Author: Andy (Page 2 of 26)

Imagery for Focus

January 24, 2025 / Andy

Research in psychology and psychiatry suggests that certain types of images or visual stimuli can help individuals improve focus and reduce distractions. These images often leverage principles of attention regulation, mindfulness, and environmental design. Here are a few scientifically-backed approaches:

1. Nature Scenes

Why it works: Studies show that exposure to nature or even viewing images of natural environments can restore attention and reduce mental fatigue. This is based on the concept of Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which suggests that natural environments engage our attention in a gentle, involuntary way, allowing the directed attention system to rest.
Example Images: Forests, flowing water, mountains, and greenery.
Best Use: Displaying posters, screensavers, or paintings with calming natural scenes.

2. Abstract Art with Low Complexity

Why it works: Complex or cluttered images can overstimulate individuals with ADHD, while simple, abstract designs or patterns can create a calming effect and reduce distractions.
Example Images: Geometric patterns, smooth color gradients, or minimalist art with soft tones.
Best Use: Use as background art in workspaces or as phone wallpapers.

3. Mandala Patterns

Why it works: Mandalas and other symmetrical designs can promote mindfulness and focus through their repetitive and orderly structure. Some ADHD therapies include coloring mandalas to improve focus and reduce hyperactivity.
Best Use: Use as interactive exercises (e.g., coloring apps) or as visual elements for meditation breaks.

4. Images with Blue and Green Hues

Why it works: Blue and green are associated with calmness and focus. Research has shown that these colors can help regulate mood and improve attention span.
Example Images: Ocean waves, clear skies, green fields.
Best Use: Backgrounds for work environments or calming breaks.

5. Goal-Oriented Visuals

Why it works: Visuals that represent goals, steps of a task, or progress can help individuals with ADHD stay task-oriented. Seeing a visual roadmap of their objectives can reduce the cognitive load and prevent distractions.
Example Images: Infographics, step-by-step diagrams, or progress trackers.
Best Use: Incorporate into task planning or to-do lists.

6. Soft Animated Visuals

Why it works: Slow, non-distracting animations (like a gentle ocean wave or a flame flickering) can serve as a grounding point for focus. These animations are particularly useful for reducing anxiety and helping individuals stay engaged without overstimulation.
Best Use: Display on digital devices or monitors as a background focus tool.

7. Visual Reminders of Break Spaces

Why it works: Seeing a calming visual associated with a planned break (e.g., a peaceful garden or quiet reading corner) can create a mental cue for focused work until the break arrives.
Example Images: Personalized images of a favorite relaxation spot or a digital timer with an image of the break area.
Best Use: Use as desktop backgrounds or on task management tools.

Does LinkedIn Still Belong in 2025 Marketing Budgets?

December 15, 2024 / Andy

As companies (like my clients) finalize their 2025 marketing strategies, many are asking whether LinkedIn still warrants a dedicated line in the budget. Once a critical space for B2B visibility and thought leadership, the platform now faces new competition, rising costs, and declining returns for some sectors. Plus, it seems like hardly anyone actually works there.

It seems like for every reason to keep it, there’s an equally valid one for abandoning it.

Engagement Is Still Strong—But Flattening

For B2B marketers, LinkedIn has historically been unmatched in terms of audience intent. But engagement metrics suggest the platform may be nearing a plateau. According to LinkedIn’s own Benchmark Report, click-through rates on thought leadership posts declined year over year:

2023: 0.55%
2024: 0.49%

Meanwhile, a June 2024 Socialinsider study found carousel posts remained the most engaging format, especially for professional services firms. Short videos, once seen as a growth area, now underperform outside of HR or recruitment content.

The Cost Equation Is Shifting

Advertising on LinkedIn remains expensive—often prohibitively so for performance marketers. Wordstream’s Q3 2024 report shows stark differences in average CPM:

LinkedIn: $38.12
Meta (Facebook/Instagram): $14.74
TikTok: $8.91

For campaigns focused on lead generation or direct conversions, the ROI may be difficult to justify compared to cheaper alternatives.

When LinkedIn Still Delivers

Despite those challenges, LinkedIn still drives value for certain brands—particularly those with high-ticket offerings or a professional audience. Sectors continuing to see returns include:

SaaS and enterprise software
Management consulting
HR technology and recruiting firms
Financial services
Executive coaching and leadership training

These industries benefit from the trust and credibility that LinkedIn still holds with decision-makers.

For Consumer Brands, Less Justifiable

For lifestyle or direct-to-consumer brands, LinkedIn rarely makes sense. The professional context limits emotional storytelling, and users are less receptive to brand content unless it’s tied to employment, entrepreneurship, or career development.

Even brands experimenting with employer branding and culture posts are seeing limited traction unless the content is truly unique or backed by a hiring initiative.

A Tighter, Smarter Approach

LinkedIn isn’t dead, it just isn’t automatic. Marketers should reevaluate its role based on goals, cost, and audience fit. For brands that use it well, the platform can still offer high-quality engagement. For others, 2025 may be the right year to scale back and reinvest in channels with broader reach and better value.

How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

December 2, 2024 / Andy

I have to admit to a silly little hobby I’ve developed. I like taking topics relevant to my life, things I may have actually journaled about myself, and then seeing how some of the wordsmiths I admire might describe it. Here’s an example of ChatGPT suggesting how the legendary Vin Scully may have regaled us with the joys and pains of managing a toddler.

“Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats. The game of parenting a 3-year-old is about to begin. Imagine, if you will, a ballpark not filled with fans, but with toys scattered across the outfield, sippy cups perched precariously on the infield, and a mound that’s just the right height for a tiny pitcher who doesn’t so much throw fastballs as toss Cheerios with wild abandon.

Ah, the three-year-old, a true double threat! They’re as curious as a rookie stepping onto the diamond for the first time, and as unpredictable as a knuckleball on a breezy day. One moment, they’re the sweetest slugger you’ve ever seen, running full speed into your arms with a grin that could light up Dodger Stadium. The next, they’re a base runner caught in a pickle, wailing about a lost toy as if it were Game 7 of the World Series.

Let me set the scene for you. The day begins early, as if they’ve got an East Coast road trip schedule to keep. The morning is filled with small victories and dramatic defeats: a successful mission to put on their shoes, followed by a heart-wrenching meltdown because the oatmeal is ‘too lumpy.’ You’ll learn to cheer the wins—‘And he eats all his broccoli! What a clutch performance!’—and let the losses roll off like a foul ball into the stands.

Now, parenting a three-year-old is not without its strategy. You’ll need the patience of a bullpen coach, the flexibility of a shortstop, and the creativity of a pinch hitter. The ‘why’ questions come fast and furious, like a batting practice session you didn’t sign up for: ‘Why is the sky blue?’ ‘Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast?’ ‘Why does the dog bark?’ Every answer feels like stepping up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

But oh, the moments of magic! Watching a 3-year-old discover the world is like witnessing a home run hit deep into the night sky—awe-inspiring and unforgettable. Their laughter rings out like a perfectly struck ball, soaring high and true. They have an uncanny ability to find joy in the smallest things—a dandelion in the grass, a butterfly fluttering by, a cardboard box that becomes a spaceship.

And let’s not forget, folks, that every day with a 3-year-old is a doubleheader. The afternoon might bring a nap that’s fought harder than any pennant race, and bedtime often feels like extra innings. But as the house finally quiets, and you steal a moment to watch them sleep, you realize you wouldn’t trade this game for anything in the world.

So here’s to the parents out there, grinding it out day after day, finding the beauty in the chaos and the poetry in the madness. Because, as any baseball fan—or parent—knows, it’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s about the love of the game.”

Some sunsets

September 22, 2024 / Andy

Sometimes on a gray Seattle day, you need to look back at your photos to get some sunshine.

A Modified Pomodoro Hack for Procrastination

June 4, 2024 / Andy

I hate stressing about the easy things I haven’t done because I “don’t have the time.” I know that’s nonsense. I have the 10-20 minutes it will take. I need to momentum and confidence that I can get in and out in those 20 minutes, and not go to bed 2 hours later instead. So I’ve been trying this.

I took the standard Pomodoro technique which is 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off.

My version for the short sprint:

20-minute timer, but I’m usually done faster,.
Something random from Spotify Music I’ve never heard before (no lyrics).
One task. One browser tab, no email, no pretending.

At the end, I don’t just take a break. I’ll do one physical movement. Walk in the yard, do a few pushups, stretch, whatever. It breaks the trance and resets the brain. Plus, my mind is focused now that one middling thing is done.

1000 Days Old

April 21, 2024 / Andy

Images from roughly every 100 days from 1 to 1000

Comparing Parenting a Toddler to Launching a Startup

March 17, 2024 / Andy

Why Businesses Should Be on TikTok Before the Year Ends

December 17, 2023 / Andy

I know you’re going to hate hearing this. I hate writing it. But if your brand still isn’t on TikTok as 2023 wraps up, you may be behind. This isn’t trend-chasing. We have to suck it up and go where attention lives. TikTok is shaping buying decisions across nearly every demographic, not just Gen Z.

1. People Are Spending Serious Time Here

TikTok now has over 1 billion monthly active users, and the average person spends about 95 minutes per day on the app. That’s more screen time than Netflix for some people (Saintnicks). And it’s not background noise. People are watching closely, not just scrolling past.

2. The Algorithm Works in Your Favor

You don’t need a huge follower count. TikTok’s algorithm recommends content based on what people like to watch, not who they follow. That gives smaller brands a legit shot to go big—even from zero. (Wikipedia – TikTok)

3. Low Budget, High Impact

You don’t need fancy gear or a studio. TikTok rewards authenticity. A founder talking to their phone camera can outperform a polished brand ad—if the message hits home (Third Wunder).

4. It’s Already Working for Small Businesses

This isn’t theory. One small brand boosted revenue by 1,650% after going viral on TikTok (Business Insider). TikTok itself reported $24.2 billion in economic activity from small businesses using the platform in 2023 (TikTok Newsroom).

5. TikTok Shop Removes Friction

Launched in September, TikTok Shop lets you sell right inside the app. No redirecting people to your website. No friction. You see it, you click it, you buy it (Wikipedia – TikTok Shop).

6. People Trust What They See

A TikTok study found that 92% of users who took action after watching a video said they did it because the content made them feel something. And 72% said they trust TikTok creators more than traditional ads (TikTok “What’s Next” report).

The Takeaway

TikTok isn’t just silly videos anymore. Used effectively, it can be a source of leads.

2022 Marketing in Review – The world tried to be normal again

January 15, 2023 / Andy

Title: Burnout, Bots, and Brand Trust: The Year Marketing Tried to Be Human Again
Published: January 2023

In 2022, marketing stopped trying to win the internet and started trying to win people back.

After a two-year sprint through pandemic pivots, remote chaos, and digital everything, the mood shifted. Customers were burned out. Teams were burned out. And somewhere in the noise, a quiet message emerged:

“Don’t try to be everywhere. Try to be real.”

It was the year of rebuilding brand trust. Of cutting through automation sludge. Of rethinking the funnel. And for many of us—of remembering why we got into this work in the first place.

Here’s what actually happened.

Consumer Behavior Changed—And Got More Selective

78% of consumers unfollowed brands in 2022 due to “inauthentic” messaging
(Source: Stackla, “Bridging the Gap” Report)
Trust in social ads dropped for the third straight year—down to 43%, with Gen Z showing the sharpest decline
(Source: Edelman Trust Barometer)
Email open rates held steady at 21.5%, but click-throughs declined by 5%
People opened out of habit, not curiosity.
Reviews, UGC, and peer-led content outperformed branded ads in 73% of A/B tests
Trust shifted to real people, not stylized creatives.

We Over-Automated, Then Regretted It

Martech stack bloat peaked: the average mid-sized marketing team used 91 tools
(Source: ChiefMartec 2022)
Chatbots replaced contact forms on 62% of B2C websites—but customer satisfaction dropped by 11%
The human touch was missed more than expected.
AI-generated content became trendy—but conversion rates were 37% lower when used without human editing
You can’t automate authenticity.

What Did Work? Anything That Felt Human

Influencer marketing spend rose 42% year over year
Especially micro-creators (under 100K followers), who delivered better ROI and engagement.
SMS campaigns saw a 35% click-through rate—with 98% open rates
Text isn’t dead. It’s just underused.
Podcast ad revenue jumped to $2 billion, and listener trust remained higher than any digital format
People still like voices more than headlines.
Brands that publicly admitted mistakes saw an 8% brand trust lift
Honesty scaled.

So What Do We Do With This?

The lesson of 2022 wasn’t “be everywhere.” It was:

Be somewhere real. With something worth saying. To people who might actually care.

We learned (again) that automation should support communication—not replace it. That being human still scales when done right. That trust still matters more than targeting.

And that the brands who won last year weren’t louder. They were clearer.

Five Takeaways From 2022

For CMOs, marketing leads, and teams who want to make smarter moves in 2023:

Cut your stack. Most teams don’t need 90 tools.
Edit your AI. Machine content is only as good as the human who sharpens it.
Trust is the new KPI. If your customers don’t believe you, your reach is meaningless.
Get personal again. SMS, podcasts, micro-creators—small formats built real engagement.
Real is rare. That’s why it still works.

ChatGPT Is Not a Copywriter. It’s a Brutal First Draft Machine.

July 4, 2022 / Andy

Let’s get this out of the way: I like AI. I use it. I even talk to it more than some of my friends. But let’s not pretend it’s Don Draper.

What AI is great at? Vomiting out a rough idea so you can sharpen it. Rewriting headlines until one of them doesn’t suck. Spitting out 20 variations of something you weren’t even sure how to start.

But it doesn’t know timing. Or tone. Or how to write a line that makes you pause, not scroll.

A lot of brands are skipping the human part. They’re posting AI-generated sludge and calling it “content.” That’s not innovation. That’s

laziness dressed up in automation.

The good news? If you still have a voice, your own. You can make AI your assistant, not your replacement. But it starts with knowing who you are before you press “generate.”