You probably didn't notice this missing newsletter last week
+ brands leaving BeReal + you don't need a dopamine fast
Hi friend,
I was going to start off this letter to you today telling you about how I’m sorry for not writing last week and why I didn’t.
But then I realized: You probably don’t care. You may have not even noticed.
And that’s totally fine, it’s really okay. Most people don’t keep track of the lives and status of every newsletter writer they follow.
Most people actually don’t keep track of every action that every person in their life takes.
Your boss probably isn’t judging you for taking breaks throughout the day.
Your friend probably isn’t hating you for not responding to your text immediately.
Your partner probably isn’t upset at you for taking time alone.
(And if they are, I’d argue those might be some 🚩🚩🚩)
Think about how much you notice in others around you. Think about how much weight, or lack thereof, you place on their actions.
Trust that, if they truly care about you and value you, they probably don’t need you to over-explain yourself.
Trust that what you’re doing is totally fine.
with warmth + love,
N
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📚 The Click Throughs
Long-form reads for the marketing geek + content creator
Glossy: Is BeReal in its flop era?
When BeReal first launched, beauty brands were the first to flock to the platform testing whether or not brands could truly thrive on it. The answer? Maybe not. With competitor launches like TikTok’s Now feature and a lack of monetization opportunity, many brands are pulling the plug.
Link in Bio: Curation as Content
From the early days of Glossier crafting the perfect Instagram feed, curating a vibe on social media has been a brand marketing mainstay. But how can repurposing content to fit your fit be done strategically and legally? This piece dives into it.
NBC News: Instagram’s sex censorship sweeps up educators, adult stars and sex workers
I’ll start this one off with saying: sex work is real work. And real workers deserve the opportunities to market their businesses. Instagram needs moderation, yes, but some measures have left sex educators and workers with little opportunities on the platform while celebrities dodge the same rules.
Elle Magazine: It’s Time for Influencers to Be Real
In a time where we’re facing inflation, layoffs, and population-wide depression, influencers being honest and relatable are truly resonating. This piece discusses how some influencers are pulling back the perfect veil and how that’s winning audiences over.
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🧘🏼♀️ Mindful Moment
One actionable thing to get you through this week
I know I’ve shared this one before, but it’s been a minute and I think we could all benefit from a little breathing break. Stay here as long as you’d like, friend 🤍
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🔗 Link(s) in Bio
Things I’ve been loving that have absolutely nothing to do with marketing or business
Huffington Post: How ‘Worthsplaining’ Is Impacting Your Wellbeing – On a similar note to my intro letter, “‘worthsplaining’ is the tendency to over-explain things that are worthwhile and valuable to you because you fear being judged by others.” Sound relatable?
Bon Appétit: We’ve Reached Peak Beverage – As someone who enjoys staring mindlessly at the giant beverage refrigerator at Whole Foods just looking, I loved this piece. How did we get to this moment of cocktail bombs and adaptogenic tonics?
Wondermind: What the Heck Is a Dopamine Detox? – I’ve been seeing dopamine detoxes and fasts all over my FYP, but I keep wondering: Does it really work?? This piece dissects the trend + the psychology (or lack thereof) behind it.
Nat Eliason’s Newsletter: Maybe Your Sleep Tracking is Killing You? – I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of tracking apps. Because what you don’t track, you can’t improve, right? Well, this piece argues exactly what I’ve been thinking recently: “Some of the most important factors in a happy and healthy life may be the things we cannot measure.”
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💭 Content Calendar
Ideas for you to take into your week ahead as a content creator
I’ve got a client who’s lucky enough to have a full team supporting content creation efforts (this wasn’t always the case).
Even still, we have regular in-house experiments where every single member of the team – even leadership – has a prompt or a project that they have to create something for.
For example, every single member of the team should create their own version of what a TikTok/Reel style video would look like for a product promotion.
The prompt is intentionally open-ended. The idea is to encourage creativity, no matter your job title or salary grade.
And I’ll tell you, the things that you see when you encourage people to think big or do things they don’t normally do are WILD.
If you’ve got a team, give it a try. And if you don’t have a team, maybe try it out with members of another team.
Or even try it with your friends who know nothing about content creation. Have fun with the content and see what comes of it.
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👋 The (ring) Light at the End of the Tunnel