Embracing Marketing Mistakes

Andy Green shares his biggest professional mistake from his time as deputy head of PR at Yorkshire Water, when he inadvertently angered 120,000 anglers by running a competition featuring a photo that violated pike fishing ethics. 😱 • Angling Times (circulation 120,000) ran a front-page headline: "Anglers in fury over YW competition" • The fundamental rule in pike fishing is to catch, ph...

Ever wondered what makes truly exceptional chocolate? The secret might be sitting right beneath its roots - volcanic soil. Tamsin Daniel, Head of Marketing at Firetree Chocolate, takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of premium chocolate production, revealing how cocoa grown in the nutrient-rich volcanic soils of remote islands creates distinctively complex flavour profiles that choc...

Marketing across borders goes far beyond simple translation - it requires genuine cultural understanding and strategic adaptation. In this eye-opening conversation with Shaheen Samavati, co-founder and CEO of Vera Content, we explore the intricate world of multilingual marketing and why so many brands struggle to get it right. Shaheen reveals how her Madrid-based agency manages content for interna...

Getting fired can be devastating to your career - or it can be the catalyst for something greater. For Patrick Collister, being unceremoniously dismissed from a French-owned direct marketing agency where he was billed at £1000 per hour became a transformational moment that propelled him toward  success. In this fascinating conversation, Patrick takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable journey...

Marketing a TV show in today's crowded streaming world requires more than just trailers and billboards - it demands innovative thinking that captures attention and builds genuine connection. That's exactly what we explore in this fascinating conversation with Courtney Milne from our team at Prohibition, who unpacks the brilliant marketing strategy behind Apple TV's hit show Severanc...

In this special episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Chris and Will take a seat on the guest side as they're invited onto the Marketing Room 101 podcast, hosted by Ben Norman.  The theme? Banishing their marketing bugbears forever.  Together, they tackle the frustrating world of fake followers, influencers backed by bots, and the questionable practice of excessive pitching. With a healthy...

Following on from our most popular episode last year where we looked at social media trends for 2024, we have our 2025 prediction list. Social media continues to evolve rapidly, with new platforms emerging and established ones transforming to meet changing user preferences and behaviours. We look at the key trends that will shape social media marketing in 2025, from the rise of Blue Sky to creativ...

What does it really take to build a successful SaaS business from scratch with no funding? Emeric Ernoult knows the answer all too well - he went three years without a salary while bootstrapping Agorapulse, now one of the world's leading social media management platforms. The journey began in 2000 with a community-building software before "social media" was even coined as a term. Fo...

YouTube isn’t just holding its own against TikTok and Instagram – it’s thriving. In fact, in the US, it’s now watched more on televisions than computers, marking a major shift in how audiences engage with digital content. Yet despite this growth, many marketers still don’t truly understand how to make the platform work for them. In this sharp and practical conversation with Ballint Kistoth from Vo...

Who would you trust more to recommend a product or service - an influencer who is paid to promote it, or a friend who is a genuine fan and user of the brand?  In this episode, we sit down with Paul Archer, founder of Duel and passionate 'advocate' for brand advocacy. He offers brilliant insight into how brands can thrive in an era in which consumer trust in brands is plummeting - but our...

Yep, Astonish cleaning products really started out in a shed in Leeds…   In this episode, we go behind the scenes of cleaning brand, Astonish, with owner and CEO Howard Moss, to learn about the one-man business that has transformed over 50 years into an international success, distributing to more than 30 countries worldwide.  From Howard’s father attending agricultural shows across the UK with a s...

It’s easy to feel like things are quickly spiraling out of control when a crisis hits. Our latest episode takes a look at exactly what needs to be done when the heat is high, the pressure is on, and it feels like your back’s against the wall because of one type of disaster or another.   We discuss the types of crises businesses can face, from data breaches to PR disasters, and unpack real examples...

AI is transforming PR, but is it actually replacing PR professionals? In this episode, we sit down with Jono Matusky, founder of Newsprint AI. Jono has built AI tools that automate media monitoring, press release writing, and executive briefings. But does that mean the role of PR professionals is at risk? We look into how AI is being used to save time, improve efficiency, and even uncover insights...

Abigail Dixon, the brilliant mind behind the Whole Marketer, shares her inspiring journey from working at Burger King to hosting a podcast with over 130 episodes. Have you ever wondered how aligning personal values like connection, growth, and generosity with your career could transform your professional life? Abigail reveals her passion for psychology and business and how these elements fuelled h...

Award-winning journalist Helen Nugent, renowned for her 27-year career across multiple media channels, joins us to breakdown the world of journalism and media training. Discover how seasoned journalists carve out the perfect soundbite and why media training is essential for brand representatives. Helen shares captivating stories from her time at The Times and her interactions with high-profile fig...

Are you measuring PR ROI all wrong? If you’re relying on outdated metrics like AVEs or vanity impressions, you could be missing the real value of your PR efforts—and losing budget because of it. In this episode, we break down the biggest mistakes brands make when tracking PR success, why traditional measurement methods fail, and what smarter marketers are doing instead. Learn how to prove PR’s imp...

Nikki Dixon, Director of Brand & Marketing @ Leeds Building Society, shares her journey from retail to finance, highlighting the critical importance of authenticity and community in successful marketing. This episode explores her strategies for rebranding Leeds Building Society and building trust in a competitive and regulated environment. • Discussion on Nikki's career transitions across...

What does a £400 billboard, 1,400 unsold England flags, and a taxi website have in common? For digital PR expert Mark Rofe , they’re all part of a journey filled with creative risks, quirky mistakes, and invaluable marketing lessons. In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes , Mark shares the story of his viral billboard campaign that turned a bold idea into global headlines. With appearance...

Explore the power of podcasting, we discuss why it has become essential in today's marketing world for brands to maximise engagement and ROI. With practical insights and case studies, we reveal how to expose common challenges while crafting a successful podcast. • Understanding the importance of podcasting for modern marketing  • Crafting a podcast that resonates with your audience  • Effecti...

What happens when a legacy brand like Gap teams up with a TikTok star to redefine fashion trends? Senior account manager Sinead Morrissey joins us to share how Julia Huynh's quest for the ultimate "hoodie that hoodies" sparked a groundbreaking collaboration with Gap. This episode looks at the creative process behind Julia's design journey, offering a fresh perspective on influe...

In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes , we sit down with Brian Keane, bestselling author of The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset . Brian opens up about his journey from struggling as a personal trainer — living paycheck to paycheck and actually digging for a bus fare in his sofa cushions — to building a thriving fitness empire and inspiring thousands through his books, podcasts, a...

Robin Smith, Head of Corporate at Censuswide, joins us in unravelling the complexities of modern marketing in our latest episode as we look at a brand new comprehensive report on CMOs. We invited Robin onto the show so you could gain real insight from their inaugural "Voice of the CMO Report" which questioned more than 500 CMOs. The report looks at tackling AI's role in crafting hyp...

Unlock the secrets to charging what your agency is truly worth with insights from Crispin Manners, CEO of Onvert and former chairman of the PRCA. We explore how agencies can move beyond outdated pricing models by embracing value-based strategies. Crispin shares his journey and experiences, from pioneering roles in the PR industry to growing Kaizo, a tech-focused PR agency that thrived during the t...

Unlock the secrets to marketing success in the food and beverage industry in this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, where we dissect both the challenges and triumphs brands experience in this cutthroat arena. Featuring insights from industry experts like Tristan O'Hara of Pub & Bar and James Beeson from The Grocer, we promise you'll walk away understanding the nuances of secur...

Ever wondered how rejection can fuel innovation? Zohe Mustafa, the visionary founder and head of marketing at Growth Hakka, shares his inspiring journey from being turned away by advertising agencies to pioneering AI-driven marketing strategies. Learn how Zohe has transformed obstacles into opportunities, including a noteworthy mishap with HubSpot that resulted in an email debacle. His experiences...