Coffee with Yvonne-Kendrick Lamar, Three Reasons Why Authenticity Matters, Tabitha Brown's Magic
A newsletter for creatives, entrepreneurs, and those who love marketing
First Sip:
Listen to the article voiceover for this week's “First Sip” message!
New Episode: Coffee with Yvonne-Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Playbook, The Lip Bar’s Bold Move & Supreme Models on Netflix
This week on Coffee with Yvonne, grab your coffee because we’re diving into Kendrick Lamar’s history-making Super Bowl performance and how he continues to redefine creativity across genres. We’re also unpacking The Lip Bar’s new series on Black beauty myths and the powerful evolution of Supreme Models from book to documentary.
But that’s not all—Yvonne gets personal, sharing her experience working in the fashion industry and how gatekeeping shaped her journey.
(click the image to watch the video)
Catch brand-new episodes dropping every Thursday! Don’t miss the visual experience – tune in to the YouTube channel for exclusive video content.
Feature of the Week: 3 reasons why authenticity matters in marketing and content creation
1. Builds Trust and Loyalty
📌 Example: A beauty brand shares unfiltered, real customer testimonials and before-and-after photos (without filters or editing), building community with their customer base through transparency and product improvement.
✨ Why it Works: Consumers appreciate honesty and are more likely to trust a brand that sets realistic expectations instead of one that feels deceptive.
2. Sets You Apart from the Competition
📌 Example: A small coffee shop uses social media to showcase behind-the-scenes moments—employee engagement with customers, the founder's day-to-day role, and stories about where their beans come from. They also embrace a “voice” that makes them feel like a friend rather than just another coffee shop
✨ Why it Works: Instead of trying to compete with big-name chains by mimicking their style, the shop leans into what makes them unique, from the customers to their product, attracting people who resonate with their social media persona
3. Drives Deeper Engagement
📌 Example: A content creator shares a personal story about overcoming imposter syndrome in their industry, inviting followers to share their own experiences in the comments or via voice notes. In the follow-up content, with the user’s permission, they then highlight audience stories, sharing words of encouragement.
✨ Why it Works: People connect with vulnerability and shared experiences. By involving the audience in the conversation, the creator fosters a sense of community and keeps people engaged.
Marketing Magic: Tabitha Brown’s “Very Good” at Building Audiences Organically
3 marketing campaign highlights
1. Lean into what makes YOU unique
📌 What She Did: Tabitha built her brand by simply being herself—warm, kind, and full of joy. She didn’t try to fit into a mold; instead, she leaned into her unique personality, soothing voice, and signature catchphrases.
💡 Marketing Takeaway: People crave realness. Whether you’re a brand or creator, showing up authentically builds trust and loyalty.
2. Meeting Her Audience Where They Are—And Expanding It
📌 What She Did:
Tabitha started on social media (TikTok & IG), but instead of staying in one lane, she expanded to television, children’s programming with Tab Time, and retail with her haircare line Donna’s Recipe while keeping her core audience engaged.
💡 Marketing Takeaway: Growth doesn’t mean abandoning your core audience—it means finding new ways to serve them. Whether through different platforms or new content formats, meeting people where they are is key.
3. Expanding the Brand While Staying Grounded
📌 What She Did:
Tabitha’s business moves always feel purpose-driven, not profit-driven. Instead of chasing every opportunity, she focuses on projects that feel true to her mission of joy, love, and wellness.
💡 Marketing Takeaway: Expansion should feel intentional. Whether you’re launching a product, podcast, or TV show, ask: Does this align with my brand values?
“It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be authentic”-Yvonne Pearson