The Daily Carnage

Keywords still matter… just not in the way most people think.

Big brands are bogged down by bureaucracy and “workslop” designed to game algorithms. Google’s AI updates, meanwhile, reward content that’s created by people with real experience.

This means that scrappy teams who actually know their stuff can outrank giants.

What wins now is a blend of sharp copywriting, subject-matter expertise, and technical fundamentals.

Here’s a quick-hit framework to compete (and win):

• Think like Google’s founders: Would Larry Page or Sergey Brin be proud to surface your content?
• Invest in lived experience: Write from firsthand knowledge, not secondhand summaries.
• Blend media formats: Support text with video, graphics, and original examples.
• Prioritize clarity: Make content skimmable and genuinely helpful.
• Build topical authority: Go deep in a niche with interlinked clusters of content.
• Cover technical basics: Schema, sitemaps, fast load times, alt text, and clean URLs.

With the right tweaks your email marketing process, you can double your open rate in 4 weeks (or at least bump it 20–30%) while also boosting CTR.

Here’s the 3-step system:

Fix your onboarding. Your welcome email is the most important message you’ll ever send. Instead of a bland “thanks for joining,” give subscribers a reason to open right away.

• Offer a free resource, lead magnet, or exclusive tip inside the welcome email.
• Use the WE-PAC method:
  • Welcome them warmly.
  • Set expectations (topics, send frequency, value).
  • Ask them to move you to their Primary inbox.
  • Ask for a quick Action (reply with “yes”).
  • Include at least one Click CTA

Improve deliverability with BSS Progression. Don’t blast your whole list. Start with your Base Sending Segment (BSS), the most active subscribers, then expand each week:

• Week 1: last 30-day openers or 60-day clickers.
• Week 2–4: slowly widen the timeframe. This improves sender reputation and inbox placement, leading to higher engagement across the board.

3. Re-engage dead subscribers. Inactive readers drag your metrics down. Use a 2-step win-back sequence.

• “Greatest Hits” email: Share 3–5 of your best resources.
• “Goodbye email”: Give them a final chance to stay on the list.

By running all three steps at once, you’ll lift performance across new, active, and lapsed subscribers.