Lisa and Simon explore the evolution of newsletters and email marketing, emphasizing the need for reimagining content to engage today's audience. They discuss the importance of personalization, the role of AI in enhancing email strategies, and the significance of visual design. The conversation also touches on the challenges of traditional email marketing, the necessity of testing and optimization, and future trends that may shape the landscape of email communication.
Platforms mentioned:
After 36 episodes, we're taking a short hiatus. We'll be back soon!
Lisa and Simon discuss eight essential marketing rules that have proven effective over their 35 episodes. They emphasize the importance of understanding your audience, having a solid marketing plan, crafting clear messaging, providing value, optimizing for mobile, tracking analytics, continuous testing, and building relationships with customers. The conversation culminates in an eight-week challenge for listeners to implement these rules in their marketing strategies.
#marketing, #audience, #planning, #messaging, #value, #mobile, #analytics, #testing, #relationships
In this conversation, Lisa and Simon explore the art and power of storytelling, particularly in the context of marketing. They discuss the importance of structure in storytelling, the emotional connections that stories can create, and how storytelling can be used both externally with customers and internally within organizations. They also provide practical tips for crafting compelling narratives and emphasize the role of data in storytelling. The conversation concludes with insights on how to effectively use storytelling to build trust and engage audiences.
storytelling, marketing, emotional connection, narrative structure, case studies, internal communication, AI in storytelling, customer testimonials, persuasive communication, effective marketing
In this conversation, Lisa and Simon discuss their recent travel experiences, focusing on hotel stays and brand loyalty. They explore how personal experiences shape their preferences for hotel brands and loyalty programs, and delve into the broader implications of brand loyalty in competitive markets. The discussion highlights the importance of customer experience, communication, and feedback mechanisms like the Net Promoter Score in building and maintaining brand loyalty. In this conversation, Simon and Lisa explore the significance of customer feedback, emotional connections, and brand loyalty in business. They discuss strategies for improving customer experiences, the importance of personalization, and how to create advocates through word of mouth. The dialogue emphasizes the need for businesses to deliver on their promises and maintain high-quality standards to build trust and loyalty among customers.
Lisa and Simon explore the art of running successful promotions without overwhelming your audience. They dive into why some brands thrive by embracing fabricated holidays like Prime Day and Make Your Will Month, while others risk losing customer interest through constant discounting.
Drawing from real-world examples—like gyms avoiding the January rush and airlines running frequent sales—they discuss how to strike the right balance between urgency and overexposure. You’ll hear insights on how to plan strategic promotions that build excitement without burning out your audience. Plus, Lisa and Simon share practical tips on segmenting customer groups, leveraging seasonal events, and creating campaigns that keep customers engaged year-round.
Tune in to learn how smart promotion strategies can make your business stand out—even when the market feels saturated.
#PromotionStrategy, #SmartMarketing, #CustomerEngagement, #BrandLoyalty, #MarketingTips, #PromoFatigue, #SalesStrategy, #CreativePromotions, #BusinessGrowth, #MarketingInsights
Lisa and Simon discuss their recent experiences and transition into a deeper conversation about the impact of AI on search engine optimization (SEO) and the emerging concept of generative engine optimization (GEO). They explore the differences between traditional SEO and GEO, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt their content strategies to remain visible in an AI-driven landscape. Practical tips for business owners are shared, including the importance of structured content and FAQs, as well as the challenges of tracking AI-generated traffic. The conversation concludes with reflections on the evolving relationship between AI and marketing, encouraging listeners to embrace a more human approach in their content creation.
In this episode of It's Mostly Marketing, Lisa and Simon sit down with attorney Linsey Krolik to unpack the legal side of marketing. From understanding why CAN-SPAM isn't Canadian (surprise!) to navigating privacy laws like CCPA and CalOPPA, we dive into everything small business owners and marketers need to know about compliance, customer trust, and avoiding costly mistakes.
We cover how marketing became a regulated industry, why a simple privacy policy isn’t always enough, how to stay compliant with email and SMS marketing laws, and why being "clever" with advertising claims could land you in legal hot water. It's a conversation full of real-world examples, practical advice, and a little marketing history trivia you won’t forget.
Resources Mentioned:
Takeaways:
Trust, transparency, and compliance aren't just legal checkboxes — they're essential parts of building a sustainable brand.
#MarketingCompliance #DataPrivacy #SmallBusinessMarketing #MarketingLaw #EmailMarketing #CCPA #CANSPAM #PrivacyPolicy #MarketingTips #ItsMostlyMarketing #Podcast
In this conversation, Simon and Lisa discuss the impact of economic downturns on small businesses, focusing on consumer behavior, pricing strategies, and effective marketing techniques. They explore how rising costs affect consumer spending and the importance of demonstrating value to customers. The discussion also highlights common pain points for small business owners and offers strategies for navigating challenging economic times, including low-cost marketing options and effective messaging. In this conversation, Lisa and Simon discuss effective marketing strategies during economic downturns, emphasizing the importance of email marketing, building brand loyalty, leveraging referrals, and shifting advertising strategies. They highlight the need for research and understanding consumer sentiment, optimizing the marketing funnel, and creating value-driven offers. The discussion also covers the power of educational content and the significance of engaging with the audience for feedback.
Lisa and Simon discuss the challenges and strategies involved in managing creative projects, particularly in small business settings. They emphasize the importance of having structured processes, the role of creative briefs, and the need for clear goals and documentation to ensure effective execution. The discussion also touches on the iterative nature of creative work and how to maintain brand consistency across various projects. In this conversation, Lisa and Simon delve into the intricacies of creating effective creative briefs in marketing. They discuss the importance of understanding the target audience, crafting clear messaging, and avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to confusion and inefficiency. The duo emphasizes the need for clarity and flexibility in briefs, as well as the value of using templates to maintain brand consistency. They also highlight the significance of stakeholder engagement and the necessity of a well-defined brief to streamline the creative process.
creative process, strategy, creative brief, project management, small business, design, documentation, efficiency, branding, marketing, creative briefs, marketing strategy, audience targeting, project management, brand consistency, messaging, marketing pitfalls, clarity in communication, templates, stakeholder engagement
In this engaging conversation, MacKenzie Green shares her inspiring journey from being a Division One swimmer and beauty pageant contestant to becoming a leading figure in social media and marketing. She discusses the importance of data-driven marketing, the evolution of social media, and the challenges faced by young professionals, especially women, in the industry. MacKenzie emphasizes the need for small businesses to embrace social media and content creation while also highlighting the significance of hiring experts to help navigate the complexities of digital marketing. Throughout the discussion, she offers valuable advice and insights drawn from her personal experiences and professional growth.
MacKenzie's book recommendations:
Because of the Internet, Gretchen McClulloch
Our Great Hemisphere, Mateo Oskopor
Playworld, Adam Ross
Challenger, Adamn Higginbotham
You can find MacKenzie:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mackenziegreen
Instagram: @missusa2mba
TikTok: @kenziekeymag
#marketing, #leadership, #social media, #goals, #goal setting, #Mackenzie Green, #digital innovation, #beauty pageants, #career advice, #content creation, #data-driven marketing, #personal branding, #entrepreneurship
In this conversation, Lisa and Simon explore the multifaceted world of branding, discussing its importance beyond just logos, the elements that make a strong brand, and the necessity of a brand strategy. They emphasize the significance of consistency in branding and how it impacts customer experience. The discussion also touches on the flexibility needed in branding guidelines and the role of brand identity in creating a memorable presence in the market. In this conversation, Simon and Lisa delve into the intricacies of brand guidelines, discussing the importance of maintaining brand integrity, the role of visual identity, and the impact of legal considerations. They explore how to create effective brand guidelines, the significance of authenticity, and the challenges of revisiting brand identity.
In this engaging conversation, Lisa and Simon delve into their personal and professional journeys, sharing insights from their early marketing careers, mistakes they've made, and the lessons learned along the way. They discuss the importance of feedback, the buzzwords that annoy them, and what alternative careers they might have pursued. The conversation also touches on their favorite apps and entertainment choices, providing a well-rounded view of their personalities and experiences.
Lisa and Simon discuss the significance of testing in marketing, drawing insights from Scott Galloway's podcast. They emphasize the importance of data-driven decisions over gut feelings, explore various marketing channels, and provide actionable strategies for testing in email marketing and advertising. In this conversation, Lisa and Simon delve into the intricacies of advertising and website testing, emphasizing the importance of continuous optimization and creative strategies. They discuss the role of automated tools in testing, the significance of understanding ad placements, and the challenges associated with website testing. The duo also highlights common mistakes marketers make during testing and shares best practices to enhance effectiveness. Throughout the discussion, they stress the need for curiosity and documentation in the testing process, ultimately advocating for a culture of constant learning and adaptation in marketing strategies.
#marketing, testing, Scott Galloway, email marketing, advertising, digital marketing, data-driven decisions, marketing strategies, hypothesis testing, marketing channels, advertising, testing, optimization, website testing, multivariate testing, creative fatigue, ad performance, marketing strategies, common mistakes, best practices
Simon and Lisa discuss the importance of reevaluating marketing strategies, establishing clear goals, and aligning team efforts. They emphasize the need for tracking and measuring marketing effectiveness, evaluating tools and technologies, and optimizing processes to ensure ongoing success. The discussion highlights the significance of adapting to changes in the market and the necessity of having structured processes in place for effective marketing management.
#marketing, #reevaluation, #trategy, #tracking, #measurement, #tools, #technology, #optimization, #goals, #alignment
Lisa and Simon discuss the evolving landscape of marketing roles, particularly focusing on fractional marketing positions and the importance of generalists in small businesses. They explore how to identify business needs, the significance of trust in partnerships, and the role of AI in enhancing marketing efforts. The discussion emphasizes the need for curiosity and adaptability in marketing professionals, as well as the importance of evaluating potential partners based on their skills and relationship fit.
fractional marketing, generalist, business goals, marketing strategy, nonprofit fundraising, marketing roles, small business, marketing evaluation, trust in business, AI in marketing
Lisa and Simon's friend, Dr. Kelly Garneau, discuss the integration of AI in writing education, exploring how it impacts student engagement, classroom dynamics, and academic policies. Kelly emphasizes the importance of teaching students to critically engage with AI tools while maintaining their writing skills. The discussion also covers the evolving nature of AI in academia and offers practical advice for educators and students on navigating this new landscape.
Meet the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/meet-the-hosts
Ask the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/ask-the-hosts
#AI, #writing education, #student engagement, #classroom technology, #academic policies, #AI tools, #writing skills, #critical thinking, #future of education, #teaching strategies
Lisa and Simon discuss the importance of empowering employees to act as brand advocates. They explore various strategies for leveraging social media, encouraging content creation, and establishing brand guidelines to ensure employees feel comfortable promoting the brand. The discussion highlights the benefits of authenticity and engagement that come from employee advocacy, as well as the potential for cost efficiency in marketing efforts. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to subscribe to their podcast.
Meet the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/meet-the-hosts
Ask the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/ask-the-hosts
marketing, advocacy, employee-generated content, EGC, brand, marketingtips, smallbusiness, smb
Lisa and Simon reflect on their journey of creating a podcast, discussing the importance of planning, data-driven decision-making, and the need for flexibility in business strategies. They emphasize the significance of evaluating past performance to inform future planning and the role of metrics in measuring success. The discussion also touches on common pitfalls to avoid and the necessity of adapting to changes in the market.
Meet the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/meet-the-hosts
Ask the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/ask-the-hosts
#business planning, #reflection, #data-driven, #metrics, #goal setting, #innovation, #small business, #performance evaluation, #strategy, #adaptability
Lisa and Simon discuss the challenges of analyzing survey data and how AI can streamline the process. They explore various AI tools available for data analysis, emphasizing the importance of ensuring data accuracy and validity. The discussion also covers practical applications of AI in deriving actionable insights from survey responses, segmenting data for deeper analysis, and the future of data analysis with AI.
Meet the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/meet-the-hosts
Ask the hosts: https://itsmostlymarketing.com/ask-the-hosts
#AI, survey analysis,#data insights, #qualitative research, #quantitative research, #data tools, #customer feedback, #data segmentation, #actionable insights, #data accuracy
