Socially Unacceptable

A hundred stories in, and the sharpest truths are hiding inside the worst moments. We mark our rather large milestone with a definitive countdown of six unforgettable marketing screw-ups.From an automation update that unleashed 450,000 emails on VIPs in under an hour to a six-figure exhibition stand misspelling “software,” we explore what really fails in campaigns: governance, proofing, and the quiet processes no one posts on LinkedIn.We also pull back the curtain on the risks of live media. PR veteran Greg Matusky relives a national TV interview that swerved into “walking away from the devil,” then explains why controlled transparency can neutralise future scandal. Then there's the money. Futurist Tom Goodwin breaks down a £15m launch that drove 37 downloads, a painful lesson in TAM realism, conversion friction and the false comfort of a spreadsheet. We talk common-sense planning, incrementality testing, and why some search spend is just paying for credit you didn't earn. Topping the list is a war-zone media scrum where a shaved head and a beard still added up to “David Cameron.” What followed was a masterclass in crisis poise: clear lines, steady voice, and a quick call under impossible pressure.If our top six resonate, follow the show, share it with a teammate who's firefighting this week, and leave us a review with the lesson you'll apply first.And if you've got a mistake worth learning from, email podcast@prohibitionpr.co.uk, we always love to hear them. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Let me introduce you to Ann Wright, a journalist, BBC producer and PRCA-approved media trainer with years of experience behind some of the UK's biggest live events and investigations. She's had an impressive career, but not without a few wild turns and difficult lessons along the way.While working on "UK's Worst Hair Disasters", Ann went undercover at a Norfolk salon with secret cameras to expose their terrible braiding service. What she uncovered was shocking: staff openly smoking marijuana and drinking whisky while working.• She spent eight hours in the salon chair receiving ginger-coloured braids for her brown hair • The stylists ran out of hair during the process and had to send someone to another salon to get more • Extensions were sealed with cigarette lighters instead of proper tools • She developed painful blisters from the poorly installed braids • She had to sleep with the extensions in overnight before having them professionally assessed • The salon eventually shut down after the investigation airedAnother mistake in her career came when she agreed to a Huffington Post interview about producing royal weddings for the BBC without getting the proper approval. The article was never published, but BBC management were furious. That decision effectively ended her working relationship with them for good.Ann's story is one of bold journalism, unforgettable undercover work and the reality that even experienced professionals can find themselves in difficult situations. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

In this episode, we're joined by Rachel Massey, Director of Marketing at Huthwaite International. She talks us through one of the most stressful moments of her career and what it was like to deal with it in real time.We dig into a cringe-worthy marketing mistake involving a high-profile exhibition stand with "sofware" misspelled across the entire structure, leading to three days of anxiety while hiding the error from company executives and thousands of visitors.• Six-figure exhibition stand at Excel London featured a prominent spelling mistake that went unnoticed by everyone except a competitor • Decision to avoid drawing attention to the typo rather than attempting a last-minute correction • Psychological impact of spending three full days at an exhibition expecting to be called out at any moment • Revelation that many people don't notice spelling errors in familiar words because our brains fill in what we expect to see • Additional stories of marketing mishaps including press release errors and mass mailings with embarrassing typos • The universal experience of having to sometimes employ the "ostrich approach" when mistakes can't be fixed Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

She went globally viral. Overnight, she faced death threats, abuse and media frenzy reaching across continents. This is the story of how PRCA CEO Sarah Waddington rebuilt, refocused and reshaped the PR industry in the middle of chaos.In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Sarah Waddington CBE breaks down the viral moment that changed her life, the hidden pressures of PR leadership and the uncomfortable truths about misinformation, trolls and industry standards.We cover her journey into strategic advisory, the fight against fake experts, the realities of agency life in a tough economy and the role PR must play in repairing a fractured society.Whether you're a PR leader, agency founder or senior marketer, this is essential listening. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Katie Tucker is a marketing strategist who helps teams truly understand their customers so they can build products that sell. She works with companies of all sizes, offering practical support, training, and discovery sprints that cut through the noise and get results.But even she's made the kind of mistake she warns others about. Despite her expertise in customer discovery, she once created a family travel course without doing proper market research, assuming her personal experience and enthusiasm would be enough. It wasn't. The course never launched, and COVID-19 ended up saving her from what would have been a costly flop. It was a sharp reminder that even seasoned pros can forget the basics when emotion gets in the way of evidence.• Built a social media following while on a family gap year travel adventure• Created a comprehensive course teaching others how to travel with children• Secured prominent media coverage in The Times with a link to the course• Made the classic mistake of only getting feedback from friends and family• Felt immense pressure for the venture to succeed after quitting a regular job• COVID-19 halted all travel plans, inadvertently preventing a potential business failure• Learned that professional expertise doesn't make you immune to marketing blind spots Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Chris Norton and Will Ockenden of Prohibition PR unpack what modern media interviews really feel like for leaders today. They move past the old PR textbook and talk frankly about hot mic blunders, off‑record comments that never stayed off the record and the way journalists now hunt for viral moments. Their stories make the risks feel real, but the tone stays grounded rather than dramatic.Let them take you through a practical approach to landing messages with confidence in a digital‑first environment. Chris and Will explain how to prepare properly, handle awkward questions and speak with the kind of clarity that holds up on camera. The advice is direct, usable and built for anyone who represents a brand when the stakes are high and the margin for error is tiny. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Rich Mullholland, Founder of Missing Link and a presentation company leader, shares how his eloquence led to convincing himself of incorrect strategies that nearly cost him their business after the pandemic. His decision to permanently close their unique office space following initial online success eliminated their word-of-mouth marketing engine and created significant challenges.• Being skilled at persuasion can lead to convincing yourself of incorrect ideas• During lockdown, the presentation company initially went to zero revenue• By August, they achieved their best month in 18 months with no live events• September became their best month in 24 years as presenters needed online training• They permanently closed their unique office with distinctive features• The office closure unknowingly destroyed their word-of-mouth marketing engine• Staff became distributed across multiple locations, making office reopening difficult• By the time they realised the mistake, they lacked the resources to create a new remarkable space• The experience taught them about the importance of recognising when a pivot is just a "swinging door" Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

A brilliant strategy doesn't fail because it's wrong. It fails because people don't own it and leaders won't focus. That's the energising premise of our conversation with Faris Aranki, founder of Shear Ghetto Consulting and former McKinsey advisor, who breaks down why IQ without EQ and FQ leaves great plans to die at sign‑off.We unpack Faris's simple but powerful multiplier: IQ × EQ × FQ. IQ is the sharp idea. EQ is your ability to read the room, adapt your message, and turn passive stakeholders into active owners. FQ is focused prioritisation that protects momentum when the calendar floods and politics bite. Faris shares the story of opening a C‑suite presentation with jokes, losing credibility in seconds, and the rewiring that followed. From auditing talk‑time to flipping monologues into questions, he shows how to win trust by designing for receive, not broadcast.The episode gets practical fast. Learn how to personalise the same strategy for a CFO's numbers lens and a CMO's vision lens. Steal the “five degrees askew” technique to make leaders touch the plan so they claim it. See how Faris turns 200 pet projects into Pokémon‑style cards and uses gameplay to help boards cut down to the vital few. We explore ethical influence, feedback that lands, and why live conversations beat email chains for unblocking gnarly problems. On focus, we separate disciplined pivots from magpie syndrome and explain how compounding assets outperform constant novelty, especially in brand‑building and marketing.If you've ever watched a good idea stall in the boardroom, this is a field guide to making strategy stick. Subscribe for more candid lessons from the front lines of marketing and leadership, share this episode with a colleague who needs sharper buy‑in, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Melanie Parker, a university recruitment professional, shares a hilarious mishap when student hospitality staff abandoned their posts at a high-profile university event to get drunk behind a skip. Eight students helping themselves to champagne and wine during a Vice-Chancellor's gathering led to a mortifying call from security and a scramble to manage the fallout.• Worked at Leeds Becker University running a recruitment business placing hospitality students as event staff• Students were supposed to be catering and waitressing at an important gathering with the Vice-Chancellor• The student workers played "mind sweeping" (collecting drinks) "at a whole new level"• Security called to report that eight students were "mortal" (hammered) behind a skip surrounded by empty bottles• Had to pick each student up and remind them they were representing the university• Managed to handle the situation without the Vice-Chancellor finding out• Reflects that while mortifying, it wasn't as bad as it could have been if it had happened with external clients Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

What does it take to turn a simple hashtag into a thriving community of 15,000 marketing and comms professionals? In this episode, Chris Norton sits down with Asif Choudry, founder of Comms Hero, to unpack the journey from a one-off event in Manchester to a nationwide movement. They dive into the early days of superhero-themed conferences, the backlash that almost derailed everything, and why treating a community as a long-term commitment, not a short-term campaign, is the secret to success.Expect candid stories about embracing marketing mistakes, surviving Twitter trolls, and why authenticity matters more than perfection. From handwritten notes that sparked viral moments to the philosophy behind “Dare to Fail,” this conversation is packed with insights for anyone building a brand, running events, or navigating the ever-changing world of social media. If you've ever wondered how to create real connections in a digital age, this episode is for you. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Ken Robertson, Paddy Power's former Head of Mischief, was given one job: grab attention by any means necessary. Known for outrageous campaigns and a flair for chaos, he built a career out of toeing the line. But one particular stunt, his most ambitious yet, pushed things further than even he expected.It all began when Ken Robertson staged a marketing stunt at the Vatican. He had Paddy Power set up betting odds at St Peter's Square during the 2007 papal conclave, which earned hourly coverage on Sky News. When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2014, he returned to the scene with a new and provocative promotion: “Money Back if the Pope is Black.”Then came the curveball.When Dennis Rodman announced a visit to North Korea with the Harlem Globetrotters, Ken saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to blend spectacle with scandal. He arranged for Paddy Power to sponsor a basketball match between the United States and North Korea, set to coincide with Kim Jong-un's 30th birthday.What followed was a diplomatic headache.• Kim Jong-un's regime carried out a brutal government purge just weeks before the event • The stunt drew scrutiny from institutional investors and even the United Nations • Paddy Power was forced to pull out at the last minute • The match went ahead without branding, and surprisingly, may have contributed to the eventual release of American prisoners • The campaign drew inspiration from the “ping pong diplomacy” that once thawed tensions between the United States and ChinaWhat started as a cheeky Vatican stunt nearly became an international crisis. This is the story of how Ken Robertson's wildest idea flirted with disaster and might have done some unexpected good. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Ever sunk thousands into SEO with zero return? Or been ghosted after a pitch you poured your soul into? In this episode, LinkedIn Top Voice and sales trainer Niraj Kapur joins Chris Norton to unpack the brutal truths of modern selling. From reducing ghosting and building trust on LinkedIn to coping with rejection and learning from failure, this conversation is packed with practical advice and raw honesty.Niraj shares his journey from starting in sales with nothing to becoming a TEDx speaker and bestselling author, plus the painful lessons learned along the way. If you want to stand out in an AI-driven world, sell without sounding desperate, and avoid costly mistakes, this episode is your playbook. Tune in for strategies, stories, and a reminder that being human is still the ultimate competitive edge. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Former marketing manager at Prolific North, Natalie Davidson, once accidentally invited 100 people to the wrong day of an event due to a rogue automatic reminder. She discovered the mistake while in the middle of briefing a speaker and was unable to access her laptop for an hour, causing major stress. Miraculously, no one showed up early. Either attendees remembered the correct date or no one had read the email. I did my best to reassure her it was probably the former.In this episode, we explore professional mistakes and failures that marketing professionals can learn from, offering listeners real-world examples of blunders and recoveries. Natalie shares two honest and revealing stories from her career in events management, showing how even the most organised professionals can make serious errors and still recover with integrity and resilience.• Forgetting to book an afternoon session for 30 people during a nationwide roadshow of events• Successfully recovering from the booking error by being honest with the venue and leveraging a good professional relationship• Setting up automatic event reminders for the wrong day, sending incorrect information to around 100 attendees• Managing crisis situations while actively engaged in other critical tasks• Finding humor in professional mistakes and using them as learning opportunities Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Mark Terry Lush spent thirty years chasing every opportunity. Big brands, wild projects, new cultures, he said yes to them all. The problem was that adaptability started to feel like progress, and it cost him focus on his own brand.In this episode, Mark shares what he learned from building everyone else's success while neglecting his own. We talk about why versatility without direction can derail your career, how brands fall into the sea of sameness, and why personality matters more than features.He also tells a flying story that will make you rethink risk and resilience. If you've ever felt like you're busy but not moving forward, this conversation will help you find clarity and build something that lasts. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

Writer and freelance marketing expert Sarah Townsend joined the show on episode 43; she shared a set of moments from her career that are equal parts chaotic and unforgettable She talks about shouting “Look, a heron!” in the middle of a live training session and leaving her suitcase on the wrong train while travelling to a major conference. The most painful moment arrives when she reveals the mistake that cost her twenty thousand pounds after forgetting to invoice a client for ten full months. Sarah explains how ADHD influenced many of these chaotic moments and reflects on what each incident taught her about staying organised, keeping communication clear, and maintaining reliable systems. If you have ever felt embarrassed by an oversight or worried that you are the only one dropping the ball, this episode shows that every marketer makes mistakes and that each fail comes with a valuable lesson. Click on the link to listen to the full episode 43:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206375/episodes/15707196 Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:

A single missing gesture can set the internet alight. We open up about a day when Royal Mail faced a fast-moving backlash over Paralympics stamps and how a quiet policy gap looked like a loud value judgment on social media. From the first surge of tweets to the uncomfortable hours stuck in monitoring mode, we walk through what happens when your team lacks the tools, approvals, and scripts to respond at the speed of the timeline.You'll hear how the narrative formed in real time: honour given to Olympians, absence for Paralympians, and a rush of anger that framed the issue as dignity denied. We unpack why silence isn't neutral, why a clear holding statement can stabilise a story, and how early Twitter's velocity made every minute count. Along the way, we get practical about social listening, crisis playbooks, and the small operational choices, like pre-approved templates and escalation paths that create big advantages when things go sideways.We also talk about brand symbolism and equity. Commemorative stamps seem simple, but they carry cultural weight, and unequal treatment reads as exclusion. That's why policy stress testing matters: diverse eyes, scenario planning, and checks for unintentional bias before a campaign goes live. If you work in comms, marketing, or customer care, you'll find clear takeaways you can implement today: set up the tech stack, define who can speak when, rehearse the response flow, and protect your team with debriefs that turn chaos into learning.If this conversation helps sharpen your crisis plan, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review telling us the one change you'll make this week. Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

When Lisa, co-founder of Common People and strategist at Wavemaker Manchester, accidentally misbooked an out-of-home campaign linked to a BBC event, it was more than an embarrassing blunder back in episode 41.It became the moment she started questioning who really gets to thrive in advertising and media. In this episode, Lisa recounts that campaign mishap, a chaotic run of travel mix-ups, a painful pitch-room tumble, and the day she ended up crying at her desk. She then connects those experiences to a bigger issue: how class, confidence and unspoken office rules quietly shut working-class people out of the industry. Lisa shares practical ideas for change, from dropping unnecessary degree requirements and paying real living wages to simplifying recruitment tasks and making workplace norms explicit. This is a candid, funny and insightful conversation for marketers who want more relatable teams, smarter campaigns and fewer people feeling like they don't belong.Click here to listen to the full episode 41. Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What happens when you drop £30,000 on an influencer and the sign-ups never show?In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Andy Lambert, co-founder of ContentCal, author of Spheres of Influence and now Principal Manager of Product at Adobe Express, unpacks two costly growth errors: overinvesting in performance ads and running a transactional influencer campaign that barely moved the needle.Andy explains why demand capture can look like growth until it suddenly stops, and how “pilot” influencer tests often fail because trust is not built in a week. He shares the practical reset that followed: tighter audience focus, creators who genuinely use the product, stronger community signals, and personality-led brand building that supports revenue over time.If your paid media efficiency is slipping, your influencer spend feels underwhelming, or you are trying to rebalance brand and demand, this episode will help you avoid the same expensive mistakes.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

When Director of Thinking and Creative PR Specialist Peter Freedman joined us for this episode 39, he unpacked the unusual marketing mistake he made while working with Craigslist.Tasked with satirising the rise of in-your-face shirt sponsorships, Peter sponsored a women's football team in Battersea Park and put them in full advertising sandwich boards. The stunt was pretty clever, photogenic and completely impractical, yet it barely registered with any journalists.One even called it the most peculiar idea they had ever seen. Peter explains why the campaign fell flat, how it was simply too weird and not familiar enough, and what he learned from books like The Creative Curve and Contagious about the sweet spot between novelty and recognition. Marketers will hear a candid breakdown of why some ideas stay niche, why moderate innovation works better than pure shock value, and how to judge whether your next PR concept is different in the right way. Click on the link to listen to the full episode:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206375/episodes/15568830 Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Ken Hughes spent 15 years chasing NPS scores, loyalty points and dashboards, only to realise his “loyal customers” were simply trapped by discounts and habit. Then he ignored two clear warning signs on his own roof, fell 30 feet and shattered 26 bones. That moment forced him to reconsider risk, fear and what real loyalty means for modern brands. In this episode, Ken explains why many brands confuse transactions with true connection, how data worship blinds marketers, and why emotion, humour and intimacy are now non-negotiable. He also shares how agentic AI will change buying decisions and what brands must do to stay in their customers' heart space. If you are under pressure to prove ROI on every campaign yet still worry your brand is forgettable, this conversation will challenge how you think about loyalty.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

As Creative Marketer Anil Manji joined the show, he reflected on an early-career incident that continues to guide his thinking today. We take you into this segment of episode 40, inside a haircare TV ad that reused legacy footage, layered on a week of pricey CGI to turn shampoo into conditioner, and accidentally created a texture that read like something no brand wants on primetime. The client's blunt feedback changed everything, and once we heard it, we couldn't unsee it either.We break down how efficient asset reuse can backfire when context and semiotics are ignored, why fluid simulations demand more than photorealism, and how a single freeze-frame can become meme fuel. From the first treatment to the final cut, we map the decisions that led us there: close-up hair shots, a convincing squeeze-to-palm animation, and the overlooked risk in colour, opacity, and flow. Then we show the fix that is warmer tones, micro-bubbles, altered angles, and strand separation which pulled the work back into brand-safe territory without losing impact.This conversation goes beyond one mishap. We talk perception checks, diverse feedback loops, and how to design review gates that ask, “What could this be mistaken for?” We dig into sunk-cost bias during CGI iterations, how to use cold reads at key milestones, and why creative teams should plan for what social media might clip and share. If you work in advertising, brand management, or production, you'll get practical steps to reduce risk while keeping speed: better briefs for reused footage, early semiotic audits, and a culture where someone can say the awkward truth sooner.If this story helped sharpen your creative process, follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a quick review telling us your most unforgettable client note.Click on this link to the full episode 40:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206375/episodes/15606126 Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

This week on Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Chris Norton is joined by Chris Attewell, former CEO of Search Laboratory and now board advisor at Realise Advisory, to explore how AI is changing the future of SEO. Chris revisits his early years in digital marketing and explains how Search Laboratory moved from PPC into SEO, digital PR and integrated search. He breaks down how Google, Bing and ChatGPT are reshaping user behaviour, why brand authority now matters more than ever, and how AI overviews and multi platform search are shifting the mechanics of visibility. Together they unpack the North Star trap, where teams chase a perfect strategy instead of delivering value in stages, and how marketers can link content, PR, social, brand and search without falling into silos. Whether you work in digital, PR or brand, this episode gives you clear insight into how AI is transforming search and what it means for your marketing in 2025.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

When Pinterest Strategist and Niche Marketing Expert Meagan Williamson joined the show for Episode 38, she opened up about a painful and expensive mistake that shaped the way she works today. Early in her business, she hired a Facebook ads expert to run paid traffic to a new funnel that had never been tested organically. Over a 90-day period she spent more than twenty-five thousand dollars on ad spend and fees with almost nothing to show for it. The only purchase was a sixty-seven-dollar sale that ended in a refund four days later. The experience was embarrassing for Meagan, but it completely changed the way she evaluates contractors, tests funnels, and teaches clients about paid traffic. In this episode she shares the red flags she ignored, the questions she now asks before outsourcing, and the lessons every marketer should take from her story. Click on this link to the full episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206375/episodes/15532735 Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Marshall Manson is the CEO of Fleishman Hillard and a communications strategist with deep experience in both brand marketing and corporate reputation. In 2006, while working at Edelman, he played a central role in the infamous "Walmarting Across America" campaign, an early and much criticised attempt at influencer marketing that quickly unravelled due to a lack of transparency. Marshall joins us to reflect openly on what went wrong, what he learned, and why the lessons from that experience still matter today. The 2006 "Walmarting Across America" PR scandal offers valuable lessons about transparency and ethics that remain relevant in today's influencer marketing landscape. This storytelling deep-dive reveals how a promising campaign featuring anonymous bloggers in Walmart-branded RVs unraveled when they refused to identify themselves to a journalist, leading to front-page coverage in major newspapers.• Campaign concept: Bloggers would travel in Walmart-branded RVs, staying in store parking lots and documenting their experiences• Critical mistake: Allowing bloggers to remain anonymous despite red flags• Campaign built momentum that made it difficult to cancel despite ethical concerns• Media coverage quickly turned from positive to highly critical• Leadership response from Richard Edelman emphasized learning from mistakes rather than scapegoating• Importance of transparency in sponsored content remains a crucial lesson for modern influencer campaigns• Setting high ethical standards when operating in uncharted territory Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

A single soft line on The Body Shop catalogue haunted copywriter Vikki Ross for six months. Years later, another forgettable line slipped through and ended up across London on billboards. In this episode, I talk to Vikki about how those moments changed the way she presents copy and how she helps clients avoid drifting into the dull middle.We get into why stakeholders so often choose the safest option, how she now protects the creative process, and what it really takes to build a brand voice for Sky, Virgin, Expedia, Jaguar Land Rover and Formula E. Vikki also opens up about imposter syndrome, the reality of AI in copywriting, and the pressure that comes with presenting work to a room full of decision makers.If you have ever watched your best idea, get watered down in a meeting, this episode is going to hit home. Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Christopher McKay, Head of Brand Engagement at Hillarys shares his career-defining failure when working at Ministry of Sound, revealing how a creative idea bombed due to lack of audience research and testing.• Started career in journalism before moving to PR at CalPR in Leeds• Moved to Ministry of Sound in London• Created "French Lessons with Bob" featuring DJ Bob Sinclair teaching French phrases• Campaign received only 50 likes compared to the usual 800-1,000 engagement• After two failed posts, had to cancel the planned 10-part series• Learned a valuable lesson about using data and insights before creative brainstorming• Key takeaway: Test before investing significant resources into a campaign Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What if the key to leading brilliant brand teams was already wired into your brain? Claire Koryczan, founder of Imagine Beyond, has helped FTSE 100 brands and creative agencies unlock smarter ways to lead, create and think. In this episode, she shares how neuroscience shapes everything from energy in meetings to decision-making under pressure. Expect practical tips, brain-friendly habits, and a few stories from the front lines of brand leadership.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Marketing mishaps from major brands reveal the critical importance of PR coordination with marketing efforts and careful forward planning to prevent campaign disasters. • Zara's campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs was filmed before the Israel-Palestine conflict but released during war coverage, resulting in widespread criticism• Negative sentiment towards Zara surged from 13% to 76.4% following the incident• Nike initially refused to sell Mary Earps' England goalkeeper kit despite her popularity• After public outcry and a petition with 150,000 signatures, Nike reversed course and the kit sold out immediately• Bud Light's partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney faced transphobic backlash• The company's vague response failed to support Mulvaney, alienating both conservative customers and the LGBTQ+ community• Bud Light suffered a 15% drop in revenue and lost its position as America's top-selling beer Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

 What happens when you leave a top PR agency to launch your own business, only for the world to shut down weeks later? Darryl Sparey, co-founder of Hard Numbers and former Hotwire leader, shares how he built an agency focused on proving marketing impact through data. In this episode, Darryl explains how marketers can move beyond vanity metrics and start connecting PR and SEO performance to measurable ROI.You'll learn why access to GA4, Looker Studio, Search Console and CRM data changes everything, and how brands like Reddit, The FT and the BBC are shaping authority in the age of ChatGPT and Gemini. We also unpack what generative engine optimisation means for the future of earned media and how to future-proof your marketing results in 2026. If you care about clear metrics, credible reporting and meaningful outcomes, this conversation is for you.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Sam Benton, co-founder of Mad Masters, shares a career-shaping error many ambitious marketers will recognise: believing you know it all and avoiding help until reality proves otherwise. He explains why pricing is a feeling, not a number, how KFC's box-meal flop only succeeded after they doubled the price, and the pitch-room mistake where an Experian logo appeared in an Expedia meeting but still led to a client win. Sam explores herd effects, talk-trigger moments like hotel cookies, and the idea of “reverse benchmarking” to turn competitor weaknesses into creative strengths. You'll learn how to build a culture that encourages risk-taking, use the SCARF model to motivate teams, and reframe pricing without relying on discounts. This episode is a reminder that the smartest marketers fail first, learn fast, and stand out by thinking differently.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Today we speak with Greg Matusky, CEO & Founder, Gregory FCA Public Relations. He talks about being a young PR professional. We learn how Auntie Anne Beiler, founder of the famous pretzel franchise, brilliantly managed a potential scandal by revealing her own past mistakes before they could be used against her.• Auntie Anne grew up connected to the Amish community in Pennsylvania• Her hand-rolled soft pretzel recipe allegedly came through divine inspiration, creating a wholesome origin story• Secured an appearance on The 700 Club with Pat Robertson to share her story• Unexpectedly revealed a scandalous past involving an affair with a pastor and church fraud• Strategically shared her dark past publicly so it couldn't be weaponised against her later• Demonstrated the PR principle that "if you put bad news out, it can never be used against you"• The business now has approximately 1,200 franchises globally Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

When Google rolled out AI Overviews, Prohibition PR's founder Chris Norton and co-owner Will watched something shocking: their clients' sites still ranked high, but traffic plummeted overnight. The cause? AI summaries stealing clicks before users ever reached their pages. In this episode, Chris and Will reveal how a 50% traffic crash exposed the myth that “rankings = revenue,” and how they pivoted to GEO, meaning Generative Engine Optimization. From an awkward AI hallucination that invented a fake client to the discovery that authority beats keyword every time, they share the playbook that rebuilt visibility and leads. Learn how to make your brand the cited source inside AI answers, not the forgotten footnote. This is the new marketing reality: adapt your SEO to AI or risk disappearing entirely.  Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

We explore marketing mishaps and professional blunders that offer valuable life lessons with a bit of humour. Our guest today is Gerry White, SEO, Growth and Product Led Marketing Expert he talks about costly decimal point errors right through to accidentally breaking the BBC homepage himself.• How a decimal point error (£50 instead of 50p) in a pay-per-click campaign led to dismissal• Setting a lifetime budget as a daily budget over a weekend – and how the client actually loved the results• Accidentally publishing Doctor Who fan fiction articles on a government website• An intern documenting her drunken weekend on a client's Instagram account• Breaking the BBC homepage and discovering the mysterious "burning clown" test card• The evolution of digital content from early BBC webpages to modern platforms Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What do you do when your big pitch idea quite literally vanishes in front of the client? For James Tomlinson, it involved a magician, a torn-up Financial Times, and the most awkward silence of his career.In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, James reveals the pitch fails that taught him more than any win ever could from sanding a CEO's boardroom table to dealing with AI-written briefs that make no sense. With two decades in agency leadership, he now helps brands and agencies avoid the same time-wasting, budget-draining mistakes.Expect brutal honesty, plenty of laughs, and practical lessons on how to run pitches that actually work.

Andrew Bloch shares the challenging story of opening Frank PR's New York office after successful expansion to Manchester, Glasgow, and Sydney. What started as a promising venture with moderate success ultimately became a significant business lesson about knowing when to walk away.• American business culture proved vastly different despite sharing the same language• US clients expected much larger account teams - one "small boutique agency" had 35 people on a single account• American executives would readily agree to meetings but rarely convert to business• US candidates interviewed exceptionally well regardless of actual skills or experience• Frank's disruptive UK approach didn't resonate with the more conservative US PR market• The New York office became a drain on the London headquarters despite being marginally profitable• Making the tough decision to close the office was painful but necessary• Sometimes acknowledging failure and moving on is the strongest business decision Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Forget chasing subscribers and viral videos. It's time to turn YouTube into a serious lead generation engine.In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, hosts Chris Norton and Will Ockenden sit down with David Greiner, co-founder of David & Luana Co., to explore how businesses can use YouTube not for vanity metrics, but as a predictable client acquisition channel.David shares the hard truths behind what most marketers get wrong on YouTube and why traditional engagement metrics likes, comments, and subscriber counts don't translate into real business results. He breaks down the psychology of trust, the data that drives conversions, and the simple automation systems that can cut your YouTube workflow from forty minutes to two.This episode is a masterclass in data-driven marketing and practical creativity. If you're a coach, consultant, or business owner tired of chasing empty views, this conversation will show you how to make YouTube work for your brand and your bottom line.Follow Embracing Marketing Mistakes for more insights from industry experts who turn marketing errors into opportunities for smarter growth. Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Marketing professionals aren't immune to making classic business mistakes, especially when personal projects cloud professional judgment. Our guest Katie Tucker, a Customer Insight Strategist, and Author of Do Penguins Eat Peaches, shares how her family gap year adventure led her to create a course without proper market validation, only to be unexpectedly saved by the COVID pandemic's timely intervention.World tour with family generated Instagram following and many questions about how to plan family gap yearsCreated a comprehensive course teaching practical and psychological preparation for family travelSecured impressive media coverage in The Times money sectionFailed to properly validate the business idea beyond supportive friends and familyCOVID pandemic intervened before full launch, preventing potential business failureWorking in market research didn't prevent making the same mistakes she warns clients aboutPersonal connection to the project made objective assessment more difficultSometimes you need to make mistakes to learn valuable business lessons Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Careers rarely implode on schedule, but what you do next can change everything. When Alice Ter Haar was demoted at Deliveroo, right as the rocket ship was taking off she refused to hide. Instead, she told the truth, turned a career low into an origin story, and built Badass Unicorn to help high-growth teams find confidence, resilience, and psychological safety without the buzzwords or the fluff.We dig into how to reframe shame into signal, why morale rises when people spend more time in their energising strengths, and how psychological safety unlocks better ideas, faster decisions, and real accountability. Alice breaks down imposter syndrome with disarming clarity, spotting the perfectionist and workaholic archetypes, reframing nerves as excitement, and giving your inner critic a name so you can thank it and then do the work anyway. Her BRAVE method makes resilience practical: protect the body, invest in relationships, acknowledge reality, venture into your circle of control, and be easier on yourself so you can try again sooner.Along the way, we talk leadership style and culture fit, the trap of the arrival fallacy, and the power of “wince-and-send” micro-actions that compound into a career you actually want. If you're building a high-growth team or navigating your own squiggly path, you'll leave with tools to boost morale, set fair expectations, and create the conditions where people speak up and do their best work. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs this, and leave a review to tell us which idea you'll try first. Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Shaheen Samavati, Co-founder and CEO of Vera Content, explores career mistakes through a cautionary tale of a webinar gone wrong during severe storms in Spain.

Think your LinkedIn profile is just a digital CV? Think again. In this eye‐opening conversation with Louise Brogan (Founder, Brogan Partners; LinkedIn: Louise Brogan Ltd. – Video Content Marketing) LinkedIn UK, author of Raise your Visibility on LinkedIn, we uncover the strategic approach that transformed her business from a failing craft shop to a thriving LinkedIn consultancy serving global clients.Louise breaks down her four‐stage system for LinkedIn success that goes far beyond basic profile tips. She explains why your headline should communicate value rather than just your job title, how your “About” section should focus on helping potential clients (not showcasing your achievements), and why the often‐overlooked “Featured” section might be your most powerful conversion tool.What's particularly fascinating is Louise's approach to networking and selling on the platform. Rather than connecting with everyone who sends a request, she maintains a carefully curated network of relevant contacts. “It's so much better to have a network of people who are interested in what you have to say,” she explains, comparing LinkedIn to an in-person industry conference where strategic connections and thoughtful conversations lead to business opportunities.Perhaps most surprising is Louise's revelation about YouTube's role in her business growth. With 110,000 subscribers watching her short, targeted LinkedIn tutorials, she's built a powerful lead generation engine that funnels prospects to her consulting services. “I have 3.3 million views on YouTube,” she shares, “and I have less than 16,000 followers on LinkedIn.”Whether you're a marketing professional looking to build thought leadership, a business owner seeking quality leads, or simply tired of getting spammy connection requests, Louise's practical advice will transform how you approach LinkedIn. Stop wasting time on random connections and irrelevant content – start treating LinkedIn as the powerful business development tool it can be.Ready to raise your visibility and start meaningful conversations that actually lead to business? This episode is your blueprint. Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

In this mini series where we take a look back to our guest's mistakes they have shared, we have Patrick Collister's marketing mistake.Everyone makes mistakes in their marketing careers, but few are willing to discuss them openly. In this refreshingly candid conversation, our guest reveals how a seemingly catastrophic career move - joining a French-owned direct marketing agency as creative director – became an unexpected turning point in their professional journey.The position seemed promising on paper, but reality proved harsh. Billed at £1,000 per hour, Patrick found themselves in the peculiar position of being too expensive for account directors to utilise in client meetings. "Not a single account director wanted me to go to a single meeting with their clients because I was going to massively damage their numbers," they explain. This structural dysfunction made success impossible, leading to termination after about a year – "a blessed relief to both parties."What makes this story compelling isn't the failure itself, but the unexpected benefits that followed. This career detour exposed our guest to direct marketing precisely as digital transformation was revolutionising the field, turning what was once dismissively called "folding shit" into the foundation of modern advertising. "If you haven't got a URL and if there isn't a whole series of consumer experiences that comes out of your communication, then you're a bloody idiot," our guest notes, highlighting how direct marketing principles have become fundamental to all effective advertising.You can listen to Patrick's full episode hereIs your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Alexandra Galviz, better known as Authentic Alex, is a LinkedIn Top Voice and the co-creator of the global LinkedIn Local movement. At just 24, she was leading training for 350 people across 21 offices, while secretly battling imposter syndrome, burnout and the pressure of living a life that didn't feel like her own. Her viral LinkedIn post about leaving the “pointy-top building by the river” marked the start of her mission to build a career rooted in authenticity.In this episode, Alexandra opens up about her biggest mistake: chasing prestige clients and big logos that looked impressive but conflicted with her values. She shares what happens when you choose status over alignment, and how that experience reshaped her approach to work, storytelling and leadership.Listeners will learn why emotion and relatability matter more than polish, how to use AI without losing your unique voice, and the principle of authentic storytelling that Alexandra refuses to compromise on. This is an honest conversation about success, failure and what it truly takes to build a personal brand that lasts. Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Tamsin Daniel, a senior marketing professional and Head of Marketing at Firetree Chocolate, shares her embarrassing culinary f*ck up while supporting celebrity chef Meena Patak during a cooking show filmed in India. What begins as an exciting opportunity quickly descends into chaos with illness and a fundamental misunderstanding about chickpeas.

Only 26 percent of B2B brands see real results from thought leadership, even though 80% are actively producing it. In this episode, we explore why most strategies are falling short in a time when trust in media and corporations is at just 33 per cent in the UK. The biggest missed opportunity is clear. Employee-shared content delivers 561% more reach, is reshared 24 times more often, and drives eight times more engagement than corporate channels.We share a practical roadmap for turning employees into influential voices. Learn how to create strong LinkedIn profiles, develop consistent content, and use nano-influencers to boost visibility without chasing massive audiences. We cover how to overcome executive resistance, measure success, and keep programs focused using a simple one-page strategy. You'll also hear how friendly internal competition can accelerate adoption and results. If your thought leadership isn't working, this episode shows how your people can turn it around. Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Wellness initiatives in the workplace often sound ideal, but what happens when they demand more than businesses can give? In this Campaign Crunch mini-episode, we're joined by guest Sadie Straw to unpack Joe Wicks' Movement Hour campaign, which encouraged employers to give staff an extra hour off each day for physical activity. Despite 10,000 companies applying for a personal visit from Wicks, only 600 committed to the pledge. We explore why this well-intentioned campaign struggled to gain traction and whether it asked too much, too soon.Sadie shares her insights on what could have made the campaign stronger, from better timing to a more realistic approach and stronger use of storytelling. She also shares a memorable marketing mistake of her own involving a very awkward email mix-up between two clients with the same name. It's a candid and insightful conversation about campaign ambition, real-world results, and the small errors that keep us humble.Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Back when Apple was rumoured to be about to launch the iPad, BBC presenter Spencer Kelly was already on air confidently predicting that the rumours were nonsense, because tablets were a stupid idea. Just six hours later, Steve Jobs proved him spectacularly wrong. In this episode, Spencer reflects on the mistake, the lessons it taught him about spotting genuine innovation, and why even the experts get it wrong.Spencer is no stranger to high stakes. As host of the BBC's Click for 20 years and 1,000 episodes, he introduced audiences worldwide to AI, virtual reality, and emerging tech before they became everyday conversation. His presenting skills and ability to turn complex ideas into stories people understand have made him a trusted voice in technology.We also dive into failed PR promises, a £2,000 drone crash, and what marketers can learn about separating hype from reality. Packed with insights and entertaining stories, this episode is a must for every marketer.Follow Spencer on LinkedIn here and X here. Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

For Sarah Clay, that nightmare became her big break. Pre-pandemic, she was running a social media agency for hospitality brands. Then lockdown hit, and in the space of a week her market evaporated.Instead of wallowing, she made a bold pivot into LinkedIn training. That's when she spotted the goldmine nobody was talking about: employee advocacy. Get your people talking about your brand on their own profiles, and you'll see up to 561% more engagement than a company page ever gets (LinkedIn's own stat, not mine).From ditching law school, to producing TV ads, to mastering LinkedIn, Sarah's career says one thing loud and clear: LinkedIn isn't social media, it's a networking machine. And if you're still treating it like Facebook in a suit, you're doing it wrong.Is this a smart move or a marketing mistake? Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

Tired of marketing campaigns that miss the mark? Richard Shotton, bestselling author of "The Choice Factory" and "The Illusion of Choice," reveals why understanding human psychology is the secret sauce behind effective marketing.The gap between what consumers say influences them and what actually drives their behavior creates a golden opportunity for marketers who master behavioral science principles. Shotton demystifies these concepts, proving they're not just for academics with psychology doctorates but practical tools any marketer can deploy immediately.Want to raise prices without losing customers? Frame increases as "pennies per day" rather than larger monthly sums and clearly explain your reasoning. Struggling with website conversions? Change "out of stock" to "sold out" for a 15% reduction in customer irritation. These small, cost-free interventions leverage how our brains actually work rather than how we think they work.The most overlooked principle, according to Shotton, is surprisingly simple: "make it easy." Both Nobel Prize winners Daniel Kahneman and Richard Thaler identify this as their single most important insight. Removing small friction points has an outsized effect on behavior change – something marketers consistently underestimate while overemphasizing motivation.Testing these principles is crucial, but Shotton warns against directly asking consumers if they'd be influenced. "People do not have full introspective insight into their own motivations," he explains. Instead, use monadic testing – showing different groups only one version of your messaging and measuring their responses. This oblique approach reveals the true impact of psychological nudges that consumers would otherwise deny affect them.Whether you're managing seven-figure campaigns or launching your first marketing efforts, these evidence-based techniques can dramatically improve results without increasing your budget. Listen now to unlock the behavioral science secrets behind the world's most successful brands – and learn how to apply them to your next campaign. Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What topic would you like us to cover next?Our host, Chris Norton, reveals his biggest career mistake when he joined a new PR agency as an account manager. What started as enthusiasm to impress his new employers quickly descended into a PR disaster when he prematurely distributed a press release about a new bar opening without client approval.• Background as a PR professional with experience in London before moving to Leeds• Eagerly took on a project for an alcohol brand launching a new bar• Misinterpreted "good to go" from London office as permission to distribute the press release• Sent the release to media outlets without client approval• Discovered his mistake when the story triggered local controversy on the evening news• Feared being fired on his first weekend in the new job"To everybody out there I apologise for sending a release out too early. I was just keen to get going, but luckily I survived and I'm here to do this podcast with you today."Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What topic would you like us to cover next?What does it take to market an iconic British agricultural product in today's digital world? Graham Clark, Director of Marketing at British Wool, pulls back the curtain on the fascinating journey of promoting this sustainable fiber to modern consumers.British Wool stands as the last remaining farmers' cooperative in the UK, representing approximately 30,000 sheep farmers across the nation. Unlike conventional businesses, this unique organization returns all profits directly to farmers, supporting rural communities while championing sustainability. Graham shares how they've navigated the complex challenge of communicating their distinctive identity to consumers who often don't understand the difference between "wool" and "British wool."The conversation takes us through British wool's remarkable versatility beyond just clothing. Did you know the iconic upholstery on London Underground seating is made from British wool in Yorkshire? Or that wool bedding naturally regulates your body temperature while you sleep? These practical applications highlight wool's superiority over synthetic alternatives, which Graham pointedly reminds us are essentially plastic.We explore how British Wool has built brand awareness through innovative campaigns, including collaborations with Love Island's Farmer Will and Shaun the Sheep. Their marketing strategy balances traditional channels like radio with contemporary digital approaches, resulting in measurable success brand recognition has increased 7% in recent years, with nearly a third of consumers now recognizing their iconic "crook mark" logo.The episode also delivers honest reflections on marketing mishaps, from printing 50,000 high-quality brochures with the wrong phone number to mail merge disasters that sent customers competitors' information. These candid stories remind us that even seasoned marketers make mistakes, it's how we respond and learn that matters.Listen now to discover how this legacy brand is fighting fast fashion while supporting local farmers. Whether you're a marketing professional seeking inspiration or simply curious about sustainable consumer choices, this episode offers valuable insights into how traditional industries can thrive in the modern marketplace.Subscribe today and join the conversation about bringing sustainability to the forefront of consumer consciousness! Is your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

What topic would you like us to cover next?Exploring professional mishaps in the world of media training, our guest expert media trainer, Guy Clapperton, shares candid stories from 20 years of journalism experience that reveal how technical difficulties, difficult clients, and embarrassing moments become valuable learning experiences.• A particularly memorable mishap involved conducting interviews from an unflattering camera angle focused on the "left man boob"• Managing difficult clients presents unique challenges, especially when company directors intimidate their staff during practice interviews• Clear expectations must be established before training begins to avoid conflict between stakeholders• The most challenging trainees are those who don't believe they need training and are just there to show off their existing abilitiesIs your marketing strategy ready for 2025? Book a free 15-min discovery call with Chris to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.