A Roundup of the Best of 2021
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Something Old, Lots More New
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Happy New Year! Hopefully you brought in 2022 in a way you enjoyed, even if it wasn't exactly what you would've planned in the past.
I'm still technically on holiday break with my family, so this will be a quicker issue.
If you're new, I want to say thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you. And if you've been with me for a while, I also want to say thank you. I never thought so many people would be interested in what I had to share. It motivates me to make these newsletters as useful as possible for you.
With that said, I want to take this newsletter to collect some of the best of what I previously shared - things that you responded to most enthusiastically. Plus some new stuff to start prepping us for 2022.
Nostalgia: The Top Pandemic Marketing Trend
First, the top newsletter from last year was the one focusing on how brands have increasingly tried to create a sense of nostalgia with content released during the pandemic. That includes the wave of franchise reboots ranging from The Matrix to Sex and the City to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
This trend will likely continue as brands look for ways to evoke positive emotions by helping us think back to simpler, happier times.
Content Distribution: Top Brand Priority
As customer acquisition costs continue to rise, we're seeing more focus on organic growth, owned channels and content creation.
One of the key factors to succeeding here is learning how and where to distribute content. Marketing agency founder Ross Simmonds released a stellar content distribution checklist you can reference.
NEW TOOL: Offsetting Rising Acquisition Costs & Declining Organic Reach
To continue on the last point, eCommerce businesses in particular are seeing acquisition costs skyrocket with the new Apple updates. But what if there was a better way to grow your sales utilizing your best asset—your customers?
Introducing Groupshop. Groupshop is a must-have app for growing your Shopify store without ads. Signup for their waitlist here!
Get Up To Speed With web3
I saw someone on Twitter joke that they were blocking any mentions of "NFTs." But we can't necessarily avoid paying attention to what's going on with the digital shift to what's referred to as web3. It's only going to become more of a focus in 2022, and you can't afford to be left behind as the impact on brand and marketing expands.
Here's an exceptional primer guide by Twitter user @katiewav.
Pack Your 2022 Reading List
This is the second year I turned to some of the top entrepreneurs and marketers I came across for book recommendations. They helped create a list of the most thought-provoking titles you should read this year.
(As a reminder, I also asked the same question last year. Check out what the responses were then, too.)
Creating Brands For Britney Spears & Other Top Musicians
Hard to remember this took place just last year, but this interview with former Jive Records marketing executive (and Britney Spears' brand manager) Kim Kaiman was the top article I published. She offered some great insight into crafting a superstar-level personal brand.
Some Of My Favorite 2021 Articles, Threads & More
Your eCommerce Website May Be At Risk Of An ADA Lawsuit. How TikTok is changing the way consumers and brands interact. Are memes and social media reposts copyright infringement? Why (and how) to diversify your online advertising strategy beyond just Google and Facebook (feat. entrepreneur Rand Fishkin). An article about true brand authenticity and social media for The Rosie Report (feat. marketer Syed Ali). Here's a really fascinating article I came across about the ethics of using AI for job interviews and hiring. A single mother launches a 6-figure business as a side hustle. Great questions to ask when you're being interviewed for a marketing role. Reflections on how to live a life well-lived. How Shopify uses partnerships and integrations for growth. And of course, a quick something about America's grandma, Betty White.
And Lastly, Check Out These Job Opportunities:
Senior SEO Executive (Papier)
Social Media Specialist (Auntie Anne's, Jamba Juice)
Social Media Intern (Thingtesting)
Director of Content Marketing (Common Thread Collective)
Director, Product Marketing; Director, Customer Marketing (Bizzabo)
Senior Growth Marketing Manager, Paid Acquisition (The Quality Edit)
Technical Freelance Writer (Draft) Managing Editor; Head of Digital Ops (Wing VC)
Social Media Coordinator (Twitter)
Product Marketing Manager (On Deck)
Influencer & Ambassador Manager; Email & SMS Manager; Content Creator; Retention & Engagement Manager; Operations & Customer Experience Manager; Senior Art Director (Baboon to the Moon - applicants in San Diego & NYC only)
(Don't forget to mention that you saw the opportunity in this newsletter!)
Thanks again for joining me here. My goal is to share as much information as possible this year to help you really OWN 2022. Cheers to both of our success, prosperity and happiness!
Chantelle
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