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.
It’s easier to adjust the direction of something when it’s moving. - James’ism
January 22, 2026 at 3:15 PM
It’s easier to adjust the direction of something when it’s moving. - James’ism
Without tracking, you’re essentially driving your marketing with your eyes closed, hoping it will work. With UTM codes, measurement becomes strategic, and you’ve added power steering to your marketing.
Measurement is the third leg of a fully formed marketing plan. Are you measuring your activity?
Measurement is the third leg of a fully formed marketing plan. Are you measuring your activity?
January 21, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Without tracking, you’re essentially driving your marketing with your eyes closed, hoping it will work. With UTM codes, measurement becomes strategic, and you’ve added power steering to your marketing.
Measurement is the third leg of a fully formed marketing plan. Are you measuring your activity?
Measurement is the third leg of a fully formed marketing plan. Are you measuring your activity?
"90% of loyalty problems can be traced to a flawed sales process." ~ James'ism
January 21, 2026 at 12:40 AM
"90% of loyalty problems can be traced to a flawed sales process." ~ James'ism
I'm not always on good terms with Grammarly, "No, I want to phrase it the way I wrote it," but the weekly reports are fun, "You used 5,899 unique words. That’s more unique words than 96% of other Grammarly users."
January 19, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I'm not always on good terms with Grammarly, "No, I want to phrase it the way I wrote it," but the weekly reports are fun, "You used 5,899 unique words. That’s more unique words than 96% of other Grammarly users."
I’ve started publishing on Substack. Rather than the formal style I use on my blog, I’ve written a short story that recounts a conversation between Kyle, my alter ego, and Bonnie, an amalgamation of all the agency leaders I’ve worked with. In this story they discuss churn and ways to combat it.
The Brave Client’s Guide to Reducing Churn
Are you struggling with churn? Learn why a flawed sales process might be the culprit and how "brave clients" use relationship marketing to build loyalty.
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:31 PM
I’ve started publishing on Substack. Rather than the formal style I use on my blog, I’ve written a short story that recounts a conversation between Kyle, my alter ego, and Bonnie, an amalgamation of all the agency leaders I’ve worked with. In this story they discuss churn and ways to combat it.
It was sunny yesterday. How was your day.
January 18, 2026 at 5:36 PM
It was sunny yesterday. How was your day.
First, always have fun
Give often without concern
Rewards will return
Give often without concern
Rewards will return
January 16, 2026 at 10:01 PM
First, always have fun
Give often without concern
Rewards will return
Give often without concern
Rewards will return
"The most common problem I see when I audit marketing campaigns is an absence of strategy." ~ James'ism
January 16, 2026 at 6:45 PM
"The most common problem I see when I audit marketing campaigns is an absence of strategy." ~ James'ism
I'm investigating Substack and just published a LinkedIn article with some thoughts on why it makes sense for marketers today.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-m...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-m...
Your Marketing Was Built for Buyers Who Don't Exist Anymore
Boomers and Gen X tolerated being sold to. Millennials research you to death before they'll even take a call.
www.linkedin.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I'm investigating Substack and just published a LinkedIn article with some thoughts on why it makes sense for marketers today.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-m...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-m...
Generic AI output isn’t a flaw in the LLM. It’s a mirror. ~ James'ism
January 15, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Generic AI output isn’t a flaw in the LLM. It’s a mirror. ~ James'ism
When I assess a website or marketing campaign the most common problem I see is an absence of strategy. Without an objective and strategy everything looks ‘reasonable.’ With them, choices can be made. Then use measurement to assess the choices. Measurement is power steering for your marketing.
January 14, 2026 at 4:05 PM
When I assess a website or marketing campaign the most common problem I see is an absence of strategy. Without an objective and strategy everything looks ‘reasonable.’ With them, choices can be made. Then use measurement to assess the choices. Measurement is power steering for your 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
Sign Up to Get Digital Tips & Tricks Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for practical digital marketing advice that you can actually use to improve your business delivered to your inbox twice a month (+/...
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
