A cozy table. Sharp minds. And one very good reason to keep talking marketing offline. Here’s what happened at the first Marketing Algonquin.

You built a beautiful Squarespace website. The messaging is solid, the visuals are on point—but the traffic? Crickets. If you’re wondering why no one’s finding your site (and what to do about it), this post breaks it down. Learn why long-form content still matters, how blogging can be your website’s best traffic engine, and what a smart strategy really looks like—especially for Squarespace users who’ve done the brand work but still feel invisible.

Confused about StoryBrand Certified Guide vs Coach? Here’s what changed, why it changed back, and what it actually means for your marketing.

Blogging isn’t just another marketing tactic; it’s the backbone of a successful SEO strategy. Learn why consistent, strategic blogging can make or break your search engine rankings and overall online visibility.

High-stakes moments don’t give you time to clarify what you meant. When a message isn’t sharp, even a strong idea can lose the room. This post breaks down what happened in the Tank, the messaging work History By Mail did with Downstage Media ahead of the pitch, and what founders can learn about preparing their message before the pressure hits.

I set a simple goal: get 10 new email subscribers by March 31. No ads. No big campaigns. Just smarter placement, clearer messaging, and a system that could run while I focused on client work. Here’s what worked, what didn’t—and what I’ll try next time.

When Ari Siegel, founder of History By Mail, landed a coveted spot on Shark Tank, he turned to Downstage Media for help crafting a pitch that would resonate with both the Sharks and millions of viewers. Here’s how we shaped the message, rehearsed every word, and got ready for a once-in-a-lifetime moment on national TV.

You don’t need a massive following to grow your business—you need a smart content strategy and the right systems. In this post, Annie Figenshu breaks down why email marketing still outperforms social media, how to build trust with a smaller audience, and what to focus on if you’re ready to stop chasing followers and start seeing results.

This week’s Email Signup Experiment took an unexpected turn—zero conversions despite steady traffic. What went wrong? We break down the data, analyze possible causes, and outline next steps to get signups back on track.

This week’s Email Signup Experiment revealed a surprising boost in signups, with the pop-up and sticky footer leading the way. But high-traffic blog pages still aren’t converting. See what’s working, what’s not, and the next steps to optimize our strategy.

Tracking the right data makes all the difference. This week, we uncovered signups from unexpected sources, proving that expanding what we measure is just as important as optimizing how we capture leads.

The Email Signup Experiment just hit a turning point—our latest numbers are at zero signups for the week. If you neglect your own marketing, your results will suffer. In this update, we analyze why conversions have stalled and what needs to change immediately to turn things around.

This week’s Email Signup Experiment proved that doing nothing leads to… well, not much. With no changes made, our pop-up maintained its underwhelming conversion rate, and high-traffic blog pages still didn’t deliver signups. Next week, we’re adjusting timing, refining our CTA, and rethinking form placement to finally break through.

The Email Signup Experiment continues, and this week’s data reveals some unexpected shifts. While the home page saw its first signup, the pop-up’s conversion rate dropped significantly. Are visitors tuning it out? We’re making key adjustments to timing, messaging, and placement to improve performance. Read on to see what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re testing next.

The Email Signup Experiment is in full swing, and this week’s results revealed both progress and challenges. While adding the form to high-traffic blog posts didn’t generate signups, the pop-up saw a 5.9% conversion rate—better than nothing, but still below the industry average. With a combined conversion rate of 2.3%, it’s clear we need to refine our approach. The focus now? Improving visibility, tweaking messaging, and driving more traffic to high-converting pages. Can these adjustments push us closer to our goal of 10 new subscribers by March 31? We’re about to find out.

Join Annie Figenshu and her AI assistant, Betty Bot-ley, as they dive into this week's Email Signup Experiment results. Discover insights from Newsletter Form 5 2, including a solid 7.7% conversion rate but low traffic challenges. Learn actionable strategies to boost visibility and engagement while working toward the goal of 10 new subscribers by March 31. Ready to optimize your own signup forms? Let's explore together!

Discover the art of crafting effective lead capture forms in this real-time experiment. Follow along as I implement proven strategies, track progress, and share actionable insights to help you build your email list and turn visitors into loyal subscribers.

I’ve returned to my maiden name, Annie Figenshu. If you’re searching for Annie Schiffmann or wondering what the name change means, here’s the clear answer and what hasn’t changed about my work.

Get your business ready for 2025! In this post, you’ll learn a streamlined, five-step plan designed for small teams. From choosing your top focus to setting up automations and tracking the right metrics, each step is crafted to help you make an impact with clarity and confidence. Let’s start the new year with a marketing strategy that’s both manageable and powerful.

Tilt Publishing isn’t just about getting your book on the shelves—it’s about giving authors the control, reader data, and engagement they deserve. As the publisher of The Content Entrepreneur and Simple Social Media, I chose Tilt for the same reasons you might: meaningful connections, long-term growth, and turning a book into a true brand-building tool. Discover how Tilt’s unique approach can transform your book from launch day to lasting impact.