Contemplating the future of this podcast. Should I keep going or would you rather just “Read Me Out?” Give a listen and let me know. The song is available in all streaming platforms.
Right to a Response
When someone sends you an unsolicited email, do you owe them a response?
I Love Your Blog Post
My blog can’t be this great, can it? If I were to listen to the lies of scammers, I might start to believe that my blog is a must-read. I sincerely doubt that’s true though.
The Digital Representation of You (Episode 200)
I describe my work as creating “The Digital Representation of You.” In 200 episodes of this podcast, in my client work, and my new project, Consider the Source, I am rooting for your best ideas to make a positive impact on the world.
LinkedIn Is a Tough Scroll
Scroll through LinkedIn, and it’s cringe after cringe. A never-ending stack of performative, self-aggrandizing humble brags. It’s done in earnest, I’m sure. But in expressing our genuine excitement, is it coming off the wrong way? Let’s audit my feed.
The Ambient Awareness Test
There’s one question you can ask to find out if your messaging is getting through. I call this The Ambient Awareness Test.
Stop Mimicking What Marketers Do
How will we get our good ideas across if we are turning people off in the way we present ourselves to the world? Are we inadvertently giving people the wrong impression?
Finding Your Media Fit
Your “media fit” is at the intersection of 1) what you can produce and 2) where your audience congregates. Given that, what’s the best platform for you and your brand?
Empathy, Energy, and Ethics
A self-audit is not a bad thing to do, whether you are starting a business, freelancing, or seeking a job.
We Need Marketing More Than Ever
If we want to make change in the world, our best ideas need to be expressed with clarity, empathy, and a genuine desire to form a real connection.
Be a Part of the Community You Serve
Participation is a signal. When you are a part of the community that you aim to serve, it shows that you’re invested. That it’s important to you. That you care. Not only is it a way to develop trust, but it can also help you see emerging trends in your sector.
Ethical Marketing Is Not an Oxymoron
Aggressive marketing tactics might have been effective in the past, but today’s consumers are more savvy. They see right through the lies, deception, and whitewashing. Ethical marketing is the only way to set yourself apart – to treat your customers with respect.
The Internet Is One Big Rickroll Now
The promise of the Internet has been ruined by advertising. There is no article you can read, video you can view, or social feed you can scroll through without being interrupted by some advertiser’s desperate attempt to steal your attention. Every time I experience this, I feel like I’ve been Rickrolled.
The One Word That Diminishes Your Work
People don’t mean to diminish your work, but that’s exactly what they are doing when they use this one insidious little word. It undervalues your expertise and experience by making it sound simple – as a way to sell you on doing something, paying you less than you’re worth, or not paying you at all.
Build, Connect, Optimize: The Three Stages of Good Marketing
A solid marketing plan has three stages, depending on the growth cycle of the business. In the season finale of Marketing Without the Marketing, I take a look back at the past year and how this has influenced my most recent projects.
SEO: A Different Approach
SEO is one of the most important factors in any marketing strategy, so it’s worth the effort to learn the basics. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and anyone can learn it. Episode 133 is an introduction to my approach to SEO, and the start of a new series to teach you all the nuances of a good, sound SEO strategy.
The New Business Mindset
Why does business need to be a ruthless, zero-sum game? It doesn’t. You can still be successful by being nice – and in point of fact, I think that you can be even more successful if you unlearn some of the awful lessons that the corporate world teaches.
The New Marketing and Sales
Ethical marketing is not an oxymoron. Respectful, soft-touch marketing not only feels better, but in light of today’s consumer behavior, it’s also more effective too. But it requires a mindset shift, and that we unlearn some of the “conventional wisdom” about marketing.
The New Customer Relationship
Customers expect more now, which presents an opportunity for small businesses to surpass their larger competitors. Let’s look at what it takes to earn a customer in this new environment, the evolving criteria of a sales transaction, and what makes a customer loyal now.
Creativity Is a Business Imperative
You can draw people in with your creativity. Or you can repel them with annoying ads. We have a choice, and my strong belief is that the storytellers and artists will win, while the aggressors and interruptors will lose. Let’s commit to making every interaction with your audience either educate, inspire, enlighten, or entertain.