The hottest Marketing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #96

Creative Destruction • 34 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Accountability sinks make it hard to hold people responsible for their decisions. This can lead to a loss of trust in organizations and institutions.
  2. Kama muta is a feeling of being moved by love, which often happens at significant life events. This feeling can strengthen our relationships and motivate us to be kinder.
  3. Productive inefficiency means getting things done without feeling rushed. Slowing down can actually help improve our overall well-being and relationships.

On 2020: Year Review+Giveaway

Day One • 159 implied HN points • 29 Dec 20
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Success in 2020 depended on setting up the right systems, like tech skills for online earning.
  2. Being part of supportive communities helped people achieve their goals this year by providing motivation and learning opportunities.
  3. Building strong relationships, both virtual and physical, was crucial for success and personal growth in 2020.

The Collection of Every Report Mentioned In The Social Juice Newsletter in 2024

The Social Juice • 31 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Studies show that consumers want brands to respond quickly to their questions. Fast responses can lead to repeat business.
  2. Marketing needs to focus on how consumers feel about their products. Emotional advertising can make people more willing to pay more.
  3. Research indicates that consumers prefer sorry offers over loyalty points or credits when brands make mistakes. An apology can go a long way!

The Measurement Trap

Fish Food for Thought • 32 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Relying too much on numbers for management can blind you to important factors. It’s essential to recognize that not everything that matters can be measured.
  2. Nike's recent struggles show how chasing measurable goals can hurt a company's core values. Ignoring brand loyalty and innovation for data-driven decisions can lead to serious problems.
  3. Good leaders need to balance what they measure with understanding the unmeasurable parts of their organization, like team morale and creativity. The best insights often lie outside the numbers.

Hello Kitty's $80B+ Secret Sauce

SatPost by Trung Phan • 122 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Hello Kitty's success is attributed to its simple design, cultural relevance, and successful licensing strategies.
  2. Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, utilized strategic business decisions to expand globally and maintain the character's appeal over time.
  3. Hello Kitty's design, rooted in Japanese gifting culture and the kawaii aesthetic, contributed to its global success and longevity.
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"This is pointless"

SatPost by Trung Phan • 132 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Persistence and time are crucial in achieving success, like the story of James Dyson's long journey to create the bagless vacuum.
  2. Compounding effort and time can lead to significant achievements, as seen in the success of Jack Butcher's NFT project.
  3. Investing time in a worthwhile endeavor is valuable, as time is a powerful multiplier in achieving success, illustrated by Warren Buffett's success later in life.

The Psychology of Apple's Packaging

SatPost by Trung Phan • 69 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Apple prioritizes packaging as a form of theater to create memorable unboxing experiences.
  2. The design of Apple packaging is deeply rooted in human psychology, focusing on creating a luxury, multi-sensory experience.
  3. Apple's packaging reflects the company's commitment to perfection and attention to detail, reflecting their dedication to creating a high-quality product.

My #1 biggest startup mistake

Tiny Empires • 85 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Validate your startup ideas properly by testing if they can make money, not just if they are good ideas.
  2. Connect with potential customers and speak to them directly to understand if they would pay for your product or service.
  3. Ask a fixed set of questions to potential customers, track their responses, and refine your idea based on the feedback.

Grit vs. Quit

SatPost by Trung Phan • 127 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Knowing when to quit is as important as perseverance
  2. Quitting can be difficult due to biases like sunk-cost fallacy and identity
  3. Successful pivots often involve quitting the wrong idea to pursue a better one

How products exploit our biases

Gentle Nudge • 2 HN points • 19 Jun 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Biases are judgments with little or no logical rationale behind them, affecting our decisions despite lacking justification.
  2. Biases are ideal tools for marketing as they are often subconscious and common among people, making them effective for a wide range of individuals.
  3. Marketing strategies exploit biases like decision fatigue, scarcity bias, and anchoring effect to influence consumer decisions and drive sales.

Glorify what they’re already doing

Creative Samba • 39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Glorify something bigger than your products, like human qualities or subcultures.
  2. Effective creative work should embrace paradoxes for more power and impact.
  3. When writing a call to action, use a noun to stimulate group identity, like 'Be a donor.'

What happened in marketing: UK vs Privacy, TikTok returns, Youtube loves AI and Spotify...

The Social Juice • 19 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. TikTok is back in the US app stores, which is good news for many users and creators. It shows the platform's resilience despite facing challenges.
  2. YouTube is putting more focus on AI technology, which could change how content is created and shared on their platform. This means innovative tools for creators to work with.
  3. The UK is in a legal battle with Apple over user privacy, highlighting ongoing concerns about how tech companies handle data. It's important for users to stay aware of their privacy rights.

The Forgotten Text

Tigerfeathers! • 10 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Using clever writing in unexpected places can really enhance a brand's identity. Brands should treat every point of communication as an opportunity to connect with their audience.
  2. Companies are moving towards shorter, more engaging content instead of long articles. This shift helps maintain interest and keeps the conversation flowing.
  3. Memorable experiences, like special welcome emails or unique packaging designs, can create an emotional connection with customers. It's the small touches that often leave a lasting impression.

Pricing Roundup (featuring Casey Hill)

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. PerformYard made their pricing page clearer by simplifying the layout. This helps potential customers understand the options better and navigate easily.
  2. Pipedrive has introduced usage thresholds that will help them manage pricing based on customer usage. This change is common in CRM tools and may lead to more upgrades.
  3. Buffer rebranded some features as Community and added new functions. This shift aims to enhance user engagement by emphasizing community aspects.

What happened in marketing: FTC working overtime, LinkedIn becoming home of AI slop and Bluesky

The Social Juice • 26 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The FTC is actively investigating companies like Google and Microsoft for potential monopolistic practices in the ad tech industry. This could lead to changes in how these companies operate.
  2. LinkedIn is seeing an increase in AI-generated content, which some users find less authentic and engaging. It's becoming more common to encounter bot-generated posts.
  3. Bluesky is gaining popularity among journalists, as it's reportedly driving more referral traffic than Twitter. This shift might indicate a growing preference for alternative social media platforms.

How to think about social effectiveness to protect creative budgets

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. When discussing social media success, it's important to focus on effectiveness, not just creativity. You need to tell a complete story about how your ideas impact the brand and business.
  2. To have a strong approach, measure three key areas: channel effects, brand effects, and commercial effects. This way, you can show not only how many people saw your content but also how it influenced brand awareness and sales.
  3. Always establish clear success measures before starting a project. This helps everyone understand how to evaluate success and can lead to better budget support in the future.

Is your “coach” or “consultant” label costing you clients?

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 10 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Calling yourself a 'coach' or 'consultant' is too vague and might turn potential clients away. It's important to find a specific label that reflects your unique skills.
  2. Identifying what makes you different can help you attract the right clients. Think about your past experiences and what you're passionate about to define your niche.
  3. Your business position can change over time as you grow and learn. It's okay to adjust your label and services to better match what you offer today.

It Knows We're Here to Kill It

The Carousel • 108 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Marketing
  1. Mega corporations are becoming platforms for propagandizing political agendas.
  2. The Bud Light can controversy marked a tipping point, garnering public attention and reactions.
  3. Media silence and deletion of articles reveal the power dynamics and influences behind propaganda efforts.

What happened in marketing: Gemini, Advantage+, Trump, DeepSearch and Earnings

The Social Juice • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. OpenAI has introduced a new feature called Deep Search, which helps with deep research online. This could change how we find and understand complex information.
  2. LinkedIn is focusing more on video content, with a 36% increase in video uploads. This shift could influence how professionals share and engage with content.
  3. Google's new AI updates aim to improve advertising performance and user experience. These advancements highlight the growing role of AI in digital marketing.

A TL;DR List of My Favourite Marketing Resources + Building 1,000 Fans

The Social Juice • 58 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. The post includes a TL;DR list of favorite marketing resources and insights on building a loyal fan base of 1,000 true fans.
  2. Discovering and connecting with true fans involves understanding what they need, evolving touchpoints, and showing genuine care and appreciation for their support.
  3. In today's rapidly changing digital landscape, artists and businesses need to adapt, differentiate themselves, and find ways to connect personally with fans to build a sustainable career.

Turns out Unreported Truths readers love free swag as much as anyone else

Unreported Truths • 9 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Readers enjoy free merchandise like T-shirts as a thank you for their support. It's a fun way to engage subscribers and show appreciation.
  2. The standard-tier subscribers will still have access to all content and features, ensuring no one misses out by not upgrading.
  3. If there's a billing issue or confusion about subscription charges, it's best to reach out directly instead of going through the credit card company.

Promoting Platform Takeoff and Self-Fulfilling Expectations

Platform Papers • 19 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Successful launch of new platform ventures is crucial for expansion and innovation in online platforms.
  2. In platform industries, marketing involves more than just creating awareness; it's about coordinating market actors to shift from one equilibrium to another.
  3. Promoting new platforms should focus on creating expectations of a large future user base rather than revealing small current user numbers.

Adriana Tica Chats with Ellen: All things strategic marketing

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 10 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Building authority online takes time and effort. It’s important to focus on a clear, strong idea that showcases your unique perspective.
  2. Consistency is key in marketing. You don’t need to be on every platform, but having one place for potential clients to find you is essential.
  3. Even great writers can struggle with newsletters. It's vital to understand the marketing side to make sure your newsletter is profitable.

On the arrogance (and stupidity) of Pfizer's Super Bowl ad - PART TWO

Unreported Truths • 58 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Pfizer's Super Bowl ad highlighting its history and association with great scientists received mixed reviews, with many criticizing it as overreaching and lacking in substance.
  2. Pfizer, though a major pharmaceutical company, was not historically known for scientific leadership, until it partnered with BioNTech for the creation of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
  3. Despite initial success and recognition, Pfizer's stock price and reputation have suffered due to waning effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and lack of scientific advancements compared to competitors.

What happened in marketing: TikTok is confused, Pinterest grows and Meta improves ad formats

The Social Juice • 26 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
💼 Business Marketing
  1. TikTok is seeing good revenue growth even with the threat of being banned in the U.S. This shows that they are still strong in the market.
  2. Pinterest is growing, which suggests that users are finding value in its unique content. It's important for marketers to consider this platform.
  3. Meta is improving its ad formats, which could help businesses reach their audiences better. This may lead to more effective advertising strategies.

How DTC razor brand Billie built a $310M brand by showing body hair and bucking gender norms

the case for brand 💼 • 21 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Billie is changing the shaving game by showing that body hair is normal and celebrating women's choices. They make it clear that shaving should be a personal choice, not something women are pressured to do.
  2. Their success comes from offering products at fair prices without the 'pink tax'. They provide quality razors that don't charge more just because they are made for women.
  3. Billie uses clever marketing that connects with women, like campaigns that challenge beauty standards. They've built a strong brand that stands out from traditional competitors.