Tool Media, Marketing, Misc Topics – Feb 2026 Update

Let’s talk about a mix of topics.

Tool Media Channels – some long-time tool news and review channels have been sold to new owners. This is starting to look like a trend. I’ve heard from others – including influencers – who are burnt out or looking to make exits for other reasons.

I guess things have come full circle. First print-based magazines started shutting down, and now digital properties are selling out or shutting down.

Algorithm Tunnel Vision – How is it that a YouTuber with over 500,000 followers is seeing less than 5,000 views on many new posts? I suppose that’s why some influencers are burning out.

Broadly speaking, across all forms of media these days – web, YouTube, social media – if you don’t appease the algorithm, you don’t get views. Less views mean lower engagement, less revenue, fewer opportunities, or less attention from brands, advertisers, or sponsors.

Clickbait is on the rise. Vague headlines and thumbnails are on the rise.

With algorithms laser-focused on topics of peek attention, there’s less attention given to lower interest or less popular topics.

More hyperbole, less substance, less breadth.

I am working on ways to strengthen ToolGuyd’s momentum, regardless of what the algorithms do. On the content creation side, there’s no fighting this.

As someone who also consumes content, quality content has been getting scarce while brain-rot spreads.

Tool Marketing – an increasing number of media and marketing contacts have been posting about how their jobs have been eliminated. Some of these individuals are truly talented, hard working, and very experienced.

These are senior-level professionals with years and even decades of experience, some of whom I deeply respect.

Why is this happening? Is it just AI? Declining business from other causes or reasons?

Social Media Marketing is Getting Weird – there are fewer product spotlights and more memes, trends, and AI images. Some of it is cute, others are just bizarre. I guess that’s just how things are now?

Who is buying a Nova “Smart Tools Powerful Solutions” patch for $10 to sew or iron onto a work shirt?

Rise of AI Marketing – some brands have been experimenting with AI marketing and 3rd party AI firms. It’s immediately obvious when I open an email.

A small company reached out via a “hands-free AI influencer marketing solution” service. I didn’t respond to the ill-conceived pitch. The founder emailed me later, with a pitch that read more human or personalized. They were much more convincing.

Others just blast a generic AI-derived pitch and then take to social media to complain that influencers aren’t responding to their efforts.

AI is a tool that too many have been treating as a replacement for human skill.

It’s not just AI that’s impacting the industry, but from what I’m seeing it’s certainly not helping.

Lowe’s Website is a Dumpster Fire – there’s no sugar coating it.

$159 for a Craftsman 2-stage snow blower, plus a chain saw? SOLD! But wait – you can’t actually buy it at that price?

Lowe’s is still lying about discounts in Google’s shopping links. Click through the link and there’s no discount. Add to cart, and there’s no discount. Follow through to checkout, and there’s no discount.

This is a “String Trimmer Bristle Brush Kit?”

This earlier listing shows a specialized fiber optic tool set described as a “Household Tool Set.”

In my opinion and experience, these kinds of things happen when no one at a company cares about the customer experience.

AI has no feelings. AI doesn’t care about the user experience.

A lot of companies are investing deeply into AI, seemingly so that they can go to investors and say “look, we’re modern and trend too!” How’d Lowe’s work out with their metaverse and NFT investments?

Lowe’s is starting to look a lot like Sears. I’m sure their leadership is very proud of themselves. Bonuses for management, pink slips for workers involved in support or customer experience projects – see Lowe’s Layoffs Said to Cut Hundreds of Jobs. Maybe Mr. Beast and the much-hyped creator program will help Lowe’s turn things around.