The hottest Marketing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

I heart creativity

Thoughts on Writing • 639 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Purpose-driven initiatives sometimes overshadow creativity in marketing and may not always lead to impactful social change.
  2. The beauty of opt-in participation in branding creates a sense of community without imposing ideologies.
  3. Cognitive empathy and humility are important in creativity, contrasting with the closed mindset often associated with purpose-driven approaches.

When should you offer a productized service?

Kenny’s Sub • 199 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Productized services are service offerings that are made to be like products with clear packages and prices. This helps both service providers and clients understand exactly what to expect.
  2. There are many benefits to productized services, such as easier pricing, scalability, and clearer communication. However, this model isn't for everyone and might limit customization for clients with specific needs.
  3. To create a productized service, it's important to define what you offer clearly, set up attractive packages, and build trust with potential clients through testimonials and clear terms.

My Wronggest Content

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 656 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Marketing
  1. Posting wrong code online can lead to getting helpful feedback from others. Sometimes people are quick to point out mistakes, but that can help you learn.
  2. Using social media regularly can grow your audience. Posting interesting and engaging content helps attract more subscribers.
  3. Accepting criticism is important. It can be tough to hear people say your work is bad, but it's a chance to improve and grow.

Figma S-1 Breakdown

Tanay’s Newsletter • 195 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Figma took its time, focusing on building a great product before pushing for profits. This approach paid off as it grew into a major player in design tools.
  2. Figma has successfully expanded beyond just design, offering multiple tools for the entire product development process. Many of its users are now benefiting from various products within the platform.
  3. While Figma is doing well financially, there are concerns about how AI will change the design landscape. The company sees both risks and opportunities with AI, aiming to integrate it effectively into their tools.

Streetpress

L'Atelier Galita • 259 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📰 News Marketing
  1. Choose a journalism that is engaged and takes a stance.
  2. Be cautious of how the economic model of a press outlet can influence its content.
  3. Understanding the difference between neutrality and objectivity in journalism is crucial.
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Cringe communication on LinkedIn. Yay, 🙌 or Nay? 🙅‍♀️

Business & Marketing with Nika • 19 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Communication on LinkedIn has shifted from formal to casual. It’s now common to see memes and selfies, which can feel a bit cringe.
  2. Being informal can help break the ice, but it’s important to maintain a professional image. Be careful when being casual, especially with potential clients or employers.
  3. When using LinkedIn, think about the tone you want to use. Make sure it fits your audience, and be aware of how your communication style might affect future interactions.

Update: I've moved from Substack to beehiiv

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 23 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The newsletter has moved from Substack to beehiiv, and all past and future issues are now hosted on the new site.
  2. Subscribers who signed up on or before December 31, 2025 were automatically migrated, and the newsletter URL did not change.
  3. The Substack archives will remain available for now but won’t get new posts, and you should reach out via email or LinkedIn if you run into any issues.

Forget Personas

Running Lean Mastery • 393 implied HN points • 19 May 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Personas are not necessary at the early stages of a product
  2. Focus on a single distinguishing trait that triggers action in customers
  3. Identify switching triggers by interviewing those who have taken action

When should you cross-sell?

Startup Real Talk • 291 implied HN points • 21 May 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Don't rush to cross-sell. In the beginning, most customers may not buy extra products from you, so it's better to focus on growing your customer base first.
  2. Avoid getting distracted by cross-selling. Stick to what you do best to keep your business moving forward.
  3. Wait until your customer count is larger before cross-selling. The more customers you have, the better the chances of successfully selling additional products.

How to fight creative blocks? 🤜🥴

Business & Marketing with Nika • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Look for inspiration in different places like books, museums, and online resources. These can spark your creativity when you're feeling stuck.
  2. Brainstorming with others can bring new ideas and perspectives, so don't hesitate to ask for help or feedback.
  3. Sometimes, reusing or repackaging old content can be a smart way to overcome creative blocks and still provide value.

The silence of the brands and doing the right thing in 2026

The Social Juice • 48 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Taste is subjective, and brands need to define what good taste means for them. It's about creating a feeling and reasserting that what they're offering is the new cool.
  2. Ragebait marketing works by creating spectacles, but it often leads to inaction from consumers. Brands may gain attention, but this approach can be unsustainable and unreliable for real engagement.
  3. Nostalgia marketing can be powerful, but brands need to balance it with present relevance. Relying too much on the past can prevent brands from evolving and connecting with current audiences.

SITREP

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 899 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Frogpackages have been well received by recipients.
  2. Efforts are being made to ensure budget needs are met by next week.
  3. Less focus on social media as the project is in a growth and transition phase.

YouTube's last white whale

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 249 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. YouTube is growing stronger as more creators make high-quality scripted shows, competing with Hollywood. This shift shows that digital platforms can produce professional-level content and attract large audiences.
  2. Moving companies are now partnering with influencers to promote their services, which is a clever way to save money for both sides. It highlights the power of social media in marketing, even for unexpected industries.
  3. Local news organizations are debating whether to keep paywalls. One paper is trying to be open about its finances, showing that transparency might help them connect better with their audience.

10 rules of IP brands

The Sociology of Business • 438 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. IP brands focus on monetizing their intellectual property through various means like merchandising, partnerships, and experiences.
  2. IP-focused retail brands position themselves at the intersection of fashion and popular culture, extending their brand beyond just products.
  3. Strategic rules for IP brands include interstitial storytelling, generating anticipation, creating repeatable narrative anchors, building fandom, and leveraging licensing for brand expansion.

I launch it, it fails, and I feel like shit

Kenny’s Sub • 179 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Treat your failures as experiments. Instead of feeling like a failure, see it as a chance to learn and improve.
  2. Try many ideas and reflect on them. The more you try, the better you get at figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
  3. Use mindfulness techniques like meditation and journaling. This helps you understand your feelings and bounce back faster after setbacks.

The Go-To-Market silver bullet

Top of the Lyne • 373 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Pictory used Behavioral AI and in-app nudges to boost Net Revenue Retention by 14%.
  2. Pictory faced challenges with high churn rates and poor free-to-paid conversions.
  3. The use of Behavioral AI and in-app nudges led to a 38% increase in free-to-paid conversions in just three weeks.

Marketing for a fundraise (like, the VC kind)

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
💼 Business Marketing
  1. During a fundraise the target audience for marketing shifts from customers to investors, so focus on clear messaging, founder thought leadership, and visible social proof like PR and case studies.
  2. Investors care about evidence of product-market fit and disciplined spend — they prefer real customer pull, clear unit economics, and honest testimonials over glossy rebrands or theatrical marketing.
  3. Marketers should be plugged into fundraising strategy early to reallocate budgets toward measurable proof (case studies, PR, targeted events) and cut wasteful spend that won’t convince investors.

"What if I annoy everyone?"

Trying In Public • 79 implied HN points • 07 May 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Sending regular emails can help clarify thoughts and develop your body of work over time.
  2. Don't be afraid to share your ideas and message; they are worth exploring and worth sharing.
  3. Email marketing is a powerful tool that allows direct communication without relying on algorithms, making it essential for engaging with your audience.

DeepSeek's "Ingenuous" Marketing Strategy

Enterprise AI Trends • 464 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Marketing
  1. DeepSeek offers a cheaper alternative to OpenAI's services, potentially attracting many developers and startups looking to cut costs.
  2. The company positions itself as an 'open source' option, fostering grassroots support and tapping into a competitive narrative against more established players like OpenAI.
  3. There's a concern over data privacy, as using DeepSeek's services might mean sharing sensitive information, similar to the issues raised with apps like TikTok.

Further improvements to the landing page

André Casal's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Improving the landing page is important based on user feedback. It's a continuous process to get high ratings through various updates.
  2. Using tools like Sentry helps in monitoring performance and collecting user feedback. This makes it easier to identify and fix issues.
  3. Conducting customer interviews is valuable for understanding user needs. The insights gained can guide product development and marketing strategies.

🚪 A snail-mail platform with $200MRR in just 2 months

No-Code Exits • 176 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Nick Freiling created a successful snail-mail platform called StampFans that generated $200 MRR in just 2 months.
  2. He started by testing the idea with a simple landing page and manual operations, then used tools like Softr for further development.
  3. Nick focused on keeping things lean, leveraged LinkedIn for user acquisition, and reached $200 MRR in less than 2 months.

This Week in Marketing: Instagram’s Reality-Check vs. Elon Musk’s Pornography Machine

The Social Juice • 22 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
💼 Business Marketing
  1. AI is everywhere and a lot of it is low-quality or misleading, often called “AI slop.” Platforms are talking about tagging or fingerprinting real media because trust in generative models is falling.
  2. Elon Musk’s Grok flooded X with sexualized images, exposing serious safety failures and prompting regulatory pressure. Industry leaders are warning AI agents are becoming a real problem that needs fixing.
  3. Social platforms and ad tech are shifting fast—new features, acquisitions, and ad-product changes are forcing marketers to rethink collaborations and measurement. With regulators paying closer attention, trust and compliance are now central to marketing strategy.

The Road to Hell, part 2 of 3

Thoughts on Writing • 379 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Purpose in marketing often leads to sameness and lack of distinctiveness, as brands all start sounding the same with abstract, grandiose statements.
  2. Building a brand solely on purpose can create a weak foundation, leading to overexaggerated moral or ethical claims that may not resonate with customers.
  3. Prioritizing brand purpose over customer focus in marketing can lead to a disconnect with the audience and diminish the overall impact of marketing efforts.

Are you putting products on a pedestal?

Kenny’s Sub • 179 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. It's easier to sell services than products. Many successful people started with client work before launching their products because it's more certain and quicker.
  2. Working on client projects helps you learn business skills. You can use these skills to market products later on more effectively.
  3. Balancing client work and product development can be tough. It's important to make time for both, or you might end up feeling overwhelmed and miss out on important parts of your life.

17 experts sharing their best tips founders shouldn’t skip in their 0-1mil ARR journey?

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 34 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Match your positioning to market reality by honestly assessing market maturity, choosing a clear product category or use case, and crafting a simple sales story backed by a central messaging library.
  2. Build your Ideal Customer Profile from real customer behavior and early wins, niche down to the segments that get the fastest ROI, and make the ICP a living system that guides product, marketing, and sales.
  3. Treat go-to-market as repeatable processes: start content once you have an MVP and one sharp narrative, run pricing as a regular iteration tied to company stage, and keep CRM and KPIs simple so you follow up and make data-driven decisions.

Pricing power, revisited

Asian Century Stocks • 314 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Companies can raise prices by making customers feel positive about a purchase.
  2. Economic moats give companies the power to raise prices without losing business to competitors.
  3. Lowering the risk or perceived pain of purchase, creating positive emotions, and promoting a sense of community are key pricing strategies for successful companies.

How to differentiate your product

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 520 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Identify who your target customers are and what problem your product solves. Knowing your audience helps position your product effectively.
  2. To stand out, clearly define how your product is different from its competitors. Focus on unique features or benefits that are important to your customers.
  3. If you're in a crowded market, consider creating real differentiation or targeting an underserved area. Both strategies can help your product capture attention and grow.

The best automated GTM plays you’re not running

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 410 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Automation in marketing doesn't mean sending many random messages. It can be effective by targeting the right audience in a smart way.
  2. Using advanced tools, businesses can reach out to potential clients based on specific signals, like job changes or website visits, making outreach more relevant.
  3. By focusing on quality over quantity, automated strategies can significantly improve response rates and lead conversion, creating a more successful approach to sales.

Is this guy the British Michael Jordan?

Net Income • 334 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Understanding the business deals of famous athletes like Michael Jordan can be fascinating and inspiring.
  2. Athlete-entrepreneur stories, like Junior Bridgeman and Shaquille O'Neal, highlight the potential for wealth beyond their sports careers.
  3. Analyzing the business ventures of athlete-entrepreneurs like Gary Neville reveals complex financial strategies and potential reasons for varying net worth.

Launching Something New

New World Same Humans • 40 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. A new paid project launches on Thursday, December 4 — tied to the full moon — to create a fresh space for thoughtful analysis.
  2. It will explore the intersection of technology, business, culture and creativity, focusing on how emerging technologies and shifting norms are reshaping work and society.
  3. It's aimed at designers, marketers, strategists, consultants, founders and other practitioners who need to keep pace with fast-changing consumers and build impactful products, services, or campaigns.

🚪5 curation products acquired for 5-figures each

No-Code Exits • 334 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Bram Kanstein built and sold 5 content curation products, each acquired for 5-figures
  2. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the value an idea brings when building a product
  3. No-Code tools like Carrd and Zapier enabled him to easily create and validate products, helping him quickly turn ideas into businesses

🚪From 0 to 5-figure exit in 2 months

No-Code Exits • 334 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Interview with Domenico about building and selling a product from scratch in 2 months
  2. How Domenico attracted users without paid marketing by leveraging Twitter and other platforms
  3. Domenico's advice for No-Code Makers: Validate product before launch, focus on revenue, and be honest about product strengths and weaknesses

How To Build A Brand On WhatsApp and Make A Lot Of Money From It.

Day One • 3933 implied HN points • 01 May 20
💼 Business Marketing
  1. WhatsApp has a massive reach with over 5 billion downloads, making it a platform with a vast pool of users to tap into for creating income.
  2. Building a brand and making money on WhatsApp requires providing value to your audience consistently, which can lead to growth and engagement.
  3. Sustainable ways to make money on social media, like WhatsApp, involve processes that require patience and dedication to build a successful and trusted brand.

Chronicle Your Quest

Eliot Peper • 157 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Chronicle your journey to create a narrative explaining what you do and why it matters, help others understand you better, faster.
  2. Having a prose narrative about your quest is high-leverage, valuable for recruiting, fundraising, team alignment, and more.
  3. Telling your story through essays or narratives is a parallel art form to writing novels, providing a powerful way to document your company's journey.

Why news publishers will probably never solve their keyword blocking problem

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. News publishers struggle with keyword blocking, which prevents ads from appearing next to even safe content. This leads to a loss of potential revenue, as brands avoid placing ads near any political content.
  2. Affiliate links can be affected by browser extensions like Honey, which may replace original links with their own. This means creators might miss out on commissions they rightly earned.
  3. Sports team social media managers are often underpaid compared to other industries, despite the high demands of the job and the expectation of constant engagement.

The week that changed luxury fashion: a final call for the best and worst of marketing.

The Social Juice • 29 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Luxury labels rushed into generative AI and ended up with shallow, low-quality work that sparked backlash because many uses lacked a clear creative purpose.
  2. The most effective campaigns leaned into human craft, emotion and local storytelling—holiday ads that used real artisans, nostalgia and thoughtful activations stood out.
  3. Brands are retooling for 2026 by investing in always-on brand tracking, cutting prices or SKUs, striking new partnerships and reshuffling agencies as consumers prioritise affordability.