Reality Check.
Growth Creates Complexity. We Keep It Simple.
This blog is where we break down insights on strategy, growth, and systems.
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Email Marketing in 2025
Email marketing isn’t dead. But bad email marketing is.
If you’re still blasting out generic newsletters and wondering why nobody opens them, here’s the reality: email has evolved, and most marketers haven’t kept up.
So what’s actually working in 2025? And what should you stop wasting time on? Let’s break it down.
Photo by Maksim Goncharenok: https://www.pexels.com/photo/neon-lights-in-envelope-shape-5605061/
Google Ads for People Who Hate Google Ads
Google Ads is a black hole for bad marketing budgets.
Most people set up a campaign, throw in some keywords, let Google’s “smart” bidding run wild, and then wonder why they’re burning money with nothing to show for it. If you’ve ever felt like Google Ads is just a complicated money pit, you’re not alone.
Photo by Caio : https://www.pexels.com/photo/macbook-air-on-grey-wooden-table-67112/
The Podcast Gold Rush
Everyone has a podcast.
Seriously—your coworker, your neighbor, probably your accountant. There are 5 million podcasts out there, and yet, every week, another brand decides, “You know what we need? A podcast.”
So is podcasting still a goldmine, or did you miss the boat? The answer: It depends.
Photo by Magda Ehlers: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photography-of-gray-stainless-steel-condenser-microphone-1054713/
Who is Philip Kotler?
If you work in marketing and don’t know Philip Kotler, you’re missing the foundation of everything you do.
Kotler isn’t just some marketing guy—he’s the marketing guy. The one who basically wrote the playbook. The reason your college marketing class had a textbook. The reason “4 Ps of Marketing” (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) is still a thing decades later.
So, why should you care? Because if you understand Kotler, you understand how marketing actually works—not just the latest trends.
Image © AdamInsights.com – used under fair use for commentary/review purposes.
B2B Lead Generation Without the Spammy Tactics
B2B lead generation has a reputation problem—because most of it is terrible.
You know the drill:
Cold emails that read like a template (“Hope you’re doing well! Can I get 15 minutes of your time?”).
Automated LinkedIn pitches that flood inboxes five minutes after connecting.
Pointless gated PDFs that lead to aggressive follow-ups from a sales rep you didn’t ask for.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-white-dress-shirt-sitting-on-black-rolling-chair-while-facing-black-computer-set-and-smiling-840996/
Twitter/X vs. LinkedIn
If you’re posting B2B content, you’ve probably asked yourself: Should I focus on LinkedIn or Twitter/X?
A few years ago, the answer might have been both. But in 2024, the platforms aren’t playing the same game anymore. One is still a B2B powerhouse, and the other? Well, let’s just say your audience might not be there anymore.
Here’s the breakdown.
Photo by Manu 13: https://www.pexels.com/photo/intense-boxing-match-in-madrid-arena-31485125/
How to Build an Organic Content Engine
Most content strategies fail because they take too much effort for too little return.
Marketers spend hours brainstorming blog topics, recording videos, and writing posts—only to get zero traction. The problem? They’re creating content like it’s 2015: slow, scattered, and not built for scale.
If you want to build an organic content engine that actually works without wasting time, here’s how.
Photo by Adonyi Gábor: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-vegetables-on-brown-wooden-table-1414651/
The Latest AI Tools for Marketers
Every week, there’s a new AI tool promising to revolutionize marketing. Write blog posts in seconds. Generate ad copy that converts instantly. Automate everything.
Sounds great—except most of it is hype.
The truth? AI can save time, improve workflows, and make marketing more efficient. But it’s not a magic wand. Here’s what’s actually worth using—and what’s just noise.
Photo by Alex Knight: https://www.pexels.com/photo/high-angle-photo-of-robot-2599244/
Social Media Algorithms
If you’re still trying to “hack” social media algorithms, you’re wasting your time.
Every platform—LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X—keeps changing the rules to make sure organic reach is unpredictable and paid ads are unavoidable. The game in 2025? Understand how algorithms actually work, so you stop chasing trends and start getting results.
Photo by Google DeepMind: https://www.pexels.com/photo/human-responsibility-25626433/
Marketing Gurus
Every industry has gurus, but marketing? It’s overrun with them.
You’ve seen them—self-proclaimed “experts” pushing courses, frameworks, and LinkedIn hot takes like they’ve cracked the code to unlimited leads and viral growth. But are they actually legit, or just selling recycled advice in a shinier package?
Here’s how to tell the difference.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-yellow-jacket-and-blue-denim-jeans-sitting-on-blue-round-inflatable-ring-6931924/
Do You Need Salesforce?
Salesforce is the king of CRMs. It’s powerful, customizable, and packed with features. It’s also expensive, complex, and overkill for a lot of businesses.
If you’re wondering whether you actually need Salesforce—or if there’s a better (and cheaper) alternative—here’s the answer.
Image © Salesforce, Inc. – used under fair use for commentary/review purposes.
Quit Spending Money on Billboards
Billboards are a flex, not a strategy.
Companies drop thousands—sometimes millions—on massive roadside ads, thinking they’re making an impact. But let’s be real: who actually remembers a billboard they saw on the highway?
If you’re spending serious marketing dollars on billboards, here’s why you might be throwing money into traffic with zero return.
Photo by Athena Sandrini: https://www.pexels.com/photo/billboard-frame-2371919/
Who is Tom Burrell?
If you work in marketing and don’t know Tom Burrell, it’s time to fix that.
Burrell wasn’t just another ad exec—he changed the game. Before him, advertising treated Black consumers like an afterthought, pushing the same messaging used for white audiences. Burrell saw the problem and built something different. He revolutionized marketing by introducing real cultural nuance into advertising.
Image © Tom Burrell– used under fair use for commentary/review purposes.
Leaders: Get Out of the Way
If your team can’t function without you constantly checking in, approving every decision, or sitting in every meeting, you’re not leading—you’re slowing them down.
Good leaders empower. Bad leaders micromanage. And if you’re always in the way, guess which one you are?
Here’s how to fix it.
Photo by The Coach Space: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-giving-a-presentation-2977547/
If You Understand Economics, You Understand Marketing
Marketing isn’t just about clever ads and brand positioning—it’s about understanding human behavior at scale. And if you get economics, you already have a huge advantage.
Supply and demand, incentives, pricing strategy, market competition—it’s all marketing. If you don’t get how money moves, how people make buying decisions, and what creates value, you’re just throwing tactics at a wall and hoping something sticks.
Photo by energepic.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-monitor-159888/
Customers Don’t Care About Price
Marketers love to think customers are price-sensitive. That people spend hours comparison shopping, looking for the absolute best deal.
They’re not.
Sure, price matters—but it’s rarely the deciding factor. If it were, Amazon wouldn’t dominate retail while charging more than its competitors for the same products.
People pay for convenience, speed, and ease. And if your marketing strategy is built around being “the cheapest,” you’re playing the wrong game.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/diner-menu-board-276147/
Your CEO Probably Doesn’t Understand Marketing
Most CEOs don’t get marketing.
They think it’s ads, logos, and social media—something the marketing team does “to support sales.” They want leads now, don’t see the value of brand building, and ask why you can’t just “make it go viral.”
Frustrating? Yes. But it’s not their job to understand marketing. It’s your job to make sure they do.
Photo by Wasin Pirom: https://www.pexels.com/photo/confident-adult-man-giving-thumbs-up-gesture-31484398/
Facebook Is a Mess Right Now
Remember when Facebook was a goldmine for organic reach? When ads were cheap, engagement was real, and you didn’t have to fight an algorithm designed to squeeze every dollar out of you?
Yeah, those days are gone.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smartphone-showing-facebook-application-267482/
What Stardew Valley Can Teach You About Simplicity
Stardew Valley isn’t flashy. It doesn’t have cutting-edge graphics, a massive budget, or endless features. It’s just simple, intentional, and deeply satisfying—and that’s exactly why people love it.
Marketers, designers, and business owners could learn a lot from it. Because in a world obsessed with more—more features, more content, more complexity—Stardew Valley proves that less, done well, wins every time.
Image © ConcernedApe LLC – used under fair use for commentary/review purposes.
Remote Computer People, Go Outside
If you work remotely, chances are you’ve gone entire days without stepping outside. Maybe even weeks, if we’re being honest.
You wake up, roll over to your desk, stare at a screen for 8+ hours, and then—somehow—your "break" is just more screens. Doomscrolling. Netflix. Maybe a quick YouTube rabbit hole about something completely irrelevant.
Photo by Andrew Neel: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-shirt-sitting-on-bed-3954635/