Mike Carlson

Director of Marketing @ANCOREtraining | Stories and ideas to make you smarter, happier, and wiser. Join for free ⬇️

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

We are so back. MIZ!

[Mizzou Hoops @MizzouHoops]

Time to call it… 𝗠𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁

#MIZ 🐯

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

This is such a heater of a post and everyone needs to read it

[Tim Ferriss @tferriss]

Everything big starts small and focused.

1,000 true fans is step #1, whether you want a $100K per year business or the next Uber.

I’ve seen this with all of my fastest-growing and most successful startups. They start laser-focused on 100 to 1,000 people, niche-ing down as necessary with their messaging and targeting (demographically, geographically, etc.) to get to a manageable and cost-effectively reachable number.

So, you may ask yourself, “Why aim for a mere $100K when I can try to build a billion-dollar business?” Two reasons:

1) Aiming for the latter from the outset often leads to neglecting the high-touch 1,000 true fans who act as your most powerful unpaid marketing force for “crossing the chasm” into the mainstream.

If you don’t build that initial army, you’re likely to fail.

2) Do you really want to build and manage a big company? For most people, it’s not a fun experience; it’s an all-consuming taskmaster. There are certainly ace CEOs who thread the needle and enjoy this roller coaster, but they are outliers.

Read Small Giants by Bo Burlingham for some fantastic examples of companies that choose to be the best rather than the biggest.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

But will there be another @ancoretraining sighting 👀?

[Netflix @netflix]

New players. Fresh drama. Same tee.

Full Swing returns for Season 3 on February 25.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

You know a baseball hate to see them coming

*especially if it hasn’t been in a humidor*

[Baseball’s Greatest Moments @BBGreatMoments]

Ellis Burks, Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette, and Vinny Castilla.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

I thought the rainbow was going to be a sign of a good golf day… then I shanked my drive

Still, time spent @BandonDunesGolf is always time well spent

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Please call it Den of Three-ves
Please call it Den of Three-ves
Please call it Den of Three-ves
Please call it Den of Three-ves
Please call it Den of Three-ves

[Den Of Thieves @Den_Of_Thieves]

Just getting started.

#DenOfThieves3 - Coming Soon

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 42

Make YouTube and Google your best friends. You’re going to run into problems you can’t solve on your own and projects where you don’t know how to do anything. A quick search or video should get you going in the right direction. If I can learn packaging design from YouTube with zero prior experience, you can do anything.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

The Bandon Dunes protein balls are proof you don’t need expensive packaging for it to be great. ⁣

It just needs to be relevant and true to your customers. ⁣

These are only sold in sleeves like golf balls. Nothing fancy. Just cardboard with a print on it. So simple and brilliant

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 41

Creativity is the heart of excellent marketing. If you keep creativity at the center of all your work, you will succeed. Plain and simple.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

When it comes to engaging with their fans and community, there aren’t many people better than Best-Selling Sci-fi and Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson. ⁣

Here’s what he can teach us about marketing and how we can better engage with our customers and communities. ⁣

P. S. If you love fantasy, you have to check out the Stormlight Archive or the Mistborn series

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

here’s no place like @BandonDunesGolf in the… winter time🤔 It’s true! Felt like spring during this January round. This place truly is Dream Golf!

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 39

When everything is rolling and the cash register can’t stop ringing, enjoy it. Inevitably, there will be slow stretches and times when it feels like nothing is working. Soak up the wonderful moments and preserve those feelings to get you through crappy ones.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

LET’S GOOOOO

[Acquired Podcast @AcquiredFM]

Tomorrow.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 38

One message for one moment. If you’re launching a new product, talk only about that product during launch. If you are running a sale, tell people only about the sale during the promotional period. You only get a few of these golden moments each year. Don’t waste them by talking about everything at once. There is plenty of time to do that at other points in the year.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 37

You can never have too many reviews or testimonials. Always ask and always share them with your customers. No one ever purchased because there were too many glowing reviews.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 36

Ask for proofs on print projects before approving the designs. If you thought a bad link or dead QR code stung, a misprinted design will hit you like Muhammad Ali

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 35

Test every link and QR code. Nothing takes the wind out of great marketing like a broken link or a QR code that doesn’t work. Take the extra minute and save yourself the pain.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 34

Take care of yourself. Odds are you are working many different roles as a one-man or tiny team. Because of this, there will be moments when you feel worn down. The best antidote to this is to eat right, get plenty of sleep, and break a sweat. You are no good to anyone (even yourself) if you’re tired all the time. Exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor — longevity is.

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

I’ve never felt so seen on this app in my life

[bald ann dowd @ali_sivi]

all i do is buy yogurt. i'm eating yogurt and updating my to do list with "buy yogurt." sorry i can't hang out this weekend i have to buy yogurt

[Mike Carlson @OpenMikeCarlson]

Bootstrapped Marketing Almanack, part 32

Get out in the field and start selling. If you can get face-to-face with your potential buyers and talk to them, do it. Your marketing will get better and you’ll be able to see what resonates. Plus, I’ve never regretted meeting a customer and thanking them for their business. I always leave recharged.