Business Casual

I’m giving an update on the April Fools campaign I launched for Swim University. I created a faux product and promoted it across various platforms. The response was lukewarm; we've sold about half of the 96 bottles so far. Launching on April Fools’ Day may have impacted the reception, as people are skeptical of anything released on this date. While it's a fun, creative project, it highlights that in the pool industry, people appreciate straightforward, helpful content more than stunts. Moving forward, I’ll focus on delivering valuable, consistent content that truly addresses my audience's needs. If you have any questions or thoughts, email me at matt@moneylab.co.

Today, I’m sharing how I’m optimizing my work schedule to better manage my time and reduce stress. By focusing on concentrated, high-leverage tasks for a set number of hours each day, I aim to maximize productivity while freeing up personal time. Tasks like crafting marketing emails, recording and scheduling podcasts, publishing articles, and developing ads are prioritized. The goal is to create a well-oiled machine at Swim University, ensuring impactful work without overextending. Simplifying and systematizing my approach, I’m committed to balancing work with hobbies and home projects. For feedback, email me at matt@moneylab.co.

I'm discussing the best ways to collect testimonials. Tactics for effective testimonials include avoiding incentives that offer monetary rewards, guiding customers with specific questions, and focusing on quality over quantity. Video testimonials, while valuable, should ideally be filmed in relevant settings and show real results. For e-commerce, external review platforms like Trustpilot are beneficial, but I prefer controlling testimonial presentations. Finally, using social media contests to gather authentic customer reviews can be a powerful strategy.

Brainstorming a pool urine detector 404 page and April Fool's event, I share how to design an engaging sales page for a fake product. Inspired by the myth of a pool urine detector dye, I discuss creating a convincing product to deter pool pee-ers. The sales page includes a hero image, how it works, history of the myth, pop culture references, and statistics on the dangers of pool urine. I also explore the importance of design and storytelling in making the page both believable and entertaining.

I discuss the challenges of creating effective marketing for local businesses, emphasizing the need to understand the target audience. Using Swim University as an example, I highlight the importance of aligning content with business goals and audience needs. I explore the potential of Brew Cabin to attract new homebrewers with community-driven content and advanced brewing techniques. Finally, I brainstorm creative ideas for engaging short-form content, including experimenting with unique and outrageous brewing ingredients.

I've been experimenting with a content strategy shift that might surprise traditional SEO practitioners. We're a video-first education company, creating videos first and repurposing them into blog posts, podcasts, shorts, and emails. Recently, I replaced a 5,000-word article on how to drain a pool with a concise 700-word script. The original article ranked #10 on Google, and I wanted to see if a more streamlined version would perform better. Additionally, I created separate posts for draining above-ground and in-ground pools, recognizing the trend towards short, targeted content. This approach mirrors the rise of short-form videos and AI-generated answers. We'll see how this impacts our rankings and user experience. If you have any questions, email me at matt@moneylab.co.

I've been working on Swim University's email strategy. I aim to treat email more like social media notifications, directing attention to long-form content on YouTube and our website. For March, I planned video promotions, a filter cleanse BOGO sale, and an article on hot tub water testing. I've also switched from Yoast SEO to Rank Math and migrated to the Gutenberg editor in WordPress for better features and efficiency. If you have any feedback or questions, email me at matt@moneylab.co.

I've been on a kick recently with templatizing everything. After dealing with bottlenecks in creating featured images for blog posts, I decided to templatize this process too. Inspired by our YouTube thumbnails, I'll create a Figma board with 6-8 background colors, textures, and reusable assets. Each featured image will include up to three words of text, one action icon (like an arrow or check mark), and a topical item (like a hot tub or pool). This approach will streamline the process and ensure consistency across our content. If you have any questions, email me at matt@moneylab.co.

The podcast delves into the challenges and limitations of AI in content creation, highlighting the importance of human creativity. It explores disappointments in AI-generated content and discusses the role of AI in creative work, emphasizing the need for human input. The chapter also touches on the power of personalized emails in connecting with audiences and reflects on the evolution of content and the impact of feedback for podcast improvement.