'Sex and Conversions' is a 2014 blog post I, 📝Brian Swichkow, published on the 📝My Social Sherpa blog (later rebranded as 📝Ghost Influence) that explores the parallels between dating and marketing. The article argues that the skills and processes involved in building relationships in a romantic context closely mirror those needed to convert prospects in marketing. Through extended metaphor, the author likens the internet to a bar, a website to a house, and an email list to a bedroom, illustrating how clarifying intentions and communicating expectations can benefit both domains. The post encourages marketers to apply lessons from dating—such as openness, self-reflection, and honest conversation—to foster stronger, more sustainable customer relationships.
Looking back, I feel like the dating advice in this piece has aged better than the marketing tactics—which, honestly, were always just storytelling devices for something deeper. If I rewrote it now, I’d use half as many words and trim the grandiosity that showed up in most of my early work (and, let’s be real, still sneaks in today). What still resonates is the fundamental truth: honest, sometimes awkward conversations create clarity and connection, whether you’re seeking love or a loyal customer. The metaphors may be a bit much, but the lesson holds—clear intentions make every relationship, personal or professional, a lot less confusing.