The hottest Marketing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Weekly Micro Market: Linkedin Automation Tools

Micro Markets Newsletter • 2 HN points • 29 Aug 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. LinkedIn automation tools help salespeople and recruiters connect with potential clients or candidates more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks like sending messages.
  2. This market is worth about $2-4 billion and has many competitors, but most tools struggle with user-friendliness, creating opportunities for new, simpler tools.
  3. Running these tools is complex and risky because they may violate LinkedIn's terms of service, but there's potential for innovation by creating complementary services that improve outreach success.

Why we have a freemium model

Founders Confidential • 19 implied HN points • 15 May 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. A freemium model helps reach people who might not afford services otherwise. It allows companies to assist those, like students in developing countries, who are pursuing their dreams.
  2. Offering free services creates a lot of positive word-of-mouth. When people see value in free offerings, they tell others, which brings in new customers.
  3. Having a strong free tier pushes companies to provide a great user experience. It shouldn’t be frustrating to use; instead, it should show enough value to encourage users to consider paid features.

Creativity & Advertising won’t save itself — and it won’t be saved at Cannes.

The Social Juice • 58 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Creativity in advertising needs continuous attention and effort; it won't fix itself.
  2. The Cannes Lions event showcases many campaigns, but the competition is intense, especially with agencies clashing over new technologies like AI.
  3. Staying updated on industry trends is crucial, as every piece of information matters in the fast-paced world of marketing.
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What I Enjoy 🤝 What Makes Money: some insights | #50

The Pole • 39 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Find the intersection of what you find interesting, what makes an impact, and what produces income when deciding on work.
  2. To make profitable videos, having valuable skills, working with clients who have money, and understanding the reasons people buy things are key.
  3. When pursuing work, focus on what brings meaning over just creating, consider the balance between practicing and studying, and do what comes naturally to you while facing challenges.

Dispatches from the pre-post-purpose age

Thoughts on Writing • 79 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. The ad industry is navigating the shift towards the pre-post-purpose age, where concepts like traditional values and future uncertainties intersect.
  2. Gen Z is a diverse and complex demographic that challenges the assumption of uniformity in purpose-driven marketing narratives.
  3. There is a growing discussion in the adland about redefining the concept of government and democracy, highlighting the evolving landscape of societal conversations beyond just corporate purpose.

Not Supporting the Arts

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 364 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. The idea of 'Supporting the Arts' is often vague and lacking in tangible action.
  2. Art is fundamental to life and society, not just something to enjoy after essential tasks are done.
  3. Artists struggle with valuing their work financially, and the wider public often underestimates the importance of art in their lives.

Wisconsin Weeds & The Future of Lighters

The Broccoli Report • 59 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Wisconsin is a likely contender for cannabis legalization in 2024 due to public support and advocacy from the Governor.
  2. Hawaii and Florida are also potential states to legalize cannabis this year, with established medical cannabis markets.
  3. The use of AI in creating cannabis-related art and the impact of celebrity marketing on product sales are areas for exploration and reflection in the industry.

Inside the NFL-ESPN Deal That Could Reshape Sports Media

Huddle Up • 40 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎾 Sports Marketing
  1. The NFL and ESPN have made a big deal where ESPN gets control of the NFL Network and RedZone, and in return, the NFL gets a 10% ownership stake in ESPN.
  2. This partnership could really change sports media because NFL content is incredibly valuable, more than anything else in sports right now.
  3. Many people talk about the benefits like better streaming and fan engagement, but the real reason for this deal is the leverage it gives ESPN in the sports market.

Opp Consulting is a Scam

startupdreams • 105 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Opp Consulting promised qualified leads and guaranteed meetings but failed to deliver. Instead, they sent mass emails that damaged the company's reputation.
  2. The consulting service charged a lot of money but did not follow through on their commitments. After 90 days, not a single meeting was scheduled.
  3. If you're considering using Opp Consulting, it's best to stay away to avoid wasting your resources. They have been labeled a scam based on this experience.

The 1 Person Content Engine

Tiny Empires • 122 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. You can create a lot of content quickly by using a system. Start by thinking of key client wins and common questions to build your main topics.
  2. Break down your stories into different formats for various platforms. One story can give you multiple posts on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
  3. Stay consistent with your content schedule and review it often. Adjust as needed to keep it working well for you.

*Pro-Market and Pro-Business*: The Keith Knight Interview

Bet On It • 55 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Supporting market growth is important for businesses. It helps create jobs and increases the economy.
  2. Talking openly about ideas can lead to better understanding and discussions. It's good to share different perspectives.
  3. Meetups can help connect people who share similar interests. It's a great way to make new friends and learn from each other.

On The Future: Day One, Chasing Jeff Bezos, Builder's Digest and More.

Day One • 279 implied HN points • 23 May 22
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Set audacious goals and surround yourself with people who understand and support your vision to overcome doubts and challenges.
  2. Embrace the mindset that it is always 'Day One' to foster long-term thinking, make better decisions, and build sustainable success.
  3. Stay informed and grow by exploring valuable resources like Sweatcoin, which rewards you for walking and offers opportunities for earning and purchasing.

GEO Guidelines: How to Get Quoted by AI Through Generative Engine Optimization

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 50 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Being mentioned by AI is now really important for brands. If your content isn't cited by AI, it's like being buried on page 5 of search results.
  2. To get AI to mention your content, it’s essential to write clearly and comprehensively. Organizing your information well helps both AI and human readers.
  3. It's necessary to adapt how we measure success in marketing. Instead of just counting clicks, we should track how often we're mentioned in AI-generated answers.

From seven failures to 10x growth

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 354 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Growing from 0 to 1,000 users was harder than the next 999,000 for Jam.
  2. Key factors for Jam's success included dogfooding, focusing on high quality, and having few, focused pilots.
  3. Jam's growth strategies involved continuous improvement, strong focus on user feedback, and engaging with the community through events and content.

Group meetings waste time

Respectful Leadership • 108 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Group meetings can take too long and often don't use everyone's time well. Fewer people in meetings may lead to better and faster decisions.
  2. It's helpful to have a single person from each team act as a bridge during meetings. This keeps the focus on their main jobs while still solving issues together.
  3. A good manager knows when to end long discussions and helps keep teams on track. The best solution may be to avoid unnecessary meetings altogether.

Invite your friends to read Rod’s Blog

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Invite friends to read Rod's Blog by sharing the referral link. You receive special benefits as more friends subscribe.
  2. By referring friends to Rod's Blog, you can get rewards like a 1 month comp for 5 referrals, 3 month comp for 10 referrals, and a 6 month comp for 25 referrals.
  3. Utilize Substack's leaderboard to track your referrals and benefits. Check out the FAQ for more information.

The "Brilliant" Idea that Saved The Economy and Killed The Future

OK Doomer • 111 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. A group of light bulb companies created a plan to make bulbs that burnt out faster, so people would buy more. This was done under the false idea that they were improving efficiency.
  2. In the 1990s, a company launched a cheaper printer but actually just made minor changes instead of improving the product. They found clever ways to cut costs without giving customers a better deal.
  3. These examples show how businesses can prioritize profit over quality, tricking consumers into spending more money without a real benefit.

A quick note before I mix things up a bit...

the case for brand 💼 • 43 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. There’s a difference between brands that look good and those that really work. A successful brand needs to be both effective and attractive.
  2. The author has faced issues of their work being copied without credit, underscoring the importance of original content in the brand strategy world.
  3. Changes are coming, including adjustments in access and format, and community feedback is encouraged to shape the direction of the content.

GTM Foundation: How SaaS Founders grow from €0 to €1M ARR (Part 3)

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 47 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Pricing should be flexible as your business grows. Start with a simple model and adapt it based on customer feedback and sales progress.
  2. Choose a sales strategy that matches how your customers want to buy. Stick to one approach, whether it's product-led or sales-led.
  3. Keep track of key metrics and use a CRM to understand your customers and improve your sales process. This information helps you make better decisions.

Why I Stopped Trying to Scale My Business

Tiny Empires • 36 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Growing a business isn't always the best goal. Making consistent money might mean you're successful, even if you're not expanding.
  2. It's important to find a business model that gives you time and money. Your business should help your life, not take over it.
  3. Testing ideas before investing a lot can save you time and money. Getting your first customers is about building trust and knowing what they really want.

Instagram wants Gen-Z. Advertisers wants budget. You want less ads on streaming &...

The Social Juice • 53 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Instagram is trying hard to attract younger users like Gen-Z. This is important for keeping the platform fresh and popular.
  2. Advertisers are looking for budget-friendly options as they adjust their spending. This means they want effective ways to reach their audience without overspending.
  3. There's been a rise in ads on platforms like Amazon and YouTube, which might make the user experience feel more crowded. People are hoping for fewer ads on streaming services instead.

GTM Foundation: How SaaS Founders grow from €0 to €1M ARR (Part 2)

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 51 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Building a Go-To-Market (GTM) foundation is essential for growing a SaaS company from zero to one million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). This involves understanding your target market and developing proper strategies.
  2. GTM collaterals, like an effective homepage and sales deck, are vital tools for converting visitors into customers. They help communicate your value and guide potential buyers through their decision-making process.
  3. Choosing the right channels to reach your customers is crucial. Focus on a few primary channels first and gradually explore secondary options as you gain traction.

Best of Brand & Advertising this week - Wimbledon aesthetics, gen-z drinks, agencies suffer & boycotts?!?

The Social Juice • 46 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Ad agencies are struggling right now, with employment in the US advertising sector dropping for seven months straight. This shows that the industry is facing some tough times.
  2. Gen Z is starting to drink and buy homes again as the cost of living pressures ease. This shift suggests that they may be gaining more financial stability.
  3. Several brands are focusing on celebrating their roots and community through their advertising, like Prada acknowledging its Indian design influences. This might be a trend of brands trying to connect more with diverse audiences.

The rise of middle-class luxury brands and media networks.

The Social Juice • 48 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Many brands are shifting towards luxury aesthetics to attract middle-class consumers. This means they are using things people find nostalgic or luxurious to grab attention.
  2. Fast fashion brands are blending their styles with luxury vibes to survive in a competitive market. Collaborations with celebrities and themed events are helping them connect better with shoppers.
  3. There's a trend where everything is seen as a luxury now. Brands need to adapt and find smart ways to market themselves in this new economy.

Economics of Taylor Swift's $2B+ Eras Tour

SatPost by Trung Phan • 127 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour made over $2 billion, breaking records as the most profitable concert tour ever. Each show grossed about $14 million, and after expenses, Swift took home around $7.25 million per show.
  2. The tour had a huge economic impact on the cities it visited, with fans reportedly spending over $1,300 each in local economies. This resulted in an estimated total boost of $5 billion to $10 billion across the U.S. leg of the tour.
  3. Swift's careful planning for the tour focused on accessibility, artist empowerment, and fan engagement. She included new artists as openers and tailored each show to create unique experiences for fans, making the tour a massive cultural event.

مستاجرها! هرچه زودتر باید خانه بخرید قبل از این‌که خیلی دیر شود

DiGiTalk Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Consider transitioning from renting to homeownership sooner rather than later
  2. Not all businesses benefit equally from social media platforms like Instagram; some should explore alternative communication channels in their marketing strategies
  3. Constant algorithm changes, increasing competition, slow growth, and rising advertising costs on social media platforms can pose challenges for many businesses

Christmas marketing is Wicked, Media brands fight for trust, and the rest is marketing on steroids.

The Social Juice • 14 implied HN points • 07 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Christmas marketing is everywhere right now, with brands launching festive campaigns to grab attention during the holiday season. They need to stand out and connect with consumers really well.
  2. Media brands are focusing on rebuilding trust with their audiences, especially as accountability becomes more important in today's fast-paced digital world. This is crucial for their survival and growth.
  3. Many brands are taking big risks with their advertising to prove their value and effectiveness. They want to showcase results that go beyond just reaching a large audience, aiming for a positive impact instead.

Improving the conversion rate 💰

André Casal's Substack • 1 HN point • 09 Sep 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Improving the conversion rate is a top priority, and the focus will be on enhancing the landing page to stand out and attract more customers.
  2. A solid marketing strategy is being developed, which includes identifying the right channels, testing, and scaling successful approaches.
  3. The next steps involve making the product even better with new features and improved documentation to surprise and delight customers.

Black Friday - Happy Birthday sale

Computer Ads from the Past • 128 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. There is a special sale going on for Black Friday and a birthday celebration, offering 38% off subscriptions until December 8th. It's a fun way to mark the occasion and give people a discount.
  2. Readers can also support through one-time donations on various platforms like Ko-Fi or Patreon. There are flexible options for those who want to contribute.
  3. Gift subscriptions are available, making it an ideal present for anyone interested in computer ads or a fun way to share unique content. It's a thoughtful holiday gift for a nerdy friend.

[CEI] Chrome Extension Ideas #128

Chrome Extension Ideas • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Marketing
  1. Consider building a Chrome extension that informs users if a publication is on strike before they access the website
  2. Take advantage of the opportunity to develop browser extensions for browsers other than Chrome due to upcoming changes in iOS 17.4
  3. Explore the idea of creating a Chrome extension that automatically adds clothes to images, which could be popular among parents and certain communities

What’s in a Name?

The Intersection • 79 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Rebranding a company takes careful planning and effort. It can have both positive and negative consequences.
  2. Listening to others' opinions and considering timing are vital when making decisions like renaming a brand.
  3. Ego-driven decision-making in branding can lead to disastrous outcomes. Keeping emotions in check is crucial.

How Louis Vuitton Took Over Sports

Huddle Up • 43 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. LVMH is investing heavily in sports, spending $300 million each year to become a key player in sports sponsorship. This isn’t just for advertising; they tie their brands to major events.
  2. By coordinating multiple brands under LVMH, they create a powerful branding presence at events like the Monaco Grand Prix, showcasing how they can dominate the atmosphere and engage audiences.
  3. Their approach goes beyond traditional sponsorship; for example, Tiffany & Co. makes trophies that connect their brand to historic moments, like the World Cup trophy being handed over in a Louis Vuitton case.