The Marketing Gateway

Does customer service really help with marketing? As a matter of fact, yes! Word of mouth is extremely important to consumers when looking into a brand, so a bad experience for one person could completely put another off your brand without any input from you! And while taking care of your customer is important, taking care of your employees is important too. They are often considered the face of t...

While AI can be a helpful tool, it can also be pretty unreliable. Not only to you have proof from other people, but it even admits it itself! If that's the case, why use it for marketing? In today's episode, I'll give some examples of how to effectively use AI for marketing. Love it or hate it, AI is becoming a bigger part of the world around us, so maybe we can use it for good! SOURCES: https://w...

Last time you went shopping, do you remember seeing an ad for a particular brand? RMNs, you've definitely seen them, but maybe you didn't know it had a name. Now you do! In today's episode, we talk all about them, their advantages, and those pesky disadvantages! SOURCES: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/the-future-retail-media-networks-heres-what-the-numbers-say/742455/ https://www.sellerapp.com...

Drop the beat, literally! The future of advertising is here, with no sound required! Do you think your ads can speak without a sound? No sound ads aren’t just silence; they're a strategy to engage viewers in a busy digital world. Grabbing the attention of the viewer is the important part! SOURCES: https://www.moreaboutadvertising.com/2025/09/silent-creative-how-no-sound-ads-win-attention/ https://...

What is treatonomics and how is it useful for marketing? Find out in today's episode! Remember to make it easy and stress free for your consumer. That's what it is all about! SOURCES: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/09/from-lipsticks-to-concerts-the-treatonomics-trend-is-booming.html https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/the-treatonomics-trend-explained-6494332/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personal...

The heyday of influencer marketing may be over in 2026! Today we are discussing the impact of AI and bots on the industry and why brands need to rethink their strategies. Important insight: Focus on real relationships, not vanity metrics! SOURCES: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/tilly-norwood-creator-responds-fears-over-AI-actors/story?id=128262727 https://www.404media.co/hack-reveals-the-a16z-...

Are you still chasing the first page of Google? With AI searches taking over, being on page one isn’t enough anymore!  Remember: Established brands have an edge, but new players need to innovate fast! This is the final part of my series this week, but tune in next week as we look forward to 2026! SOURCES: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/new-front-door-...

Is email marketing becoming obsolete? Join us as we uncover the harsh truth about email engagement in today’s digital world! From spam filters to inbox blindness, it’s clear that we need to adapt! This is part 4 of my 5 part series! The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of  https://www.researchplan.com/ ) and featuring guests from the St....

Feeling overwhelmed by AI hype?  In today's episode, we unpack the reality of AI’s impact on marketing and introduce the idea of Authentic Humanity. Authenticity is key in building trust with customers.  AI can be a tool, but it’s not replacing the human touch anytime soon!  This is part 3 of my 5 part series this week! SOURCES: https://aimagazine.com/news/mit-why-95-of-enterprise-ai-investments-f...

In today's episode, we dive into how major brands like Disney, Southwest Airlines, and Target strayed from their core values and faced the fallout. The lesson? Staying true to your brand matters more than short-term gains! This is part 2 of my 5 part series this week! SOURCES: https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/20/airline-starts-charging-double-plus-size-passengers-25651583/ https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/...

In 2025, many brands like Apple TV and Microsoft made subtle changes that improved their image! But then there are brands like the Philadelphia Museum of Art that learned the hard way that if you don’t engage your community, you might end up worse than you were before! This is part 1 of a 5 part series I'm doing this week! SOURCES: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/12/02/rebrands-logo-2025/ https://www....

AI can’t do it all! Did you know an AI named Claudius was tasked with running a vending machine and failed spectacularly? From selling products at a loss to bizarre identity claims, this episode highlights the amusing (and concerning) limitations of AI. SOURCE: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1 --------------------------------------- The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted...

Today, I'm speaking with the 2 people that help keep this show going, Trish Mertens and Holly Wooten! Trish is in charge of scheduling for the podcast, but she is also our interview coordinator on the RPG side. Holly is the in charge of production, but also does data analysis on the RPG side. I enjoyed getting to have a casual chat with them, while getting to introduce them to our audience, and I...

Ever thought about how superheroes could relate to research? Superman and Batman represent the two distinct styles of insights research! While Superman can embody quantitative analysis with his broad strokes, Batman dives deep into a more qualitative understanding. --------------------------------------- The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, Preside...

What's it like being in marketing and talking to scientists? Find out today in part 2 of my interview with Ed Lahue! Ed's plug: https://sbdc.missouri.edu/ Ed Lahue, MBA is an Innovation Consultant in St. Louis. Ed helps technology start-ups and established businesses expand their innovation efforts through supporting various universities and SBDC centers. He counsels and teaches new business model...

Have you ever wondered how emotions shape group discussions? Today we are diving into the unpredictable world of focus groups and how a professional moderator can guide the conversation! Don't underestimate the power of skilled moderation, it's the key to unlocking genuine insights! ---------------------------------------- The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean...

Think a high NPS equals success? Think again! In this episode, we discuss the pitfalls of relying on NPS as a measure of customer loyalty. Key Insight: Context matters! Customers have different reasons for their recommendations. SOURCES: The One Number You Need to Grow https://nashc.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/the-one-number-you-need-to-know.pdf Decomposing Brand Loyalty: An Examination of Loya...

Today we are diving in the the incredible history of friend and fellow marketing mentor, Ed Lahue! This is part 1 of 2. Tune in for part 2 on Tuesday, December 16th! Ed Lahue, MBA is an Innovation Consultant in St. Louis. Ed helps technology start-ups and established businesses expand their innovation efforts through supporting various universities and SBDC centers. He counsels and teaches new bus...

Ever lost a customer over just a few cents? Listen to my story from my McDonald's days and learn how small mistakes can lead to big consequences in customer relationships. It’s a wake-up call for all businesses to prioritize customer satisfaction! What’s the craziest reason you’ve heard for someone leaving a brand? SOURCES: https://hbr.org/2014/10/the-value-of-keeping-the-right-customers https://w...

Think customer service is just about making the sale? Think again! In this episode, we discuss a pivotal moment in my career that taught me how crucial service is for success. Picture sources (In order of appearance): Miniseries at https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/anonymous-person-paying-with-their-cell-phone-gm1447777322-485498281   Porta from https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/multi-ethnic-group...

Remember Flo from Progressive? She’s not just a face; she’s a marketing genius! In our latest podcast, we explore how mascots like Flo and the Aflac Duck have skyrocketed brand awareness and success. They’re fun, memorable, and can capture your audience's attention like nothing else! Who do you think is the most effective mascot? SOURCES: Mascots by Jeff Marzick https://www.theculturecrush.com/fea...

Console wars: a battle of brands and strategies! The secret? Knowing your customer better than your competitor! Sega’s victory against Nintendo shows the power of understanding your audience! ---------------------------------------- The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of  https://www.researchplan.com/ ) and featuring guests from the St....

Planning is everything! In this episode, we uncover how the G-STIC framework helps marketers avoid pitfalls by clearly defining goals, strategies, and tactics. ---------------------------------------- The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of  https://www.researchplan.com/ ) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond. Every wee...

Ever thought about how brands shape your identity? We’re uncovering how brands influence our identities in our latest episode. From the cool guy with a Mustang to the geek with a Prius, our choices define us!  ARTICLE https://www.scribd.com/document/734592400/schouten-mcalexander-1995   BAUM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Baum_(surgeon)   ATTRIBUTION Leather jacket photo by Adrian Ordonez o...

Ever heard of the infamous Rolling Rock ads featuring a fictitious VP of Marketing? Their outrageous Moonvertising campaign aimed to spark conversation but left many confused instead. SOURCES: SCHLITZ https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/04/06/the-ad-that-made-schlitz-infamous/ https://everything-everywhere.com/the-schlitz-mistake/ https://vinepair.com/articles/schlitz-history-ad-campaign/ https://...