Gentle Marketing for Highly Sensitive People (with Sarah Santacroce)

The Haven (Private Podcast): (Protected Content)

I’ve known Sarah Santacroce for quite a while now, and one thing I’ve always appreciated is her genuinely gentle approach to business. It’s not a surface-level nicety, but a deeply embedded philosophy that informs every part of how she operates. Her latest book, Marketing Like We’re Human, couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

We’re in a world overwhelmed by manipulative, scarcity-driven marketing. If you’ve been online for even five minutes today, you’ve likely encountered a message trying to convince you that you’re not enough, you’re missing out, or you’re falling behind. The pressure to act fast, sign up now, or “transform your life” can be relentless—and it’s exhausting.

As someone who values groundedness, presence, and meaningful connection, I find this landscape jarring. Like many highly sensitive people, I experience this constant noise as anxiety-inducing and creatively paralysing. So I’ve made a conscious choice: I want to build my business on foundations that make people feel better about themselves, not worse. And I want to market from a place of abundance and expansion, not scarcity and fear.

This is precisely why Sarah’s work, and this conversation, resonated so deeply.

A Different Kind of Revolution

Sarah calls it the Gentle Marketing Revolution, and although the word “revolution” might sound loud or combative, this one is anything but. In our conversation, she explained how it’s actually a return—to empathy, human connection, and integrity. These aren’t new ideas, but they’ve been lost under layers of templates, funnels, and conversion tactics.

Her book is not another plug-and-play framework. It’s a pathway of personal and professional transformation. An invitation to slow down, listen to ourselves, and build marketing from the inside out.

For highly sensitive and introverted people, this feels like home.

What If You Didn’t Have to Shout?

We spoke about how so much mainstream marketing reinforces a negative message—pointing to a problem, often exaggerating it, and then selling the solution. This approach may “work” in the short term, but it also contributes to a climate of fear and inadequacy. Sarah challenges this head-on. She proposes something else: aspirational marketing. Compassionate marketing. Marketing that uplifts rather than undermines.

And most importantly, marketing that doesn’t even feel like marketing when it’s aligned with your values.

Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

We also explored the pressure to meet external markers of success—like six- or seven-figure businesses—and how these narratives can quietly shape our sense of worth. But what if we stopped to ask ourselves what success really means to us? What kind of world do we want to help create with the choices we make in business?

Sarah’s book is full of gentle prompts that guide you to uncover your own answers.

The 7 P’s Mandala: A Game Changer for Sensitive Entrepreneurs

One of the standout frameworks in the book is the 7 P’s of Gentle Marketing, reimagined through the form of a mandala. Unlike traditional marketing models that are externally focused and rigid, Sarah’s version is organic and holistic.

Her seven P’s—Passion, Personal Power, People, Product, Pricing, Promotion, and Partnership—are designed to meet you where you are. They’re not about chasing after ideal clients, but about creating resonance between your message and the people who are already looking for someone like you.

This is especially empowering for those of us who are highly sensitive. It allows space for introspection, alignment, and autonomy in a landscape that too often demands performance and conformity.

Marketing as a Human Expression

Another idea that stood out for me is the notion that marketing is your unique human expression. It’s not about having all the answers, or projecting an image of success. It’s about being visible in your process. Sharing what matters to you. Letting people resonate with who you are, not just what you sell.

That’s the kind of marketing that builds trust over time. It’s slower, yes—but it’s sustainable.

Transitioning Into Gentle Marketing

If you’re feeling the pull towards a gentler way of working, you don’t have to change everything overnight. Sarah talks about how gradual transitions are often the most powerful. Keep what’s working. Let go of what doesn’t feel good. Start to bring your energy, spirit, and voice into the forefront.

And if you’re just starting out, her advice is to look close to home. Your first clients are often people you already know—those who trust you, who’ve worked with you in other settings, and who resonate with your presence.

A Book That Plants Seeds, Not To-Do Lists

Reading Marketing Like We’re Human didn’t leave me with a giant to-do list. It left me with something better: a deeper sense of clarity, calm, and confidence. It reminded me that my work matters—not because of how loudly I shout, but because of how honestly I show up.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, disillusioned, or disconnected from the way you’re “supposed” to market, this book is a breath of fresh air.

Sarah has written something that is practical, encouraging, and deeply rooted in human values. It’s a quiet revolution. But one that could change everything.