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Fresh strategies, resources, and real-world tactics for nonprofits and businesses facing tough challenges and high-stress days.
Story Isn't Your Marketing's Finishing Touch. It's the Foundation.
There's a version of marketing that looks completely professional. The colors are right. The copy is clean. The media buy is solid. And it lands like a thud.
I saw this up close in 2009. I was doing all the digital work -- web, social, YouTube, email -- for a nonprofit in the health and human services space. A large agency had the traditional side: print, radio, billboards, buses. They managed something like 60 clients like this one.
For them, this was another account. Another campaign. Another round of assets to produce and ship.
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.
In the Low: Bringing Light to the Dark (and a Little Laughter, Too)
In the Low, the new book by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson, has struck a chord with readers everywhere. A collection of poems, prayers, and art designed to meet you in the darker seasons of life, it’s both tender and unflinchingly honest, a companion for when hope feels out of reach.
Lone Hill Middle School Debuts High-Energy Back-to-School Video: Teachers and Staff Parody Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go”
Lone Hill Middle School is kicking off the new school year with a vibrant, teacher-led music video parody of Chappell Roan’s hit “Hot to Go,” starring the school’s faculty and staff. This production is the latest in a series of creative collaborations aimed at building school spirit and community pride.
Your Brand Doesn’t Need a Glow Up. It Needs a Gut Check
Most brands don’t need a rebrand—they need to remember why they started. If your messaging looks good but doesn’t land, it’s time for a gut check, not a glow up.
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.
