Nov 20

What The Heck Is Substack? And is it good for creative pros?

The ground is shifting under our feet. For years, the playbook for creative professionals was to build an audience on social media. You mastered the algorithm, posted consistently, and hoped your work would cut through the noise on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. But those platforms are rented land. An algorithm change, a new policy, or a shift in corporate strategy can decimate your reach overnight, leaving you disconnected from the audience you worked... read more ›
Nov 20

The Best Mailchimp Alternatives For Creative Pros [2026]

The search for the perfect Mailchp alternative is a classic form of productive procrastination for creative professionals. You spend hours, even days, jumping between review sites and feature comparison tables. You weigh the automation power of ConvertKit against the design elegance of Flodesk, or the minimalist purity of Substack versus the self-hosted freedom of Ghost. You're convinced that if you just find the right tool, your audience growth challenges will magically dissolve. Here’s the hard... read more ›
Nov 16

Is TikTok good for creative pros? TikTok marketing 101

Should photographers, designers and other creative pros be on TikTok as a marketing platform? The answer is maybe - and it largely depends on your mindset. The biggest hurdle for experienced professionals on TikTok is their experience. The habits and best practices learned from years of building a presence on Instagram, Behance, or a personal website don't apply here. In fact, they are often a liability. You have to unlearn the "portfolio mindset" to win.... read more ›
Jul 15

Build Your Audience with These 5 Key Strategies

Chase Jarvis on stage at The Next Web Conference, addressing a large audience in a dimly lit auditorium with purple lighting. The audience is seated, attentively listening to the presentation. The stage is equipped with large screens displaying slides, and the venue has a modern, high-tech atmosphere.
Does this scenario sound familiar? You've poured countless hours into creating something amazing—perhaps a product, website, artwork, or work presentation. With anticipation, you release it to the world, sharing it with your intended audience. Then... silence. No response, no engagement. It's as if no one cares. Frustrated, you might find yourself enviously eyeing other creators, wondering how they manage to gain traction while your equally impressive work struggles for attention. You review your process, searching... read more ›
Mar 29

6 Types of Magic Words That Will Help You Get Your Way with Jonah Berger

Jonah Berger understands the power of words in a way that makes them almost magical. We see the power of words everywhere these days, and behind them, behavioral science. Even more so as creatives and entrepreneurs. We see it in the constant marketing messages that we’re exposed to. It’s also common to consider the behavior of our customer base and our markets. Jonah Berger has been on CJLIVE before. His work continues to stand out.... read more ›
Feb 22

The Urgent Life: How to Live On Your Terms with Bozoma Saint John

Bozoma Saint John is a businesswoman and marketing expert with over 20 years of experience at her back. She began her career with Spike Lee's advertising agency, then went on to work for the likes of Pepsi, Apple Music, Uber, Endeavor, and most recently Netflix. Bozoma has spent the last few years of her life shaking things up; the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement and American Marketing Hall of Fame inductee resigned from her... read more ›
Mar 02

3 Bulletproof Tips for Getting Your Work Noticed by Your Creative Heroes

serena williams on photo shoot with chase jarvis 2
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, then you most likely know my M.O. by now: put your work out there early and often. Steve Martin famously said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” But the other side of that is to have so much work out there that people can't swing a stick without hitting something you've made/written/built/produced/directed/etc. I talked about this with fellow sharing advocate, #cjLIVE alum, and all-around... read more ›
Nov 13

Self Reliance + Personal Uprising with John Jantsch

John Jantsch is a veteran marketer. He's written several bestselling books including Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine. He's out with a new book called the Self-Reliant Entrepreneur: 366 Daily Meditations to Feed Your Soul and Grow Your Business  As you might know, I'm a bit of a fan of daily habits, so of course John gives us a little preview into some of the daily explorations of thoughts and writings from notable American... read more ›
Nov 14

Seth Godin: How to Do Work That Matters for People Who Care

Legend alert!!! Seth Godin is a force of nature and a shaman to so many creatives and entrepreneurs. He has taught and inspired millions of entrepreneurs, marketers, leaders, and fans from all walks of life, via his blog, online courses, lectures, and his 18 (yes, count them - 18!) bestselling books. If you’ve been following his work, you’ll know he’s one most brilliant marketing minds of our time. Seth Godin’s latest book, This Is Marketing,... read more ›
Nov 08

Ryan Holiday: How to Create Work That Lasts

Ryan Holiday is an author and media strategist. His career in marketing started at age 19, where he dropped out of college to work with Robert Green. He soon found his way as the director of marketing for American Apparel, then went on to start his own creative agency, Brass Check, who advises the likes of Google, Tim Ferriss, and Tony Robbins. He’s quite the writer, making the New York Times bestseller list with multiple... read more ›