The hottest Marketing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Problems at Coca-Cola (KO)

The Bear Cave • 1026 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Coca-Cola is facing new challenges in advertising and cultural relevance.
  2. Upstart brands like Prime and Celsius are growing rapidly and taking market share.
  3. Coca-Cola's failure to innovate has made room for newer brands to succeed, especially with younger generations.

AI for Small Business Owners

The Small Business Corner • 39 implied HN points • 16 May 24
🕹 Technology Marketing
  1. People tend to react to new technology in one of three ways: celebrate it, bash it, or adopt it pragmatically.
  2. AI tools can significantly benefit small business owners by saving time, cutting costs, and enhancing productivity.
  3. Adopting AI tools strategically into business processes can lead to efficiency, cost reduction, and innovation, helping small businesses stay competitive.

How to Earn Extra $15000 from GenAI

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. You can use tools like ChatGPT and Canva to potentially earn extra money each month. These tools help with tasks such as designing products and creating advertisements.
  2. Some people promote courses or guides that claim you can get rich quickly with AI. But many times, these are just advertisements and not very helpful.
  3. There are practical ways to use AI tools for small jobs, like making designs for social media or videos, which can lead to extra income.

WILL's 2025 Year End Recap

The Carousel • 16 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. WILL capped 2025 with a bold new website and a string of creative client projects across defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, conservation, and publishing.
  2. They pushed beyond digital work into real-world events and collaborations to build relationships and cultural influence, including workshops and partnerships with groups like the Delphica Society.
  3. The agency is focused on scaling in 2026 and is actively seeking new clients, partners, and ambitious projects at any stage of development.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The blackmirror in your pocket is great for ads

42 Slash • 196 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Vertical ads are more effective than square ads, with higher CTR and lower costs.
  2. Consumers are more willing to engage with vertical content, making it a valuable marketing tool.
  3. Using vertical formats in ads can provide better results, especially in reaching audiences through mobile devices.

Is a Weak Positioning Statement Hurting Your Consultancy?

Michael’s Newsletter • 196 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. A strong positioning statement is crucial for any consultancy as it forms the foundation of your business strategy.
  2. A good positioning statement should clearly communicate your target audience, the problem you solve, and your uniqueness.
  3. Testing your positioning statement against criteria like the Conference Test and Thank God Test can help ensure its effectiveness.

On a Personal Note

Sarah's Newsletter • 319 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The author is relocating to Vermont, excited about being closer to snow for ski season and connecting with local communities.
  2. The author's startup, Versionable, is currently taking a back seat as they focus on settling into new changes and exploring different angles to address marketing challenges.
  3. The author is embarking on a new role as the Growth Lead at Prefect, highlighting their interest in ambitious team goals and a UI-first experience in data tooling space.

Using ChatGPT-4 for a new price discriminating hurdle for my workshops

Scott's Substack • 98 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Price discrimination involves selling the same service at different prices to different consumers based on specific criteria that can't be easily manipulated.
  2. Creating pricing hurdles, like costly actions or essays, can help target different groups of consumers effectively.
  3. Using ChatGPT-4 to assess essays for pricing eligibility can introduce a fair yet complex system, combining an honor system approach with a touch of randomness.

My failed experiment in e-commerce

Jay's Data Stream • 23 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Starting a startup as a joke or out of stress rarely works; impulsive or unrelated side projects get poor execution and weak customer demand.
  2. CPG e-commerce is mostly marketing — you need relentless content, influencer work, and paid ads to drive sales, because a good product alone usually won’t sell itself.
  3. Physical product failures leave you with real inventory and logistics headaches; unlike digital businesses, you can’t just shut them down with one click.

🌞 On New Beginnings: Giving You A Sneak Peek Into The Operating System That I am Building.

Day One • 599 implied HN points • 16 May 22
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The author shares their journey of transitioning from one platform to another, highlighting the importance of aligning a marketing strategy with personal brand values.
  2. Building an operating system, in this context, refers to a framework to power personal growth and monetization, emphasizing multiple income streams and constant learning.
  3. The author discusses the development of an online education startup, emphasizing the importance of creating effective online learning structures and partnerships.

Good News Update and Bonus Article

Resident Contrarian • 1237 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Having a job that matches your skills and passion is important for long-term success.
  2. Good writing can set a company apart from competitors and attract talent.
  3. Clear communication through writing is crucial for explaining complex concepts and attracting investors.

Questions VCs Will Ask You! | Positioning Your Startup is Vital, How To Do It? | VC Remote Jobs and More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. A great team is crucial for a startup's success, and investors will ask questions to understand how the team came together, their motivations, and any key gaps that need to be filled.
  2. When pitching to investors, be prepared to explain your product clearly, its target market, the problem it solves, and how it stands out. Investors want to know if customers will seek out and pay for your product.
  3. Investors focus on the market size, growth potential, competition, and go-to-market strategy when evaluating startups. Having a clear positioning statement and understanding your market's total addressable market are key.

#6: How to Sell More Copies of Your Book

Shades of Greaves • 157 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Marketing
  1. Help your audience find your work by making it clear what you're offering them - clickbait works.
  2. Demonstrate why your audience should listen to you brag whenever possible.
  3. Selling a book isn't just about explaining what the book is about, it's also about explaining who you are and why that makes your book worth reading.

Patagonia, Paul Newman and another kind of purpose

Thoughts on Writing • 519 implied HN points • 23 Sep 22
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Yvon Chouinard challenges the concept of business and brand purpose, emphasizing the importance of human purpose over corporate ideals.
  2. Paul Newman's approach to philanthropy through Newman's Own showcases a unique blend of humor, humility, and a genuine focus on product quality over profit.
  3. Maintaining a separation between business and charitable activities, like Newman's Own, can lead to successful ventures that have a positive impact, while keeping a light-hearted approach.

Temu: from $0 to $3 billion in 10 months

Tech Buzz China Insider • 179 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Temu rapidly grew from $0 to $3 billion in 10 months, expanding to around 20 countries and focusing on aggressive social media campaigns and expensive Super Bowl advertising.
  2. Shifting its focus to household and personal care products substantially increased Temu's average order value, as about half of Temu's suppliers were manufacturers and the other half were traders.
  3. Temu is putting pressure on staff, logistics partners, and merchants, shifting costs to merchants and increasing pressure to lower prices, resulting in a current loss rate of 60% despite significant gross margins.

Don't hunt, set traps

Startup Real Talk • 291 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. It's better to set up systems for getting customers rather than just trying to close individual sales. This way, you can get more customers efficiently over time.
  2. Once your product fits the market, focus on creating repeatable ways to attract customers. This is more valuable than closing one deal at a time.
  3. Like setting traps for hunting, having a continuous lead system helps your business succeed without relying on just one person for sales.

Five Effective Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses on a Budget

The Small Business Corner • 39 implied HN points • 06 May 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Craft a targeted marketing plan to save time and effort by focusing on potential customers with a detailed strategy that aligns with your business goals.
  2. Create engaging content that resonates with your audience, providing value and building trust over time to attract and convert followers into customers.
  3. Utilize social media platforms to connect with your target audience cost-effectively, engaging with users, choosing the right platforms, and leveraging analytics for success.

Updates from the Founder

Concordium Monthly Updates • 176 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Concordium is focusing on marketing with new internal team and clear narrative for communication.
  2. Engaging PR specialists to target media with sharp messages about Concordium.
  3. Growing communities, enhancing ID features, and supporting developers are key priorities for Concordium.

Product + Content marketing = Engaging content

42 Slash • 176 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Product marketing and content marketing should work in sync to create engaging content
  2. Content traditionally belongs in marketing while product marketing focuses on the product at the lower end of the funnel
  3. Aligning content marketing and product marketing can lead to a more effective and valuable content strategy

Growth Currency by Dylan Redekop

Newsletter Circle • 176 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Starting a newsletter can be a rewarding and powerful way to build an online business.
  2. Utilizing lead magnets, cross-promotions, and referral programs can significantly boost newsletter growth.
  3. Consider removing cold subscribers and focus on maintaining an engaged audience for optimal newsletter monetization and growth.

These boots are made for strappin'

Top of the Lyne • 176 implied HN points • 20 May 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. In a competitive marketplace, being a late entrant can provide advantages like already solved product-market fit and the ability to focus on differentiation.
  2. Being an outsider in the industry can offer unique perspectives, broaden market focus, and lead to unexpected advantages in customer base.
  3. Successful growth strategies for startups include setting clear goals, charging for the product to get valuable feedback, and optimizing marketing tactics for maximum impact.

🚪Serial indie maker with 4 exits

No-Code Exits • 176 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The interview highlights a serial indie maker who built and sold 4 different projects quickly.
  2. The key to success for the maker was working on projects that scratched their own itch and quickly testing ideas.
  3. The maker monetized their projects through experimentation and selling them on a No-Code Sale platform.

What Does It Mean For a Brand To Be Radical?

The Ruffian • 294 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Jaguar is undergoing a major rebranding and switching to an all-electric vehicle lineup, but they won't have new cars to sell until 2026. This means they are promoting themselves as a brand without tangible products.
  2. The new branding has sparked a lot of negative reactions, suggesting that their attempt to modernize may be seen as losing their identity rather than revitalizing it.
  3. Jaguar is aiming to target wealthier consumers with fewer, more expensive vehicles, moving towards a luxury market rather than competing with mainstream car brands.

From Zero to More Than 300 Paid Subscribers and Other Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Substack

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 339 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. You can turn 5-10% of your free readers into paying subscribers. This means that if you have a loyal audience, many might support you financially.
  2. Substack is a user-friendly platform for starting a newsletter and building a community. It's designed to help creators easily make money from their writing.
  3. Substack is growing because it offers useful features like chat and private publishing. These tools help writers connect better with their audience.

TBM 328: Beyond Firmographic-Based ICPs

The Beautiful Mess • 264 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Traditional ways of identifying ideal customers, like just looking at company size or industry, aren't enough anymore. It's important to understand the specific needs and behaviors of different companies.
  2. When starting a new job, it's crucial to listen and learn from others instead of jumping to conclusions. Take your time to understand what actually matters for the product and the customers.
  3. Different organizations have unique ways of working, and it's vital to grasp those differences. Observing and talking to customers helps create better products that cater to their specific challenges and goals.

Smiles and Sales: The Economics and Oddities of Retail’s “10-Foot Rule”

Gad’s Newsletter • 26 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Greeting customers can really boost sales and satisfaction. A simple smile and a 'hello' make shoppers feel valued and can lead them to spend more.
  2. Having employees greet customers can be a cost-effective way to improve service without needing more staff. It creates a welcoming atmosphere and keeps customers engaged.
  3. Cultural differences matter when it comes to greetings. While some people appreciate a friendly approach, others may find it intrusive, so it's important for stores to know their clientele.

AI Agents & Marketing: It's Weird.

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Marketing
  1. In the future, marketers might need to create separate campaigns for humans and AI agents, requiring unique approaches for each audience.
  2. Marketing teams are facing the challenge of designing campaigns that cater to both human and AI customers, necessitating the development of dual marketing strategies and content.
  3. The integration of AI agents in marketing campaigns has led to increased costs and complexities, requiring specialized roles, technologies, and strategies to navigate successfully.

Brands are acting strange this Christmas. Something wicked is going on… and it’s bigger than the Las Vegas Sphere!

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Brands are being really creative and sometimes strange this Christmas season. They are trying out new and unexpected marketing campaigns to grab people's attention.
  2. There seems to be a trend where marketers are moving from big corporations to more exciting roles with sports teams and smaller brands. This shift might be due to wanting more fulfilling work.
  3. The influence of social media, especially with Gen Z, is really shaping how brands communicate and engage with customers. Brands are focused on understanding what makes this generation tick to better connect with them.

On Advertising.

The Common Reader • 637 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Advertising is about proclaiming and transmitting information.
  2. The main principles of advertising are speaking well of oneself and making large promises.
  3. Modern advertisements should combine boasting about the company with making promises.

How did I get on NBC Nightly News?

My Home Office Hacks • 10 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Put yourself out there — small, simple actions like answering a survey can open unexpected doors.
  2. Say yes to media requests when you can; quick interviews or photos can lead to big exposure even if they don’t directly grow your business.
  3. Being willing to help and show up builds marketing karma and strengthens your personal brand, because people hire someone who reliably gets the job done.

Can you conquer the world with your "faceless" brand? 🥷

Business & Marketing with Nika • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jun 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. You can succeed with a brand even if you are not famous. Many unknown brands can become popular with hard work and smart strategies.
  2. Having a product that solves a problem is very important. People value items that truly help them.
  3. Good storytelling and interesting branding can make a faceless brand more relatable. It's about connecting with people, even without a visible creator.