Entrepreneur Forge 360’s Post

#AnnualRecap #PetIndustry #NewsletterSuccess #Sponsorships #IncomeGoals Hey everyone! 🌟 Let's take a moment to chat about my earnings from this year. I made around **$50k** from my newsletter dedicated to the pet industry. Here’s how it all broke down: Sponsorships: $44k Boosts: $4k (using Beehiiv’s internal tool) Internal Ads: $2k (thanks to Beehiiv’s ad recommendations) Looking ahead, I have big plans for 2025! 🎯 My goal is to **triple** that income, if not more. Here’s my plan: More social media content Increase to **3x weekly** instead of twice Forge long-term sponsorships with larger companies Introduce a **paid tier** for premium members Expand cross promotions with related newsletters How did I make this happen? First off, I know $50k isn’t a massive amount, especially with less than **10,000 subscribers**, and considering I kicked this off late in 2023. But I’m excited! Here are my **5 simple steps** you can follow too: **Stay Consistent** - It mi... Curious How I Earned $50K from a Pet Industry Newsletter? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gRPAfg36

With the overwhelming number of trends that are born and die every day across social - it's easy to get wrapped up in catching a relevant wave as a social media manager. But it's equally, if not more important, to balance a brand's content calendar with a mix of reactive, and strategic/unique content! One of my favorite ways to find inspiration (or just learn about whats going on and the strategic thought process of other social media teams across different industries) is looking through award submissions. Sites like the Shorty Awards' make award submissions available for the public to view - and each award submission is basically a case study detailing the strategy, execution, and results of innovative ideas! Whether you're an aspiring #socialmediamanager, new to the industry, or a creative director - it's a great way to stay current and find inspiration! Shout out to VisitLEX and Cornett for their Horse Kicks campaign for a refreshing idea in the #travel and #hospitality space! It was a great example of how elevate/change the conversation, instead of just adding to it! https://lnkd.in/g5J9Fy4X #socialmedia #socialmediamanagement #socialmediatrends

I read a marketing book a few years ago where the main point was quoted as: "Different is better than 'better'" "Better" is subjective. What is better for one person could be the wrong fit for another. Is the local take out restaurant "better" than the steakhouse? No. It's different. But, better really depends on what you are looking for that day. Being different and unique is objective. We do this thing differently. It's not up for debate. We do this thing differently. End of story - take it or leave it. As I have worked with Game Time Media MN now for about 3 months, I am realizing that the idea of advertising on a high school sports live stream is a "different" approach that many marketing professionals and industries have not explored. It's new. It's not something they know or have proven track record of success with so it's hard to justify. I will say, the 80% renewal rate on the businesses that have joined our platform tells me that there is immense value in thinking differently. If you want to support local high school sports but also have an ROI for your dollars (not just a donation to the team)... check out OTT/live stream marketing opportunities! #BullishOnHSSports #OTT #LiveStream

🚨 Going the Extra Mile For Sponsors? Make Sure It's the Right Mile 🚨 Ever bent over backward for a sponsor, giving them every perk you can think of, only to find they’re still not satisfied? Frustrating, right? You might think, “I gave them extra advertising, tickets, hospitality—why aren’t they happy?” Here’s the catch: Value isn’t about how much you give; it’s about giving what matters. Imagine trying to sell an 18-wheeler truck to someone who desperately wants an SUV for their family. No matter how many discounts or add-ons you throw in, they’re just not interested because it doesn’t meet their needs. The same goes for sponsorship. If your sponsor values unique marketing opportunities, no amount of extra logo placements will truly resonate. They'll never see the same value that you see in it. It’s all about aligning with what they find valuable. Imagine the above scenario and how p!ssed off you'd be. 'Hi, I'm looking for an SUV' 'We have this really great 18-wheeler, it's cheap too, only $200k'. 'I don't need that, I need an SUV, I would like to spend around $70k'. 'But the trucks worth $200k, it's a great deal, I'll throw in some free seat covers'. 'I can't take the kids to f#cking soccer in an 18-wheeler!' 'Man, I'm giving you so much value, you should be thankful'. 💡 Key Takeaway: Don’t assume you’re adding value—ask what your sponsor sees as valuable. Start conversations with, “What are you working on that we can help with?” This simple shift can transform your client relationships. Want more tips on delivering real value? Sign up to my fortnightly emails on my website for exclusive insights! #sponsorship #sponsorvalue #businessstrategy #marketing #sponsorrelationships #valuealignment

🏆🚀 Guide to Submitting a Winning Entry for SMARTIES 2024! 🚀🏆 Ready to shine a spotlight on your groundbreaking marketing campaign at the esteemed SMARTIES™ Awards? Here are your top 5 tips from the SMARTIES Jury to craft a winning entry: 1️⃣: Craft a Compelling Story 👉 Write with Impact: Think of your entry as a captivating short story. Avoid dry, technical jargon. 👉 Target a Broad Audience: Remember, the judges come from diverse backgrounds. Strive for clarity, simplicity, and an enjoyable reading experience. 👉 Substance & Impact Matter: Showcase the results your campaign achieved. Use visuals like charts in the video to present data effectively. 👉 Polish Your Work: Proofread meticulously for typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies. 👉 Address Challenges Head-On: Explain the hurdles you faced and how your campaign overcame them. 👉 Answer All Questions Completely: Don't leave any gaps in your entry. 2️⃣: Context is King 👉 Benchmark Your Results: Don't just present raw numbers. Provide context by including industry benchmarks. 👉 Highlight Competitive Advantage: Show how your campaign stacked up against your competitors. 👉 Align KPIs and Results: Clearly demonstrate how your campaign met or exceeded its defined KPIs. 👉Storytelling Through Data: Weave a narrative around your results, explaining the "why" behind the numbers. Keep it clear and concise. 👉 Make it Easy to Understand: Judges evaluate numerous entries. Simplify your message for maximum impact. 3️⃣: Creative Requirements - Bring Your Vision to Life 👉Showcase Your Work with Video: A video is highly recommended to complement your written entry. 👉 Focus on the "Idea": Use the video to explain your campaign's concept and creative execution. 👉 Summarize Key Elements: Condense the challenge, strategy, objectives, execution, and outcome into a clear and concise video. 👉 Time is of the Essence: Keep your video under 3 minutes. 👉 Prioritize Clarity: Use high-quality visuals and a clear English narration (or subtitles if necessary). 👉 Plan for Showcase: Consider potential limitations (e.g., music licensing) that might restrict video usage. 4️⃣: Understanding Jury Scoring 👉 Submissions are considered according to: STRATEGY - EXECUTION - CREATIVITY - BUSINESS IMPACT 5️⃣: Learn from the Best 👉 Review past winning entries: Get inspired by visiting the SMARTIES Winners Gallery and the MMA Case Studies Hub. 🌟 Register for the SMARTIES Awards today: https://lnkd.in/dYQhVB_Z 🔽 Don't forget to download the latest 2024 Submission Guide for the most up-to-date information and judging criteria: https://lnkd.in/gF-QwiTJ #SMARTIES #MarketingAwards #Innovation #Impact

In honor of April Fool's last week, I want to highlight some of the best campaigns that brands were able to come up with. Did you fall for any of these? ⭐️ Vegemite X Hismile = Yep, they made vegemite toothpaste. Or at least that's what Vegemite announced on their Instagram to a lot of shocked people. Who doesn't want that bitter taste lasting all day long? ⭐️ Oreo's creme only cookie = What's your favorite part of an Oreo cookie, the biscuit or the filling? Well Oreo's social media made a hilarious announcement that the famous duo were getting a 'divorce' and now only the white filling will remain. They even photoshopped what the creme filling only cookie would look like. ⭐️ Jetstar and the arm rest battle = If you've ever been on a plane im sure you know how uncomfortable it can be brushing arms with strangers and wrestling over who gets to lean on what. Well, no need to panic, Jetsar for their april fools campaign announced armrest renting, for only $2! ⭐️ Transport NSW jumpers = If you've been to Sydney, chances are you've seen those blue carpeted seats on intercity trains. Well this April Fool's, NSW transport announced the release of 100% recycled jumpers made from those train seats. One of my favourite things about April Fool's campaigns is the chance it gives brands, no matter how high strung or up-tight they might appear, to let loose and use a bit of humour to connect with audiences. It's a great opportunity to humanise your brand and break down some of those stuffy walls between businesses and their customers. Did you have a favourite campaign this April Fools? #sydneydigitalmarketing #aprilfools #aprilfoolsmarketing #digitalmarketing #funnymarketing

What's stopping you from converting your online presence into sales? 🤔 It might be the lack of an effective social media strategy! At Track Bar Media, we specialize in crafting compelling content that drives results. 🚀 Whether you're a small business or a driver, we can help boost your brand visibility and sales. Share or comment if you're ready to accelerate your success! #SocialMediaStrategy #DriveSales www.trackbarmedia.net #BrandGrowth #DigitalMarketing #tbm #advertsing #insurance #bar #restaurant #digital #iracing #racing #esports #marketing #socialmedia #content #smallbusiness #owner #branding #sweet #video #statefarm #allstate #progressive #erie #foryou #reels #sale #live #streamer #contractor #Bristol #WestVirginia #Virginia #Kentucky #Tennessee

We ended August with $42,400 MRR And I'm kicking off our next big marketing experiment We're spending $3,000 on newsletter sponsorships This time, we're not sending people to sign up Instead we're promoting a lead magnet Qualifying people with RightMessage by Brennan Dunn And then adding the people who download it to a nurture campaign This is a sequence of 12 emails to educate our ICP (professional creators) on social proof and pitch Senja We only booked sponsorships with current customers and advocates of Senja How are we measuring success? We're going to report on: → Visits → Downloads → Free sign ups → Upgrades How do you think it will perform? #buildinpublic

Elevating a Pickleball Powerhouse 🏓 At Optima, we love getting creative and redesigning emails of our favourite e-Com brands. On this week's menu is Selkirk Sport - We are Pickleball, a leading Pickleball equipment brand. With over 13.6 million players in the US alone, it’s big business. Here’s some of the elements we focused on: 👉 Authority in the Field: We aimed to highlight Selkirk's position as a pickleball authority, ensuring that every word communicates their expertise and leadership in the sport. 👉 Engaging Imagery: Our design team incorporated strong, vivid imagery that not only showcases the high-quality product(s) but also allowed potential customers to visualise their potential new equipment. 👉 Community Focus: We leveraged the tight-knit and rapidly growing pickleball community as social proof to inspire new players. Showcasing testimonials and stories from within the community, we highlighted how Selkirk supports players of all levels. 👉 Inclusive Product Range: We emphasised Selkirk’s comprehensive product offerings suitable for every skill level, from beginners to professionals, ensuring that every recipient feels catered to, regardless of their playing standard. Selkirk is making moves on and off the court. As always, design is subjective but with some tweaks similar to the above, they could increase the engagement and effectiveness of their email. If you’re curious about what a strategic redesign could do for your email marketing, feel free to shoot me a DM. I’m going to go more in-depth into this redesign with a video in the days… 📹 Keep your eyes peeled for more 👀 #eCommerce #emaildesign

There are things you can forget when you are going on a roadtrip, but you should certainly not forget to get ANWB service! 🚗 To boost awareness amongst youngsters, we have created a series of online TikTok ads in collaboration with our friends from Fitzroy | Part of United Playgrounds Check out the carousel below to get a sense of what the campaign is about. #TikTokAds #TikTokMarketing #ANWB #Campaigns