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Hi, it’s Pat!
Before the internet, before TV, before radio — word of mouth was how every great idea, product, or movement spread.
It’s still the most powerful marketing force on the planet. But now, with the internet, word of mouth can travel farther and faster than ever before — if you know how to spark it.
Let’s talk about how you can turn your superfans into your greatest marketing engine.
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Poppy AI is now on AppSumo 🎉!
The AI tool Pat uses to streamline his creative process.
What if you could let AI analyze viral videos, winning ads, and high-converting emails, extract the formula, and then recreate that magic for your brand IN your brand's style in just minutes?
That's exactly what Poppy AI does.
Poppy AI a visual AI canvas for content creators, marketers and copywriters, that lets you drag-n-drop social media content, ads, PDFs, websites and voice notes to a canvas, then helps you recreate them in your brand voice (not AI slop) and it actually works.
Unlike boring ChatGPT and Claude, where you’re stuck with a long text thread and daily limits right when you’re about to get started.
Exclusive for Unstuck readers: Use code POPPYAI10 to get 10% off and join 15,000+ creators and marketers like Pat making viral content, ads and emails with Poppy AI.
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Story of the Week
The Oldest (and Best) Marketing in the World
Think about it: For centuries, people have trusted recommendations from friends, family, and respected voices more than any advertisement. A tip about a new bakery, a neighbor’s rave review of a local craftsman, a friend’s story about a life-changing book.
These are the seeds that grow into movements.
Even today, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know over any other form of advertising.
But here’s the secret: Word of mouth doesn’t just happen. It’s sparked by remarkable experiences and stories worth sharing.
How Word of Mouth Spreads Online
The internet didn’t change the rules of word of mouth — it just gave them rocket fuel.
- A single tweet can reach thousands in seconds.
- A YouTube comment can spark a viral thread.
- A private DM can lead to a new customer.
- A Facebook share can introduce your work to a whole new community.
But the principles are the same as they’ve always been:
- People share things that make them look smart, helpful, or “in the know.”
- People share things that make them feel something — joy, surprise, outrage, inspiration.
- People share things that are easy to share.
The Superfan Secret
Your superfans are your word-of-mouth engine.
They’re the ones who:
- Tell their friends about your podcast
- Share your videos in their group chats
- Recommend your course in a Facebook group
- Defend your brand in the comments
But they only do this if you give them something worth talking about.
How to Spark Word of Mouth in the Digital Age
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Create Remarkable Moments
- Surprise your audience with something unexpected: a bonus, a shoutout, a behind-the-scenes story.
- Make your content so helpful, funny, or inspiring that people want to share it.
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Make Sharing Easy
- Add share buttons to your content.
- Encourage people to tag a friend or forward your email.
- Give your audience “swipe copy” or templates to make sharing effortless.
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Give People a Story to Tell
- Share your origin story, your mission, or a customer transformation.
- Stories are sticky — people remember and retell them.
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Reward and Recognize Referrals
- Publicly thank people who share your work.
- Create a referral program or exclusive perks for your top advocates.
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Ask for the Share
- Sometimes, all it takes is a simple ask: “If this helped you, would you share it with one person who needs it?”
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Your WIN of the Week
Liz Wilcox here-- your loyal Director of Community. And I'm here to help you stay focused on What's Important Now.
Let's continue with what Pat just shared with us.
This week, pick one piece of your content or one product and ask yourself:
“Would I share this with a friend? Why or why not?”
Then, take one action to make it more shareable — whether that’s adding a story, making it easier to share, or simply asking your audience to spread the word.
Remember: The internet is just a bigger, faster village. The principles of word of mouth are timeless.
Your superfans are ready to help you grow — give them something worth talking about!
(bonus points if you reply back with the one piece of content you're gonna ask ppl to share. i wanna see!)
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SPI News and Notes
| Hey guys! We are reaching out for exclusive deals from some of our partners. Which company do you want something special from the most? |
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Welcome to the FIRST AskLiz episode — the bite sized weekly-ish podcast episodes to answer your questions on online business, entrepreneurship, basically anything business, and personal development.
In the recent episode, Liz answers the question Is Niching Down Overrated in 2026?
Want to be featured in an upcoming AskLiz episode? Send us your business question!
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Cheers,
Pat Flynn
Co-founder, SPI Media
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Dad Joke of the Week
What kind of water does a cat drink?
Purrrrrified water.
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