This is[n't] an Emergency
butt it shure feels like won
No one died because your newsletter had a typo.
(At least not in the world of B2B content marketing.)
Yet every marketer has a content marketing “emergency” story where it seems like the whole company is panicking over a broken link in a social media post or a launch snafu.
Are these really emergencies, tho?
This week, Margaret and I explore the strange phenomenon of "content marketing emergencies.” Those heart-racing moments when you've sent the wrong email to 10,000 people or accidentally shared your entire company Dropbox with hundreds of community members. (Yes, those are real stories from the episode. And yes, we've been there.)
Here's the thing though: In over 15 years of content marketing, we’ve never encountered an actual emergency. A crisis? Sure. Moments of sheer panic? Absolutely.
(Like that time nude photos from an art exhibit I (Devin) posed for in college accidentally became public on Google Photos. "Definitely anxiety-inducing.)
But a true emergency? Nope.
If you're a marketer who's ever sweated through a content "emergency," or if you're a leader who needs perspective on what constitutes a real crisis versus a temporary setback, this episode is for you.
Plus, you'll get to hear stories of our most memorable content marketing "disasters" – including that time Margaret helped launch what was definitely NOT a strip club (except it totally was).
…or wherever you get your podcasts.
Love you bunches,
❤️ Devin & Margaret
Send this to your boss
A hiring note from Devin.
Speaking of preventing marketing emergencies...most founders wait until they’re desperate for results to hire a marketer, which creates a situation that feels a lot like an emergency.
We (marketers) know that marketing strategy won't magically produce results the second you hire someone. Building community and getting the marketing engine going and takes months and rushing that process because you're desperate for leads is setting everyone up for failure.
I honestly think more startups should have a marketing co-founder if the company is created by a product founder (a stance that prompted SOME FEEDBACK 😇), but I’m preaching to the choir here.
I’m passionate about this topic, because I get so many folks asking me who to hire and what the JD should contain and why doesn’t this freelancer know how to write for me perfectly on day one…
Anyway, I did a webinar on this topic with Christine Orchard, and afterwards we created a marketing hiring guide that includes a truly Devin-style “how to write a marketing job description” tutorial to spread the 1:1 advice I give to all.
(NOTE: I decided to partner with Arc.dev to help me source potential PT/FTE hires when I don’t have any on hand. It’s a referral relationship that I want to try because professional matchmaking takes good chunk of my time, so I’m experimenting to see if I can subsidize it this way.)
The guide breaks down exactly how to time these decisions for actual impact. Check it out here and since it’s most likely your boss or HR time that needs it most, feel free to reply and I’ll no-context DM it to whoever you want 😇
BONUS Episode
Margaret and I set out to record an episode on influence vs fame and ended up talking about life in general right now and what we’re doing to thrive and cope. We know other folks are experiencing their own deluge of circumstance we decided to share the recording in the hopes that you might benefit from the lessons we learned and how we’re applying them to 2025.
Expect stories about giving up perfection, letting go of the need to control, and why it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what feels true to you, which could be doing absolutely nothing at all.
There’s nothing wrong with trying to “have it all” as long as you’re checking-in with yourself regularly, setting boundaries and redefining “success” for yourself along the way.
(Listen wherever you get your podcasts.)