The Matrix
Why one prototype is worth 100 meetings
👋 Hey, Must Readers! I trust you had a good week.
This week’s Must Reads Newsletter has 11 must-read stories & a micro blog about the smart ways TikTok grows away from traditional methods and smashed records.
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Must Read Articles Of The Week
The Future Of Business Is People Powered 💯
The future of business is up for anyone to take, we have learnt over the years you need fill the funnel with customers, then most find out that retention and loyalty is hardest to build & engage, however, understanding how humans work and how to connect is something we should all learn & here is why the future of business are people first - Read the full breakdown
How To Reduce The Work / Life Blur 🏢🏡
Since working from home and now for many working hybrid, the blur between work and home as never been as challenging, here are five ways to reduce the blur - Read the 5 tips
—Pair With: Was Microsoft CEO right or wrong about working hybrid?9 Of The Most Iconic Photos Of All Time 📸
I will be very surprised if you haven’t seen these photos but are a great reminder of how powerful imagery and photography is - See the 9 photosThe Power Of TikTok 💪
Captions were rarely added on video’s, it was seen as a distraction, however, ever since TikTok’s popularity soared, we have seen captions rightly spread (likely from the 25% rule) and helping those with hearing and other disabilities throughout the process. TikTok has likely had a neutral impact on society, whereas you probably couldn’t say the same for the likes of Facebook & Instagram with the jury out on Youtube - Read the full article
Astro is Amazon’s next step inside your home…robot assistance Say Hello To Astro 🤖
Amazon might have just created the most adorable assistant (robot), the best description I have read is “love child between a Roomba and an Echo”. The in-house robot might just be the way Alexa goes from occasional use to utility with a camera with a $999 price tag this will be designed at the early adopters and the people who just need to have an assistant that moves with them. FYI developers are concerned about Astro and stairs 😬
- Read the full articleWhy Startups Are Everywhere 👁
A few months ago I suggested there will be case studies on how startups are now marketing and leveraging sports sponsorship. Here’s a good run down of Cazoo (car buying company), Cinch (insurance) & Zapp (last mile delivery) are splashing their investment on large sponsorship of festivals and sporting events alongside sponsoring sport teams - Read the full rundownWhy Clutter Reduces Your Focus 📍
I am one of those people who has a clean desk, a clean workspace and a clean desktop with specific tags and folders (likely doesn’t surprise you), but clutter is proven to reduce your focus, here’s more on the impact of clutter on your focus - Read the full articleThe Best Way To Control Your Anger 😡
It’s something we are all living through, we are likely suffering PTSD since March 2020 and anger is one of the signs we are seeing, so here are the best ways to control our anger - Read the tips
Seeing The Matrix 💊
Scott Belsky is a brilliant mind, his book is great and his approach to product and investment is great. As a former product lead this article really is a must read for anyone in Leadership Product, Growth & Marketing.
”That a prototype is worth a hundred meetings, and almost all product meetings that aren’t grounded with a prototype are a waste of time”
- Read the full blog postRoblox’s Next Move - Going Live 🎵
Roblox is now in the top 50 most visited and viewed sites, its popularity is at the highest it has ever been and now its next move is going to enable acts to go live and have listening parties. Fortnite and Twitch have enabled seen growth from this, Roblox likely see another spike in growth with newer, maybe older audiences - Read the full post
FORE ⛳️
Golf has had huge growth in 2020 and into 2021, why? Outdoor space, more accessible and lifestyle shifts.
Question: Are you one of the millions who played a round of golf since last year? - Read about the golf growthHow Those I’ve Never Searched For These Ads Actually Work
🎧 Can a food bot help with food management and your nutritional needs? 🎧
Listen Now On Apple or Spotify
Micro Blog: TikTok 🚀
TikTok announced they hit 1billion users, this is likely the quickest any network has hit 1billion users, TikTok has been out since 2016 (remember musically) and seen huge growth over the last 36 months, thanks to owning the 30-90 second micro-moments of boredom, allowing remixing and being creative first, unlike many other social networks and competitors.
TikTok users are those who use the app but something to consider is how many more people interact and see TikTok without needing the app, watching embeds, watching the downloaded video and being shared the videos on group chat, on email and slack/teams. The important point here is, unlike so many other apps, you really do not need TikTok downloaded (or logged in) to use and consume TikTok and this is something unique to TikTok.
Next time you think about building something or creating your strategy, maybe consider how (BuzzFeed originally) TikTok are everywhere, on every platform, all the time and how this could work for you. Brand recognition and usage doesn’t always have to mean your users have to have the app, brought from you or have to even create and be “active”, engaging passive users are just as important in this distributed world.
Keep an eye out for the first live buyable stream partnership between TikTok, singer Zara Larsson & sports brand Ellesse.
If you like to discuss any articles, have questions or an article recommendation, I’m always free for Must Readers - just hit reply.
Until next week’s Must Reads,
Danny Denhard
