The best consumer companies often have a growth split of over 80% organic to 20% paid. Relying too heavily on paid growth can lead to increased costs and reduced profitability as competition for ad space intensifies.

In industries with extreme competition, like the airline industry, where products are essentially commodities, margins can be driven down to unsustainable levels, leading to a brutal business environment.

It's important to create a holistic marketing strategy that balances brand building with performance marketing, as neglecting one can harm overall effectiveness.

Increasing ad spend to meet growth targets can backfire, as it often leads to longer payback periods for customer acquisition, making it harder to sustain growth.

Changes in advertising platforms, like those made to iOS, can drastically affect your business. Many companies have failed due to over-reliance on paid growth strategies that become unsustainable after such changes.

Balance product development with marketing and customer engagement; being overly focused on product can lead to user dissatisfaction.

A common reason brands fail is compromising on quality for speed; maintaining high standards is crucial for long-term success.

Operationally intensive businesses often have much lower gross margins than expected, making it essential to focus on improving these margins to ensure profitability.

In niche markets, companies may need to rethink their pricing and marketing strategies, as traditional methods may not be effective.