Hi friend,

Life has a way of handing us more than we think we can handle. For many in my circles, January has been the longest one we've ever had. The workdays lingered into nights, and the weeks greeted us with physical, mental, and emotional strain. There were stops and starts, emotional losses, physical setbacks, and the actual disasters that came with Mother Nature's choices.

I don't slow down. I have one pace, which is fast.

This has helped me in some areas of my life and hindered me in others. I can get my house cleaned in two hours if I set the timer and everyone's out of my way. I can build a marketing plan in three hours if I connect with the client and believe in their vision. I can present off the cuff with a few moment's notice. I keep moving, doing, pushing, and thinking until my body physically shuts down. That is the only signal I recognize telling me it's been too much.

I'm not much for resolutions or the "New Year, New You" cliche. I do, however, subscribe to the Word of the Year. I started this tradition a few years ago as a way to be intentional about one thing that can help shape my actions and my life. While I let it slip in December, for those new here, the word of the year is choice. In 2025, I’m choosing to be intentional about what I carry, what I prioritize, and what I let go of.

Resilience isn’t about doing everything. It’s about knowing what needs to be done and making the appropriate choice.

Because if you want to, you will.

And if you do, I promise—if you move through this year with intention, you won’t have to do it alone.

Best, 

Kara 

Kara Rudy

COO, MarketDesign

YOUR TECH VIEW POINT:

AI Won’t Replace Good SEO—Here’s Why

AI is transforming digital marketing, but will it replace SEO? The short answer: No. While AI enhances automation, great SEO still requires strategy, human insight, and adaptability—things AI can’t fully replicate.

Here’s why AI won’t replace SEO anytime soon:

• SEO is More Than Keywords: AI can generate content, but ranking requires strategy, search intent analysis, and user experience optimization.
• Google Prioritizes Human Content: AI lacks the expertise, credibility, and originality that Google’s algorithms reward.
• SEO Evolves Constantly: AI can analyze trends, but it takes human experts to adapt strategies to Google’s ever-changing algorithms.
• AI-Generated Content Needs Editing: Human oversight ensures accuracy, brand alignment, and natural readability.
• Technical SEO & Backlinks Matter: AI can assist, but strong rankings require hands-on expertise in site structure, UX, and link-building.

Rather than replacing SEO, AI is best used to enhance it—automating tasks while experts craft strategy, optimize content, and stay ahead of algorithm updates.

Want to future-proof your SEO? Read the full post to learn how AI and human expertise work together for lasting results.