Tony Napoleone

Last time, we talked about the importance of first-party content. Today, we’re shifting from what you publish to who you publish it for — and how you treat them.

We’re unpacking one of the most important ideas in media right now: how to create defensible, differentiated content in a world awash with AI-generated fluff. First-Party Content: The New Moat The internet is flooded with content. AI tools can now generate thousands of blog posts, product descriptions, or social

Reach is cheap. Relationships are rare. In the age of algorithmic overload, the most valuable media strategy is not going viral — it’s going deep. Here's how to rebuild your funnel for trust, not traffic.

If you're building a modern media brand, here's the foundational truth: Your audience isn’t just a number. It’s the business. In 2025, the most valuable part of your operation isn’t your CMS, your content strategy, or your referral traffic. It’s your audience

Let’s be honest: you probably don’t need another newsletter in your inbox. You're already getting ten versions of “5 Things I’m Thinking About,” plus a daily AI recap, a crypto hot take, and something suspiciously Morning Brew–adjacent for your niche corner of the industry.

Today’s post is a tool — one that can help you measure what matters in a modern audience business.

SaaS companies obsess over retention, user onboarding, and lifecycle health. Media companies? Still too often stuck in the churn-and-burn acquisition cycle.

Let’s talk about a strategy that’s underutilized in publishing — but foundational in SaaS, eCommerce, and product-led growth: lifecycle marketing.

Audience development is not a buzzword. It is an essential, evolving discipline at the intersection of marketing, editorial, product, and data strategy — and in today’s media landscape, it is the strategic lever that underpins long-term viability.