Mid-2025: What’s working, what’s stalling, what to fix
In-house vs. agency, lead gen that converts, and the shifts shaping Q3
Mid-2025 is forcing some real decisions.
Founders are rethinking how they staff, where their marketing is pulling weight, and why some leads just aren’t closing.
This week’s brief gets into it—what’s working, what’s shifting, and how to move faster without burning headcount.
Today’s agenda:
💥 In-house team vs. agency: What’s going to give the most bang for your buck?
🗓️ Shifts—not trends—founders need to know in midyear 2025
✅ B2B lead nurturing done right
💼 Briefly: Founder authenticity, growth marketing, & vanity metrics
⏱️ Up & coming: What to do with the time AI “frees up” (podcast)
🧑💻 Marketing team vs. agency: an honest breakdown
Most founders frame it wrong.
They ask, “Do we build in-house or hire an agency?”
👉 But the real question is: What model gives us max leverage—with minimal overhead—right now?
In my latest video, I break down how to choose the right model for your stage, speed, and budget—without wasting months (or hundreds of thousands) on the wrong setup.
⚖️ I cover:
When to keep things in-house (brand, narrative, messaging)
When to outsource (SEO, paid, CRO, outbound…)
The hybrid model that most growth-stage teams are using in 2025
A cost comparison chart founders love
A 4-question framework to make the right call
💡 Not sure what’s right for your team? Book a Discovery Call →
⚙️ Digital marketing shifts founders can’t ignore in 2025
You don’t need another trend list.
You need clarity—and a plan that won’t be obsolete in 6 months.
Here’s what actually matters in midyear 2025:
🤖 AI personalization is finally plug-and-play.
You don’t need a machine learning team. Most CRMs now connect to AI tools that react to behavior. Start with outbound or onboarding.
→ Founders: this is your fastest path to higher reply rates.
🗣️ Voice search = local SEO 2.0.
Forget smart speakers. This is about ranking when someone says, “Where’s the best [thing you do] near me?” Write content the way people talk, and tighten up your Google Business listing.
🎬 Short-form video still wins—when it moves people.
Don’t chase virality. Create 30-second clips that answer a real question, show off your product, or drive traffic to something that matters. Keep it useful, keep it moving.
🌱 Sustainability sells when it’s real.
If you’re making values-based decisions (vendors, packaging, process), show it. No greenwashing, just honest tradeoffs. That’s what builds trust.
🌐 The metaverse isn’t dead, it’s maturing.
If you’re in fintech, SaaS, or edtech, think virtual demos or onboarding flows. Start scrappy. One immersive touchpoint can differentiate you fast.
👉 Read the full post for startup-specific tactics and examples you can use now.
🧠 B2B lead nurturing got smarter
Most B2B lead nurturing wears people out: Drip campaigns. Generic case studies. Endless “just checking in” emails.
But done right, lead nurturing becomes a revenue engine—and in 2025, that means getting way more strategic with how you segment, follow up, and deliver value over time.
🎯 Here’s what’s working now:
Segment smarter: Group leads by stage and intent, not just industry or title. Tailor your follow-up based on what they’ve actually done—not what you hope they’ll do.
Lean into high-signal channels: LinkedIn still crushes for outbound. Webinars build trust. And retargeting keeps you top of mind—if your content actually delivers.
Let AI do the heavy lifting. From scoring leads to predicting next steps, AI helps you prioritize where your team’s time goes. It’s not about automating everything—it’s about focusing attention where it matters.
Tell stories that move deals forward. Case studies, founder POVs, teardown videos—these aren’t just content. They’re assets that speak directly to the buyer’s concerns.
Think omnichannel, not “multi-touch.” Meet your leads where they already are—email, social, events. Keep the message consistent, the timing tight, and the value clear.
Briefly
🗣 Authenticity is the new competitive edge. CEOs who show up with clarity build trust, culture, and brand value—while silence signals disconnect. This piece breaks down why visibility now defines leadership.
📱 Social media just passed TV as the top news source in the U.S.—with video leading the charge.
📈 Growth marketing rewards movement over perfection. This guide shows why small, fast experiments—not polished plans—drive traction. Founders who learn quickly, test relentlessly, and “kill their darlings” early are the ones who scale.
📊 Vanity metrics make you feel busy without showing what’s working. This article offers smarter alternatives that actually tie to growth.
🧠 AI isn’t just changing how we write—it’s reshaping how we sound. Research shows a creeping uniformity in speech, as phrases like “delve” and “tapestry” echo across Zoom calls and YouTube lectures. As AI flattens our voices, the real signal founders need to protect is human authenticity.
Up & Coming
We all know AI can make us faster. But here’s the deeper question: What will you do with the time it frees up?
On a recent appearance on the LifeBlood podcast, I shared why founders shouldn’t just use AI to crank out more output.
The better play? Use it to create space—so you can reallocate time toward 1:1s, strategic clarity, and team leadership.
👉 Watch the 60-second clip (YouTube Short), or listen to the full episode.
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing better with less. And that mindset shift will separate the best operators in 2025.