A Better Lemonade Stand #277

🤌🏼 Updates

Just Like That, 7,500 People Disappeared.

I trimmed my newsletter email list by 7,500.

Not easy.

But the truth is, it needed a trim. I’m now down to 22,500.

So why did I do it?

Ultimately, they were extremely unengaged or were email addresses and inboxes that were no longer being monitored.

These non-openers ultimately affected my deliverability, so it was time to say goodbye.

My goal is to get open rates to 50%+ in the next two quarters and a click-through of 10%+, so I’ll likely be making further and more regular cuts to my list over the next few quarters.

Self-sacrificers, click the button below:

Curated Wisdom: The Four Newsletters I Always Open

In a recent interview with Cilar from Newsletter Circle, I was asked which newsletters I look most forward to each week.

Here’s the thing. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters.

Good ones.

Over the last year, I’ve used free and paid newsletter subscriptions as one of the main sources of information and insights.

I continuously unsubscribe when the newsletter drops in value or doesn’t support my research objectives and goals anymore.

That means I have been left following a lot of high-quality newsletters.

Obviously, I had a few that came to mind right away, but I spent some time going back and looking at the emails that were so good over the last year that I saved them.

From that, I was able to clearly see four brilliant creators and newsletters that have continued to stand out:

1. NoCode Exits by Katt Risen

   Subscribe Here 

   Katt does an excellent job with interviews and breakdowns of online businesses. It's a fantastic resource for anyone keen on building products with no-code tools.

2. The Steal Club by Alex Llull

   Subscribe Here 

   This newsletter is about growing and monetizing your audience by learning from top creators. Alex's unique approach, combined with his intriguing ideas and branding, makes it a must-read.

3. Zoe’s Build & Launch

   Subscribe Here 

   Zoe Chew offers valuable insights into Product Ideation, Validation, and MVPs. It's a great resource for product managers, entrepreneurs, and founders who want to build monetizable products online.

4. Juicy Ideas by Hazel Lim

   Subscribe Here 

   Hazel Lim provides a deep dive into the growth strategies of top indie makers. It's ideal for anyone looking to understand the journey from concept to significant revenue, packed with actionable insights.

Once my interview is published on Newsletter Circle, I’ll share it in this newsletter, so look out for that.

Finally, don't forget to stay connected with my website newsfeed, Facebook Group, and Instagram for daily random insights & updates!

💎 Uncut Gems

Welcome to a special corner of the newsletter where I've handpicked a diverse mix of fascinating links for entrepreneurs and creators.

We're talking a range from AI coding for the non-tech savvy, to sidestepping newsletter UX pitfalls, all the way to tales of online writing triumphs and a sneak peek at 2024's hottest trends.

🔗 AI for Everyone: Think AI coding's just for techies? Think again. This resource breaks it down for everyone, with easy steps, examples, and a beginner's tutorial. Explore AI Coding for Non-Techies

🔗 Newsletter No-Nos: Avoid common traps in newsletter design. This guide highlights five big mistakes and how to steer clear of them. Learn 5 Key Newsletter UX Mistakes

🔗 $0 to $500k Writing Journey: Witness Kieran's remarkable journey from zero to earning half a million through online writing. Read How One Writer Earned $500k Online

🔗 Trendspotting 2024: Get ahead of the curve with these predictions for 2024's industry trends. A directory featuring many trends reports from multiple industries and sectors. Check Out 2024 Industry Forecasts

🔗 Twitter Thread Mastery: Discover 28 hook strategies from top Twitter influencers. Elevate your Twitter game. Learn Top Twitter Thread Hooks

🔗 Notion Mastery: Boost your Notion skills with Matthias Frank's 99 top tips, spanning aesthetics to productivity. Get 99 Notion Tips by Matthias Frank

I'm eager to know what you think about the resources and links shared above. Got any favorites? I'm especially curious about your take on the trend reports directory. Feel free to hit 'reply' and share your insights. Your thoughts are invaluable! 🌟📬

🗞️ News

🗞️ Perplexity AI's $520M Valuation

Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine, recently raised $70M, now valued at $520M. With investors like Tobi Lutke and Jeff Bezos, the company's growth since August 2022 is remarkable. Perplexity's chatbot-like interface for search and expansion into GenAI models signifies a significant stride towards advanced AI development. Read More

🗞️ Microsoft's AI-Integrated Keyboards

Microsoft has launched a new Copilot key for Windows keyboards, a direct integration of AI in everyday tech. This feature, capable of summarizing text and managing virtual meetings, marks a crucial step in embedding AI into personal computing, potentially revitalizing the PC market. Explore Microsoft's AI Integration

🗞️ Apple's Siri with Generative AI

Rumors hint at a new version of Siri, integrating generative AI for enhanced conversation capabilities. This move by Apple, aiming for a more personalized and cross-device functional Siri, reflects the company's dedication to advancing AI technologies. Siri's AI Upgrade Rumors

🗞️ Google's 2024 AI Ambitions

A leaked document reveals Google's 2024 goal: to lead in AI capability and safety. Despite currently trailing rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft, Google's commitment to AI is clear, even amidst restructuring and layoffs. Their ambition to dominate in AI reflects a broad industry trend towards advanced AI development. Google's AI Goals Leaked

🗞️ Meta's Open-Source AGI Vision

Mark Zuckerberg has announced Meta's plans for open-source AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), merging their AI research teams and investing heavily in AI infrastructure. The launch of LLaMA3, an open-sourced Large Language Model, and the vision of AI-powered smart glasses by 2030 are bold steps toward this goal. Meta's Open Source AGI Plans