta Launches Improved Lead Generation Forms for Facebook and Instagram
Meta released updated lead generation ad formats with conditional logic, pre-filled fields from user profiles, and direct CRM integrations. The forms now support multi-step layouts and richer question types.
Why it matters: Lead gen ads on Meta’s platforms just got significantly more useful. The conditional logic means you can qualify leads before they hit your inbox, reducing time spent on unqualified prospects. If you use a CRM like SMBcrm, the direct integration options can push leads straight into your pipeline without manual data entry.
4. Google and Yahoo Email Authentication Enforcement Continues to Tighten
Reports from email deliverability monitoring services show that Google and Yahoo are increasingly rejecting messages from domains without properly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Bounce rates for non-compliant senders have risen noticeably since early summer.
Why it matters: If you have not set up email authentication for your business domain yet, you are now actively losing emails. This is no longer a future concern. Check your domain’s DNS records and make sure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured. Most email service providers have guides for this, and it typically takes less than an hour to set up.
5. Google Clarifies Stance on AI-Generated Content in Search
In a Search Central blog post, Google reiterated that its ranking systems focus on content quality regardless of how it was produced. The company emphasized that AI-generated content is not inherently penalized but that content must demonstrate experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) to rank well.
Why it matters: The takeaway is clear: using AI tools to draft content is fine, but publishing unedited AI output that lacks genuine expertise will not rank. Small businesses should use AI as a starting point, then add their own experience and insights. The businesses winning in search are those that combine AI efficiency with authentic human knowledge.
That wraps up this week’s roundup. Bookmark this page and check back next Monday for the latest SMB marketing news.