These days there is so much data and power in online marketing. We see many companies having a fantastic success acquiring customers on Instagram & Facebook. We see it in the metrics, CAC is going down and LTV is going up.

And with each success story, we see new startups following this path. Rounds are being raised with a healthy allocation for FB/IG ads. I get it. 

To be sure, todays age of performance marketing has a tremendous amount of benefit and insight that was unavailable to startups from an earlier era. 

But I’m a little concerned the pendulum has swung too far on performance marketing and not enough attention to the brand being built and what the company stands for. 

Before blogs became content marketing machines, complete with ghost writers and listicles, they were ways to connect creatives with their community. Joel On Software was legendary and I felt like I understood Joel’s values and principles long before we ended up investing in Stack Overflow and Trello. 

Same with Twitter. Go back and read the archives of Jack, Biz, Ev, Dick and Amac’s posts and you get a real sense of the foundation of the company and what Twitter stands for. Far more than some do no evil line in Google’s S-1. 

Same with Nike. The recent campaign supporting  Colin Kaepernick was met with massive controversy and blowback. Some state governments even lashed out, with political forces distracting from the real issues behind Kapernick’s  work (hint: it’s not about the flag). 

Same with Apple and their push back on the FBI’s over reach. They could have caved like AT&T, Verizon, etc. But they took a stand on privacy and told us all what they believe. 

So while I’m encouraged that startups are hyper attentive to their performance marketing efforts, I would submit that there is more to building and growing a company than metrics and data. Building a company on an authentic set of principles is make good on the mission and build an world changing brand.

A quiet house

These days our house is quiet.

My oldest left for her second year in college.

Our other daughter is studying overseas for the fall semester of her junior year in high school

So it’s me, Lauren and James. Going from 5 people all summer to 3 may not sound like a big difference. Buts it’s a massive one to me.

And I miss those girls more than I could possibly imagine.

I am so proud of them both and happy they are trying new things way outside their comfort zone. They are having ups and downs on a weekly and sometimes even on a daily basis. And while my instinct is to swoop in tell some jokes and/or try and solve the problem. But I’m learning to take a breath and just letting then air it out with me.

I never really imagined what being a parent would be like when the kids move out. But I’m getting a taste for it now and while I’m happy for them, I’m not happy for me.

Sunday musings

I don’t have a long post in mind for today. So here are just a few tidbits I thought I would write down. 

-I have been taking handwritten notes these days and bought a fountain pen. As someone who has struggled with poor handwriting skills, using a fountain pen for the first time is a whole new world. It’s a joy to use and mine is quite inexpensive. I’m using a Panobook at my desk and Field Notes everywhere else.

-I’m enjoying following my friends that are posting daily photos on their blog instead of Instagram (here and here). It feels old school but there is something so nice about having your own place. It just feels right. 

-My wife has had exactly zero interest in Apple Watch until last week when the new Series 4 was announced. She is super interested in all the health stuff, especially advanced heart monitoring. She pre ordered hers last night.

-I downloaded Fear by Bob Woodward to my kindle. I just can’t get into it. I read a chapter and then feel the need to put it away for a few days before returning to it. Each chapter is terrifying and worth knowing but at the same time depressing. I think I need another book. 

-I discovered the work of Gerald Cyrus this weekend. He was a recent guest on the Candid Frame. Really enjoyed the interview and you can feel his love or film and making prints. And his photographs are beautiful.

That’s it for now. Have a great Sunday everyone!