Let’s talk about my favorite tool for engaging customers.
It has:

• The highest open rates

• Better conversions than any other marketing channel

• And almost no competition.

👉 Meet the good old text message.

Everyone is obsessed with email lists. But here’s reality:

• You don’t read every email you get.

• You do read almost every text.

That’s why I love WhatsApp and SMS for small businesses. It’s less crowded, it feels personal, and it gets opened.

Now, I don’t think every business on earth should use it — for some, it would feel intrusive. But if you’re reading this, you probably should. Do it with respect, and your messages will stand out instantly.

How to use text without being spammy:

1. Start with value
Use texts for order updates, shipping confirmations, “your product is on its way.” Customers love it — it feels helpful, not pushy.

2. Collect numbers naturally

• Add an opt-in at checkout (“Get order updates via WhatsApp or SMS”).

• Incentivize with something small → a discount, freebie, or early access.

• Often, order tracking or early-access is incentive enough.

• Don’t ignore offline → collect contacts wherever you interact with customers (offline are sometimes higher quality than online and easier to collect!).

3. Play the long game
Once you’ve earned trust, you can use that number to:

• Suggest upsells (“You bought X, you will probably also love Y”)

• Resell when they’re running low (“It’s been 30 days since your last order”)

• Offer VIP drops or early access (“New product launches tomorrow — want first dibs?”)

4. Automate it
Tools like Klaviyo (Shopify) or Twilio (custom setups) can handle:

• Order tracking texts

• Replenishment reminders

• Abandoned cart nudges

• Seasonal promos

The key? Keep the ratio high: more helpful updates than sales pushes. Use it more like a special trick. Customers should feel like they’re getting a service, not being added to a spam list.

Email has its place. But text? That’s where your customer is actually paying attention.
Get it right, and it’s more powerful than email, social media, or ads combined.

If you want extraordinary results, you can’t be “normal.”

You need to be a little psycho. Obsessed. Willing to believe in something so much that other people think you’ve lost it.

A lot of people limit themselves by looking around and saying:
“I’ve never seen anyone like me do this. So maybe it’s not possible for me.”

But that’s nonsense.

If the old rule is true — that you become the average of the five people closest to you — then you’d better choose those five carefully. Because if your circle doesn’t push you, inspire you, or expand your vision… you’ll shrink to their size.

So I like the word “expanders”

People whose stories make us realize: Oh, this is possible. They’re not always my friends. Sometimes they’re people I read or watch about. (I’ve even written a book about that topic!).

When you don’t see examples around you, you have to seek them out.
Join membership groups. Pay for access to better rooms. Listen to the right stories. Read the right case studies.

Couple of less common ideas where to start:

Strategy Files is a weekly newsletter about history's most ambitious people in fashion, beauty, and culture.

Aspire with Emma Grede - a new podcast that in the populated podcast space still manages to bring out fresh ideas about building things and taking them to the moon.

In one of her more recent podcasts, Emma Grede interviewed Lucy Guo, a 30 year old self made billionaire genius who has made her fortune from launching startups. Here’s one thing I absolutely loved from that interview. Emma asked Lucy: “how did it feel knowing that your startup is now a unicorn, valued at a billionaire dollars, how special was that?”. And her answer was something between the lines: “everyone in my circles had already done that, so I was not surprised at all, I was actually feeling like I was behind all of my friends, cause I was the last to have my startup valued at a billion $.” (Lucy is coming from Silicon Valley area).

That’s the power of expanders: when you fill your head with “proof” that it’s possible, your brain starts to believe it too - no matter how wild it is.

And every successful person you admire? They’ve been psychos.

• Obsessed with their craft.

• Unreasonable in their belief.

• Relentless in their work ethic.

They brainwashed themselves into success. First by blocking out all the doubt. Then by repeating the vision until it became reality.

That’s what you have to do too.

Let’s have a moment for the fragile mind

Every time in my life I have wanted to do something new, I felt extremely fragile in my mind. People judge. But even more, we tend to judge ourselves. So at this stage, the hack of all hacks is to keep your dreams to yourself. Not a single doubt or negative opinion is allowed into your little fortress.

That’s where I am again right now - and I am a frickin’ psycho about not letting any negative energy into my mind right now.
I can’t afford to let in the noise.

That means:

• Blocking (literally, go to social media -> block) the negative voices.

• Cutting out the “be realistic” crowd.

• Curating what I see, hear, and feel.

So yes, let’s normalize psychos.
The ones who dream too big, work too hard, and don’t settle for the average of the five people they happened to grow up with.

P.S. Sharing an IG post I really enjoyed on the same topic - watch it 👇 :)

Instagram post

—
Ausra
Not Stressed CEO

Do what noone else is doing to have what noone else is having

TLDR: This post is about how the social media algorithm has changed. But if you decide to skip it, check out the very end - I share a good resource on how you can get free media coverage.

I’ve been watching the way algorithms are shifting, and here’s what’s becoming clear: the era of the perfectly curated feed is ending.

Millennial brands - those slick, polished, “Instagram-perfect” feeds that ruled pre-2020 - are starting to feel outdated.

Why? People are tired of perfect. They want authenticity. Raw energy. Real moments.

As Gen Z becomes the dominant audience and AI-generated content floods our feeds, it’s the brands staying human, unpredictable, and even a little messy that are already winning attention.

Meanwhile, those still chasing the “perfect aesthetic” are quietly losing ground. The algorithm has already pivoted - and it will again.

This shift is also why I’ve been warning AGAINST hiring cheap social media managers. Perfection in brand feeds usually isn’t a sign of someone “faking a lifestyle.” It’s just easy. It shows a lack of creativity, thought, and real effort. And that’s what you get when you decide not to invest in social media.

I get it - everyone is busy. But ignoring the single most powerful driver of leads and sales for your brand? That’s just bad business. Right now is the time to go all-in on growth. Not comfortable, not convenient. But necessary.

How to lean into this (without sacrificing quality)

1. Blend quality with real-time fun

• Show behind-the-scenes. Messy desk, last-minute packing, stove-top coffee.

• Keep visuals decent, but let them feel live, not staged.

2. Think like @Semrush
They know their target audience is marketers, so they create funny content about everyday struggles in that niche. It’s specific and actually funny.

Instagram post

3. Think like @Loewe (check out their TikTok for most unhinged content, I like it much more but am not able to share a post here in the feed)
High-fashion, yes. But their visuals are unexpected. Curated chaos: pretty, strange, scroll-stopping, even a little weird. They lean into “not for everyone” - and that’s exactly their audience.

4. Think like NZ Cheap Cars
Yes, really. A used car dealer dancing on TikTok. Not slick ads, just joyful, silly, high-energy content that went viral and got copied everywhere. It doesn’t make “perfect sense” for their brand - and that’s why it works.

Instagram post

Why this matters for your brand

The algorithm rewards what’s engaging, not what’s pretty. If your feed looks polished but feels lifeless, you’ll be skipped.

Instead:

• Be unpredictable. Show fun, failure, or a spontaneous moment.

• Be real. AI-fake can’t compete with human imperfection.

• Don’t compromise your aesthetic. Let authenticity live beside it.

P.S. Want free media coverage? Sign up at HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Twice a day you’ll get journalist requests from outlets like Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and many smaller ones. It’s free. You respond with your expert comment. There’s no guarantee, but if you answer enough requests with thoughtful, specific insights (not generic AI fluff), your chances of being featured go way up. Requests are coming in for every industry!

And in case you haven’t seen my latest posts…

Instagram post

Good luck, see you next Monday!

Ausra

If you’ve been thinking about learning Instagram, skip the dusty, outdated courses.

I joined InstaClubHub — and if you’re on a budget, even 1–2 months is enough to binge all the trainings and see results. That’s exactly what I did.

Created by Brock & Chalene Johnson (who’ve built 7- and 8-figure businesses on Instagram), you get up-to-date lessons, templates, algorithm updates, and live Q&As that actually keep pace with the platform.

It’s the fastest way I’ve found to go from “unsure what to post” to “confident and growing.”

Check it out here →

I always feel sorry for entrepreneurs who are putting in the hours, risking their money, losing sleep — trying to grow their business —
 only to be quietly sabotaged by their own team.

The founder has a vision of excellence in their head.


But the person answering the phone, replying to the email, or handling the client?
They’re not delivering anywhere near that standard. And it’s killing the business.

Real story:


I recently spoke to a staffing company that promises to dispatch temporary workers within four hours of receiving a request.


Sounds good.

Except…
 I’ve followed up three times over six weeks and still don’t have a quote.


Six weeks. For a quote.

Real story, I’m not making this up.


And I bet you have your own version of this story —
where you needed a service, reached out, and it was like the business didn’t even want your money.

Here’s the thing:

The world is saturated with products and services.
 Competition is everywhere.


But a lot of that competition? It’s lazy. They overpromise. They underdeliver.


They care more about chasing the next customer than actually serving the ones they have.


They think marketing is the job — and the actual work is an afterthought.

Which is why you can win. If you do the basics consistently well, you can quietly take over market share without spending a cent more on ads or funnels.

What this looks like in practice:

1. Answer quickly.


   Speed is a competitive advantage.
Even if you can’t solve the problem right away, reply to acknowledge you’ve received it. Remember you can set up an auto-reply, but make it look human.

2. Deliver on what you promise.

   
If you say “within four hours,” make it four hours. Not four days.
Build processes so your team can deliver without you micromanaging.

3. Follow up like you care.


   Most people don’t. This is where you stand out.
Check in after delivery. Ask if they need help with anything else. Once you know the customer is happy, ask for a review/referral.

4. Train your team to think like you.


   If your team isn’t aligned with your standards, they’re damaging your reputation every day.
Write down what “good” looks like and make it non-negotiable. Do undercover checks to see how they actually work - a little bit like retail stores use “secret shoppers” to check on how their sales assistants are working.

5. Value repeat business over new business.


   Don’t treat existing customers like they’re already “done.”
Make them feel like they’re still your best lead.

The mental shift:

You’re not just competing with other offers.


You’re competing with low expectations. If you can consistently beat those expectations — by showing up, caring, and actually doing the job —
 you’ll stand out more than any branding refresh or viral post could ever give you.

So next time you feel discouraged because the market is crowded, remember:


Most of that “competition” is asleep anyways.

Your opportunity?


Stay awake.

And here’s another reality check I posted about recently - I wonder if you will agree to this one?

Instagram post

—


Ausra


Not Stressed CEO

You don’t always need to create something new to make more money.


Whether you’re just getting started — or you already have a product or two live —
sometimes the smartest next move is to sell something that isn’t yours. Not in a sleazy, dropshippy, copycat way.


I mean: look around.


So many people are making incredible things but have no clue how to actually sell them.
You probably have seen one. They’ve got the product — but not the strategy, not the audience, not the marketing muscle. Meanwhile, you’ve got the tools, t

he ideas, the list, the know-how.


So why not team up?


It’s one of the lowest-risk, highest-leverage ways to expand your offer — fast.


No manufacturing. No upfront costs. No paying influencers to bring in more eyeballs on your brand. Instead, you focus on collaboration and sales strategy.

Here’s what to do:

1. Look around you. For real.
 Ask:

• Who do I know that’s great at creating things?

• Who’s always tinkering, building, making, offering, but doesn’t sell much?

• Who has a product that I would be proud to promote?
 Could be a friend who makes candles, someone who writes ebooks, a nutritionist, a designer, a local shop, a hobbyist with genius ideas but no clue how to launch. You don’t need the spotlight — you need the split.

2. Propose a simple partnership


   No need to overcomplicate.
Just say: “I’ll help you sell it — you focus on the product, I’ll focus on the marketing. Let’s split what we make.”

   No upfront investment.


   No manufacturing.


   Just sweat equity + sales strategy.

   This is exactly how I have built a sample sales business and scaled it to 7 figures. I never created any products of my own for it.

3. Create a limited offer together


   Launch it like an event, not just a product. Events excite people!

• A 3-day pop-up

• A live Zoom Q&A with product drop

• A joint workshop where the offer is only available at the end

• A behind-the-scenes vlog → sales page


  Make it special. Make it easy.
Use the moment to test demand without risk. Not only this is good for making more money, but this is how you can test a variety of different ideas for your own future as well as exchange audiences with other creators.

Other ways to find something to sell (without building it yourself):

👉 Resell or license something


Got a friend with a digital product collecting dust? Ask to license it.
Could you repackage someone’s under-marketed guide, spreadsheet, training, or template — and split the sales?

👉 Co-host an online event with a built-in upsell


Invite a guest expert and turn the replay into a product. Or upsell into a workshop series.


Easy to do, cheap to run, great for growing both lists.

👉 Curate, don’t create


Bundle other people’s products into one themed offer.
Example: “The Tiny Brand Starter Pack” — logo designer + photographer + Canva template person = one price, one offer, split payout.

👉 Be the connector


If you’re great at operations or sales, don’t create anything.


Just partner with two people — one with a product, one with an audience — and structure a

Why this works:

Because product people often aren’t sales people.


And sales people often don’t want to start from zero.

If you’re the one who can see the bridge — you’re the one who makes the money.

So if you’ve been sitting around thinking, “What should I sell?”


Maybe the answer isn’t: create something new.


Maybe it’s: go help someone else sell what they already have. It’s faster. It’s smarter. And it might just change both your lives.

Oh and also I wanted to share this with you - a little something to get to know me better, but also some very honest lessons from both good and shitty jobs I’ve had over the years:

Instagram post

Ausra


Not Stressed CEO

You know what’s interesting about this new chart from BoF Insights & Amazon Fashion (April 2025)?
(FYI — it’s fashion data, but this applies to most consumer goods.)

It quietly exposes how backwards most small brands are still running their stores.

When you think, “How do I make more online sales?” — what do you obsess over?

• Perfect product photos

• Trendy drops

• Fancy new styles

• Beautiful branding

All nice.
But according to real shoppers?

High-quality product photos and trendy items are dead last.

By the way, these two magical offers end on July 16th:

1. 1-hour strategy sessions with me — $37


   5 spots only at this price. Use it for anything: site audit, sales pipeline, next launch, or just a sanity check.
 👉 Book here.

2. My course “$10K in Sales in 90 Days” — $37

   +
 6 months in my private coaching group, free.


   Perfect if your sales are slow or you’re stuck at zero. Out of all the marketing advice, this is just focused on getting you to the first five figures as fast as possible. Nothing that dilutes focus at this stage of building your business. 👉 Get it here.

So… what actually makes them hit buy?

✅ Confidence in the size and fit (43%)
✅ Free returns (39%)
✅ Clear, detailed product info (33%)
✅ Transparent pricing & delivery updates (28%)
✅ Customer reviews (25%)

That top five?
Boring? Maybe.
But if you’re serious about making more money, this is your checklist.

The contrarian truth most small brands miss:

Your beautiful editorial photos, your seasonal drop hype, your TikToks — they’re great for getting attention.

But none of it closes the sale if the shopper can’t answer:

• Will this work for me?

• Can I return it easily?

• Can I trust this brand?

If your store is too pretty to be practical, you’re leaking sales. Period.

How to fix it — fast:

🔍 1. Prioritize “fit confidence”

• Use real size guides (not just vague S/M/L).

• Add model sizing info (height, size worn, body type).

• Show UGC — real people, different shapes, natural lighting.

• Bonus: show another product next to it for size context.

• Fit-finder quizzes? Yes, please.

📦 2. Put your return policy front and center
No more hiding it in the footer.
Say it loud: “Free returns for 30 days — no hassle.”
It kills checkout anxiety.

🧾 3. Be painfully clear with product info
List fabrics. Care instructions. Stretch. Weight. Feel.
If they’d touch it in-store, describe it online.

💬 4. Collect and show real reviews
Just starting out? Seed them.
Offer a discount or free gift in exchange for a photo review.
A glowing fit pic will outsell your best campaign shot.

🚚 5. Be transparent about pricing and delivery
No hidden customs. No surprise duties at checkout.
Give live shipping updates — because uncertainty loses sales faster than a €5 fee.

These are cheap fixes.
No fancy agency. No €10K shoot.
Just clearer basics than your competition.

One last kicker:
The least important factor for shoppers?
Sustainability. Only 12% say it’s a top priority when buying fashion online.

That doesn’t mean no one cares — but it does mean not everyone does.
So if your entire marketing budget is going toward “green” messaging while you’ve got no size guide or review section… flip it.

Ask yourself:
Is your customer the kind of customer who’s shopping for impact — or just looking for a dress that fits and arrives on time?

Source:
Proprietary, nationally representative survey by BoF Insights in collaboration with Amazon Fashion & Sports, EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK), April 2025.

👉 Open your store today.
Ask yourself: Are you selling trust, or just vibes?
Fix the boring parts first. That’s the real edge.

It’s my birthday week — so today’s email is a little different. 
I’ve got a wish for you, a few real lessons from my Not Stressed CEO story, and some birthday gifts if you want them.

I started Not Stressed CEO after my once-successful 7-figure business collapsed.
Anyone who’s built something knows: when something in your business fails, it’s personal. You pour so much of your heart and soul into it and when something bad happens, it f**king hurts very very much.

While I already had built a reputation in my local country as a consultant for small business and was getting referrals, I needed to follow lessons learned from making my own mistakes:

• I’d built on thin margins.

• I’d trusted just one market.


Never again. I also wrote about 10 more mistakes I made a few months ago, you can read it here. 


When one door slammed shut, I finally had space to build another house. Or so I thought. The real problem wasn’t time. It was The Fear of Being Cringe — the worst fear of 2025.

Today, the biggest leverage you can have is your own distribution.
 Putting yourself out there is the ticket — for anyone who wants to win at anything that isn’t a video game.

So I did it.


Posted my face. Filmed awkward TikToks. Made offers.


98 times out of 100, I chickened out at the last second. Felt too embarrassed. Didn’t post.


I didn’t go viral. I wasn’t consistent.

But I did learn.
 I unlearned.


I slowly stopped caring about what others might ever think and just focused on what I need to do for my own personal goals. I brainwashed myself out of my biggest fears.

I just heard a beautiful phrase this week:

Embarassement is the cost of entry.

That hit me hard.


Every year on my birthday, my wish has always been the same: courage.
 Friends call me brave — but I never really felt it.


Only after living through some of my biggest embarrassments have I actually started to believe I’m becoming that version of myself.

So my wish for you is simple:
 Courage. 

To show your face. To post the thing. To pitch again. To rebuild after you fall.


Courage to be embarassed — it is part of the process, it is the bridge to the win.

🎂 Birthday gifts for you (and a nudge)

If you need a push to get out of your own way, here’s mine. 


Everything’s $37 — because that’s how old I am this week.

1. 1-hour strategy sessions — $37


   5 spots only at this price. Use it for anything: site audit, sales pipeline, next launch, or just a sanity check.
 👉 Book here.

2. My course “$10K in Sales in 90 Days” — $37

   +
 6 months in my private coaching group, free.


   Perfect if your sales are slow or you’re stuck at zero. Out of all the marketing advice, this is just focused on getting you to the first five figures as fast as possible. Nothing that dilutes focus at this stage of building your business. 👉 Get it here.

All valid only till July 16th. I would really like to meet as many of you as possible, but if you know friends/colleagues who might benefit from these, I would appreciate if you would forward it to them (or send it to them as a birthday gift!).

And if you want my 37 life lessons from 37 years, they’re here (read the captions):

Instagram post

Thank you for being here!

I LOVE YOU ALL! 💗💗💗

Ausra

p.s. if anything, just email me, I read it all!

New leads are expensive. Old customers are free.

Everyone’s out here burning money on ads, reels, and cold outreach trying to find new eyeballs.
Meanwhile, they’re ignoring the people who’ve already shown up.

So let’s fix that today.
No new followers needed — just more cash from people who already like you enough to listen.

1. Sell More During The Purchase

The easiest upsell is the one that happens while someone’s wallet is open.

→ Think: “Want $1 fries with that?” — but for your business.

What works:

• Add-ons: Complementary products/services.

• Bundles: “Buy 2, get the third half off.”

• Expedited delivery. Gift wrap. Premium version.

• Limited-time bonus: “Add this now for 30% off, only at checkout.”

Why it works:
They’re in “yes mode.” The trust is fresh. Their credit card is literally in their hand.

2. Sell Again After The Purchase

Don’t be that founder who ghosts a paying customer.
A week or two after the sale, they’re primed for more — if you remind them.

What works:

• Check-in email: “How’s it going with X? Here’s what most people get next…”

• Replenishment: “Almost out? Here’s a restock discount.”

• Next-level offer: “Ready to upgrade?” or “Want 1:1 support?”

• Small surprise: Free resource or tip — build goodwill, then make an ask.

Why it works:
You keep the relationship warm and frame the next buy as logical, not pushy.

3. Wake Up the Sleeping Buyers

This is the gold mine that never gets mined:
People who bought once, loved it… then life got busy.

Your job? Tap them on the shoulder and give them a reason to come back.

What works:

• “We miss you” campaigns — with a reward for returning.

• New launch: “Here’s what’s changed since you last checked in.”

• VIP club: Early access or special perks for repeat buyers.

• Honest ask: “You’ve bought before. What would you want us to create next?” (Free insight. Plus they’ll feel invested.)

Why it works:
People forget you. They don’t hate you — they’re just drowning in noise. A little nudge = extra revenue.

Here’s the big truth:

You don’t need more strangers.
You need more follow through with the people who already trust you.

Upselling isn’t slimy — it’s smart.
Done right, it’s service.
Because when someone loves what you’ve made? They want more.

Go look at your list right now:

• Who’s buying this week? Add an upsell.

• Who bought last month? Check in.

• Who ghosted you months ago? Wake them up.

And if you’re in face-to-face sales, also train your whole sales team to work on upsales as much as on sales. It’s not obvious.

Do that before you boost another Instagram post.

—
Ausra
Not Stressed CEO

I’ve been hearing a lot of smart people mention something called first principles thinking — and to be honest, I had no idea what it actually meant. But I kept seeing it pop up in the context of solving big, messy problems. Or building faster. Or making better decisions with less noise. So I dug in. And here’s why I think it’s worth sharing with you:
Because most of us — especially those of us building solo or with small teams — are way too busy to stop and think clearly. We google what others are doing. We copy formulas. We look at surface-level tactics.
And that’s fine until it stops working.
Then? We need to think differently.

What is “first principles thinking,” really? In plain language:
It’s the process of breaking something down to its absolute basics — and then building back up from there. Instead of asking: “What’s the best way to do [X]?”
You ask:
“What am I actually trying to solve — and what do I know for sure?” It’s how you get original ideas. Clear decisions. And fewer wasted weeks.

How I’m using this in my business right now Let’s say I’m stuck on: “Why isn’t my course converting better?” The default (secondhand) thinking:

• Maybe I need a prettier landing page.

• Maybe I should use urgency timers.

• Maybe I should try the 10x guarantee formula.
 That’s not wrong. But it’s not grounded in truth — it’s grounded in copying.

Here’s what it looks like using first principles: Ask: What do I know for sure?

• People buy when they believe something will improve their life.

• Trust drives conversion.

• Clarity beats cleverness.

• People are busy, distracted, skeptical.
 Then ask: What does this mean for my specific offer?

• Am I clearly communicating what life looks like after this course?

• Am I building enough trust on the page — or do I just list bullet points?

• Is it clear who this is not for?

• Would I buy this, or am I just following someone else’s template?
 Now I’m not tweaking design colors. I’m making smarter decisions based on how people work — not what others are doing.

P.S. If you could give me some feedback on this, I would really appreciate it.

Try this on your own bottleneck Step 1: Pick the problem you’re frustrated with
→ “My growth is stalled”
→ “Nobody’s clicking my email links”
→ “People aren’t finishing my course” Step 2: Strip away everything you’ve assumed
Forget what’s “normal” or what gurus say. Ask:

• What are the unchangeable truths here?

• What do I actually want the person to do?

• What would make me act, if I were them?
 Step 3: Rebuild from the bottom up
Don’t just apply what’s popular. Build what makes sense.

The change this brings is fewer “marketing hacks” — and more of actual traction. I thought this might be useful for you, too.
Because when the next strategy starts failing (and it will),
your ability to think from first principles might just be the thing that saves time, money, and sanity.

Wishing you a good week,

Ausra

There’s a common mistake I keep seeing — and it’s costing people serious money.

You’ve got a gorgeous website.
Minimal. Clean. Everything matches. Nothing feels out of place.

But also?
Nothing stands out.

I see this especially with female-led brands, wellness spaces, high-end products, and lifestyle businesses. The website looks like a Pinterest board. The branding is cohesive. The photos are giving “editorial”.

But when you actually try to buy something…
Where’s the button?
Where’s the offer?
Where’s the reason to click?

Your visitor’s eye is gliding through a beautiful,

page — and then leaving. Because nothing broke the pattern.

Good design isn’t the same as good UX.

Let me explain:

In advertising, ugly often converts better.
Why? Because contrast is what makes things visible.

That’s why CTA buttons in banner ads are often weird shades of green or orange — colors that clash with everything else. It’s not because the designer was lazy. It’s because your brain is hardwired to ignore what blends in.

So when everything looks beautiful and “on brand”?
The brain sees it as background. Wallpaper. Noise.

But when one thing breaks the flow —
Your eye stops. Your brain says, “Oh, what’s that?”
And that’s where the conversion happens.

It can still look beautiful but something needs to break the pattern - ZARA for example does that with unexpected/weird photography angles.

Here's what to do instead:

✅ Add intentional contrast.
Use a button color that doesn’t match. Make it jarring on purpose.
If everything is beige and blush, your CTA should be black. Or firetruck red.

✅ Test disruptive elements.
Try a “loud” section in the middle of your homepage. A testimonial in all caps. A GIF. A price slash.
Don’t be afraid to interrupt the flow. It keeps people engaged.

✅ Prioritize clarity over beauty.
That CTA that’s delicately hidden in your nav bar? Make it a button.
That elegant script font? Cool for headlines — but is it legible enough for your main pitch?

Your website doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread.
It needs to make people stop scrolling and take action.

And sometimes, that means breaking your own brand rules.

So go ahead — mess up the harmony. Clash some colors. Go wild with fonts. Make something ugly.
Your Stripe account will thank you.

If your offer isn’t converting, it’s probably not your product (I’m a big believer there is a niche for everything and people want to buy all sorts of things).
It may be your message — and more specifically, when you’re delivering it and to whom.

See, every customer sits somewhere on a spectrum of awareness.
And many blow their shot by assuming everyone’s ready to buy. They’re not.

There are 5 stages your customer goes through before buying:

1. Unaware
They don’t know they have a problem.
So your job isn’t to sell — it’s to interrupt them with a story, a question, or an insight that makes them pause and think, “Wait, is this me?”

2. Problem-Aware
They feel discomfort. Something’s off. But they haven’t connected it to a solution yet.
Here, you speak to the pain. Show them they’re not alone. Name the problem clearly and emotionally.

3. Solution-Aware
Now they know what kind of solution exists.
Your job here? Make sure they understand why your approach is different (not just what it is).

4. Product-Aware
They know about you. They’re on your list. They’ve stalked your landing page 3 times.
They just need a push: proof, urgency, clarity.

5. Most Aware
They’re basically ready to buy. You just need to give them the right offer.

Here’s why this matters for you:

If you’re talking about product features to someone who’s still just vaguely uncomfortable — you lose them.
If you’re telling a long brand story to someone ready to buy — you bore them.

The fastest way to increase your conversion rate? Stop guessing where your audience is. Match your message to their mindset.

Here’s how to start figuring that out:

– Look at where they engage with you.
Someone scrolling past your Instagram Reel? Probably unaware or problem-aware — keep it emotional, short, story-based.
Someone clicking through your email sequence? Likely solution-aware or product-aware — now’s the time to educate, compare, and nudge.

– Pay attention to their questions.
Are they asking, “What does this even do?” or “How is this better than X?”
First = early stage. Second = later stage. Use their words to figure out where they are mentally.

– Track their behavior.
Viewed the sales page but didn’t buy? They’re product-aware.
Signed up for your freebie but never opened emails? They’re problem-aware — but not sold on you yet.

– Listen in community spaces.
Facebook groups, Reddit threads, TikTok/Youtube comments.
The way people talk about your type of offer will tell you how familiar (or jaded) they are.

– Use polls or micro-surveys.
Just ask: “What’s your biggest challenge with X?” or “Have you tried Y before?”
You’ll get priceless insight into what stage they’re at — and what message will hit. If you do that on social media, that is also great for the engagement.

Bottom line: don’t shout the same message to everyone.
Customize based on where they are and what they already know. That’s how you get results without wasting ad spend, email real estate, or social energy.

So what do you do with this?

Ask yourself:

• Where is this specific person in their awareness?
  (Unaware? Solution-aware? Product-aware?)

• What has this specific market already heard 1,000 times?
  (Is this the first time someone’s seeing an offer like yours? Or are they jaded and skeptical?)

Then adjust your copy accordingly:

→ For Unaware buyers
Use stories, emotional triggers, open loops. Don't sell — spark curiosity.

→ For Problem-aware
Talk about the pain they’re in. Give it a name. Make them feel understood.

→ For Solution-aware
Show them your unique method or mechanism — how your approach solves it differently.

→ For Product-aware
Give them social proof, breakdowns, offers, and answers to their objections.

→ For Most-aware
Just show them a clean, irresistible reason to click “Buy.”

If the message is misaligned, it doesn’t matter how many timers you slap on your site.

Sell the right idea to the right person at the right time. 

Have a good week!

Ausra

My mind has never been blown as much as it has been lately — and I’ve worked in media, commerce, and marketing for 20 years. But AI? This thing is changing everything. And fast.

Keeping up with tools? Exhausting. Keeping up with how people behave? Non-negotiable.

Because while you will lag (yes, lag) behind the latest tools, trends, and next big thing, there’s one thing that will always help you stay ahead:
👉 Understanding human behavior. That’s your Northern Star.

So today, we’re zooming in on what the future customer actually looks like.
More specifically: The 4 consumer profiles that will define 2026, according to WGSN — one of the world’s leading trend forecasting agencies. (They advise brands in fashion, home, tech, food & drink, and beauty — basically everything we touch.)

Let’s break them down. Not in theory. In a way that helps you sell better starting now.

🧭 1. The Impartialists

Who they are:
The skeptics. Burned out on hype. Tired of being manipulated, sold to, or “nurtured” with story arcs. In a world full of misinformation and AI-generated noise, these people want truth.
They check the ingredients. They read the fine print. And increasingly — they’ll rely on bots and AI assistants to do it for them.

What they crave:

• Radical honesty

• Evidence and transparency

• Functional, no-BS communication

If you're selling to them:

• Say what your thing actually does. Skip the brand poetry.

• Back it up with data, receipts, reviews, clear benefits.

• Label AI-generated content. Be clear where your info comes from.

• Make it AI-agent friendly: use clean formatting, structured facts, easy-to-skim copy.

👀 This isn’t just about human trust. These are the people who will soon hand decision-making to AI agents. If your marketing is too clever, it won’t pass the filter. Clean, clear copy is now both smart and futureproof.

⚡️2. The Autonomists

Who they are:
Independent thinkers and quiet rebels. They’ve opted out of the traditional life milestones — house, kids, 9–5, hustle culture. They’re done waiting for permission. Instead, they’re building their own playbooks and backing brands that feel like allies, not overlords.

What they crave:

• Individuality

• Values-based brands

• Creative freedom and flexibility

• Niche belonging (not mass inclusion)

If you’re selling to them:

• Speak their language — not their demographic.

• Customize and co-create: let them remix your offer.

• Take a clear stance. Ambiguity = inauthentic.

• Invite them into the process. This is a “for us, by us” generation.

🎯 Want loyalty? Don’t try to be perfect. Be real, be values-aligned, and be participatory. They’ll stick around when they feel seen — not targeted.

🌍 3. The Synergists

Who they are:
The bridge-builders. Tech-forward but deeply human. They want innovation with heart — AI, AR, biotech, sure — but only if it helps people live better, connect more meaningfully, and solve real-world problems.

They’re globally curious, culturally fluent, and obsessed with learning. They’ll binge a K-drama while wearing a glucose monitor and planning their side project on Notion.

What they crave:

• Ethical innovation

• Global influence and cultural mashups

• Human–tech harmony

• Emotionally intelligent design

If you’re selling to them:

• Blend digital + physical: think interactive, immersive, multi-sensory.

• Make it inclusive: language options, accessibility, global references.

• Speak with soul: highlight impact, not just features.

• Tap into fandom, co-creation, and community.

💡 These are your early adopters with purpose. If you build something smart, useful, and emotionally resonant, they’ll not only buy — they’ll promote.

✨ 4. The Gleamers

Who they are:
The quiet revolutionaries. Burned out from hustle, priced out of traditional dreams. They’re not chasing “success” anymore — they’re finding happiness in daily rituals, tiny wins, and community care.
They don’t want to scale. They want to feel better. And they’ll buy things that help them do that — gently.

What they crave:

• Simplicity

• Uplifting products

• Chosen family vibes

• Brands that actually care

If you’re selling to them:

• Position your offer as a small but significant joy.

• Forget age-based messaging. Speak to their moment in life.

• Celebrate micro-milestones: “First run in a month” > “Finish a marathon.”

• Be human, soft, and sincere. This is not the crowd for urgency timers.

💛 If your product brings ease, beauty, or connection — they want it. But only if it feels real.

Now what?

So you’ve met the 4 future consumer types. Want to take this deeper?

Here’s the move:
Open ChatGPT (use GPT-4 or Deep Research mode), and type:

This is how you turn trends into practical tactics — fast.

Let GPT break it down into messaging pillars, product tweaks, and campaign ideas. Refine, test, repeat.

Don’t try to be for everyone. Pick your people. Speak their language. And build what they actually want.

What does this all mean for your business?

Marketing — at least good marketing — is shifting.

I see it heading in two directions:

1. Clear stance + microcommunity alignment
   → Who are you here for? What do you believe in? Say it loud.
   → Make something specific enough that someone says “that’s so me.”

2. Plain-spoken, AI-readable, fact-based sales copy
   → Humans are tired of marketing fluff. And AI doesn’t care about clever.
   → Future customers (and future bots) will skim for clarity, proof, and trust signals. Give them what they came for.

As for big brands? My guess is they’ll create more campaigns — but each one will be more targeted, more community-driven, and less “mass market beige.”
Just a hunch. But if I’m right, we’ll see more of smart, strategic niches. That is a huge opportunity for small businesses!

I was listening to the new episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast — the one with Emma Grede — and something she said just hit.

Obvious? Yes. But still, so many people don’t get it.

Then I scrolled through the comments. I like to read them on social media — they’re a great way to step outside your own bubble and see how people really think.

The bottom one was my favorite, saying that two black people in conversation are coming from generation white wealth. I think that this is a good example of how people will find away to explain everything to themselves, even if it makes no sense - that’s exactly how they explained to themselves that hard work takes you nowhere.

People were losing their minds.

Calling this mindset toxic.
Saying hard work only benefits the CEO.
Claiming there’s no point in doing more because you won’t get rewarded anyway.

Seriously?

Who exactly is stopping you from becoming the CEO?
No one. That’s the hard truth.

Sure — life’s not fair. It never was. But it is a numbers game.

More reps in the gym? You get stronger.
More dates? More chances to meet the right person.
More hours learning? More skills, more confidence.
More effort at work? Better output, better odds.

Nothing is guaranteed — but doing more usually gets you further than doing less. That’s not toxic. That’s just... how things work.

I’ve worked with 200+ small businesses. I’ve heard every version of “this won’t work for us.”
“This isn’t how we do things in our industry.”
“This strategy isn’t right for our niche.”
Most of the time, that’s just fear in disguise.

Fear of changing.
Fear of going all in.
Fear of taking responsibility if it doesn’t work.

Most of us aren’t that special. We weren’t handed some magical advantage.

What we do have is a choice.

You either decide to go all in on making it work… or you stay stuck and blame the system.
That’s it.

Being truly committed — like actually committed — is already rare.
If you’ve got that, you’re already ahead of most.

If you don’t, don’t be surprised if things aren’t working.
People say “I’ll give it a try and see how it goes” like that’s a strategy.
It’s not. That’s you half-in. One foot out. Already bracing for failure.

Decide that this is the thing.
That you’ll make it work.
That you’ll learn whatever you need to learn.
That you’ll do the boring stuff, the awkward stuff, the “not cool on social media” stuff.

That’s what it takes.

And when you do that enough times?
That’s when things start to shift.

Want to stand out?
Do the work. Keep going. Don’t hide behind “strategy.”
You’ll be amazed at how far that alone can take you.

Everyone's chasing the latest "prompt engineering" hacks:

* Special keywords


* Secret formatting tricks


* Jailbreak commands


But actually, these are mainly distractions. The real power lies in providing clear context and relevant data.

What Prompt Engineering Really Is

Definition: Communicating effectively with an AI model to achieve desired outcomes.

Core Skill: Explaining tasks clearly to an entity that has vast knowledge but lacks your specific context.

Best Approach: Treat the AI like a competent new team member - provide it with the necessary background, objectives, and examples. Personally, what was a real game changer for me, was when I started seeing AI as an intern, who is on the first days of her job. Anyone who has ever had teams knows, that your success lies in learning how to communicate with them clearly.

What Actually Works

Forget the gimmicks. Focus on these fundamentals:

* Be Specific About Context: Clearly define the task, audience, and desired outcome.


* Provide Explicit Clues: Offer relevant information and constraints to guide the AI's response.


* Use Examples Strategically: Show the AI what you're aiming for with concrete examples.


* Focus on Task Description: Clearly articulate what you want the AI to do, without relying on "magic" phrases.


The Real Secret

While many are fixated on prompt techniques, the true competitive edge comes from combining first-party data with state-of-the-art models.

In a world where everyone has access to the same AI models:

* Prompt tricks might give you a 10% improvement.


* Unique data can provide a 10x advantage (!!!).


Bottom Line

Stop obsessing over:

* The latest GPT update


* New prompt techniques


* "Secret" AI hacks


Start focusing on:

* Collecting and utilizing unique data


* Building proprietary systems


That's the sustainable path to success in the AI-driven world.

The world feels like it’s hanging on by a thread right now. Politics, wars, economic uncertainty, gold prices going wild… it’s a mess.

But as I was reading the news the other day, a lightbulb went off — and it turned into an actual business opportunity for one of my clients.

They run a high-end jewelry brand. And while gold prices are at an all-time high, here’s what most people don’t know:
Their product prices are locked in based on the cost of gold at the time they bought the material, not today.

Translation?
If you’ve been eyeing that diamond necklace for a while, now’s the time. Because six months from now, that same piece will be way more expensive — since it’ll be made from higher-priced gold.

For them, communicating heavy this angle is a real-time, revenue-driving opportunity.
It’s also a chance to attract new audiences — not just fashion lovers, but people watching the financial news, thinking about investing, and wondering where to start.

So it got me thinking…

Big news = big business (if you’re fast)

Here’s the truth:
When millions of people are emotionally charged about something, they’re paying attention. And that’s your in.

You can either:

1. Make money from it

2. Communicate your values through it

3. Or do both (if you’re clever)

And the beauty of running a small business?
You don’t need approval from 5 departments and a legal team.
You can have an idea at 9AM and launch it by lunch. That’s your superpower.

So here are a few chaos-to-cash ideas that work in 2025:

Quick Revenue Plays You Can Launch Today

• Limited Edition “Tariff-Proof” Bundles
  Let customers lock in prices before another round of import taxes or inflation hits. Works great for everything that is not entirely locally sourced — anything consumable or seasonal. Communicate about your supply chain and savings.

• Political Statement Merch
  T-shirts, totes, pins with slogans that reflect current causes (climate, equality, anti-war, anti-censorship, free speech). Doesn’t have to be loud — subtle works too.

• Political Petwear
  Yes, this is real. People love dressing their dog in a “Pro Democracy Pup” or “Make peace not war” sweater. It sells.

• Geo-Targeted Election Merch
  Use Meta ads to sell location-specific political merch.

• Candle/Coffee/Any Other Product Line with Zero Chill
  Scents like “Thanks but no thanks, Elon,” “Republican Tears,” or anything else you can come up with. Cheap to make. Instagram bait. Massive viral potential.

• Custom Bumper Stickers, iPhone/Laptop Cases, Magnets
  Let people display their stance while they commute or scroll. Everyone’s already fighting in the comments — might as well turn that energy into a sale.

• "Anti-Stress Glow-Up" Kits
  Wellness bundles for the emotionally exhausted. Think bath soaks, journals, magnesium, and tea. Tie it to self-care and current stressors.

Brand Statements That Actually Resonate

• Ethical Sourcing Highlight
  If you’re committed to fair trade, transparency, or sustainable practices, now’s the time to say it louder. Customers are craving something to trust. I would even make a bet these things come so naturally to you but you forget to properly communicate it to your audiences.

• Cause-Driven Drops
  Coffee blends, snack boxes, perfume names — give them a political edge + donate a portion to a relevant org.
  (“Freedom Roast” donating to independent journalism? That’s the kind of brand story people share.)

• Memes + Current Events = Fast Campaigns
  Is there a political meme trending? Overlay it with your product, post it now, and ride the wave. Fast, cheap, effective.

An idea for a bakery but also could be product packaging or a fun IG post

The key to all of this?
Move fast. Don’t overthink it.
Your big advantage as a small biz owner is speed.
That thing you just read in the news? Turn it into a product, an email, or a post today — not next week.

Chat with your team or ask ChatGPT for help brainstorming, but just a heads up: it might still think it’s 2024 and Joe Biden hasn’t run for re-election yet (that’s what it said to me 🤣 ). I use Perplexity AI for real-time news scanning and idea gathering. Combine that with your own instincts and you’ll be way ahead of the curve.

Now it’s your turn.
Open a news site, scroll for 5 minutes, and ask yourself:
What could my business say, sell, or launch in response to this?

Then do it. Before someone else does. And then if you come with any great ideas, share them with me - I want to know and our little community will appreciate fresh ideas.

There’s a reason 400,000 professionals read this daily.

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If you have a product based business, there is one thing that can feel very frustrated: the amount of NEW imagery you need to constantly push in order to stand out on the social media. That is a lot of work and especially - a lot of very expensive work.

And the second you post them? Poof. You need 20 more.

Since most of the companies I work with right now are often smaller fashion or lifestyle product businesses, I know that the possibilities of AI in the area have looked promising, However, after testing many tools, we have found some that have some good capabilities, but it wasn’t exactly there yet.

So this new ChatGPT update that came out last week left me both very impressed and very excited. From now on, the fantasy is the only limit. And maybe ChatGPT content policies. 😅

Since last week, ChatGPT can generate insanely realistic, professional-level images — with your product in them — in minutes.

Here’s what it can do now (and some ways I tested it out):

⚡ Realistic product photography — no shoot required
Want your skincare bottle on a marble bathroom shelf with natural morning light? Or your summer sandals on the feet of a girl walking through Mykonos?
Done. One prompt. One click.

📝 Add clean, readable text into your images
This one’s new — and huge. No more Canva. You can now design full ad creatives with legible, on-brand copy: headlines, callouts, captions, quotes. All baked into the image.

🎯 Generate scroll-stopping ad campaigns
Give it your vibe, your target audience, and your offer — and get back multiple ad concepts with visuals and copy. Perfect for Meta, Pinterest, email banners, whatever you’re running.

📦 Fake but real-looking UGC content
Think: girl unboxing your product in her apartment, happy customer selfies, “shelfie” flat lays, cute reels-style frames. Looks like a content creator made it — but it’s all AI.

This is truly impressive

📱 Content for every platform, without burnout
Instagram carousels, LinkedIn graphics, TikTok backgrounds, email headers, Pinterest pins. You can pump out assets daily without begging a designer or burning out your budget.

So what’s the catch?

You’ll need ChatGPT Pro to use the image generation feature — it’s $20/month, but honestly, it’s the cheapest creative team you’ll ever hire.

And it’s only going to get better.

More control, better lighting realism, animation, styling options — and soon, I bet, full video campaigns will be AI-generated too. You’ll be able to launch a whole brand from your laptop.

I’m excited.

P.S. Next week I will be introducing a new spin to this newsletter - moving forward, I will be exploring monthly themes so we could go slightly deeper in a certain topic over a few weeks. You'll read more about it next Monday - to make sure you never miss an email again, here’s what you have to do 👇

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Let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately: the art of scaling your efforts.

I see it all the time. A solopreneur launches their online store, posts a few TikToks, sends out some cold emails, and then... crickets. 🦗

"This isn't working," they tell me, exhaustion in their voice. "I've tried everything."

Have you though? Have you REALLY?

People hit the gym for a month, don't see abs, and quit. They send 20 cold emails, get no replies, and call it a failed strategy. They post on TikTok for a few weeks, see no traction, and decide the algorithm is against them.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: you're probably doing 1% of what you actually need to do to see results.

The Numbers Game Nobody Talks About

We all understand that you don't grow muscle from doing 20 reps at the gym—you grow muscle from thousands of reps over months and years. Yet somehow, we expect:

• 20 cold emails to land us 5 clients

• 15 TikToks to go viral

• 3 Instagram posts to double our follower count

It's actually hilarious when you think about it. We're setting ourselves up for failure with these microscopic efforts.

What I've Learned Over the Years

One of the biggest patterns I see with small brands is exhaustion—not from doing too much, but from jumping from one strategy to another. They try what they saw in a webinar, what their competitors are doing, what's trending on social media.

Overworked, unmotivated, and confused, they retreat to their comfort zone: product creation and development. Because that's the outcome they can control.

But here's what working with dozens of brands has taught me:

Success isn't just a strategy game. It's a NUMBERS game.

When I Think Back About Some Of The Successes I had…

• I got my small Lithuanian fashion brand featured in US Vogue (cost: $0). But it took TWO YEARS and over 1,000 emails to media outlets worldwide before finding the right people.

• I organized the most successful sample sales in my country by focusing on getting as many people through the door as possible, not by targeting the "perfect" audience.

• I grew my fashion business to 7 figures in just a few years by AGGRESSIVELY focusing on making as many sales as possible, whatever it took.

None of this happened because I had the perfect strategy. It happened because I played the numbers game at scale.

Change Your Perspective, Change Your Results

When you shift from "finding the perfect strategy" to "doing more of what works," your entire approach changes. Your energy changes. Your results change.

Of course, you need the basics right first. If your sales funnels aren't set up or your offer isn't converting, no amount of traffic will save you (that's why I created $10K Ecom course).

But once those foundations are solid? Scale, baby, scale.

Practical Ways to Scale Without Losing Your Mind

The hard thing about the numbers game is it requires time. So you need to think about:

1. What can you automate?

2. How can you reach more people with each action?

3. Where can you simplify to focus on volume?

This is something I'm focused on too. Every day brings more work, so I'm constantly looking for ways to work smarter while doing more.

My Not-So-Secret Secrets

Things I've discovered that might help you:

• Targeting customers properly is important, but if that takes time, you'll get results faster by working faster and focusing on reaching MORE people.

• Overthink less, move more.

• When in doubt, go wider rather than deeper.

These Are the Rules of the Game in 2025

And they'll stay like that for a while.

So whatever you're doing right now that's showing even a HINT of promise? Do it 100x more. Then do it 1000x more.

That's the difference between the brands that make it and the ones that don't.

I'm curious: what's one area of your business where you could be doing 100x more? Reply to this email and let me know. If it's something you're struggling to scale or automate, I'll think about solutions - either something I've discovered in my work or something we can brainstorm together. It's a learning process for me too.

If you’ve been going for a while, but are far from seeing the results you deserve (or if you are just planning, planning, planning on finally launching your perfect brand), consider the course I created - I poured a lot of my work experience from over the years in there and tried to answer all of the most common questions I kept on hearing from 200+ small business I worked with over the years.

P.S. If you found this helpful, would you forward it to another solopreneur who needs to hear this? Growing this community helps us all! 🚀

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If you’ve been reading this for a while, you know I’m a HUGE believer in one thing: your job isn’t just to push your product—it’s to make people excited about buying it.

For most businesses, especially if what you sell isn’t a basic necessity, your customers don’t need your product. And yet, every day, they spend money on things they don’t technically need. Why? Because some brands are absolute masters at making their products feel special, irresistible, and even fun to buy.

Last week, I had two separate conversations with clients - long-time business owners—one in hospitality, one in fashion. Both were looking to invest more in more marketing agencies, ads, SEO… all hoping to bring in more customers. Don’t get me wrong—those things are important. But before you pour money into another ad campaign, I want you to ask yourself:

👉 Are you making it easy for people to talk about your brand for free?
👉 Are you giving them something worth sharing?
👉 Are you creating tiny moments of delight that make people want to tell their friends?

Because that’s where the magic happens.

Guerilla Marketing Is Your Secret Weapon

When most people hear “guerilla marketing,” they think of big, splashy stunts or viral dancing in the street campaigns. But the truth is, most guerilla marketing happens on a small, everyday scale.

It’s not about spending more money—it’s about using creativity to meet the customers where they least expect it and to get them to do the marketing for you. And more often than not, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest impact.

Take this café I saw on my Instagram feed the other day. Their iced coffee? Well, just look at it. 👇

That tiny change—literally just water frozen in a different mold—made the drink instantly Instagrammable. Customers took photos, posted them online, and gave the café free marketing just because their coffee was cute and not like every other basic coffee. The cost of making it? Probably not more than extra 0.10$ per cup. The extra margins you can charge for it? Probably an extra dollar or more - for a cup of coffee that could probably be a 25-50% increase in price while keeping the customers happy to pay for it.

That’s the kind of marketing I want you to think about. The kind that doesn’t rely on a massive budget, but on fresh perspective.

Liquid Death is a great example of this. If you haven’t heard of them, here’s a brief explainer:

@shwinnabego

How liquid death has used incredible branding and marketing to stand out in a crowded category #marketing #branding

Steal These Ideas: Small Twists That Get Big Attention

I went down a rabbit hole researching some of the best examples of this—some are real, some are a combination of my own and AI fantasy combined. But why not?

💡 Sparkling Pizza with Edible Glitter or Glow-in-the-Dark Cheese (it actually exists!) – why don’t we have more sparkling food we could take photos of before eating?

💡 Scratch-Off Business Cards – A tattoo artist hands out business cards that work like lottery tickets—scratch off a section to reveal a discount or free touch-up. Cheap, interactive, and memorable.

💡 Receipt-Based Marketing – A bookstore prints staff book recommendations on receipts. Customers collect them like a reading list and share them online. A boring receipt becomes an experience. As an avid reader, I LOVE this idea.

💡 Personalized Sneaker Stamping – Some sneaker shops let you emboss your initials or special messages on your new kicks in-store. That is how Golden Goose Deluxe Brand became THE trainers brand I am personally obsessed with.

@skilledesigner

Last week co-creations🫶🏼 What’s your fave? #goldengoose#cocreation#selfridges#london#custom#sneakers#stargirl

💡 Silent Disco Shopping – A clothing store hosted a silent disco night where shoppers got wireless headphones with a curated playlist. It turned a normal shopping trip into an event.

💡 Surprise Packaging – A chocolate brand prints fun, secret messages inside the packaging, so customers only discover them after purchase—making every bar feel like a tiny treasure hunt.

💡 Plant Baby Portraits – A plant shop started taking “baby photos” of plants before selling them, complete with names and care instructions. Customers started sharing “growth updates” of their plants on social media.

💡 Stamped Bread Messages – A bakery stamps its loaves with funny or inspirational messages before baking. Customers started collecting the different messages and sharing them online. So simple, but can be so fun.

@countrybasketsbirmingham

✨ Check out our New Valentines themed Toast Stamp, Placemats and Love Mugs! 💕✨ Why stick with the traditional ‘I Love You’ when you can st... See more

💡 Special Ice Cubes – A cocktail bar makes ice cubes with natural ingredients that change color as they melt. A simple drink becomes interactive and shareable. Even a spa can do this. Instead of boring lemon water, why not serve water with perfectly shaped, lemon infused ice cubes? The same cost, way more impact.

Today’s Lesson? Make It Shareable.

The easiest way to grow isn’t throwing money at ads. (Also, running ads is not easy). It’s making your product so damn interesting that people can’t help but talk about it.

You need to package your offer in a way that makes it feel exciting, exclusive, or different from what’s out there.

If you’re struggling with this, this is exactly what I teach in my course: How to make your offers not just sell—but become something people are genuinely excited to buy.

Click here to get the full roadmap to your first $10K in sales

So this week, I challenge you to think: What’s one tiny tweak you can make to make your brand more fun, engaging, or shareable? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear your ideas!

Growing a small business can feel like you’re doing everything right… and getting nowhere.

You tweak your website. Post on social media. Run some ads. But somehow, the results don’t match the effort.

I’ve seen this play out hundreds of times with small business owners I’ve worked with.

Not because they’re not smart.
Not because their product isn’t good enough.
But because they’re following advice that wasn’t meant for them.

Here’s What No One Tells You:

📌 Your business is not Amazon.
📌 You don’t have a corporate budget.
📌 You don’t need a complicated strategy—you need a strategy that actually works for YOUR stage of business.

Big companies play by a completely different set of rules. So do big influencers giving advice online. They have massive ad budgets, established audiences, and entire teams dedicated to optimizing every tiny detail. But when you’re still working toward consistent $10K months, that kind of strategy is just a bunch of distractions.

So What Actually Works?

After helping 200+ small business owners, I have identified a pattern. The ones who grew fast? They didn’t have the most followers or the fanciest branding.

They just focused on the right things—the things that actually moved the needle. And they did them again, and again, and again.

That’s why I created The $10K Ecommerce Blueprint—to give small business owners working on a bootstrapped budget a clear, step-by-step roadmap that actually works.

Not a 6-month content plan.
Not a confusing funnel you don’t need yet.
Just the exact steps to start generating consistent sales.

And Here’s the Part Most Courses Don’t Offer…

Most online courses leave you alone to figure things out. That’s not how real businesses grow.

That’s why I’m including a private coaching group—so you can:
✅ Ask me real questions as you implement
✅ Join monthly coaching calls to stay on track
✅ See what’s working (and what’s not) for others at the same stage

This is free for the first students who enroll.

Because You’re on My Newsletter…

I want the right people inside this group—people who are serious about taking action to achieving their results.

So I am offering an exclusive discount for my newsletter community—for the next 48 hours it costs less than a fancy dinner out. You will get:
✅ Full access to The $10K Ecommerce Blueprint and all of the future updates
✅ Entry to my private coaching group (limited spots)

🔹 Use code NEWSLETTER at checkout
🔹 Discount expires in 48 hours

👉 Grab Your Spot Here

If you’re tired of guessing and ready to make progress fast, I’ll see you inside.

Let’s talk about what nobody wants to admit:

If you’re building a business in a crowded niche—think dropshipping, POD, building a brand with a product that is nice but doesn’t bring anything new to the market or anything on Etsy/Amazon—you’re competing with THOUSANDS of others who look exactly like you.
Same products. Same photos. Same sales pitch.

What happens when you blend in?
🚨 Customers stop noticing you.
🚨 Your only leverage becomes competing on price (the fastest way to burn out).

🚨You want to give up too soon.
🚨 You hit a wall.

You Don’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel—Just Make It Cool

Being basic = playing it safe. But the businesses that grow fast in saturated spaces are the ones that take risks and bring personality to their brand. They differentiate in one or more key ways:

💡 Brand Story – Your backstory and WHY can make you unforgettable.
💡 Design – Packaging, colors, and product presentation that pop.
💡 Content Strategy – A bold voice and marketing that stands out.
💡 Customer Experience – Surprise-and-delight moments that turn buyers into raving fans.

Example: Two Candle Brands—Which One Would You Choose?

Candle Brand A:

• Basic soy candles with names like “Lavender Bliss”

• Standard brown jars, minimal branding

Basic candle targeting who knows who

Candle Brand B:

• Bold, funny product names like “Smells Like Procrastination”

• Cool packaging, vibrant colors, and storytelling that makes you laugh

Fun candle targeting (retired) party people

Same product at the core, but Brand B wins because it breaks the pattern. It’s memorable, relatable, and easy to share.

Stop Competing on Price, Start Competing on Experience

If you want to build a thriving business, especially in crowded markets, you need to:
1️⃣ Develop a clear brand identity. What do you stand for?
2️⃣ Go beyond selling products—sell a vibe.
3️⃣ Talk directly to your niche audience. Forget trying to please everyone.

The fastest way to stand out?
Be bold. Be real. Be anything but generic.

Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:

1️⃣ 1-on-1 Consulting
Tap into my 15+ years of experience in sales & marketing to fix your offers, close more sales, and gain complete clarity on your next steps.

2️⃣ Coming Soon: How to Launch & Scale an E-Commerce Business Course
This is your exact blueprint to go from 0 to $10k in 90 days.
It’s not just for first-time business owners—it’s for anyone running a product-led e-commerce brand that’s struggling to hit consistent $10k months. As I work with clients, I notice a common theme: the basics are missing. This course fills the gaps and gives you the roadmap to scale your business as quickly as possible.