The hottest Marketing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Insufferable Bros Who Run Corporate America

BIG by Matt Stoller • 56953 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
💼 Business Monopolies Corporate culture Antitrust enforcement Pharmaceutical industry Marketing
  1. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily influenced by aggressive marketing campaigns targeted at doctors, controlled by corporations like IQVIA.
  2. IQVIA, a major player in the healthcare industry, is involved in a trial over a merger that could impact the future of advertising to healthcare professionals.
  3. The FTC alleges that IQVIA's acquisition of advertising firms like DeepIntent could lead to a monopolization of the healthcare provider advertising platform market.

The Death-Strewn Backstory of Big Supplement

The Vajenda • 6151 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Supplements Regulation Safety concerns Efficacy Marketing
  1. Supplements in the United States have a history of being unregulated and potentially dangerous due to a lack of oversight and testing.
  2. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 removed regulations, allowing for the sale of supplements without proof of safety or efficacy.
  3. Buying supplements is like buying gas from a guy on the side of the road - there's little to no assurance of what you're actually getting or its effects on your health.

Messi, Inc.

The Generalist • 2341 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💼 Business Sports Technology Investing Entrepreneurship Marketing
  1. Being considered the GOAT in a sport can lead to lucrative opportunities and wealth accumulation, as seen with athletes like Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi.
  2. Changes in social media, technology, and athlete earnings have given superstar athletes more power and control over their wealth and commercial endeavors.
  3. Lionel Messi's strategic moves, like moving to America and establishing Play Time, indicate a growing potential for immense wealth through business ventures beyond his football career.
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Junk Bond Trader

Where's Your Ed At • 13056 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing Management Investing
  1. Elon Musk is perceived as a modern-day hustler, skilled at manipulating media and markets without creating tangible value.
  2. Musk's success lies in picking companies and products that promise eternal growth, even if the reality doesn't align with the hype.
  3. The acquisitions of SolarCity, Twitter, and the Cybertruck showcase Musk playing outside the odds, relying on emotion, and making risky bets.

Gaining 2,200+ visitors on our first week launching an AI tool

Pen, Paper & Pizza • 59 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup AI Marketing Content Launch
  1. Successful launch focusing on a niche: Centered efforts on AI, digital marketing, and aiding small businesses/startups. Stayed true to their target audience in every decision.
  2. Strategic approach to product development: Coordinated frontend and backend work, utilized various APIs for research, and leveraged Product Hunt for initial exposure.
  3. Engagement and growth tactics: Leveraged existing platforms like Indie Hackers, Reddit, and LinkedIn to connect with the audience. Received 2,200+ visitors, 60+ users, and initiated 26 free trials in the first week.

On 40 Hours: A Book For A Time Like This

Day One • 938 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
💼 Business Productivity Self-help Entrepreneurship Personal Finance Marketing
  1. Time is the most valuable asset as it cannot be created or bought back. Focus on utilizing your time effectively to reach your goals.
  2. Distractions such as social media, excess entertainment, and procrastination can hinder progress. Identify them and work towards eliminating them to achieve success.
  3. Prioritize learning from helpful resources and taking action. Choose a few key lessons to implement, banishing distractions until they become part of your daily routine.

Why newsletter signups should always be your north star

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 723 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing Content creation
  1. Focus on growing newsletter signups as a key metric for success, as platforms can impact content creators' reach and livelihood unpredictably.
  2. Media entrepreneurs should be cautious of relying solely on tech platforms for distribution, as policies and algorithms can mistakenly impact their work.
  3. Entrepreneurs in media should consider covering niche news sites, video channels, podcasts, newsletters, and affiliate/ecommerce to succeed independently.

PART 1: Should rosuvastatin (Crestor®) be withdrawn from the market?

Maryanne Demasi, reports • 1906 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Marketing Toxicity
  1. Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) quickly became a popular cholesterol-lowering drug due to an aggressive marketing campaign.
  2. In Australia, rosuvastatin is the most prescribed drug, with over 14 million prescriptions written in a financial year.
  3. Rosuvastatin was found to be the most potent statin in lowering cholesterol, but this higher potency also led to greater toxicity.

0 to 20k Traffic, No Budget, Pure Indie Spirit!

Pen, Paper & Pizza • 39 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business SEO Marketing Startups Content creation Product Launch
  1. Achieving 20,000 visitors in 4 months without a marketing budget is possible through strategic approaches like SEO and valuable content creation.
  2. Embracing the power of organic traffic through free tools, AI tools, and consistent content creation can lead to significant growth and valuable insights.
  3. Learning from setbacks, adapting strategies like targeting specific pain points, and staying consistent in content creation can pave the way for successful SEO endeavors.

Lessons From Over 13 Million Naira Worth of Organic WhatsApp Sales

Day One • 758 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
💼 Business Sales Marketing Content creation Data Analysis Customer Support
  1. Building trust and authority through valuable content is essential for selling products or services online
  2. Utilizing testimonials and free high-quality content can greatly persuade potential customers to make a purchase
  3. Addressing objections, providing ongoing support, and reducing buyer's remorse are key to maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty

How To Make All Your Ideas Work

Day One • 219 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Content creation Marketing Personal Branding
  1. A mission is different from a product. Companies like Stripe demonstrate how products can evolve to serve a clear mission over time.
  2. Having a central mission and roadmap is crucial for success. It helps in aligning ideas and content creation towards a common goal.
  3. Creating a sustainable roadmap is key to managing multiple ideas effectively. Focus on consistent execution and growth before venturing into new projects.

Don't Give Up

Venture Prose • 459 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Strategy Success
  1. In crowded markets, strive to show unique insight, act fast, and execute well.
  2. If there's a clear leader, consider different strategies - like targeting a different geography or being more capital-efficient.
  3. Entering small or tough market sectors can still work if you start niche, focus on profitability, and learn from previous attempts.

Meet The Lipsdick: A Dick-Shaped Lipstick

The Unpublishable • 12421 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty Feminism Gender Art Marketing
  1. A lipstick shaped like a penis was launched, sparking discussions about beauty standards and feminism in the industry.
  2. The product's marketing as empowering and innovative is being questioned, as it may perpetuate stereotypes and lack depth.
  3. The controversy highlights issues with media coverage of such products, raising concerns about critical thinking and substance in journalism.

How to drive paid memberships without a paywall

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 424 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Media Marketing News Monetization
  1. Emphasize the local impact: Clearly communicate how local news is shrinking in your area to show readers what they may lose without support.
  2. Specify donation purposes: Avoid vague requests and explain how donations contribute to specific journalism projects or coverage areas.
  3. Implement pledge drives: Utilize public-radio-style pledge drives to create urgency and engage readers, ensuring they are consistently reminded of membership opportunities.

There's a whole lot of ugly out there when it comes to growth teams.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 904 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing Management Growth Finance Leadership
  1. The growth teams face systematic failures in the industry due to various issues like unclear growth fundamentals and bad strategic decisions from executives.
  2. Symptoms of a bad growth team include not focusing on monetization, neglecting retention, and obsessing over 'hacks' instead of building sustainable growth engines.
  3. To build a successful growth team, companies need to prioritize monetization, retention, and data-driven decision-making, and ensure alignment between departments for optimal results.

How I Left Facebook to Forge My Path in Data Consulting

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 482 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💼 Business Consulting Marketing Networking Resources Entrepreneurship
  1. Define your niche: Before starting a consulting business, determine what specific problems you aim to solve for clients.
  2. Attracting clients: Methods to find clients include content marketing, networking, referrals, sales outreach, and vendor partnerships.
  3. Creating a marketing funnel: Use frameworks like AIDA (Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action) to organize and target your content towards potential clients.

A Substack is a book’s best friend: An interview with Luke Burgis

read • 10456 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
💼 Business Marketing Engagement Authors Collaborations
  1. A Substack can be a powerful tool for writers to engage with readers and promote their books.
  2. Substack allows for direct connection with committed readers and can significantly impact book sales.
  3. Starting a Substack can help writers build a community, get feedback, and continue engaging with readers even after the publication of a book.

Why hasn’t the mainstream media embraced paid podcasts?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 573 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Media Subscription Publishing Marketing Startups
  1. Paid podcasts have seen success with small networks and creators, but traditional media outlets have been hesitant to embrace them.
  2. Platforms like Patreon and tools from Apple and Spotify have made subscribing to paid podcasts easier, yet major publishers are still not fully exploring this opportunity.
  3. Some media companies like Slate and The Economist are finding success with paid podcasts and hard paywalls, showing potential for revenue growth in these areas.

How Duolingo reignited user growth

Lenny's Newsletter • 9571 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
💼 Business Tech Marketing Growth Product Leadership
  1. Duolingo achieved 4.5x user growth over four years through innovative strategies like leaderboards and push notifications.
  2. Their focus on improving retention over new user acquisition led to significant improvements in engagement metrics.
  3. Using data and models, like Zynga and MyFitnessPal did, helped Duolingo identify North Star metrics and drive growth effectively.

Trading places

benn.substack • 991 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Data Privacy Startups Marketing
  1. Be cautious with how you handle customers' sensitive data to avoid breaking trust.
  2. Consider the optics of your business operations as much as the functionality to maintain trust.
  3. Don't plan on building one service as a stepping stone to another; focus on what you want to create in the long run.

Philip Morris International: More More More

Invariant • 511 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance Marketing Strategy Investment Industry
  1. Philip Morris International is focusing more on next-gen products like IQOS and its heated tobacco units, with efforts to transition users from traditional cigarettes - showing promise for future growth.
  2. Despite some challenges like higher costs and FX pressures, PMI is maintaining its position in the market by introducing innovative products and investing in its portfolio.
  3. ZYN, another product spreading rapidly, faces questions about its popularity among underaged consumers, but it still shows strong growth due to being a preferred choice over competitors.

How Hermès Sells "Time"

SatPost by Trung Phan • 435 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing Finance Heritage Retail
  1. Hermès sells luxury by focusing on craftsmanship, heritage, and long-term thinking, with iconic bags like the Birkin and Kelly embodying these values.
  2. The concept of 'time' is central to Hermès' brand, with leadership emphasizing selling time and creating desire through managed supply and quality craftsmanship.
  3. The history and heritage of luxury brands like Hermès play a significant role in their perceived value, illustrating a strong correlation between brand longevity and luxury status.

The inside story of Amplitude’s new self-service plan

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 252 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💼 Business Marketing Growth Product Development Sales Revenue
  1. Launching a self-service plan can lead to significant improvements in conversion rates, even if initial numbers are low
  2. It's important to involve the sales team in the self-serve journey to avoid cannibalization and maintain a healthy balance between self-service and enterprise sales
  3. Revisiting pricing and packaging is crucial for the success of a self-service model, including conducting user interviews, analyzing features, and monitoring competitors

Why brand comes first

The Sociology of Business • 648 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Brand Management Organizational Design Marketing Retail Product Design
  1. Short-term thinking in brand-building focuses on quick sales, leading to discount-dependency, while long-term prioritizes full-funnel strategy and brand desirability.
  2. Brand strategy goes beyond marketing, involving product design, retail, and cultural influence for modern retail success.
  3. Brand management emphasizes organizational cooperation, cultural awareness, and coordination across departments to renew brand perception and maintain relevance.