Max Harlow

The brief is the single highest-leverage decision a brand manager makes before launching a clipping campaign. A weak brief produces 5 mediocre submissions. A strong brief produces 50 to 500 high-quality clips from the best editors on the platform. The difference between the two is not budget. It is clarity. This guide is the exact … Read more

CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions or views) is the universal metric for comparing content distribution costs across platforms. In 2026, CPM rates range from $1 on content clipping platforms to $45+ on LinkedIn Ads. Knowing the current CPM landscape is essential for marketing budget allocation: every dollar spent on a $20 CPM channel generates 6.6x … Read more

How much should a startup spend on marketing? The unhelpful answer: “it depends.” The helpful answer: there are clear benchmarks by company stage, industry, and funding status that tell you the range, the minimum, and the optimal allocation. This article provides those benchmarks with the specificity that founders actually need: exact dollar amounts at each … Read more

Every marketing channel promises ROI. This article delivers the actual benchmarks. For each major marketing channel in 2026, here are the real ROAS (return on ad spend) numbers, the CPM and CPA ranges, and the conditions under which each channel performs best or worst. Use this as the reference document for your next budget allocation … Read more

The biggest barrier to video marketing for most businesses is not strategy. It is production. “We do not have a video team.” “We cannot afford a production company.” “We do not have the equipment.” In 2026, none of these objections hold. Your phone shoots 4K video. A quiet room is your studio. 10,000+ clippers on … Read more

Thought leadership used to require publishing books, speaking at conferences, and getting quoted in industry publications. In 2026, thought leadership is built in 30-second clips. Andrew Huberman became the world’s most trusted voice in neuroscience through podcast clips, not peer-reviewed papers. Justin Welsh became the #1 LinkedIn creator through daily text posts, not keynote speeches. … Read more

The most underleveraged marketing asset at every company in 2026 is the founder’s personal brand. Justin Welsh built 800,000+ LinkedIn followers and $12 million in revenue with zero paid advertising. Codie Sanchez grew to 1 million+ YouTube subscribers, driving an 8-figure media and investment business. Alex Hormozi built a 4-million-follower network that powered an $81 … Read more

Performance-based marketing means paying for results, not promises. You do not pay for a post, a placement, or an impression estimate. You pay for a verified outcome: a view, a click, a signup, or a sale. The concept is simple but the shift from flat-fee marketing (influencer retainers, PR agency monthly fees, production company invoices) … Read more

The marketing industry has spent decades debating brand marketing versus performance marketing. Brand marketers argue for long-term equity building, emotional connection, and premium positioning. Performance marketers argue for measurable ROAS, CPA optimization, and revenue attribution. In 2026, this debate is outdated because a new category of marketing channel delivers both simultaneously. Content clipping produces brand … Read more

Earned media is any coverage your brand receives without paying for it: press articles, social shares, organic brand mentions, podcast features, and community discussions. AG1 generated $78.9 million in earned media value in a single year. Gymshark’s #gymshark hashtag accumulated 11.5 billion TikTok views of user-created content. Morning Brew’s organic social clips supplemented their newsletter … Read more