Why read this edition?

1. Discover the content strategy that will drive your business growth – Learn why small to mid-sized firms that leverage content see higher engagement, stronger client relationships, and long-term success.

2. Get a simple framework to start building your audience today – Whether through a newsletter, LinkedIn, or direct client engagement, you’ll get clear steps to make content a strategic asset.

3. See how leading businesses have used content to scale – without relying on ads – Learn from real-world examples of brands that turned high-value content into multimillion-dollar businesses.

The Origin Story

Who am I?

I’m Harold! I’m a professional marketer with over 10 years of Senior Director-level experience spanning startups to enterprise organizations in SaaS, fintech, and security software. My core expertise is in product marketing, but I’ve also worn hats in solution consulting, customer success, business strategy, demand generation, and growth.

I’m an introverted marketer – I dodge cameras, avoid large social settings, but love a good one-on-one conversation or a close-knit dinner where we can talk about things that actually matter. In my career, I prefer to execute and lead from behind, letting data, results, and customers do the talking rather than making noise for the sake of internal politics. (Yes, I know that contradicts what marketers are “supposed” to do.)

But there’s one thing I actively lean into – helping others succeed. Supporting business owners and marketing leaders as they discover new, effective ways to drive growth, while still having fun and enjoying life? That’s what brings me joy.

I’m still in the game, working at an enterprise level, seeing my strategies in action every day. And that’s why I built The Curated – to help 100,000 businesses elevate their growth through meaningful content and build real communities around what they do best.

The challenge I want to solve

Across my career, I’ve worked primarily with small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), and whether it was internally in my own companies or externally with clients, I kept seeing the same gap – a lack of investment in high-quality, strategic content that actually builds long-term relationships and community.

Now, I know what you’re thinking—“But wait, there’s already so much content out there! What are you talking about?”

And you’re right – there is a lot of content being created. Some businesses absolutely get it right. But the reality is the majority of businesses still sink 70% of their marketing budgets into paid ads – search, social media, and online display. They’re spending big to compete for attention, but missing out on the long-term power of owned content and audience engagement.

Check out the graph below for a look at global marketing spend trends.

This isn’t just about getting new clients. Many firms don’t have a structured content strategy to nurture, educate, and continuously engage their existing audience. And great firms know that building trust comes from consistent thought leadership, education, and value-driven content.

Who this is for

• Small to mid-sized professional firms that lack a structured content strategy.

• Businesses without dedicated marketing teams that need efficient ways to engage clients.

• Experts who want to leverage content to build trust, authority, and an engaged audience.

The market

• 2M+ accountants & consultants working with SMBs across NA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

• 1.3M small to mid-sized law firms looking to differentiate and strengthen engagement.

• 500K+ IT managed service providers (MSPs) that need a scalable, content-driven approach to educate and retain clients.

A strong content strategy isn’t just about leads – it’s about staying top of mind, driving referrals, and creating long-term, high-value client relationships.

Why you should be excited about content

• Firms with consistent content strategies enjoy stronger brand trust, higher client retention, and increased referrals.

• Newsletter-driven businesses are on the rise, with many scaling to $100M+ valuations in just a few years.

• Owned content is an asset – it works before, during, and after client acquisition.

Real Success Stories from Content-Driven Businesses:

• The Hustle – A business newsletter that grew to 1.5M+ subscribers, leading to a $17.2M acquisition by HubSpot.

• Morning Brew – A finance newsletter that scaled to 3M+ subscribers, then sold for $75M to Insider Inc.

• The Peak – A Canadian newsletter that amassed 115,000 subscribers, selling to ZoomerMedia for $5M.

• The Milk Road – A Web3-focused newsletter that hit $1M ARR within six months, leading to acquisition.

• The Newsette – A lifestyle-business newsletter that built a $10M+ valuation by securing major brand partnerships.

What you’ll get from The Curated (for free!)

• Execution Playbooks – Step-by-step guidance on planning and implementing your content strategy.

• Engagement Strategies – How to consistently engage your audience and drive conversions.

• Market Insights & Trends – Actionable content that positions your expertise for growth.

• Make It Happen (MIH) Matrix – Shareable frameworks that simplify execution.

What additional value we offer (paid subscription)

We provide premium execution-driven resources to make audience-building effortless:

1. Content Templates & Tools – Pre-built content calendars, strategy frameworks, and templates to streamline execution. Example: A fully customizable content planner to organize and automate your publishing.

2. High-Quality ‘Done-for-You’ Content – Ready-made insights on business, tech trends, and market research. Example: A professionally written industry trend report to send to your subscribers.

3. Customizable Assets for Your Industry – Plug-and-play resources for your profession and niche. Example: A client onboarding email sequence for accountants, lawyers, consultants, and MSPs.

4. Ongoing Education & Training – Expert workshops on AI-driven content, automation, and scaling engagement. Example: A hands-on AI workshop for automating newsletter creation while keeping it personal.

The outcomes you can expect

From the free content:

• Build a habit of consistent audience engagement.

• Refine your content approach with insights and frameworks.

• Start generating inbound leads through value-driven content.

From the paid plan:

• Save hours per week with ready-made content.

• Scale faster by nurturing leads more effectively.

• Monetize your audience with content-driven strategies.

Why this matters for you

The Curated exists to help you grow—without friction, without wasted effort, and with real results.

Subscribe now & start your journey.

Make It Happen Index