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The Marketing Memo #70: Why Subcultures Will Beat Data-Driven Branding

Plus: How to hook readers in 10 seconds

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The Marketing Memo Editors
October 20, 2025

Hey there marketers,

Welcome to the 70th issue of The Marketing Memo. We’ve pulled in a couple of can’t-miss resources for you to check out.

But first, let’s start with a Monday marketing meme:

Had a good chuckle? Now you’re ready for today’s newsletter. Here’s what we’ve got:

  • A deep dive on building your brand within subcultures

  • A quick tip to hook readers right away

Let’s jump in.

Deep Dive: Why Subcultures Will Beat Data-Driven Branding

In a world obsessed with dashboards, metrics, and optimization, brands are losing the very thing that makes people care: connection. Data can show you what people click, but it can’t show you how they feel.

“What most fancy looking dashboards won’t tell you is that people don’t want to be targeted. They want to be seen.”

So how can modern marketers evolve? Read this deep dive to learn how to build brands that don’t just convert customers but create believers.

The Future of Branding is in Subcultures not Spreadsheets

A comprehensive guide to understand how to embed your brand in a cultural moment

medium.com/better-marketing/the-future-of-branding-is-in-subcultures-not-spreadsheets-ded49a747682

Today’s Tip: Beat Reader Objections Before They Form

Before a reader decides to engage, their brain fires off tiny, silent objections, and you can create a hook that breaks them down before they form.

Marketer and writer Nick Waghorn turned to bestselling nonfiction books to learn how to master the hook.

Read the full piece to learn how to put it to use in your own writing.

Hook Readers in 10 Seconds: 5 Lessons From 57 Bestselling Book Intros

Win attention fast — or lose it forever

medium.com/better-marketing/hook-readers-in-10-seconds-5-lessons-from-57-bestselling-book-intros-ba6674f8e18d

The Marketing Memo: Our Favorite Tools 🛠️

Want to see a comprehensive list of our favorite marketing tools? Check out our full recommendation list here. If we come across a new tool we love, we’ll highlight it in an upcoming newsletter.

Loved this newsletter? Forward it to a marketer you love in your life.

We’ll see you next Monday for the next Marketing Memo.

- Kati Amberry and Sinem Günel

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