Plus, California SB 690 news, and building stronger audience connections  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Raptive News AUGUST 5, 2026 By Ross Yoder Editorial Director Hi Raptive, Every repeat visit, share, and message is a sign that your work is connecting. Your fans, followers, and readers come back again and again, share what you create with the people they love, and help you grow your reach. That connection is everything. It’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re all-in on creating new content to power your business. So this week, we’re here to remind you of the importance of forming a lasting connection with your audience—and give you a sneak peek at a Raptive platform that’s designed specifically for this purpose. Here’s what you’ll find inside: • See how Raptive Community can give your biggest fans a place to connect • Learn the latest developments around California SB 690 • Pose the perfect question to engage your audience What’s new Step inside the Raptive Community experience Curious what it actually looks like to launch and manage a Raptive community? Take our tour for a closer look at the product, the tools available to help you engage your audience, and practical tips for building a new home for your biggest fans. You’ll see how Raptive Community can help you: • Create a dedicated space for your audience to connect • Share updates, prompts, and conversation starters • Encourage members to ask questions, share ideas, and support each other • Use built-in tools and guidance to keep your community active and welcoming You’ll also find advice on getting started, including how to define your community’s purpose, invite your audience, and build the kind of ongoing engagement that helps a community grow. Raptive Community is opening access more broadly soon, and we’re excited to hear from creators and publishers who are ready to take the next step! Take a tour of Raptive Community → Top resource Get the context on California SB 690 California’s proposed SB 690 is one of those policy updates that can feel really confusing—especially when it may matter even if you’re not based in the state. The proposed bill could clarify how decades-old privacy laws apply to modern websites, giving creators and publishers more certainty around common website technologies. We’ve broken down what the bill could mean for you, where it stands today, and what Raptive recommends, so you can get the context you need without digging through all the details yourself. Read the guide → Quick tip Create one simple two-way moment this week “Invite your audience to shape what you create next. Give them two specific options to choose from, whether that’s a topic to explore, a question to answer, a project to try, or a story to tell. A simple choice like “Which should I cover next: X or Y?” is easier to respond to than a broad “What do you want to see?” Then share the result and follow through. When people can see that their input influenced what you created, they’re more likely to participate again and come back for what’s next.” Sharon Profis VP, Audience Innovation In the news Battling the AI sloppification of the internet with authenticity AI content is everywhere, but audiences can still tell when something doesn’t feel human. Digital Content Next highlighted Raptive’s research showing that audience trust can drop by nearly 50% when an article feels AI-generated, even when it actually isn’t. The takeaway? Your perspective, expertise, and the relationships you build with readers matter more than ever. Read the article → In case you missed it Your content calendar for planning the rest of 2026 The second half of the year has a way of sneaking up on you. (How is it already August?!) One minute you’re in summer mode, and the next you’re thinking about fall content, holiday opportunities, and everything in between. Our content trends calendar can help you spot timely ideas and build a smarter plan for the months ahead. See what’s ahead → What we’re reading Catch up on news from around the industry • The digital world disruption (Axios) • Turn news articles into AI search assets (Search Engine Land) • The 2026 generative AI landscape (Similarweb) Question of the week What’s your favorite kind of reader message to receive? ✨ I tried this, and it worked! There’s nothing better than seeing your work turn into a real win for someone else. ❤️ This made my day easier. A reminder that useful content can make a meaningful difference. 💬 Can you help me with this next? A chance to answer a real question and shape what you create next. 💡 I’d love to see more about… A clear signal about what your audience wants from you. Thanks for reading! Was this email helpful? You’re receiving this email because you help manage a site that works with Raptive. 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