My Q3 results are in

Yo! Welcome back to The Reeder Newsletter — your weekly dose of content strategy and growth advice. First time reading? Subscribe here.

Next week, a video editing showdown is goin' down on Marketers Got Talent.

Next week, three brave marketers will edit videos LIVE while Jess Cook, Ari Yablok, and I judge them 😬

Imagine The Great British Bakeoff mixed with ESPN Ocho.

This is “edu-tainment” at its finest.

You’ll laugh and leave knowing

— how to make videos so good your audience can’t help but like, share, and follow you
— the biggest mistake that kills even the best “raw” video footage from being repurposed
— how to win mindshare with video without spending thousands of dollars every month

Oh, and how to use AI to turn your long-form video into brand clips in minutes (not hours) using Goldcast.

Welcome to The Reeder's Q3 Board Memo

Every quarter, I write a "tell-all" business update before you, my most valued readers.

Three reasons for this ritual:

You get a "clean view" of working/not working in my upper 6-figure content business, so you can see how The Reeder is growing (and why).
My ability to connect my marketing to business impact changed my career and my income in ways I never thought possible — and I want that for you too.
Selfishly, it's a valuable exercise to get nitty-gritty on what happened, what worked, and what I wish I'd done differently.

It's a healthy entry in my proverbial "business journal."

If you missed Q2, you can see it here.

Let's start with what matters most:

Q3 By The Numbers

This was the 5th quarter as a full-time business owner.

The honeymoon phase is in the rearview, and now it's just me and my bride (literally, and figuratively).

TLDR: The business is growing steadily and performing ahead of schedule.

Quarterly Bookings: 130% to goal ($X35,655)

Once again, our marketing did the heavy lifting.

Pipeline is healthy with no need to hunt for leads (ie, go outbound).

Because running the 95-5 Framework keeps our bellies full.

Annual Bookings: 94% to our annual target ($X79,217)

We could sign zero new clients and cruise to our bookings goal with existing retainer clients.

But we both know this car does not have cruise control.

This breathing room gives me time to refresh and relaunch our core offer and our marketing strategy, so we can grow comfortably in 2026. (More on that below).

Q4 Forecast: ~150% coverage ($X90,500)

We have multiple opportunities on the table: an even split between 95-5 Content System and prospects and LinkedIn for Executives. (Both offerings have product-market fit and are getting more interest every week).

Like I mentioned above, we don't "need" any new clients. That said, we currently have inventory available for one right-fit client in Q4 that will likely be filled in the next ~2 weeks.

Then we'll open the waitlist for Q1.

Customer Satisfaction: 100%

We're experiencing a "3-peat" for customer feedback.

Meaning every client gave positive feedback and a testimonial for the third quarter in a row.

This borderline brag is not for ego. It's our DNA that we don't just want our clients to buy, we insist that they win.

The market needs to know that investing with The Reeder is good for business.

Customer proof is how we ensure that happens (plus it sparks referral deals which close faster than any deal type.)

Major Wins

Financial wins are great. But I'm not just building a bank account.

Two long-term bets started paying off.

And few things amp me up like seeing my plan come to life.

1) I'm speaking on more stages

I spoke at two in-person events: Highline by UserEvidence in Jackson Hole and Content Marketing World in San Diego.

But didn't just land more speaking gigs — I found my voice.

I realized that the best talks do two things:

– Make people laugh
– Make people whip out their phones and snap pics of slides

So I decided to switch it up and lean in it.

I don't "give keynotes" anymore. Not really.

Instead, I do what I'm calling Standup Marketing.

Part stand-up comedy (jokes, laughs, crowdwork) and part marketing (stories, insights, how-tos).

And damn is it FUN. For me and the audience.

Evident by the belly laughs and pictures.

And just as important: I've never been more excited to get back on stage.

PS: If you’re hosting an event in 2025 — give me a shout.

2) Brand deals are boomin' — and they’re getting bigger.

I'm fortunate to be well placed to ride the wave of B2B influencer marketing.

With Aneesh's help, we sold out all Q3 and Q4 inventory weeks ago.

I'm working with big brands I admire (like Adobe) and long-time partners I love (like Goldcast).

And I’m helping them win attention, trust, and pipeline from the most powerful buyers in B2B.

PS: If your brand wants in, Q1 spots are now open. Hit reply for details.

Learnings (well, one, really)

I'm tempted to say this is "more personal than professional." But isn't that kinda the same thing? One doesn't work without the other (pun intended).

Last quarter I shared my burnout story. I also committed to some significant changes.

The result? I've found my "workstyle" — how my personal life and working habits coexist.

Instead of a constant game of tug-of-war, there's a sense of harmony I've never experienced before.

I work 9-4pm most weekdays. I close my laptop satisfied with my effort. The voice in my head is supportive and positive.

As someone who's been a harsh self-critic for the past 35 years (that's my whole life for those counting)... this is exciting, inviting, and new.

This isn't to get preachy or woo-woo on you.

But mindset is more important today than ever. Especially if you want a lasting career.

All's to say:

I'm proud of how I'm handling the ever-growing, constantly changing demands as a father, husband, friend, business owner, and business influencer.

It's a lot.

And more responsibility than I ever expected I'd earn in this lifetime.

So I've been reminding myself that pressure is a privilege.

And it's up to me — and me alone — to enjoy the ride or make being a stressed-out, grumpy lump of a man my baseline state.

I chose the former.

And I've never been happier or fulfilled.

That newfound contentment has given me a clear brain to plan what's next.

What I'm betting on in Q4

I shared a detailed breakdown in last week's edition. Worth a peek if you're looking for growth and guidance.

Here's a quick recap:

POV — I have a strong POV — just not in the places that mattered most: my site, my LinkedIn, or my offers. So I hired help, sharpened it, and rebuilt my offer and content strategy around my 95-5 Framework.
AI Search Visibility — I ran a test and realized: I’m invisible to AI search. That changes now — I’m upgrading my website for AIO to increase visibility.
YouTube — I believe YouTube is where the B2B "puck" is heading — and I want to be early. For the next 60 days, I’m going all-in on repurposing my best video content to crack the code.

It’s all about clarity, consistency, and compounding attention.