Want to grow? Here’s what to know…

?? Emoji fanfare ??

Linkedin People, hello! Like an overly proud parent, I’d like to introduce you to edition one of Grow Your Socks Off - my definitely not weekly, definitely not long, and definitely useful newsletter all about growth.

What’s interesting… what founders are asking me… what we’re up to at The Growth Foundation… and what’s stopped me mid-scroll through tutorials of how to play Chic basslines and say ‘that’s cool’.?

>>> Brand grows your business. Fact. >>>

Forget sales-driven ads. It’s all about brand if you want strong, long term-growth. Ten years ago, ad industry legends Les Binet and Peter Field argued this in The Long and The Short of It. Now, there’s even more evidence from System One.

Practical stuff you can do with this:?

• Beyond product, define what your company does for your target consumer emotionally. What do you make them feel? Then look honestly at your marketing. Does it deliver it?
• Build an always on brand storytelling element into your trading and marketing calendar. Don’t think of it as an option extra to the hard-working stuff - like ‘oh maybe we should run a brand campaign’ and that’ll fix it.
• Everything you do builds your brand. You can use emotional storytelling anywhere - organic, earned and paid media, your eCom store, product descriptions, CRM, packaging and inserts. Everything is an opportunity.??

>>> Want to grow? It’ll be just us, TikTok…and you.

This is an invitation to another first.?

We’re holding our first ever one day immersive event in May - for just 10 ambitious DTC founders to come together for a night and a day to find out the right way to grow from The Growth Foundation experts and our partners TikTok.

If you want one of the 10 places at Founders’ Foundation, we’d love to know more about you.

Get in touch to register your interest and find out more.?

?

A few more details? Of course. Because the right way to grow is to get?all?your foundations working perfectly together, the day covers seven of the most crucial ones:

• Playbook your way to success with me
• From selling products to building a brand with Ed Cox and Jamie Romain
• How to ace Paid Media with Amy Bott and Mat Williams
• Winning with TikTok with Dave Morrissey
• Get Conversion Rates soaring with me and Allister Collins
• CRM. Your secret weapon with Dani Audry and Sam Thomas
• It all comes down to Finance, with Stuart Worgan.

Afterwards there’s?a founders’ dinner followed by a night at an excellent hotel.

Consider this your invitation

>>> Links I’ve been loving…

How the cost of living crisis is affecting brands. Why you need to be bigger than the thing you sell, and why now’s the perfect time to give people a bit of light relief.

More Les Binet (this time with Sarah Carter) on the always excellent Uncensored CMO Podcast. Talking effectiveness, brand building and why consumers don’t give a s**t.

Can GPT4 take on the role of CEO and build a business? Let’s see if Aisthetic Apparel can manage it.

“Luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends.” Loved this quote as part of the Acquired podcast sharing how Bernard Arnault reshaped the luxury sector with LVMH. Who wins Brand or Product? We’ve got a podcast coming out soon with our views on that.? ??

That’s about it from me.?

If you know anyone in your network that would enjoy this, please do forward it on.

I’m going back to those Chic bassline tutorials now.

Until next time…?

R