Inclusion and Marketing

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Inclusive marketing is rapidly growing in prominence, as more consumers expect that brands "see" them, be more inclusive in their marketing campaigns, and accommodate a broader base of customers that don't cleanly fit into what is considered "mainstream." The show is hosted by Sonia Thompson, an inclusive brand coach, strategist, consultant, speaker, and Forbes and Inc. columnist who's helped brands and leaders alike attract and retain diverse customers. This podcast explores everything you need to know about building an inclusive brand, including customer experience, inclusive leadership, cultural intelligence, building diverse teams, inclusive language and imagery, and more.

Sonia Thompson


    • May 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 164 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Inclusion and Marketing podcast is an exceptional resource for anyone looking to elevate their understanding of marketing and business through an inclusive lens. Hosted by Sonia, this podcast covers a wide range of topics that keep listeners engaged and coming back for more. From discussing the importance of inclusion in marketing to providing practical advice on strategic business planning, this podcast offers valuable insights for sustained business growth. Sonia is a trusted resource who brings fresh takes and interesting dialogues, making each episode informative and enjoyable.

    One of the best aspects of The Inclusion and Marketing podcast is the variety of topics covered. From exploring new marketing ideas to discussing the right way to keep clients happy, this podcast offers a wealth of information for marketers and business professionals alike. The inclusion-focused approach ensures that listeners are exposed to diverse perspectives, challenging them to think differently and apply these insights to their organizations. Additionally, Sonia's storytelling-like flow captivates listeners and effectively conveys the importance of inclusion in marketing.

    While it's difficult to find any drawbacks to The Inclusion and Marketing podcast, one potential area for improvement could be expanding on specific examples or case studies related to inclusive marketing strategies. While Sonia does provide relevant examples from pop culture and her own experiences, delving deeper into concrete examples can enhance listeners' understanding of how inclusivity can create better results in marketing campaigns. Nonetheless, the overall quality of content outweighs any minor shortcomings.

    In conclusion, The Inclusion and Marketing podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning about how to make their marketing initiatives more inclusive and effective. Sonia's thought-provoking examination of inclusion in marketing is backed by powerful statistics and relevant examples, making each episode informative and insightful. Whether you're looking for unique marketing ideas or guidance on building inclusive workplaces, this podcast offers valuable takeaways that can be applied to various industries. Overall, The Inclusion and Marketing podcast is an invaluable resource that challenges conventional marketing practices while promoting inclusivity and growth.



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    Latest episodes from Inclusion and Marketing

    163. How responsible marketing drives real business impact and growth, with Lola Bakare

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 43:50


    Responsible marketing, and its close cousin inclusive marketing are increasingly becoming a part of the fabric of the way in which good marketing is done. In a world where brands are working hard to grow, and capture and maintain market share -- it's more important now more than ever to practice marketing in a way that speaks to what today's evolved customer wants and needs from you. In this episode, I sat down once again with Lola Bakare, CMO advisor and author of the new book Responsible Marketing. We covered a lot of ground including what responsible marketing is, the core elements of it, why it works so well to build trust and loyalty with consumers, and of course, where brands are falling short. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Lola's book: www.responsiblemarketingbook.com Lola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makeitbewithlola/ Episode 72: Why brands should practice responsible marketing with Lola Bakare: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-72-why-brands-should-practice-responsible-marketing-with-lola-bakare/

    162. About those Mother's Day Opt-Out Emails..

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 14:24


    Mother's Day is coming up in the U.S. And for the past few years that has meant a number of companies sending out emails asking people if they want to opt-out of Mother's Day communications. The intent is to not send emails that will be triggering to people who have a complicated relationship with the day. In this episode, we explore whether or not this is the right approach including other options to consider. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter

    161. What consumers really have to say about representation in marketing [Research]

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 24:03


    Consumers have a lot to says about representation in marketing. In the research study I conducted, their verbatims were quite telling when I asked them about what they liked and disliked about the ways brands were engaging in representation and marketing. I also asked them about what they wished brands knew about representation in marketing. In this episode, I walk you through the core themes that came from their responses to those questions. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter ep. 160 - Representation matters to consumers now more than ever [Research] - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/representation-matters-to-consumers-research/

    160. Research: Consumers have lots to say about representation in marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 18:24


    Representation matters. We know this. Most people get it.  And thankfully, more and more brands are doing a better job of being representative in their marketing. But while representation matters, not all representation is created equal. This is especially important, because representation is often the on-ramp for most brands who are getting started with inclusive marketing. So back in 2021, I did the inaugural Representation in Marketing study – where 1000 consumers told me how they felt about it. A lot has changed since 2021, so I thought I'd do an update to that study, to see where consumers heads are at. To field this research (same as last time), I used Suzy's consumer insights platform, to get insights from 1000 participants age 16 - 70. In this episode, I'm walking you through this important consumer data. Get the Inclusion & Marketing podcast What consumers want you to know about representation in marketing [Research]

    159. Law & Order: Organized's Crime's Danielle Mone Truitt on the realities of representation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 16:18


    Of course, it is helpful to have the theory and principles behind inclusive marketing to give you a strong foundation for growth. I'm a big believer in learning from real-world situations and issues and hearing the voices of real people.  I often feel that these stories from real people will not only help you connect the dots and bring the theory to life for you in a more vivid way, but it also makes it easier for you to be in the lookout for areas to give special attention to when you put what you've learned about inclusive marketing into practice. In today's episode, you're going to hear my chat with Danielle Monae Truitt, who plays who plays Sergeant Ayanna Bell on Peacock's upcoming fifth season of the iconic series starring Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: Organized Crime.  Of course we talked a little bit about some interesting things related to the show – but I found so much of what Danielle had to say extremely relevant to you and your efforts on making your marketing more inclusive. We touched on authenticity, production – specifically as it relates to Black women's hair. We covered representation – and what good representation looks like (because lets face it, a lot of representation falls short). Many of the themes Danielle mentioned as it relates to Black women's hair, and what good representation looks like, were things consumers specifically spoke about as part of the representation in marketing research study I conducted. If you haven't had a look at that, no worries, I'll link it up for you in the show notes, as well as another article that covers how to do representation in marketing the right way. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Law & Order Organized Crime Season 5 trailer Representation in Marketing Study (2021) How to do representation in marketing the right way

    158. Creating inclusive video marketing at Wistia, with Taylor Corrado

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 25:39


    One thing I've learned that is often helpful, especially during the early stages of getting started on a new journey – like inclusive marketing, is to hear how others who are in your shoes or similar approach it. Learning about how others think about a problem, the challenges they've experienced, and how they've gone about achieving success — can do wonders to move you forward and much closer to your goals. So to help facilitate that type of learning from you, one of my goals for the show is to bring you more conversations with marketing leaders at various brands to uncover their approach to inclusive marketing. In this episode, you'll hear my super fun conversation with Taylor Corrado, Senior Director of Brand Marketing at Wistia — a video marketing platform for businesses. And as a fun aside – because of Taylor's work, she's obviously really well-versed in video marketing. So, as part of our chat, you'll also hear Taylor's thoughts on how to make your video marketing more inclusive. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Wistia Wistia State of Video Report Wild Terrains - Women Only Tours

    157. The deal with the Target and Amazon boycotts, plus Spotify, and Emilia Perez happenings

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 22:40


    There's a lot of talk about economic boycotts these days as consumers are protesting in response to brands rolling back their policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion. While various organizers are calling for boycotts on brands like Amazon, Target, Nestle, and Tesla, there are some important considerations around boycotts that not enough people are talking about. I cover those considerations in this episode, along with recent happenings relevant to inclusive marketing from Spotify and the movie Emilia Perez. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    156. 2025 Inclusive marketing trends: Backed by data

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 17:54


    Inclusive marketing is only growing in popularity. And with that, comes a whole new slew of trends to be aware of when it comes to being successful with your inclusive marketing efforts. In today's episode, I walk you through 5 inclusive marketing trends for 2025, backed by new data from HubSpot. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    155. 5 Inclusive email marketing strategies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 14:45


    Email marketing still remains a highly profitable component of the marketing mix for many brands. Data shows that even after many years of people declaring email marketing is dead, it still returns on average $36 for every $1 invested. Because email marketing is so effective, I thought it would be great to walk you through how five brands have made it work even harder for them as they work to engage and convert even more customers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 152: Build a large and diverse audience with an email newsletter, with Maria Gharib Episode 112: How to make your email marketing inclusive with Samar Owais Visuals of examples mentioned in episode

    154. How Sonoro is helping Toyota and other brands authentically engage Latino consumers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 31:25


    In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Camila Victoriano, Chief Content Officer and co-founder of Sonoro, a fast-growing media company that is the 4th largest podcasting publishing company in the world. She and I covered A LOT of ground, including Sonoro's partnership with Toyota to reach Latino consumers, what she's hearing from brands about their response to the social and political environment surrounding inclusion and inclusive marketing, authentically engaging multicultural consumers, and so much more. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Sonoro Chasing Suenos - Toyota Corolla's video podcast Camila Victoriano on LinkedIn

    153. Inclusive marketing done right: 7 Examples of brands tackling it in different ways

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 17:06


    There are many ways to include more people with your marketing. Of course, there are best practices associated with inclusive marketing that enable brands to be even more effective with their efforts. In this episode, I walk you through seven different ways brands tackled inclusive marketing, that enabled them to make a big impact with the people they wanted to serve. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter UNO Color Blind Accessible video Episode 63: How Google makes its brand accessible Proctor & Gamble: 'Widen the Screen' Amazon Alexa Ad

    152. Build a large and diverse audience with an email newsletter, with Maria Gharib

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 35:22


    Email newsletters are all the rage these days, with some popular publications having hundreds of thousands of engaged subscribers. I've been learning a lot more about newsletters lately, and was especially curious about how successful newsletters think about and go about attracting and retaining a diverse audience. So in this episode, I sat down with Maria Gharib, one of the primary writers of the Mindstream AI newsletter, which is fast, fast, fast growing, and already has an impressive subscriber base. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    151. Converting through case studies: How to infuse inclusion for more effectiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 17:42


    Consumers want to reduce their risk as much as possible when making a purchase. And that desire increases exponentially when it comes to a product that not only has a higher ticket price, but has a greater possibility of being a hassle to make things right if the product doesn't work out the way they'd hoped. That's why case studies work so well -- they help eliminate risk in the minds of consumers. The stakes are higher for people from underrepresented and underserved communities. Data shows that for a variety of reasons, they don't achieve success at the same rates. As such, have greater assurances that the product they seek has been shown to work for "people like them," increases their likelihood of conversion. This episode walks you through how to increase the effectiveness of your case studies, by making them more inclusive. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 45: Factors influencing your customers' success you should be aware of Episode 71: Rule #1 of Inclusive Marketing Bol ad L'Oreal campaign What is tokenism? Episode 81: Do this to increase customer acquisition for people from underrepresented and underserved communities HubSpot case studies Leadpages case studies Plantmade Video podcast testimonial I listened to LGBTQ+ at Alloy

    150. Super Bowl VIX: Analyzing ads, decisions, commentary, and implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 36:26


    The Super Bowl recently happened in the U.S., and there was a lot of chatter leading up to it, during it, and well after it on a number of fronts related to inclusion and inclusive marketing. In this episode, I cover a lot of it, including the NFL changing the phrase in the end zone, the singing of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' during the pregame, the ads, and much more. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Roger Goodell says NFL got it wrong Ledisi sings 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the Super Bowl Roger Goodell reaffirms the NFL's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion ahead of Super Bowl VIX (first minute) All Ads for Super Bowl VIX Statistics on diversity in Super Bowl VIX ads Super Bowl ads focused on women's empowerment

    149. Inclusive marketing as an organizational standard, not an option

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 15:04


    In episode 141 of the podcast, I talked about what is important for you to have to be effective with your inclusive marketing efforts over the long-term. In that episode, I talked about 10 different elements, and in this episode, we're going to talk more in depth about what is arguably the most important element – leadership declaration. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 141: How to be more effective with inclusive marketing over the long term Episode 113: How Lysol drives brand growth with inclusive marketing with CMO Gary Osifchin

    148. Answer this question to convert more customers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 24:46


    When it comes to attracting new customers – and especially customers from underrepresented and underserved communities, it is important to remember that a looming question in their mind is: “Is this product for people like me?” People like me could be anything — tall people, people who are introverts, people who speak my language, people from my socioeconomic background, people who aren't tech savvy, people who are left-handed, people who are immigrants, people of a certain religious faith, people with a larger body size, people who are neurodivergent, people who are ex-convicts, people who are single, and the list goes on and on and on. But as a brand – if you want to convert more of these consumers, it is critical that you answer this question for the people who are considering your product as clearly and as quickly as possible. With this critical question in mind – in this episode, I'm going to walk you through 5 ways to focus on answering this question in a way that clearly and quickly communicates to the people you want to serve that they do indeed belong with you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Tabitha Brown TTLA testimonial KitKat Iftar bar commercial Google Pixel 8 'Javier in Frame' commercial Boots controversial Christmas ad

    147. A critical lesson for marketers from the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni saga

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 16:56


    Over the last week I've been riveted by ongoing developments in the legal feud between actress Blake Lively and actor and director Justin Baldoni, who worked together on the film It Ends With Us. There so much to unpack with the filings, however, there is one point, that is the focus on this episode, that is very relevant to you from an inclusive marketing standpoint as you work to establish it as just the way marketing is done for your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Blake Lively lawsuit Justin Baldoni lawsuit Episode 117: Power dynamics in brand imagery

    146. How to use data to increase customer success for all, with Deborah Pickett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 42:52


    A core element of being effective with inclusive marketing and therefore any inclusive marketing strategy — is data. We've got to know not just the rates at which your customers overall achieve success, but we've also need to know what that data looks like by subgroup. In other words - we need to find out if everyone is achieving success at the same rates. Now I've noticed the as I talk to different people and marketers about this, at times the thought of capturing and analyzing data in this manner feels uncomfortable. So I thought it would be helpful to have a dialogue about this with someone who is steeped in data - particularly by subgroup all day every day. After this short break - you'll hear my conversation with Deborah Pickett — who will be bringing her expertise with data in the education system — and we'll apply it to what you do in marketing's This is not Deborah's first time on the show —- she stopped by way back in episode #19 - The Critical link between equity and customer success. It was a really great episode if I do say so myself, so if you haven't listened, I'll drop a link to it in the show notes so you can check it out. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 19: The critical link between equity and customer success with Deborah Pickett

    145. How to implement systems for inclusive marketing, with Kumi Croom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 33:03


    Agencies are an integral partner and part of the marketing process for many brands. But when it comes to incorporating inclusion into the work brands produce, if the agency isn't an inclusive marketing or multi-cultural marketing agency, infusing inclusion isn't something that always happens consistently. So that's why I was excited to sit down with my guest today, Kumi Croom, Managing Director at Duncan Channon, a marketing agency, who's done a really fantastic job of operationalizing inclusive marketing into the way her agency shows up and delivers for clients. Get the Inclusion and Marketing Newsletter Duncan Channon

    144. A chat with Wistia co-founder and CEO about inclusive marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 34:42


    In this episode, I had a conversation with Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, a video marketing company, on their Talking Too Loud podcast, all about inclusive marketing. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Wistia

    143. The mistake that made me

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 81:41


    On this episode -- I'm bringing you an interview I did with Eman Ismail, on her super cool show Mistakes That Made Me. In it, I talk about my journey to becoming an inclusive marketing strategist, and the mistakes I made as a business owner (for years) that led me to be in this position today. And of course, we get into a real good chat about inclusive marketing in practice -- which you'll find at the beginning of this episode. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Mistakes That Made Me podcast

    142. How to more people feel seen, with Jasmine Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 31:44


    Representation matters. I think people know this, and get it intuitively, but for some, it can be hard to do in practice consistently. In this episode -- I'm bringing to you my chat with Jasmine Star on her podcast --- which is all about how we can do a better job of bringing representation to the forefront of our thinking, as we work to make more people feel seen, supported, and like they belong with our brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    141. How to be effective with inclusive marketing over the long-term

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 17:31


    As I've worked with clients of various sizes over the years, one of the things that has become clear is that an organizational transformation is required. You can't do the same thing or slightly different things every now and then and expect to attract and retain a more diverse customer base over the long term. In this episode, I walk you through nine core components of the organizational transformation needed to enable sustained inclusive marketing success—in essence, to help you build an inclusive brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    140. This AI tool assesses how inclusive brands are

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 39:04


    In this episode, I sat down with Asha Shivaji and Jason Klein, co-founders of SeeMeIndex, and AI tool that evaluates how inclusive brands are with their marketing across a number of factors. We covered a lot during our chat, including trends they've identified in their work as they've evaluated brands across many industries, including the beauty and wellness industries. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter SeeMe Index The UN Business Case for Inclusive Marketing More data on how inclusive brands drive sales

    139. The biases we hold

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 8:00


    My personal belief is that we all hold some time of bias -- much of it unconscious. In this episode, I share a brief story of when one of mine recently showed up. Also covered is the impact of bias in marketing. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    138. How smart brands demonstrate their values to consumers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 14:48


    Brand values are increasingly more important to consumers. As a result, brands need to communicate not only what their values are but how they are living them. In this episode, I walk through various ways brands are demonstrating not only what their values are, but how they are living them. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 122: How Michael Graves Design and Pottery Barn are working to bring accessible design to more consumers Brands mentioned in this episode: Ben & Jerry's Patagonia Seer Interactive The Home Depot Tory Burch Warby Parker Michael Graves Design

    137. 8 Inclusive eCommerce website examples that drive growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 21:55


    eCommerce is a core part of the journey for many consumers across a number of different industries. And because eCommerce websites or sections of websites often attract a broad diversity of consumers with different identities, brands who take the time to design experiences with as little friction as possible for people with these identities, will see more conversions. This episode walks through how to build a more inclusive eCommerce website, with specific examples of how different brands do that for different identities. Even if you don't have an eCommerce website, many examples referenced will still be applicable for you in helping you build a site that drives more conversions. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter All the examples mentioned in this episode Episode 127: How to create a multilingual content strategy with Selim Dahmani Episode 60: Designing inclusive experiences for neurodivergent consumers Episode 58: How to build an LGBTQ+ inclusive brand with Hank Paul

    136. The YouTube growth strategy top channels use

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 14:30


    Lots of brands are making YouTube marketing a priority. It's easy to understand why -- it puts you in a position to get in front of more of your ideal customers worldwide. But of course, with any marketing tactic, you need an effective strategy behind it to make it work for you. In this episode, I'm walking you through this smart inclusive strategy many top YouTube channels use with great success to reach. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Video mentioned in the episode 134: 3 Steps to creating an effective multilingual content strategy 127: How to create a multilingual content strategy with Selim Dahmani

    135. How to create an LGBTQ+ inclusive brand all year long

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 15:41


    By this time of year, normally we don't see too many LGBTQ+ celebrations from brands. Pride month has passed, and many brands are back to business as usual, which in a lot of cases means they aren't doing much of anything to make LGBTQ+ consumers feel seen, supported, or like they belong. Brands that do a good job of serving the LGBTQ+ community do it all year long. In this episode, I walk you through ways you can build an LGBTQ+ inclusive brand that makes people from the community feel like they belong, no matter when they encounter your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 58: How to build an LGBTQ+ inclusive brand with Hank Paul

    134. 3 Steps to create an effective multilingual content strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 15:02


    Engaging customers that speak other languages is a smart strategy for brands to grow. But too often, marketers think that an effective multilingual content strategy is just about translating your existing content into various languages. The reality, doing that may not bring you the results you desire. In this episode of the inclusion and marketing podcast, I walk you through my framework for implementing an effective multilingual content strategy that enables you to convert more customers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 127: How to create a multilingual content strategy with Selim Dahmani

    133. Jaw dropping stats about Latino youth prove why marketers shouldn't ignore this growing consumer group

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 38:38


    Every time I see data about the changing demographics in the U.S., it seems like my jaw drops open. Population Growth: 70% of the U.S. population growth between 2022 and 2023 is attributed to Latinos, a trend that shows no signs of slowing. Economic Force: Latino youth are projected to contribute 78% of all net new U.S. workers by 2030, and Hispanic consumer spending is outpacing non-Hispanic spending in key areas like personal care, home electronics, and new cars. 25% of Gen Z and Gen Alpha are Latino 94% of Latinos under age 18 are born and raised in the U.S. Did you know all that, cause I sure didn't. And when I think about this from a marketing standpoint, it's clear that brands need to factor these changing demographics into their strategies. The data I mentioned came from the U.S. Latino Youth 2030 Report, conducted by Kantar in Collaboration with the Latino Donor Collaborative. I wanted to dive more into this data and the implications, so I sat down with Ana Valdez, President and CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter U.S. Latino Youth Report 2030: from Kantar and The LDC Latino Donor Collaborative

    132. How to build a high-performing diverse team in today's political climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 46:50


    In the summer of 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court said that it was no longer lawful to use affirmative action as a way to diversify the number of students colleges and universities accepted each year. As a result, a decades-old policy meant to help universities do a better job of building a diverse and representative student body is no longer valid. As a result, many companies have been reevaluating their own recruitment and hiring policies to address how they could go about building a diverse team – in a way that is, of course, legal. From a marketing perspective, data shows that many marketing teams are quite homogenous. And that homogeneity – that isn't representative of the actual consumers brands serve, often results in brands not doing the best job of being inclusive in their marketing. So, what's a brand to do? Well, for this episode, I sat down with an expert, Leanne Elliott, a business psychologist who's had years of experience with his. Leanne brings some guidance for you on how to build a diverse team in this environment. And I have a feeling if you follow Leanne's advice, which is rooted in lots of hard-core data – you'll do a better job of building a diverse and representative team that outperforms those that aren't representative. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Background on political climate impacting hiring --> Why brands have broken DEI promises Leanne's Company - Oblong HQ Leanne's podcast - Truth, Lies, and Work Episode 48: How to create an inclusive workplace culture with Al and Leanne Elliott

    131. Brands rollback of DEI, microfeminism, and insenstive headlines: Inclusive marketers react

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 47:48


    There's a lot going on in the world these days, which often means there's lots going on in the world of inclusive marketing. And sometimes – certain topics really just require a conversation – an opportunity to work through thoughts, feelings, and ideas – on the journey to forming opinions. So that's what we're doing on today's episode. I sat down with a few folks from my inclusive marketing crew – some voices you've heard before on this show, and one new one, you'll get introduced to. So after this short break, you'll here the latest “inclusive marketers reaction” show – me and my colleagues do a deep dive to discuss important topics bubbling up in the world of inclusive marketing. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Companies rolling back DE&I policies New York Times article re: Kamala Harris "combative" debate style LinkedIn post with discussion about New York Times article Microfeminism TikTok Inclusive Marketer's React: McDonald's, Sainsburys, Barbie Movie, and more Inclusive Marketer's React: Ralph Lauren and Zara debacle Matthew Tsang Episode (#76): Nothing about us without us, and working with an inclusive marketing agency Mariam Shahab Episode (#74): How to authentically engage Muslim consumers

    130. How to plan more inclusive business events with Eman Ismail

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 43:42


    When it comes to business events, particularly those where important and transformational relationships are formed, it's very common for them to not be inclusive -- particularly for people who, for whatever reason, don't engage in specific activities that are considered "norms" in these types of settings. A big part of inclusive marketing is challenging what is often considered to be "normal" in your quest to make more of the people you want to serve feel like they belong with you. In this episode, I sat down with Eman Ismail, an email marketing strategist and copywriter, and founder of Eman Copy Co, an email marketing microagency. We had a really insightful chat about her experiences feeling excluded by the norms at many events, and how it made her feel, as well as how it impacted her success. We also walk through practical examples for brands for how to create more inclusive events that enable more people to achieve success and feel like they belong with you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Let's work together Eman Copy Co Mistakes That Made Me podcast Eman Ismail on LinkedIn

    129. 7 Customer acquisition strategies smart brands used to reach more consumers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 15:40


    Customer acquisition is one of three core components of any good and effective inclusive marketing strategy. In particular, brands must prioritize "inviting" consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities to be their customers. In this episode, I walk you through seven customer acquisition strategies smart brands use to win new customers from often ignored communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Work with me Visuals, examples, and links mentioned in this episode

    128. Inclusive marketing isn't enough. Why (and how) to build an inclusive brand

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 21:29


    Being successful with inclusive marketing is about more than just the marketing. It requires building an inclusive brand that supports communities and thinks and behaves inclusively throughout the organization. That's what consumers say they want. In this episode, I walk you through why building an inclusive brand is essential to your success with inclusive marketing. I also show you how to build an inclusive brand with my 5C Inclusive Brand Framework. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Let's work together

    127. How to create a multilingual content strategy with Selim Dahmani

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 36:54


    It is very likely that people who speak different languages also have the problem your brand solves. As such, a smart way to grow your brand and customer base is to intentionally engage with consumers who speak other languages with content that attracts, converts, and retains them. In this episode, I sat down with Selim Dahmani, a Senior Growth Manager at HubSpot, who is focused on growing the brand in the French market. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Let's work together Selim on LinkedIn

    126. How to identify and eliminate friction in your brand's customer experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 15:40


    A lot of brands have unnecessary friction in the customer experiences they deliver. That friction negatively impacts those brands' conversions. That friction and impact on consumers is even more pronounced when it comes to people from underrepresented and underserved communities. This episode is all about how to identify and get rid of the friction in the customer experience your brand delivers specifically for consumers from marginalized communities. As a result, your conversions will increase. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode

    125. How to increase conversions with an inclusive website and social media audit

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 15:16


    Most brands don't know how much they could improve their conversions by optimizing their website and social media to also work for consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities. Conducting a website and social media audit can highlight opportunities to deliver better experiences for all the customers you want to serve while improving your conversions. In this episode, I walk you through how to get started with a website and social media audit for your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode

    124. 3 Ways to deliver customer experiences that boost conversions

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 18:22


    The experiences you deliver play an important role in how well you do at converting people who are considering your brand. Far too often, brands deliver customer experiences that do not hit the mark for people from underrepresented and underserved communities. As a result, conversion rates for people in those communities suffer, as they go off in search of another brand that does a better job at meeting their needs. In this episode, I walk you through 3 ways you can increase conversions for your brand overall, by doing a better job of serving people from underrepresented and underserved communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode

    123. A framework for an inclusive SEO strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 22:25


    SEO is a common strategy marketers use to attract a broader customer base. However, most SEO strategies do not effectively serve the needs of consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities. And as a result, SEO doesn't often work so well as a customer acquisition strategy for diverse consumers. But with an inclusive SEO strategy, SEO can effectively serve as a smart customer acquistion strategy for people from underrepresented and underserved communities. In this episode, I walk you through my framework for an inclusive SEO strategy that will help you attract and retain a bigger, more diverse, and loyal customer base. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Links and visuals mentioned in this episode

    122. How Michael Graves Design & Pottery Barn Are Working to Bring Accessible Home Design to More Consumers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 35:16


    It is increasingly becoming more important for brands to consider the physical needs of consumers. Sixteen percent of the world's population has some form of disability. This often doesn't include people who have temporary or situational disabilities. Another growing sector of the population where accessibility considerations are growing in prominence is the aging population. Baby Boomers make up 21% of the population in the U.S., with the youngest of this generation beginning to enter their sixties.  Recognizing the unmet need, Michael Graves Design, known as the most accessible design brand, has teamed up with furniture retailer to release the Michael Graves Design for Pottery Barn collection. In this episode, I sat down with Ben Wintner, CEO of Michael Graves Design to learn more about their approach to creating products that work for a broader group of consumers, as well as about the partnership with Pottery Barn. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    121. How to write inclusive prompts for biased AI tools with Chi Odogwu

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 27:58


    AI has a lot of biases in it. We know this, simply by considering the sources of the training data used. But knowing that AI have bias doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't use them in your marketing. Rather, it just means it is important to know the types of prompts to give your AI tools, to help root out the bias to create something that would be beneficial for the diverse group of consumers you want to reach. In this episode, I sat down with Chi Odogwu, an AI Operations Strategist. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 95: Navigating the effective use of AI for inclusive marketing with Joyann Boyce Chi Odogwu on LinkedIn Chi's website

    120. How to use data to deliver customer experiences that convert with Jess Cervellon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 31:49


    Customer experience is an integral part of ensuring that the people you serve feel like they belong with you. But knowing what actually creates a better customer experience can often feel like a guessing game. That's why using data as a marker to help you identify what works and what doesn't is a smart approach. In this episode, I sat down with Jess Cervellon, founder of Open Late Collective, a consultancy focused on brand strategy, retention and lifecycle marketing, and customer experience. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

    119. How to build an SEO strategy that reaches a broader diversity of consumers with Dale Bertrand

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 31:23


    Search engine optimization (SEO) is a common strategy brands use to attract their ideal customers. But a lot of times when engaging in SEO, marketers don't take the time to think through the different identities of the people they want to reach. And as a result, the brand loses out on a lot of their would be customers, because they didn't take a more inclusive approach to their SEO strategy. In this episode, I sat down with Dale Bertrand, Founder and CEO of Fire & Spark, an SEO agency to chat more about smart ways brands can be more inclusive with their SEO strategies. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Fire & Spark SEO agency Dale Bertrand on LinkedIn

    118. The right (and wrong) way to use pop culture references for your brand

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 13:48


    Many brands use pop culture brands in their messaging and content. It is a way for brands to relate to consumers and connect to them at a more emotional level that goes beyond a product offering. But there are definitely times where brands should not be using pop culture references, because it has the opposite of the intended impact by pushing some of your ideal customers away from you. This episode walks through 3 reasons why you should reconsider using pop culture references for your brand, and how to ensure any references you do use draw more of the people you want to serve to you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals mentioned in this episode

    117. Power dynamics in brand imagery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 14:11


    Brands hold a lot of power. The imagery brands choose to use communicates in ways that influence consumers more than they realize. Brand imagery not only plays a role in how people view others but also in how they view themselves. Multiple factors play into the subconscious messages brand imagery communicates to consumers, including power dynamics. This episode highlights for marketers the vital role they have in choosing visual imagery for their brand, and gives critical guidelines for how to represent people in a manner that produces positive outcomes. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Visuals mentioned in the episode Understanding Photojournalism Work With Me: Inclusive Marketing Brand Audits: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/assessments/ Consulting & Custom Training: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/consulting/

    116. How to authentically engage Hispanic consumers with Federico Gagliardone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 40:14


    When you look at the ethnic group that is the largest in the U.S., by far, it is the Hispanic population. As of the 2020 Census, 18% of the population was of Hispanic/Latino descent. And this number is growing. Another analysis from the U.S. Census showed that 1 in 4 children in the U.S. are Latino. As a brand, particularly if you are marketing to consumers in the U.S., know that having a sound understanding of how to market to the Latino population is increasingly becoming more important. To help you navigate how to market to this growing customer base, I sat down with Federico Gagliardone, COO at MECENAS, a minority-owned publishing and full-stack media company that connects brands with U.S. Hispanic and multicultural communities. And if you're not in the U.S. or not marketing to consumers in the U.S., this episode is still totally worth the listen, because many of the principles are applicable to underrepresented and underserved communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter MECENAS WeAreCocina.com StarPicks

    115. How to create a brand customers love with Lydia Michael

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 28:14


    I spend a lot of time talking about belonging and how important it is for you as a brand to ensure you're making the people you serve feel like they belong with you. But how do you go about doing that exactly? My guest today, Lydia Michael, author of Brand Love, has ideas for you. Lydia has created a framework for you that will not only help more people love your brand, but feel like they belong with you in the process. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Lydia's book - Brand Love Lydia's consulting agency - Blended Collective

    114. What is "normal" anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 21:51


    People from underrepresented and underserved communities are often viewed as not being "normal" or very different from everyone else -- which is why the don't get the attention and support they should. But what does it mean to be "normal"? Who gets to decide what "normal" is? And is "normal" even a real thing, or is it a construct we should all reject? I cover all these important questions, and ways to think about it for your brand in today's episode. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter The Canary Code book Unilever ditches the world "normal" Inclusive marketing ethics Inclusive marketing spectrum

    113. How Lysol drives brand growth with inclusive marketing with CMO Gary Osifchin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 23:23


    Recently, rankings for the Most Culturally Inclusive Brands were announced. The rankings come from the Association for National Advertisers' (ANA) Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), in partnership with the Cultural Inclusion Accelerator (CIA). For the second year in a row, the Lysol brand has been awarded “Best in Ad Effectiveness” by more than 80,000 consumers with a broad diversity of identities. I wanted to find more about Lysol's approach to inclusive marketing, and how they've gone about becoming so effective in their efforts. So I sat down with Gary Osifchin, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and General Manager at Reckitt U.S. Hygiene, the makers of Lysol. Gary had a TON to share, and there's a lot to learn from he and the team's approach. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Lysol

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