3 Lessons From the First 6 Months of Candorly
Candorly officially launched in January 2025.
And while this isn’t my first time running a business (shoutout to the wildly successful, slightly unexpected world of Reptile Kages), Candorly feels different.
It’s the first time I’ve built a business that is the thing I’ve spent 20+ years doing: helping other people grow theirs through smart, strategic, no-BS marketing.
The first six months have been a blend of clarity, chaos, and client wins… and a few “ah, yep, should’ve known better” moments. So in true Candorly fashion, here are 3 lessons I’m not gatekeeping.
1. Clarity > Cleverness
Every project that moved the needle this year had one thing in common: clear, human language.
Not clever headlines. Not mission statements that sound like they were written by a motivational poster. Just simple, straight-to-the-point messaging.
When I cut the fluff, dropped the jargon, and gave people actual words they could use, conversions went up, and so did client confidence.
Because most people don’t care about “unlocking their brand potential.”
They care about not wasting money on marketing that makes zero sense.
Relatable.
2. You Can’t Market What You Don’t Understand
The magic didn’t come from mood boards or clever headlines. It came from listening.
Across every industry I worked with this spring, the best strategies came after digging in:
Surveying the audience.
Asking smart questions.
Understanding the emotional drivers and industry weirdness that shape how people decide.
Surface-level insights = surface-level results.
Good marketing starts with listening. Not launching.
3. If It Feels Scattered, It Probably Is
Launching a business is fun until you realize you accidentally created a services menu that reads like a Cheesecake Factory.
At Candorly, I started wide. Why not say yes to everything? I’m capable! I’m creative! I’m tired…
Spoiler: if your offer is hard to explain, it’s hard to buy.
So I started trimming. Clarifying. Prioritizing.
Because just like in life (and in closets), too many options = chaos.
Lesson learned: Just because you can do everything doesn’t mean you should. Focus feels like momentum. And that’s the vibe for the back half of the year.
TL;DR:
Clear wins. Every time.
Your audience has the answers, go ask better questions.
If it’s giving “chaotic neutral,” simplify.
Whether you’re launching, scaling, or just trying to make your marketing feel less like a group project gone rogue, Candorly’s here for it. Strategy, clarity, and a little sass included.
