🚀 The Reviews Are In... So What's Your Rotten Tomatoes Score?

#11 The Monthly Startup Club Edge

June 06, 2025

In partnership with

IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

  • đŸ˜± Your Rotten Tomato Score Is In


  • đŸŽ™ïž How to Launch a Successful Podcast in 2025

  • 🚀 The Entrepreneurial Rhythm of Success

  • đŸ”„ AI Tool of the Month

  • đŸ€– Start Up’s Core Values

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes 42 seconds

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⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ THE REVIEWS ARE IN
 SO WHAT’S YOUR ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE?

We’ve been getting some great feedback on our monthly Startup Edge newsletter, which got me thinking about something we all deal with: reviews.

Every issue we send out (just once a month) is packed with actionable insights—each one is basically a masterclass for entrepreneurs. But no matter how good your content or product is, you’re living in a review-driven world.

And like a Black Mirror episode, everyone’s judging everyone else.

No escape.

Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think

Reviews are your startup's social proof.

They’re powerful—and yes, sometimes a little terrifying.

Just ask any author who’s waited for the Amazon stars to start rolling in. I’ve been there with Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. and thankfully, we came out on top:

  • ⭐ 4.8/5 stars on Amazon

  • 🏆 29 global awards, including Axiom’s 2025 Entrepreneurship Book of the Year

In the book, we break down the importance of reviews with a simple equation:

Big Marketing + Bad Reviews = Flop

Great Reviews + No Marketing = Flop

Great Reviews + Great Marketing = Lots of Money 💰

Need proof? Look at Top Gun: Maverick—96% on Rotten Tomatoes and $1.5 billion in global box office.

Joe Foster’s 5-Star Review That Changed Everything

Back in 1979, Joe Foster - founder of Reebok - finally got three different pairs of his shoes rated 5 stars by Runner’s World. After 10 trips to the U.S. over 10 years, that one thing sealed a distribution deal.

Then, Jane Fonda wore his shoes on TV (and yes, she bought them herself).

Reebok went from $9 million to $900 million in just 4.5 years, becoming, for a time the #1 shoe company in the world.

Reviews + influencers = timeless winning formula.

5 Real-World Tips to Get Better Reviews

  1. Make Something Great
    Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. took 10 years, 6 collaborators, 200+ interviews, and a custom cover. Those awards weren’t luck, they were earned based on years of just pure hard work. 

  1. Ask for Reviews
    Reviews are like fuel. We own Airbnbs in South Florida and learned the hard way: one bad review early on tanked a listing. We rebuilt, earned 119 reviews, and now it’s rated 4.99.

Social proof = money. Lots of it.

(BTW, if you enjoy this newsletter, please leave us a review. And check out the book and podcast while you’re at it!)

  1. Make It Easy
    Include direct links. Mention reviews on your videos and podcasts. Use QR codes if you’re in a physical space.

  1. Showcase Your Praise
    We leaned into endorsements early even when we were unknown. To our surprise, we got incredible feedback. One awards founder said he’d never seen such endorsements for an indie book.

The result? Hundreds of reviews and a big boost in sales. People tend to follow other’s leads, and momentum builds on itself
 so those early reviews and endorsements are critical. 

  1. Promote Your Praise
    Announce wins on social media, newsletters, podcasts. At Paw.com, we highlight our 37K+ 5-star reviews in ads and on our site. It works.

Bonus: Listen to the Critics!

Negative reviews sting but sometimes, they tell you exactly how to improve. Before blaming the reviewer, look inward and ask yourself: Is there something we can do better?

Ironically reviews have been manipulated to the detriment of companies.

Anyone who has recently gone on a cruise or bought a car knows that the staff spend an enormous amount of time  asking for a 5 star review instead of giving the customer the freedom to give an honest review.

No one wants their waiter to get fired or lose commission.

Companies need to separate compensation and performance from reviews.

If the company knows they have bad reviews in a particular area they can work to correct that issue and actually create a more satisfying experience.

Always respond to a negative reviewer in a positive, professional way, showing you're willing to address the issue
 unless the guy’s a total jerk.

In that case, still respond but stick to the facts and highlight the many others who had a great experience.

Keep it classy, even when they don’t.

— Colin C. Campbell

Disclaimer: Startup Club and its AI resources are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified lawyer for legal matters.

đŸ”„ TODAY’S CLUBHOUSE

Don’t miss today’s clubhouse at 2pm EST- 5 Stars or Bust: Why Reviews Make or Break You

In today’s market, social proof isn’t optional—it’s everything. Join us for a real conversation on how reviews can fuel (or kill) your startup’s growth, and what smart founders do to earn trust, drive sales, and stand out. 

🎉 Also in big news Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. received the 2025 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medalist in Business, Career, and Sales

1440: Your Weekly Business Cheat Sheet

Expand your business and finance knowledge with 1440. Get clear, conversational breakdowns of the key concepts in business and finance—no paywalls, no spin. Every Thursday, 1440 delivers deep dives, interactive charts, and rapid market rundowns trusted by 100k+ professionals.

đŸŽ™ïž HOW TO LAUNCH A SUCCESSFUL PODCAST IN 2025!

In an era of endless content and short attention spans, how do you create a podcast people actually want to come back to?

1. Launch With a Small Catalog, Not a Teaser

You only get one first impression. A single teaser episode might feel strategic, but it often backfires.

People who like your show will want to binge it. If there’s only one episode, they’ll probably forget about you by tomorrow.

Launch with at least three full episodes. Four or five is even better.

2. Record Practice Episodes Before Publishing

Your first episode isn’t supposed to be good. That’s the point.

Before going live, record two or three test episodes. Treat them like real ones but don’t publish them. Send them to two people who’ll give you honest feedback (not just compliments).

Look out for:

  • Audio issues or echo

  • Awkward pauses or filler words

  • Over explaining or going off-track

  • Boring intros or unclear segments

Fix the basics now. That way, when you do launch, you’re not figuring it out in front of everyone.

3. Start Strong: The First 30 Seconds Matter

No long intros. No rambling. No slow warm-ups.

Your opening line needs to hit fast. Listeners decide in seconds whether they’ll stick around. The first 30 seconds should make them lean in, not reach for the skip button.

Try starting with:

  • A bold claim

  • A surprising stat

  • A question they’ve asked themselves before

  • A story already in motion

Would this first line stop someone mid-scroll?

If not, rewrite it.

đŸŽ™ïž Pro Tip:

Try my 4X Strategy: Do this in consecutive order:

  1. Read your podcast’s transcript - Circle any overused phrases and filler words.

  2. Listen to the audio - Where is it the most engaging? Are you speaking with different tones and speeds? Are there dead spots?

  3. Watch a video recording of your podcast with no audio - Are you moving awkwardly? Do you look confident? Are you being expressive with your face?

  4. Watch the full recording - What are your final thoughts?

Trust me, it’ll be uncomfortable but you will be able to see where you can easily improve. Good luck!

🚹 For all 10 tips read the full article → here

đŸ”„ AI TOOL OF THE MONTH 

This month, we’re spotlighting VEO3, Google's new video generation model. Entrepreneurs can use VEO3 to turn scripts into high-quality videos, generate visual content for pitches, ads, or social media, and streamline creative production.

Take a look at this example below
 And yes, this is AI:

🚀 THE ENTREPRENEURIAL RHYTHM OF SUCCESS

At Startup Club, we believe success doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built on intentional action, smart execution, and consistent habits.

Rhythm Systems’ Patrick Thean, CEO coach and author dives into how I used a disciplined planning rhythm to build and sell multiple startups, all with remarkable success.

And this is exactly what I did:

I committed to a Rhythm of Work.

I would think and work on the business for two days every quarter, then work the plan over the 13 weeks of the quarter. I used Rhythm’s Think Plan Do process.

Every quarter, my team:

  • Built clear execution plans (the “how” of getting from idea to result)

  • Aligned their short-term goals to carefully-crafted winning move strategies 

  • Decided when to move on from what wasn’t working 

Learn how planning early and executing with clarity can position you for long-term success.

đŸ”„ Read the full article → here

🚀 MY RECENT PODCASTS!

I joined, John Lee Dumas on Entrepreneurs on Fire to talk about one of the most overlooked keys to scaling a business: core values. In this episode, I break down how defining your startup’s values early on helps you scale the right way and avoid disaster.

I joined Patrick Thean on The Journey to CEO Success podcast for an unfiltered look at the ups and downs of serial entrepreneurship. We discussed the real lessons, mindset shifts, and proven frameworks behind Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

📅 THIS MONTH’S CLUBHOUSE SCHEDULE!

Join us for a real talk on resilience, mindset, and knowing when to push through—and when to pivot. This one’s for anyone chasing big goals and wondering what it really takes to win.

Leading a startup isn’t all wins and headlines. Join us for an unfiltered conversation with founders who’ve led through failure, rebuilt stronger, and know what it really takes to lead a team to success.

From small wins to major breakthroughs, we’re diving into the smartest ways startups are using AI to grow. Join us on stage to share your tips, tools, and hacks—or just listen in and learn.

🚀 IS IT TIME TO SELL?

Time to Sell Index: → 6.9 out of 100.

What does this mean?

Buyers still hold the upper hand in 2025, keeping things challenging for sellers. However, early signs of recovery are starting to emerge.

With the IPO market gradually picking up, the environment for startups may soon begin to improve.

Strong Buyers' Market (Weak Sellers Market) → 6.9 out of 100.

đŸ”„ CHECK ME OUT ON TIKTOK!

@startupclubhq

At 90 years old, Reebok founder Joe Foster shares the secret to lasting success. Not profit. Not power. Not prestige. Fun. Because when yo... See more

🚀 SUPPORTING STARTUP.CLUB

Thank you for reading along for another issue of the StartUp Club newsletter!

You can further support StartUp.Club by:

  1. Sharing it with a friend or fellow entrepreneur!

  2. Responding to this email and letting me know what you think.

  3. Picking up your copy of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

And if you made it this far, thank you for reading.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the StartUp.Club Newsletter.

— Colin C. Campbell