V#036 EDITION ~ September 15th, 2025 

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🧩 Riddle Me This

I look new every year,
But my roots never change.
Ignore me and you’ll struggle,
Use me and you’ll grow.
What am I?

Answer at the bottom of newsletter

Funny story from this past week…

Our cousin came in to visit for a few days to spend some time with my husband and get a little break. Now, I keep a few snacks on the kitchen island - things like licorice, dried fruit, you know, quick-grab stuff.

I also had two little packs sitting in the window that honestly looked like mini candy bars. I had moved them onto the island planning to figure out later what they actually were. Didn’t think much of it.

Fast forward to Saturday. We had a birthday cookout for my father-in-law, and you know how it goes - everyone’s hanging around, snacking before dinner. Around 1 o’clock, our cousin walks up holding two of the “candy bars”… except one was open, and he had taken a bite.

He said, “I don’t think these are good.”

I turned it over and burst out laughing - it had a little red dot on top. They weren’t candy bars at all… they were dishwasher tabs (Finish brand, to be exact). Come to find out .....in telling my daughter the story, she proceeded to tell me she had brought them back from her beach trip hotel room and placed them in the window for me to use. =)

Thankfully, he was fine, and we all had a good laugh. But it made me think about how often things aren’t what they seem - and how easy it is to mistake something shiny for something valuable.

That’s business in a nutshell, isn’t it?

The internet is full of “candy bars” that turn out to be dishwasher tabs — offers that look good on the surface but don’t actually deliver what you need. We’ve all taken a bite of the wrong thing at some point: chasing the wrong course, joining the wrong program, investing in the wrong tool.

The lesson? Don’t grab everything that looks like a sweet deal. Slow down. Read the label. Ask questions.

Because when you find the real stuff - the tools, strategies, and communities that truly feed your growth - it’s worth far more than a quick sugar rush.

Most entrepreneurs I know aren’t failing because they’re not working hard enough. They’re failing because they’re chasing the next “shiny” growth hack.

But here’s the truth: the best marketing tactics aren’t new. They’ve been working for decades and they’ll keep working for decades more. If you’re not using at least a couple of these in your business, you’re probably leaving money on the table.

Here are 7 worth revisiting:

1. Lead Magnets - Offer short, actionable content (or a simple tool) in exchange for an email.
Think of these as "value snacks." Instead of writing a 200-page eBook, give people something they can use right away: a checklist, cheat sheet, template, or calculator. Example: “5 Email Subject Lines That Get Opened (Copy + Paste)”. The key is to make it useful, fast to consume, and directly tied to your main offer.

2. Teasers - Build anticipation for your next launch, tease your next newsletter, or recap what people missed.

People love being in the loop. By giving sneak peeks (“something BIG is coming this Thursday…”) or even just previewing a section of your newsletter, you build curiosity. Example: share a 30-second clip of a training, or highlight one big takeaway from your last edition so people don’t want to miss the next.

3. Pop-Up Newsletters - Create a time-limited newsletter around an event, holiday, or challenge.

Instead of a forever-commitment newsletter, create a mini-series with a clear start and finish. Example: a “21-Day Traffic Sprint” newsletter where people get one email a day with a tip to grow their traffic. Or a seasonal “Holiday Sales Booster” newsletter. The urgency makes signups easy.

4. Challenges - Run a 5–30 day challenge to help people get quick wins while building engagement.

Challenges give structure to taking action. A “5-Day List-Building Challenge” or “30 Days Challenge” makes it fun for people to show up and see progress. It’s also an excellent way to naturally introduce your paid offer as the next step when the challenge ends.

5. Webinars - Teach live, build authority, and naturally pitch your offer.

This one has stood the test of time because it works. A good webinar does 3 things: teaches a valuable skill live, shows your expertise, and offers a logical next step (your paid product/service). Even free “Ask Me Anything” webinars can build incredible trust and connections.

6. Giveaways / Sweepstakes - Simple, fun, and still a powerful way to build a list.

The secret here is to give away something your audience actually wants (not just an iPad or gift card). Example: if you teach digital marketing, a “Free Year of Canva Pro” giveaway will attract people who are more likely to be ideal customers. Bonus: they share it, so you grow faster.

7. Customer Gifts - Surprise your best customers with a little extra love.

Retention > acquisition. A handwritten thank-you card, a bonus training, or even a $5 coffee gift card can create raving fans. People remember when you go the extra mile and often share it publicly. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be thoughtful.

Here’s the thing: you’ve probably heard all of these before. None of this is “breaking news.”

But that’s the point. They work. Consistently.

Not every tactic will be right for your business - but if you’re not doing at least two of these right now, it might be time to fix that.

Because while the crowd is busy chasing shiny new hacks, the winners are doubling down on what always works.

Did you already take the quick 2-minute Self Made Success survey?

If so — thank you! 🙌
If not — here’s your reminder.

🎯 Take the 2-minute survey here

No need to overthink it. Just honest answers from someone who’s ready to grow (you).

Sometimes success looks like dishwasher tabs disguised as candy bars. Sometimes it looks like sticking to “boring” tactics that keep working year after year.

The trick is learning to tell the difference between what looks good and what actually delivers.

So this week, slow down. Test what’s real. And don’t be afraid to stick with the classics.

Here’s to avoiding the fake candy bars and focusing on what works!

Until next week.....
xo,

Lane Evans

P.S. Have questions or need guidance?  Join us in the community and share—I love to learning about your journey!😊

✨ Community Spotlight

🚀 Community Challenges & Events

• Upcoming Live Stream – Mission 1000 - Continued of the Hub-Centric Business Thursday, September 25, 2025 ... Stay tuned!!!

• Try the no cost Facebook Group Grabber - A must have Online Power Tool

WEEKLY DIGEST
LAST WEEK IN THE SELF MADE SUCCESS COMMUNITY 

Happy Monday Everyone! Here’s The Self Made Success weekly digest for the week of Sept 14th.  [Join the conversation here.]

“Shiny objects fade. Proven systems compound.”😊

👉 Reply in the community and let me know how your doing! — I read every message!

If you know someone who could use a little extra motivation, please feel free to share—because friends don’t let friends miss out on greatness! 😉

Answer to Riddle: 

Answer: A timeless marketing tactic