Hey Reader,
How do you know what "works"?
This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately—how do you get to a place with your brand/business that feels like it actually works?
Figuring out what your "thing" is like dressing up as Cinderella and trying on ten thousand pairs of shoes until you find the one(s) that fit. And how long will that take? I don't know. 🤷🏼♀️ How many shoes will you have to try on to find the one that fits? I don't know. 🤷🏼♀️
Honestly, it's different for everyone (I know, I hate that answer too). But just this morning I came across a really great Instagram video that I'm going to post here:
And this comment right here really stuck out to me (heard it before?):
I've tried a lot of stuff...webinars, courses, blogs, videos, ads, conferences, workshops, social media, newsletters, you name it. And what stood out above the noise for me were the teeny tiny little growing consistencies I saw.
If your audience is small, you'll get small results. If your audience is big, you'll get big results. So if you're just starting out and trying to figure out what works, it's up to you to search for those clues based on the little bit of engagement you get from folks who stumble across your stuff—likes, comments, watch duration, clicks, bounce rate, open rate, click-through rate...
You listen to that stuff and learn to decipher it, that'll better position you for more opportunities—subscribers, viewers, members, etc. Apply the bait to your hook first and that might make the fishing a bit easier.
I'll tell you, after five years of trying on a lot of shoes, it all boils down to consistency. Stick with something long enough to be able to tell at all whether it's working or not. That's the marketing equivalent of eating your vegetables, eating your frog, eating your sh*t sandwich, whatever you wanna call it.
So while I don't have a perfect answer for this (because marketing in the first place is already so subjective), I do have a couple other resources here if you wanna check them out:
Shoutouts & Spotlights
Wanted to include a little "celebration" section that offers a space to clap for others while we're still building our own stuff.
XP Store
A colleague of mine is opening up a brick-and-mortar store by and for gamers in the Atlanta, GA area called XP Store. They offer a really cool blend of in-person casual play, competitive gaming, streaming, and plenty of e-commerce products all under the same roof. Grand opening is in August. Info below if interested!
2025 American Legacy Book Award Winner
A client of mine won this award in the personal finance/investing category a couple weeks ago! He's an income independence coach with 40+ years of experience managing 9-figure portfolios so he knows his stuff! Highly recommend joining his community for a more immersive experience if you read and like the book.
My Mom Spoke on Her First Podcast!
Lisa is the Founder & CEO of an award-winning nonprofit in the Kansas City, MO area, Empowering Parents KC. Since 2019, they have helped high-conflict families experiencing divorce, mental health challenges, domestic violence, and co-parenting navigate complex dynamics with a variety of therapeutic interventions, including trauma-informed care.
Onward,
Lauren Erickson
Founder, CEO, & Chief Strategist
