Swipe File #19: One size never fits all

Hey All,

It's finally sunny and bright here on the East Coast. I hope your spring is off to a great start and that these articles might give you a little boost of inspiration.

Enjoy, and if you're feeling inspired, pass it on.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” via @ColinStuckert

A friendly reminder from Colin Stuckert's great fitness blog A Gym Life.

Realize this: Most people avoid risks not because they are worried about losing time or money but because they are worried what their friends, family and peers will think. Think about how stupid that is considering we all only get one chance at this fleeting thing called life?

1,000 True Fans via @kevin2kelly

One of the reasons I feature older posts is because great ideas stand the test of time. This article from Wired co-founder Kevin Kelly is a perfect example. It's seven years old and truer than ever.

One thousand is a feasible number. You could count to 1,000. If you added one fan a day, it would take only three years. True Fanship is doable. Pleasing a True Fan is pleasurable, and invigorating. It rewards the artist to remain true, to focus on the unique aspects of their work, the qualities that True Fans appreciate.

One Size Onboarding Does Not Fit All via @NateMunger

One of the biggest mistakes I see in marketing today is over-optimization. Marketers automate just because they can. Intercom's customer support lead Nate Munger gets to the heart of the issue in this great post.

Not every user needs every onboarding message. If you are talking to every user the same way, you’re likely over messaging many and annoying some. Or at least training them to ignore you. At the same time other users are left struggling to find answers or don’t discover valuable features.

Marketers Are From Mars, Consumers Are From New Jersey via @AdContrarian

This is the latest book from Bob Hoffman. I'm currently reading 101 Contrarian Ideas on Advertising — which I snagged for 99 cents on Amazon — and plan to tackle this one next. If it's anything like the rest of his work, it's going to be great.

It's a fast-paced, thrill-packed journey through the back alleys of marketing... or, wait... maybe it's an uproarious romp across the treacherous landscape of today's advertising industry... or, hold on, maybe it's just a book I scraped together from this blog, articles I've written, talks I've given, and stuff I found lying around at Taco Bell. You decide.

Have a great week!

Jimmy

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