Lots of dishes in the sink this evening. Always happens when the dishwasher has clean dishes but no one has unloaded them. Got it all cleaned up. And somehow the entire house felt cleaner. Hence, my tried-and-true principle: as goes the kitchen, so goes the house.
When committed, you find a way. Tonight was ice cold but Cali (our golden retriever) needed a walk. I hate cold weather, but I’m committed to giving her exercise. So I put on 4 layers — shirt, hoodie, rain jacket, winter jacket — then added a scarf, a toboggan, and gloves, while wearing a hood. I looked like the marshmallow man but stayed pseudo-warm. When committed, you find a way.
Finding points of connection. Today I had a phone call with the Times News newspaper, to resubscribe Dad. I talked with a pleasant lady who handles subscriptions and classifieds. Instead of being transactional, she asked if I was enjoying the snow. She talked about the inch or two they received over the weekend. She talked about how her computer was slow today and how tempted she was to throw it out the window. It all made for a short and funny conversation. Not salesy at all, but real and genuine. Two people chatting and exchanging goods. How it should be done. Bonus points: we both talk with NC accents.
How can a 54yr old and 19yr old find something in common? Music. When driving my daughter, Kate, back to VCU, we listened to Sabrina Carpenter’s album and talked about the lyrics. Funny, when we got to her dorm, her roommate had a picture of Sabrina on the wall. Music bridges generations.
Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.
1 WRITING IDEA
It’s easy to laugh at email marketing. "That's so last century!” people say, as they chase the latest social media trends.
But look closer. Your “rented” social media audience can vanish overnight with one algorithm change from the robot overlords. Meanwhile, your email list? Still there, still converting.
An email database is your most valuable digital asset. Consider it your prized piece of internet real estate. On social media, you're renting space in someone else's house. With email, you own the land.
The proof is in the numbers. Email consistently outperforms other digital channels in conversion rates. The only thing better? Speaking to a live audience.
Whether you’re trying to sell a book or a shiny widget, build that email list. Future You will thank you for it.
2 WRITING QUOTES
“Signing up (for emails) is a powerful signal of intent to buy. Send them emails until they do.”
“Email has an ability many channels don’t: creating valuable, personal touches – at scale.”
3 Writing Questions
1. How does the concept of "rented" versus "owned" audiences apply to different marketing channels?
2. What strategic advantages does email marketing offer for long-term business growth?
3. How does email marketing create the ability to to create “personal touches” at scale? How is this different from other platforms?
HAVE YOU GOT MY NEW BOOK?
A teen flees her secluded town, only to stumble into shocking events unfolding across the mountains.
Think Narnia with gears and goggles… YA fantasy meets steampunk.
About Me
Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. And by the way, my newest book is called Color The Sky With Song.
