Brandy Cerne

I’ve spoken to 3 agency owners this week who hit $100k+ months, only to be destroyed by churn. When teams are over capacity, it creates a domino effect: ✅ Quality starts to slip. ✅ Client revisions creep up. ✅ Workload increases. ✅ Burnout takes over your team. ✅ Clients leave. It’s a cycle that will continue... because you forgot to train your team and create great processes. If you don’t know: ✅ How much capacity your team has (daily and weekly) ✅ How many projects are due (daily and weekly) ✅ How your team is performing (daily and weekly) ...then you’re scaling blind. I created Agency Operators: Level Up for agency owners just like you, to solve these issues once and for all. We sold out our first cohort (10 agency owners, $84k/mo. average revenue) in 7 days. If you’re interested in joining the waitlist (24 hours advance notice), comment “Waitlist” and I’ll add you.

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After you’re done with that, do this: 1. Note video styles that work 2. Go to JoinBrands  3. Hire a UGC creator or a few 4. Tell them to create in that style 5. Get videos featuring your product 6. Post them everywhere organically 7. Turn them into paid ads too Get the data. Make an informed guess. Test. Adjust. Start getting more sales. It won’t be easy, but it’s a lot more doable when you have the right tools. P.S. My UGC marketplace helps you find proven creators and get persuasive content made for affordable prices.  Hit the “visit my website” button to check it out.

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if you’re an email publisher looking for advertisers, here are some folks you should go after: ByHeart - baby nutrition SIGNAL: raising a whopping $95M, this women-founded company is looking to get its breastmilk research into the hands of parents. Their goal is to make it easier to support babies' health and give parents peace of mind. A lot of the stuff out there is crap, and they’re using nature and hand-picked ingredients to fix it. if you have married, parents, and busy professionals on your list, ByHeart will be looking to spend marketing dollars to put it at the forefront of baby nutrition. Clasp - HR platform SIGNAL: Clasp makes it easy to integrate health benefits into your current HR platform, giving peace of mind to employees and employers. It seems like most Co's still haven’t figured this out (raising $6M might help Clasp be the one that does). if you’ve got HR leaders, startup founders, and execs on your list, this is a perfect match. Plenty - financial planning app SIGNAL: everyone has one goal: financial freedom. Plenty is trying to make that easy for couples. They’ve launched a platform that’s reasonably priced and has robo advisors to make it easy to manage your wealth. They raised a $5M seed round to try and get into the hands of couples as their financial statuses begin to mature. if you’re an investing and finance newsletter, or you have a list full of married couples, Plenty is looking for your type of audience (especially since it’s a super competitive market). RunPod - cloud platform designed for developers to deploy AI apps SIGNAL: RunPod has one goal... to make it as cheap and efficient as possible to use cloud computing to create AI platforms. After raising a seed from Intel and Dell, they plan on scaling ASAP. They have a range of use cases, from enterprises to small startups and academics. if you’ve got an AI, Crypto, tech, educational, or founder-focused newsletters go after these people ASAP! They’re trying to be aggressive and capture the market as quickly as they can. Lumo - smart irrigation system that enables growers to save water and reduce costs SIGNAL: growing is tough out there. Water restrictions, extreme weather... and much more to go to battle with. Lumo is changing the way we manage freshwater resources. They’re trying to simplify water management since irrigation is the number #1 cost for most growers. if you have a cannabis and farming-focused audience, Lumo is dying to get in front of your audience to demo the cost savings and tech behind Lumo. Sauz - CPG company that offers a variety of pasta sauce SIGNAL: On the heels of CPG brands like Olipop, Graza, and Poppi’s success, Sauz is trying to do the same... except with pasta sauce. And honestly, pasta sauce has been boring. So it’s nice to see someone out there trying to shake things up. if you’ve got a CPG newsletter, or you advertise D2C products to your audience often you’ve got to hit up Sauz and see if they’ll bite.

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Unpopular opinion; growing your own social media is harder than growing a brand or organization's social media. IMO, if an individual is able to grow their personal social media platform; it's proof of their understanding in social engineering. This is nuanced, of course. It doesn't necessarily mean they fully understand *all* marketing concepts. But if they've gotten attention AND they've managed to hold that attention, they're onto something. #business #marketing #socialmedia

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🛑 PSA for brands: Are you secretly stunting your own email list growth? Spoiler alert: You probably are… 😩 The culprit? Double Opt-In. 🚫 Yep, it’s that sneaky Klaviyo feature that’s “recommended” but actually throws a wrench in your list-building efforts. Here’s the deal: Double Opt-In forces new subscribers to confirm their subscription – which sounds great on paper, but in reality, it’s like handing them a pen and then hiding the paper. 📝🤷‍♂️ And let’s be real - today’s shoppers don’t want obstacles. They’ve given you their info, they want their offer. Stat. ⏱️ Many brands don’t even realize this friction is slowing down their list growth. But the good news? 🗞 Fixing it is easier than hitting the "snooze" button in the morning. ⏰ Just follow these steps: 1. Head to the list tied to your sign-up form. 2. Click “Settings” → “Consent” 3. Swap that “Double Opt-In” for “Single Opt-In” 4. Click “Save,” and voilà! You’re back in the game. 🏆 Your future subscribers will thank you. 🌱💌

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This is a great post. It speaks to some of the things I worry about regarding the negative aspects of AI content. It's so important that at least a significant part of your content schedule is made up of stuff that is relatable, emotive and personable, so that you can build a connection with your desired audience. People want to hear from people. We mustn't undervalue the human experience. #content #AI

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It's mid may. Time to level up your holistic approach to agency lead gen. Forget the silver bullets. Agencies should initiate 60 marketing actions over the 60 days increasing your marketing activity as we enter (for most non seasonal agencies) the worst 3 months of the year. June, July, August. All signs indicate the recovery starts to build proper momentum from September 2024, after March's false start, and then again a bounce back after the general election early 2025. #sameasever

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What's the #1 problem I see with brands? They'll talk the talk, but won't walk the walk. They'll say they're "innovative, caring, people-powered", but they're no different than every other brand that says the same thing. Why? Because they think brand is a subgenre of marketing. It's not. Brand =/= Marketing Your brand is your character. It's: 🔹 who you are 🔹 what you do 🔹 how you do it That's why I say "essence precedes image" (with a debt of gratitude to J.P. Sartre). If you claim to value your customers but your customer service is abysmal it doesn't matter how often or clearly you say, "we value our customers". Folks will see right through it. That's why I advocate for *deep branding*, which doesn't just change how you market, or change how you show up in the market, it changes how you do business. You need to ask yourself: How do we need to change how we treat: what we make? the people who make it? and the people who buy what we make? Lastly, you need to ask yourself, "what good are we *actually* doing for people and the planet?" No branding is complete without the deep work required to successfully rebrand and show up with fluency, intentionality and congruence. If you're ready to be who you are and change how you're seen, I have one Q3 client opening. Do good. Do right. Do you. Start here: email ➡️ john (at) john gorman (dot) Co

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Pinterest drove 170% more Total Attention compared to other platforms. Pinterest stands out by driving 170% more Total Attention than other platforms. Total Attention measures two key engagement types: Active Attention and Passive Attention. Passive Attention plays a significant role, with Pinterest ads delivering 7.3X more Passive Attention than those on other platforms. This high level of engagement is largely because users genuinely enjoy the content on Pinterest—by design. Read more about how you can capture the interest of your audience in an era filled with distractions. #socialmediainsights #marketingnews #pinterest #socialmediatoday

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This protein bar rebrand is a masterclass in marketing. But most people miss the real lesson. Slapping "natural" on a label doesn't cut it anymore. Consumers are sick of empty promises. - They want proof. - They want full transparency. RXBAR skipped the BS and SHOWED what was inside: simple ingredients, listed right on the front. This transparency resonated with consumers - they could see for themselves the quality of the product. No more wondering, just trust. And that trust led to a sales explosion and a fat paycheck for RXBAR. Question is: What are YOU hiding behind marketing speak? Time to skip the fluff and SHOW what your product is really about. What do you think? ————————— Follow me for more Rinor Restelica I share about Tech and AI, I also help CEOs and founders build their online presence/ personal brand. DM me 📩 #marketing #startups #business #tech #leadership #productivity #transparency #winningstrategy

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Feel like our son's lawn business is gonna blow up. No BS. The brand strategy, copywriting, and graphic design is world class. 😂 He rolled into our room at 10:30 last night after a bunch of conversations about his desire to make a little money and build something this summer. (B is his best friend) (S is him) 14 year old Canva skills aside though: ~ Pretty clear and catchy name ~ Understanding-ish of their clients' pain ~ Path of how they can help ~ Clear CTA (number redacted, is that the right use of that word attorney friends?) ~ Narrowed down target market (sorry Android users) ~ Story-based connection (who doesn't respect two 8th graders ready to work) Now... Will they print this flyer? Hang it in their neighborhoods? Price their services in a way that's attractive to the buyer and profitable to them? Communicate with care and clarity? Do a damn good job? Fix their mistakes when they don't? Show up when it's hot and Fortnite sounds more fun? Time and work ethic will tell. Ideas are easy. But there's no BS in the opportunity that awaits them if they deliver. I imagine clients would help them spread the word pretty quickly if they do.

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Question for the marketers in the room: What is the #1 question you'd like to ask a professional copywriter right now? Would it be... Where to get started when writing copy? How to conduct research? How to write (an ad, an email subject line, a home page)? How to structure your copy (an email sequence, ad sequence, or a landing page)? How to filter the good out from the mess that ChatGPT (et al) serves you? Or... something else? I've got you 💪 Ask your question in the comments below, and I'll reply to your comment - asap. (No charge, no nothing, I just like helping!) For context - I've got something exciting in the works (shh 🤫 can't tell just yet!) so would love to hear what's top of mind for you right now. So, please go ahead and ask away 👇 #copywriting #marketing #linkedin

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User-generated content (UGC) is reshaping marketing in a big way, and the numbers prove it. 92% of consumers trust recommendations from real people over branded content—highlighting how impactful UGC truly is. For small businesses, getting started with UGC doesn’t require massive budgets or big-name influencers. Here’s how you can begin: Start by encouraging your customers to share their experiences with your product on social media. Run a simple photo contest using a branded hashtag, or ask for video reviews and testimonials. Incentivize participation with discounts or giveaways to increase engagement. UGC doesn’t have to be complex—sometimes, a heartfelt customer post can resonate more than a polished ad. There are also platforms like Billo.app where you can pay content creators to make video ads about your productTo take it a step further, structuring UGC ads properly can make all the difference in performance. Here’s a simple framework: 👉 Hook: Grab attention within the first 5 seconds. Start with a powerful customer quote or a visually engaging image that sparks curiosity. 👉 Middle: Tell the customer’s story. Focus on their experience and transformation using your product. Keep it authentic and relatable. 👉 Call to Action: Guide your audience on what to do next. Whether it’s visiting your website or making a purchase, make the next step clear and easy. AI tools like TikTok’s Spark Ads and Instagram’s Branded Content can scale organic UGC into effective paid ads. Tools such as TINT and Flockler simplify content management, but authenticity is key—always get customer permission and ensure the content aligns with your brand's values. UGC isn’t just a trend—it’s transforming how brands connect with customers and driving real results. So whether you’re a small business or a large one, the magic of UGC is accessible to all. How are you using UGC in your strategy? Let’s chat! #UGC #DigitalMarketing #Meta #BrandAuthenticity #CustomerTrust #GrowthHacks

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Here’s the advice I gave to the startups who booked in to speak to me at BizFest 👇 I’m not against paid ads. But I recommend figuring out what works organically, before pumping money blindly into an ad campaign. Instead, here’s what I would do. #PartnershipMarketing #StartupMarketing #Marketing

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“We want to do a brand campaign but we only have $X.” I hear a version of this all of the time. My first response is that if you’re going to underspend on brand, don’t do it at all. But if they’re set on doing it, then I help them get creative. During a recent meeting, I shared insights into our brand campaign testing strategy, focusing on a split-testing approach designed to optimize impact and efficiently allocate resources. Here’s a quick breakdown of the strategy I outlined: 1. Market Pair Testing: Instead of spreading our budget thin across multiple markets, we chose to concentrate efforts by pairing similar markets and running the campaign in one while holding off in the other. This method allows us to measure the brand campaign’s direct impact on awareness, lead generation, and conversion rates. 2. Incremental Measurement: By conducting these tests in Q1, we aim to assess if the campaign lifts key performance metrics across all channels. Success metrics include traffic growth, cost-per-acquisition reductions, and engagement lifts. If effective, we plan to scale up in Q2. 3. Hypothesis Validation: Our theory is that brand campaigns bolster all performance marketing channels. Through this structured testing approach, we’ll confirm if a stronger brand presence enhances conversions across the board. This approach is not just about cutting costs; it’s about smart investments that yield data-driven results. Testing in small batches allows us to pivot quickly and focus resources on what truly works, building a brand that resonates and converts. Let’s get strategic with brand awareness—big splash, measurable results. #BrandMarketing #DataDriven #MarketingStrategy #BrandAwareness #SplitTesting #MarketingOptimization

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If you’re not diversifying your ad budget, you’re leaving money on the table. When we onboarded a women’s apparel brand in July, they were spending well on ads—but results were falling flat. Why? Their creative strategy was weak, no structured testing was in place, and all their budget was funneled into Facebook Ads. There was untapped potential everywhere. Here’s how we transformed their approach: 1️⃣ Diversified Ad Spend: We restructured their budget across multiple platforms, including Google Ads and retention marketing, giving them visibility where their audience actually spent time. 2️⃣ Creative Strategy & Testing: We introduced a robust creative strategy with consistent testing to find what resonates with their target audience. 3️⃣ Account Structure Revamp: We rebuilt their account for better tracking and performance, ensuring they weren’t just spending—they were optimizing. 4️⃣ Audience Testing & Messaging: By testing new audiences and crafting messaging that spoke directly to their customers, we made every ad impression count. 5️⃣ Strategic Budget Increase: We scaled budgets strategically, supporting growth without driving up costs. Results? We cut their cost per purchase by 15%, took control of their ad spend, and set them on a sustainable growth path. Sometimes, it's all about working smarter with the resources you have. This is how results happen. #ecommerceagency #performancemarketing #metaads #ecommerceads

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Ok, I'm doing a LinkedIn: I've spent the past few months fighting robots... ...With words!! It's been great getting stuck in to content strategy at Lunio. Working with such a welcoming and talented team has been an absolute blast. For anyone looking to learn more about recent developments in the Paid Media space, you can find my i̶n̶c̶o̶h̶e̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶r̶a̶m̶b̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ writing over on the Lunio blog. We've also got some cool stuff coming up - more webinars, events, even a podcast in the works! It's always a bit daunting starting a new role, but getting the opportunity to hit the ground running as part of a friendly team (that doesn't mind all the 'new guy' questions) has been amazing 🤖

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Attn: Copywriters Searching for Gigs (Freelance and Corporate) Use the “Search” bar and filters to find gigs. No one I talk to uses it . . . so get a leg up on those sleeping in.

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