Field Notes

Field notes from the inbox.

Tactical deep dives on newsletter growth, email revenue, and the systems behind 7 figure lists. Written by Carlos Gil and the SendFocus team.

All Field Notes

Every post, in one place.

Manifesto

Social Media Is Dying. Here's What Smart Marketers Are Doing Instead.

Is social media dying? The apps aren't. Social-first marketing is. Five things breaking in 2026, the Vegas problem, and the migration path to an owned audience.

Carlos Gil•June 2026•12 min

Manifesto

I'd Rather Have 1,000 Email Subscribers Than 100,000 Followers (The Math, The Reasoning, The Receipts)

Why 1,000 engaged email subscribers beats 100,000 social media followers — every time. The math, the asymmetries, and what to actually do about it. The keynote in written form.

Carlos Gil•June 2026•13 min

Strategy

How to Use AI for Marketing in 2026 (The Strategic Framework I Run for SendFocus Clients)

Most marketers using AI in 2026 are doing it wrong. Here's the 3-layer framework I run with clients across email, social, and content — what works, what's overhyped, and what's coming next.

Carlos Gil•June 2026•11 min

Strategy

Why Creators Are Leaving Social Media for Email in 2026

Shadowbans, algorithm swings and platform risk. What creators and publishers told me about leaving social-first behind, and how they built an inbox-first business.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•7 min

Data

Email Marketing vs Social Media in 2026: Which Channel Actually Makes Money?

Email marketing vs social media, compared on ROI, reach, conversion and ownership. What the data says and where each channel belongs.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•8 min

Strategy

Gary Vee Was Right About Email. Here's What to Do About It.

Gary Vaynerchuk has sent marketing email every day since 2006. What he told me at VeeCon, why he's right, and the five habits to steal for your own list.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•8 min

Creators

What YouTube's Top Creators Know About Email That Most Marketers Don't

Derral Eves helped build MrBeast's empire. His advice to creators: if you're not building an email list, you're missing millions. Here's the playbook.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•7 min

Strategy

Email Marketing Strategy: The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything you need to build an email program that drives consistent, measurable revenue — from list building to automation.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•12 min

Tactics

Email Segmentation Strategies That Drive Revenue

Stop sending the same email to everyone. Learn behavioral, RFM, and lifecycle segmentation tactics that boost conversions.

Carlos Gil•April 2026•10 min

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