This can make or break a small business ⛓️‍πŸ’₯


As a marketer, don't you wish you could save every small business from shutting its doors?

Because you can usually see the warning signs…

  • The restaurant still using Facebook as its β€œwebsite.”
  • The shop that doesn’t show up on Google Maps.
  • The boutique with no real social presence.

Recently, an amazing restaurant in my town closed after less than two years.

And I keep thinking about the fact that I had tried β€” more than once β€” to give them business:

I was hosting a baby shower for about 20 guests, and it was the perfect venue. They conveniently had a private event form on their website, so I filled it out… and never heard back.

I waited a few days and called. No answer. I tried again later that week. Still nothing. I even submitted the form a second time.

Eventually, I booked somewhere else.

πŸͺž reflect & reply πŸ’¬

Tell me about a local business you loved that closed πŸ’”

I don’t know all the reasons they shut down. Running a restaurant is complicated.
​
But I do know this: I was a ready, willing customer, and there was no one on the other end.

It’s a reminder that great word-of-mouth isn’t enough. For any business, communication is non-negotiable.

Even a small system to keep track of inquiries, follow up, or send a quick note to buy yourself a little time can make a big difference.

The good news: your customers may already be there. You just have to meet them halfway.

​Brianne Fleming​

headline of the week πŸ“°

​
​
Millennials helped bring back vinyl records. Now, Gen Z is sparking a resurgence of DVDs and Blu‑rays.
​

Yes, the generation raised on streaming is buying physical media. Video rental stores (I guess they still exist?!) are seeing more foot traffic as younger consumers are intentionally buying and renting movies.

​In an interview with the LA Times, DVD enthusiast Aidan Gannon said:
​

β€œI want something I can put on my shelf. I can go shopping in my closet and grab something and pop it in, instead of spending an hour scrolling through Netflix to find something and then just turning on the same TV show.”
​
- Aidan Garron, 24

The thrill of picking a DVD off the shelf, buying candy at checkout, and rushing home to settle in with the perfect movie is an experience so many of us remember. For Gen Z, that simple pleasure is back in style πŸ’πŸ»β€β™€οΈ

throwback thursday βͺ

For some reason, pop stars in the early 2000s also came with a bonus sister:

Britney... and Jamie-Lynn Spears.

Jessica... and Ashlee Simpson.
BeyoncΓ©... and Solange.
​

Today we're throwing it back to Hilary and Haylie Duff's Ice Breaker Liquid Ice commercial from 2005:

video preview​

I couldn't help but think of this ad while listening to Hilary's new album luck... or something. She has a track called "We Don't Talk" about estrangement from her sister πŸ’”

If you've ever lost touch with a sibling or family member, the lyrics will hit close to home. ​

faves & finds 😍

Did you follow the Olympics this year? And by that, I mean, did you literally follow Team USA (or your country's) social media accounts?

Team USA posted some incredible celebratory graphics, with many of them going viral.

I was happy my Twitter feed led me to one of the amazing designers behind them β€” Maddie Bartley 😍 check out her portfolio!​

​Connect with Maddie and follow along as she designs for the Paralympics! Plus, she's looking for freelance projects! ❀️

laugh out loud 🀣

work smarter 🧠

Some of your best ideas spark when you’re not ready to act on them β€” in the shower, between meetings, or buried in a bookmark you swear you’ll revisit 🫠
​

​Zapier helps make sure those ideas don’t disappear. Here’s how it works:
​

  • Pick a trigger. Label any email in Gmail as Content Idea. A newsletter you loved, a client request, or a note you sent yourself.
    ​
  • Add an action. Zapier instantly creates a new task or card in Notion, Trello, or Asana with the full email text.
    ​
  • Done! Your idea is saved, organized, and waiting for you when it’s time to create ✨
    ​

#PopChat news πŸŽ‰

Let's wrap up with your week and talk shop about the latest pop culture and marketing headlines!

​#PopChat is a livestream where marketers, creators, and pop culture fans come together every Friday to chat about what’s capturing attention online.

​
So cancel your meetings and kick off your weekend with us!

​
As always, thanks for letting me show up in your inbox! Here's another emoji riddle:
​
​Can you guess the song title? Reply with your answer!

❀️
🧠

Hint: the singer has performed a Super Bowl halftime show in recent years πŸ‘€
​

​
Let's Collab πŸ’•
​

Looking to strengthen your content strategy, reach marketing professionals, or elevate your next event? Here’s how I can help:

πŸ’‘
Brand
Consulting

​Services →​

​
πŸŽ‰

Sponsorship Opportunities

​
​See Media Kit →​

πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ«
Speaking and Workshops

​See Speaker Kit →​

This newsletter issue is sponsored by Zapier. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe Β· Preferences​