Content Marketing Archives - NoGood™: Growth Marketing Agency https://nogood.io/category/content-marketing/ Award-winning growth marketing agency specialized in B2B, SaaS and eCommerce brands, run by top growth hackers in New York, LA and SF. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:31:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://nogood.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NG_WEBSITE_FAVICON_LOGO_512x512-64x64.png Content Marketing Archives - NoGood™: Growth Marketing Agency https://nogood.io/category/content-marketing/ 32 32 How Brand Collaborations Work on Social Media + Examples for Inspiration https://nogood.io/2025/07/02/brand-collaborations/ https://nogood.io/2025/07/02/brand-collaborations/#respond Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:31:26 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45742 Brand collaborations have become a marketing staple, allowing businesses to tap into new audiences, increase engagement, and create high-quality content that resonates with potential customers. But how do brand collaborations...

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Brand collaborations have become a marketing staple, allowing businesses to tap into new audiences, increase engagement, and create high-quality content that resonates with potential customers. But how do brand collaborations work, and what makes them successful? Let’s dive into the world of brand partnerships, explore successful examples, and uncover the best strategies for executing a winning collaboration.

What Are Brand Collaborations?

Brand collaborations, also known as brand partnerships, occur when two or more brands come together to create a joint marketing campaign, product offering, or exclusive content. These collaborations can take many forms, including product co-creations, limited edition releases, celebrity collaborations, influencer marketing initiatives, and cross-promotions on social media platforms.Successful brand collaborations leverage the strengths of each participating company to create an offering that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Whether it’s a luxury brand like Louis Vuitton partnering with a streetwear label, or an energy drink collaborating with a music festival, brand collaborations help businesses reach a wider target market and drive audience engagement.

Collage showcasing examples of brand collaborations.

Are Brand Collaborations Successful?

When executed strategically, brand collaborations can be highly successful. Here’s why:

  • Expanded Audience Reach: Collaborations between brands expose businesses to each other’s customer base, increasing visibility and brand awareness.
  • Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with a like-minded brand can boost credibility and trust among potential customers.
  • Increased Engagement: Joint marketing campaigns often generate excitement, leading to higher engagement rates on promotional content like social media posts.
  • Innovative Product Offerings: Collaborations inspire creativity, resulting in unique and exciting products that appeal to customers.
  • Cost-Effective Marketing: Shared marketing efforts can reduce costs while maximizing impact.

How Much Do Brand Collaborations Cost?

The cost of a brand collaboration varies based on several factors:

  • Brand Size & Reputation: Collaborations with major luxury brands like Louis Vuitton or leading influencers come with a higher price tag.
  • Campaign Scope: A simple social media giveaway costs significantly less than a co-branded product launch.
  • Production Costs: Creating high-quality content, packaging, and promotional materials adds to the overall investment.
  • Influencer Partnerships: Collaborations with micro-influencers tend to be more affordable, while celebrity endorsements require a larger budget.
  • Marketing Efforts: Paid advertising, affiliate marketing, and event sponsorships contribute to expenses.

A well-planned brand partnership can yield substantial ROI, making it a worthwhile investment for many businesses.

A neon sign of two hands doing a handshake.

How to Collab With Brands

To ensure a successful collaboration, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Right Partner

Before you seek out a collaboration opportunity, evaluate your own place in the market. Who is your audience? What would they like to see?

Look for brands that align with your target audience, values, and marketing strategy. Collaborating with like-minded brands makes the work of connecting your two offerings simpler, and makes the collaboration itself feel more real.

2. Define Your Goals

Determine what you aim to achieve, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, launching an exciting product, or boosting sales. Keep in mind that there are two parties involved here—be sure that both you and your partner brand are in alignment with each other’s goals, too.

3. Develop a Creative Concept

Brainstorm unique ideas for the collaboration, ensuring it provides value to both brands’ customer bases. Some common concepts for brand collaborations include:

  • Limited edition product launches
  • Joint marketing campaigns
  • Industry events and pop-ups
  • Social media content series

During this phase of the process, keep in mind what we covered earlier—brand collaborations are your opportunity to step outside of the box of typical marketing and spin up something truly creative.

4. Leverage Social Media Platforms

Maximize audience exposure to your brand collaboration by using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube and creating engaging social media posts, influencer marketing partnerships, and interactive campaigns.

5. Execute & Promote the Collaboration

Once the collaboration is live, actively and consistently promote it through marketing initiatives, affiliate marketing programs, and targeted ads to reach both your potential customers and those of your partner brand.

6. Measure Success

Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement rates and sales, and collect customer feedback to determine the effectiveness of the collaboration.

5 Successful Brand Collaborations for Inspiration

1. Louis Vuitton x Supreme: A Luxury-Streetwear Fusion

A featured piece in Supreme's brand collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

One of the most famous brand collaborations, this groundbreaking 2017 partnership between luxury brand Louis Vuitton and streetwear giant Supreme created a limited-edition collection that appealed to both luxury and streetwear audiences.

The success of this collaboration lies in the target market. The two brands capitalized on their audience’s interest in fashion and exclusivity to expand their reach—and so they did. The collaboration sparked global hype, immediate sell-outs, and high resale values to this day.

2. Liquid Death x Martha Stewart: Unexpected & Ironic

A promotional image from Martha Stewart's collaboration with Liquid Death.

In an unexpected pairing, canned beverage (and at times other things) brand Liquid Death teamed up with Martha Stewart to launch a tongue-in-cheek Halloween campaign featuring “Dismembered Moments”—a collection of gory, yet somehow elegant, home décor. One of the main pieces of the collection was a candle shaped like a severed hand holding a can of Liquid Death.

The creativity of this collaboration lies in the unexpected, even ironic, nature of the partnership itself—Liquid Death has made a splash in the marketing world with its bizarre branding and copywriting that is ridiculous to some, hilarious to others. There’s arguably not a more opposite choice for a Liquid Death brand collaboration than Martha Stewart.

Due to this unexpected play and its creative execution, the humorous yet edgy marketing strategy garnered massive social media engagement and boosted brand awareness.

3. Target x Missoni: Affordable Luxury

Missoni's collaboration with Target.

In 2011, Target successfully partnered with Italian fashion house Missoni to create exclusive resort wear and clothing collections at accessible price points, bringing Missoni’s iconic zigzag patterns to the mass market.

The limited-run collection sold out within hours, crashing Target’s website and setting a new bar for high-low designer retail partnerships.

4. Adidas x Beyoncé (Ivy Park): Fashion & Function

Adidas' brand collaboration with Beyonce.

Adidas partnered with Beyoncé to relaunch her Ivy Park brand in 2020, blending performance sportswear with high-style streetwear. The collection emphasized empowerment and inclusivity and—although they parted ways in 2023 due to creative differences—is a solid example of a high-ticket celebrity collaboration.

5. Dunkin’ x TikTok Star Charli D’Amelio: Influencer Marketing Success

Charli D'Amelio holding a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Dunkin’ linked with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio in 2020 to launch “The Charli,” a signature cold brew drink that tapped into her massive Gen Z following in the platform’s early days. The viral campaign drove app downloads, increased sales, and modernized Dunkin’s cultural relevance.

Final Thoughts

Brand collaborations are an effective marketing strategy that allows businesses to reach new audiences, boost engagement, and create buzzworthy content. Whether partnering with a luxury brand, leveraging micro-influencers, or launching a joint product, collaborations can be a game-changer when executed correctly.

If you’re looking to explore brand collaborations for your business, NoGood can help develop a strategic partnership tailored to your goals. Let’s create something extraordinary together!

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Humor as Part of Your Brand Social Strategy: Make ‘Em Laugh Without Making a Mess https://nogood.io/2025/06/27/humor-social-media-strategy/ https://nogood.io/2025/06/27/humor-social-media-strategy/#respond Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:11:33 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45700 If your brand’s social media feels about as exciting as a Monday morning meeting, it’s time to shake things up. Using humor in your social media strategy is like adding...

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If your brand’s social media feels about as exciting as a Monday morning meeting, it’s time to shake things up. Using humor in your social media strategy is like adding hot sauce to your food: it just makes everything better.

People love funny brands because they feel human. And guess what? Nobody remembers the company that just says, “Happy Friday!”—but they do remember that tweet about a painfully relatable moment.

Let’s dive into how humor can make your brand stand out (without getting you canceled of course).

Why Humor Works on Social Media

Humor isn’t just about making people laugh—it’s about making them feel something. And when people feel connected to a brand, they want to engage with it again and again. Here’s why funny content is your new best friend. It:

  • Boosts Engagement: Social media platforms reward engagement, and funny posts get people liking, commenting, and sharing like crazy.
  • Makes Your Brand Memorable: People forget generic posts, but they remember the ones that got them to chuckle, or at least blow air out of their nose.
  • Creates a Sense of Connection: A good joke makes your brand feel real, like a friend, not a faceless corporation.
  • Increases Shareability: Funny content spreads fast. Think about how quickly memes take over your feed.
Phone mockup with #funnytok written on it.

What Kind of Humor Works for Brands?

Not all humor is a good fit for every brand—some industries demand a higher tone of professionalism. Here are a few styles that generally work well for brand voice in terms of humor:

1. Observational Humor

The classic “we’ve all been there” jokes. Think Seinfeld, but make it marketing.

Example: A coffee brand tweeting: “Our espresso shots are stronger than your WiFi signal.”

2. Self-Deprecating Humor

A little self-roasting can make your brand feel relatable, as long as it doesn’t make people question your competence.

Example: A social media platform posting: “We fixed a bug today. Not the one that ruins your life, but hey, baby steps.”

3. Pop Culture & Trending Humor

Hop on viral memes fast, or don’t hop on them at all. If you’re using a meme from last year, you might as well be posting in Comic Sans.

Example: A real estate brand using the “Is this a pigeon?” meme to poke fun at misleading listing descriptions.

4. User-Generated Comedy

Encourage your audience to create funny content for you. Nothing gets people talking like a good caption contest or challenge.

Example: A brand launching a “Caption This” challenge with a funny image (bonus points if it involves a cat).

How to Add Humor to Your Brand’s Social Media

1. Know What Makes Your Audience Laugh

Not everyone finds the same things funny. Some audiences love sarcasm, others love dad jokes. Just as with any other marketing effort, it’s vital to take the time to understand your audience and their particular sense of humor. Use performance metrics like engagement and audience demographics to figure out what works.

2. Stay True to Your Brand

Humor is great, but it still needs to make sense for your brand. A law firm cracking jokes? Risky. A fast-food chain roasting competitors? That’s more like it.

3. Match the Humor to the Platform

Though your brand voice should remain consistent at its core, keep in mind that the distribution channel can impact the method with which your message is delivered. Each social media platform has its own vibe:

  • X (Twitter) is great for quick, punchy one-liners (though we have more room to get creative with anywhere from 280-10,000 characters).
  • Instagram: Funny images and memes.
  • TikTok: Hilarious videos and trends.
  • LinkedIn: Humor with professionalism (it’s possible, trust us!).

While we’re talking platforms, remember that the best social strategy is more than just putting content out into the ether—engage with your audience with things like commenting and prompting users to interact with you.

4. Avoid Cringe & Controversy

Humor should bring people together, not make them cringe—or even worse, start an online war with your brand at the center. Steer clear of offensive jokes, outdated memes, or anything that could alienate your audience.

Note: There are ways to start a “good” controversy—think left Twix vs. right Twix. A controversy, yes, but all in the love of humor.

5. Test, Learn & Adjust

Just like in a stand-up set (or in real life), not every joke will land—and that’s okay. Marketing is an experiment, so test different types of organic and paid content and keep an eye on engagement levels to see what works best.

4 Brands That Are Killing It With Humor

1. Wendy’s: The Roast King

Probably one of the first brands to ever kick humor up a notch as part of their social strategy, Wendy’s Twitter/X account is legendary for its witty roasts. They’ve turned snark into a brand identity, and people love it.

Screenshot of a Tweet from Wendy's, a pioneer of humor as a social strategy.
Screenshot of a Tweet from Wendy's, a pioneer of humor as a social strategy.

2. Netflix: Funny & Relatable

Netflix is the king of observational humor, turning everyday streaming struggles into hilarious social media content. They’ll even throw in data from their own internal analytics every once in a while to remind their audience that their streaming habits are—well, anything but normal.

Screenshot of a Tweet from Netflix, an example of humor as a social strategy.

3. MoonPie: Weird, But Wonderful

MoonPie’s Twitter strategy is straight-up bizarre, but in a way that makes people want to follow them just to see what they’ll say next. Kind of like that one chaotic friend (everyone’s got one)—we as the audience are just along for the ride.

Screenshot of a Tweet from Moonpie, a pioneer of humor as a social strategy.

4. Old Spice: The OG of Quirky Ads

From funny, “how did they even come up with this” commercials to hilarious tweets, Old Spice leans all the way into absurdity (and it works!). We think of this as the “I’d kill to be a fly on the wall during their marketing meetings” mentality.

Screenshot of a Tweet from Old Spice, an example of humor as a social strategy.

Final Thoughts: Time to Get Funny

Adding humor to your social media content isn’t just about cracking jokes and hoping something stick—it’s about making real connections with your audience. Whether you’re crafting hilarious tweets, jumping on viral trends, or using memes to spice up your marketing strategy, humor is a powerful tool to boost engagement and build brand love.

So go ahead: embrace your funny bone, try something new, and watch your brand’s engagement skyrocket. Just remember: if it feels forced, it probably is.

Need help making your brand funny without forcing it? At NoGood, we know how to craft humor-driven content that actually works. Let’s make ‘em laugh!

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10 Brands Killing It On LinkedIn Right Now & Why https://nogood.io/2025/06/11/best-brands-on-linkedin-right-now/ https://nogood.io/2025/06/11/best-brands-on-linkedin-right-now/#respond Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:45:45 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45550 LinkedIn—once a professional networking site, transitioned into a content-driven platform. From thought leaders to B2B brands, LinkedIn is now a space where brands demonstrate their expertise in the space. LinkedIn...

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LinkedIn—once a professional networking site, transitioned into a content-driven platform. From thought leaders to B2B brands, LinkedIn is now a space where brands demonstrate their expertise in the space. LinkedIn has been around for over two decades, and within the past few years, we’ve seen the platform transform into something new. As creators turn to independent publishing, LinkedIn has added new features to adapt to this growing trend.

More brands are showing up on LinkedIn with a question in mind: “How can I stand out?” Posting on LinkedIn isn’t just about uploading open job positions anymore. It’s a space to share insights, learnings, and build community. Every brand, whether it’s a B2B or SaaS, can think of LinkedIn like peeling back a layer of what they already post on TikTok or Instagram. It’s all about the thought and brain power behind the greatest brand stunts.

The Winning Formula on LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t the easiest space to get discovered on. It’s niche and built by small communities who share similar interests, compared to platforms like TikTok, which are built for users to discover easily. LinkedIn is more complex, authoritative, and dense (sometimes). To build brand awareness and establish your presence on LinkedIn, there are three requirements:

Personal branding

Think aesthetics. Keep every post, text, image, and carousel on brand. From brand colors to voice and tone, your brand should show up the same every time someone comes across your page. This builds recognizability on LinkedIn and helps your followers know that it’s you every time you appear on their feed. Creating that familiarity builds a relationship with your followers in the long run!

Create valuable content

LinkedIn is all about establishing yourself as an expert in whatever niche industry you choose. Whether it’s design, AI, or beauty, your content needs to provide insights from your brand’s tone of voice. Valuable content sparks conversations through uniqueness, relevance, and clarity. How different is your brand’s point of view on a relevant topic, and is it digestible enough so readers don’t scroll away? This helps you develop credibility and build trust with your growing audience.

Consistency

The more consistent brands are with posting, the more people will see your posts. Consistency is key when it comes to posting schedules, formats, and POVs. For example, some brands post every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or only Monday through Thursday.

As your brand gains more followers on LinkedIn, they’ll expect posts according to your publishing schedule. Knowing what to expect means your posts instantly catch their eye because it’s recognizable. This can be through carousels, short text posts, or a bit of both every now and then. Not only does a consistent POV establish your credibility, but it also makes you reliable to people who read your content.

Different Types of LinkedIn Posts

LinkedIn is full of different types of content pieces, but they can all be categorized into four categories: company culture, industry insights, hot takes, and news sources.

Company Culture

These are the posts that shed light on people within a company or in the same field. It can even be about a company’s brand mission and commitment. We often see posts about employee accomplishments, company awards, culture, etc. Company culture posts elevate specific people or groups of people within a company and their behavior. Think memes or quirky text posts about company culture. This type of content tends to lean more light-hearted and wholesome.

Industry Insights

Industry insight posts are research-backed trend discussions and observations within niche spaces. These posts offer insights on what’s happening “behind closed doors” that people wouldn’t think of off the bat. A “did you know?” kind of angle is what’s thought-provoking enough to be an industry insight. This content leans more authoritative and analytical.

Hot Takes

Controversial posts are thought-provoking and are a great way to get the comments sections fired up. These posts bring up controversial opinions about topics, past or present, to prove points—while still demonstrating expertise. These kinds of posts are engaging and provide a conversation starter in your comment section. Think of a question or statement that is dramatic and adds shock value. These posts lean more bold and unfiltered.

News Source

Think updates, timeliness, and relevancy. These posts highlight recent developments like product launches or news pieces, either in the real world or within an industry or company. News source posts are straightforward and cut to the chase. These posts are supported with a headline or digestible image of some sort to grab readers’ attention with dramatic statements or questions. News source posts are oriented to be informative and up-to-date on a certain topic.

The Top 10 Brands On LinkedIn Right Now

Based on LinkedIn’s winning formula and popular content formats, these are the brands that are killing it:

  1. Semrush
  2. UPS
  3. Sephora
  4. Amazon
  5. The Nature Conservancy
  6. PLM
  7. Figma
  8. Patagonia
  9. Google
  10. Duolingo

From B2B to SaaS companies, here’s the breakdown of their success on LinkedIn:

1. Semrush

Semrush logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Semrush is a digital marketing software platform that’s all about helping businesses grow their online presence. On LinkedIn, they post a little bit of everything, however, they mainly focus on news sources and industry insights posts related to the marketing world.

For example, their post about AI chatbots and search engines is considered an industry insight because it’s backed by research from Semrush. With their target audience being marketers and SEO specialists, their brand-focused content directly targets the audience that uses their platform.

2. UPS

UPS logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

We all know UPS as the company that delivers and ships our packages—on LinkedIn, we get to see beyond the package that arrives at our front doorstep. UPS on LinkedIn is all about demonstrating its company culture through storytelling.

The UPS team actively posts historical pieces, acknowledges hard-working employees, and spills facts about their greatest accomplishments. Great examples include this post about a UPS employee working for 55 years without accidents, and a fun fact about delivering on bikes, which gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to get a package delivered to their home.

3. Sephora

Sephora logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Sephora, the most popular retailer of all things beauty and personal care, has a soft spot for its employees on LinkedIn. Similar to UPS, Sephora is big on company culture. Their LinkedIn posts frequently spotlight Sephora employees, their speakers at company events, and all in all, uplift women.

Sephora’s posts showcase the beauty behind the actual makeup products they sell. This post about the percentage of female workers at Sephora shines a light on the voices of women in the workforce.

4. Amazon

Amazon logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

As Amazon continues to grow, so does its LinkedIn following. Amazon is known as one of the fastest delivery services on the market, and its LinkedIn page provides readers with the latest company news and updates.

Amazon is consistent with its TOV, often posting about innovation and growth within the company. With over 34 million followers, Amazon continues to be one of the top-followed brands on LinkedIn. Despite many of those newer follows being due to recruitment opportunities, Amazon sticks to a clear visual identity, prioritizing value over virality.

5. The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

If you care about nature and climate change, The Nature Conservancy is the page to follow on LinkedIn. When discussing personal branding and consistency, this account does just that. It’s clear what The Nature Conservancy stands for, and their posts speak for themselves.

Whether they’re posting about environmental concerns, fun facts, or encouraging readers to embrace nature, this non-profit shares its mission through every post. With this POV, The Nature Conservancy created a niche community of followers who stand by their values, making them an expert in the field.

6. PLM

PLM logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

PLM (Pretty Little Marketer) is a marketing service specializing in industry insights about all thinking marketing, from content creation to trends. Their target audience consists of marketers and content creators, and through that, they’re able to produce content to meet their audience where they’re at.

Consistency is key for PLM as their carousels include observations and learnings in the industry in a digestible and familiar format as the rest of their feed. PLM built a strong community of learners with their consistent posting schedule and insightful takeaways about shifts in the industry. Consistency not only creates familiarity, it builds reliability. Followers can constantly rely on PLM to post content that’s valuable to their needs.

7. Figma

Figma logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Figma’s LinkedIn feed is all about themselves, and that’s what their audience, a community of designers, wants. Figma focuses on news source-style posts about their company. Their posts often include their latest updates, events, and tips about product features.

Figma is consistent with its messaging style and ability to spread awareness about its brand to avid graphic designers or web developers. Sometimes brands should make content about themselves, they just need to do it in a way that speaks to the right audience.

8. Patagonia

Patagonia logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Patagonia’s mission statement is clear from the start. Their LinkedIn bio states, “We’re on a mission to save our home planet.” Patagonia is a retail brand that sells outdoor clothing and products, part of the reason for their commitment to environmentalism.

Patagonia’s LinkedIn page is a testimony to their commitment. Their posts lean towards company culture and news sources. Their page is also reliable and consistent. You can expect to read about the latest bill that impacts the environment or personal statements from employees at Patagonia. LinkedIn is what Patagonia truly is behind the backpacks and jackets people buy to camp in the woods.

9. Google

Google logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Google is one of the most followed brands on LinkedIn – and for good reason. Google’s LinkedIn makes readers feel like they’re a part of the Google experience. Their posts give their audience a behind-the-scenes look into Google, where viewers are introduced to different recruiters, interns, and employees who contribute to the company’s ongoing success. Besides company culture, Google keeps readers up-to-date with the latest news and features about its company.

10. Duolingo

Duolingo logo – one of the best brands on LinkedIn right now.

Lastly is Duolingo. The infamous green bird that took over socials and owns the “unhinged” marketing strategy. LinkedIn is where we see a sharper and more authoritative side of Duo.

Duolingo highlights its employees-first culture on LinkedIn, regularly spotlighting company culture and how they treat their employees, acknowledging their hard work and contributions.

Their posts also give their audience the latest updates on any new updates to their language learning app, like additional courses or minor tweaks to improve user experience. Duolingo’s personal branding is consistent in every post, aligning with what they look like across all social channels.

Next Steps For Your LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t just a platform for recruiting anymore, it’s a full-scale brand-building channel. To see performance grow, brands need to treat it like any other social platform. It all comes down to strategy, consistency, and formatting.

Lead with value, stay current, drive content through storytelling, and start conversations. The brands killing it on LinkedIn today are the ones that blend authenticity with authority. Be an expert and a reliable voice for your followers.

Curious about partnering with us? Reach out to learn more.

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Executive Thought Leadership: A Guide to Building Influence Through Strategic Content https://nogood.io/2025/06/10/executive-thought-leadership/ https://nogood.io/2025/06/10/executive-thought-leadership/#respond Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:29:26 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45544 Today’s founder-led growth landscape offers more accessibility to the movers and shakers of the world than ever before. Imagine being able to sit in the garage with Steve Jobs or...

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Today’s founder-led growth landscape offers more accessibility to the movers and shakers of the world than ever before. Imagine being able to sit in the garage with Steve Jobs or shadow Bill Gates in some of his earliest sales meetings. While we still don’t have access to a time machine, we do have the next best thing.

Executives are actively sharing their personal experience, strategic thinking, and vision directly with audiences around the globe, effectively inviting thousands into their “virtual dorm room” as they build the next market-defining innovation.

Across newsletter subscriptions and personally-branded LinkedIn blogs, business leaders are carving out a competitive advantage by offering their distinct perspective and unique insights to stand out from the crowd.

The ability to think differently is emerging as an effective value proposition: one that can influence long-term decision-making and be the decisive factor in partnership deals.

Founders and key players at some of the most high-profile organizations in the world, including Google and Microsoft, are being incentivized to vocalize their thoughts on social media and beyond, where traditionally these valuable perspectives might have been kept confined to the boardroom or saved for a lucrative publishing contract.

As social media and thought leadership continue to emerge as essential pillars of any effective growth strategy, it’s important to consider how this tactic can be employed alongside employee advocacy and top-down transparency to improve share-of-voice and supplement traditional marketing.

If you’re curious about what effective executive thought leadership looks like and how to get started within your own organization, we have prepared this guide to help implement the right framework that supports sustainable growth and crafts a resonant narrative for prospective customers.

Screenshot of the founder of NVIDIA's LinkedIn work experience.

Effective Thought Leadership & Its Impact on Growth

Executive Thought Leadership content can come to life in many forms. Beyond sit-down interviews and on-stage appearances, key business stakeholders are forging connections with their partners and potential customers by being honest and transparent on social media.

According to Edelman’s 2024 B2B Thought Leadership Impact Study, 61% of decision-makers now place greater importance on thought leadership than traditional marketing materials when evaluating potential partners.

Even more significantly, 57% of C-suite executives have awarded business to organizations based solely on their thought leadership contributions, even when those companies weren’t previously on their radar.

The implications are clear: executive thought leadership doesn’t just enhance visibility—it creates opportunity.

And this strategy doesn’t just apply to those at the top of the corporate ladder—the results can turn into renewed and extended collaboration, new contracts, or a reliable bank of professional references.

For those just getting started in a new role or seasoned professionals looking to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry, receiving a unique and valuable perspective on your day-to-day experience is likely in high demand.

Your company or brand likely already has a social media strategy or employee advocacy program in place, but when thinking about your own personal brand, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

Chart showcasing the how-tos of executive thought leadership.

Thought leadership content on social media tends to be less brief than traditional blogs and offers more impact than standard one-off posts and irregular updates. You don’t want to start posting without a clear idea of how you’re trying to move the needle and what conversations you want to be a part of.

In the next section, we’ll discuss how to set measurable goals and implement strong tactics that can help you find your voice.

Executive Thought Leadership in Action

An effective thought leadership strategy offers tangible benefits for both the individual and their organization by influencing customer trust and driving business relationships.

Individuals looking to share their own thoughts should consider the best channels to start posting on and what return-on-investment they’d like to see. This helps inform posts that could turn into repeatable, rewarding content.

Chart of considerations and guiding questions for executive thought leadership

Platforms to Consider

While the social media landscape is constantly evolving, thanks to the proliferation of short-form video and the oversaturation of independent content creators, LinkedIn has remained a healthy place to find high-profile people sharing their experiences.

This may be due to the inherent professional nature of the network, but even the tone-of-voice many use on LinkedIn has changed since activity on X has decreased and Instagram made changes to compete with TikTok.

LinkedIn supports long-form blog articles as well as multi-image carousels and even short video clips directly displayed in the feed. Whatever formats you decide to focus on, there’s a strong chance LinkedIn will make it easy to share. For most thought leaders looking to get started, this platform is your best choice.

If you travel frequently or have a particularly interesting office or workspace setting, you can leverage compelling visual content to diversify from the competition on a personality-driven TikTok or Instagram page. You may also consider posting in an organized group or community forum if you have an audience that’s active on Facebook.

Core Content Themes

Now that you know where you’re going to be posting, you should put some thought into what it is that you want to say. An obvious place to start is by relaying your day-to-day experience to followers who may not directly work at your company.

Think about what an average week looks like for you and make notes of the most interesting conversations or discussions you participated in. Sharing simple anecdotes from lived experience makes your role feel more public-facing and transparent, and can also reflect positively on the organization you work for.

Traveling for work also provides ample opportunity for content creation. You can share a post from the airport lobby about the next city or country you’re visiting, as well as details on the culture you’re excited to experience or memories of your last trip.

Providing an authentic, human perspective on shared experiences, such as sightseeing and trying new foods, makes it more likely that your audience will be receptive and engage with your personality.

Taking photos at trade shows and conferences is another strong way to reinforce your position. Tag the accounts of people you met for the first time, participated in a panel with, or heard give an insightful talk to maximize reach and encourage others to comment back.

There are plenty of evergreen conversation topics that you can return to to keep your posting cadence consistent as well. For example, think about your professional history and create a document that has some notes on topics including:

  • How to manage a crisis at work 
  • Your philosophy on hiring and building a team 
  • Balancing work and personal life 
  • Reflecting on failure and how to move forward

Finding Support

When it comes to sharing thought leadership content, consistency is key. If your schedule doesn’t accommodate frequent copywriting or ideation, consider bringing an assistant or agency in to help with production. Emerging as a thought leader that courts respect and reaches new followers requires avoiding quiet periods or dips in quality, even if you have minor updates to share.

Find a regular, recurring time to set aside and review photos or summarize key takeaways you want to share on social media. You can fill out a template form that can be fleshed out or built upon by someone on your team after you get started.

When managing posting responsibilities, consider a tool that lets you share account access and keeps your login credentials secure, so another member of your team can publish posts.

Determining the balance of authorship and inspiration is different for everyone, as some leaders insist on 100% ownership of every word that goes out under their name, while others are more than comfortable handing off a bullet-point summary for a ghostwriter to take the lead on.

It’s important to ensure everything that goes live has at least one round of quality assurance feedback to ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and maintain a professional tone-of-voice.

Measuring Success

As with any social media strategy, having clear goals and objectives is instrumental in ensuring continued success.

For the first month of activity, experiment with different formats, uploading various asset types, and playing around with humor and more dramatic hooks to see what your audience responds to.

Identify top-performers and any consistent, recurring themes within those posts. Maybe you have cultivated a network that’s interested in seeing what kinds of books you read, or wants to know what podcasts you listen to on cross-country flights. Others may only be interested in hearing your takeaways from a recent sales kickoff or keynote.

Executive thought leadership content should be driving towards a clearly defined objective. For some, this may be building a reputation, and they focus on the total number of impressions and reach. If you are interested in starting conversations and being seen as an influential voice in your field, you may track the number of comments and direct messages your posts receive.

Elsewhere, broader business goals such as media attribution and share of market voice can be significantly bolstered by executives who are active on social media channels. Reviewing your content performance regularly and incorporating key learnings are important to drive success.

An executive standing up and speaking in front of a crowd.

Implementation: From Insight to Business Impact

On average, today’s executives can share insights, build relationships, and influence decisions on a scale previously reserved for only the most visible industry figures.

However, this democratization of influence also means that excellence, authenticity, and strategic focus are more important than ever. Effective thought leadership demands a strategic approach that aligns personal brand development with organizational growth objectives.

The executives who commit to implementing comprehensive thought leadership strategies, measure their impact rigorously, and continuously refine their approach will find themselves not just participating in industry conversations but leading them, and converting that leadership into sustainable business growth.

Teams that achieve the most significant impact understand that thought leadership is not a marketing tactic but a comprehensive business strategy that touches every aspect of their organization’s market positioning.

As explored in this blog, there are various ways to begin piloting an executive thought leadership program. Staying true to your distinct perspective and following clear, measurable milestones provides a healthy foundation for your content strategy.

Whether you choose to focus on industry insights, leadership philosophy, or innovation strategies, consistency in messaging and authentic engagement with your audience remain paramount to building the trust that ultimately drives business results.

The most successful programs often involve professional support, whether through content creators, social media managers, or integrated marketing teams who can maintain quality and consistency while respecting executive time constraints.

If you’re ready to take the leap and start building your own executive thought leadership strategy, NoGood has the resources you need.

The post Executive Thought Leadership: A Guide to Building Influence Through Strategic Content appeared first on NoGood™: Growth Marketing Agency.

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Commenting As a Social Media Strategy https://nogood.io/2025/06/03/commenting-as-a-social-media-strategy/ https://nogood.io/2025/06/03/commenting-as-a-social-media-strategy/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:51:54 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45498 Most social media strategies start and stop with the content calendar. But there’s one underrated tactic brands of any size should be taking advantage of: commenting.  Commenting is not just...

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Most social media strategies start and stop with the content calendar. But there’s one underrated tactic brands of any size should be taking advantage of: commenting.

Commenting is not just a supportive gesture; it’s a strategic move. Whether you’re a solo creator, a startup, or a global brand, how and where you show up in comment sections can shape perception, build relationships, and expand your reach in ways a single feed post often can’t. 

Think of it this way: while posting is the backbone of social media, commenting is the connective tissue. The backbone gives your brand structure and presence, but without connective tissue, your strategy lacks mobility, flexibility, and connection. Comment sections have become where the real action happens—where conversations spark, relationships take root, and brands stop shouting into the void and start becoming a part of the culture. 

Collection of brands leaving comments on tiktok videos

In this article, we’ll explore how commenting can serve as a core part of your social strategy—from the psychology behind it, to styles that work, to real-world winning examples of how brands use comments to win attention and affinity.

Why Commenting as a Brand Deserves a Seat at the Table

Many brands and creators overlook commenting, yet it’s one of the most high-impact, low-effort ways to grow visibility, build credibility, and stay culturally relevant. This makes commenting a scalable way to stay visible.

Commenting is simply another medium to get eyes on your brand without content creation burnout. Not every touchpoint with your audience needs to come from a feed post or paid social ad. Comments allow your brand to show up consistently without the heavy lift of production.

Comment flywheel infographic describing strategy for brands commenting on social media posts

But it’s not just about visibility—there’s a technical advantage too. Most social platform algorithms reward accounts that interact meaningfully with others, especially those that contribute to active conversations. When brands consistently take these actions, their accounts stay algorithmically “warm”, increasing the chances of appearing in more feeds, explore pages, and recommended sections. 

Want your brand to embed itself in cultural moments fast? Commenting allows brands to creatively earn relevance in larger communities. You don’t need to own the conversation to benefit from it. That’s where most brands get stuck. Just being present in the right threads of comments can build association and strong exposure. This is crucial for smaller brands that are starting from scratch, as consistent, smart commenting can help build credibility in saturated, competitive social spaces.

Finally, reading and participating in viral comment sections is an opportunity for your brand to receive real-time insights into what your audience cares about. These discussions give you unfiltered access to your audience’s tone, interests, frustrations, and language. It’s an organic social listening tool at your fingertips. Here you can answer the questions:

  • What questions show up repeatedly?
  • What types of content or topics are sparking viral comment sections? 
  • Whose comments are rising to the top, and what makes them stand out?
  • What tone of voice is getting the strongest reactions—humor, bold takes, vulnerability, expertise?
  • Are there gaps or questions going unanswered that your brand could step in and respond to?

Brands Are Being Summoned

More and more, creators are summoning brands to engage directly with their content with the expectation that they’ll respond in ways that are humorous, unhinged, chaotic, or entirely unexpected. It’s no longer strange to see a creator say, “@Duolingo, don’t be shy,” or bait a brand with a challenge, roast, or request of a niche meme. These are invitations, not just mentions. It’s performative, yes—but it’s also strategic.

Creators understand that a brand comment can spike their content’s visibility and drive attention. And in return, the brand gets a moment in the spotlight, too. It’s a win-win situation.

Collection of comments on a viral tiktok post

But even if your brand isn’t being summoned yet, that doesn’t mean you should wait to be invited. This style of interaction has become a crucial part of the entertainment value on social media, specifically on TikTok. The brands that earn engagement today are playing along, embracing personality, and proving they understand the nature of social.

POV: The Comment Is The Content

Still not sold on a commenting strategy? Here’s your proof. The brands seeing the most success on social media are not passively participating in conversations; they are becoming the content itself. One smart, funny, or unexpected comment can get screenshotted, stitched, or turned into an entire TikTok or meme, without your team lifting a finger.

Tiktok videos discussing how brands are commenting on user tiktoks

This is organic brand exposure you simply can’t buy! If you can compel a user to amplify your voice with no buy-in, you’ve won! Strive to be the story, not another voice in the void.

The Psychology Behind Commenting

Social media isn’t just a broadcast channel, it’s a connection machine. At its core, it’s driven by three human impulses: connection, validation, and curiosity. That’s where commenting thrives.

Emotion is the currency of engagement. If your brand is commenting vaguely or without channel-native language, it won’t land. Comments that make people laugh, feel seen, or offer something useful cut through the noise. When a brand sparks an emotional nerve via humor, relatability, or insight, it’s more likely to stand out. When a witty comment comes from a brand, it hits harder. Why? Because most brands play it safe. So when one breaks character, or rather creates a strong one, it stands out even more. Extra points for Gen-Z fluent language. 

Give a little love in the comments and watch it come back tenfold. When a brand comments, it opens the door for others to engage back. People are wired to return favor and attention. A single, well-written comment can lead to likes, follows, DMs, or even loyal fans.

Familiarity breeds trust. A brand name consistently showing up strong in comment sections, across a select topic, or in viral internet moments, builds subtle but powerful recognition. Over time, your brand becomes a known voice, trusted for what you say and for being part of the conversation at all. 

Low-stakes, high-impact. Comments are small, low-lift actions that keep your brand top of mind, just by showing up where people are already paying attention. It strips away the formality and makes your brand feel human, not corporate. 

The Art of Commenting Across Channels

Not all social media platforms are created equal, and neither are comments. Commenting as a brand should be more than just reacting. It’s an easy strategic tactic to express a brand voice in order to build credibility and strengthen connections with audiences. The strongest strategies aren’t random; they’re intentional and platform-specific. 

Over the past year, brand accounts have increasingly taken the risk of showing up in the comments with casual, witty, sarcastic, even unhinged, remarks. What stands out is that many of these comments appear on content completely unrelated to the brand itself, often viral videos. This unexpected participation not only catches people off guard, but it also amplifies reactions, laughs, shares, and sometimes even headlines. But this approach isn’t quite groundbreaking. Wendy’s pioneered this tactic nearly a decade ago on Twitter, setting an early blueprint for brands to ditch stiff corporate speak in favor of humor, sass, and real-time banter. 

Brand beef conversation between McDonald's and Wendy's

For years, Twitter was considered the main platform where brands had permission to loosen up, unlike Instagram or Facebook, which remained polished and promotional. That dynamic shifted when TikTok exploded. Its rise and Gen-Z-heavy audience rewired expectations across all social platforms, rewarding chaotic humor, relatability, personality, and quick cultural reactions.

But don’t be fooled, actively monitoring trending conversations and evolving social language takes real effort. Slang shifts fast, and cultural moments can disappear just as quickly as they emerge. The key is to identify spaces where your brand can show up naturally and add something to catch attention. Relevance doesn’t come from forcing your way into the conversation, it comes from speaking the way your audience already does.

The ROI of Commenting

A single strong comment can convert to a follow, start a conversation, or even lead to a sale. While some might think it’s just social small talk, it’s a strategy that has proven to drive real results for brands of any size.

Visibility That Converts

When your brand lands a top comment on a viral post and live comment section, you’re certain to get attention and earn exposure. The ripple effect is real: top comments often lead curious users to your profile, resulting in a measurable spike in profile views, video views, and ideally, followers. This kind of passive discovery is the modern version of word-of-mouth marketing. 

From Comments, to Conversations, to Customers

Engaging in the right comment sections, where your target audience lingers, can lead to unexpected business outcomes. Smart and/or humorous comments can be the gateway to genuine leads from people who had no idea your brand existed before. Whether someone witnessed your comment or was part of the conversation, the single action of commenting can shift perception. Suddenly, your product or service isn’t just a need; it’s a want. It’s low-cost, low-effort outreach that feels more authentic than traditional ads in today’s social environment. 

Algorithmic Momentum

Social platforms reward activity. That may sound overwhelming, however, this doesn’t always mean cranking out more high-quality feed posts. Activity includes meaningful engagement. When your brand appears in comment sections and evokes any kind of emotion, you’re fueling the algorithm with the kind of activity it runs on. This kind of “comment currency” keeps your profile warm and active, increasing the chances your future posts land in more feeds, Explore pages, and suggested follow lists. It’s organic visibility, without the paid boost.

Qualitative Wins That Compound Over Time

Beyond the metrics, consistent and powerful commenting strengthens brand perception. It humanizes the brand with personality, builds trust, and familiarity. Over time, you become known less for what you post and more for how you show up as a social consumer like everyone else.  

ROI ladder for branded comments

Pro tip: Track your top-performing comments the same way you would a feed post. Analyze patterns of strong likes, replies, profile visits, and any downstream engagement you likely source from a comment. This strategic tactic isn’t just PR or “extra credit” anymore; it’s part of your growth engine. 

Standout Brand Comments That Nailed It

So, which brand accounts are getting it right? Back in 2023, there were only a few—now in 2025, a lot of B2C and B2B brands alike have caught on. Through wit, chaos, or charm, these standout accounts prove that commenting can be a strategic art form. Let’s look at how Ryanair, Empire State Building, Sour Patch Kids, and Scrub Daddy have turned the comment section into their content playground.

The Irish ultra-low-cost airline group, Ryanair, has mastered the art of turning social media engagement into a brand-defining strategy. Their approach is marked by a bold, irreverent tone that resonates across platforms, particularly in the TikTok comment sections where their audience eagerly anticipates their witty reports.

This strategy is not accidental; it’s a deliberate effort to humanize the brand. By embracing a most often cheeky style, Ryanair has cultivated a loyal online following that appreciates their candidness and humor.

Ryan Air responding cheekily to user comments

Ryanair was one of the first brands to take the risk of showing up in social conversations with bold, unapologetic humor. In doing so, they helped redefine how brands—especially airlines—show up online, setting the tone with edge, personality, and cultural fluency. Their team’s agility in responding to comments with timely and humorous replies sets them apart even more.

Ryanair is certainly not alone. The Empire State Building surprised audiences by abandoning its buttoned-up image for chaotic, meme-savvy replies, showing that even iconic institutions can win on social media when they tap into internet culture.

Sour Patch Kids delivers their signature sweet-and-sour personality in the comments, often responding directly to videos about their candy (or roasting competitors) with clever, bi-polar sass.

Scrub Daddy has mastered the art of creative intervention. They’ve jumped into comment sections about cleaning, competitors, or even totally unrelated content with sharp wit that drives visibility.

User videos and with brands responding in the comments

Whether they’re reacting to content about their product or inserting themselves in broader conversations, these brands have cracked the code: consistent, culturally fluent commenting builds community, buzz, and social power.

Commenting Etiquette and Mistakes to Avoid

Like most things in life, balance is key. Once you see the impact of commenting, it may be tempting to comment on every viral post you come across. But without intention, you can do just as much harm as good. Don’t be the brand that forgets: how you comment matters just as much as where—and how often—you do.

And when brands get it wrong, the internet talks back. Audiences are quick to call out brands, whether it be a tone-deaf comment, an off-brand attempt at humor, or a clumsy AI-generated reply. In some cases, users even create content specifically to bash brands with weak and out-of-touch comments. 

Pushback from users  regarding brands commenting on their videos

To avoid a PR misfire from a singular comment, here are six essentials to keep in mind to build and execute a successful commenting strategy:

  1. Skip The Fluff: Generic comments like “Love this!” or a random list of emojis add zero value. If your brand doesn’t have something impactful to say, keep on moving. 
  1. Don’t Hijack The Thread: Avoid dropping links or any self-promotional plugs. It’s a quick way to lose trust and feel like spam. 
  1. Stay On-Brand: Comments are an extension of your brand voice—and a more intimate one at that. Chasing clout with off-brand language might grab attention, but lead to eroding long-term trust. 
  1. Be Quick or Don’t Bother: Relevance has a quick shelf life. If you jump into a viral thread 3 days in, it makes your brand look behind. Be in the first 20 comments, or else your comment will get buried.
  1. Know When To Sit Out: Just because something is happening, doesn’t mean it makes sense for your brand to jump in. Learn when to sit back and observe from the sidelines. 
  1. Don’t Let AI Take Over: AI can be helpful, but soulless, irrelevant comments are brand kryptonite. Use AI to enhance your ideas, not replace human instinct. 

As brands navigate the do’s and don’ts of commenting, remember: each comment is a chance to build stronger connections and position your brand as a relatable voice in the community. 

Systems for Scalable Commenting

Commenting on social media doesn’t have to be chaotic and unorganized. Here are three smart systems to build in order to track effectiveness and scale:

  1. Make commenting a daily habit.
    Spend 10–15 minutes each day engaging with key creators, niche communities, or meme hubs your audience would likely follow or engage with. Keep a live tracker of priority accounts and topics, and show up with intention. This small, consistent ritual increases your chances of high-impact visibility.
  1. Use AI to scale without losing your voice.
    AI can help generate comment options in different tones, flag trending posts worth engaging with, or surface viral conversations in your niche. Think of it as your creative co-pilot—helpful for scale, not a replacement for human instinct. 
  1. Assign ownership. Track impact.
    Like any other part of your content strategy, commenting needs a clear owner. Designate someone to lead the charge, ideally the most “tapped in” person on your team. Set specific goals (profile visits, DMs, shares, brand mentions) and track results over time. It’s a small effort with big potential returns.

Social Media Marketing Doesn’t Stop at the Feed

Brand voice in the comments is just as much a part of your brand’s social strategy as any feed post. Every reply is a chance to show personality, build recognition, and earn trust in a low-lift, high-reward way. 

Treat comments like mini-posts. If nothing else, be unexpected and funny. Start with one a day, and watch how showing up smartly in comment sections drives powerful results.

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How Substack is Driving the Rise of the Independent Writer Economy https://nogood.io/2025/04/15/substack-writer-economy/ https://nogood.io/2025/04/15/substack-writer-economy/#respond Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:36:24 +0000 https://nogood.io/?p=45263 Explore how Substack is transforming digital publishing by fueling the independent writer economy, helping journalists, authors, and creators build loyal audiences and monetize their work on their own terms.

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If you were to ask anyone currently working in digital media, from journalists to analysts, they’d likely tell you the landscape is shifting. Some might say evolving, some might say collapsing, but the common theme is change.

Between multiple pivots-to-video and the Facebook algorithm single-handedly bankrupting publications, the way we consume online writing has gone through multiple profound transformations and is constantly under reevaluation.

With traditional publishing gatekeepers losing their grip, and established platforms becoming less reliable, audiences sought more direct, authentic relationships with the voices they trust.

Amid the resurgence of newsletters and direct-to-audience models, one platform has quietly but powerfully reshaped how writers create, connect, and get paid: Substack.

Phone displaying Substack inbox

What began as a simple newsletter tool has evolved into the engine of a broader movement — one that empowers writers to own their audiences, monetize their work on their own terms, and operate like independent media brands. With low barriers to entry and built-in monetization features, Substack has positioned itself at the center of the creator economy’s literary wing.

Its appeal is much more than just a platform for newsletters — it’s a catalyst for a new kind of writer-led economy.

We’ll explore how Substack is changing the story surrounding content creation as well as what it signals for the future of writing, media, and the people who shape the narratives we follow.

Going Independent

In October 2024, Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz made headlines at the very same publications she had covered technology and government for by departing her prestigious job to pursue a new business model on Substack.

“I want to be able to publish whatever I want, whenever I want, and I want to get the upside of breaking news,” she was quoted at the time.

This high-profile acquisition marked a significant step in the platform’s ongoing effort to attract writers looking to break away from traditional media outlets. By encouraging journalists, commentators, and independent voices to build their own direct-to-reader businesses, the platform positioned itself as a viable alternative to legacy media models.

Part of this pitch to ambitious creators comes from the need to no longer navigate layers of editorial oversight, brand guidelines, and institutional priorities that can dilute or delay their message.

At the core of Substack’s appeal is a direct contrast between traditional publishing constraints and the autonomy that comes from a creator working to create directly for their audience, as well as themselves.

Phone mock ups showing stats authors can see on Substack

The Payoffs of Creator Autonomy

Substack’s promise as a creator-led platform allows for a more direct, unfiltered connection between the writer and their audience, empowering voices that may not have fit neatly into conventional editorial boxes — as well as offering space for niche perspectives, experimental formats, and honest, personal storytelling that might otherwise be left on the cutting room floor.

Another major draw is the ability to control how work is monetized. Instead of chasing clicks to satisfy ad-based revenue models, creators on Substack can build sustainable businesses by offering monthly and yearly subscriptions.

This subscription-funded model not only offers a more predictable income stream, but it also aligns incentives around value and trust rather than viral traffic. When readers pay directly for content, it reinforces a deeper relationship — one based on loyalty, not algorithms.

For many, this model removes the pressure to cater to advertisers or chase SEO trends, allowing creators to focus on the kind of writing that endeared them to their followers in the first place.

Beyond the practical benefits, there’s a powerful emotional and creative payoff that comes with autonomy. Creators often speak about the freedom to publish on their own terms, experiment with new formats, and grow a community that resonates with their authentic voice. This kind of ownership can be incredibly fulfilling — not just financially, but personally.

Beyond newsletters and blogs, Substack has continued to evolve its publishing capabilities — now offering support for video content, podcasts, and live conversations. This expansion signals a broader strategic shift to embrace and empower content creators across a range of mediums, solidifying its place as a multi-format platform for independent publishing.

Substack aims to transform publishing from a job into a craft, and from a platform into a movement. The result is a more diverse, dynamic media landscape where independent voices thrive and readers have more meaningful choices in the content they consume.

Lowering Barriers to Entry

Though independent publications have been a foundational part of the media landscape for as long as there has been such a thing, the idea of risking one’s livelihood to start a subscription-based venture can feel especially daunting in the current moment.

With audience management analytics and built-in monetization tools, Substack is explicitly courting non-technical users to jump in and take advantage of a feature set designed with professional writers in mind. With minimal HTML coding and custom asset support, newsletters can look as good or better than pages built from the ground up using a competitor like WordPress or Squarespace.

Checklist illustrating the lower barriers to entry on Substack

Without having to worry about an algorithmic feed and interference from platform holders, the walled garden approach allows creators to work within the same framework to get off the ground and take advantage of further customizable options to execute their own vision.

Paid Tiers and Models

A Substack newsletter can cost as little as $5 a month, and many creators choose to offer a free trial window or referral program to allow readers to get a peek behind the paywall before committing to their sign up.

With the ability to quantify a single subscriber into actual revenue, creators can build their content strategy around growing organic reach and awareness with free, follow-to-read posts as well as content exclusive to paying subscribers.

Phone mock up illustrating Substack Referral programs

For readers, these paid memberships also offer closer access to their preferred creators, including member-only chats and periodic updates on upcoming progress. Substack smartly recognized the traction that creator-led platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter were able to capitalize on and roll these learnings into more traditional business models.

Analytics and Network Effects

With a writer’s financial well-being tied directly to the platform, Substack offers a solid set of analytics for creators, especially those focused on newsletters and written content. Many experiential features are also being added, including leaderboards that highlight referrals from other Substacks and more ways to engage directly with readers via Chat and Notes.

Screenshot of the landing page for Substack Notes

These are some of the main reporting features creators have access to:

Email Performance

  • Open Rate: Percentage of recipients who opened an email.
  • Click Rate: Percentage of recipients who clicked a link in the email.
  • Deliverability: Basic insight into how many emails were successfully delivered.
  • Unsubscribes: Shows how many people unsubscribed from a specific email.

Post Stats

  • Views: Total views per post (including web and email views).
  • Traffic Sources: Where your readers are coming from — direct, social, search, etc.
  • Shares: Number of times your post was shared on social channels outside of Substack.
  • New Subscribers: How many people subscribed from a specific post or were influenced by it.

Subscriber Insights

  • Free vs. Paid Subscribers: Breakdown of how many subscribers are free vs paying.
  • Top Referrers: Who or what is driving subscriptions. This could be another Substack, a website, or a social channel.
  • Growth Over Time: Graphs showing subscriber growth (free + paid).
  • Churn Rate: How many paid subscribers are being lost monthly.

Monetization Metrics

  • Revenue: Total revenue, MRR (monthly recurring revenue), and earnings per post.
  • Conversion Rate: How many free subscribers are converting into paid plans.
  • Average Revenue per User (ARPU): Estimate of how much each paying subscriber is worth.

Writers as Personal Brands

With the proliferation of the creator economy, having a distinct voice has never been more important to building a consistent, compelling personal brand. Substack’s rise has been able to amplify niche voices and move conversations in directions that may have been previously overlooked in other media ecosystems.

Whether it’s a hyper-local politics newsletter, a deep dive into crypto regulation, or a personal essay series on grief and healing, Substack gives creators the tools to build and serve their own corners of the internet. The direct-to-reader format rewards consistency and clarity, allowing underrepresented perspectives to flourish without needing to chase clicks or compete for algorithmic placement.

Screenshot illustrating free Substack publications

As a result, creators on Substack are increasingly functioning as entrepreneurs — crafting not just content, but communities. It’s not just about audience size anymore; it’s about loyalty and resonance.

Writers who can consistently show up, deliver value, and be transparent about their perspective are seeing readers willingly support them financially. The content itself is one piece of the puzzle, but trust is an even more valuable currency. Substack turns that trust into a business model, enabling creators to build careers rooted in connection, independence, and purpose.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Media?

Despite all these promises, Substack still faces many challenges and criticisms from readers, rival platform holders, and even creators already embedded in the platform.

New creators can feel daunted by the idea of discoverability, as concerns around Substack cutting major deals with some of its most prolific acquisitions and courting exclusive access has moved more in the direction of the publishing giants it was promising to replace.

There is also an ongoing debate around the platform’s responsibility to moderate content that may be potentially dangerous or confidential. The appeal of independence naturally attracts many creators who deal with data security and political influence, so many of the headlines attracted by stories broken on Substack face the ire of significant government entities.

Still, Substack has become as popular as it is specifically because of its “free speech” mindset. Subscribers are still in direct control of what they want to see in their inbox, and recommendations are typically made by the creators they are already subscribed to.

The sustainability of the paid newsletter model offers more opportunities for writers to branch out and supplement their content strategy with a hybrid model that incorporates video, podcasts, and paid partnerships. As mentioned, the platform has rushed to keep up with the competition by incorporating video support and live-streaming features, but new rivals like Ghost and Beehiv are looking to double down on traditional audience-funded journalism and newsletters.

Substack has become a key player in the realm of decentralized journalism online, but the conversation is still ongoing. However, the demand for independent, longform content is clear and has already shaken the way content is consumed and shared online.

Phone mock ups of NoGood's newsletter on Substack

Conclusion

More than just a newsletter delivery system, Substack aims to build a creator-driven ecosystem where writers own their audience relationships, control their revenue streams, and build on their own terms.

The platform’s success has continued to normalize the idea that one person can run a sustainable business model through content creation, showing that loyal, paying communities can replace traditional media gatekeepers.

In 2025, we’ve seen more and more brands warm up to the idea of communicating directly with customers via channels like Substack, and can expect that this direct networking will only become more commonplace in the future.

For writers, podcasters, content creators, and even corporations, Substack promises a world in which depth and authenticity are valued more than volume and virality. If that sounds like something you would like to explore, consider reaching out to NoGood to learn more about the options available to you! 

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