Dave has done it several times. In this book he shares the strategies and tactics he’s leveraged to build founder brands that work as the growth engine of a business.
It’s an easy and quick read that contains a lot of specific and actionable advice.
Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 5/5
Mindset: 4/5
Some of My Highlights:
“When we feel we have a relationship with someone leading a brand, we are more likely to try their products.”
“The old way of building a brand was to wait for the press to notice you or to hire a public relations agency.”
“Any brand (and any founder) can reach their dream customer directly online, thanks to social media. In this world, you don’t need to wait for the press… You can build your own media outlet.”
“Anyone launching a business has a reason for doing it, and there is a story that can be shared.”
“…you will need two key things: the first is to focus on a specific niche, and the second is to define your enemy.”
“The best way to pick a niche is to work backward. Based on what you can offer today, who is your ideal customer?”
“Marketing is a game of momentum.”
“Start with a niche, build an audience in that niche, learn, and then expand.”
“A villain allows you to tap into the art of storytelling, gives you a conflict, and allows for conflict resolution.”
“Your brand exists to free your customer from their struggle.”
“I love the idea of ‘working in public’ as a brand, sharing what you’re doing as you’re doing it.”
“Once you have their attention, you can tell them everything they need to know about your products and services.”
“Note: I also am always tweaking the message here. I am always on the lookout for other copy and bios that I like and can take inspiration from. So always be changing and testing the copy here.”
“Edutainment is the holy grail, when you can both educate and entertain.”
“Be contrarian. Be different. The feed is noisy. Strong opinions stand out.”
“Consistency is key. Daily is when it will really take off.”
“Write a book, send a copy to a few. Give shoutouts to followers. Send Starbucks gift cards. Show you care. A budget of $100 a month could go a long way to engage some superfans.”
“Personally, I think every founder should be on a constant ‘book tour’ for their company.”
“With any outreach, my goal is to start a conversation. I don’t try to stuff a thousand words into an email.”