The Dating App Founder | 8M members | Bootstrapped startup with a team of 50+ | Co-founder & COO of Inner Circle | Follow for insights on business, leadership and relationships

Co-founder of Inner Circle. The dating app for people who want fewer matches and better dates.

Built on the belief opposites don’t attract, so you don't waste time.

Bootstrapped since 2012. 8M+ members worldwide.

Try the app with code MK2024 for a month of premium access.

Follow me for honest insights about work, life and love.

Looking for stars to join the team, check out the careers page: www.about.theinnercircle.co/careers. 

About me: 
I believe no strategy is better than its execution. 
My scope includes:
🏆 Hiring and developing winning teams 
✅ Alignment and execution driven by OKRs
🚀 Marketing that drives growth with ROI
🥾 Data to accelerate experiments that move the needle
🍸 Advisor and angel

In 2025, I stepped back into marketing as COO CMO. Content is the most powerful lever for any brand, so I started posting here to understand what makes it tick, share my learnings and lead my team better.

Michael Krayenhoff

The best leaders aren’t just tough.

They're compassionate.

Compassion isn't a weakness.
It's the courage to lead with humanity, especially when the stakes are highest.

It's about delivering hard feedback, but never with cruelty.
Holding firm standards, but always with dignity.
Driving real results, but never at the cost of people's worth.

I've seen leaders who mistake harshness for strength; 
They burn out their teams and themselves.

The ones who last? 
They understand that respect and accountability aren't opposites.

True leadership isn't choosing between being effective and being decent.
It's refusing to accept that false choice in the first place.

Here are 3 leadership reminders that actually hold up in real life:

1️⃣ Compassion takes backbone.
↳ Say what needs to be said, clearly and directly.
↳ Avoiding the truth feels kind in the moment, but it costs trust later.

2️⃣ Compassion needs standards.
↳ Hold the line on behavior, effort, and values.
↳ Being human does not mean lowering the bar. It means being fair about it.

3️⃣ Compassion is built in small moments.
↳ How you listen. How you respond. How you follow up.
↳ People remember consistency more than big speeches.

Strong leadership is not a choice between results and decency.
That is a false trade.

Real leaders refuse to make it.

So ask yourself this today,
How are you showing compassion when it actually counts? 
Lets discuss in the comment 👇

♻️ Repost to inspire your network.
✅ Follow Michael Krayenhoff for more on business, leadership and careers.

I've worked with hundreds of leaders over the years.

The gap between good and great? It's not strategy or skill.

It's self-awareness.

The best leaders don't just drive results;
They develop people while doing it.

Here's what sets them apart:
16 Signs of a Highly Intelligent Leader

1/ They never punish honesty.
↳ People speak up when they know the truth won’t cost them their seat.

2/ They leave room at the table.
↳ Influence grows when others are invited in.

3/ They create calm in the chaos.
↳ Steady energy keeps teams focused when pressure hits.

4/ They admit when they're wrong.
↳ Owning mistakes sets the standard faster than pretending to be right.

5/ They set direction, not demands.
↳ Clear intent beats rigid instructions.

6/ They over-communicate the ‘why’.
 ↳ Clarity creates alignment faster than control ever could.

7/ They give others permission to fail.
↳ Progress only happens where mistakes are allowed.

8/ They hire people smarter than them.
↳ Strong leaders optimize for outcomes, not ego.

9/ They prioritize trust over popularity.
↳ Being respected lasts longer than being liked.

10/ They care deeply but act objectively.
↳ Empathy informs decisions without clouding them.

11/ They ask more questions than they answer.
↳ Good questions unlock better thinking across the room.

12/ They don’t claim credit for the team's work.
↳ They direct praise to the team to celebrate those who execute.

13/ They coach people, they don't control them.
↳ They don't want people just to deliver, they want them to develop.

14/ They don't build followers, they build leaders.
↳ The real test is what the team does when you’re not there.

15/ They show up with the same attitude, every day.
↳ Predictability builds trust and trust drives results.

16/ They step back so others can step into the spotlight.
↳ Progress accelerates when credit is shared.

Intelligent leadership changes teams.

It’s not about being in charge,
It’s about how you show up for the people who trust you.

Which leader does this remind you of?
Drop a name below 👇

♻ Repost if this resonates.
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You can have high standards and treat people well.

They're not mutually exclusive.

I've interviewed over 1,000 people to build Inner Circle.

Entry level to senior leaders.

Everybody gets nervous at times.
Because, behind every resume is a real person.

They've prepared for hours.
They're thinking about their rent.
They've practiced answers in the mirror.
They're wondering if they're good enough.

About finally getting a shot.
About their family.

But most companies forget this, and: 

They ghost candidates for weeks.
They treat hiring like a transaction.
They forget there's a human waiting.

And that shows.

How you hire shows your culture more than any values slide ever will.

Not what you say.
What you do when no one is watching.

Here is what treating candidates like humans looks like in real life:

1️⃣ You respond
↳ If someone spoke with you, you close the loop.
↳ Even a short no is better than silence.

2️⃣ You are clear
↳ You explain why the answer is no.
↳ You say it in plain words, not corporate talk.

3️⃣ You respect time
↳ You only add interviews if they are truly needed.
↳ You decide who makes the final call before the process starts.

This is not going the extra mile.
It is walking the talk on your values..

People remember how you treated them.
Even when they did not get the job.

Quick question for you,
What is one thing you never compromise on when hiring?
Share it in comment 👇

♻️ Repost if you believe hiring should feel more human
✅ Follow Michael Krayenhoff for more on business, leadership and careers.

If you want success, you need to out-fail everyone.


Most people don’t actually fail.
They just never even start.

They over-prepare.
They wait for confidence.
They wait for permission.
They wait for certainty.

Then they call it being realistic.

Failure isn’t the opposite of success.
Inaction is.

Failure only shows up after you’ve moved.
After you shipped the idea.
Had the uncomfortable conversation.
Put your name on the line.

That’s why failure hurts.

Not because you’re weak,
but because you cared enough to commit.

Execution is the filter most people never pass.
They stay busy.
They stay smart.
They stay safe.
And mistake that for progress.

If you failed, congratulations.
You made it past the hardest step.

The real question isn’t
“Did it work?”

It’s:
Did you step into the arena or stay in the stands?

What’s one thing you’re trying this year,
even if it might fail?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others.
And follow Michael Krayenhoff for more insights on leadership.

Fear of failure will keep you average.

Even if you're capable of more. 

Image credits to Alvin Huang

I’ve seen this closely. 
When I started Inner Circle, nothing was guaranteed.
There was no safety net. Just a belief that mattered more than the noise outside.

Failing was simply a part of the process at the time.

Features that didn’t work.
Markets we entered too early.
Hires that looked right on paper but wrong in real life.

Each one felt heavy at the time.
Like maybe this was the moment it all breaks.

But failure rarely shows up as a big dramatic ending.

Most of the time it looks like this,

👇 You try something.
👇 It doesn’t work the way you hoped.
👇 You sit with the discomfort.
👇 You figure out what you missed.
👇 You adjust.
👇 You try again.

That’s not failure.
That’s the job.

After building a bootstrapped company to 8M members, 
I can count the real failures on one hand.
The kind I’d never repeat.

Everything else was just a part of the process of getting better.

Early on, it’s hard to tell the difference.
Everything feels urgent. Everything feels final.

With time, you get faster at spotting what needs killing,
and what just needs another round.

So if you’re in that uncomfortable middle right now, ask yourself:

Are you failing,
or are you just not done yet?

♻️ Repost this to nudge somebody in your network
✅ Follow Michael Krayenhoff for more on business, leadership and careers

Changing jobs isn't the same as quitting.

Quitting used to be seen as weak.

Now it's a sign of growth.

Here are 8 reasons leaving may be the smart choice:

1/ You’ve outgrown the role
↳ You’re doing more than the job asks, but the title and scope haven’t moved.

2/ Your pay no longer matches your value
↳ Loyalty feels nice, but the market doesn’t reward it the same way.

3/ The environment drains you
↳ If work costs you your energy, health, or confidence, that’s a signal.

4/ You want better leadership
↳ A great manager can change your entire career path.

5/ You’ve stopped learning
↳ Comfort is great until it quietly stalls your growth.

6/ You want broader exposure
↳ New companies mean new ways of thinking, building, and solving problems.

7/ You need to stretch yourself
↳ Change forces adaptability. And adaptability compounds fast.

8/ There’s no real path forward
↳ Some org charts just don’t have space for what you’re ready to become.

Knowing when to leave isn’t failure.

It’s self-awareness.

Curious, when did leaving work out for you?
Share it in comment 👇

♻️ Repost if this helps someone in your network.
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Toxic leaders can destroy your self-worth.

Don't blame yourself.

Recognize their behaviours.

A toxic leader can ruin your career:

🚨 Creating fear
🚨 Killing confidence
🚨 Controlling opportunity

Here are 9 signs to watch out for:

1. The Favourite Picker
↳ Loyalty is rewarded, not performance
↳ Promotions become politics, not merit

2. The Credit Thief
↳ Takes your wins and does the bare minimum
↳ Recognition is stolen, and so is your recognition

3. The Power Tripper
↳ Uses their title to silence, not support
↳ “Because I said so” becomes their leadership style

4. The Blame Shifter
↳ They spread fear by criticising and blaming
↳ Shames mistakes instead of coaching growth

5. The Control Freak
↳ Micromanages every task but shares no vision
↳ You’re overloaded, under-trusted, and out of oxygen

6. The Burnout Machine
↳ Glorifies overwork and calls it ambition
↳ Well-being is sacrificed at the altar of “urgency”

7. The Fear Builder
↳ Uses silence to protect their authority
↳ People stop speaking up and trust disappears

8. The Mood Swinger
↳ Hot one day, cold the next
↳ You’re stuck guessing which version shows up

9. The Growth Blocker
↳ Rejects change to protect their ego
↳ They never leave their comfort zone and make sure others can't

Which have you experienced?
Let me know below 👇 

♻ Repost this to help your network.
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9 Signs Of A Toxic Leader

The best performing teams aren’t the smartest. 
They’re the most curious.

Being with the team in São Paulo this week 
made that obvious again.

Teams move faster
when the energy is right.

Not because they’re smarter.
Not because they work longer.

It comes from curiosity.
From teams that challenge assumptions
Instead of defending the status quo.

5 ways curiosity drives outsized results:

1/ Better questions replace old answers
↳ Progress starts when teams stop defending and start improving.

2/ Testing beats debating
↳ Momentum builds when learning happens in the work.

3/ Less process, more momentum
↳ Clarity reduces the need for endless coordination.

4/ Ownership goes up
↳ People move faster when they help shape the thinking.

5/ Energy compounds
↳ Belief grows when teams see ideas turn into reality.

Curiosity is the unlock to real growth.

Where have you seen curiosity lift results?
Let me know in the comments ⬇️

♻️ Repost this to inspire others.
And follow Michael Krayenhoff for more insights on leadership.

What separates the best founders from the rest? 

It's not their vision or the product!
It’s the decisions they repeat every day.

Most people think leadership shows up in big moments.
Fundraises. Pivots. Announcements.

That matters for sure. 
But it is not what shapes the team.

What defines you are the silent decisions no one sees or applauds.
Here are five key decisions that define you: 

1️⃣ Who you build around
→ Notice who you involve early, when the problem is still messy and the answer isn’t clear.

2️⃣ What behavior you protect
→ Pay attention to what you address immediately and what you tolerate because it’s inconvenient to confront.

3️⃣ Where your attention goes
→ Look at what consistently gets your time when priorities collide. That’s what your team learns to value.

4️⃣ What you simplify
→ Track the rules, steps, or approvals you remove so people can act without waiting on you.

5️⃣ How you show up under pressure
→ Observe how you react in the moment things break, not how you explain it later.

These are the moments where your leadership takes shape.
If your team feels cautious, slow, or dependent,
there is a good chance one of these decisions is stuck on repeat.

Which one do you think leaders struggle to change the most?
Drop it in the comments 👇

♻️ Repost if this made you think
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Being yourself is the real flex.

Especially when everyone else is putting on a show.

Social media didn’t create this behaviour.
It just made it more visible.

Some people optimise perception over capability.

They become whoever the moment rewards:
- Visible when projects succeed
- Quiet when things get hard
- Quick to talk about outcomes they didn’t own
- Fast to turn team success into personal optics

You see it online.
You see it inside companies.

Perception works at a distance.
Capability shows up in delivery.

When decisions carry weight.
When results actually matter.
That’s when the image collapses.

What’s left is simple:
 1/ Who actually owns the work
 2/ Who stays consistent
 3/ Who doesn’t change depending on who’s watching

That’s why the best operators don’t play the optics game.

They don’t need to.
Their work does the talking.

Where do you see capability beat perception?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others.

And follow Michael Krayenhoff for more insights on leadership.

Leadership isn’t a title. 
It’s a craft. 

Most leaders manage work they don’t understand.
That’s when performance breaks.

Every quarter we run a workshop,
where we experience a craft.
This week it was content creation.

We worked in groups of three.
Each group created two pieces of content, 
that had to perform in the real world.

We didn’t just talk theory,
Everyone got to experience;

What makes a great hook.
Where storytelling breaks.
And the practical limits of filming, format and timing.

Once you do the work together, clarity comes fast.
What sounds simple in a meeting
is rarely simple in execution.

Content is one of the biggest growth levers in modern marketing.

When leaders only touch content 
through agencies or dashboards…
They lose the feel for what great looks like.

5 Reasons the best leaders stay close to the craft:

1/ You experience execution, not coordination
 ↳ You feel the friction plans never show.

2/ You understand real constraints
 ↳ Time, format and context shape every decision.

3/ You see where clarity breaks
 ↳ Briefs collapse when they meet reality.

4/ You keep standards grounded
 ↳ Distance turns “high bar” into a slogan.

5/ You earn the right to challenge the work
 ↳ Feedback lands when you’ve done the reps.

Staying close to the craft isn’t micromanaging.
It’s how leaders raise the bar and move faster.

What’s one craft you still do yourself? 

♻️ Repost this to inspire others.

And follow Michael Krayenhoff for more insights on leadership.

CMO & Founder @ Huemor ⟡ B2B websites that outsell the competition ⟡ 93% more website leads & ZERO extra AD spend ↴ [DM me so HUE can learn MOR]

Huemor builds memorable websites that sell for brands like 23andMe, Boston Dynamics, Live Nation, Revlon, and The United Nations.

Book a call with me to:
✅ Generate more qualified leads
✅ Make your website a breeze to update
✅ Become the industry leader in your niche

Don't believe me? Here's what our clients have to say 👇

“Something I found most unique about Huemor is how much they care [about] the success of the project. The site is a lot cleaner and shows a very in-depth narrative of our story.”

Jenny Lee, Creative Director at BetterCloud

---

The Huemor team has that impossible combination of genuine creativity and professionalism that turns every project they work on into a success. They do truly amazing work that is unique to each client and their market. Partnering with Huemor is the best decision a company can make. Great team doing great work.

Ed Deaton, VP of Marketing at SurePoint

---

“Our project manager was always readily available to address feedback with his team, and made sure that all parties understood their deliverables and deadlines. From a technical standpoint, we have already seen our search rankings increase and overall improvements to the website's usability.”

Lisa Turnbull, Head of Global Marketing at Encompaas

---

Getting the nuances of messaging, design, and technology right is no easy task.

To produce the right outcomes, you need a partner you can trust.

An expert who can guide you to the right strategy, take charge of the process, and deliver a website that your customers will love.

After a website redesign, our clients typically experience:
+ 83% monthly website visits
+ 94% increased conversions
+ 91% leads generated

---

ARE YOU READY TO BE BETTER THAN "GOOD ENOUGH"?

You've built an amazing business—don't settle for a below-average website. It's time to build something better.

APPLY FOR A FREE WEBSITE ANALYSIS

With a free analysis, you'll receive 100+ personalized, actionable tips that cover:
– UI/UX Improvements
– Copywriting Improvements
– ADA Compliance Issues
– SEO Improvements
– Speed & Performance Improvements
– And dozens more helpful tips

Apply here:
👉  https://bit.ly/4bFhdrF
(or click the link in my featured section)

Jeff Gapinski

Marketing isn’t an expense. 
It’s your revenue’s best friend.

CEOs tend to put marketing under "expenses," right there next to printer paper and office snacks.

But let’s be honest:

Marketing isn’t a cost.

It’s 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭.

It’s the engine that drives awareness, trust, and, ultimately, revenue.

Cutting marketing when things get tight is like firing your sales team and hoping word-of-mouth pulls a double shift.

Yes, marketing takes time.

Yes, it requires strategy.

But every dollar you 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 in the right message, for the right audience, at the right time?

That’s a seed. 

Some bloom fast. Others take time.

But the ROI always looks better than the 
snack budget.

So next time someone asks,

"𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

 Ask them this instead:

→ 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰?

---

Follow Jeff Gapinski for more content like this.

♻️ Share with a leader who still sees marketing as a cost.

CMO & Founder @ Huemor ⟡ We build memorable websites for construction, engineering, manufacturing, and technology companies ⟡ [DM “Review” For A Free Website Review]

Not all marketing advice is good advice. 
These five are downright dangerous.

There’s a lot of bad marketing advice 
out there. 

Some of it is outdated. 

Some of it is wishful thinking.

And some of it… is just plain awful.

Here are a few gems I’ve actually heard (and why they make me want to scream into the void):

→ “You need to be on EVERY social platform.”

→ “Just copy what your competitors are doing.”

→ “If we build it, they will come.”

→ “More content = better results.”

→ “Marketing is just about getting attention.”

Great marketing isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things, intentionally 
and consistently.

---

Follow Jeff Gapinski for more content like this.

♻️ Share with someone drowning in bad marketing advice.

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Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer

Founder & CEO

Spanish

CRO & Founder @ Huemor ⟡ We build memorable websites for construction, engineering, manufacturing, and technology companies ⟡ [DM “Review” For A Free Website Review]

The Five Worst Pieces of Marketing Advice I've Ever Heard

Redesigns don’t pay off in pixels. 
They pay off in performance.

How do I prove ROI on a website redesign?

A totally fair question.

Especially when your CFO sees “$100K website” and hears “pretty pictures.”

But here’s the thing:

A website redesign isn’t an expense. It’s an investment in performance.

So if you want to prove ROI, don’t just show 
what changed.

Show what 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥.

Here’s how:

→ Start with the baseline
→ Connect to business goals
→ Track more than traffic
→ Monitor the sales team’s life getting easier
→ Look at what you’re 𝘯𝘰𝘵 wasting anymore

Redesigns don’t make you money because the site 
is prettier.

They make you money when the 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 is clearer, faster, and easier to act on.

So how do you prove ROI?

By measuring what your website makes 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, or 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 for your business.

What’s one unexpected way your website has made your business more efficient or effective? We’re all for the hidden wins that don’t show up in Google Analytics.

---

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♻️ Share with someone defending a redesign budget.

Redesign Done Right: 5 Ways to Show It’s Paying Off

Tired of content that feels like a sales pitch? 
So is everyone else.

Not everything needs to be a pitch.

Some content should 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭.

→ Teach something.
→ Spark a conversation.
→ Make someone nod and go, “Yep, that’s me.”

Because here’s the truth:

If all your content sounds like a sales call, people will hang up. Mentally, at least.

The best brands don’t just 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 at people.

They build trust by showing up with value 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 asking for anything.

Want to win more customers?

Stop trying to close on every post.

Start creating content that makes people 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 to 
come back.

---

Follow Jeff Gapinski more content like this.

♻️ Share with a brand struggling to build trust.

You don’t need all the answers. 
Just a partner who can help you find them.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵?”

If that’s your hesitation before a website redesign, here’s your permission slip: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵.

You need a starting point and a partner that knows how to work through the gray areas with you.

Truth is, most companies aren’t launching from a place of perfect clarity. They’re evolving.

Messaging is half-baked. Pages are outdated. Stakeholders aren’t aligned. Sound familiar?

Good. You’re in the right place.

A website redesign isn’t a 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 you get after your brand is perfectly polished.

It’s the process that helps you get there.

Here’s what you 𝘥𝘰 need to get started:

→ A clear(ish) understanding of who your audience is

→ The problems your product or service solves→ What you want visitors to do when they land on the site

→ A rough picture of what success looks like (more demos? better leads? brand credibility?)

Even if some of those are fuzzy, that’s not a blocker. It’s the brief.

What a 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 redesign process helps you do:

→ Extract insights from sales calls, support tickets, and customer feedback

→ Prioritize the pages that actually drive results

→ Turn scattered internal opinions into clear, 
unified messaging

→ Build a flexible structure that evolves with
your business

→ Empower your team to manage and iterate

You don’t need:

→ A 47-slide brand deck
→  Finalized copy for 60 pages
→  Ironclad answers to every question

What you 𝘥𝘰 need is direction. And a partner who knows how to guide you through it.

---

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♻️ Share with someone delaying their website update.

Strategic Redesign Without a Brand Bible, 47-Slide Deck, o

Gut feelings don’t scale. 
Data does.

Redesigning your website without data is like building IKEA furniture without the instructions.

You’ll spend more time guessing than assembling, and in the end, something important is probably 
upside down.

Aesthetics matter. But if your redesign starts with “let’s freshen things up” and skips over “let’s look at the numbers,” you’re missing the mark.

Here’s what data actually tells us when used the right way in a redesign:

→ User Behavior
→ Conversion Insights
→ SEO Opportunities
→ On-Page Messaging
→ What Actually Drives Results

Design should respond to your audience, not just impress your stakeholders.

That means starting with data, not just opinions.

Your next website redesign doesn’t need to be a leap 
of faith.

It should be a strategic move rooted in insight and built for performance.

If your site is underperforming, don’t throw it out. Study it. Learn from it. Then rebuild it better.

What’s one piece of behavioral data you wish you had before your last redesign?

---

Follow Jeff Gapinski for more content like this.

♻️ Share with anyone about to redesign without insights.

Dashboards don’t lie. 
But they do get ignored.

Your analytics are your loudest, 
most brutally honest coworker.

They don’t sugarcoat. They don’t guess. They just tell you what your website is actually doing, and, more importantly, what it’s failing to do.

The problem is, most teams either don’t check them or don’t know what to 𝘥𝘰 with the data if they do.

Here’s how we help clients go from data-overwhelm 
to clarity:

5 Signals Your Website Analytics Are Screaming at You (and How to Read Them):

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
Visitors are either confused or uninterested. Your messaging doesn’t match their expectations. Start with aligning your copy to intent.

𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
This isn't a “bad design” problem. It's a hierarchy problem. Move your core value prop and CTA above the fold where it belongs.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵
Congrats, something’s working in SEO or paid. But if conversions aren’t climbing too, your pages aren’t built to convert. Time for a CRO pass.

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
This one hurts, but it’s usually fixable. Reduce form fields. Improve clarity. Set better expectations (what happens after they click “submit”?)

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
So if you're looking at dashboards and feeling stuck, zoom out. The goal isn’t to track everything. It’s to understand something.

What’s one metric in your analytics you 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬, but don’t fully trust?

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🎉 𝗛𝘂𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴!  🎉

We’re not just adding headcount. We’re building a stronger, sharper, more creative version of who we are.

This isn’t about filling roles. It’s about making space for more great people to do meaningful work together.

Here's what we're looking for: 

𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Help us create content that ranks, reads well, and drives results across Google and next-gen search platforms like ChatGPT. If you're part strategist, part storyteller, and fluent in SEO, we’d love to chat.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/eWzvv6KE 
 
𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Help keep our client website projects on track, on time, and on point. If you’re organized, proactive, and great with people, you’ll fit right in.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/e-np9qzZ 
 
𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲)
Ready to break into sales and marketing? Join our team to support lead generation, client outreach, and proposal prep while learning the ropes of agency life. If you're organized, curious, and eager to grow, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/ecUzrJXw 

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Bring websites to life by turning thoughtful designs into clean, scalable Webflow builds. If you’re detail-oriented, confident in Webflow, and comfortable collaborating with designers and project teams, we’d love to connect.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/edtiPA-G 
 
𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 & 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 -𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲)
Create scroll-stopping video content for web and social. If you’re skilled in motion graphics, editing, and visual storytelling, and love turning ideas into engaging, polished videos, we’d love to work with you. 

Apply: https://lnkd.in/enf66eaR 
 
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀  (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Support our web projects behind the scenes by keeping tasks organized, timelines on track, and quality high. If you're detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working across teams and tools like ClickUp, we’d love to connect.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/eNDi8wG8 

At Huemor, you’ll contribute to meaningful digital projects, collaborate with a sharp and supportive team, and help create web experiences that stand out for all the right reasons.

Think you’d be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you.

Know someone else who would be interested? Tag or share to share the post!

Skimmers vs. Scrollers
It’s the great CTA divide.

Some people click before the page loads. Some need to read the About page, three blog posts, and a whitepaper first.

Both are real. Both matter.

Neither will convert if your CTA misses 
them completely.

𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 are on a mission.

They want the headline, the button, and to be three tabs deep before you finish your coffee.

If your CTA isn’t up top and obvious, they’re 
already gone.

𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴? They’re still with you.

They’re thoughtful. Detail-driven. Suspicious of 
your promises.

They’ll read everything, then scroll back up just to double-check.

If your CTA showed up too early, they ignored it 
on principle.

𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰?

You CTA like a multitasker.

→ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗧𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽.
Serve the skimmers. They deserve nice things too.

→  𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.
The scroll squad is almost ready. Show them the door when they get there.

→  𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
The early one should sound confident. The later one should sound like you’ve earned it.

→  𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Nothing screams "I'm a marketing trap" like a button floating in space.

Design for both attention spans.

Because the best CTA is the one someone actually sees and clicks because it showed up at the right moment.

What’s your go-to trick for catching both skimmers and scroll-happy skeptics?

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A bad lead magnet does more harm than good. 
Especially the 43-page kind.

Let’s be honest. Most lead magnets are just… magnets for bounce rates.

A 43-page PDF no one asked for.

A generic checklist with zero relevance.

A “free guide” that sounds suspiciously like a blog post you already published.

And then we wonder why no one’s converting.

Here’s the real reason most lead magnets flop: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦.

If the first thing you give someone is underwhelming, what does that say about what’s behind the gate?

So, what actually works?

→ Specificity over generality
→ Utility over fluff
→ Instant payoff
→ Real positioning
→ Design that doesn’t feel like homework

Here’s the test:

Would you 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 your real email for your lead magnet?

If the answer is “maybe later,” 
so is your conversion rate.

What’s the best (or worst) lead magnet 
you’ve seen recently?

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A go-live isn’t the finish line. 
It’s the starting point.

"Is this built for future growth?"

You should be asking this before your website redesign starts, not after it launches.

Because too many websites look great at go-live and then fall apart the minute the business evolves.

→ New product? Needs dev work.
→ New campaign? Needs design support.
→ New content? No idea where to put it.

That’s not future-ready.

That’s future-friction.

A website built for growth does more than look the part. It:

→ Makes it easy to add pages without breaking layout

→ Adapts to new messaging without redesigning 
from scratch

→ Supports evolving funnels, offers, and goals

→ Gives your internal team tools to own 
updates confidently

→ Scales with your business, not against it

Your business will change. Your messaging will shift. Your strategy will evolve.

If your website can’t keep up, you’ll feel the friction every time something new needs to launch.

The best websites are not just built to go live.

They are built to grow with you.

What’s one thing you wish your current site could do more easily?

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Limited resources? 
Let your website work 24/7 for you.

Small marketing teams know the struggle: limited time, limited resources, unlimited expectations. 

But there’s one team member who never sleeps, never takes a break, and works 24/7.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦. 

A great website is your best salesperson, brand ambassador, and customer support rep, all rolled 
into one.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: answering questions before people 
even ask.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀: turning visitors into leads, 
leads into customers.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: building trust through content, testimonials, and social proof.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀: handling traffic spikes, automating processes, and working while you sleep.

For small marketing teams, a high-performing website is a game-changer. It saves time, streamlines efforts, and ensures every click moves the business forward.

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🎉𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝟲𝗞 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🎉

We’re excited to share the launch of the 𝟲𝗞 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 homepage, a critical step as they make their business public and showcase their innovative approach to upcycling metal scraps into 
high-performance materials.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲:
As 6K Additive transitioned into a standalone brand, they needed a homepage that clearly communicated their value and expertise in the metal upcycling industry. Their previous site was text-heavy and didn’t present their advanced technology in an easy-to-understand way, especially for potential investors.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗱:
We created a clean, modern homepage with clear messaging that tells 6K Additive’s story right from the start. We streamlined key sections from their parent site, like Spherical Metal Powder and Buyback Program, and ensured that the content was simple and digestible. The design was focused on clarity, using whitespace and minimalism to make the page feel fresh 
and professional.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: A minimalist approach that keeps the focus on content and usability.

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴: Straightforward language that highlights 6K Additive’s innovative process and industry leadership.

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱: Designed to make a strong first impression, positioning 6K Additive as an industry leader for potential investors.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁:
 The new homepage makes a powerful first impression, simplifies complex information, and sets the stage for the full site overhaul in the future. It’s an ideal starting point for 6K Additive’s journey as a standalone brand.

We’re excited to continue collaborating with them on their next steps!  

Checkout their website here: https://6kadditive.com/ 

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Ever wonder why some lead gen content converts, and others fall flat? 
It’s all about timing.

Content timing is a game-changer in lead generation. If your message hits the right person at the wrong time, it’s like giving them a party invite while they’re stuck in traffic. But get the timing right, and you’ve got a party in their inbox.

Let’s break down how timing affects conversions and why it matters:

You wouldn’t offer a discount code to someone just entering your website, right? Timing should align with the buyer’s journey. 

Here’s how:

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗧𝗢𝗙𝗨):
Content here is all about awareness. Think blog posts or infographics. The goal? Get them interested enough to keep reading. Offer your content 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 the user even thinks about making a decision. 

𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦: 𝘈 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.

𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗠𝗢𝗙𝗨):
Now that they’re aware, they’re looking for solutions. Webinar invites or case studies work great here. Something that speaks to the value you bring. Timing it right means catching them when they’re deciding whether or not to take the next step.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗕𝗢𝗙𝗨):
This is where your content should be action-oriented. Timing is everything here. Offering a demo or consultation at the right moment, right after they’ve seen your value in action, can push them over the line. 

𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦: “𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”

You also need to consider the timing on each channel. 

Where are your leads hanging out, and when?

𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹:
People check their inboxes at certain times. For B2B, sending emails around Tuesday or Wednesday mornings can improve open rates because it’s when people are catching up on the week’s work.

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮:
Lead gen content on platforms like LinkedIn should be posted when your audience is active. For B2B, mid-morning and mid-afternoon on weekdays tend to 
work best.

Timing isn’t just about when you post. It’s about when your audience is most ready to take action.

So, what’s the best time to push that lead-generating content? When your audience is primed, informed, and ready to make their next move.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵? Drop your best tips in the comments!

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The Power of Content Timing in Lead Generation

If your SaaS site feels solid but conversions are slow, 
You’re not alone.

This is the pain we see most often:

The site looks clean and modern. 
The branding feels good.

But leads? Low.

Conversions? Sluggish.

And no one on the team can agree on 
what’s actually wrong.

Here’s what we’ve found after studying the best-performing SaaS websites out there: Stripe, Jasper, Loom, Canva, Notion, and more.

The best sites don't just 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 good. 
They get this stuff right:

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲
Visitors understand what’s in it for them immediately.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁
Logos, proof points, and social validation are 
front and center.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆
Fewer clicks, smarter CTAs, and short forms that actually get filled out.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹
Live demos, smart visuals, and product UI where 
it matters.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀
Real outcomes, not feature lists.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀
From first-time visitors to multi-person committees.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸
Pricing is clear. Value is obvious. The next step feels like a no-brainer.

If your SaaS website isn’t converting the way it should, it’s not a design problem.

It’s a clarity, trust, and messaging problem.

The good news? That’s fixable.

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The Battle

Michael Krayenhoff

Jeff Gapinski

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Performance ScoreMichael Krayenhoff's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJeff Gapinski's LinkedIn Performance

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Michael Krayenhoff

Jeff Gapinski

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Michael Krayenhoff's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJeff Gapinski's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMichael Krayenhoff's LinkedIn Performance