The business of business
This Colorado food writer came up with a novel way to monetize his content
Simon Owensopen.substack.comFood blogger built his business with only 12 advertisers. Over indexes on benefits:
All 12 advertisers get a logo in every issue
4 of them receive ads in the weekly post (all school listing type eg pub quiz Tues, earlybird thurs etc). He does 3 posts per week so every advertiser receives 1 mention per year
1 big feature piece or 1 podcast episode per year
Partnership opportunities between each other
Asks them for viewpoints/opinions in his think pieces (opportunity to comment)
Charges $500-$1000/month per advertiser.
The secret to life is doing the thing again. And again.
Study patterns, not paths.
Look at multiple examples of success in your field. Find the common principles, patterns, and tactics that show up, regardless of someone's advantages.
And don’t forget to pay attention to failures. When someone fails doing exactly wh... See more
If so, identify the three most important aspects of your business — maybe it's your product, your customer service, and your team (if you have one). Write down the current standard for each category. And then write down what excellence actually looks like.
The gap between th... See more
Again, it’s not about perfectionism. It's about having the courage to be honest about what's excellent and what isn't. It’s about b... See more
Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Creative, because you’re not a cog in the system. You’re a creator, a problem solver, a generous leader who is making things better by producing a new way forward. Work, because it’s not a hobby. You might not get paid for it, not today, but you approach it as a professional. The muse is not
... See moreSeth Godin • The Practice
Ship creative work. On a schedule. Without attachment and without reassurance.
Seth Godin • The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
Stop talking about the thing. Stop asking about the thing. Stop gathering more information about the thing.
Just do the thing.
There’s a quote from Denise Lee Yohn that we really like—“Great brands are idea led AND consumer informed.” They don’t just push new ideas out there, nor do they just ask customers what they want. They do both—pioneering new ideas, and then working hard to understand how those ideas are being experienced and received in everyday situations.