Making It Rain, One Step at a Time

Behind the Marketing

Building a million-dollar audience may seem like a remarkable feat – but in fact, it’s absolutely a predictable and achievable accomplishment.

It just boils down to creating relevant, engaging content.

When creating content, it's crucial to understand your audience and tailor it to their specific preferences.

Remember, you can be experimental – don’t count on every single post being a winner…

Sometimes they just don’t land; perhaps the timing could have been better, or the topic didn't hit the mark.

Don’t let a poor reception slow you down.

As I’ve said before, consistency is key.

Stay regular in your output, and let your content become an expression of who you are as a person.

After all, organic growth flourishes when you're authentic and resonate personally with your audience.

And authentic expression and connection require testing the water sometimes!

So never let the trolls get you down.

Haters are gonna hate whether you post or not – so forget them and stay true to what matters to you.

If people don't connect with your message, they're likely not the audience you were aiming for in the first place!

Stay current and relevant to your audience – and always keep a finger on the pulse of emerging trends.

Trends should serve as a launch pad for your inspiration, however, and are not to be parroted verbatim.

Borrowing from the latest trend is helpful to stay up to date, but add your own flair – make it your own.

Because the heart of content creation is authenticity.

The content creators who flourish are those who stay genuine.

And remember, you don’t need high-end equipment to make this happen.

On the battlefield of captivating attention, your smartphone is your marketing sword, the most powerful tool you have to forge a connection with your audience.

Identify your audience and hone in on your niche.

For many, the initial motivation is money. And while this can certainly frame your intent – the greatest success comes from passion.

Let your pursuit transform into something more personal, almost like a public diary.

Share those precious nuggets of wisdom that have made you the person you are, and the rest will follow.

So, you ask, “What’s the first step?”

Dive right in.

Don't worry about getting everything perfect.

Do it for the right reasons, do it for you, and everything will fall into place.

Are Movie Theaters Dying?

“Coming to a theater near you” has become a dated tagline in recent years.

Because whether you enjoy going to the movies or not, the days of overpriced concessions and sliding along butter-slicked isles to find your seat may be numbered.

With the induction of streaming services, the entertainment industry has, without a doubt, been reshaped, from changing our consumption habits at home to all the way back to the studio, in how movies are made.

As a result, traditional box office sales have taken a substantial hit.

2020 further exacerbated the situation, making it a wonder that movie theaters have managed to survive at all!

Take for instance a recent film that many predicted would be a “Block Buster”: The Flash.

The newest DC production, this film was anticipated to make a big splash at the box office.

Ticket sales quickly plummeted after opening, however, causing many theaters to pull it early.

And The Flash isn’t alone.

Streaming has indeed caused a seismic shift in Hollywood. The movie-goer industry has seen a decline of 18%.

Despite efforts to lure audiences with plush seats and giant screens, modern cinema is grappling with significant challenges.

This decline leads us to question whether people still cherish the unique experience that a theater provides.

But maybe it’s less to do with theaters themselves, and more to do with how viewers engage with streaming services.

Rather than the traditional approach of casting a wide net with each release, streaming services have the advantage of tailoring each experience to the user's preferences…

Captivating interest by only showing relevant content based on their past preferences.

Consider the last time you stumbled on a random trailer.

Within services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, this is seldom the case.

Through targeted marketing techniques, content becomes tailored to your preferences, keeping you engaged and hungry for more.

On top of that, they aren't just broadcasting movies and shows;

They've taken it to the next level, becoming content creators themselves.

With many streaming services taking the helm in production, film as we know it has stepped into a whole new era.

The projected growth for streaming services looks highly promising and is expected to rocket upwards.

All that being said, many still cherish the traditional movie theater experience.

But it becomes harder and harder to justify spending a small fortune between snacks and tickets when streaming services offer all that from the comfort of your home.

If the theater industry wants to stay afloat, they need to find a way to pivot or reinvent.

In the meantime, streaming services offer a huge opportunity to connect with audiences in a way that’s customized specifically to their preference.

Amazon Prime recently rolled out both “self-serve” and “managed” options for getting started with video ads on their “with ads” subscription plans –

They recommend a $10k minimum budget for self-serve, and require a $50k minimum for their managed option though, so the service isn’t immediately available to advertisers without a significant budget…

However, you can get started placing your video ads next to popular shows on Hulu for just $500.

These options are all relatively new, and we’re excited to see how this “commercial” comeback opens up new doors for up-and-coming entrepreneurs!

Click here to submit your marketing for analysis and discover the potential for growth and success.

Uncommon Advice

If a looming deadline or a multifaceted project feels too big to handle – leaving you frozen in your tracks – micro-commitments can be an incredible tool to break the ice.

Micro-commitments can be a game-changer…whether applied for personal growth, business development, or marketing strategy.

This approach's transformative potential lies in its ability to build momentum and ultimately drive meaningful change on a neurological level.

In marketing, micro-commitments form the backbone of an effective campaign.

First, the goal is getting a user to pause their scrolling and focus on your advertisement.

Then, you aim for the next step – a click on the ad.

Each small 'yes' gradually brings your audience closer to your end objective – making the inevitable goal of conversion more attainable.

The usual marketing approach can often feel like throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks.

But harnessing the power of micro-commitments allows you to flip this script.

You start small, every agreement builds trust and fosters a sense of unity throughout your strategy.

Translating this concept to life and personal growth can be equally potent.

Struggling to kickstart your productivity?

Feeling stuck in the direction of your business?

Have you hit a wall in meeting resolutions, time after time?

This is where micro-commitments come into play.

Micro-commitments are a convenient trick to train your brain to override ingrained habits.

Habits aren’t only behavioral, they are embedded in our brains as neurological pathways.

Like a river flowing through a valley, it can be incredibly difficult to divert behaviors once they become habitual.

The longer the habit goes unchecked, the deeper the channel becomes in our minds.

And left to its own devices, the brain will always default to the path of least resistance – which is why we often feel stuck in our old ways.

Here’s how micro-commitments can help create substantial change:

When you look at a task or habit you want to transform and break it down into tiny, obtainable goals – you create the potential for momentum on a much bigger scale.

Coming back to the river analogy, think of these actions as the slightest diversion from the main flow.

Starting with the tiniest action possible, you create a slight detour in the neural pathways of your brain.

With time, this channel becomes stronger – eventually expanding to allow more and more of your energy to channel through.

Soon you’ll have a new trajectory in the currents of your programming, allowing a new habit to form.

To put this into practice: pick the easiest item on your to-do list and tackle it.

You start a ripple effect of confidence and momentum by scratching one item off the list.

When you find yourself in a funk, be it first thing in the morning or at the 2 o’clock slump – simply choose one task that will offer an easy win, and build on that success.

Completing a simple task – like making your bed every morning – is a great starting point.

This may seem trivial, but it's a crucial first step to starting your day with a sense of accomplishment.

This simple act paves the way to knocking out other tasks on your list.

As you continually fulfill these minor commitments, they compound and allow you to clear significant hurdles over time.

It's the embodiment of age-old wisdom…

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones” - Confusious

So, lean into the power of micro-commitments.

Whether it's growing your business, improving your marketing, or boosting personal productivity – small commitments are your stepping stones to significant success.

Stay tuned for more Uncommon Advice, where we’ll continue to explore innovative strategies and insights to help you navigate life and entrepreneurship.

Rooting for ya!

~ Nate Kennedy