It's time to talk about Q3.

Aka, the “summer slump" quarter that most folks treat as marketing limbo.

But you need to rethink that: Q3 can be the workhorse of the marketing year.

It’s the perfect “business as usual” season. There's less wild peaks and valleys of holiday campaigns, save back-to-school season. It's mainly the chance to build momentum and benchmark what your steady season can look like.

Use Q3 to:

• Test top-performing creative before the Q4 noise hits
• Benchmark your “normal” to measure future spikes against
• Nurture leads and warm your audience so they're ready for holidays (without being fatigued)
• Lay the foundation for cross-channel campaigns that have a change to build momentum

So sure, Q3 could be a summer slump. Or it could be the calm, strategic stretch that makes your holiday push 10x stronger.

My 2 cents on Fundraising Comms

This month, I've been seeing a fundraising campaign from The Lola—an Atlanta coworking space founded by women, and one I genuinely admire.

Suddenly, they were in urgent mode: Raising $200K before June 30 to keep their space open. Read the story on NPR here.​

And I want to donate. I really do.

But I didn’t hear the answer to the any questions I kept asking:

• Why is this happening so suddenly?
• What changed?
• Was this unforeseen? Was it avoidable?
• Is relocation on the table?

This isn’t a criticism... It’s a reminder.

When you’re fundraising—especially in a last-ditch, high-stakes moment—you owe your audience clarity about what’s at risk, AND transparency about why we’re here.

As marketers, we know the power of a villain and a hero. Right now, there’s no clear villain. And without one, your audience doesn’t know what they’re supposed to fight against—or how to feel like a hero in your story.

If you’re asking for money, you need to be okay with the uncomfortable questions that come with it. Vulnerability isn’t a risk—it’s part of the ask.

Something New: The Marketing Strategy Sampler (Beta Now Open) 🍸

This summer, I’m opening a new offer I’ve been quietly building: the Marketing Strategy Sampler.

Think of it as your “anti-overwhelm” plan.

It’s a 1:1 consulting call paired with a custom plan built around your actual situation—your time, your team, your capacity. It’s a strategy that’s right-sized and specific. Not just “post more.” Not just “try harder.” Actual traction, with a roadmap.

• I’m opening it up to a small beta group of 5
• If you’re curious, you can join the interest list here.
• You’ll be the first to hear when it opens

👉 Join the Beta Interest List​

(And yep—this is a low-commitment list. You can leave anytime.)

What’s your Q3 move?​
Are you planning for fall? Getting back in rhythm? Or finally testing that campaign you’ve been sitting on?

Hit reply—I’d love to hear what season you’re in.

Wishing you a cool summer,