Almost Productive: A podcast mostly about marketing

A security notification from your bank, a potential client with specific requests, an email threatening legal action: Scammers are getting more and more creative! Listen to this Coffee Break episode of Almost Productive for common tactics we see and tips on how to avoid scams — plus the story of how we almost fell for one. 

How well do you know your co-workers? As a small marketing team, our Almost Productive hosts think they know each other pretty well, so they’re putting it to the test. In this episode, Julie, Shawn and Addie square off in the Marketing Match Game, guessing each other’s answers to questions about logos, social media pet peeves, writing preferences and more. This one goes down to the wire!

Psst! Hey, marketers! Need to sharpen your communications chops? Want to stay on top of the latest trends? The team shares ideas for professional development for even the busiest schedules. Need a growth mindset? Shawn delivers motivation. Want branding best practices? Follow Addie’s social media recs. Niche interests? Julie’s got an email newsletter to cater to every marketing whim. Listen in and...

Pranks aren’t just for whoopee cushions and hand buzzers — marketing teams get in on the fun, too. In this Coffee Break, the Almost Productive crew explores the world of April Fools' marketing, from fake product launches to brand stunts that actually worked well (and a few that maybe should’ve been real).

Follow along as our  Almost Productive  hosts combine the drama of March Madness with the productivity and satisfaction of spring cleaning. In a bracket-style showdown, we help you decide which marketing efforts to prioritize as you tidy your company’s house. There will be upsets. There will be cheers. And ultimately, there will be one Spring Cleaning March Madness Champion. Ready to make some mag...

As marketers, the Super Bowl is one of our favorite events. The commercials are the real spectacle, and it can be more fun to watch which brands score big than to follow the actual game. In this episode, we break down our favorite spots, call out the misses and take a hard look at how well (or badly) AI showed up. Readddddy, break! Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our...

Ever wonder why certain ads stick or deals feel irresistible? In this episode, our team unpacks key aspects of consumer behavior and the subtle ways our brains shape why we click and buy. Join us as we dive into cognitive biases, clever strategies and quirks of the human brain. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot...

In this episode of Almost Productive, things get artsy! Our hosts welcome co-worker and graphic designer extraordinaire Chelsey Oliver to the studio. Chelsey spills on her creative process, and everyone weighs in on their favorite design trends (plus a few pet peeves).

In this special episode of Almost Productive, our team celebrates two years of hosting and producing the podcast. (Time flies when you're having fun!) Tune in to hear our favorite moments, things we've learned and what this milestone means. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop...

Whether it’s written, spoken or shown, everything your business produces builds (or breaks) trust. Editing should be a key part of your marketing strategy to ensure your brand comes across as professional and aligned with your tone. In this episode of  Almost Productive , our hosts share faux pas they’ve seen in the wild, editing tips and more. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your pe...

When it comes to marketing decisions, some of them really grind our gears. In this Coffee Break, we're petting our marketing peeves — from novel-length billboards to unimpressive stock photos. Warning: mild ranting ahead. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ....

We love ALL of our clients—and we know strong relationships make for the best work. In this episode, the Almost Productive team shares the good, the bad and the Comic Sans. From setting expectations to spotting red flags, we’re swapping stories, offering advice and breaking down what makes a creative partnership succeed. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and...

Get ready for some hot (marketing) fun in the summertime as the Almost Product crew breaks down the perks and pitfalls of marketing when the weather warms up. Even if your brand isn’t among the top summer verticals, your marketing shouldn’t take a vacation. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill ou...

The missing link in your social strategy might just be LinkedIn. Sometimes dismissed as a job-hunting platform, LinkedIn boasts a highly engaged audience of professionals, and the marketing data shows it. In this episode, Addie breaks down why she’s pro LinkedIn. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, f...

From scare tactics to comedic and everything outside and in-between, there are a number of ways to market to your audience. The team goes through a handful of tactics and break down which ones work and don't work for them. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter...

Brainstorming sounds simple, but there's an art to a successful session. In this episode, our hosts discuss how to get the best ideas out of a team and ensure a collaborative, fruitful meeting. Plus, we kick things off by admitting to our (maybe not-so-) guilty pleasures.  Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot...

Would you want to know if your colleagues were going to happy hour without you? Working remotely has its share of plusses and minuses. (Grabbing a drink virtually falls squarely in the second category.) From increased productivity to decreased access to coworkers’ snacks, the team explores what works — and what doesn’t — in our hybrid team. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people...

Web accessibility ensures that everyone can use or consume online content, no matter their ability status. Making sure your online presence is totally web accessible isn't just the right thing to do, it's legally required. Listen in as the Almost Productive hosts discuss common accessibility mistakes and how to fix them.  Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our p...

Just because the Super Bowl is over doesn't mean we're done discussing the commercials! Our team highlights our MVC (Most Valuable Commercial) as well as other favorite comedic, serious and meh commercials from the Big Game. MVC ChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhb5pEo_j0 Favorite Comedic Liquid Death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqtWWWhIMas Totino's Pizza Rolls: https://w...

From car dealerships to law firms, the team weighs in on the good, bad and ugly of local commercials. Should you feature your kids in your commercial? Should you double down on humor? Should you play it straight and be sincere? (Spoiler: no, probably not and for sure.) Join us for a lively discussion of common categories, crazy themes and more.

Do you set annual resolutions? Or is New Year’s Day just another 24 hours? Either way, we’re willing to bet you’ve noticed some of the marketing trends that pop up like clockwork around this time. Our Almost Productive hosts are here to break it all down — from New Year’s statistics to brand strategy. Plus, we discuss our own experiences with the trend.

Rebranding a business is no joke! From (seemingly) simple website refreshes to logo updates, there’s a lot to consider before, during and after the process. Listen in as our Almost Productive hosts discuss questions to ponder before rebranding, pitfalls to avoid and keys to freshening up your look without alienating your audience. Plus, you’ll hear examples of real-life endeavors gone wrong.

In this bittersweet Coffee Break episode, the Almost Productive hosts dig deep. On the sweet side, you’ll hear everything from stories of childhood lore to preferences for faux holidays. But on the bitter end, this is (sadly) Ben’s last episode with the squad before pursuing an exciting career move. Tune in for all the details.

Silly, sassy and downright unhinged: Brands can make surprising plays on social media, with tones running the gamut from wholesome to lusty. In this Coffee Break, the team discusses a few standouts, including Wendy’s and Duolingo. Ben stumps the team with a pop quiz on some real-world social posts, and the results are surprising — at least for one team member.

Whether you geek out over data or find yourself a newbie to marketing numbers, Julie and the rest of the podcast team dive into some of their most-asked analytics questions, from “Where the heck do I start?” to “What does success look like?” If you've been wanting to develop a measurement plan for your business or better understand how your marketing efforts are doing, join them as they cover...