Business moats are where the money is

Most marketing dies because the business underneath it is weak.

You can’t outrun bad fundamentals with better ads.

Here are 10 moats that actually protect your marketing long-term:

1. Switching Costs
If you offer full-stack solutions (SEO, paid, CRO, creative), it’s harder to replace you. Even B+ performance across the board can beat an A+ in just one channel. Convenience wins.

2. Brand Power
A strong brand buys you trust. But it takes 10+ years to build and seconds to destroy. Protect it at all costs.

3. Process Power
Think Toyota-level systems.
How do you create content? How do you launch campaigns? How do you hold people accountable? Great process = consistent output.

4. Community
A loyal community becomes your distribution engine. But you have to listen. Ignore feedback, and they’ll leave.

5. Network Effects
The more people who use your product, the more valuable it becomes. Communities are mini networks. Build for interaction, not isolation.

6. Speed
AI changed the physics of execution.
You can now get to a 6 or 7 out of 10 in minutes. The motivated win. The slow get exposed.

7. Distribution Advantage
Product doesn’t beat distribution. Distribution beats product.
The best product in the world loses if no one sees it.

8. Relationship Networks
Your network compounds.
Some of my biggest deals come from people I met 10+ years ago. Relationships are assets…if you maintain them.

9. Talent
Everything breaks without A-players.
Talent is the hardest moat to copy. Confrontation, accountability, standards—this is leadership.

10. Data (First-Party Advantage)
Own your data.
The more first-party data you control, the better you can target, monetize, and compound.

Here’s the punchline:

AI makes execution easier.
But moats still win.

Learn more here.

If you want help building real marketing leverage—not just running ads—my team at Single Grain does exactly that. We focus on distribution, systems, and durable growth.

If you’re serious about building a moat, not just traffic, work with us today.

To building defensibility,
Eric Siu

P.S.

1 - If you want to grow faster using the power of AI, my agency Single Grain is offering free marketing plans to qualified Leveling Up newsletter subscribers, check it out here.
2 - We’re hiring AI-forward performance ad creative strategists, AI-forward SEOs and paid media people, AI short form creators, AI automation interns, and more. If you’re interested, apply at our Careers page.
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