The Speak Easy Podcast

Last episode, Karen dove into how and why she decided to move buildings even after all the unexpected changes 2020 brought – and this week, it's Jen's turn. To some, a monumental business move might not seem like the most logical thing to do this year; but why wouldn't you take an opportunity when one presents itself? Jen lets us in on the details of her big office move at Redhead Design Studio an...

Animation is a powerful video tool that is often overlooked. Animation can be used to demonstrate science at the cellular level, show an entire kitchen simultaneously in chaos, explain abstract concepts, or even make your software come to life. In short, animation can get the job done. Animation and motion graphics are phenomenal video marketing solutions that give us other options for video when...

When we're surrounded by monumental changes in the world, our natural reaction is to stop, slow down, and stay put. We definitely understand the draw to seek what's comfortable and safe. (After all, we could all use some stability these days.) Yet, as business owners, we need to move forward with changes that will ultimately best serve our teams and clients. Regardless of the circumstances, why wo...

Businesses across industries have faced countless challenges this year – and in the face of those challenges comes the pressure to perform, no matter the circumstances. We're talking about performing under pressure, regardless of whether or not we have the answers. How can we keep up with our own standards, and how can we get through this all the "right" way? (If there even is a "right" way?) In t...

There's no doubt that the results of the presidential election will have a direct impact on our work and the businesses we work with. There's also no doubt that this has been an utterly exhausting, overwhelming, frustrating, confusing, and scary week. This minisode, we switch things up a bit by taking a moment to check in with one another and share our feelings, post-election. What led us here as...

As social media has grown, so has the presence and success of video. When it comes to changing the behaviors of users, video has shown remarkable success on social media and beyond. But what's actually going on in the audience's brains that makes video so successful? How can we harness the ROI of video for our own brands, across formats? Turns out, there's a science to creating and using video to...

Businesses big and small have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in one way or another. How does this affect nonprofits specifically, and what innovations can they embrace in order to keep up? Few people know the answers to these questions better than Joan Gustafson, external affairs officer at the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and our guest this episode. For the past several months, Jo...

In the marketing world, language is one of the top tools for impactful and effective communication. As communicators, it is important that our brand language develops with the world around us. Not only does it help our brands stay relevant, but it helps them grow stronger and more idealized. In this week's Strategy Series mini episode, Jen breaks down the nuances of how language is developing and...

We're going back to B2B and B2C basics. There are countless nuances in the marketing world and, this episode, we're breaking them down. In an industry fraught with acronyms, it's imperative that we have a full understanding of what they all mean. What makes business-to-business communication unique from business-to-consumer communication? What about business-to-government, and peer-to-peer? Whethe...

Video is often an under-utilized tool in business, especially when it comes to nonprofits. Not only can video be used to tell the story of your organization, but it can also be used in almost all marketing efforts to grow your business. Whether it's member engagement, funding development, or even public policy and advocacy, how can we can take advantage of video beyond the marketing realm? Having...

Throwing in the towel feels like a bad thing. We've always heard a barrage of phrases like, "Only losers quit" or "Quitters never win." But, depending on the situation, we don't always see it that way. While the concept of quitting can be hard to come to terms with, sometimes quitting is necessary for our success. When something no longer serves you or is demanding all of your time and energy but...

As communicators, it's our job to help our clients figure out what they need to reach their goals. Often times, many clients don't even realize that what they need is branded marketing. In this mini episode, Jen breaks down the importance of knowing the difference between outreach, marketing and branding and how, if you want your outreach to be effective, you can't have one without the other. Wher...

Working during the pandemic has shifted the way we go about our everyday lives. We've talked about it in past episodes, but the pandemic has uprooted us and still keeps many of us at home. It has forced us to reevaluate the things that are important to us and has shifted how we work – and it's had a big impact on resources, efficiency and waste. Every individual is wasteful to a certain extent, wh...

Trust is a key factor in any healthy relationship, but especially in client relationships. As creatives, we need to trust our client to tell us what they are looking for and what they expect, and they need to trust us to deliver on that. It doesn't end there though. We also need to trust the client's audience. When we trust that the audience will be invested in the work we are producing, that aids...

This episode, we are joined by a very special guest: Susi Elkins, director of broadcasting and general manager at WKAR Public Media in East Lansing, Michigan. As station manager, she oversees all of the station's programming including original content and production, as well as partnerships across all of WKAR's broadcasting platforms. During her 25 years at WKAR, Susi has learned a thing or two ab...

We know – we all want our brands to be everyone's best friend. But here’s the deal: The narrower you can get your target market, the easier your marketing becomes. Marketing to fewer people to have a greater chance at success sounds counterintuitive. But it’s not. In this Strategy Series minisode, Jen discusses how refining your target markets and honing in on their needs can help you speak more c...

The pandemic has swept through our lives and almost universally changed everything. While we will be living among COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, we’ve already started sorting through the rubble to evaluate what's happened, how we’ve coped, and how we’ll move on. Like any major life event, there are lessons to be learned along the way. For business owners and parents right now, there are a fe...

Let's be real: Zoom calls aren't always as easy as they should be. The bigger the call, the messier the scenario. And, these days, it doesn't look like things will be going back to "normal" any time soon. Many businesses are making the move to hosting virtual events, and whether they're small meetings or large-scale fundraisers, it's imperative that these run as smoothly as possible. In this week'...

These days, a lot of us find ourselves drifting off in thought and reevaluating our past decisions. The global pandemic has taken away a lot of the physical tethers that we have to where we live, such as needing to go into our offices. With work from home being the new norm, it's not only interesting but healthy to question our decisions and why we do what we do. This week, we talk about our own l...

Do you know what your organization values? Does your staff? What about your customers? This week's Strategy Series mini episode explores the importance of knowing your business's values, and how you can demonstrate these values through action. Jen uses her personal experience to discuss the foundational importance of clearly defined and outlined brand values. Listen in for actionable steps you can...

How many times have you stopped yourself from going after what you wanted? Whether it was because you were afraid of failure, rejection, or adding to workload, you probably have a million reasons. Now, how many times have you said “fuck it” and done it anyway? In spite of what others thought or the thousands of reasons not to try, you did it. This week, we’re talking about when you should just go...

Anyone who has worked with or on a videography team knows the amount of work that goes into a shoot. From organizing locations to shooting in tight spaces, Karen and her team manage to keep things running smoothly regardless of the circumstances. But COVID-19 is flipping the script on many best practices in the film world. How can we return to filming during a pandemic? In the second episode of ou...

Our newest guest, Paula Herbart, knows a thing or two about leading through uncertainty. As president of the Michigan Education Association, the shifting K-12 landscape led Paula to further reevaluate the changes that need to take place in education, particularly regarding equal access to lesson plans, food and health. Paula has long believed that the right to a quality education is the base for m...

In our first episode of the Strategy Series, Jen shares what we can learn from the global pandemic to prepare for the next crisis, from a business and marketing perspective. There are certain business strategies that will likely be here to stay, long after the pandemic has gone. The tricky thing is determining what your customers will want to keep, and how these can help serve your revenue stream...

Times are tricky right now. 2020 continues to deliver change and challenges, and a lot of people are experiencing newfound stress and guilt in their work-from-home lives. We are feeling guilty for not spending enough time with our families, on our businesses, in our communities, or learning a new hobby. There is so much uncertainty, which leads to a collective self-consciousness that only feeds in...