What You'll Learn Today

In 5 minutes, you'll be learning about the following:

Bad News? Send AI. Good News? Be Human
TikTok Magic: How 4 Brands Turned Viral Moments into Wins
11 AI Prompts & Tools That'll Boost Your Growth [EVENT]
How to Scale Facebook Ads from $10/Day to $1,000/Day [PODCAST]
How AI Avatars Can Simplify Video Creation [TOOL]

What did everyone enjoy last week?

The most clicked link was ... Real or AI-Generated? You Guess [Quiz]

Cheers,

Jim Huffman, GrowthHit CEO
(Want a friend? Let's connect on Twitter or LinkedIn)

My Take of the Week
The Secret to High-Performing Ads? It’s Not What You Think

Marketers, I’ve got bad news: your slick, highly produced ads aren’t always the stars of the show.

Your best-performing ad creative isn’t polished—it’s messy, raw, and probably not made by your team.

The winners? Content that feels real. Authentic. Sometimes even amateur. Think:

✅ User-Generated Content (UGC).
✅ Real customer testimonials.
✅ That shaky iPhone video showing your product in action.

Why? Because trust drives conversions, not polish. Customers relate to people, not perfectly scripted copy.

If you’re stuck, here’s how to get started:

1️⃣ Ask your customers to share their experience. Incentivize them if needed.
2️⃣ Turn customer reviews into short-form video ads.
3️⃣ Look for the moments that feel genuine—not rehearsed.

The best ads don’t scream, “I’m an ad.” They whisper, “I could be you.

Special Find: Team Pick

Email Magic: Clever Copy, Design & Smart Partnerships from Crown Affair

Morgan, our senior CRO manager, discovered an email from Crown Affair that we couldn’t keep to ourselves.

Watch the 1 min video below to see what caught her attention!

🎥 Watch Now

FREE GROWTH CLINIC

The 11 AI Prompts & Tools That'll TurboBoost Your Growth

AI is the future of marketing, and the tools you use can make all the difference.

Join me for a live, interactive session where I reveal 11 powerful AI prompts and tools that can help you unlock exponential growth. From streamlining workflows to creating engaging content, these tools will revolutionize the way you work.

The 11 AI Prompts & Tools That’ll TurboBoost Your Growth

In this session, you’ll learn how to integrate these AI strategies into your campaigns, boost creativity, and maximize results without wasting resources.

Whether you’re a founder or marketer, this event provides actionable insights to help you achieve your goals faster and smarter. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!for you.

📅 When: January 29, 10:30 AM PT / 1PM CT / 1:30PM ET

Spots are limited, so save your seat today!

🫵 SIGN UP FOR FREE

Curated Growth Tips of the Week
2 Growth Tips to Grow Your Biz

Featuring growth tips and insights sourced from other publications.

1/ Bad News? Send AI. Good News? Be Human

📢 Intro

Imagine you’ve built a pricing calculator on your website. After filling out a form, users receive an email with a customized quote. Should the email come from a friendly, human-like bot or an obviously automated one? Research shows your choice impacts customer acceptance—especially for bad news like higher prices.

📈 Recommendation

For bad news (e.g., higher prices, delays), use a straightforward, non-human-like AI bot. Customers are more accepting because they don’t ascribe intent to the message.
For good news (e.g., discounts, free upgrades), use a human-like bot or a real person. Customers appreciate the personal touch and feel more valued.

🎓 Findings
Research shows people are:

2.6x more likely to accept bad news from an obviously AI bot compared to a human-like bot or a person.
1.17x more satisfied with better-than-expected pricing when delivered by a person versus a bot.
Less likely to switch to another agent when bad news comes from a clear, non-human bot.

🧠 Why It Works
We assume AI lacks intention. When an AI bot delivers bad news, it doesn’t feel personal. Conversely, good news from a human feels deliberate, fostering trust and satisfaction.

🏢 Examples in Action

Companies like HubSpot and AirHelp use non-human-like AI bots for initial interactions before switching to human agents.
Tools like CartBuddyGPT and Calculus AI offer AI-powered pricing calculators, but few explicitly adjust tone or agent type based on the message.

✋ Limitations
This research focuses on pricing but likely applies to other areas like cancellations or delays. As AI becomes more common, customer perceptions may shift.

Source - Science Says

2/ TikTok Magic: How Four Brands Turned Viral Moments into Wins

TikTok’s power to make products go viral is no secret, but it’s how brands respond to these moments that sets them apart.

Here’s how four brands capitalized on their TikTok fame and turned viral buzz into real results:

📌 1/ Dr. Scholl’s: Stylish Sneakers Go Viral

A creator’s TikTok about comfy sneakers perfect for European vacations amassed 3.1M+ views. Dr. Scholl’s seized the moment by adding an “As Seen on TikTok” banner to their site, featuring the creator’s video, and launching new styles to maintain momentum.

Meghan Pruitt

best travel shoes ever 👟✈️ #travelshoes #walkingshoes #casualsneakers #europeshoes #shoesforeurope #shoesfortravel #greenscreen #drscholls

♬ original sound - Meghan Pruitt

📌 2/ Stanley: A Fireproof Viral Moment

When a viral TikTok showed a Stanley cup surviving a car fire—ice intact—views skyrocketed to 96.9M. Stanley’s CEO responded with a heartfelt video and gifted the fan a new car. Their quick action showcased product quality and care, cementing the cup as a must-have gift of the season.

Danielle

Thirsty after you catch on fire? @Stanley 1913 is like no problem i gotchu #fyp #carfire #accident #stanleycup

♬ original sound - Danielle

📌 3/ Pumpkin Spice Café: The #BookTok Phenomenon

A year-old book went viral thanks to TikTokers sharing cozy, autumnal videos featuring its cover. It hit bestseller lists, prompting the publisher to release a TikTok-exclusive edition and announce two sequels, keeping the hype (and sales) alive.

The Bookshelf Baker

It’s officially cosy season, which means it’s finally time to start the pumpkin spice café!🍁📚💫#BookTok #bookrecs #thepumpkinspicecafe #lauriegilmore #cosyseason #pumpkinspice #autumn #fallbooks #spookyseason #falltbr

♬ Amas Veritas - Alan Silvestri

📌 4/ Lenox: Spice Village Nostalgia

Gen Z rediscovered Lenox’s Spice Village from the ‘80s, igniting a #Cottagecore trend. Videos of thrifted sets fueled demand, with items selling for thousands on resale platforms. The buzz revitalized this forgotten brand, proving the power of nostalgia.

dani klarić

truly one of the most special gifts 💌 ily @Loi

♬ A tu lado - Edgar 🇲🇽

None of these TikTok success stories were part of a pre-planned marketing strategy, but these brands excelled by staying alert, nimble, and authentic.

Their ability to capitalize on viral moments offers key takeaways for marketers:

Active Social Listening: Stay tuned to what your audience is saying and how they’re engaging with your brand.
Engaged Communities: Build on-brand connections with fans and customers to foster loyalty.
Swift, Aligned Responses: Nimble decision-making and cross-team collaboration are essential when opportunity strikes.
Adaptability: Be willing to participate in unplanned trends and pivot marketing efforts—even product strategies—based on what resonates.

Source - TikTok Magic: How Four Brands Cashed In on Going Viral

TOOL OF THE WEEK:
How AI Avatars Can Simplify Video Creation

Jogg.ai makes video creation effortless with lifelike AI avatars.You can choose from several ready-to-use avatars or create a custom one that looks and sounds like you.

Perfect for marketers, e-commerce brands, and content creators, Jogg.ai helps boost engagement, cut production costs, and drive conversions with stunning, high-impact videos.

CHECK OUT THE TOOL

PODCAST: IF I WAS STARTING TODAY

How to Scale Facebook Ads from $10/Day to $1,000/Day

In this episode, Jim and Jordan dive deep into the essentials of scaling Facebook and Instagram ads effectively, from a budget of $10 a day to $1,000 a day. The discussion covers critical aspects such as product-market fit, optimizing your website for conversions, segmenting ad campaigns, the importance of creative content, and more. Jordan also shares insider tips on managing advertising expectations, understanding conversion events, and a disciplined approach to budget increment. Practical examples, such as a case study with the brand 'Neat', are provided to illustrate successful strategies and approaches.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE