This '90s infomercial taught us everything about sales 💰

When I was 8, while other kids were begging for the latest Barbie or Sega Dreamcast for Christmas, my brother and I convinced our grandma to buy us... a George Foreman grill. Like most millennials, we were mesmerized by the infomercials 😍

We had no business being in the kitchen, but there we were, obsessed with watching fat drip off bacon. Somehow, a countertop grill became the ultimate gift.

We eventually graduated to making ourselves grilled cheeses and so much more — and yes, this thing came with me to college!

The reality is, people do love being sold to. If you’ve ever stayed up past 1 a.m. watching demonstrations of the Showtime Barbecue, OxiClean, or the Total Gym, you're living proof.

Fast forward to today, and social media is a never-ending infomercial. We scroll through TikToks of Amazon finds, beauty hauls, and viral gadgets — and don’t even get me started on mom influencers! They were responsible for most of my baby registry.

When the product feels right, no one’s saying, “Stop selling to me.” They’re asking, “How soon can I get this shipped?”

🪞 reflect & reply 💬

What’s your favorite ‘TikTok made me buy it’ purchase?

The thing we have to remember: Selling is solving.

Your product becomes irresistible when it suits your audience’s needs — whether solving a problem or sparking joy.

Show them how it fits seamlessly into their lives, and they’ll happily hit "buy" —and thank you for it.

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​Brianne Fleming​

headline of the week 📰

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The FTC introduced a new Click-to-Cancel rule. Now, canceling a subscription or membership must take the same number of clicks as signing up, and in-person signups must offer online or phone cancellation options. Chandler can now easily quit the gym!

This is how it should’ve been all along.

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Easy cancellations leave customers on good terms, increasing the likelihood they’ll return or refer friends. Friction only leads to frustration, and everyone loses. Plus, the goal is for people to stay because they want to — not because they’re stuck.

throwback thursday ⏪

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One of my favoritemes memes: "Celebrities... they're just like us!"

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We saw brands trying to tap into this in the mid-2000s with those incessant Proactiv commercials with the likes of Jessica Simpson, Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, and more. Yay, celebs get acne too! 🫠
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Thankfully, my acne stage has passed and I can now enjoy these infomercials for the nostalgia.

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In a recent Making the Brand episode, Ted Harrison explained why nostalgia is dying and how generations are having fewing shared experiences. How should marketers adapt? ​

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faves & finds 😍

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My LinkedIn feed has gotten a lot more interesting (and fun!) thanks to Qetsiyah Jacobson, the founder of Unserious: a community for the chronically online who love the most unserious moments from the internet.

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Here's a sample of the ~unserious~ TikTok trends Qetsiyah rounded up for us so we didn't have to:
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🌐 “In da clurb we all fam”​
🌐 Subtle foreshadowing​
🌐 “When your car doesn’t match your aesthetic”​

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Qetisyah will help you keep your finger on the pulse as a marketer with her weekly internet culture recaps and more 💗 A must-follow!

laugh out loud 🤣

brand boost 🚀

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As I wrap up this newsletter, I’m sending a virtual hug to everyone mourning Liam Payne today 💔

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My friend and fan engagement expert, Dr. Georgie Carroll, shared helpful insights on the emotions tied to grieving celebrities.
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"The relationships are parasocial but the feelings are valid and real."

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With love,

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Let's Collab 💕
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Looking to strengthen your content strategy, reach marketing professionals, or elevate your next event? Here’s how I can help: