It's time we accept that a recession is coming. From the article I just finished about the recession marketing playbook: "Cutting your marketing budget won’t save your business. It just guarantees you'll be invisible when the market recovers." Join our list to learn more: bit.ly/4nBmfeg

“We could get along like 1101110 1101100.” -MXPX Also, “Will AI Take My Job? 2” is officially released tomorrow.

Business owners, stop buying pretty marketing that doesn't deliver. Discover the four essential questions to ask that separate effective marketing from expensive fluff. bit.ly/3Wfu4tY

Why Portland? This is why.

"The best marketing in the world cannot change a consumer's need state." ~ James'ism Occasional buyers are 'occasional' because what you are selling isn't critical to their day-to-day life. Ads, even great ads, aren't going to change this.

I enjoy words and will often play with them to create haikus while I'm waiting for a Zoom call to start. Align with their needs, and the journey customers take. Your business wins.

Was anyone raptured yesterday? Please let us know how it went.

Want a rumor? Trump is late for his big autism press conference because he is having a ketchup flinging shit fit. He is enraged Disney stepped on him with their Kimmel announcement. He is inconsolable at the moment.

Tired of ChatGPT-5 giving you generic fluff? Stop treating it like a magic 8-ball. Start prompting with intent. bit.ly/4mzqMwz

We went for a walk in Tahoe National Forest.

“With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,” Colbert said. “If ABC thinks that this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive.” @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

Tired of chaotic marketing that burns budget but doesn't drive growth? The Zen Marketing Framework creates calm, intentional marketing that actually works. Stop contributing to the noise. Start breaking through it. bit.ly/4muksX3

Kimmel statement in other words, not about Kirk, not colorably hate speech, but about MAGA. And accurate besides. Shame on ABC.

Some great advice here. If the economic and political chaos frightens you, then this is worth a look. “Here’s something that won’t change regardless of economic turbulence: your best customers will always be your best customers.” bit.ly/4pozP63

“AI is an amplifier, not a magic button. If your prompt is broken, your output will be too.” — James’ism

I wrote a post about using GPT-5 to respond to the comments I’m seeing from people frustrated with it. I haven’t experienced this and started wondering why I wasn’t having the same issues that others report. Watch this space 😎

Your best customers are the growth multiplier that’s hiding in plain sight.~ James’ism

1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat. Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable. Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️

Worried your business is vulnerable to recession? Your best defense is already on your books. Best customers keep buying in downturns. But most businesses ignore them. Learn how relationship marketing turns existing customers into a recession-resistant growth engine: bit.ly/4m0J09T

Is your marketing repelling modern buyers? Read our blog post. Learn how strategic personalization turns skeptics into advocates by delivering the right message at the right time. Stop adding to the noise. Build pathways customers want to follow. bit.ly/4p2Tbh1

I'm sure you've heard the adage, "Don't build your business on rented land." Well there's a new take on this to be aware of. If you are becoming dependent on LLMs and they are important to your business, which is our situation, you want to be careful.

Stop chasing vanity metrics and platform hopping! Measure what matters and scale what works. Six Marketing Measurement Mistakes to Avoid. bit.ly/4oZf68T #MarketingTips #Analytics #Growth #DigitalMarketing

Efficiency is doing things right; efficacy is doing the right things.~ James’ism

Guesswork is expensive, but real customer insights are priceless. With Marketing Sage Advantage, you’ll map your buyer’s journey, uncover what truly drives their decisions, and turn that knowledge into campaigns that work.

“The choice is simple. Keep pushing and hope, or start guiding and grow.” ~ James’ism From an upcoming post, Marketing for People Who Don't Like Marketing.

Your marketing feels busy but the results just aren’t there. You’re running ads, posting content, sending emails, yet growth is stuck. Why? Because your tactics aren’t connected. A clear strategy connects scattered tactics to deliver consistent revenue. 📖 Read more: bit.ly/4lrj4E2 #Marketing

Most businesses don’t have a marketing problem. They have a connection problem. Good tactics don’t lead to great results unless they’re working together. If your efforts feel scattered, or you’re not sure why growth has stalled, this post is for you.

Want to level up your AI game? 🚀 Check out these 16 advanced ChatGPT tips that go beyond basic prompting. From privacy controls to workflow automation, these are real productivity boosters I use daily. Read more about advanced use of ChatGPT: bit.ly/41wPwxw #AI #ChatGPT #Productivity

Stop guessing what your customers want. Marketing Sage Advantage helps you build strategy around real conversations, not assumptions.

Most marketers ask: “Which AI model is best?” The real question: “Which AI model fits my task?” Your marketing isn’t plug-and-play—your AI shouldn’t be either. Here’s how to build an intentional AI Marketing Stack: inn8ly.com/the-ai-marketing-stack

Maybe it’s time to rethink “calls to action.” The best marketing doesn’t push, it guides. A good pathway speaks to the right people, offers value, and invites your customers to move forward on their own terms.

The most important sale isn't the first one. It's the second. Because when someone buys again, it’s not just a transaction, it’s trust. And trust doesn’t come from flashy offers. It comes from clear, strategic marketing that attracts the right customers for the right reasons.

Struggling to break through the marketing noise? Discover how strategy, structure, and measurement can turn chaos into growth. Unlock the Zen Marketing Framework for more momentum and less wasted effort. bit.ly/3UpAK7X #DigitalMarketing #Growth #MarketingStrategy #ZenMarketing #Inn8ly

The fine folks @perplexityai.bsky.social gave me access to @perplexitycomet.bsky.social, and I have to say, it's an awesome tool. I've just started using it, so I expect there's even more, but so far, wow!

Big Changes almost always fail. Many small changes will impact your business over time. And when the small changes are applied strategically, it can all happen pretty fast. Don’t stop the wheel. Touch the wheel early and often. Have you seen a big change that worked?

Tired of wasting time while using ChatGPT? What if it could actually plan your content, write your emails, and spark ideas, saving you hours every week? We made a FREE Beginners Guide so you can turn ChatGPT into your content co-pilot and productivity wingman.

Still getting bland AI responses? Try these 3 workflow hacks.

Let’s shift the language from “call to action” to “pathway to action.” It’s a small change in words, but a big shift in mindset.

Your buyers have changed. Has your funnel?

Using ChatGPT but not seeing results? The problem might not be the tool. It's how you're using it.

Marketing isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about connecting better.

Still talking about your product features? Your best customers don’t care about what it does. They care about how it helps them. If your marketing isn’t working, the issue isn’t your product. It’s your approach.

Still making these marketing strategy mistakes? No shame. We see these all the time 🙋‍♀️ Fix these 5 common marketing mistakes before your next campaign:

Your marketing looks great. But it’s not converting. Here's why 👇

🤔 Ever feel like your marketing efforts are just... everywhere? Here's the thing: Your marketing isn't broken—it's just not connected. And the magic happens when the connections happen. 🔗

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I just made Tahini. You know, the super expensive spread you think about getting but don’t. Toast 2 cps of raw sesame seeds in a pan for 3 minute. Process in a food processor until it forms a thick paste. Gradually add two tbs of good olive oil. #realfood

Our team designed and rebuilt a client’s #WooCommerce site using the Ollie theme. Year to date sales are up 170% versus last year. earlybirdnc.com @mikemcalister.com

When I’m not helping clients with their marketing, I make stuff in the kitchen 😎