Hi Reader, I keep talking to founders who know they should be putting out video content, but the second they hit record, everything falls flat. They’ve got good ideas, they’re hyped… and then—crickets. It’s like, “I’m doing everything right, why isn’t this working?” After a few tries, they throw up their hands and go, “F*ck it, maybe video’s not for me.” If you're going to read anything this week: Here’s what I see time and time again: The problem usually isn’t the content—it’s how the video...
8 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Marketers, salespeople, and founders share a common goal: understanding what customers really think. We’re all looking for the key to persuading them to love our brands and products. There’s plenty of neuroscience, psychology, and expert advice from successful entrepreneurs. But sometimes, the most effective approach is the simplest—learning to read between the lines. With practice, we can sharpen this skill and get closer to what really matters to our customers. If you're going to...
22 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Annoying fact: We love a playbook. A blueprint for how to replicate success. It's not that we are against hard work. What's tough is the uncertainty. We can hire an influencer and get no sales. We can create a ton of content and get no engagement. Our goal is to smooth out that ride without losing a bunch of cash and time. Today, let's look at a brand and take a stab at helping it grow. First, I want to give credit. Andrea Bosoni runs the newsletter Zero to Marketing, where once a...
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Hi Reader, Over lunch, I asked a new friend about his approach to his branding agency. Their website is ideal; I'm jealous. With an agency named Off-Menu, the goal is to cook up relatable but different. Relatability is slept on even though it's a key ingredient to brand success. Relatability is engagement. If you're going to read anything this week: What does it mean to be relatable? It's the art of connecting with others on a personal level. Our brands are capable of making these...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Brands have pressed paused on the growth-at-all-cost era. We're still running some paid ads, but we've scaled back. Now, we're focusing our energy on holistic brand building. Organic growth is back in style. Slow and steady wins the race. As the content schedules ramp, try to remember to stay true and stand on business. If you're going to read anything this week: It's easy to get swept up in trying to achieve a side quest instead of the mission. Brands want to go viral; they want...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, One of the biggest sources of frustration as a business owner is the feeling of spinning your wheels. It's hard enough to gain traction for a product or service in a booming economy. It's infuriating to feel stuck during a recession. Yet, the market we are facing today isn't like it was a couple years ago. AI, high interest rates, inflation, and a slew of other things has changed the landscape. Venture capital isn't flowing. We're on our own. Let's make sure we're putting in work...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Almost everyone I meet is suffering from a fundamental problem. I notice freelancers that only offer one service are often exempt from this problem. For instance, let's say you take pictures at weddings and someone asks you what you do for a living. You'd say, I'm a wedding photographer. But, the minute we add more than one service or product to our offering we get so damn complicated in our explanation. It wouldn't be a big deal if humans had decent attention spans. We don't....
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Last week's email on good and bad copy hit a home run. This week, let's make it interactive! It's a difficult time to be a business owner. Getting customers is harder than ever. Creating social content that grabs attention is no cakewalk. Raising capital to fund your vision is slow AF. I have a plan for you. Focus on what you can control. If you're going to read anything this week: Recently, I had a meeting with a marketer at a venture capital firm. There's no better source for the...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Why is it so hard to simplify? We want to attract customers. We want to get more sales. More sales, means more revenue (and more profit🤞🏽). Yet, we continue to blast potential buyers with noise. If you're going to read anything this week: Marketing creators are fun to watch. Their website reviews and advertising hot takes are informative. I'm deep in the marketing game too. I see everything in the world like a ticker tape of selling. It's hard not to have my own opinion. I recently...
3 months ago • 3 min read