"Billy Bob down the road could repair this for a much cheaper price, but..."
A chunk of wet wood fell to the grass as he rubbed his hand under our window jay.
"...this is structural wood. If it gets any wetter, it'll go into your interior wall."
My husband and I looked at each other, worried. We weren't willing to risk mold toxicity and extensive damages. "Let's do it!" I said, "I don't care how much it costs."
You see, Reader, our house was a rental before we bought it, and things weren't maintained very well. We've made a lot of major repairs and improvements. Having mold on our structural wood was something we had to take care of before it got any worse. In a humid, stormy Tennessee summer, worse would quickly become a reality.
I won't lie, taking out a loan to get it done was a punch to the gut. BUT...
✓ The project manager was communicative and informative.
✓ The team walked me through everything and double-checked with me before making an installation or repairing something new they found.
✓ Our house looks BRAND NEW. We love coming home to it and know it's an investment that will benefit us when we're ready to sell.
Because he was right. The metaphorical Billy Bob down the street could have done it for a fraction of the cost, but is putting our foundation at risk worth an outcome of more problems or half-finished projects? Not even close.
Does your email marketing strategy feel like wet, rotting wood Reader?
I get it -- times are hard and life gets busy. But your email marketing is foundational to the success of your business or organization. Will you let the foundation go beyond repair, or are you willing to invest in high-quality improvements?
The choice is yours, Reader. Luckily, you've got options.
- If your budget is low or nonexistent, there's no shame in using free resources and DIY-ing your way through until you can invest in an expert. (This is where my email strategy planner comes in handy.)
- If your budget is minimal, consider outsourcing administrative tasks so you can focus on the meat of your email marketing strategy.
- If you're ready to invest, find someone you trust to build an email marketing strategy designed to bring you optimal results (hey, you found me!)
If you've already outsourced your email marketing, evaluate if they're doing a "Billy Bob" job, or if they're knocking it out of the park. Because you don't have the time or the money to fix what Billy Bob missed.
Regardless of how you start or when you outsource, improving your decaying email marketing foundation can set you up for bigger success, more reliable streams of connections or revenue, and a sustainable way to grow business no matter what other platforms you use.
If you're ready to invest in a strong email marketing foundation, reply "foundation" to this email. I'll ask you a few questions and we'll discover your next best step for a solid, sustainable foundation. You in, Reader?
Who says summer can't be fun AND educational?
My friends at Alt Marketing School are hosting the ultimate summer learning experience - AMS Summer School 2025! It's a nine-week series packed with engaging sessions and top-notch industry experts such as Chenell Basilio, Tiago Forte’s team, and many more. On demand content, dropped each week during June -August. Secure your free ticket here!
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Small business doing big things
Black Yard Farm Collective
Ashanti is an experienced Black Farmer driven to create land access and safe learning spaces for Black Folks interested in agriculture in the Bronx. She provides products, farm education, and expereinces focused on creating ownership and diversity in our agricultural system. Become an Ally below!
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Remember, Reader, we all have to start somewhere. Today, I challenge you to write one email to send to your list this week. If you don't have a list, I recommend signing up for the free version of Kit. It doesn't have to be perfect, as long as you're moving forward.
Stay Kind,
Amanda Nicholson, Copywriter
