In partnership with
Hey, {{first_name | product-preneur}}!
Nothing beats sad songs and long walks at sunset.
Seriously, it gets my brain in the perfect mood to reflect on what’s going on with my life. Lately it’s been moody EDM.
On one of my walks (a daily thing for 75 Hard), the doubt rolled in about this newsletter, which led me to reflect on the last 365 days of Product Potion.
While furiously writing my thoughts while walking, I found 3 newsletter signals that lied to me that I wanted to share with you. I’m sure some of you market yourself or your business in some manner.
Newsletters just happen to be one of the best ways. 😉
Brewers' Bulletin
What’s one metric that messes with your head the most? Hit reply, I read every one.
Just had my birthday, here’s 35 years worth of life lessons in just two minutes. Tell me if you agree with any of these! Read it here
How Marketers Are Scaling With AI in 2026
61% of marketers say this is the biggest marketing shift in decades.
Get the data and trends shaping growth in 2026 with this groundbreaking state of marketing report.
Inside you’ll discover:
Results from over 1,500 marketers centered around results, goals and priorities in the age of AI
Stand out content and growth trends in a world full of noise
How to scale with AI without losing humanity
Where to invest for the best return in 2026
Download your 2026 state of marketing report today.
Get Your Report
Potion of the Week
This week’s potion is the vanity scoreboard trap, with each lie there is a matching lesson.
3 signals that lied to me:
1) Subscriber count
It’s the easiest metric to refresh… and the easiest one to cause anxiety. Early growth is real lumpy. Comparing yourself to someone on a totally different journey is basically emotional damage.
2) Revenue (too early)
Platforms make monetization look like the scoreboard. But early revenue is often random, inconsistent, and not tied to a real offer. It feels like proof. It’s usually just a bunch of noise.
3) “Direction clarity”
Clarity doesn’t always show up first (and that’s okay). Sometimes it shows up after you’ve shipped enough to see what people react to. Expecting instant certainty is how you talk yourself into quitting early.
3 signals that didn’t lie:
1) Welcome survey answers
This was the first time I got real signal without cold DM’ing. It told me who was subscribing, what they wanted, and what they were struggling with.
Steal these 3 questions (these are my real winners):
What are you hoping to get out of [enter your brand]?
Which role best describes you?
What’s your biggest struggle right now?
2) Traffic source quality
Not all subscribers behave the same. Where they came from predicts loyalty, replies, and clicks. Track sources so you know what’s “rented attention” vs “earned attention.”
For example: Beehiiv Boosts vs. LinkedIn content
3) Single CTA performance
When I had multiple things to click, like hyperlinks and one main offer, my feedback was trash.
When I switched to one main CTA (big girthy button, obvious next step), I finally got clean cause and effect.
One example you can run this week:
Keep the topic of your marketing the same… and only change the single CTA.
But give it time to breath so you can track real behavior (~30+ days).
If clicks jump, you found the lever. If nothing moves, stop blaming the CTA and look at the hook or distribution.
Book a Revenue Repair Sprint
If people visit your product but aren't buying, or don't stick around, the issue is usually in the first five minutes of their experience.
I help you find and eliminate the obstacles slowing down revenue, so more users reach the part that actually sustains your business.
Start with a free call. I have one February spot left. We'll find the leak. 👇
Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes
If you’re a decision maker at your company, you need to be on the bleeding edge of, well, everything. But before you go signing up for seminars, conferences, lunch ‘n learns, and all that jazz, just know there’s a far better (and simpler) way: Subscribing to The Deep View.
This daily newsletter condenses everything you need to know about the latest and greatest AI developments into a 5-minute read. Squeeze it into your morning coffee break and before you know it, you’ll be an expert too.
Subscribe right here. It’s totally free, wildly informative, and trusted by 600,000+ readers at Google, Meta, Microsoft, and beyond.
Corking Things Up
If you want one metric to anchor yourself to this month, use this:
Replies per 100 subscribers.
It’s not perfect, but it tells you if you’re building actual connection… or just collecting emails.
This week, remove one lying metric from your brain.
Pick ONE truth signal to track for the next month:
Welcome survey answers
Top traffic source + replies
Single CTA click rate
Reply and tell me this: What’s the one “score” you keep checking that makes you spiral into the dark pits of your brain? (And yes, I’m calling myself out too.)
👋 I’ll see ya next week! — Dana
P.S. If you enjoy my emails, move them to your primary inbox and let me know by sending a reply or clicking the poll below.
I respond to every reply. Let’s make this about YOU!