Apophenic

In addition to my regular players (Andrew Stern: guitar, Dave Brophy: drums, Joe McMahon: bass), I have a special guest performer on this single: Jessye DeSilva on the Wurlitzer. That's the first thing you hear, I just love her part. She's a touring artist and fantastic songwriter – I urge you to look her up as well. Patrons ($5 level) get early access to my releases (and MP3 320 downloads), plus...

"One Sunday in Autumn" was played on one of the largest radio stations in metro Boston. Graeme (the host of 92.5 The River) gave a very thoughtful introduction to the song, which I really appreciate. I probably don't have permission to share this widely, but I thought it was safe to share it privately with you. Patrons ($5 level) get early access to my releases (and MP3 320 downloads), plus exclus...

If we live like everything is a transaction, we end up feeling spent all the time. I'm really psyched about how this one came out. I feel like it's really different from the songs I've produced so far. For example, here's how it started – a live version that I posted here back in 2021 . That's also how I play it live in my solo format. Now it's fully developed, with some help from my very talented...

I am releasing my 1st new single in 10 years ! It will be available on all streaming platforms on Friday 4/22/22. It's always a little terrifying to share something you're proud of. But here it is.  It features some great players: Andrew Stern (guitar), Joe McMahon (bass), Dave Brophy (drums), and Peter Fernandez (keys). That's a lot of talent on one track!  Patrons ($5 level) get early access to...

Let's cut right to it. If you spam me, you don't have a right to a response. Stop contacting me. Stop the false praise. Stop following up multiple times.  Picking up where I left off in my last rant/episode , here's another sucky Web strategy: The attack of the Successive Spam Scammers. I mean, it must work if they keep doing it. But again, is this how you want to do business? Is this how you want...

The Web is filled with sucky, self-serving strategies, but here's one of my least favorites. Hey Web Scammers and Click Farmers, this one's for you! I mean, my blog can't be that great, can it? If I were to listen to the lies of scammers, I might start to believe that my blog is a must-read. Every podcast episode a must-listen. I sincerely doubt that's true though.  Be honest, you didn't even read...

The starting posture of the Web is "who cares?" We have to recognize: We are not exceptional. We do not deserve attention. We have to earn it. And the algorithms are working against us.  Social media is a lie . It promises a podium. But instead, it merely hires you to be unpaid labor to make sociopaths wealthier. Can you still get something out of it? Sure, but we have to see through the misconcep...

I've been having a tough time with LinkedIn lately. What's your feed like? Scrolling through LinkedIn, my feed is cringe after cringe. A never-ending stream of performative, self-aggrandizing humble brags. I know we're excited about our current job, a cool project, or our purpose/mission – but is the way we talk about it coming off the wrong way?  In other words, is the " Digital Representation of...

Why do good companies succumb to the siren song of short-term self-interest? Show me that you're in it for the long game... or are today's numbers all that matter? It's a choice, and it shows what you think of us.  Show Notes / Links from the Episode This is why we need to Stop Mimicking What Marketers Do Fitbit: This was an unforced error. I'll take your apology on Twitter , LinkedIn , email , or...

Marketing starts with listening. The Ambient Awareness Test is a method I use to make sure that I'm doing enough listening. I invite you to try it out for yourself. Show Notes / Links from the Episode Overview: Consider the Source https://patreon.com/mboezi Put me to the test too: Reply back with the answer to my core question! Here in the comments, on Twitter , or LinkedIn .

We have the tendency to mimic what we see others doing on social, blogs, podcasts, and videos. We think, "it must work" because hey, "that person seems successful." This is a trap though, and can lead us into presenting ourselves in an inauthentic way. Tired Web clichés, sure – but also worse than that: Doing actual damage to your brand. Show Notes / Links from the Episode My project, Consider the...

Finding the right "media fit" is just as important as the content we produce and share. Miss the mark, and it's one-and-done – an opportunity squandered. Let's do a quick audit. Show Notes / Links from the Episode My new project: Consider the Source (an Overview) My podcast: https://controlmousemedia.com/podcast My Substack:  https://mboezi.substack.com An example of creating a series:  Content Ma...

Jessica Valenti changed my mind about cancel culture.  Links from the episode: The People ‘Cancel Culture’ Forgot by Jessica Valenti in her Substack newsletter, All in Her Head An overview of my new project: Consider the Source , where I get into more topics like this one (in audio, video, and music too)... join me here at any level.

It feels like a chance to reset. How will that affect our media environment? How can we make changes to what we consume, what we share, and what we produce?

Creating positive change is a marketing problem as much as anything. We need to be able to express our ideals with clarity and empathy, so that they are understood at an elemental level. In my lifetime, the left has been terrible at this – and political battles are often lost before they even begin. That's why it's worth examining the phrase, Black Lives Matter . Not only to appreciate its precisi...

Turnout was supposed to be the solution, but it revealed that 70M people approve of the past 4 years… and wanted more  of it. Let's not dwell on why  that might be, but instead: How can we find a way to talk to one another with empathy ? How can we use media to speak with clarity about our ideals? Links from the Episode The ad imperative is bad for the culture,  in social  and  in general Why I to...

After 4 exhausting years, we get our turn at the podium. Collectively, we'll speak. Hopefully, loud enough to be heard above the cheating. Tomorrow may not end with the final word, but we'll begin to find out some answers about who we are as a people. I'm rooting for us – all of us. My hat's off to all of you who shoved aside intentional roadblocks to make your voice heard. Whatever happens tomorr...

In reality, no one convinces anyone of anything. We come to decisions on our own. Show Notes / Links from the Episode My Patreon community: patreon.com/mboezi Reach out to me on Twitter , LinkedIn , or in the comments below

Your set of experiences makes you who you are. Here's a reductive exercise as a self-check. Don't be nervous, I'll go first. Show Notes / Links from the Episode My Patreon community: patreon.com/mboezi Reach out to me on Twitter , LinkedIn , or in the comments below

Some of the biggest problems we face today could be solved with better marketing. I ask you to put aside what you think of as "marketing" for a moment, because we are losing ground . And if we're not using our voice to speak up for those who need us, I'm not sure what we're doing here.  What's the point of having an audience if we're just here to exploit it for our own benefit only? Having an audi...

In the spirit of making changes to both my podcast and Patreon, let's try something new today. Here is a rough demo I recorded into my iPhone back in July called "One Sunday in Autumn" but it's appropriate today since it's 9/29. You'll understand it if you give this tune a listen.  It's about The Cost of Inaction . Like I said in my last post, we get to create the culture. We do this in the things...

After a long hiatus this summer, I relaunched my long-running podcast this morning. I've amended the format and focus a little to steer into the things that I like about it – and more importantly, the things I think that you like about it too.  If you want a more detailed explanation of why I took a break, it's here in this episode: Closing Up Shop (Episode 175). But in short, it just felt like it...

Time is running out! Perceived urgency can be a strong motivator to make a purchase. Here's how we can carefully use urgency as a strategy, and why this is an advantage for small businesses over larger competitors.  Show Notes : https://controlmousemedia.com/podcast/urgency/ — Marketing Without the Marketing is available wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/mwm-itunes Spot...

When a customer is ready to make a purchase, there are only two strategies you can use to gently influence them to complete the sale: Scarcity and urgency. Here's a rundown of all the ways to use SCARCITY to up your conversion rates. Show Notes : https://controlmousemedia.com/podcast/scarcity/ — Marketing Without the Marketing is available wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple Podcasts http://bit...

Your online store is the last and most important point in the customer's journey. In the first episode of this 3-part mini-series, I cover how to set up your store site, optimize product pages, and gather the data you need to make smart strategic adjustments.  Show Notes : https://controlmousemedia.com/podcast/making-the-sale/ — Marketing Without the Marketing is available wherever you listen to p...