Plus, Q3 insights, affiliate disclosure tips, and a Google Discover webinar  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Raptive News JULY 9, 2025 By Cristy Posten Creator Content Editor Hi Raptive, We’re officially in the second half of the year! July is historically a quieter month in terms of performance, but we typically see slow, steady growth through August and September before momentum picks up again in Q4. So even if it doesn’t feel like it today, better months are ahead. In the meantime, we’re here to help you make the most of this time with tips and resources to meet you where you are. Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s newsletter: • Back-to-school content trends you can use right now • A practical guide to clear, compliant affiliate and sponsored disclosures • One simple email strategy to turn casual readers into loyal fans • A save-the-date for our upcoming Google Discover webinar • A few industry articles our team’s been talking about this week Plus, don’t forget to weigh in on the Question of the week—we love hearing from you! What’s new Plan back-to-school content with these rising trends Parents start back-to-school season early. In fact, 66% plan to start shopping in July. And now that Amazon Prime Day deals are in full swing through July 11—with plenty of other retailers following suit—it’s the perfect time to create or update timely affiliate content that helps families get ahead. Take a look at what’s top of mind for parents and how you can use these insights to guide your content planning. Note: These percentage increases reflect year-over-year growth in pageviews across our network, which we use as a signal of rising interest in each topic. Routine reset Families are easing out of summer with simple solutions that make school days smoother. • Slow cooker suppers: +1,418% • School prep guides: +355% • Supplies checklists: +108% Smart organizing Parents are looking for hacks that help them stay ahead of the chaos. • Bulletin board ideas: +173% • Organizing tips: +28% Budget-savvy shopping Rising costs mean more families are planning—and buying—earlier. • College savings content: +143% • Financial planning tips: +83% • Coupons and deals: +56% Fresh angles to build on Here are some other content areas where creators are seeing traction this season: • Healthy lunchbox ideas and easy dinners • Smart supply hauls and shopping hacks • Dorm room setups and college checklists • Parenting tips for smoother transitions Help parents get ahead of the chaos early! Use these insights to plan timely, useful content before the first school bell rings. Top resource The right way to disclose affiliate and sponsored content Learning how to create clear disclosures for affiliate and sponsored content does more than check a compliance box—it helps you build trust, protect your revenue, and support long-term growth. Whether you’re sharing product picks or publishing a brand partnership, readers should always know when a post includes paid links. It keeps your content transparent, your business protected, and your audience coming back for more. In this guide, you’ll learn how to label affiliate links the right way, disclose partnerships clearly, and use E–E–A–T principles to strengthen your credibility. See real examples and start applying the tips today → Quick tip Turn readers into brand advocates with personal email touches “Email is at the heart of your reader relationships—so make sure you’re nurturing them! When someone feels personally connected to you (not just your content), they’re far more likely to engage—and tell their friends. Sharing behind-the-scenes photos, stories, and other personal touches turn readers into loyal subscribers, and loyal subscribers into brand advocates.” Lindsay Barrett Sr. Manager, Email Strategy Don’t miss Join us for a Google Discover webinar on July 30 Last week’s Question of the week asked about your Google Discover strategy. More than half of you (54.5%) said you’re ready to join the party, but unsure where to start. About 23% said you know the basics, but want to experiment more. Wherever you are in your Discover journey, you’re in good company, and we’ve got something to help you take the next step. Join Eddie Mercado, Raptive’s VP of SEO Solutions, for a Google Discover webinar on Wednesday, July 30, at 1 pm ET, as he shares the playbook for success. You’ll learn: • How Discover works and why it’s different from search • How to optimize for Discover with fresh content tactics and a technical checklist • How to measure what’s working and keep innovating for greater success We’ll wrap up with a live Q&A, so bring your questions. Unlock the power of Google Discover → Last call: save your spot for the Grocers List webinar on July 14 Learn how creators are using “auto-DMer” Grocers List to drive traffic and grow their email lists—without adding more to their workload. Join Sharon Profis, Raptive’s VP of Audience Innovation, and Ben Jabbawy, CEO of Grocers List, on Monday, July 14, at 1 pm ET, as they discuss how to get started, what’s working now, and real examples from creators who are seeing results. Bring your questions for the live Q&A and get access to an exclusive discount—even if you’re already subscribed. Sign up now before spots fill up → What we’re reading The latest articles our team is sharing over Slack The next chapter of the creator economy is measurable, scalable—and human (AdAge) Substack’s video bet could be a growth hack for small creators (Digiday | Gated) Does Being Mentioned on Highly Linked Pages Influence AI Mentions? (Ahrefs) AI at Cannes showed why creative work still needs a human purpose (AdAge | Gated) Beware of the Google AI salesman and its cronies (HouseFresh) Question of the week If your summer content pace had a soundtrack, what would it be? 🎶 Full playlist I’m publishing regularly and feeling strong 🎧 Lo-fi beats I’m moving at a steady, chill pace ⏸️ One song on repeat I’m posting, but not mixing it up much 🔇 Quiet mode I’ve taken a step back for now Was this email helpful? This email was sent to email.clausen@gmail.com. You've received this email because you work with Raptive, and we're excited to help you continue to grow. To ensure our emails arrive in your inbox, please add hello@email.raptive.com to your contacts or safe sender list. If you wish to no longer receive these emails, you can update your preferences. 1411 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, NY, 10018, US © 2025 Raptive. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe | View online