FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing Podcast

TechCrunch has been a pivotal publication in the startup and tech ecosystem since its founding in 2005 by Mike Arrington. From its origins as a tech blog to becoming a major media property, TechCrunch has undergone significant changes through multiple ownership transitions and, more recently, has gone through yet another transition. This week, episode 91 of the FiredUp! podcast is about what is ha...

The world of PR is constantly changing, but nowhere is it evolving as fast as in the cybersecurity space. The stakes are higher, threats lurk around every corner, and well-planned PR strategies often need to take a back seat when crisis arises. Nick Lagalante, the founder and CEO of Fractional 360, joins the podcast today to uncover the intricate strategies behind successful cybersecurity public r...

In the world of startup marketing, uncertainty isn’t just a buzzword– it’s a daily reality. Whether it’s tariffs, rising interest rates, or the rising popularity of AI, marketing leaders are finding themselves in a challenging position to navigate the industry and reach their audience through the extra noise. That said, we wanted to take some time today to unpack the strategies, challenges, and un...

As marketers, we spend a lot of our time getting people to sign up on our website, converting them into leads. Too often, the job can feel done after this, but we’re far from it. Those free trial and freemium users need to be onboarded, engage with the product, and get enough usage out of it to be willing to pay for it. Claire Heginbotham joins the podcast today to do a deep dive into the art and...

Getting your startup’s message heard can feel like an uphill battle. And in the crowded startup market, making your message crystal clear isn’t just a nice-to-have but a matter of survival. To help you stay afloat, Nicole and Ian sit down on the podcast this week to explore how startups can cut through the noise and communicate their value proposition effectively. This week, episode 87 of the Fire...

Navigating the competitive world of venture capital can be challenging for emerging entrepreneurs in need of funding. So, to uncover the secrets of VC engagement, we sat down with Kyle York, the co-founder and CEO of York IE, to get an idea of how VCs are making their deals, where they source their pipelines from, and how startups can strategically get their attention. With his wealth of knowledge...

Choosing the right digital marketing agency can be a complex and challenging process for businesses, especially startups. Fortunately, we have considerable insight into this process and know exactly what it takes to navigate the selection process, so you can set yourself up to maximize the agency’s effectiveness within your startup. This week, episode 85 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to hir...

With the uptick in people integrating AI into their workflow, we’re starting to uncover some of the downsides of this rapidly evolving tool. Marketers are finding themselves in a crossroads and asking the question, will generative AI elevate our strategies or reduce us to a sea of bland, algorithmic sameness? The answer: It all depends on how you use it. This week, on episode 84 of the FiredUp! po...

We’ve heard time and time again over the years that PR is dead or content marketing is dead, but we beg to differ. We live in one of the most exciting times of being a marketer. Still, with the rising population of AI tools and the changing buyer behaviors, marketing is certainly becoming more challenging. What worked before doesn’t necessarily keep up with new practices and it’s time to evolve. T...

AI search is changing the game with tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity providing instant answers and affecting website traffic. Even so, your website is a vital asset. So what does a startup need to do to make the most of the traffic they are still getting? To answer this question, we are joined by Brian Tillman and Joe DePalma from Punch, a creative agency for bold brands, to unpack the revolution...

We’ve already established that thought leadership is a powerful strategy for startups to build credibility, reduce churn, and drive sales. But where should you start when implementing a thought leadership campaign? The Firebrand team sits down today to dive deep into what it takes to create an effective thought leadership campaign that transforms a brand’s visibility and influence. This week, epis...

As marketers, it’s easy to get pulled into the day-to-day tactical operations of marketing and lose focus of the big picture. Juliana Pereira joins us as we take a step back and highlight the ways in which marketing impacts various milestones in a startup’s lifespan. From early-stage hiring to fundraising and eventual exit strategies, marketing has an important role to play. This week, episode 80...

Many brands and people want to be known as a thought leader, and for good reason! A survey by Edelman has revealed that 70% of prospects would think more of a brand if they had a thought leader and would be willing to pay more for their proposition. But what does becoming a trusted, authoritative voice in your industry take? The Firebrand team is here to break that down today, unpacking what it me...

Standing out when it comes to your marketing isn’t just about having a great message– it’s about delivering that message with precision, consistency, and innovation. Enter the product mindset: a game-changing approach that takes your marketing from being hit-or-miss to a strategic, repeatable system. Clinton Bonner joins us today to break down how startups and marketing teams can leverage design,...

On average, reporters receive between 50-200 pitches daily, with only 8% leading to written articles. So, how do you make sure yours stands out? The Firebrand team joins together to unpack just this. Morgan, Chris, and Ian share their insights into what makes a pitch stand out and how to increase your chances of securing media coverage! This week, episode 77 of the FiredUp! podcast is about what m...

Breakups are never easy, even in the business world. When the relationship between a client and their agency comes to an end, it can be an emotional and complex process, with challenges to both sides. The Firebrand team comes together today as they pull back the curtain on the common reasons why these partnerships dissolve and share their insights on how to navigate this delicate situation with gr...

Are you wondering why your landing page isn’t converting? Or if you should be issuing press releases for every announcement? You’re not the only one! In our work, we see similar questions pop up time and time again. Topics like the credibility of market research, choosing the right newswire, data security concerns with new technologies, and so much more are at the forefront of our listeners'...

With over 250 million weekly users, the rise of ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the content creation world, leaving many marketers and writers grappling with how to leverage it both practically and ethically. The Firebrand team joins together in this podcast episode as they discuss the impact of ChatGPT on writing and content creation, exploring both the advantages and drawbacks of using AI in...

Everyone who has been in the industry for some time is familiar with or has experience with direct mail, or rather, the falling off of this marketing strategy. Kris Rudeegraap is here today as he unpacks the resurgence of direct mail and, more specifically, how startups can integrate direct mail into their marketing campaigns. This week, episode 73 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to make dire...

In this era of innovation, it is rare for startups, particularly tech startups, to enter into a green field market of opportunities. More often than not, they are up against established industry giants with proven success records. Hollie Wegman, the COO of Attio, a CRM startup, sits down with the Firebrand team to discuss Attio’s unique approach to breaking into the highly competitive CRM space, p...

As marketers, journalists, and PR experts, we know a thing or two about proper grammar. But sometimes, breaking the rules just feels right. The Firebrand team joins together on this episode as they explore the nuances of writing style, from the beloved Oxford comma to the power of the em-dash and much more! This week, episode 71 of the FiredUp! podcast is about grammar wars! Download the Multiplie...

Compared to bigger, more established brands, startups face unique challenges when it comes to measuring the impact of their PR efforts. So much so that we would argue that PR measurement is broken for startups. Morgan McLintic and Ian Lipner come together as they discuss the complexities and challenges of PR measurement, the common problems that arise, and how to face them head-on. This week, epis...

As we usher in a new year, our team wanted to continue the tradition of reviewing our industry trend predictions from the previous year, seeing where we were spot on and where we might have missed the mark, and making our predictions for the upcoming year. This week, episode 69 of the FiredUp! podcast is about our startup marketing predictions for 2025! Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack t...

2024 had a lot in store when it came to the news stories that shaped our industry. The Firebrand team dives into the re-election of Donald Trump, the impending effects of the Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, what this year’s advancements in AI can tell us about what’s to come, and so much more! This week, episode 68 of the FiredUp! podcast is about the biggest news of 2024! Download the Multipl...

The marketing and PR world is in a constant state of evolution, with seismic shifts in the industry happening as we speak. From mega-mergers to platform disruptions to the continued struggle of attribution, the Firebrand team takes a deep dive into the trending topics impacting agencies and brands. This week, episode 67 of the FiredUp! podcast is about startup strategies for 2025: navigating socia...