Unlocking the 7-11-4 Hack and Building Success in a Rapidly Changing World
Hey there,
Welcome to this week’s blog! If you’re looking for actionable strategies to grow your business, build your personal brand, and stay ahead in 2025, you’re in the right place. I just listened to an amazing podcast with Daniel Priestley, and let me tell you—this guy is a goldmine of practical, forward-thinking advice.
From cracking the code of trust-building (spoiler: it’s called the 7-11-4 Hack) to creating businesses that thrive in an AI-dominated future, there’s so much to unpack. Let’s dive into the key takeaways, why they’re relevant for 2025, and how you can start implementing them right now.
We also know that the word of the year will be “parasocial.” This is a one-sided connection with a media personality or fictional character. It's a psychological relationship that can occur when an audience feels like they are interacting with a performer. This is key for marketing in 2025.
The 7-11-4 Hack: Building Trust at Scale
This framework is the blueprint for building a loyal audience and creating lasting connections in the digital age. Here’s how it works:
7 Hours: People need to spend at least 7 hours engaging with your content.
11 Interactions: They need to interact with your brand 11 times.
4 Platforms: These interactions must happen across 4 different platforms (think Instagram, YouTube, podcasts, blogs, etc.).
Why This Matter More than Ever: Creating consistent, high-value content across multiple platforms, you’re giving your audience the chance to really know you; allowing your audience to build a parasocial relationship with you. And in 2025, where AI algorithms and automation dominate, human connection will be your competitive edge.
My Take: This is HUGE. Think about the influencers, creators, or brands you trust and admire—they’ve likely mastered the 7-11-4 Hack without even realizing it (BUT their also failing in other areas that you might not realize. More about that later). If you’re not creating a cross-platform presence, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. He asks this: “If I was to block out tomorrow, and take all day to watch, read, listen (4 different platforms) to everything you have online, all on brand, can I spend all day going through your content, and fill the whole day? If yes, that means you are building a parasocial relationship, and going to do well. If not, there’s still time. Star small by picking your 4 platforms and show up consistently. At the beginning of 2025, I said that 2025 would be the year of connected-educational marketing, and from the top people out there, it looks like I might be on to something.
How Do You Start When You Don’t Have a Brand?
Starting from zero can feel overwhelming, but Priestley lays out a clear path with the 5Ps Framework to help you become a Key Person of Influence (KPI) in your niche. Here’s what it takes:
Pitch: Create a simple, compelling pitch that explains what you do and why it matters.
Publishing Content: Break down your pitch into content—videos, blogs, social posts—that educates and inspires your audience.
Productize: Turn your expertise into tangible products or services people can buy.
Profile: Build your presence on social media, traditional media, live events, or third-party platforms.
Partnerships: Collaborate with others in your industry to cross-promote and grow your reach.
Why This Matters in 2025: Every "microniche" needs a Key Person of Influence. You don’t need to be a Kardashian-level influencer; you just need to own your space. In a world dominated by AI and automation, humans crave connection and expertise. Being a KPI makes you the go-to person in your niche.
My Take: If you’re just starting out, the 5Ps are your roadmap. Focus on crafting your pitch first—it’s the foundation for everything else. Then, pick one platform and start publishing content regularly. You don’t need a massive following to make an impact; you just need to consistently show up. This also the beginning steps of 7-11-4. 7 hours of engagement, 11 interaction, 4 different platforms. Creating 7 hours of content on that one platform. Create 11 interactions- educational, freebies, chats, etc. Then move to 3 different platforms using the same content.
Differentiation: Stand Out or Fade Out
In 2025, standing out isn’t optional—it’s survival. Priestley offers 5 ways to differentiate your brand:
Scary: Be bold. Push boundaries. Or even look scary.
Strange: Embrace your quirks and uniqueness. Being strange in 2025 is a good thing.
Sexy: You can either be sexy or make your brand visually and emotionally appealing. This isn’t for everyone, so make sure you understand or know that this can be you.
Free Value: Offer something so valuable that people would’ve paid for it. Offer something of value and substance for free will always make you stand out. It will also help with The Messy Middle (read more below).
Familiar: Make your ideas relatable and easy to understand. This allows the person to create a para-social relationship with you.
Why This Matters in 2025: As solopreneurs and niche markets continue to grow, clarity and focus are more crucial than ever. The businesses that succeed won’t try to be everything to everyone—they’ll solve specific problems for specific people. The key is to be laser-focused on what your business stands for and resist the temptation to chase every opportunity. By narrowing your focus, you not only stand out but also create deeper value for your ideal audience.
My Take: I’ve been guilty of playing it safe sometimes, but this framework is a wake-up call. Think about your brand—what’s your bold, scary idea? What’s your free value that makes people go, “Wow, I can’t believe this is free”? If you’re not making people feel something, it’s time to rethink.
One thing I will be focusing on it giving away free value to anyone who wants it. Whether that a free 30 minute call to help you get unstuck, or you need something techy done that I know wont take a lot of my time, but help tremendously.
The Entrepreneur’s Sweet Spot: Passion, Problem, Payment
At the intersection of what you love, a real-world problem, and revenue lies your sweet spot. This sweet spot is key if an entrepreneur wants to thrive.
Passion: What excites you?
Problem: What problem does your audience need solved?
Payment: How can you turn this into a profitable business?
Why This Matters in 2025: As solopreneurs and niche markets continue to grow, clarity and focus are more crucial than ever. The businesses that succeed won’t try to be everything to everyone—they’ll solve specific problems for specific people. The key is to be laser-focused on what your business stands for and resist the temptation to chase every opportunity. By narrowing your focus, you not only stand out but also create deeper value for your ideal audience.
My Take: I love Priestley’s reminder to avoid extremes. Too much passion without solving a problem? You’re just a hobbyist. Too much focus on money without passion? Burnout city. Find your balance—it’s worth the effort. It’s okay if it takes you awhile too. You need to find this sweet spot or it won’t work.
Name, Same, Fam, Aim, Game: Clarify Your Brand Identity
One of Priestley’s most practical frameworks is Name, Same, Fam, Aim, Game, which helps you define and communicate your brand clearly:
Name: What’s your name and your business name?
Same: What are you the same as? What do people already recognize that you can relate to? (e.g., "I’m a business coach" or "I’m like XYZ for startups.")
Fam: What makes you stand out? Awards, results, or unique stories.
Aim: What’s your focus for the next 90 days?
Game: What’s your big vision for the next 3-6 years?
Why This Matters in 2025: Clarity is everything. If people can’t immediately understand what you do and why it matters, they’ll move on. This framework forces you to get laser-focused on who you are and what you offer.
My Take: I’m obsessed with the "Fam" part of this framework—it’s your opportunity to shine. What’s your edge? What’s your unique story? Take 10 minutes to brainstorm and write it down. You might be surprised by how much you already have to offer.
Environment Dictates Performance
Your environment has a profound impact on your success. Priestley emphasizes the importance of upgrading your surroundings to spark growth. Here’s how:
Talk to someone ahead of you: Reach out to someone who’s 3-5 steps ahead of where you want to be. Learn from their journey and ask for advice.
Join a course or program: Surround yourself with people who are learning the same things. A great learning environment can push you to level up.
Audit your surroundings: Are your habits, workspace, and community helping or holding you back? Make changes that align with your goals.
Why This Matters in 2025: The world is moving fast, and staying stagnant is not an option. By upgrading your environment, you can force yourself into a growth mindset and create momentum.
My Take: This one hit home for me. Whenever I’ve felt stuck, it’s usually because I’ve stayed in the same place for too long. Go to that networking event, take that course, or just change up your workspace. Small shifts can lead to big breakthroughs.
The Messy Middle: Funnels Are Dead
Google’s research highlights a significant shift in modern consumer behavior: people no longer follow traditional marketing funnels in a neat, linear way. Instead, they bounce between triggers (inspiration), exploration, and evaluation before making a purchase.
Why This Matters in 2025
Your audience doesn’t want to feel like they’re being “funneled.” Instead, they expect to engage with your brand on their terms. This means marketers need to shift their focus toward interactive content—think online assessments, free trials, podcasts, or YouTube videos that allow people to explore your brand and its value in a flexible, enjoyable way.
My Take
Funnels aren’t dead—but they must evolve. The rigid, linear approach is outdated. Instead of pushing people down a pre-defined path, focus on crafting an experience. Your audience should feel like they’re on an exciting journey of discovery, not a mechanical conveyor belt. Make it engaging, fun, and valuable. When the time is right, they’ll make the purchase naturally.
Monetize the Top 10%
Priestley provides a fascinating breakdown of audience spending:
Top 1% of your audience = 15% of your total potential budget.
Next 9% = 45% of the budget.
Remaining 90% = 40% of the budget.
Key Takeaway: Serve the 90% with free value to build trust and connection, but monetize the top 10% with premium offers. These are your most engaged, loyal customers—don’t get bogged down trying to cater to everyone. Focus your energy on the people who truly value your work and are willing to pay for it.
My Take: This is such an important mindset shift. If you’re trying to sell to everyone, you’ll end up selling to no one. Focus on your core audience—the top 10% who love what you do. These are the people who will drive your growth, so find ways to serve them deeply. One way that I do this is by offering free value within FB groups. As a service provider within the digital world, there are lots of people trying to get quick and easy help for tech items. If I know that I can answer their question, then I do. It costs me nothing but maybe a couple minutes from my day to provide value to them, and sometimes that free value will mean more to them, that they turn around and become a customer.
The Hunger Games of Ads: Which Ads Work Better?
In the battle for attention in digital advertising, the 10-20-30 Variations Situational Model helps you test what works while engaging your audience meaningfully. Here’s how it works:
"Click to Say It's Not Available"
Create ads for products or services that aren’t ready yet. When users click, inform them it’s unavailable but offer them the chance to join a waitlist.
"Click to Join the Waitlist"
Once on the waitlist, ask 5-6 key questions to understand their needs:
Where are you now?
Where do you want to be?
What’s in the way?
What price feels fair?
What price feels too cheap or too expensive?
These insights help you refine your product and messaging.
Flexing Digital Positioning
In a frictionless digital world, create intentional engagement points like waitlists or surveys to build exclusivity and gather data. By diagnosing problems before selling solutions, you build anticipation and trust, ensuring your ads hit the mark. May the best ad win!
2025 and Beyond: AI, Repetition, and the Future
AI Will Disrupt Everything: Priestley predicts that every industry will be transformed by AI. We’re still early in this boom, so pay attention to how it evolves.
Repetition Wins: Success often comes down to doing the same thing repeatedly with love and passion. He uses Tabasco as an example: they’ve been making hot sauce for 150 years—and doing it well.
Personal Branding Is Essential: In a world where AI is ubiquitous, your personal brand will be the differentiator.
My Take: AI isn’t something to fear—it’s a tool to amplify your creativity. But the human touch (your brand, your personality, your story) is what will set you apart.
Final Thoughts: Building for 2025 and Beyond
Priestley’s podcast was a reminder that 2025 will be a year of massive opportunities—but only for those ready to adapt. AI will disrupt every industry, but your personal brand, unique value, and ability to connect will always set you apart.
Here’s what to focus on this week:
Start With the 5Ps: If you don’t have a brand yet, use the 5Ps to build your foundation.
Focus on 7-11-4: Show up consistently across 4 platforms and create content that builds trust.
Upgrade Your Environment: Surround yourself with people, tools, and spaces that push you to grow.
Be Bold: Differentiate yourself by being scary, strange, sexy, or offering incredible free value
Actionable Steps for This Upcoming Week
Audit Your Brand: Use the "Name, Same, Fam, Aim, Game" framework to refine your message.
Create Free Value: Share something so useful that people would’ve paid for it.
Build the 7-11-4 Hack: Start showing up on 4 platforms and create content that keeps people engaging with you.
Focus on the Top 10%: What’s one premium offer you can create for your most loyal audience?
Leverage AI: Experiment with AI tools to streamline your content creation or business processes.
2025 is going to be a year of massive shifts, but these strategies will help you stay ahead of the curve. Remember: clarity, consistency, and connection are your superpowers.
Until next time,
-Jessie
P.S. What’s one takeaway you’re excited to implement? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Here is the YouTube Video that I would highly suggest you watch!
