Hey, peoples –

If you’re reading this for the first time, welcome! I’ve had a few dozen new subscribers in the last few days.

If you’re reading this for the upteenth time, well – thanks for sticking around! I’m grateful for your support.

I teased a big announcement on LinkedIn earlier this week and indicated my subscribers were going to be the first to hear it. So, here it is…

I’m leaving Homestead Studio at the end of the month.

Truthfully, it’s odd to even write that sentence.

I started at Homestead in the fall of 2021 – kind of on a whim, honestly. I was freelancing at the time when Jacob Sappington slid into my DM’s on Twitter and asked if I was interested in coming on as a copywriter. I told myself I’d give it 6 months. I gave them nearly 5 years.

When I joined, there were only six of us on the entire team: 2 strategists, 2 designers, and 2 copywriters. We handled all of the email clients, and over the years, I helped grow the copy department from two people to 10, stepping up several years ago as the director of copy, helping give shape to so much more than just my powerful little team.

I consider it honor to have had such a developmental hand in transforming Homestead from a young boutique studio into an award-winning retention marketing agency. Not to mention, one that got acquired earlier this year!

It goes without saying that my time without Homestead wouldn’t be what it is without the team. In fact, it’s the sole reason I stuck it out so long. Legit – we packed every department with top-tier talent over the years. Some are still there, some have moved on. But they absolutely made it what it is.

So, what’s next?

I started my own agency called Real People.

Simply put, Real People is a conversion copy studio for early-stage DTC brands. My focus is primarily on brand voice systems and retention marketing because it’s the work I know best, and I’d rather be a rockstar at one thing than mediocre at five.

If you’re interested in following along on that journey, I promise there will be something for both consumer brands and my marketer pals.

You can join the waitlist here: https://realpeople.agency​

I’m sure some of you have a lot of questions! And that’s perfectly warranted. You can reply to this email, and I’ll answer you directly (for the record, The Copy Minimalist isn’t going anywhere).

I’ll have a more public-facing announcement later next week and I’ll be reaching back out to y’all to help me get the word out (if you’re willing – no pressure).

I’m excited for this next stage of my journey, and more than anything, I’m thankful to have so many of you along for the ride!

Chat soon,

Matt

P.S. If you’re on the brand-side and interested in chatting with me about my services, please let me know. We can hop on a quick call!

P.P.S. If you’re at another established agency, I’d also like to chat with you as I’ll need some solid partners to refer brands to that I’m unable to take.