I Haven’t Emailed My Community in Two Years- Let’s Talk About That

Two years ago, I sent my last email to this list. I didn’t know it would be the last. There was no grand pause, no thoughtful goodbye—just the slow fade-out that happens when something stops feeling aligned, and you can’t quite explain why.

So when the “renew your email platform” notification popped up last month, I had a weird moment.

Was I really going to keep paying for something I wasn’t even using?

Turns out, yes.
Because I’ve finally figured out why I stopped.

It Wasn’t Just the Niche. It Was the Noise.

For years, I lived in the rhythm of wine marketing. Email blasts. Instagram tips. Classes, webinars. Helping tasting rooms build loyal followings through social media. Writing for publications like the North Bay Business Journal. I loved it. I was my own brand, selling services, classes, PDF guides, and sending emails monthly—sometimes more. People replied. People cared.

Then life shifted since my last email…

• I moved from the Bay Area to Sacramento.

• I went from project to project to working consistently with one agency focused on CRE, hospitality, and placemaking.

• I stopped trying to keep up with short-form video trends I didn’t believe in anymore.

• I started writing longer, more thoughtful pieces on Substack.

And after cancer, a pandemic, and a career that’s evolved across industries, my perspective changed.
I didn’t stop marketing.
I just stopped performing.

Marketing Shouldn’t Feel Like a Performance

I used to teach workshops on how to show up online. And I believed in what I taught. But over time, it started to feel hollow—not because it wasn’t true, but because the why behind it felt thinner.

I wrote about it a bit ago: If your social media strategy feels like it’s just filling space, it probably is.

The best brands don’t post just to post. They test, listen, adjust.
They communicate with purpose.
And that goes for emails, too.

So Why Email Again Now?

Because this list isn’t just “audience.”

It’s clients. Colleagues. Friends. People I’ve worked with, taught, collaborated with—and genuinely care about.
And even though I don’t send PDFs, run courses, or teach Instagram anymore… I still care deeply about:

1. How stories shape perception.

2. How strategy turns attention into action.

3. How brands can build communities instead of just chasing clicks.

So no, this isn’t a funnel.
I’m not launching a course.
There’s no “3 Hacks to Fix Your Engagement” download.

 Marketing Is (Still) About People

This is just me, showing up again with something to say.

• Occasional insights on brand strategy and content that actually works

• Honest takes on marketing, storytelling, and pop culture

• Links to Substack essays when they hit a nerve

Whether I’m helping a winery, a hotel, or a mixed-use development, the fundamentals haven’t changed. Because at the end of the day, good marketing isn’t about the platform—it’s about the people. This is true whether you’re selling bottles of Syrah or booking rooms at a boutique hotel.

If this all sounds good, I’d love to keep you in the loop.
If you’ve moved on, that’s okay too.

But if you’ve been here through the shift—thank you.
Truly.
It means more than you know.

Let’s get back to it.