Big Bad Marketing Podcast

This is an honest conversation about capacity, priorities, and learning to trust the season your business is actually in. We dig into why so many business owners feel behind even when they’re doing the right things, how mental clutter creates decision fatigue, and why not everything that matters needs to be done right now. We also talk about: The difference between “important” and “urgent” Why hav...

Happy 2026!! In this Big Bad Marketing Unfiltered episode, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing what we’ve learned after just over a year of running Big Bad Marketing. This is an honest conversation about the real highs, the hard moments, and the things we wish more business owners talked about out loud. We talk about decision fatigue, mental clutter, and the pressure to constantly do more,...

This 16-minute guided meditation is designed for business owners who want to feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded as they move into their next season. Through gentle breathwork and visualization, you’ll be guided to release mental clutter, reconnect with what matters most, and envision a version of your business that feels aligned with your values and capacity. This is not about hustle or produ...

Planning your 2026 marketing doesn’t require a massive strategy doc or a brand-new platform. It requires clarity, priorities, and a plan that fits your real life. In this episode, we break down how to approach 2026 marketing in a way that actually feels doable. You’ll learn how to review what worked, let go of what didn’t, and build a focused plan that supports your business and your life. In this...

Have you ever opened Pinterest to “get inspired” for your business… and somehow ended up planning a fictional life in Italy instead? Same. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast, we’re talking about how to create a vision board for your small business that’s not just vibes and pretty pictures, but something that actually guides your decisions, keeps you focused, and helps you build the b...

Flyers. Postcards. Brochures. Snail mail. Is any of this actually working anymore… or are you just paying to be tossed straight into someone’s recycling bin? In this episode, we’re breaking down whether print marketing via mail still works in 2026, and the answer might surprise you. We’re walking you through when direct mail makes sense, when it doesn’t, how much it actually costs, and which types...

One year ago, we kicked off this podcast with a scrappy little elevator pitch and a mission: help real small business owners DIY their marketing on a budget. And honestly? That messy first draft was exactly what we needed to get started. Now, one year later, we’re revisiting our original elevator pitch, breaking down what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how our own clarity has evolved as Bi...

Before you set a single goal for 2026, you need to take an honest look at what actually happened in 2025. In this episode, we walk you through our Big Bad Biz Review, the six-page reflection we use for our business to understand the real story behind what happened this year. We cover the numbers that matter (revenue, margins, leads, LTV, CAC, and more) and the reflection questions most business ow...

In this episode, we walk through how to build a sustainable, stress-free marketing plan for 2026. Topics include: Why you burn out with marketing (and how to prevent it) Choosing the right platforms for you Creating a cadence that’s more than doable Why your first 3 months of the year should be detailed, and the rest flexible How to repurpose instead of reinventing A simple sample plan: 1 email pe...

If your marketing hasn’t been working, it’s probably because you’re doing what most small business owners accidentally do: sending traffic to something that’s not fully built yet. In this episode, we cover: Why your marketing isn’t converting (and why it’s not your fault) The real reason paid ads, boosted posts, and fancy websites flop The 3 questions every small business must answer before market...

This week, we’re doing something a little different. This episode is a vibes-only, behind-the-scenes check-in. Because let’s be real: some weeks in business are just a lot. We’re talking about what happens when everything hits at once, deadlines, prospect calls, launches, life, and how we find the will (and the mindset) to keep going when we’d rather throw our laptops out the window. If you’ve eve...

Running a business comes with a never-ending to-do list, deadlines, and the occasional meltdown in front of your laptop. Stress is real. But so are the little rituals that help you reset. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast , we’re getting real about the practices that keep us grounded and sane while building our business. Think of it as a menu of stress-busting ideas you can pull fro...

This Halloween, we’re digging up the cursed advice that haunts small business owners everywhere. From “post every day no matter what” to “your product will sell itself,” we’re calling out the scary, bad marketing advice you should definitely not follow. Brooke and Jenné break down why these ghostly mistakes happen, how to fix them fast, and what to do instead so your marketing doesn’t end up six f...

Ever put weeks of effort into an event only to feel like crickets when the doors open? We’ve been there. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast , we’re breaking down exactly how to promote an in-person event so people actually show up, without blowing your budget. Whether you’re hosting a workshop, pop-up, open house, or expo booth, this step-by-step guide will help you: Map out your eve...

Ever stood in front of a folding table, wondering if anyone actually wants to talk to you about your business? Same. In this episode, we’re sharing everything we learned from our first in-person event, the Mt. Pleasant Small Business Expo! You’ll hear: How we prepped our booth (what worked and what didn’t) How to attract attention without being cringey Why relationships beat hard sells every time....

If you’ve got 3,000 subscribers but only 17 people opening your emails, that’s not an audience, it’s digital dead weight. In this episode we break down why cleaning your email list can actually increase sales, improve deliverability, and make your marketing work harder for you. You’ll learn: The cold, hard truth about email list engagement Signs it’s time to clean your list (and what to look for)...

You've gotten your first (or second, or third) tentative yes from a prospective client. What do you do now? You need a more formal proposal that sets clear expectations of what you'll deliver, a contract so you look like a real business, and an invoice so you can actually get your $$$. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing podcast, we cover everything you need to do from the initial "let's work...

Defining your “target audience” shouldn’t feel like writing a Pinterest mood board. In this episode we get real about how to actually figure out who your customers are, using a mix of data, common sense, and a little tough love. You’ll learn: Why your audience isn’t who you  want, it’s who’s already buying How to use data (and simple questions) to find out who that is The traps that make audience-...

Got the marketing basics down but still want to build a client-creating machine? You’ve got a real business and a $500/month marketing budget. Now it’s time to spend it where it counts. So, where should you invest? In this episode we talk through how to make your next $500 work  smarter, whether you're online or local. We’ll cover: What to do for free before you spend a dime How to use content...

Got $500/month for marketing, but no audience, and no idea where to start? You’re not alone. And, good news: you don’t need a massive budget to get visible and land your first customers. In this episode, we explain exactly how to spend your first $500/month to market your brand-new business  strategically  (not randomly). Whether you’re a digital service provider or an in-person business, we’ll he...

You’re posting, emailing, showing up on social… but is any of it actually working? In this episode, we walk you through  how to track your marketing data like a professional marketer, without getting overwhelmed by spreadsheets or vanity metrics, or buying expensive software. You’ll learn what to measure, what to ignore, and how to use data to make smart, strategic decisions. Here’s what we cover:...

The holidays sneak up fast, and if you wait until November to start planning your promos, you might end up with a big lump of coal. In this episode we share why September is the secret weapon for holiday marketing and what you can do now to make Q4 less stressful (and more profitable). We cover: The biggest mistake small businesses make with holiday planning How to map out offers, deadlines, and c...

Trying to grow your social media following, but the people just aren't following? Chasing likes and views but still not seeing results? In this episode we talk about  vanity metrics, the shiny objects you're chasing, that are really just killing your strategy. We break down: What vanity metrics actually are, and why they don’t matter The question to ask before you post:  “Does this provoke...

If your small biz sales funnel is messy, or nonexistent, this is for you. Today, we’re breaking down exactly  how to build a simple, strategic sales funnel  that guides people from “just found you” to “ready to buy” without expensive, fancy tools or building a whole tech stack. In this episode, we’ll show you: The 4 core stages of a working funnel: Attract, Engage, Nurture, Convert How to tie your...

If you’ve ever thought,  “I’m doing all the marketing things, but nothing’s really clicking,”  this episode is your wake-up call. Today, we’re breaking down  what a sales funnel actually is and  why every small business needs one. Yes, even if you’re just getting started. And, yes, even if your making less than $100K. We walk you through: The three key stages of a simple funnel (Awareness, Conside...