my annual advice to Santa for 2023

my 3rd year writing this annual email…and definitely my best one to date! I’m feeling the Christmas spirit even more than usual this year. After all, this is the first time in two years I’ve gotten to spend the holiday with my parents. (With their health + COVID, we were extra careful.) So I’m going to whip this up - and I’m feeling extra inspired with good advice too - and then spend the rest of the day playing my favorite card game: Sheng-ji!! (I’ve been told it’s kind of like Bridge, but simpler - and the only time I can play it is when my parents & Ellen & I are together.) So here we go… Tip #1 for Santa: I think 2023 will be a year of quantity over quality. Don’t get me wrong - quality is still important, as always. But it’ll be more about, well...more. Like more short-form content - especially videos. And more frequent “touch points” all around. (So if you use email marketing - which you absolutely should - the old “one newsletter a week” tip will. not. cut. it!) That even applies to presents. I’d say next year, go for more (still good) presents per child vs. the most expensive/best, but fewer, presents. Just as we’ll probably see the lipstick effect come out to play even more next year…I bet we’ll see that mentality trickle down in other ways too. (Although I don’t expect the coaching/course industry to be impacted negatively. I mentioned why, briefly, [in this Youtube video]() I released a few months ago.) Tip #2 for Santa: More influencer marketing/collabs. This is one of those where I recommend doing what I say, not what I do. I don’t like “relying” on anyone, but I’m also willing to forgo some growth for my “independence.” But unless you’re ridiculously stubborn like me, this is almost too good an opportunity to pass up. With up-and-coming creators popping up left and right, this is the year to take advantage of their willingness to grow together. (Or in Santa’s case, connect in a more meaningful way with younger generations.) Tip #3 for Santa: We’ve already been seeing this, but I think we’re going to see it even more next year… A renewed focus on good old fashioned values. Especially when it comes to the companies and people we decide to support with our purchases. For Santa - Remind us of why you started doing what you do in the first place! Show us snippets of why your elves love working with you! Please share more heartwarming stories of kids seeing their dreams come true on Christmas morning! (Personally, my heart melts every time I see a little kid meeting their new puppy for the first time.) And of course, the same goes for you too. Whew…I told you I was feeling extra inspired with good advice this year! :) Alright, I’m off to round up everyone for at least a few hours of cards. Then maybe some dessert and a walk. Then some more cards. For a start. Hope you’re getting to spend some time with your loved ones too – no matter what holiday you do or don’t celebrate. Love is love. Grateful I got to share this email with you. And hope you got a few chuckles - and of course some good ideas for your next year too - to add a little extra fun to your day as well. Warmly, Luisa Zhou [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Unsubscribe]( Zhou Ventures, Inc. P.O. Box 2545 New York, New York 10163-2545 United States