THE LATEST
Fresh strategies, resources, and real-world tactics for nonprofits and businesses facing tough challenges and high-stress days.
Why Most Marketing Fails Before It Starts
Most marketing doesn’t fail because it’s bad.
It fails before it ever starts.
Teams spend weeks planning campaigns. They create content, debate channels, adjust timelines, and ship work they’re proud of. Then results come in—or don’t—and everyone feels uneasy. The effort was real. The intentions were good. The outcome is still disappointing.
A Simple Test for Marketing Advice
If marketing advice has burned you before, you’re not cynical. You’re experienced.
Most advice sounds smart. That’s the problem. It’s easy to follow. It’s hard to evaluate. And by the time you realize it wasn’t right for you, you’ve already paid the opportunity cost.
Portnoy Media Lab Is Live
I’m launching a podcast.
Not because the world needs more noise.
Because too many smart people are stuck working hard inside systems that should be working better.
Portnoy Media Lab is a space to think out loud about clarity, storytelling, strategy, and execution—especially for people doing meaningful work with limited margin for error.
Turning 50, Fixing Funnels, and a Few Free Things for You
I’m turning 50 this weekend, which feels strange and great all at once. I don’t have a midlife crisis lined up (but you never know) no motorcycle, no questionable tattoo, just a lot of clarity about what I want to build next and how I want to help.
So here’s what’s new, what’s coming, and what you can use right now to make your work easier.
The Year We Got Sick of Perfect
In 2025, the content that converts isn’t polished—it’s personal. We’re in the middle of a trust revolution, where messy, unfiltered stories outperform glossy brand perfection. Here’s why being real beats being perfect—and how to make it work for you.