For rebels ready to sharpen their digital skills and rewrite the marketing rules with a whole lotta heart 🫶
Alt Marketing School is a modern marketing school that is 100% vibes, zero gatekeeping. We believe in marketing to hearts, and that marketers need marketers to make their craft better every day (and feel less lonely in the process).
Learn how to write stories readers will love so much, they’ll tell their friends about it. Based on 30+ years experience as a writer and editor. Join the Story Grid email list and we'll immediately send you a free 5-part video series on using our tools to level up your writing.
Happy Monday rebel 👋
What was the original purpose of bubble wrap?
A) Wallpaper
B) Greenhouse insulation
C) Soundproofing for screaming goats
Answer at the bottom of this email
Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s newsletter
🥞 Campaign inspiration
M&S brings simplicity to your brekkie aisle
🔎 Worksheet for you
Mastering meme marketing
🗓️ One for your calendar
Partner event - Premenstrual disorder month
We are saying a special hello in our newsletter to one of our newest students, growth and brand strategist Jo 🫶
Anu & Fab
The AMS Newsletter is compiled an edited by Anu and Fab
Ever tried explaining your product’s origin story to someone racing to meet a deadline? We hate to break it to you, but they’re not listening.
According to fresh research from Nankai University, the way people respond to ads depends on how busy they are. If they’re multitasking like a Monday morning octopus, they want the facts. Fast. If they’re vibing on a Sunday scroll, bring the feels.
Here’s what the study found (and how to use it):
1️⃣ Busy brains want clarity – When people were in a rush, they rated products higher when the ad focused on clear benefits. Think: “Noise-cancelling headphones with 30-hour battery life” over “Feel the joy of immersive sound.” They clicked more when the message was rational, not emotional.
2️⃣ Chill minds want vibes – The same products were more appealing to relaxed folks when the emotional payoff was highlighted. For example, a language course felt more appealing when framed as “the joy of connecting with others” versus “learn a new skill in 8 weeks.”
3️⃣ Test your timing – If your ad’s showing up during work hours, keep the message straight to the point: practical, clear, benefit-led. If you’re catching your audience during their downtime, lean into storytelling, feelings, and the lifestyle they crave.
Timing isn’t just about when your ad appears. It’s about how your audience is feeling in that moment.
Speak to their state of mind, and your message will land harder (whether they’re juggling meetings or sipping oat milk lattes in bed).
Our friends at FindMarketing have launched their Quarterly Marketing Fee Survey, a brilliant resource for freelancers and independent consultants looking to benchmark their rates.
If you work in marketing or a related field (think consultants, designers, copywriters, social media pros, photographers, videographers), this anonymous survey will help you see how your rates compare and guide your pricing decisions.
Open all of April for UK marketers, with results shared in May.
Turn Media into Anything in Minutes with Castmagic
At Alt Marketing School, we’re all about maximising the potential of our content, and that’s where Castmagic becomes our star player. It’s an AI-driven, audio-first content workspace, revolutionising how we handle audio files and videos.
With Castmagic, transforming any audio or video into a plethora of engaging content is a breeze. Simply upload, and voilà – you have a suite of ready-to-publish content at your fingertips.
M&S has made a bold move in the breakfast aisle with the launch of their Only 1 Ingredient Corn Flakes - and yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. Just corn. Nothing else. No sugar, no salt, no fancy additives.
They've put this right on the front of the box too, showing everyone exactly what they're getting and raising the bar for breakfast cereals.
These days, people really care about what's in their food and want to know exactly what they're eating. M&S gets this, and they're responding in the simplest way possible. By keeping things straightforward - both in the product itself and how they present it - they're showing that they understand what matters most to their customers: honest, simple food with nothing to hide.
Worksheet: Meme Marketing Brainstormer
This worksheet inspired by our chat with Annie-Mai Hodge will help you understand the power of meme marketing, providing tips and strategies to engage your audience effectively. Use it to create shareable content that resonates with users, boosts brand awareness, and drives social media engagement.
A talk to inspire people with menstrual cycles to get to know their cycle and cyclical patters to enhance their relationship with themselves, the people in their life and their career. Together we will look at how wildly behind the world has been in understanding the menstrual cycle and female health, unpack some of the taboos and stigmas around menstruation.
Join us for this training and take the leap and harness the incredible potential of the Creator Economy and master the power of creators in your strategy.
For rebels ready to sharpen their digital skills and rewrite the marketing rules with a whole lotta heart 🫶
Alt Marketing School is a modern marketing school that is 100% vibes, zero gatekeeping. We believe in marketing to hearts, and that marketers need marketers to make their craft better every day (and feel less lonely in the process).