🚨 A Week of Chaos & Uncertainty...

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

• 🔥 What Do You Mean Get Rid of the Body?! [True Story]

• 🚨 The Latest Updates on Tariffs

• 🚀 Amazon Cancels Massive Inventory Order

• ✅ Turn Bullet Points Into Professional Infographics

• 📈 This TikTok Shop Strategy To Go Viral!

Hey Beardos, I made it back from Iceland with my referral program (finally) set up!

This is just the start. There will be more that will be added shortly. Share the newsletter and get prizes!

😱 WHAT DO YOU MEAN GET RID OF THE BODY?! [TRUE STORY] 

Back in the late ’80s, I was living in Toronto, studying film, and sharing an apartment with my old buddy Regan.

Yes, that same Regan from two weeks ago.

Now, Regan and I weren’t exactly angels…

One night, we decided to pull a prank on our neighbors - just to see how they’d react.

We staged a full-blown, over-the-top fight.

Voices raised, stuff being thrown around (or at least sounded like it), and right at the peak, I dropped to the floor and bit into a blood capsule we’d picked up from a film effects shop.

It looked like a crime scene.

Blood down the face.

Dead silent.

Regan ran to grab the neighbors.

I could hear them coming down the hall, whispering...

They walk in, see me lying there, and Regan hits them with, “What do we do?”

Without skipping a beat, one of them says: “We need to figure out how to get rid of the body.”

Not, “Call an ambulance.”

Not, “Is he breathing?”

Nope.

Just straight to disposal of the body.

I opened one eye, looked up, and said, “What do you mean, ‘get rid of the body’!?!?”

We all burst out laughing.

Regan and I were in tears.

The business lesson:

Sometimes people react in ways you don’t expect - and sometimes they go completely off-script.

Whether it’s a negotiation, a client call, or a product launch, you can’t predict everything.

So plan ahead.

Have a backup.

And be ready to improvise.

— Norm

P.S. A big shout out to Kevin King for putting on 2 once-in-a-lifetime events!

Here are just a few shots from Iceland.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my favorite newslettter 👇

🚨 THE LATEST UPDATES ON TARIFFS

Over the past few weeks, things have escalated - fast. And based on how many of you told me your wanted more updates on these tariffs, I figured I share what happened this week.

Here’s everything that happened…

📆 April 9, 2025 — Tariffs on Chinese Imports Jump to 145%
The U.S. officially increased tariffs on nearly all Chinese imports, bringing the effective rate to a staggering 145%. That’s up from previous 10–25% tiers.

📆 April 11, 2025 — China Retaliates with 125% Tariff on U.S. Goods
China didn’t waste any time. Two days later, they imposed their own 125% tariff on U.S. goods.

📆 April 11, 2025 — Rare Earth Export Ban
China also pulled the plug on rare-earth metal and magnet exports, which are critical to tech, EVs, and defense.

📆 April 12, 2025 — Temporary Exemptions for Electronics Announced
In a bit of relief, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced temporary exemptions for:

• Smartphones

• Computers

• Semiconductor equipment

Instead of facing 145%, these items now fall under a 20% “Fentanyl Tariff” classification.

🕒 90-Day Tariff Pause for Most Countries (Excluding China)
Also on April 14, the U.S. announced a 90-day pause on proposed tariff hikes for most countries—but not China.

🔮 What’s Coming Next: New Semiconductor Tariffs?!
Despite the temporary relief, the administration made it clear that more tariffs are coming, especially on semiconductors and high-tech components.

Expected timeline: late May to early June 2025.

Read more → HERE

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🚨 Get Your Projection

👇TOP MUST READ STORIES THIS WEEK 👇

🔥 THIS TIKTOK SHOP STRATEGY IS MAKING BRANDS GO VIRAL!

Here’s 5 Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Set Up Your TikTok Account in the U.S.—Manually – Do not outsource TikTok account creation to VAs in other countries. If your account is created or managed outside the U.S., it becomes geo-locked and your audience will be misaligned. Use a VPN if necessary, but the account must be U.S.-based.

2. Send Out 100+ Samples to Get Traction – Success on TikTok Shop starts with mass sample distribution. Be prepared to seed at least 100 creators. This is not optional—it’s a core part of getting consistent affiliate content and sales.

3. Choose a TikTok-Native Product—Not Everything Belongs on This Platform – Start with 1–3 hero SKUs that are talkable, visually engaging, and easy to demonstrate. TikTok performs best with products that spark emotion, solve a problem, or create transformation. Your worst Amazon seller might actually be your best TikTok product.

4. Measure and Build Affiliate Snowball Momentum – Content from one creator won’t move the needle. As content grows and sells, other creators notice and want to join in. That’s when affiliate snowball kicks in.

5. Use TikTok Shop to Liquidate Amazon Inventory – Consider launching on TikTok Shop with old or underperforming Amazon inventory. You already own the product, and the risk is low—ideal for testing TikTok product-market fit without new manufacturing.

Find this episode of Lunch With Norm on YouTube and anywhere you listen to podcasts

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🤖 THE AI CORNER

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE BEARD GUY?

Can you find Norm in the picture below? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see the answer!

🔥 THE YOUTUBE MASTERCLASS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUTUBE MARKETING 

Here are my favorite TIPS from this episode!

1. Focus on Watch Time—Not Subscribers: YouTube's top algorithm metric is watch time, not how many subscribers you have. Structure your videos to hook viewers in the first 30 seconds and keep them engaged throughout, even in long-form podcast content.

2. Use Paid Ads to Boost High-Performing Content: Start with organic content. Once a video shows strong engagement, put ad spend behind it (even just $100–$200) to dramatically increase views, subscribers, and watch time.

3. Test with Short-Form + Shorts, Then Scale with Long-Form: Use YouTube Shorts and short-form content to identify what resonates. Once you find a winning topic or hook, create longer content or ads based on that concept to maximize reach and conversions.

Find this episode of Marketing Misfits on YouTube and anywhere you listen to podcasts

🌎 MARK DOWN THESE EVENTS! 🌎

And that’s it, Beardos!

See you next Monday!

- Norm

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