5 Marketing Ideas You Should Steal
Kudos to whoever goes with "How to eat a llama"
Hi, it’s Ash—and welcome to Astronomical! This is a free new marketing idea bank I’m starting to inspire you with fresh ideas you can’t find anywhere else. 📣 Every Wednesday, you’re going to get 5 original ideas your competitors will wish they'd thought of first. 💀 Maybe there’ll be one in here for you???
Your feral salmon-hating 🍣 millennial internet scientist,
Ash
P.S. Feel free to steal. 🔪
Steal these brand ideas.
MINI BAR COMPLIMENTARY | Travel / Anthro / Hospitality Brand
Concept: You travel the world analyzing culture, language & diets through the lens of the humble hotel mini bar. What’s inside, and what does it say about the people who live there?HERE/LIES | Creative Agency Brand
Concept: Every week, you resurrect dead brands that went out of business, and discuss how you’d breathe new life into each one for a modern day marketplaceHOW TO EAT A LLAMA | Food Writer Brand
Concept: Every week, you use surprising & exotic ingredients to re-create everyday dishes—and make ‘em way betterBUTTONS | Sales Psychology Brand
Concept: “Tiny changes that make big money” - You analyze businesses and point out the teeny, tiny changes that can transform their sales in a BIG wayMAY CONTAIN SMALL PARTS | Home Improvement Brand
Concept: An entire brand dedicated to showing you how the f*ck to put together IKEA furniture in creative, high-end ways. (Or, oh god, a Men’s Underwear Brand???? OH NO. 🫢)I DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE THIS THING | Product Review Brand
Concept: You break down some of the hardest-to-use products, tools & tech that go overlooked by the general public—but can actually be LIFE CHANGING if you know how to use ‘em properlyINVOICING IS MY CARDIO | Business or Sales Consulting Brand
Concept: An entire brand dedicated to analyzing invoices sent across a variety of industries and whether or not the business could have earned more if they’d did it another wayCALL YOUR MOTHER | Therapist Brand
Concept: Every week you analyze conversations between parent and child, and discuss what’s effective communication versus what’s harmful (and just downright wronggggg!)HISTORIC HOES | Edgy Historic Preservation Brand
Concept: Girls tackle a traditionally male-dominated industry, by going around and analyzing historic architecture around the nation/world and how to best preserve it (your phone would be off the hook ringing, FYI)HICK JOY | Country Living Brand
Concept: Stylish wardrobes, looks & trends, adapted for country living. Please somebody make this.COLD BEER & MUD | Construction Brand
Concept: Every week over a cold beer, pros in the construction industry to give their best advice to regular, everyday homeownersTHREE ROOMS, THREE COLORS | Interior Design Brand
Concept: You makeover one space every week, showing just how different it can look JUST by re-styling/re-painting using the basicsYES YES YES YES YES | Grab bag! SO GOOD.
Concept: You go around saying “yes” to all the things you would normally say “no” to, and document the entire thing. Just say away from drugs and people named “Ashley.”
P.S. These are purely creative suggestions—they haven't been vetted for trademarks, intellectual property conflicts, or legal availability. If you fall in love with any of them (and who could blame you?), you'll need to do your own homework to make sure they're fair game.
Steal this sales idea.
TLDR: Even if you don’t have a third tier available yet, make one ‘in development.’
This does two wildnuts things:
It makes your current price seem like a friggin’ deal (this is called price anchoring ⚓️)
It nudges customers lovingly into the middle tier, rather than the cheapest. (This is literally called the Goldlocks Effect—not too basic, not too baller, just right. No one wants the crappiest, after all. 🤷♀️)
Plus, by making Newton sound like some forbidden intellectual sex god of a plan, they crank up the mystery and FOMO. You can’t actually buy Newton, but you can lust after it. It’s like putting a $5,000 bottle of wine on a menu so you feel smug ordering the $85 one. 🍷
Steal this marketing idea.
God this is so, so true. This is an example found in Harry’s Newsletter—a must-subscribe for marketing nerds.
Steal this copy idea.
Try using all lowercase text to seem more chill, relatable, anti-corporate cool, and emotionally stable—even if you’re not. (HAHAHAHAHA WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I STILL USE ALL CAPS LIKE THE GERIATRIC MILLENNIAL THAT I AM)
***
Before: “We’re so excited to share our latest launch with you!”
After: “we're so excited to drop this new thing on you”
Why it works: The second version feels like a friend texting you, not a brand trying to “engage their audience.”
***
Before: “Discover how we’re changing the future of productivity.”
After: “we kinda hacked productivity and it’s working weirdly well”
Why it works: The second line sounds like insider info. It’s vulnerable, funny, and doesn’t sound like it went through five rounds of corporate approvals. Lowercase makes you seem like someone just saying stuff, which is how trust gets built.
***
Before: “Join the waitlist and be the first to know.”
After: “get on the list if you’re into that kinda thing”
Why it works: Lowercase softens the pitch and removes the try-hard energy. It plays cool and makes the reader feel like they’re making the move—like they’re in on something, not being sold to.
***
TLDR:
Feels like texting, not presenting
Removes the “corporate voice filter”
Signals confidence (you don’t need to shout)
Makes your brand feel accessible, modern, and slightly chaotic good
Steal this business idea.
Take that service you offer that’s totally f’ing drowning you—and turn it into a product.
Instead of offering custom packages, turn it into ONE standard package that you offer
Instead of getting on endless sales calls, market your business like a standard product that you buy, not negotiate (no one expects to get on the phone with the CEO of a baby powder brand to discuss the cost before buying)
Instead of meeting with everyone 1:1, have them go through a standard client onboarding online where they answer questions and upload materials
Instead of giving big presentations, upload your finished product to a client portal where they can review and leave comments 💪
Dig this? I wrote more about how to do this here »»».
Ash, you rock! This part spoke to me (I could hear you in my head): "Take that service you offer that’s totally f’ing drowning you—and turn it into a product." You've inspired me to try it (loved the landscape company example)!
So many good ideas here!