The Field Guide by BizMarketing

You can have a great marketing strategy and still watch your business slowly fall apart. Business coach Steve Pitcairn has spent 20 years working with small business owners across the country, and he sees the same three problems over and over again: time, team, and money. Not a lack of leads. Not a weak brand. The stuff that happens after the phone rings. In this episode, Steve joins host Peter Wi...

What if everything you know about marketing your business is wrong? In this episode, Peter Wilson sits down with John Dwyer, founder of the Institute of Wow, to challenge the way most small businesses think about advertising. John's argument is blunt: likes, followers, and sponsorships are vanity — what matters is whether your ad brought in customers today. John is famous for helping a small Austr...

In this episode of The Field Guide , Peter Wilson sits down with Brian Maletis, founder of fatcork , a Seattle-based company that imports small-producer champagne directly from France and sells it to customers across the United States. Brian shares the story behind fatcork and how a career that started in the family wine distribution business eventually led him to launch his own company focused en...

What happens when marketers lead with helping instead of selling? In this episode of The Field Guide Podcast , Peter talks with Rachel Smith and Dalton Joyner of Big Sky Automation about a practical, results-driven approach to local marketing. They break down how their Community Card: a shared direct-mail postcard that helps service-based businesses stay top of mind through repetition, trust, and...

If your website should be generating leads but isn’t, this episode breaks down exactly why. Peter walks through the seven most common places small businesses lose leads, from missing call tracking to Google Business Profile mistakes, leaky websites, slow follow-up, poor lead nurture, mismanaged ad spend, and more. Make sure you download today’s episode resources, including the free Lead Leak Detec...

In this episode of The Field Guide, host Peter Wilson sits down with Peter Bacon of CallTrackingMetrics (CTM), to dive deep into the tools, technology, and strategy behind modern call tracking, and why it remains one of the most important components of lead attribution for small and local businesses. This episode is a must-listen for agencies, marketers, and business owners who want clearer insigh...

In this episode of The Field Guide , host Peter sits down with social media manager Ivy Moore to unpack what it really takes to run a successful social media account for your business in 2025. With years of experience managing social channels for consumer brands, retail, and now the champagne importer fatcork, Ivy shares practical insights on: Why social media still matters for brand legitimacy an...

Bianca D’Alessio is no stranger to high stakes and high standards. As the star of HBO Max’s Selling the Hamptons , New York’s top-ranked real estate broker, and founder of one of the nation’s most successful brokerage teams, she oversees a jaw-dropping $10 billion portfolio. But in her new book, Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Power and Lead with Lasting Impact , Bianca reveals that...

In this episode, we dig into the grassroots world of "rock bag marketing." Yes, literally dropping a rock and a business card in a plastic bag on someone's driveway. Peter unpacks the bold, low-budget tactic and explores whether its shock value outweighs the brand risks. But the story doesn't stop there. Tune in for a smarter, classier alternative: door hanger marketing. Learn how high-quality, hy...

In part two of Don’t Be Afraid of the Numbers , Peter and Emily break down Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)—the essential metric that shows what your customers are really worth over the long haul. From calculating LTV step-by-step to using it as a compass for sustainable growth, they turn intimidating math into strategic insight you can actually use. Packed with real-world examples—from HVAC tune-up...

In the kickoff to our Don’t Be Afraid of the Numbers mini-series, Peter and Emily break down the Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)—the single, powerful metric that ties together your marketing spend and sales performance into one clear, no-fluff number. You'll learn how to calculate CAC step-by-step, why it matters more than you think, and how it reveals the health of your marketing and sales pipeli...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Midkiff, Vice President of Architextures, to trace an extraordinary 45-year journey in specialty construction. From transforming a modest family business into a leader in acoustic wall systems, Mark shares pivotal moments—from breakthrough projects to the delicate art of delegation and succession planning. Hear how a father-son handoff and a heartfelt philoso...

After 13 years as “bizmktg.com,” we finally secured the name that always felt like ours—BizMarketing. In this episode, Peter and Emily share the behind-the-scenes story of our rebrand, what prompted the change, the near-miss with "Get BizMarketing," and why sometimes it’s better to be clear than clever.  If you're a business owner thinking about a rebrand—or even just refining your brand—this epis...

Peter sits down with Stephen Steers, author of " Superpower Storytelling ," to explore the power of storytelling in sales and business. Stephen, who combines his experience as a sales consultant and stand-up comedian, shares his journey from near-death construction worker to successful entrepreneur, and reveals his proven frameworks for effective storytelling in business. Stephen shares the three...

Peter showcases how he used Google’s NotebookLM, an AI tool that simplifies podcast creation. The first part explains the process of generating a podcast episode using NotebookLM, where he pulled information from various sources, including YouTube videos. He highlights how the tool synthesizes content based on specific prompts. The second part features the podcast created by NotebookLM, centered o...

In this episode of Biz & Life Done Well, Peter sits down with Michael Thompson, author of "Shy by Design: 12 Timeless Principles to Quietly Stand Out." Michael shares his journey from a shy, stuttering child to a successful career coach and author. Key topics they discussed: - Michael's background and motivation for writing "Shy by Design" - The power of curiosity in personal and professional...

Standing out from the competition can feel like an uphill battle. Whether you're struggling to craft the perfect sales pitch or wondering how to position yourself as a trusted advisor rather than just another vendor, listen up!  Join Peter Wilson, President of bizmktg.com, and Chris Goldman, Marketing Strategist and Business Coach, as they reveal the secrets to creating sales pitches that not only...

Peter sits down with Paul Sanneman, founder of Contractor Staffing Source. Paul shares his expertise on solving one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today: finding and retaining quality employees. Key takeaways from this episode include: - The importance of continuous recruitment in the construction industry - Debunking common hiring myths that hold contractors back - Lev...

🚨 Attention Business Owners: Don't Fall for Domain Listing Scams! 🚨 In this episode, we expose a recurring scam targeting businesses - domain listing services that solicitation letters that look like invoices. Learn how to protect your company from unnecessary expenses and misleading offers. Key topics covered: Recent examples of domain listing scams (Domain Listings, LLC and Domain Directory, L...

Becoming A Self-Reliant Leader with Author Jan Rutherford Peter sits down with Jan Rutherford, a former Green Beret turned executive coach and author, to discuss his new book "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Discipline Forge Indomitable Teams." Rutherford shares his unique journey from military service to the corporate world, emphasizing how his experiences shaped his leadership philo...

In this behind-the-scenes look, Peter Wilson, host of the “Biz and Life Done Well” podcast, walks you through the tools and processes used to create podcast episodes. Peter showcases powerful software solutions including Descript for transcription and editing, Auphonic for audio processing, and AI tools like Claude for content analysis. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, thi...

Peter Wilson is joined by Emily Caddell, the director of marketing at bizmktg.com. They dive into real-world business challenges shared by their listeners and offer insightful solutions to help take their businesses to the next level. Peter and Emily address the following listener challenges: Ken - shares his struggle with maintaining a positive attitude amidst daily monotony. Peter offers strateg...

Join Peter Wilson as he sits down with Kirk and Donna Gronvold, the husband and wife team behind Blue Water Design Build, a Seattle-based design-build firm specializing in home renovations and remodels. In this engaging episode, Kirk and Donna share their passion for transforming outdated homes into beautiful, functional spaces that families love. Discover the origin of the Blue Water name and how...

Peter interviews Jake Flothe, in-house counsel for Resource Transition Consultants (RTC), a company specializing in receivership services. Jake explains the concept of receivership, an alternative to bankruptcy that involves either turning around distressed businesses or liquidating their assets.  Jake highlights the cost-effectiveness and streamlined nature of receivership compared to traditional...

Peter interviews Lillyan Hendershot, the Art Director and Co-Founder of The Branding Iron. In this episode, Peter and Lillyan reminisce about their shared history, from their early days working together to the growth of their respective businesses. Discover how Lillyan transitioned from a fine arts background to graphic design and entrepreneurship, and learn about the diverse range of services The...