Marketing without the hype - why we need a  back to basics approach – MAF298 Is our marketing activity annoying our customers? Is the hype surrounding the latest digital toys making obsessed with digital tactics at the expense of customer focus? Maybe it’s time to rediscover the full marketing picture, including customer research, product development, pricing, and promotion. How to develop a deep understanding of customers and their needs, and articulate a clear, standout offer that is...

Why The Apprentice candidates will ALWAYS screw up their marketing tasks - MAF297 This week let's talk about the customer and how marketing always starts with a deep almost obsessive understanding of the customer. And we're going to talk about this with reference to TV's The Apprentice and why the candidates will always fail their marketing tasks. This is episode 297 of the MAF Podcast - part of the 2023 Simply Marketing Series. What you’ll hear about in this episode: Why marketing always...

This ancient but simple marketing formula still works now - Monroe's Motivated Sequence - MAF296 This week let's talk about a delightfully simple structure for creating a piece of marketing content. It could be an advert, social media post or a conference speech. It's called Monroe's Motivated Sequence. This is episode 296 of the MAF Podcast - part of the 2023 Simply Marketing Series. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • What are some of the simplest marketing communications...

Don't fall into the ChatGTP bland, average and mediocre (BAM) trap - MAF295 You're probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about ChatGPT already but you really need to hear this. And I really need to get this off my chest. Please don't fall into the ChatGPT bland, average and mediocre trap. This is episode 295 of the MAF Podcast - part of the 2023 Simply Marketing Series. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • What ChatGPT is and how it works • Prompts can create poems, stories, PHP...

Introducing "The Simply Marketing Series" - Strategy versus tactics - MAF294 This week let's talk about the difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics. It's part of a new shorter, bite-sized series of episodes called the Simply Marketing series. This is episode 294 of the MAF Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • The new shorter format of the show for the first part of 2023 • The Simply Marketing series of episodes • Why digital marketing tactics may have...

Marketing truths that bear repeating - time and time AGAIN - MAF293 This week let's talk about marketing truths that bear repeating - AGAIN. Which really means busting some marketing myths that won't go away. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 29 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode:  3 marketing truths we need to revisit again and againWhy marketing is more than just promotionThe full academic marketing strategy model versus the...

Why simplicity can be a business strategy and how you can invest in it - MAF292 This week let's talk about simplicity. Simplicity can be a strategy. Simplicity can be your competitive advantage. It's hard but it's what customers want. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 292 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Why are so many businesses complex? • How complex language can be a red flag for complicated products and processes • What...

How financial advice is evolving, using TikTok and targeting Gen Z with Eunicia Peret - MAF291 This week let's talk about how financial advice is evolving. We'll also look at how to make financial planning more attractive to younger clients and we'll challenge some of the financial advice being given on TikTok. My guest is Eunicia Peret and this is episode 291 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast What you’ll hear about in this episode: How Eunicia went from a strategic career to building The...

When marketing creatives suck - is your strategy to blame? - MAF290 This week let's talk about that sinking feeling you get when you realise your marketing creatives suck. It's easy to blame the agency and to look elsewhere. But maybe it's all about your strategy. Or lack of it. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 290 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode:   The Agency Pitch Meeting and when creatives suckWhy it's likely down to your...

More than logos and fonts - how to create a strong brand with David O'Hearns - MAF289 This week let's talk about brand and positioning But we'll go beyond logos, fonts and colours and look at what branding is really about. My guest is David O'Hearns and this is episode 289 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Why branding is more than logos, fonts and colours • Brand values and tone of voice • How looking at what you hate can reveal what you stand...

Great creative business ideas - is in-person or online the best way to find them? - MAF288 This week let's talk about coming up with creative business ideas. Is an in-person setting better than an online one for finding them? Let's grab a coffee and talk about it some more. This is episode 288 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Creativity that comes from accidental conversations • Has the pandemic-inspired move to online meetings stifled...

Avoid these 6 marketing mistakes (reaction episode) - MAF287 This week let’s talk about 6 of the biggest mistakes made by digital marketers. And this is a reaction episode where I riff on the messages contained in a piece of content that caught my attention. It’s just me and the mic and this is episode 287 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • A deep almost obsessive understanding of your customer • The importance of setting goals • Why a written...

Get rid of complex language and jargon to engage more customers - Web3 included - MAF286 This week let’s talk about why we must get rid of complex language, jargon, gobbledygook and the passive voice if we want to engage more customers. And I mean in all industries with a particular nod towards the emerging Web3 space. It’s just me and the mic and this is episode 286 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: Why industry language and jargon is like a foreign languageIs Web3babble...

Fixing the gulf between sales and marketing with Jenny Knighting - MAF285 This week, let's talk about the tension that often exists between sales and marketing departments in companies Both want the same thing - business success - so how can we bridge the gulf between the two My guest is Jenny Knighting and this is episode 285 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast We chat about: • From sales background to marketing - what makes Jenny tick? • Why is there sometimes a gulf between sales and...

The right way to use email lists to grow your business with Rob and Kennedy - MAF284 This week, let's talk about email lists and putting together emails that engage your customers and lead to sales. There's so much annoying email marketing out there. Let's look at the right way to do it. My guests are Rob and Kennedy, and this is episode 284 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • Why you shouldn't always listen to the "gurus" about email marketing • How to make email...

How the power of PR has changed in the digital world with Jamie Brownlee - MAF283 This week, let's talk about how PR has changed in the digital world. How can you get great stories about your business into the media and protect yourself if something goes wrong? My guest is Jamie Brownlee and this is episode 283 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • How Jamie built his PR career and his work with Greentarget • What exactly is PR? • The benefits of getting positive stories...

How to stand out as a podcast guest with Kristin Molenaar - MAF282 This week, let's talk about how to stand out as a podcast guest. And that means not doing what everyone else does. My guest is Kristin Molenaar and this is episode 282 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: How Kristin built her AgencyPitching podcast hosts and how to be a stand out guestWhy being a guest on a podcast is ineffective for many entrepreneurs (and how to be a profitable guest instead).Now is the time...

NOT the 2022 marketing predictions episode - MAF281 This is NOT. Repeat not a 2022 marketing predictions episode. But we will be talking about some marketing certainties. It's just me and the mic and this is episode 281 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: The annual flood of marketing prediction articles, videos and podcastsWhy they highlight a fundamental view the world has about marketingIt’s not all about communications tacticsThe other parts of marketing we don’t talk...

Creating simple content for complex technology markets with Anu Ramani - MAF280This week let's talk about how to keep it simple when creating content marketing for complex markets and industries. And just what is the role of creative agencies in this process? My guest is Anu Ramani and this is episode 280 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast We chat about:• Why Anu started Isoline Communications to focus on content marketing for tech industries • Has digital marketing become too focussed on...

Is Meta lipstick on the Facebook pig and what is The Metaverse anyway? - MAF279 This week let's talk about the rebrand of Facebook and whether it's just lipstick on a pig. And what exactly is The Metaverse? It's just me and the mic and this is episode 279 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • Facebook rebrands its holding company to Meta • How Meta is a House of Brands • Will Meta allow Facebook to shake off its tarnished reputation? • What is The Metaverse and why is it so...

No one had heard of Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces. An important marketing lesson - MAF278 This week let's talk about why we should assume our customers know nothing when planning our marketing. And something that happened at my first in-person event since February 2021. It's just me and the mic and this is episode 278 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • How each industry has it's own language and jargon that can put customers off • The phenomenon of live audio platforms -...

Don't compromise on video quality in your content marketing - MAF277 This week, let's talk about video quality when creating content for your business. It's all about resolution, frame rate, lighting and audio. It's just me and the mic and this is episode 277 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: Have Zoom and Teams made poor quality video acceptable - or at least tolerable?The film and TV studio in your pocket and how to use itVideo resolution from Standard, to High...

Why simple is hard and so many things are complicated - time for change - MAF276 This week, let's talk about keeping things simple in a complicated world. Why simple is hard and why so many things are complicated. It's just me and the mic and this is episode 276 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • Why simple is hard and why so many things are complicated • Is simple more engaging for customers? • The "Masterchef Australia" example • Red Amber Green and the Covid travel...

How to put together a remarkable presentation - MAF275 This week, let's talk putting together a remarkable talk or presentation. And we're not going to open PowerPoint until the very end. It's just me and the mic and this is episode 275 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. We chat about: • Why PowerPoint shouldn't drive the structure of your talk • Focusing on the needs of the customer (event organiser) and the audience • The "Idea worth spreading" • Knowledge, emotional and action goals to...