Notes for a Clearer Morning
Brought to you by Olivia Starling
Featured · Founder StoriesThe $1M education: what her own ad spend taught CBM
Before building the agency she could never find, our founder spent over a million dollars of her own money on ads. Five lessons from the client seat that still shape every account we run today, told in her own words.
Marketing 101Why turnkey is the most honest word in marketing
Most agencies sell packages. Turnkey means the whole thing runs without you pushing it. What that word should actually promise, and how to tell if an agency can keep it.
StrategySpecialists vs generalists: the math nobody shows you
One person doing five jobs badly costs more than five people doing one job brilliantly. A plain-English breakdown of how specialist teams move the numbers.
ReportingHow to read a marketing report in five minutes
If your monthly report needs a translator, something is wrong. The only numbers that matter, the two questions to ask, and the red flags to watch for.
EcommerceEmail flows that read like a friend wrote them
Retention is personal. How we write Klaviyo flows that sound human, land in the inbox, and bring customers back without discount desperation.
Local BusinessOwning the search moment in your hometown
When someone nearby searches for your service, you get one shot. How local businesses show up first, look the part, and turn the click into a call.
Marketing 101Five questions to ask before you hire an agency
The consultation is your interview, not theirs. Five questions that separate operators from order-takers, straight from the owner seat.
SocialThe content calendar that runs itself
Batching, themes, and a weekly rhythm that keeps three posts a week flowing without eating your Thursdays.
AdsWhat Performance Max actually does with your budget
Google's smartest campaign is also its least transparent. Where the money goes, what to watch, and when to pull back.
EcommerceRetention beats acquisition: the ecommerce math
A 5% lift in repeat purchases usually outperforms a 30% jump in traffic. The numbers behind building a base that comes back.
Local BusinessYour Google Business Profile is a salesperson
Photos, reviews, hours, and posts. The free listing that quietly decides whether the local call goes to you or the competitor.
StrategyCreative testing without burning budget
Structured tests, honest sample sizes, and knowing when a loser is actually a lesson. A framework for creative that compounds.
SocialThe reel that saved a launch
One 15-second video outsold a full campaign. What we learned about hooks, sound-offs, and the first three seconds.
ReportingUTMs in plain English: where your leads really come from
Simple link tags that tell the truth about your traffic. A five-minute setup that makes every report smarter.
Marketing 101Hiring your first marketing person: owner or agency?
The real cost comparison nobody runs before job posting number one. When to hire in-house, when to hand it off, and when to mix.
StrategySeasonal campaigns: planning 90 days ahead
The holidays are won in September. A simple 90-day planning rhythm that beats last-minute panic creative every time.
EcommerceCart abandonment emails that don't feel like begging
Three touches, zero desperation. Sequences that recover carts while keeping the brand voice intact.
AdsMeta ads creative: the hook in three seconds
Scroll speed decides everything. How we build the first three seconds of every ad to stop thumbs and start conversations.
Marketing 101Why we publish our pricing philosophy
Starting-at prices on a services page raise eyebrows and save time. Here is the thinking behind showing the number.