It's Mostly Marketing

Lisa and Simon explore the evolution of newsletters and email marketing, emphasizing the need for reimagining content to engage today's audience. They discuss the importance of personalization, the role of AI in enhancing email strategies, and the significance of visual design. The conversation also touches on the challenges of traditional email marketing, the necessity of testing and optimiza...

After 36 episodes, we're taking a short hiatus. We'll be back soon!

Lisa and Simon discuss eight essential marketing rules that have proven effective over their 35 episodes. They emphasize the importance of understanding your audience, having a solid marketing plan, crafting clear messaging, providing value, optimizing for mobile, tracking analytics, continuous testing, and building relationships with customers. The conversation culminates in an eight-week challen...

In this conversation, Lisa and Simon explore the art and power of storytelling, particularly in the context of marketing. They discuss the importance of structure in storytelling, the emotional connections that stories can create, and how storytelling can be used both externally with customers and internally within organizations. They also provide practical tips for crafting compelling narratives...

In this conversation, Lisa and Simon discuss their recent travel experiences, focusing on hotel stays and brand loyalty. They explore how personal experiences shape their preferences for hotel brands and loyalty programs, and delve into the broader implications of brand loyalty in competitive markets. The discussion highlights the importance of customer experience, communication, and feedback mech...

Lisa and Simon explore the art of running successful promotions without overwhelming your audience. They dive into why some brands thrive by embracing fabricated holidays like Prime Day and Make Your Will Month, while others risk losing customer interest through constant discounting. Drawing from real-world examples—like gyms avoiding the January rush and airlines running frequent sales—they discu...

Lisa and Simon discuss their recent experiences and transition into a deeper conversation about the impact of AI on search engine optimization (SEO) and the emerging concept of generative engine optimization (GEO). They explore the differences between traditional SEO and GEO, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt their content strategies to remain visible in an AI-driven landscape. Practica...

In this episode of It's Mostly Marketing, Lisa and Simon sit down with attorney Linsey Krolik to unpack the legal side of marketing. From understanding why CAN-SPAM isn't Canadian (surprise!) to navigating privacy laws like CCPA and CalOPPA, we dive into everything small business owners and marketers need to know about compliance, customer trust, and avoiding costly mistakes. We cover how...

In this conversation, Simon and Lisa discuss the impact of economic downturns on small businesses, focusing on consumer behavior, pricing strategies, and effective marketing techniques. They explore how rising costs affect consumer spending and the importance of demonstrating value to customers. The discussion also highlights common pain points for small business owners and offers strategies for n...

Lisa and Simon discuss the challenges and strategies involved in managing creative projects, particularly in small business settings. They emphasize the importance of having structured processes, the role of creative briefs, and the need for clear goals and documentation to ensure effective execution. The discussion also touches on the iterative nature of creative work and how to maintain brand co...

In this engaging conversation, MacKenzie Green shares her inspiring journey from being a Division One swimmer and beauty pageant contestant to becoming a leading figure in social media and marketing. She discusses the importance of data-driven marketing, the evolution of social media, and the challenges faced by young professionals, especially women, in the industry. MacKenzie emphasizes the need...

In this conversation, Lisa and Simon explore the multifaceted world of branding, discussing its importance beyond just logos, the elements that make a strong brand, and the necessity of a brand strategy. They emphasize the significance of consistency in branding and how it impacts customer experience. The discussion also touches on the flexibility needed in branding guidelines and the role of bran...

In this engaging conversation, Lisa and Simon delve into their personal and professional journeys, sharing insights from their early marketing careers, mistakes they've made, and the lessons learned along the way. They discuss the importance of feedback, the buzzwords that annoy them, and what alternative careers they might have pursued. The conversation also touches on their favorite apps and...

Lisa and Simon discuss the significance of testing in marketing, drawing insights from Scott Galloway's podcast. They emphasize the importance of data-driven decisions over gut feelings, explore various marketing channels, and provide actionable strategies for testing in email marketing and advertising. In this conversation, Lisa and Simon delve into the intricacies of advertising and website...

Simon and Lisa discuss the importance of reevaluating marketing strategies, establishing clear goals, and aligning team efforts. They emphasize the need for tracking and measuring marketing effectiveness, evaluating tools and technologies, and optimizing processes to ensure ongoing success. The discussion highlights the significance of adapting to changes in the market and the necessity of having...

Lisa and Simon discuss the evolving landscape of marketing roles, particularly focusing on fractional marketing positions and the importance of generalists in small businesses. They explore how to identify business needs, the significance of trust in partnerships, and the role of AI in enhancing marketing efforts. The discussion emphasizes the need for curiosity and adaptability in marketing profe...

Lisa and Simon's friend, Dr. Kelly Garneau, discuss the integration of AI in writing education, exploring how it impacts student engagement, classroom dynamics, and academic policies. Kelly emphasizes the importance of teaching students to critically engage with AI tools while maintaining their writing skills. The discussion also covers the evolving nature of AI in academia and offers practical ad...

Lisa and Simon discuss the importance of empowering employees to act as brand advocates. They explore various strategies for leveraging social media, encouraging content creation, and establishing brand guidelines to ensure employees feel comfortable promoting the brand. The discussion highlights the benefits of authenticity and engagement that come from employee advocacy, as well as the potential...

Lisa and Simon reflect on their journey of creating a podcast, discussing the importance of planning, data-driven decision-making, and the need for flexibility in business strategies. They emphasize the significance of evaluating past performance to inform future planning and the role of metrics in measuring success. The discussion also touches on common pitfalls to avoid and the necessity of adap...

Lisa and Simon discuss the challenges of analyzing survey data and how AI can streamline the process. They explore various AI tools available for data analysis, emphasizing the importance of ensuring data accuracy and validity. The discussion also covers practical applications of AI in deriving actionable insights from survey responses, segmenting data for deeper analysis, and the future of data a...

In this conversation, Lisa and Simon discuss the importance of customer feedback and research for small businesses. They explore various methods of gathering insights, including surveys, Google Trends, and competitor analysis. The conversation emphasizes the need for data-driven decisions and the value of understanding customer experiences. They also touch on the role of incentives in encouraging...

Simon and Lisa discuss the intricacies of digital advertising, starting with the importance of strategic advertising for small businesses. They delve into the definitions of digital versus analog advertising, explore various strategies for effective campaigns, and emphasize the significance of setting clear goals and targeting the right audience. The discussion also covers creative strategies for...

In this conversation, Lisa and Simon discuss various low-cost marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of networking, word of mouth, and leveraging social media. They explore tools for content creation, the role of AI in marketing, and the significance of email marketing. The discussion also covers the necessity of measuring success through analytics and customer feedback, as well as the i...

Simon and Lisa explore the impact of AI on marketing, discussing its applications in automation, personalization, and content creation. They highlight the importance of understanding AI tools, writing effective prompts, and balancing AI with human creativity. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations and the future of AI in marketing, emphasizing the need for marketers to adapt and l...

Simon and Lisa discuss the importance of landing pages in digital marketing, emphasizing their role in driving conversions. They explore the key elements that make landing pages effective, including the need for a clear call to action, the removal of distractions, and the importance of cohesive design. The conversation also touches on the significance of testing and optimizing landing pages to ens...