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Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We're breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob explore whether humor belongs in B2B advertising. They dig into new research that challenges the assumption that business buyers only respond to rational, no-nonsense messaging. Topics covered:[02:44] "To Humor or Not Humor: Buyers Evaluating the Effective Use of Humor in B2B Advertisements"[03:06] How often is humor used in B2B vs. B2C ads?[04:55] What four experiments with 305 B2B buyers revealed[05:45] Three conditions that determine when humor helps or hurts[06:47] Why humor is a door opener, not a deal closerTo learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast Resources: Swani, K., Gulas, C. S., & Dinsmore, J. (2025). To humor or not humor buyers? Evaluating the effective use of humor in B2B advertisements. Journal of Business Research, 200, 115632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115632 Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks down website anatomy, emphasizing that a "pretty" site is useless if it doesn't function technically. He explains the psychology of website navigation, detailing three types of scrolling: eye paths, scroll paths, and decision zones. Guest speakers advocate for starting with a simple, high-converting one-page website on platforms like Wix, rather than getting overwhelmed by complex builds. The conversation also covers the importance of proper logo linking, customized social media icons, and integrating live chat to reduce friction and boost sales.>>
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks down the anatomy of a business website. He explains that owning a domain, hosting, and a mailbox are just the starting points; maintaining a website is like maintaining a house. Favour details the risks of platform lock-in (like the migration challenges with Squarespace and Bluehost) and emphasizes the importance of a standalone FAQ page to boost search impressions. He provides a checklist for website owners, covering image compression, canonical tags, and critical integrations like Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.>>
As AI takes over more intelligence tasks in B2B marketing, the real competitive advantage is shifting to something deeply human: judgment. In this week's episode of the B2B Marketing Podcast, Richard O'Connor, CEO of B2B Marketing, is joined by two keynote speakers from our upcoming B2B Ignite conference: Fiona McKenzie, President Europe at Marketbridge, and Nick Mason, CEO of Turtl. Together, they explore the shift from a knowledge economy to a judgment economy, and what it means for B2B marketers. The conversation examines how AI can help teams execute at scale while elevating the importance of human qualities such as instinct, taste, and strategic decision-making across content, buying groups, and complex go-to-market motions. The discussion also tackles the realities of "perfect-fit" marketing, why attribution will never be an exact science (and why that's okay), and how CMOs can build the trust needed to secure investment in brand and thought leadership. If you're looking to take ownership of the growth agenda and thrive in what could be a golden age for B2B marketing, this episode offers a practical roadmap. B2B Ignite takes place on 1 July in London. Listeners to the podcast can save 20% on their ticket to B2B Ignite 2026 – simply enter the discount code PODCAST when prompted at check out.https://events.b2bmarketing.net/b2bignite
On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, I'm joined by Jada Balster, CMO at Perk.Jada is a B2B marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience across companies including Epicor, S&P Global, and Adobe. Today she leads marketing at Perk, the all-in-one travel and spend management platform formerly known as TravelPerk.In this conversation, we explore how B2B marketing has evolved from a demand generation discipline into a brand-building function, and why Perk recently embarked on its biggest ever marketing investment through a company-wide rebrand. We discuss the role sport can play in accelerating brand growth, including why Perk selected the Audi Revolut Formula One team as its first major sports partnership, and how the company plans to stand out as Formula One continues to get noisier for incoming brands.Timestamps02:00 - Jada's Career Journey04:00 - TravelPerk Becomes Perk06:00 - Rebrand Rollout and Metrics10:00 - Why Sport and F1 Fit15:00 - Choosing the Audi Partnership24:00 - Integration Beyond the Logo27:00 - Activating Across Channels34:00 - What's Next for Perk
Marketing und Vertrieb müssen enger zusammenarbeiten, das hört man seit Jahren. Aber stimmt das wirklich immer? In Teil 3 der vierteiligen Serie mit Patrick Schwarz sprechen wir über Silos, Zielkonflikte, Commercial Excellence und die Frage, wann organisatorische Veränderungen tatsächlich sinnvoll sind.
The branded voice is losing its grip, and the people inside your company are about to replace it. In this episode of Content Amplified, Nicole Gates, VP of Global Growth at Varonis, makes the case that user-generated content is where B2B marketing is headed. She explains why what works in B2C tends to land in B2B two to three years later, and why AI is accelerating the shift by making buyers more skeptical of brand messaging and hungry for the human element. Nicole shares how she leans into employee advocacy and industry influencers without prescribing the script, pointing to her own sales reps who film videos in their cars talking about the product. She gets practical on AEO and GEO, where LLMs increasingly pull from Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube instead of pay-to-play search. And she lays out where to start: know your story first, build a unique point of view, and find the people already willing to share it. As she puts it, it always comes down to the story. If you are trying to figure out how to stay trusted in an AI-flooded landscape, tune in.About NicoleNicole Gates is the VP of Global Growth at Varonis, a cybersecurity company, where she has spent about four years. Her background spans content marketing, social media, and demand gen across various industries and roles, all of which now roll up into what her team calls growth. She believes the trends shaping B2C marketing reach B2B a couple of years later, and that the next wave belongs to human, user-generated content over the branded voice. Nicole also writes a Substack called Perspective and Pipeline, where she shares her thoughts on marketing, growing a team, and working in growth marketing and B2B.Show NotesConnect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolepgates/Nicole's Substack, Perspective and PipelineText us what you think about this episode!
When leveraged strategically, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful platform for B2B companies to build their brands, establish credibility in their vertical, and capture high-intent inbound opportunities. Unfortunately, many company are using tactics that are either too salesy or aggressive, resulting in a massive trust gap and a stagnant pipeline. So, how can B2B companies and their marketing teams close the trust gap, dismantle the friction, establish credibility in their industry, and build a predictable LinkedIn lead generation system without wasting precious advertising dollars?That's why we're talking to Niall Ratcliffe (CEO, noticed) who shares the secrets that top B2B companies use to win on LinkedIn. During our conversation, Niall highlighted how to balance profile positioning, narrative-driven content, and targeted outbound communication. He discussed the critical shift from founder-led content to employee-generated content (EGC) through well-structured internal advocacy programs. Niall mapped out exactly what content formats and structural frameworks are moving the needle right now, providing an actionable blueprint for modern B2B personal branding and organic reach. Stay to the end, where Niall actually revealed some secrets that top B2B companies use behind the scenes that they won't discuss in public.
Welcome back to Fintech Takes. I'm Alex Johnson, and today's episode is a little different. Before I wrote a newsletter for a living, I spent the beginning of my career working in B2B marketing in fintech and financial services. So this episode is built around the provocation that B2B marketing sucks, but it doesn't have to. First up, Cokie Hasiotis (Head of Vertical Marketing at Socure and author of the For the Plot newsletter) and Julie VerHage Greenberg (founder of Quinnovation and formerly a co-founder and writer of Fintech Today and reporter at Bloomberg) join me to diagnose B2B marketing's boring problem. It's an industry where 80% of decisions are made emotionally, and yet it runs on copy that makes you feel nothing. We get into why the head of content is a job designed to fail, and why founders are so bad at telling their own stories. Then, Jessica Kendall (Head of Content and Communications at Spinwheel) joins me to talk about messaging. We also get into the two AI problems every marketing team now has to own (tune in to find out!). And last but not least, Adam Ryan (co-founder and CEO of Workweek) joins me to talk about why B2B marketers can rarely prove the value of decisions they know were right. Blame the hidden sales cycle, and the tenure problem (the average executive B2B marketer lasts 18 months, often not even a full sales cycle). We dig into: What would B2B marketing look like if it remembered that buyers are humans? Can you measure a changed mind? If AI can produce infinite “good enough” content, what's left that buyers will trust? And so much more! Tune in for a curious tour through the discipline that decides what our entire industry reads, watches, and believes. As discussed, learn more about the Workweek Partner Platform: https://advertising.workweek.com/insights/future-of-b2b-runs-on-trust/ Apply for Workweek Upfronts in Austin (August 26 & 27) here: https://workweekupfronts.com/ This episode is brought to you by Persona. The best fintechs expand what's possible for users. Persona does that for fraud prevention. Their recently upgraded link analysis tool surfaces connections in real time, letting you spot deepfakes, identity farms, and fraud rings during onboarding and investigations. They just published their Fraud Leader's Guide to Link Analysis, a practical look at today's top risk signals, automating decisions, and scaling link analysis for fraud prevention. Download it now: http://withpersona.com/ftt-fraud Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Cokie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cokie-hasiotis-9b666363/ Newsletter: For The Plot at https://cokiehasiotis.substack.com/ Follow Julie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-verhage-greenberg-1748801b/ Follow Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesslkendall/ Follow Adam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtryan/ Follow Alex Johnson: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson X: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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What happens when a digital strategist stops fighting reality and starts leading from it.There are conversations that feel like a strategy session and a therapy session at the same time. This one was both. Mary Brodie came into the Power Lounge and did something rare. She made acceptance sound like the most powerful leadership move you can make.If you work in digital, lead a team, or run your own business, you know the pressure to chase the aspirational audience, the perfect product, the frictionless experience. Mary has spent over 20 years helping companies stop chasing and start seeing. And what she has found is that the women in digital who thrive are the ones who learn to work with what is, not just what they wish were true.Mary Brodie is the Founder and Digital Experience Strategist at Gearmark, a consultancy she has built over two decades across apps, websites, content strategy, lead generation, and full digital experience design. She holds a BA and MA from Simmons College, a certificate from MIT, and an Executive Master's in Corporate Communications from IE University in Madrid. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at Case Western Reserve University, where her research explores how B2B buying teams build relationships with supplier salespeople.Key TakeawaysAcceptance is not passive. It is the foundation of every smart business decision, from knowing your real customers to building a team that actually trusts each other.Your digital experience reflects your internal experience. If your employees are disengaged, that bleeds into every customer touchpoint, every chatbot, every support call.Women in digital and female entrepreneurs online often chase aspirational audiences instead of maximizing the ones they already have. The brands that win know exactly who their customer is and own it.AI is a tool, not a replacement. Using it well means knowing what question you are actually trying to answer and what data you are feeding it.The most underrated skill in women leadership and digital marketing for women is listening. Not the performative kind. The kind where you feel something shift in the room.Mary Brodie said, "Accept yourself and make sure that you're happy with what you're doing and what your output is. Not your perfect foot. Your best foot."Mary Brodie said, "Once you accept that we don't all share the same values, the world becomes a very different place. And it's not a scary place. It's just a different place. And a lot of the world becomes a lot clearer."Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Power Lounge.01:51 Twenty years of entrepreneurship. What keeps Mary going.04:26 Why Mary kept going back to school, MIT, Simmons, Madrid.07:37 Being the only American in the room. What that taught her.09:41 Customer experience and employee experience are the same problem.13:10 How to know if your company actually has a digital experience.16:33 AI and digital strategy. Tool or replacement.21:00 What gets in the way of leaders communicating their vision clearly.26:54 What a broken internal experience is costing your organization right now.31:08 The Art of Acceptance. What it means as a leadership practice.40:04 What Mary looks for before any strategy or deliverable.41:19 One shift for every woman in the audience.42:37 Power Round. Rapid fire with Mary Brodie.Connect with Mary BrodieEmail: mfbrodie@gearmark.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marybrodieWebsite: gearmark.comSupport the show
#363 | Louis Grenier joins Dave for a conversation about what it takes to stand out in B2B marketing when everything feels the same. They get into how people really decide to buy, why most B2B brands look and sound identical, and the marketing fundamentals that hold up no matter what's changing around them. The kind of conversation that reminds you why you got into marketing in the first place. Timestamps (00:00) - - Intro (07:14) - - Surviving cancer at 36 and what it taught Louis about doing work that matters (14:10) - - Why marketers fail when they try to educate the market instead of meeting it (19:36) - - The case for leading with one thing even when your product does ten (21:39) - - You can't create demand you can only position into demand that already exists (27:08) - - Why the most memorable brands use assets that mean nothing on purpose (36:34) - - What a real point of view is for and why most companies get it wrong (37:33) - - How to get leadership to say yes to bold unconventional marketing ideas (48:18) - - Why pain points don't drive purchases and what actually pulls the trigger (53:22) - - The case for saying the same thing a thousand different ways (01:00:32) - - Why strong marketing fundamentals matter more in an AI world not less Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterLearn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/***Brought to you by:Optimizely - A no-code AI platform where autonomous agents execute marketing work across webpages, email, SEO, and campaigns. Learn how to deploy agents on your marketing team at Agents in the Mix. Learn more at optimizely.com/exitfive. Vector - A contact-level ads platform that lets you build audiences from actual people on your site, clicking your ads, and checking out your competitors. Learn more at vector.co, and get their new MCP server by clicking here. Customer.io - An AI powered customer engagement platform that help marketers turn first-party data into engaging customer experiences across email, SMS, and push. Learn more at customer.io/exitfive.Join us in Stowe, Vermont for Drive 2026 - three days away from your desk to learn what's working in B2B marketing from the people who are actually doing it. Grab your ticket at exitfive.com/drive.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more
This week, we kicked off our new series: Bare-Knuckle B2B, a partnership between Lesniak Swann and B2B Marketing. The first episode features Harry Davies, VP of Marketing and Strategy Investment and Effectiveness, Sage as he breaks down the evolving client-agency relationship. Hosted by Matt Hicks, Strategy Director at Lesniak Swann and Kavita Singh, Head of Growth Solutions Content, B2B Marketing, this episode strips away the fluff around the client–agency relationship. They dig into the real value an agency should deliver, and call out red flags like adversarial dynamics, “pitch team vs delivery team” bait-and-switch, and creative ideas that ignore commercial reality. The conversation also explores how AI and knowledge bases can close the information gap between clients and agencies—turning good people into better people rather than just cutting costs. If you've ever wondered whether your agency is truly an extension of your team, or how to spot when the relationship is drifting off-course, this episode is for you.
The macroeconomic challenges Canada faces on the global stage also reflect the struggles faced by B2B marketing leaders. The dynamic shifts in the macro-environment mirrors the micro-environment. To stay ahead and scale strategically, Canadian B2B marketers must address internal fragmentation, take calculated risks, build cross-functional alliances, and close the gap between strategy and execution. So, what specific lessons can marketing teams learn from Canada's macroeconomic pressures, and how can we apply these to maximize our business performance and outcomes? In this solo episode, Christian Klepp (Host of the B2B Marketers on a Mission Podcast) shares his core insights from the Middle Power, Major Stakes - Canada in a New Global Order Conference in Toronto. He explained his key takeaways and translates highly complex structural and geopolitical shifts into actionable strategies for B2Bmarketers. Christian also elaborated on the importance of fixing fragmentation within organizations, leveraging ecosystem alliances, and building strong alignment with interdepartmental stakeholders. He also unpacks the “Middle Power Playbook” to see how these massive economic insights can be leveraged to transform B2B marketing from a mere cost center to a true engine of predictable growth. By reducing risk with data, acting as a strategic collaborator, and amplifying an organisation's unique advantages, Canadian B2B marketers can set their brands up for success in any economic climate.This episode was sponsored by the EconomicClub of Canada.
95% of senior marketing leaders are already using or planning to use synthetic data within 12 months. So why are so many marketers still on the fence?In this episode, Elena, Angela, and Rob talk with Peter Weinberg, co-founder of Evidenza and former head of research at LinkedIn's B2B Institute. They discuss where to start with synthetic audiences, how to assess accuracy, and why brand building still matters as AI changes how people search and decide.Topics covered:• [00:00] Introductions and what synthetic research actually is• [03:00] Why 95% of marketing leaders plan to use synthetic data within 12 months• [05:00] Synthetic research really replaces ignorance, not traditional surveys• [09:00] How to evaluate accuracy in synthetic research tools• [10:30] Where marketers should start: find the white spaces first• [16:00] Why AI can be creative and what 'temperature' means for marketers• [24:00] Why brand still matters in an AI-driven search world• [28:00] How Evidenza applied Ehrenberg-Bass principles to build their own brand• [34:00] Why more real-time data can lead to worse decisionsTo learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.Resources:2025 Qualtrics Article: https://www.qualtrics.com/articles/strategy-research/synthetic-research-breakthrough/Peter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weinbergpeter/Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Kathy Floam-Greenspan, founder of Palm Marketing, shares insights from her recent survey on B2B marketing challenges, the impact of AI, and strategies for maintaining focus in a rapidly changing environment.TakeawaysExpectations are outpacing staffing and budgets in B2B marketing.Only 29% of marketers are confident in proving ROI with current tools.AI impacts strategy but is not a magic solution; human touch remains essential.Maintaining focus and a quarterly plan is key to marketing success.The full "Marketing Under Pressure" report is available for download athttps://pomagency.com/marketing-under-pressure-b2b-leaders/Learn more at https://pomagency.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Cathy Floan-Greenspan and Palm Marketing02:45 The Evolution of B2B Marketing and Survey Insights05:30 Challenges in B2B Marketing: Resource Gaps and ROI08:03 The Role of AI in Marketing Strategies10:57 The Importance of Focus in Marketing13:45 Navigating Change in B2B Leadership16:29 The Wake-Up Call for C-Suite Executives19:06 Final Thoughts and Resources for Marketers
In this episode of the B2B Marketing Podcast, Richard O'Connor, CEO of B2B Marketing, is joined by Nick Mason, CEO & Founder of Turtl, to explore why traditional, lead‑centric B2B marketing models are breaking down and what needs to replace them. They kick off by unpacking Nick's opening slide for B2B Ignite, drawing parallels between the 1927 Solvay Conference and today's B2B marketing challenges, and arguing that the classic funnel and MQL mindset are no longer enough. Nick explains why marketers must focus on buying groups, intent signals, and “digital body language” to truly influence complex purchase journeys, and why a shared language between sales and marketing is critical to turning data into decisive action. He closes by calling for a new worldview in B2B marketing - one that's brave enough to abandon outdated paradigms in order to drive future growth. Hear more at B2B Ignite on 1 July in London, where Nick will deliver his keynote session. Listeners to the podcast can save 20% on their ticket to B2B Ignite 2026 – simply enter the discount code PODCAST when prompted at check out.https://events.b2bmarketing.net/b2bignite
For high‑growth B2B tech brands, the next funding round or IPO is no longer just a financial milestone – it is a communications stress test. Investors are bringing AI‑driven tools, sharper scrutiny and higher expectations into every decision. The companies that win are those that can match strong numbers with a compelling, consistent story.In this episode of the FINITE Podcast, Jodi Norris sits down with Liam McLaughlin, Managing Partner at Clarity Europe, to unpack how CMOs and marketing leaders can actively prepare for their next raise or listing through comms and marketing. They explore where tech investment is flowing today, why AI is fueling a renewed funding boom, and what it really takes to move from “interesting startup” to “serious international player” in the eyes of investors.Liam breaks investor attraction down into three pillars: authenticity, narrative and AI visibility. He shares practical examples from an EV charging infrastructure client on the road to IPO, and a fintech brand using AI visibility programmes to show up consistently across search, executives, media and analysts – and, crucially, inside LLMs.Liam has almost 20 years of integrated communications experience, working with global technology brands including Oracle, NetApp and EMC, as well as consumer names such as Canva, Clearscore and eBay. As Managing Partner of Clarity Europe, he has led communications strategies for brands navigating major funding rounds and public offerings across the UK and Europe.Inside you'll find…How to build an authentic, investor‑ready brand story that goes beyond “AI‑washing”A practical framework for aligning spokespeople, channels and proof points over a multi‑year funding journeyWhy AI visibility is now a core stakeholder in investor relations – and how to measure and optimise it
Is the U.S. economy heading toward stability, or just navigating a new kind of volatility?In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Taylor St. Germain, Senior Economist at ITR Economics, to unpack the forces reshaping wholesale distribution and manufacturing. From interest rate uncertainty and tariff refund chaos to AI adoption gaps and “profitless prosperity,” this conversation connects macroeconomic signals directly to distributor margin strategy, capital investment decisions, and long-term growth planning.What You'll Learn:Why the current economy feels like a “tale of two economies”, and how income distribution impacts demand across B2B marketsWhat the Federal Reserve is really watching (core inflation vs. trimmed mean metrics) and how rate decisions could affect CapEx, M&A, and working capitalHow tariff policy, Section 301 and 232 rulings, and refund uncertainty are influencing distributor pricing strategy and customer relationshipsWhat “profitless prosperity” means for 2026 and 2027, and how to protect margins during growth at a higher costWhy most AI initiatives in wholesale distribution are still efficiency plays—and what separates hype from scalable, repeatable AI-driven business processesEpisode Highlights:03:30 – Inside ITR Economics: forecasting accuracy, leading indicators, and preparing for downturns11:45 – May jobs report surprises: what strong hiring means for inflation and rate decisions14:20 – Interest rate outlook: hold, cut, or increase—and why energy prices complicate the Fed's move30:18 – Tariff escalation, Section 301 and 232 policies, and the ripple effect across distributors41:03 – Tariff refunds: unintended consequences for margins, pricing transparency, and customer trust58:26 – AI adoption in wholesale distribution: efficiency gains vs. true strategic transformation1:16:35 – “Growth at a higher cost”: how to navigate labor inflation, electricity costs, reshoring, and fiscal pressureMeet the Guest:Taylor St. Germain is a Senior Economist and Business Consultant at ITR Economics. He delivers economic keynotes nationwide and helps manufacturers and distributors identify leading indicators, forecast demand, and prepare for economic cycles with a 94.7% forecasting accuracy standard.Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned:ITR Economics leading indicator forecasting modelsWeekly GDP tracking vs. lagging government metricsTrimmed mean inflation vs. core CPIEnterprise Growth Platform by LeadSmart TechnologiesAI-driven margin protection and data unification strategiesClosing Insight:“We are very optimistic about growth, but it's growth at a higher cost.”The second half of the decade presents opportunities for wholesale distributors and manufacturers, but only for those who actively manage labor inflation, tariff exposure, electricity costs, and AI investment discipline. Growth is not the question. Margin strategy is.Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.
Twenty-five years ago, the goal was to build a website as a digital "single source of truth." In an era of AI agents and hyper-personalized realities, is the very concept of a single, universal brand "truth" now an obstacle to creating a truly relevant customer experience?Agility requires not just adopting new channels and technologies, but fundamentally rethinking the role of content and data in a constantly shifting landscape. It's the ability to move from managing a static digital property to orchestrating a fluid, dynamic relationship with your audience.Today, we're going to talk about the 25-year evolution of digital experience, from the early days of enterprise content management to today's complex ecosystem of AI-driven, composable platforms. We'll explore how seismic shifts—from the introduction of the iPhone to the rise of agentic AI—have not just changed the tools we use, but have fundamentally redefined the relationship between brands and their customers.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek, CMO at Sitecore, a company that is turning 25 this year and has managed to maintain its leadership in the space through many changes and a few curveballs. About Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek (BB) is the Chief Marketing Officer at Sitecore, where she leads a global team of marketers who are redefining what's possible in modern marketing. Together, they're putting the power of generative and agentic AI to work – creating digital experiences that connect people and possibilities across the globe. Michelle is a trailblazer in bringing AI into marketing. At IBM, she served first as Global Head of B2B Marketing at the Weather Company, and then as CMO of IBM Watson, the company's pioneering AI platform. There, she served as the steward of the Watson brand, helping the world understand how AI can transform both work and life. Since then, she's become a Fellow at the Marketing Academy, a founding member of CMO Huddles, and has held CMO roles at both Skillsoft and IDC. At IDC, Michelle reimagined marketing as a strategic growth engine, launching a bold new brand identity, spearheading the company's first GenAI initiatives, and aligning brand, demand, and strategy to drive global impact. Michelle is a frequent speaker on marketing leadership, AI, and purpose-led growth. A lifelong learner, she's also a runner, rescue dog mom, and dark roast devotee. Her best ideas rarely arrive in a meeting, but often hit mid-stride or mid-walk. Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebb/ ---------- Resources ---------- Sitecore: sitecore.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fDon't miss We Make Future - the International Festival of Innovation in AI, Tech, and Digital Marketing, June 24-26 in Bologna. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c80991afff416bb2The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marketing leaders are being asked to drive more growth with less budget, fewer resources, tighter timelines, and more pressure from every direction while AI is being treated like the shortcut to replace entire marketing teams. But AI will not fix bad strategy, weak alignment, poor customer understanding, or broken marketing fundamentals. In part two of this master class conversation with Matt Hummel, CMO of Pipeline360, the focus moves into what it really takes to become the kind of CMO AI cannot replace. Not by chasing every new tool, adding more MarTech, or hiding behind automation, but by understanding the business as a whole, building trust across departments, speaking the language of revenue, and creating alignment between marketing, sales, product, leadership, and the customer. To lead marketing in a volatile market where expectations keep rising and the old playbook is no longer enough, you need to know how to: • Make sales an ally instead of your bitter rival • Build shared pipeline ownership across marketing and sales • Communicate risk without becoming defensive • Connect marketing decisions to the larger goals of the business • Set clearer expectations with your team and leadership • Understand resource constraints without using them as excuses • Stay close to customers while leading strategy • Create momentum without pretending there is an easy button The best marketing leaders are not just managing campaigns, tools, reports, and dashboards. They are translating complexity into strategy the business can trust. The reminder is clear: AI will not fix bad strategy. More MarTech will not fix bad marketing. The CMO AI cannot replace is the one who understands the business, earns trust, aligns with sales, leads the team, knows the customer, and gets back to real marketing when everyone else is hiding behind tools. (P.S. If you haven't, listen to Ep. 149 for part one of this masterclass episode) Beyond The Episode Gems: Connect With Matt Hummel on LinkedIn Listen To Troy On Matt's Podcast, Pipeline Brew: The Evolving Role of CMOs & Community Building Visit Pipeline360 website to learn more about how they solve B2B marketers' biggest headaches Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS provides a deep dive into the 2026 scheduling landscape, comparing Cal vs. Calendly. As a digital marketing expert, he explores the benefits of white-labeling, custom APIs, and recurring events. The discussion addresses the polarizing nature of scheduling links in professional networking and offers a guide on using these tools to maintain a long-term business presence. Favour emphasizes that while Calendly is a pioneer, Cal.com's open-source nature provides unique flexibility for modern entrepreneurs. Check Calendly.com vs Cal.com on G2 Reviews here.Who is this for?This content is tailored for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and digital marketers who want to streamline their online booking systems. It's for those deciding between established tools like Calendly and open-source alternatives like Cal.com to manage their time and client interactions more effectively.Key MomentsFavour introduces Cal.com as a powerful alternative to Calendly, highlighting that many features Calendly charges for are free on Cal (03:43). He breaks down a comparison chart, noting that Cal offers custom routing logic, custom domains, and two-way Salesforce/HubSpot synchronization—features often missing or restricted in Calendly (05:36, 08:33).A significant portion of the room debates the etiquette of scheduling links, with some participants viewing them as "self-serving," while others defend them as essential tools for protecting a creator's time (13:11, 16:22).Favour also explains the authenticity of Trustpilot reviews, emphasizing the platform's transparency in business validation (09:56).Timestamps00:18 – Introduction and shoutouts to the Business and Marketing House.02:26 – Discovering Cal.com: A backstory from LinkedIn to Berlin.04:29 – The legacy of Calendly and its impact on time management.05:36 – Feature Breakdown: Custom routing, domains, and API access.08:33 – Integration Deep Dive: Salesforce, HubSpot, and two-way sync.09:56 – Understanding Trustpilot: How to verify business authenticity.13:11 – The "Pain in the Ass" Factor: A debate on scheduling link etiquette.20:45 – Best practices for using schedulers in podcasting and networking.FAQsIs Cal.com really free? Favour notes that many features Calendly charges for are available for free on Cal.com.What is "white-labeling" in scheduling? It allows you to remove the platform's branding and use your own domain, a feature unique to Cal.com.Why do some people hate scheduling links? Some find them impersonal or "self-serving," preferring direct email or text communication to set meetings.How does Cal.com sync with my CRM? Unlike some tools that only offer one-way sync, Cal.com provides a two-way synchronization with platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot.Action StepsAudit Your Booking Flow: Review your current process and identify if you are paying for features that could be free elsewhere.Check the Comparison: Visit the Cal.com vs. Calendly chart to see which tool aligns with your technical needs.Verify Your Presence: Ensure your business is claimed on platforms like Trustpilot to build authentic social proof.Soft-Launch Your Link: Pair scheduling links with a personal note to avoid the "self-serving" perception.Test Custom Domains: If using Cal.com, explore custom domains to enhance your professional branding.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
Marketing leadership has become one of the most volatile seats in business. CMOs and marketing leaders are often expected to create immediate pipeline, prove instant ROI, fix deeper business issues they did not create, defend brand investment, align sales, understand customers, translate strategy across the organization, and still become one of the first functions questioned, blamed, or cut when growth slows. In part one of this master class conversation, Matt Hummel, CMO of Pipeline360, brings a clear reminder back to the table: great marketing starts with trusting the buyer, knowing the customer, and simplifying how you market. In a market obsessed with performance data, attribution, automation, dark social, buyer signals, and immediate results, more complexity does not automatically create better customer understanding. For aspiring CMOs, current CMOs, marketing leaders, founders, and business owners, this conversation is a valuable look at how to lead marketing without getting trapped in the pressure cooker. It challenges you to rethink what it really means to put the customer at the center, not as a tagline, not as another automation workflow, and not as another dashboard filled with signals, but as a deeper responsibility to understand the person, pressure, timing, risk, and decision behind the purchase. The conversation moves through buyer trust, brand versus demand, customer empathy, attribution, sales alignment, CMO pressure, market timing, and the difference between chasing pipeline and building LTV. It is also a reminder to get out of your lane, understand product, spend time with sales, listen to customers, and learn how the whole business works. Because the best CMOs are not just campaign operators. They are translators, mediators, trust builders, and business leaders who know how to connect marketing to revenue, customer experience, and long term growth. Beyond The Episode Gems: Connect With Matt Hummel on LinkedIn Listen To Troy On Matt's Podcast, Pipeline Brew: The Evolving Role of CMOs & Community Building Visit Pipeline360 website to learn more about how they solve B2B marketers' biggest headaches Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com
You can't be a great marketer if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode.If you're a marketing leader, you know the feeling. The 12AM Slack from the CEO. The “where's-the-pipeline?” question that never goes away. The low-grade anxiety running underneath every campaign, every board deck, every quarter. In this episode, Carolyn and Amber connect the inner game to the measurement problem. The anxiety marketers carry isn't a personal failing. It's the tax you pay for being judged by numbers that miss your real contribution: shaping how the market perceives you, long before anyone fills out a form.And here's what nobody in GTM is actually talking about: you cannot build the future you want while your body is locked in defending the present. Your brain chemistry doesn't know the difference between the meeting you're dreading and the one that's already over — it reacts the same way to both. And when you live in that state, you can't create. You can only react.What this episode covers:The breakthroughs from both Amber and Carolyn's recent vacationsWhy so many B2B marketers are operating from low-grade panic, and why it's costing them their best workHow belief and brain chemistry shape what you're able to create, and why you have to embody the outcome before it shows upWhy marketing's real job is shaping brand perception in-market, and why traditional KPIs can't see that workHow to use zero-party data — what customers tell you directly — to inform the customer journey instead of guessing from last-touch behaviorThree books that reshaped how Carolyn thinks about wealth, awareness, and building a future you can't yet see: Happy Pocket Full of Money, The Power of Awareness, and Dr. Joe Dispenza's Becoming SupernaturalIf you're a marketing leader tired of doing your best work from a place of panic, and tired of watching it disappear into numbers that can't measure it, this one's for you.-----------------------------------------------------Want answers now?
In this episode of the Story Club, Chris Walker shares hisjourney of transformation and the importance of understanding our subconsciousbeliefs. He discusses how many high-achieving individuals operateunder the illusion that success comes from external validation and relentlessambition. However, true growth stems from addressing the foundationalbeliefs that drive our actions. By shifting our mindset and focusing on emotionalsovereignty, we can unlock our full potential and achieve clarity in our lives. Chris's insights challenge conventional wisdom and encourageus to rethink our approach to personal and professional development. Connect with Jonny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnysrose Connect with Chris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswalker171/ Chris' Book: https://www.amazon.com/Frequency-Era-Chris-Walker-ebook/dp/B0GXGBWSWQ Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Background (00:32) - Transition from B2B Marketing to PersonalDevelopment (01:21) - Life Version 1.0 Operating System (02:14) - The Building Metaphor (04:06) - The Cause of Success (04:20) - Challenging Subconscious Programming(07:47) - The Realization and Shift (07:55) - The Impact of Mid-grade Anxiety (08:47) - The Trigger for Change (15:25) - The Importance of Emotional Regulation (15:44) - Encoded and Belief Systems (16:37) - Gary, The Factory Worker Philosophy (20:33) - The Shift in Economic Value and Education (23:59) - The Role of Discipline and Willpower (30:06) - Understanding Subconscious Beliefs and TheirImpact (32:22) - The Six-Tier Frequency Map (35:53) - Achieving Full Emotional Sovereignty (37:19) - Common Patterns Among High Tier Individuals (38:24) - Misconceptions and Understanding of Frequencies (41:58) - The Importance of Daily Practice (44:59) - The Future of Frequency Training (49:52) - Advice for Knowledge Workers (51:24) - The Inertia of Traditional Education (51:57) - The Five Traps of the Knowledge Economy (54:12) - Historical Recurrence of Traps (54:56) - The Changing Rules of the Economy (56:26) - The Limitations of Artificial Intelligence (58:11) - The Future: The Frequency Era (59:06) - Closing Remarks
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LLM search is only about 1% of the total search market. Google still controls roughly 88%. So why do so many marketer's content strategy sound like it was written by someone in a panic about AI overviews? This week we're resurfacing a conversation with Grace Sharkey of Orderful to reset what SEO actually looks like for logistics in 2026, with a new intro reacting to Google's recent guidance on what does and does not matter.Included in this conversation is a fresh take on what Google just clarified, including what they're saying about llms.txt files, FAQ pages, and schema. Then we roll into the conversation where Grace asks the questions and Blythe walks through Google Search Console, long-tail keywords, the FAQ-page rebuild, and why your recorded sales calls are the most underused content gold mine in your stack.In this episode:Why Google Search Console beats Ahrefs and SEMrush for figuring out what to fix firstHow to sort your queries for the fastest click-through-rate winsThe long-tail paragraph queries LLMs are actually answeringWhy the FAQ page is the easiest piece of SEO work you can ship this quarterWhat Google just said about llms.txt files (spoiler: you do not need one)How to turn recorded sales and onboarding calls into a content engineWhy YouTube case studies beat gated PDF whitepapers for shippersThe "how did you hear about us" form field every high-intent page should haveWatch this episode on YouTubeLinks and resources:Grace Sharkey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-sharkey-31940765/Orderful: https://www.orderful.comGoogle Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-consoleAdam Robinson's Air Cover newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/air-cover-7450924377958912000/ SEO expert Gaetanao DiNardi: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7368964829673390084/More logistics marketing and sales content over on Everything is Logistics -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.Digital Dispatch maximizes and manages your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.
Good for Business Show with LinkedIn Expert Michelle J Raymond.
Why is your B2B marketing reaching buyers but still not building enough trust to move them forward?In this episode, Michelle J Raymond speaks with Vita Molis from The B2B Institute about the credibility gap facing B2B brands. They explore why B2B buying journeys are getting longer, why more deals are stalling, and why reach alone is not enough to create buyer confidence.This episode is for B2B marketers who want to understand why their LinkedIn content, brand activity, and demand-generation efforts may not be converting into pipeline, and what they can do to build buyer trust before sales ever get involved.Key moments in this episode - 00:00 - Why B2B marketers need better research, not more trends02:00 - The B2B credibility gap and why reach is not enough03:15 - Why 40% of B2B deals stall before closing05:30 - Why marketers need to influence the whole buying committee07:30 - Are B2B creators becoming the new demand engine?09:00 - The credibility stack: brand, employees, customers and creators13:00 - The employee advocacy opportunity for B2B brands19:20 - Is video becoming the new language of B2B marketing?24:20 - What smart B2B marketers should do in 202631:10 - New B2B Institute research to watch: The Credibility CodeConnect with Vita Molis on LinkedInCheck out The B2B Institute researchCONNECT WITH MICHELLE J RAYMONDMichelle J Raymond on LinkedInBook a free intro callhttps://socialmediaforb2bgrowthpodcast.com/B2B Growth Co newsletter#LinkedIn #B2BMarketing
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS highlights Pinterest as a visual search engine with unmatched content longevity (up to 5 months). Unlike social media, he explains that Pinterest captures users at the start of their purchasing journey. His key strategies include keyword-rich pins and claiming website property to drive sustained, unbranded discovery and sales in 2026.Who is this for?This content targets entrepreneurs, content creators, and business owners seeking to optimize marketing via Pinterest for enhanced online visibility and sales through strategic content distribution.Key MomentsPinterest offers a significantly longer content lifespan (3.5-5 months) vs. Instagram (19-72 hours), crucial for long-term branding and content compounding (00:49-02:04, 07:43-08:46).As a visual search engine, 96-97% of Pinterest searches are unbranded, indicating high user intent for discovery. Keywords in images/descriptions are vital for discoverability (08:50-10:10).Pinterest allows claiming website property for content ownership (26:15-26:39) and is a key platform where users begin their purchasing journey (34:34-35:18).FAQsHow long do pins last?3.5 to 5 months, creating a compounding interest effect on your traffic.Is Pinterest social media?No, he positions it as a visual search engine where user intent is discovery and purchase.What are unbranded searches?97% of searches don't include a brand name, giving every business a fair chance to be found.Action StepsResearch Keywords: Find terms users use to discover solutions in your niche.Optimize Pins: Use high-quality visuals paired with keyword-rich descriptions.Claim Website: Verify your domain on Pinterest to secure content and boost SEO.Repurpose Content: Move short-lived social posts to Pinterest for long-term visibility.Track Analytics: Monitor which pins drive the most "starts" in the purchasing journey.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
Pinterest marketing, by Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS, is an underserved yet high-value platform for business marketing in 2026. Its search engine nature (with most searches unbranded - 96%) positions it as a top channel for discovery, long-term engagement, and trust-building. Businesses can claim ownership, upload vast content portfolios, analyze data, and target ads with precision.Using the “ABC method,” well-keyworded content ranks for a range of searchable interests, allowing businesses to be found at the inspiration and planning stage when buyers' intentions are forming. Unlike other platforms, content longevity on Pinterest is measured in months, not days. Claiming your business website and properly optimizing pins ensures success both organically and via ads.Who Is This For?Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to grow in 2026 Marketing professionals interested in visual/search-driven channels Product creators, service providers, and content creators (e.g., realtors, filmmakers, bloggers, coaches, local businesses) Anyone ready to leverage Pinterest for long-term, evergreen digital presenceKey Moments & TimestampsUnbranded Search Power: 96-97% of Pinterest searches are unbranded, opening opportunities for discovery [00:00:56]Pinterest for Movie Rollouts: Using Pinterest to showcase behind-the-scenes content and build genre-based boards [00:04:31]Pinterest vs. Other Platforms: Content “shelf life” on Pinterest (5 months vs. Instagram's 72 hours) [00:30:32]Pinterest Business Setup & Best Practices: How to set up, claim your website, and configure DNS for business accounts [00:07:43], [00:24:03]SEO “ABC Method”: How to use keyword permutations for expanded content (“house design A/B/C”) [00:39:56]Strategic Planning: Seasonal and trend-based planning, planning ahead for events (like Christmas trees in May) [00:44:43], [01:12:43]Pinterest Ads & Analytics: Insights on lower ad spend and granular audience targeting (zip code, CSV lists) [00:49:03], [01:19:16]Content Ownership: Importance of claiming accounts for copyright protection [00:26:21]Who Uses Pinterest?: Myths busted (all ages, beyond “mom” niche) [00:31:35]FAQsQ: Who should use Pinterest for business?A: Any business with visual or searchable content—real estate, events, products, media, bloggers, consultants, etc.Q: How long does a Pinterest Pin last?A: Pins can drive engagement for 5+ months, far surpassing standard posts on other social networks.Q: What is the “ABC Method”?A: A keyword expansion technique: type your main keyword + a/b/c to discover long-tail search terms and trends.Q: How does claiming my website help?A: It ensures copyright protection, authenticates the brand, and boosts SEO with backlinks and verified authority.Q: Can Pinterest be used for local business and events?A: Yes! Geotargeting and CSV uploads for ad targeting allow granular, locally focused campaign delivery.Action StepsCreate/Upgrade Business Account: Use your business email and claim your website in settings with DNS/TXT verification.Keyword Research via “ABC Method”: Expand content ideas using variations/keywords relevant to your offering.Content Planning for Longevity: Batch and schedule pins ahead of seasonal trends/events (e.g., Christmas, product launches).Design Saveable, Searchable Pins: Focus on unbranded, interest-based images and videos with clear, keyworded titles/descriptions.Claim Socials & Connect Analytics: Integrate Instagram and check analytics to track saves, clicks, and traffic.Experiment with Ads: Layer promoted pins using zip code and audience data for targeted exposure.Monitor & Adjust: Regularly check pin performance and tweak strategy for conversion, traffic, and save rates.2026 Growth MindsetPinterest isn't just another marketing channel—it's an evergreen engine for discovery, conversion, and enduring brand relevance in the fast-changing digital world.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, David Khim sits down with Johann Wrede, Global CMO at UserTesting, to explore how AI is reshaping brand perception, the role of the modern CMO, and why truly customer-centric marketing still comes down to diet and exercise. They discuss why AI has become the new front door to brands — compressing and abstracting how companies are perceived before a human ever visits their site — and how marketers can influence (but never fully control) that narrative. Johann also shares his philosophy on solution marketing over product marketing, the big bets he's making on in-person events, and how he's building agentic marketing workflows to give his team better first drafts without replacing their judgment. Key Takeaways: AI has become the new front door to brands, compressing and abstracting brand identity before a prospect ever reaches your website — and marketers can influence this but not control it. Semantic pre-compression — stripping fluff and using single, precise descriptors — is the most practical way to influence how LLMs represent your brand. Brand consistency across every customer touchpoint (marketing, sales, support, product) is the only durable lever marketers have in an AI-driven world. The CMO's role is not just pipeline — it's stewarding how the market understands the company across the entire customer journey, including post-sale. Solution marketing outperforms product marketing because people spend money to solve problems, not to add tools to their stack. Listening to sales calls is still the most underutilized source of messaging, positioning, and prompt-tracking insight available to marketing teams. Agentic marketing workflows — chaining copywriter, persona, humanizer, and CRO agents — can dramatically improve first-draft quality before a human ever reviews the output. The workplace is shifting from knowledge work to thought work: the value is no longer what you know but how creatively and critically you can think through problems. Show Links Visit UserTesting on Twitter Connect with Johann Wrede on LinkedIn Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO) Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo) How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard) Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social) Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath) Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency: Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEO Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts? How Do Growth and Content Overlap? Connect with Omniscient Digital on social: Twitter: @beomniscient LinkedIn: Be Omniscient Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/
From years in the SEO trenches, today's guest knows what it takes to run successful strategies. Adrian Dahlin is the Founder & CEO of Search to Sale, an SEO analytics SaaS company providing automatic content intelligence for B2B, SaaS and marketing agencies.Adrian Dahlin is the Founder & CEO of Search to Sale, an SEO analytics SaaS company providing automatic content intelligence for B2B SaaS and marketing agencies. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 2020 after leaving corporate marketing to launch a startup consultancy, later evolving it into Search to Sale in 2023. Previously, Adrian worked in data science and marketing analytics after earning a Master's in Applied Data Science from NYU, and earlier in his career founded and led sustainability-focused ventures. CONTACT DETAILS:Email: gerardo@searchtosale.io Business: Search to SaleWebsite: https://www.searchtosale.io/ Social Media:LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriandahlin/ LinkedIN Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-to-sale-seo-revenue-generation-software/ Remember to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss "Information That You Can Use." Share Just Minding My Business with your family, friends, and colleagues. Engage with us by leaving a review or comment. https://g.page/r/CVKSq-IsFaY9EBM/review Your support keeps this podcast going and growing.Visit Just Minding My Business Media™ LLC at https://jmmbmediallc.com/ to learn how we can help you get more visibility on your products and services.
Tune into expert AI and marketing strategies designed for entrepreneurs and brands striving to become indispensable with Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS. Explore technical SEO, AI marketing techniques, and actionable tactics to boost your visibility and revenue. This episode offers real-world advice to help you master digital marketing and grow your social business online and offline.Favour discusses the essential steps every business owner and brand builder should take to ensure their website and content are recognized, trusted, and indexed by Google. Topics span from domain acquisition and technical setup to organic SEO strategies and evaluating digital visibility. Focusing on the importance of foundational elements like DNS records, consistent quality content, and leveraging free Google tools, Favour makes the case for building a strong organic presence before running ads, ensuring long-term growth and authority online.Who Is This For?Entrepreneurs and small business owners Marketing professionals Website owners and bloggers Anyone aiming to improve online visibility and brand authorityIndividuals seeking long-term digital growth through SEOKey Moments & TimestampsSetting the Stage: Importance of Google for brand recognition and longevity online [00:00:04]The Brand/Google Question: Do you have a brand, and does Google know it? [00:00:36]Domain as Digital Identity: The role of domains for branding, using dovid.com as an example [00:02:05]Identifying Website Issues: Live advice and examples about email deliverability, domain authentication, and DNS health [00:10:33]Google's Free Tools: How to check if your site is indexed using site:domain.com and Google's experimental "learn-about" feature [00:19:37]Organic SEO Before Ads: Why you shouldn't run ads before building organic foundations [00:38:00]Technical Foundations: Importance of DNS, MX records, sitemaps, and technical configuration for trust/visibility [00:27:26]EEAT: Google's acronym – Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust [00:46:58]Content Longevity vs. Social: Focus on blogs and evergreen content vs. ephemeral social posts [00:51:43]DIY Check: Step-by-step guide to see if you're indexed (site colon search) [00:54:07], [00:55:52]Action Wrap-Up: How to connect, get audits, and next steps [00:57:11], [01:00:13]SEO SummaryBrand = Domain: Your digital “home” is your domain; it's the anchor for all brand activities.Google Recognition: Being online is not enough—Google must be able to identify, trust, and index your content.Technical Health: Essential to configure DNS, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), sitemaps, robots.txt, and page speed.Organic First: Build trust and visibility via organic SEO efforts before investing in paid ads for better ROI and lower cost-per-click.Content Quality: Content must have structure, value, and meet EEAT standards. Consistent publishing and context matter.Indexing Check: Use site:yourdomain.com and Google's “learn-about” experiment to see how visible your pages are.SEO Tools: Google Search Console, nslookup, and DNS health tools are critical for monitoring visibility and deliverability.Top FAQsHow do I check if Google knows my brand?Search site:yourdomain.com on Google to see indexed pages.What is the Learn About experiment?A Google tool (learning.google.com/experiments/learn-about/signup) to see what Google knows about your brand.Why do I need SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?These email authentications improve deliverability and trust.Should I run ads before optimizing SEO?No—establish organic foundations first to save money and increase effectiveness.What makes content rank well?High-quality, structured, relevant content that demonstrates EEAT (experience, expertise, authority, trust).Action StepsCheck your brand's index status with site:yourdomain.com on Google.Set up or update DNS, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.Connect your site to Google Search Console and submit a sitemap.Audit and improve page speed, structure, and content quality.Start a blog and focus on evergreen, helpful content answering audience questions.Use the Google “learn-about” experiment to gauge your brand's digital presence.Build organic authority before launching paid ad campaigns. Consistently monitor, update, and scale your SEO and brand foundation.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
Does everyone on your revenue team actually agree on who your ideal customer is? Daniel sits down with Hailey McDonald, the new VP of Revenue Marketing at Sprout Social, on day one of her new role. They get into one of the most expensive mistakes in B2B Marketing: building campaigns before your ICP is truly locked in across every team. Hailey breaks down why most companies are doing ABM in name only, how to tell within five minutes that a team's ICP is broken, and why getting Marketing, sales, CS, and rev ops aligned on a single definition is the foundation everything else is built on. She also explains the difference between ICP and total addressable market, and how pipeline hitting while revenue misses is one of the clearest signals something is off with your targeting. Daniel makes the case that personalization at scale is really just personality at scale, and why the brands that stay consistent with their messaging even under pressure are the ones that win long term. Plus, Hailey's marketing hill she would die on: you can't have demand without brand. If you're looking to actually understand and identify who your audience is, this episode is for you. Wrike brings structure, visibility, and accountability to work, so companies can make better business decisions, improve efficiency, and reduce risk. Learn more at https://wrike.com/tmm Follow Hailey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haymcdee/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
Have you ever seen Schitt's Creek? No? You really need to watch it. That's advocacy. And it's older than marketing itself - somebody took a bite of something and said, “You gotta try this.” Jason Grunberg, CMO of Forter, didn't watch the show until he got sick and had nothing else to do. By the time he was better, he was binge-watching instead of resting. In this episode, he breaks down what Schitt's Creek teaches B2B marketers about pointy characters, ownable positioning, brand as a bank, and why the transformation story is the only story worth telling. Together, we dig into why “safe is not where we make really strong emotional bonds,” what the Rosebud Motel's rebrand can teach any B2B company trying to differentiate, and why AI inflation has already made “AI” a meaningless differentiator. About our guest, Jason Grunberg Jason Grunberg is CMO at Forter, the identity intelligence platform for digital commerce. With a background spanning agency and in-house roles across B2C and B2B, he brings a rare perspective on what it means to treat every buyer as a consumer - because at the end of the day, a wrong decision costs someone their job, and nothing is more personal than that. What B2B Marketers Can Learn From Schitt's Creek Advocacy is the root of every decision. Jason didn't watch Schitt's Creek because of the awards or the marketing. He watched it because people he trusted kept telling him to. His takeaway for B2B: “Advocacy has been a core part of marketing and brand forever for anything. This is coded almost into the human experience - advocacy is the root of like how we end up making decisions and choices.” Before you chase the next channel, ask whether you're creating the conditions for your customers to tell their colleagues, “You really need to try this.” Pointy characters resonate more than representative ones. The safest instinct in B2B marketing is to round off your personas until they feel inclusive. Schitt's Creek did the opposite - and it's why strangers kept telling Jason the show was basically his family. Ian's takeaway: “The more pointy you make it, the more weird, the more absurd, it actually will resonate that much better.” Stop asking whether every CIO will see themselves in your story. Make the character want something specific, and trust the audience to find themselves in it. Brand is a bank - and technology is never the real differentiator. The Rose Apothecary didn't succeed because of its product formulas. It succeeded because of the experience, the distinctiveness, the emotional value. Jason connects it directly to his work at Forter: “Quality is replicable, at least now more so than ever. The brand has to mean something.” On technology positioning, he's blunt: “If there's always the push from your product team to be like, ‘This is the core differentiator,' I'm like, ‘Cool. That is 2,000 lines of code deep. That sounds really replicable. And it doesn't say I'm getting a raise if I buy this.'” “Safe is not where we make really strong emotional bonds. On the edges is where we do that - because on the inside, there's a lot of edge. We've just been conditioned to not show it all the time.” - Jason Grunberg Time Stamps [1:25] Meet Jason Grunberg, CMO of Forter [2:17] Why Schitt's Creek? The Show That Felt Like His Family [4:53] Jason's Role at Forter: Decisions AI and Customer-Centric Marketing [5:56] What Is Schitt's Creek? Character Development as a Foundation [12:11] Marketing Lesson #1: Advocacy Is Coded Into the Human Experience [15:56] Marketing Lesson #2: Pointy Characters Win — Stop Regressing to the Mean [23:14] B2B Is Still Consumer: Everyone Is a Person Making a Personal Decision [26:35] Marketing Lesson #3: Brand Experience — Rose Apothecary and the Bank Analogy [29:11] Marketing Lesson #4: The Rosebud Motel and the Power of Positioning [32:18] The Name, the Pun, and the Juxtaposition of Lowbrow and Highbrow [36:21] The Audacity of the Arc: Why Schitt's Creek Ended on Purpose [39:07] Final Thoughts and Takeaways Links Connect with Jason on LinkedIn Learn more about Forter About Remarkable! Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Meredith Gooderham, edited by Jon Goldberg, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Zoom has incredibly high brand awareness. But that's actually part of the problem. This week, Elena, Angela, and Rob sit down with Kim Storin, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Zoom, to dig into one of marketing's most counterintuitive challenges: too much awareness for the wrong thing. Kim shares how she diagnosed Zoom's perception problem, rebuilt the brand's health measurement from scratch, and launched a campaign strategy rooted in category thinking, humor, and hard data. Topics covered: [02:30] Mental availability vs. awareness [06:00] Reinventing brand health measurement to track new buying cohorts [08:30] "Brand to demand" and why Kim refuses to separate the two [11:00] Marketing in the dark funnel and the shift toward a zero-click world [15:00] Building a new category narrative around Zoom [19:00] The thinking behind the "Take Back Lunch" and Zuma Head campaigns [24:00] How AI-driven B2B search is changing citation strategy, content and credibility To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter. Resources: 2011 Byron Sharp Article: https://byronsharp.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/mental-availability-is-not-awareness-brand-salience-is-not-awareness/Kim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlystorin/
A year after Veo 3 changed the video world, what's actually happened? In this episode of Death to the Corporate Video, Guy Bauer breaks down where AI video stands today - from rapidly improving quality to why AI performances still feel strangely “non-human.” Guy shares his thoughts on: Why AI video is becoming its own category of animation Why great ideas are still the hardest part Why the novelty phase is already over Why taste and storytelling matter more than ever The tools got better. The real question is: does anyone have something worth saying?
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS demystifies the Facebook Ads Library and LinkedIn Ads Library, providing a detailed walkthrough on using them to research competitors, understand ad trends, and inspire ad creation. He emphasizes the distinction between B2C (Facebook/Meta) and B2B (LinkedIn) advertising, noting LinkedIn's higher cost and intent focus, while underscoring the importance of organic branding as a foundation for paid marketing. Favour Obasi-ike demonstrates how leading companies deploy these tools, showcases nuanced platform differences, and compares cost-per-click across Meta, LinkedIn, Google, and TikTok. He also shares new insights on LinkedIn's evolving platform—including paid advice sessions—and explores the promises and pitfalls of AI-powered website builders, warning of current technical limits while highlighting practical safeguards. Throughout, he connects performance measurement, ad copy, landing page optimization, and conversion intent, offering actionable advice on research, conversion strategy, and digital asset protection for marketers and SEO professionals alike.Who Is This For?This podcast episode is ideal for:Marketing professionals, digital strategists, and business owners interested in mastering social media advertising.Anyone seeking practical strategies on using Facebook and LinkedIn Ads Libraries for competitor research, inspiration, and campaign optimization.Individuals curious about the evolving role of AI in SEO, website development, and digital marketing.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction to Ads Libraries: difference, power, and practical links – 00:00:03How to use Ads Libraries for research and competitive insight – 00:01:43Detailed comparison of search/filter functionalities (LinkedIn vs. Facebook/Meta) – 00:02:41Limitations: lack of public ad performance analytics – 00:06:25Roleplay: live demonstration with Nvidia and King Kong Marketing – 00:09:15Analyzing ad count and demographic distinctions (B2B vs. B2C) – 00:13:29Using ad longevity and impression markers for campaign inference – 00:14:33Brand presence & organic/paid synergy on platforms – 00:15:28Cost comparison: LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, TikTok – 00:36:14, 00:40:52Best practices: building organic presence before paid campaigns – 00:34:32Discussion: AI website building (pros, cons, future-readiness) – 01:00:41Safeguarding your digital assets and monitoring website readiness – 01:03:09Takeaways: action steps for competitive research and campaign improvement – 01:19:40FAQsQ: What's the biggest difference between Facebook and LinkedIn Ads Libraries?A: Facebook excels at B2C and provides wide targeting, while LinkedIn is tailored for B2B audiences and offers granular demographic filters (00:01:43, 00:13:29).Q: Can I see ad performance and conversion data in these libraries?A: No, performance analytics (like conversions or spend) are not publicly available, but ad frequency, longevity, and low-impression markers offer hints (00:06:25, 00:14:33).Q: Does Favour Obasi-ike recommend using AI website builders?A: They're rapidly evolving, but typically restrict customization and future scalability; always check if your site is AI-ready and back up your code (01:00:41, 01:03:09).Q: How does LinkedIn compare on ad costs?A: LinkedIn is typically $2–$6 per click, more expensive than Facebook and Google, recommending high-ticket or B2B campaigns for ROI (00:36:14, 00:40:52).Action StepsResearch Your Competition: Use Facebook and LinkedIn Ads Libraries to analyze competitors' creative, targeting approaches, and landing pages.Prioritize Organic Presence: Build robust, consistent brand profiles before investing in paid ads (00:34:32).Calculate Platform ROI: Factor in cost-per-click, sales cycle, and campaign intent before allocating budget.Test & Optimize Landing Pages: Ensure ad links align with campaign copy and optimize for conversions.Evaluate AI Tools Carefully: Use AI web builders with caution, regularly back up site code, and assess AI-readiness (01:03:09).Leverage Platform Updates: Explore new LinkedIn offerings like advice sessions for enhanced professional monetization (00:26:56).Safeguard Digital Assets: Keep site ownership and editability top-of-mind for future scalability and security.For a complete learning experience, review the episode's full discussion and check out the referenced Ads Libraries at the top of the chat (01:20:03).Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS guides listeners through the foundational role of URLs in digital visibility and SEO for 2026. URLs serve as digital identities for every webpage; their language and structure determine how easily search engines and AI platforms can find and rank your content. By adopting precise, location- and intent-based URL strategies—and regularly reviewing for duplication or outdated naming—websites can dramatically improve both local and global search performance.Further, Favour Obasi-ike explains upcoming trends, including Google's move toward localized and entity-based search, and emphasizes taking action for long-term organic traffic.Who Is This For?This episode is for entrepreneurs, business owners, digital marketers, content creators, and anyone building or managing a website in 2026 who wants to improve SEO, increase visibility, and better understand the critical role of URLs and digital real estate in organic search results.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today
What if the platform you think is too expensive is actually your most profitable channel? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Anthony Blatner, Managing Director at Speedwork Social, who explains how LinkedIn advertising has evolved and why it often delivers higher-quality leads despite higher upfront costs. He shares new strategies, including thought-leader ads, improved attribution tracking, and ways B2B marketers can use LinkedIn to drive demand and scale their pipelines more effectively. Key Takeaways:→ LinkedIn is best for reaching niche professionals at scale.→ Cost per quality is more important than cost per click.→ Personal LinkedIn profile ads outperform company page ads. → LinkedIn was less affected by iOS tracking changes than Meta.→ AI is changing how marketers design and analyze campaigns. Anthony Blatner is the Founder and Managing Director of Speedwork Social. This LinkedIn-focused B2B growth agency helps mid-market and enterprise SaaS companies drive revenue through high-performance LinkedIn advertising. Anthony also hosts the LinkedIn Ads Radio podcast, where he interviews LinkedIn product leaders and top B2B marketers about what is working on the platform today. He is a LinkedIn Learning Instructor for B2B Marketing on LinkedIn and teaches LinkedIn Ads Smart Tips & Tricks. Connect With Anthony:Website: https://speedworksocial.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyblatner/https://www.linkedin.com/company/speedwork/