James
@jhipkin.bsky.social
Strategic marketing for serious business owners. Four decades of separating signal from noise. If it's not strategic, it's not marketing.
I'm writing an article about using LLMs, and this James'ism popped out of my fingers, "Generic AI output isn’t a flaw in the LLM. It’s a mirror."
January 6, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I'm writing an article about using LLMs, and this James'ism popped out of my fingers, "Generic AI output isn’t a flaw in the LLM. It’s a mirror."
Something broke in social media between 2021 and 2025, and most businesses are still pretending it didn’t happen.
bit.ly/4qFPayL
bit.ly/4qFPayL
From Organic Reach to Paid Reality
Is your Marketing Budget aligned with the new reality of social media? Learn how to adapt your strategy for better results.
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Something broke in social media between 2021 and 2025, and most businesses are still pretending it didn’t happen.
bit.ly/4qFPayL
bit.ly/4qFPayL
The old warhorse, email marketing, remains your most valuable digital channel. Why? Well, you own your list. You don't own Instagram followers. Regular, value-heavy communication builds relationship equity, the only reliable competitive insulation. And finally, it's a low-cost, high-return channel.
January 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The old warhorse, email marketing, remains your most valuable digital channel. Why? Well, you own your list. You don't own Instagram followers. Regular, value-heavy communication builds relationship equity, the only reliable competitive insulation. And finally, it's a low-cost, high-return channel.
As we roll into 2026, I want you to revisit your email list. It's one of the two digital platforms that you own, and it's likely your best-performing channel. Clean your list. Segment your list. Work your list. Use the 70:20:10 content strategy: 70% is value, 20% is curated value, and 10% is sales.
January 2, 2026 at 10:03 PM
As we roll into 2026, I want you to revisit your email list. It's one of the two digital platforms that you own, and it's likely your best-performing channel. Clean your list. Segment your list. Work your list. Use the 70:20:10 content strategy: 70% is value, 20% is curated value, and 10% is sales.
After many days of rain, we got out for a walk with Rufus.
December 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
After many days of rain, we got out for a walk with Rufus.
Scaling past $1M requires more than just 'marketing.' It requires a marketing growth engine.
We explain the digital strategies actually driving ROI for businesses right now.
Join over 2,000 other founders and get the insights your competitors are missing, delivered weekly.
bit.ly/4nBmfeg
We explain the digital strategies actually driving ROI for businesses right now.
Join over 2,000 other founders and get the insights your competitors are missing, delivered weekly.
bit.ly/4nBmfeg
Newsletter Signup
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bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Scaling past $1M requires more than just 'marketing.' It requires a marketing growth engine.
We explain the digital strategies actually driving ROI for businesses right now.
Join over 2,000 other founders and get the insights your competitors are missing, delivered weekly.
bit.ly/4nBmfeg
We explain the digital strategies actually driving ROI for businesses right now.
Join over 2,000 other founders and get the insights your competitors are missing, delivered weekly.
bit.ly/4nBmfeg
Your best customers log in many times. And each time, you show them the creds fields and their order history.
If they saw a personal message, a relevent tip, or a surprise coupon code, you'd be brand building for minimal cost.
In 2026, convert functional interactions into strategic opportunities.
If they saw a personal message, a relevent tip, or a surprise coupon code, you'd be brand building for minimal cost.
In 2026, convert functional interactions into strategic opportunities.
December 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Your best customers log in many times. And each time, you show them the creds fields and their order history.
If they saw a personal message, a relevent tip, or a surprise coupon code, you'd be brand building for minimal cost.
In 2026, convert functional interactions into strategic opportunities.
If they saw a personal message, a relevent tip, or a surprise coupon code, you'd be brand building for minimal cost.
In 2026, convert functional interactions into strategic opportunities.
If your marketing feels Sisyphean, it’s likely missing meaningful exposure, cadence, or both. Ignore that, and you’ll keep pushing the same boulder up the same hill: more posts, more spend, same growth.
Read our post on why your marketing isn't working.
bit.ly/4s1mSjQ
Read our post on why your marketing isn't working.
bit.ly/4s1mSjQ
Why Your Marketing Isn't Working
Discover how marketing momentum breaks the Sisyphean cycle. Break through the noise and watch your business grow.
bit.ly
December 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
If your marketing feels Sisyphean, it’s likely missing meaningful exposure, cadence, or both. Ignore that, and you’ll keep pushing the same boulder up the same hill: more posts, more spend, same growth.
Read our post on why your marketing isn't working.
bit.ly/4s1mSjQ
Read our post on why your marketing isn't working.
bit.ly/4s1mSjQ
I have a weekend brain teaser for you. What’s the English word with five vowels in a row? DM me with the answer so you don’t spoil it for everyone.
December 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I have a weekend brain teaser for you. What’s the English word with five vowels in a row? DM me with the answer so you don’t spoil it for everyone.
A clear message without a system to amplify it is just noise in a crowded room. ~ James’ism
December 19, 2025 at 6:58 PM
A clear message without a system to amplify it is just noise in a crowded room. ~ James’ism
Does your marketing create value for your customers?
We've been replacing generic CTAs with people-like-you pathways on home pages. When someone chooses a path, we know who they are and have permission to provide the information they seek.
bit.ly/4p2Tbh1
We've been replacing generic CTAs with people-like-you pathways on home pages. When someone chooses a path, we know who they are and have permission to provide the information they seek.
bit.ly/4p2Tbh1
Marketing for People Who Don’t Like Marketing
The businesses winning today are the ones who are using strategic personalization to turn resistance into revenue.
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Does your marketing create value for your customers?
We've been replacing generic CTAs with people-like-you pathways on home pages. When someone chooses a path, we know who they are and have permission to provide the information they seek.
bit.ly/4p2Tbh1
We've been replacing generic CTAs with people-like-you pathways on home pages. When someone chooses a path, we know who they are and have permission to provide the information they seek.
bit.ly/4p2Tbh1
ChatGPT can be a great help in many areas. One that I’ve found useful is recipes. Ask it for a recipe with ingredients adjusted for two people. Or take a pic of a recipe in a cookbook and ask it to make the same adjustment. How are you using chat bots?
December 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ChatGPT can be a great help in many areas. One that I’ve found useful is recipes. Ask it for a recipe with ingredients adjusted for two people. Or take a pic of a recipe in a cookbook and ask it to make the same adjustment. How are you using chat bots?
The reason people say the Outside-In marketing system sounds like StoryBrand isn't because one copied the other. It's because both recognize the same truth. Businesses that center their marketing on what customers need win. Businesses that center their marketing on themselves lose.
bit.ly/48SjQ8L
bit.ly/48SjQ8L
Outside-In Marketing Meets StoryBrand
An outside-in marketing system built using the StoryBrand framework. Clarify your messaging and maximize your impact.
bit.ly
December 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The reason people say the Outside-In marketing system sounds like StoryBrand isn't because one copied the other. It's because both recognize the same truth. Businesses that center their marketing on what customers need win. Businesses that center their marketing on themselves lose.
bit.ly/48SjQ8L
bit.ly/48SjQ8L
A restored covered bridge from the gold rush era. It still carries traffic across the Yuba River.
December 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
A restored covered bridge from the gold rush era. It still carries traffic across the Yuba River.
Your marketing is a relay race, and your success depends on how you pass the baton. If the handoff is sloppy—if one tactic doesn't smoothly lead to the next step—it doesn't matter how good each piece is. You lose the race.
bit.ly/4oSapfO
bit.ly/4oSapfO
Why Marketing Breaks (And How to Fix the Real Problem)
See how connected marketing turns activity into revenue. Focus effort on the connections to boost marketing's impact.
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Your marketing is a relay race, and your success depends on how you pass the baton. If the handoff is sloppy—if one tactic doesn't smoothly lead to the next step—it doesn't matter how good each piece is. You lose the race.
bit.ly/4oSapfO
bit.ly/4oSapfO
Did you get laid off?
Are you thinking you’ll start something instead of slogging through the job search grind?
Before you take the next step, sell something to someone.
I’ve seen entrepreneurs spend thousands on an idea without a market.
Don’t do this.
Are you thinking you’ll start something instead of slogging through the job search grind?
Before you take the next step, sell something to someone.
I’ve seen entrepreneurs spend thousands on an idea without a market.
Don’t do this.
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Did you get laid off?
Are you thinking you’ll start something instead of slogging through the job search grind?
Before you take the next step, sell something to someone.
I’ve seen entrepreneurs spend thousands on an idea without a market.
Don’t do this.
Are you thinking you’ll start something instead of slogging through the job search grind?
Before you take the next step, sell something to someone.
I’ve seen entrepreneurs spend thousands on an idea without a market.
Don’t do this.
A brand is only a brand when there's relationship equity. Otherwise, it's a product with a name. Relationship equity is created when consumers receive value beyond functional benefits. Trader Joe's in-store sampling program does this. How is your brand creating relationship equity?
December 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
A brand is only a brand when there's relationship equity. Otherwise, it's a product with a name. Relationship equity is created when consumers receive value beyond functional benefits. Trader Joe's in-store sampling program does this. How is your brand creating relationship equity?
I discovered something cool. Google Docs has a tool that lets you listen to the current tab. For example, I had it read a draft of a blog post I'm working on. Hearing it read back to me let me identify several clumsy phrases and confusing sections. Look 4 it under Tools > Audio > Listen to this tab.
December 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I discovered something cool. Google Docs has a tool that lets you listen to the current tab. For example, I had it read a draft of a blog post I'm working on. Hearing it read back to me let me identify several clumsy phrases and confusing sections. Look 4 it under Tools > Audio > Listen to this tab.
The interview starts before you walk into the room.
After thousands of interviews, here's what I know: great candidates think like politicians. They pivot questions to their strengths, demonstrate they've done research, and sell outcomes, not tasks.
I've read your résumé. Show me your approach.
After thousands of interviews, here's what I know: great candidates think like politicians. They pivot questions to their strengths, demonstrate they've done research, and sell outcomes, not tasks.
I've read your résumé. Show me your approach.
December 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The interview starts before you walk into the room.
After thousands of interviews, here's what I know: great candidates think like politicians. They pivot questions to their strengths, demonstrate they've done research, and sell outcomes, not tasks.
I've read your résumé. Show me your approach.
After thousands of interviews, here's what I know: great candidates think like politicians. They pivot questions to their strengths, demonstrate they've done research, and sell outcomes, not tasks.
I've read your résumé. Show me your approach.
Reposted by James
It's great that reporting on the double tap has spotlighted the abject criminality of this Administration.
But don't forget: Venezuela is not waging war on America or Americans, and the men killed were not combatants.
The first strike was every bit as illegal as the second.
But don't forget: Venezuela is not waging war on America or Americans, and the men killed were not combatants.
The first strike was every bit as illegal as the second.
December 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
It's great that reporting on the double tap has spotlighted the abject criminality of this Administration.
But don't forget: Venezuela is not waging war on America or Americans, and the men killed were not combatants.
The first strike was every bit as illegal as the second.
But don't forget: Venezuela is not waging war on America or Americans, and the men killed were not combatants.
The first strike was every bit as illegal as the second.
Most people use ChatGPT and get results that are… fine. But let’s be honest: “fine” isn’t who you are. You’re better than that. Want to start using AI for strategic leverage? It's time to stop dabbling. It's time to become a Prompt Boss.
bit.ly/3MfHSmw
bit.ly/3MfHSmw
16 Advanced ChatGPT Tips
Want more than “okay” results from ChatGPT? These advanced ChatGPT tips go beyond prompts—they’re workflow and productivity boosters.
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Most people use ChatGPT and get results that are… fine. But let’s be honest: “fine” isn’t who you are. You’re better than that. Want to start using AI for strategic leverage? It's time to stop dabbling. It's time to become a Prompt Boss.
bit.ly/3MfHSmw
bit.ly/3MfHSmw
San Francisco is a beautiful place. We walked with our daughter and her husband and our son and his GF from the gardens over the tunnels to the conservatory.
November 29, 2025 at 9:54 PM
San Francisco is a beautiful place. We walked with our daughter and her husband and our son and his GF from the gardens over the tunnels to the conservatory.
We visited Golden Gate Park yesterday. It was cool and a bit warm not, but the sun was shining.
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
We visited Golden Gate Park yesterday. It was cool and a bit warm not, but the sun was shining.