Imagine being locked up in prison for a serious crime. You’re probably thinking, “This is it. My life is over. I have no future, even if I get out of here. How am I going to work? Who’s going to hire me?” In this episode from October 2022, we talk to someone who knows very well that there is hope of second chances. Bryan Kelley serves as the CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), an innovative nonprofit organization that unites business executives and inmates through...

Ian Norris, Professor of Marketing and Psychology at Berea College in Kentucky, returns to talk about second-place brands. Sure, we all want our business to be the market leader, but what are some ways you can find success from the second or third-place spot? We cover examples such as Avis, Pepsi, and even Megadeth. 🔶 BRAND OUTLAW PODCAST 🎙 Subscribe at brand-outlaw.captivate.fm or wherever you get podcasts 🔶 FREE BUYER PERSONA PLAYBOOK Download yours at thebrandoutlaw.com 🔶 GET HELP WITH...

We talk with Chris Madden, Co-Founder of Matchnode, a digital marketing agency that has worked on campaigns for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Indiana University, and New Balance. Chris also founded Seabums, an NFT project with the goal of improving ocean health. They've so far raised over $140,000 for water-related causes and have brought people across the world together to clean up waterways. 🔶 BRAND OUTLAW PODCAST 🎙 Subscribe at brand-outlaw.captivate.fm or...

Last year, we talked to Toronto sludge metal musician The Bunn. He had just launched an ambitious project to build a music career in a niche genre starting at age 50. A year later, we check in to see how the project is going, his wins and setbacks, and what the future holds. We discuss how art and business don't have to be incompatible, serving your niche, and defining The Bunn brand. And as a piece of bonus content, we end with one of his songs - "Decorated" from WTLNDS. Support The Bunn...

Bunny Young is a third-generation entrepreneur, an international speaker, former stuntwoman, and retired therapist. She founded her company, A Better Place Consulting to empower and educate businesses and organizations about the impact of work-life alignment. Bunny joined the Brand Outlaw to discuss burnout prevention, workplace flexibility, and life with a service animal. Follow Bunny on LinkedIn. 🔶 BRAND OUTLAW PODCAST 🎙 Subscribe at brand-outlaw.captivate.fm or wherever you get...

Pepsi recently unveiled new branding, the first major rebrand since 2008. In this quick-hit episode, Matt breaks down the key elements of the new look and gives his thoughts on how it compares to the previous one. Check out the rebrand here: https://thebrandoutlaw.com/new-pepsi-logo-goes-back-to-bold/ 🔶 BRAND OUTLAW PODCAST 🎙 Subscribe at brand-outlaw.captivate.fm or wherever you get podcasts 🔶 FREE BUYER PERSONA PLAYBOOK Download yours at thebrandoutlaw.com 🔶 GET HELP WITH YOUR BRAND...

In part two of our interview with DC "The Brain Supreme" Glenn, of Tag Team, we talk about "Whoomp! There It Is" and how musicians can create killer live shows when most of the audience knows only one song. DC continues giving life and business advice that everyone should hear. And you'll never believe his answer when we ask what music he listens to today. tagteambackagain.com TRANSCRIPT 🔶 BRAND OUTLAW PODCAST 🎙 Subscribe at brand-outlaw.captivate.fm or wherever you get podcasts 🔶 FREE...

PARTY PEOPLE!!! DC "The Brain Supreme" Glenn, one half of the iconic rap duo Tag Team, joins the Brand Outlaw podcast for a fun and educational two-part conversation. In this episode, he talks about how being caught off guard by bad deals and misattribution jolted him toward learning and mastering digital marketing skills, mainly SEO. We discuss the success of Tag Team's "Scoop! There It Is" GEICO commercial and the mindset of planting seeds (like "Whoomp! There It Is") that decades later...

Video games are big business ... but not just for the game companies themselves. Gaming presents opportunities for all types of brands to connect with new audiences. If you're wondering how your business might benefit from a presence in the video game world, this episode is for you. We talk to Jamin Warren, Founder and CEO of Twofivesix, a company that connects its clients to the gaming community. We discuss how companies can reach gamers in an authentic way that doesn't compromise their...

How well do you understand your customer base? Sure, you probably know all the demographic info of your current and ideal customers. But do you get them on a deeper level? Do you empathize with their hopes, fears, and frustrations as they relate to your business? In this episode, Matt and Nick talk about how buyer personas can help you know exactly who your customers are so that you can superserve them and build brand loyalty. Click here to learn more about buyer personas and to download...

Starting a music career at age 50 is hard enough. How about doing it in a niche metal genre? It sounds crazy, but it just might work for The Bunn. Scott “The Bunn” Sokoloski is the 50 year old, baritone, sludge metal guy on the internet. A self propelled, high functioning autistic, multidisciplinary artist, he's on a mission to build a music career in a niche style while leveraging his neurodiversity as a creative asset. It's a tall order, but his careful planning and infectious optimism...

If you try to appeal to everyone, you appeal to no one. Figure out who your core audience is, and solve their problems better than anyone else can. Derrick Baker knows all about doubling down on a core audience. His apparel company Relish Brand isn’t for everyone. He took his hometown pride in the great city of Chicago and made clothes specifically for people who love the Windy City as much as he does ... but with a punk rock aesthetic. Does that leave potential customers on the table?...

Are Super Bowl ad-makers lazy? Nick and Matt lament this year's over-reliance on celebrities and nostalgia at the expense of coherent storytelling. They cover a few bright spots, though, including one that didn't even air on TV. Find more branding and marketing content at thebrandoutlaw.com. Sign up for our Breakdown newsletter to get useful podcasts, videos, and articles in your inbox. Brand Outlaw is brought to you by Superkick Branding. We design clear brand messaging and positioning...

In this episode, we highlight a wonderful nonprofit doing important work here in the United States. Veterans Moving Forward is an organization that provides service dogs and canine therapy services to veterans with physical and/or mental health challenges, at no cost to the veteran. We talk to President and CEO Gordon Sumner about how these incredible animals are changing and even saving the lives of people who've served our country.  Find more branding and marketing content at...

Nick and Matt give their thoughts on content generated by artificial intelligence: Why we should embrace it rather than fear it, legal and ethical implications, and why this is hopefully the end of hilarious salad stock photos. Read up on how to get started with AI in this Brand Outlaw article. Find more branding and marketing content at thebrandoutlaw.com. Sign up for our Breakdown newsletter to get useful podcasts, videos, and articles in your inbox. Brand Outlaw is brought to you by...

Amber Hinds is striving to create a world where all people have equal access to information and tools on the internet, regardless of ability. She's the CEO of Equalize Digital, Inc., a Certified B Corp specializing in WordPress accessibility, maker of the Accessibility Checker plugin, and lead organizer of the WordPress Accessibility Meetup and WordPress Accessibility Day conference. We talk to her about the importance of online accessibility, how to know if your site needs improvement, and...

Nick and Matt list their favorite and least favorite logos from the NFL plus offer some tips to consider with your own branding. To see what we're talking about, follow along at sportslogos.net. Find more branding and marketing content at thebrandoutlaw.com. Sign up for our Breakdown newsletter to get useful podcasts, videos, and articles in your inbox. Brand Outlaw is brought to you by Superkick Branding. We design clear brand messaging and positioning to help your business stand out:...

It's been a while since we've talked about Elon Musk. And boy, do we have things to say. In this episode, we cover Musk's running of Twitter since he purchased it and how it's tarnished his image as a creative visionary. There are lessons here anyone should consider when leading a team. Find more branding and marketing content at thebrandoutlaw.com. Sign up for our Breakdown newsletter to get useful podcasts, videos, and articles in your inbox. Brand Outlaw is brought to you by Superkick...

If one of your goals for ‘23 is developing your leadership acumen, this episode is for you. Karan Ferrell-Rhodes led the global high potential program at Microsoft and is now an Executive Coach and CEO of Shockingly Different Leadership. She’s also the author of Lead at the Top of Your Game: How to Deliver Compelling Influence, Drive Differentiating Value, and Build an Impeccable Leadership Brand . In this book, Karen shares the lessons she’s learned from her research on the world's highest...

Thank you so much for being a Brand Outlaw listener. As we close out 2022, we're revisiting a few of our favorite conversations. Flip through the archives for full episodes. Today, we'll hear from: HydroFlask founder Travis RosbachMelissa DaSilva of QueerNFTAndrea Borgen Abdallah from One Fair WageMichael Stein from the Long Shot Leaders podcastGraphic designer Aaron DraplinPlus: We have the meats - Matt and Nick review ads from Arby's and Oscar Meyer Find more podcasts, videos, and...

In this quick-hit episode, Nick goes over three crucial questions you need to ask when hiring an agency to run your digital advertising. What are the key points to consider and the red flags to watch out for? Brand Outlaw website BRAND OUTLAW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUPERKICK For your brand to succeed, you need to proudly and clearly plant your flag. Superkick will work with you to develop your brand's positioning, messaging, and more. Visit superkickbranding.com. Got a question you want us to...

People across the U.S. turn to Jimmy Bryant's business Atomicchild to show off their love of the outdoors. In fact, his products are sold in outdoor retailers such as REI. But his road to success wasn't easy. On this episode, he shares his struggles and the approaches he took to turn things around and build the Atomicchild brand. Jimmy's Website Jimmy on YouTube  Jimmy's Facebook page @atomicchilddesign on Instagram Brand Outlaw website BRAND OUTLAW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUPERKICK For...

Not all customers are created equal, so looking at the average digital ad customer is a big missed opportunity. This week, Nick explains the 80/20 rule and how you can use it to make your pay-per-click ads more efficient and profitable. Brand Outlaw website BRAND OUTLAW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUPERKICK For your brand to succeed, you need to proudly and clearly plant your flag. Superkick will work with you to develop your brand's positioning, messaging, and more. Visit...

We're taking a little time off as we continue recovering from our Thanksgiving food comas. But since this is Giving Tuesday, we're revisiting an episode covering an excellent non-profit we not only interviewed but have also worked with through Superkick Branding. Kevin Bligh and his wife Beth Ann started the Crayon Project to provide schools with free multicultural art supplies. It was meant to be a small family project, but word spread rapidly. They got requests for art supply care...