Just Grow With It with Natalie Barbu

The marketing funnel is dead — and I'm showing you exactly what replaced it. In this video, I'm breaking down the marketing web: the strategy we use at Rella that took us from $0 to $3M in about a year and a half. I'm pulling back the curtain on our full marketing playbook — content strategy, where we show up, founder-led content, influencer strategy, and paid ads — so you can apply it to your business in 2026. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or just nosy (same), this one's for you. ↓ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – The marketing funnel is dead 0:17 – Introducing the marketing web 2:34 – Why the classic funnel is broken 4:16 – How we built our web at RELA: content creation 7:00 – Where we show up (and why less is more) 8:42 – Founder-led content & influencer strategy 10:21 – Our paid ads strategy ➜ everything you need to know ➜ ✰ Rella: https://www.getrella.com ✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/nataliebarbu ✰ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nataliebarbu ✰ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rp8TxqmJiErzktr5YP8XK?si=e861665d55f54354 ✰ Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-grow-with-it-with-natalie-barbu/id1456261473 ➜ my email for business inquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're a team of 6 people who built a profitable startup, and we couldn't have done it without AI. In this video, I'm breaking down every single AI tool we use to stay lean, ship fast, and avoid burnout. If you're a founder, solopreneur, or anyone building a business in 2026, this is your complete AI toolkit. I'm sharing the exact tools we use for social media, video editing, admin work, customer support, and development—plus how we implement them to 10X our productivity. ⚡ TOOLS MENTIONED: 🎨 Website Builder: • Squarespace - https://www.squarespace.com/nataliebarbu (Use code NATALIEBABU for 10% off) 📱 Social Media Management: • Rella (with Ella AI) - https://www.getrella.com (AI content calendar, scripting, scheduling & analytics) 🎬 Video Editing: • Descript - https://descript.cello.so/42B3cuc61e3 (AI-powered editing, removes filler words, generates rough cuts) 🤖 AI Assistant & Automation: • Claude AI - https://claude.ai • Claude Cowork - https://claude.ai/cowork (Email drafting, document creation, task automation) 💬 Voice-to-Text: • Whisper Flow - AI voice transcription for any app: https://wisprflow.ai/ 📧 Email & Customer Support: • Fyxer (use code: NATALIEBARBU20) - https://www.fyxer.com/ (AI email drafts, customer support automation) • Superhuman - https://superhuman.com/refer/21t5v22t (AI-powered email management with smart prioritization) 💻 Developer Tools: • Cursor - https://www.cursor.com (AI code completion and assistance) • Claude Code - AI-powered coding assistant • Codex - AI development workhorse 0:00 Why AI isn't optional anymore for startups 2:45 Social media management with Rella (content calendar automation) 5:58 Video editing with Descript (rough cuts in minutes) 7:02 Admin automation with Claude (email, documents, research) 13:02 Customer support automation with Fixer 15:15 Developer tools: Cursor, Claude Code & Codex 21:12 Final thoughts: The future of AI for founders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're a founder who thinks building a personal brand is a waste of time, this might be the wake-up call you need. The truth is: distribution is the new moat. Your product isn't enough. Your team isn't enough. If no one knows who you are, you're starting every conversation from zero. In this episode, I break down why the founders who are winning right now are visible, how to build a personal brand without becoming an influencer, and the exact framework I used to grow both my personal following and my startup, Rella. Whether you're B2B, consumer, or anywhere in between—this is your roadmap to building trust, standing out, and making sure you don't look back in two years wishing you had started today. 0:00 - The Wake-Up Call: Why Distribution is Everything 1:26 - The Trust Factor: Why People Buy From People They Know 3:34 - Three Types of Personal Brands (And Which One You Should Build) Expert, Entertainer, or Product Extension—find your approach 5:50 - The Regret Conversation: What Every Founder Wishes They Started Earlier 7:27 - The Action Plan: How to Actually Start Building Your Brand 9:52 - The Mindset Shift: This is Not a Waste of Time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Try The Viral Income Lab for just $489 here: https://theviralincomelab.mykajabi.com/joinus Last year I doubled my creator income—not from going viral, but from treating content like a real business. In this video, I'm sharing the 4 major changes that transformed my brand deals, grew my following, and helped me finally charge what I'm worth. If you're tired of inconsistent sponsorships and low rates, this is for you. Learn how to define your ideal follower, build systems that work, and say no to the wrong opportunities so you can say yes to the right ones. Let's grow together! 🚀 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'M ENGAGED! 💍 Sharing the full proposal story, answering your questions, and spilling all the tea on my non-traditional wedding plans. From how he proposed at a stunning Miami venue to our decision to keep it intimate with a smaller backyard wedding, I'm taking you through everything! Thank you Squarespace for sponsoring today's video. Get 10% off using my code NATALIEBARBU or go to https://squarespace.com/nataliebarbu Timestamps: 0:00 - Engagement Announcement 1:36 - How He Proposed & The Big Day 8:37 - Did I Pick Out The Ring? 13:40 - Wedding Timeline & Plans 17:51 - Where We're Living (USA vs. UK) ➜ everything you need to know ➜ ✰ Rella: https://www.getrella.com ✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/nataliebarbu ✰ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nataliebarbu ✰ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rp8TxqmJiErzktr5YP8XK?si=e861665d55f54354 ✰ Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-grow-with-it-with-natalie-barbu/id1456261473 ➜ my email for business inquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices