The marketing plan you already own


Hi Reader,

I had two conversations yesterday that touched on the exact same point. A lot of companies feel behind because they don't have a massive marketing plan. Funnels, ad buys, SEO.

But for most of us, honestly? That's fine.

If you don't have a complex strategy, the fix is actually right in front of you: Your current best clients.

You don't need a complicated strategy or a massive ad budget if you have a current client explaining exactly how you improved their business.

But you can't just point a camera at them and hope they say the right thing. Here is the biggest mistake I see companies make when trying to grab a testimonial:

They ask their clients for a testimonial without guidance. The result? "Neil was great, highly recommend."

Instead, guide them to something useful: "What was the challenge we aimed to solve when we started working together? What were the results?"

That question gets you a sales asset. ("We had no marketing plan before we started working with Neil. In the quarter since we started using our best clients to sell for us, we've cleared $40k.")

Show it to a like-minded prospect, and you will get traction.

If you want to see a low-effort setup to capture these stories, you can steal my simple testimonial form right here: https://forms.gle/gUgs558FE3fqBH1E7

Having the right form is half the battle. The other half is knowing exactly who to send it to.

If you want to figure that part out, I’m hosting a working session tomorrow at 1 PM ET.

It’s called The Extraordinary Client Workshop. We aren't talking about cameras or lighting. We are going to open up your client roster and find the exact clients who can step up and do your selling for you.

I only have two spots left for tomorrow (but don't worry, there's another one next month too).

You can grab one of the last spots right here: https://vidwheel.kit.com/extra

Rooted in Insight. Crafted for Traction.

- Neil

Strategic video that speaks your client’s language

Join the list and get behind-the-scenes insights, real client examples, and the latest on rootThread videos - our AI-assisted video process built to uncover messaging that moves.

Read more from Strategic video that speaks your client’s language

Hi Reader,Testimonials act as a magnet. Prospects listen to a client's story and immediately think, "That sounds like me." Clear, impactful stories from great clients with great results attract more of the same. But, this is a double-edged sword. If you get a video testimonial from a difficult, low-margin client, that magnet is a problem. You are just going to attract more difficult, low-margin clients. Most businesses are completely reactive with their social proof. They just ask whoever is...

Hi Reader, I've been going on for quite a while about "deep testimonials" - and all the great insights that can be gained by just taking a closer, intentional look at your best clients and what they are saying. But unless you or someone you know talks directly about testimonial videos and knows all the underlying benefits, you aren't going to come to the conclusion that the deep testimonial path is right for you. So, who needs this stuff? Really? It is not the burger joint that is netting $12...

Hi Reader, Have you ever watched a client testimonial video that felt . . . rehearsed? Or maybe less-than-authentic? Even if the client is telling the truth, it somehow sounds like they are just reading the company's "About" page out loud. “Their process was seamless. The team was synergistic. They really drove ROI.” This happens because most founders inadvertently build an echo chamber. When we ask clients for a testimonial, they subconsciously (or maybe even consciously) feed us back the...