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Hey there, and welcome back to Marketing Qualified!

Today’s issue is a little different—because it’s a big one. This is the 100th issue of the newsletter!

We’re pretty proud to hit this milestone, but the truth is, we couldn’t have done it without you—our amazing readers. So, first things first: THANK YOU.

Thank you for sticking with us through 100 weeks of tips, ideas, and the occasional bad pun.

Thank you for forwarding issues to friends, sharing feedback, submitting ideas, and leaving reviews. You’ve made this journey as much fun for us as (we hope) it’s been for you.

To celebrate, we wanted to do something special. As we brainstormed ideas, one thing stood out: the sheer number of lessons we’ve learned while writing this newsletter.

Marketing can sometimes feel like a blur of tasks and deadlines, but milestones like this are a reminder to step back and reflect. So, in honor of Issue #100, we’ve put together 100 lessons for marketers. These are insights we’ve learned from writing this newsletter, running experiments, researching, and talking to readers.

We’ve broken them down into categories to make it easy for you to find the lessons that matter most to you:

• Lessons from writing this newsletter

• Copywriting

• Content marketing

• Email marketing

• Social media

• Analytics & testing

• Branding

• Lead generation

• Productivity & mindset

• Strategy

Whether you’re looking for quick wins, fresh ideas, or a new perspective, we hope this list gives you something you can put to work right away.

Let’s dive in!

✅ 100 lessons for marketers.

The top 10 things we’ve learned from sending a weekly newsletter. Plus, 90 more lessons for marketers. These are things we’ve learned the hard way, heard from readers, or discovered through research. Enjoy!

Lessons from writing this newsletter.

1. Writing gets easier with practice—just start.

2. Take risks with your content. Safe isn’t memorable.

3. The best ideas often come from random conversations.

4. Feedback from readers is invaluable—ask for it often.

5. Deadlines are the best cure for writer’s block.

6. What feels obvious to you might be groundbreaking to your audience.

7. Analytics are helpful, but intuition matters too.

8. It’s okay to revisit the same topic if you have a fresh take.

9. Be informal and use humor. It makes you stand out.

10. Show up every week, even when it’s hard. Consistency matters more than inspiration. Some of our most impactful posts were written during tough weeks.

Copywriting lessons.

11. If your headline doesn’t make them stop scrolling, nothing else matters.

12. “It sounds better this way” is a valid reason to break grammar rules.

13. Clarity > cleverness. Confusing copy is forgettable copy.

14. Use short sentences. Break. Things. Up.

15. Numbers are magic. Use them in headlines, CTAs, anywhere you can.

16. People don’t read—they skim. Write for skimmers.

17. Don’t sell features. Sell outcomes.

18. Excellent copy is often just well-edited copy.

19. Formatting matters—use bold, bullets, and white space.

20. Write like you talk.

Content marketing lessons.

21. Start with the audience’s problem, not your product.

22. Solve one problem per piece of content.

23. Content without distribution is a waste.

24. Update old content—it’s faster than starting from scratch.

25. SEO isn’t just keywords—it’s user experience.

26. Share things multiple times. People miss it the first time.

27. Visuals make everything more engaging.

28. Topical content drives traffic. Evergreen content builds authority.

29. If you don’t have a unique voice, no one will notice you.

30. Readers crave authenticity.

Email marketing lessons.

31. A lousy subject line is the quickest way to waste a good email.

32. Preview text isn’t a throwaway—it’s your second shot at getting the open.

33. Personalization only works if it’s meaningful. “Hi [First Name]” isn’t enough.

34. Never underestimate the power of a plain-text email. It feels personal.

35. Test everything: subject lines, send times, CTAs, send from names, etc. Email performance hinges on small tweaks.

36. Follow-ups don’t feel annoying if they’re helpful.

37. Every email needs a purpose. If it’s not clear, don’t send it.

38. Keep your email list clean. Remove inactive subscribers.

39. One clear CTA per email.

40. Test your send times. They matter more than you think.

Social media lessons.

41. Commenting is as important as posting. Sometimes more important.

42. Design posts for mobile-first. Most people scroll on their phones.

43. Repurpose content across platforms.

44. Don’t sell—educate and entertain.

45. Post from individual’s profiles. Not just brand profiles.

46. The algorithms like consistency.

47. Focus on platforms where your audience already spends time.

48. Don’t be afraid to participate in trends that align with your brand.

49. Relationships are built in DMs.

50. Social media isn’t the best channel for some businesses. Don’t force it.

Analytics & testing lessons.

51. What gets measured gets managed.

52. Measure what matters. Vanity metrics don’t drive growth.

53. Minor tweaks can lead to big improvements—don’t discount their value.

54. Heatmaps can reveal where users are getting stuck.

55. Test one variable at a time.

56. Focus on trends, not individual spikes.

57. Use UTM parameters to monitor campaign performance.

58. Not everything can be tracked. That’s ok.

59. When in doubt, just focus on reducing friction.

60. Don’t forget about qualitative data. It’s crucial too.

Branding lessons.

61. Branding is more than design—it’s your reputation.

62. Stay authentic. People can spot inauthenticity from a mile away.

63. Consistency across platforms builds trust.

64. A strong brand makes selling easier.

65. Don’t overcomplicate your message. Simplicity wins.

66. People trust people—humanize your brand.

67. Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

68. People remember stories. Connect with your audience emotionally.

69. Strong brands don’t just talk about themselves—they show how they help others.

70. Transparency builds trust. Don’t be afraid to admit mistakes or share your journey.

Lead generation lessons.

71. Keep forms short—only ask for what you need.

72. Urgency works. Add deadlines or limited spots.

73. Your landing page should be distraction-free. Ditch the menu bar.

74. Lead magnets only work if they solve a real problem.

75. Retargeting ads recover lost leads.

76. Your best leads often come from referrals.

77. Pop-ups work, but only when they’re timed right.

78. Social proof builds trust. Use testimonials, reviews, or logos.

79. Quizzes convert. People love personalized results.

80. Email capture is just the start. Build a nurture sequence.

Productivity & mindset lessons.

81. Keep a “swipe file” of great marketing ideas for quick inspiration.

82. Test new ideas quickly. Overthinking kills innovation.

83. Not every campaign will be a home run. You learn more from the misses than the hits.

84. Stay curious—marketing changes daily.

85. Not every trend is worth following. Choose wisely.

86. The best ideas come when you’re not working. Go for a walk.

87. Other departments won’t understand marketing. It’s your job to teach them.

88. Don’t let perfect get in the way of good. Launch, then optimize.

89. Celebrate small wins. They keep you motivated through the long game.

90. 20% of marketing activities will drive 80% of your results. Find the 20%, then go all in.

Strategy lessons

91. Not every channel is worth your time. Pick a few and do them well.

92. A solid process will outlast any single campaign.

93. Marketing isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about understanding your audience better than anyone else.

94. Simplify your funnel. Too many steps can kill conversions.

95. Retention is cheaper than acquisition—prioritize loyalty.

96. Your competitors are doing some things right. Learn from them.

97. Simplicity wins. Complex strategies collapse under their own weight.

98. Avoid relying too much on any one tactic. Diversification reduces risk.

99. Speed is king. The best idea is usually the one you can execute on the fastest.

100. Good marketing doesn’t feel like marketing—it feels like helping.

Which of these lessons was your favorite? What’s the most impactful marketing lesson you’ve learned lately?

Hit reply and let us know!

Thanks again for sticking with us through 100 issues of Marketing Qualified! We can’t wait to deliver you 100 more!

📰  In the news this week.

🔎 Google released its 2024 trend report.

▶️  YouTube released its 2024 trend report.

📱  TikTok released its 2024 trend report.

🎥 OpenAI released a video generator called Sora.

🤖  Over 50% of LinkedIn posts are AI-generated.

😂 Marketing meme of the week.

How’d we do with this week’s newsletter?

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• 👎 You didn’t bring the heat

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