The Startup Ideas Podcast
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The more subtly you sell your product in content, the better your results will be
The Reasoning
Overt selling triggers psychological resistance and skepticism, while subtle mentions feel more authentic and trustworthy, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates
What Needs to Be True
- Content provides genuine value independent of product mention
- Product mention feels naturally integrated into valuable content
- Target audience has developed resistance to traditional advertising
- Trust and authenticity drive more purchasing decisions than direct promotion
Counterargument
Clear, direct calls-to-action convert better because they remove ambiguity and friction from the buying process
What Would Change This View
A/B tests showing direct selling consistently outperforms subtle selling across multiple content types and audiences
Implications for Builders
Lead with value, not product features, in all content marketing
Bury product mentions in the middle of valuable content
Test placing CTAs in comments vs main posts
Build expertise and trust before asking for sales
Measure engagement and conversion rates, not just direct response
Example Application
“LinkedIn post about viral content strategies mentions AI writing tool as bullet point 3 of 7, drives more signups than posts leading with the tool's features”