Do you wanna talk marketing and have a few laughs? Good, because Jeff and Francis think marketing should be fun first, educational second, and lecturing never. We interview eclectic guests ranging from dating coaches to mushroom experts, all in an effort to find the most interesting conversations that make marketing fun and creative. Sure, we'll occasionally get into some educational stuff, but it's mostly by accident. We do zero half hour learning sessions. NOPE. Come have a beer, glass of ...
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1
Social media mastermind, Neal Schaffer, tells all
37:51
37:51
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Meet Social media expert Neal Schaffer. He’s come a long way since becoming one of the first people to join Linkedin (true story) — he’s a social media consultant, fractional CMO and author (just to name a few of the many hats he wears). And now he’s making an appearance on the podcast to share his most important lessons learned over the course of …
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Bootstrapping with bathing suits, ft. Yvonne Ivanescu
49:15
49:15
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Yvonne Ivanescu made her share of mistakes while launching an ethical swimwear brand, but they didn't slow her down. This honest entrepreneur, isn't afraid to talk about the struggles — or the triumphs — of creating a brand from scratch. Even Jeff & Francis, who don't hold anything back, were inspired by her authenticity. If you're a struggling ent…
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Meet Jarod Spiewak, marketing's Doogie Howser
50:37
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Jarod Spiewak has been in the marketing game since age 14, but he's been hustling since the 5th grade (which wasn't that long ago for him). Wunderkind jabs aside, he has unique perspectives on marketing and entrepreneurship, particularly where client selection is concerned. He also has a respectable appreciation for '90s films, so as you might imag…
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Shane Barker is back! And he's brought the usual jokes, insights and anecdotes with him. Hear about his exploits since we last spoke in 2018. They involve saving small businesses, trying ayahuasca and being Shane Barker, digital marketer extraordinaire (not necessarily in that order).
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The one where we actually discuss SEO w/ Greg Digneo
48:29
48:29
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Not only do we discuss SEO at length, but also considerations for running an SEO company. Greg Digneo of Content Guppy is one hell of a guest—a great storyteller, a seasoned SEO and a plainspoken poet of sorts. This is one of the good ones, folks. You'll learn stuff, you'll laugh and you'll walk away feeling a little more OK with things than when t…
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Jeff & Francis invite you into their minds
1:06:09
1:06:09
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It’s vintage Above the Fold: Just Jeff, Francis and much ado about nothing pertaining to marketing. You'll learn a bit about VR, a bit about the perils of publishing SEO-tool comparisons and a lot about Francis and Jeff. This is a fun one.
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Do-gooder Diana Fryc sees brands as a force for good, but a lot goes into walking that walk. Fortunately, she knows all the steps. The co-founder of Voodoo Retail, and host of The "Gooder" Podcast, walks us through food equity, conscious capitalism, women in leadership roles, sustainability and more on what is possibly the most important episode of…
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Josh Little dreams of a world with fewer meetings and crunchier pickles. Hear his plan to minimize meetings and maximize crunch on this week's episode of Above the Fold, which is dedicated to everyone out there who's sick and tired of pointless meetings.
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At the intersection of health care & marketing w/ Colin Jeffries
48:30
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How do you market addiction-recovery services? It's an intimate endeavor—as all health care marketing is—and it's one that Colin Jeffries, Director of Marketing & Communications at BrightView, knows a lot about. Listen as he and Francis explore the nuances of health care marketing and the power of empathy in brand messaging.…
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Vanlife: Lawyer turned digital nomad ft. Lisa Jacobs
37:00
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Lisa Jacobs has lived. This lawyer turned van lifer/digital-nomad coach/blogger/influencer is really good at being uncomfortable (and growing from that discomfort). If you're at an inflection point in your life or are considering trying something new, Lisa’s is the voice you need to hear right now. And if not, this is still a really fun use of 37 m…
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Unpacking consumer packaged goods w/ Michael Keplinger of SmashBrand
41:08
41:08
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Grocery shopping is about to get interesting. Because there's a science to how people shop for consumer goods, and Michael Keplinger, SmashBrand's Director of Strategy knows it inside and out. If you've ever wondered why labels look the way they look and say the things they say (or don't), you're in for a treat.…
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Do you know the mushroom man? (ft. Jeff Chilton)
1:08:03
1:08:03
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What's your favorite mushroom? Jeff Chilton, CEO of Nammex, can tell you facts about it that would floor you. In our strangest episode yet, we explore the medicinal, spiritual, mythical, cultural and societal significance of mushrooms. You will never look at a mushroom the same way again. Learn more about Jeff's company here: https://www.nammex.com…
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The drinking episode w/crypto, airships, and rappelling
47:20
47:20
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Featuring Kevin Leeds, developer from Arizona, the gang sips whiskey and talks crypto and Gamestop explosions, reviving airships for the purpose of partying, and rappelling down cliffs in Mexico on your butt. Don't miss this episode of Below the Fold.
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Turning likes into leads with Melissa Berrios
43:12
43:12
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The seriously skilled Melissa Berrios is a former civil engineer from Puerto Rico turned marketing consultant who also happens to be a singer, guitarist, podcaster, and travel blogger. But social media strategy is her bread and butter, and she dished out plenty of wisdom on this episode of Above the Fold. You can learn about Melissa (and listen to …
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Your new New Year's resolution for 2021: Start a podcast (ft. Connor McGann)
1:00:59
1:00:59
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Jeff and Francis kick-off 2021 with the first-ever "found" episode of Above the Fold (we have an unfortunate history of losing episodes, but this is the first time we've found one). The boys are joined by former Brafton employee and content manager extraordinaire, Connor McGann, about what goes into starting a podcast. *Note: This is a must-listen …
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Basement to boardroom: Resilience and SEO with Tony Guarnaccia
44:17
44:17
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Special guest Tony Guarnaccia has lived. He faced homelessness (twice), made a cake for Jennifer Lopez (seriously) and rubbed elbows with executives at some of the world's most recognizable brands. Listen to him tell his story and discuss SEO, entrepreneurship, and resilience with Jeff and Francis.
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Odd jobs and local SEO with guest John Vuong
48:18
48:18
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John Vuong, Local SEO Search owner, and Jeff swap odd-jobs stories (like the time Jeff was a professional mosquito mercenary) before diving into the world of local SEO. Learn, among other things, how not to respond to "getting Karened" on Google.
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How to write content for SEO with Clearscope co-founder Bernard Huang
52:03
52:03
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Clearscope is a tool that helps content marketers and SEO experts create content that will rank in Google Search. Co-founder Bernarnd Huang explains the shifting landscape of Google search and how marketers can use tools to stay ahead of the curve.
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Getting your a** in gear with your side hustle with Will Stevens
50:28
50:28
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Will Stevens of Seer Interactive talks about how he kicked himself into gear to start writing his first book. He also shares predictions on the long-term business ramifications of the coronavirus lockdown.
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The Secret of how we get guests on this show (we get help. lots of it)
37:45
37:45
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How do the boys get such interesting guests? They get help, and one of those people is Jessica Rhodes and her company Interview Connections. Taped in the pro-COVID19 days, this episode looks at the business of getting guests on podcasts and why there's no uniform way to record them. Also y'all should thank her because without Rhodes this podcast wo…
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We will get through this...with our hatred of LinkedIn sales messages
56:14
56:14
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The boys express the realities of the current crisis, only to find their footing again when they realize the one thing that will get them out of their funk - their hatred of LinkedIn sales messages. Better yet, they have thrown out a challenge to the collective LinkedIn community.
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What did it feel like for New Zealand to be one of the first countries to deal with Instagram's new policy of hiding likes? Francis found a digital marketing veteran named Greg Roughan to speak for the entire country on this episode of Above the Fold. Full Transparency: We recorded this back in August of this year and Jeff just found it under a sta…
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This is what's wrong with your Tinder profile, with Meredith Golden
54:28
54:28
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Meredith Golden is the rarest type of person. That thing Golden does? People who can’t figure out why their online dating profiles repel romance come to her for help. And she provides it for a fee. As you might expect, this episode of Above the Fold quickly revealed itself to be one of the most intriguing yet. Here’s what’s inside: Lots of good adv…
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Carman Pirie shoves the sales team deep into the buyer journey
52:20
52:20
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On this episode of Above the Fold, Jeff Baker is accompanied by the soporific stylings of Canadian entrepreneur, marketer, co-founder of Kula Partners, host of the Kula Ring podcast and semi-sonic doppelganger of the late, great Leonard Cohen. The discourse du jour: Reimagining the shape of the sales and marketing funnel.…
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Trent Dyrsmid on quitting a $200k salary playing golf to becoming a financially independent entrepreneur
58:28
58:28
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The year was 2001 and Trent Dyrsmid - founder of the Bright Ideas podcast and Flowster - was earning $200k a year to play golf and go to dinner with stockbrokers. But he was bored and, in his mind, underachieving. Plus, he never cared much for golf. So, he did as the entrepreneurs do: “I decided that I was going to quit that job and I was going to …
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Mike Carroll proposes treaty between sales and marketing, then goes nuclear on Facebook.
52:47
52:47
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To start season three, Mike Carroll from Nutshell joins us for a harmless discussion about how sales and marketing can work well together. Then, without warning, he turns into a rabid beast and goes nuclear on Facebook. Baker introduced his guest, Michael “Mike” Carroll, head of growth at Nutshell CRM. There was also some speak of all the weed Joe …
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Creative and data go together like late-night scotch and fries? David Lemley opens our eyes
53:29
53:29
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Apparently, a great story plus great data can change a marketing campaign. This is a shocking development for Jeff and Francis. Join us and our guest David Lemley as we dig into why numbers and creative can fuel the bottom line.
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Tommy Griffith on starting a $100k side project and vaporware college degrees
54:11
54:11
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Special guest Tommy Griffith of Clickminded talks SEO training courses, college degree scams, and how SEO media has turned into a clickbait industry. 2:00 - Starting a $100k business on the side. 17:00 - The state of the clickbait SEO media industry. 35:40 - Colleges selling worthless digital marketing degrees for $50-100k, before the curriculum is…
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The Thunderdome: 2 men enter with multiple topics. No one survives
51:02
51:02
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An expose on the people who have to manually review and censor offensive and violent content on Facebook. An influencer with over 3 million followers couldn’t sell 36 t-shirts. Northface caught trying to hack Wikipedia. What? Rand lays out the case against Google for the department of justice. Because, they definitely couldn’t figure it out themsel…
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Challenging what you know about SEO with Garrett Mehrguth
42:51
42:51
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Your brand is more important than your website when it comes to SEO. What the hell does that mean? That's exactly what we asked Garrett Mehrguth, CEO of Directive, when he pitched us this podcast topic. Garrett explains the value of not just showing up in search results for the keywords you are targeting, but also having your brand show up in searc…
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Creative talk with Chuck Leddy - the non-data side of content marketing
48:56
48:56
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We talk about data all the freaking time. Why? Because Jeff likes it and Francis cries when he has to think about charts. But in this episode, we talk with Chuck Leddy, a lifelong creative who explains the importance of crafting a brand story. Because yes, a brand story CAN and DOES translate to revenue.…
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What the Duck? A conversation into online privacy with Daniel Davis from DuckDuckGo
50:44
50:44
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DuckDuckGo is a search engine that puts privacy at the forefront of their business model. Seriously, you will get ZERO search customization, because you are anonymous. But is that what people want? Are searchers happy to give up their information in exchange for extremely customized results? It seems to be a mixed bag. People seem to want the custo…
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Tim Soulo of Ahrefs talks searcher intent (and how it can 5x your traffic)
59:14
59:14
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Tim Soulo, CMO and product advisor of Ahrefs, and industry-leading SEO tool, joined us for a discussion on searcher-intent, and SEO trends. Tim explained how a simple modification to a high-value page brought their rankings from the bottom of page one to the top, effectively 5x-ing their traffic within days. Tim also dropped a bombshell on us; Ahre…
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The AI Episode: When The Robots will (or will not) take over with James Vlahos
50:53
50:53
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What happens when you have a deep dive into AI for an hour? You find out Jeff is a closet Taylor Swift fan (according to a chatbot) and Francis has real fear of a robotic Barbie. This all happens thanks to author James Vlahos joining the show who, coincidentally, wrote a book about AI called Talked to Me: How Voice Computing Will Transform the Way …
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Survey says - weird stats equals a high potential to go viral, with Eli Schwartz
48:34
48:34
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Eli Schwartz, former Direct of Growth and SEO at SurveyMonkey joined us to talk about all things SEO, search trends, and the value of surveys. It's been a while hasn't it? This is what happens when your two co-hosts end up taking vacation on opposite weeks. On this episode we welcome SEO and survey expert Eli Schwartz as a guest to take the boys th…
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Nick Eubanks: An SEO company with fully transparent internal costs?!
50:47
50:47
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Nick Eubanks, CEO of the From the Future company joined us to talk about his article that blew up on SparkToro a month ago. In this article he did something crazy... He opened his books to the world, breaking down his exact cost of doing business. Why does anyone care? Well, for starters, nobody has ever done it before, considering cost structures …
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The Future is a Flywheel: What we learned from Rand Fishkin's 97-slide presentation on Digital Marketing
58:08
58:08
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Have you ever seen a 97-slide presentation and lived to tell the tale? Jeff and Francis have and now they know what the future of Digital Marketing is going to look like: a Flywheel. Can either of them explain what that is? That's questionable. The presentation is courtesy of Rand Fishkin, CEO/Founder of SparkToro who goes in detail about what the …
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Below the fold: Jeff is living in Colombia, and Chuck E. Cheese is allegedly making Frankenpizzas
10:35
10:35
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Below the Fold is completely unrelated to marketing and probably a waste of your time. But, sometimes banter about Chuck E. Cheese creating Frankenpizzas is way too hot to leave on the cutting room floor. Also, Jeff is traveling to Colombia, and we have no idea if he will ever be heard from again, so we figured we would get as much mileage out of o…
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Are we headed to a new internet in the future? (only if the one industry figures it out first)
54:17
54:17
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Times are a-changing. Francis and Jeff explore how the internet is evolving from Google potentially turning into a publisher to engagement on Facebook experiencing a downward trend. Where does this all lead to and are we in a Black Mirror episode? Or do we just need more digital and IRL friends? All joking aside, there are real changes in play that…
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Duck Duck Whoa - A world without Google and Backlinking
1:01:53
1:01:53
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94% of content created generates ZERO backlinks, and 1.3% of articles take 74% of all social social shares. Most content does not work, but why? Is it better to be "small data" rather than "big data"? DuckDuckGo addresses this question by collecting zero data about its users, and providing a high-privacy platform. Topic 1: DuckDuckGo Inspired by th…
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WFH: Life goal or does it give birth to social hermits? Also Silicon Valley is the future setting of your next favorite dystopian Netflix show
57:40
57:40
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1. Bye Bye Big Data - Hello to Big Ideas (8:00) Is it a bad idea that brands are touting "big data" with data security being all the rage these days? Probably, because people aren't impressed by how much information you have about them. 2. State of Remote Work (16:30) Working from home isn't a passing fad. Workers are embracing the new world of rem…
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Learn how to engage and enrage your audience with special guest Nadya Khoja
51:01
51:01
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This week we were joined by Nadya Khoja, Chief Growth Officer of Venngage. Nadya has created 12 awesome techniques for coming up with topics your audience will go bananas for. 1. The 12 Principles of Viral Content (there's likely more actionable takeaways here) Nadya has developed 12 super actionable techniques for creating topic ideas that will bl…
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Fyre in the Hole: Influencers, Yelp and Facebook, oh my!
56:27
56:27
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Fyre in the hole! (10:30) The Fyre music festival documentary on Netflix was mind. blowing. And there were marketing lessons to be learned. This dumpster fire demonstrated a perfect "A" with regards to marketing, and a perfect "F" with regards to execution. We were shocked to our core by the sheer incompetence of the organizers, and cried tears of …
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Andy Crestodina on content strategy, entrepreneurship, and puppets
1:06:38
1:06:38
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ATF’s 2019 opener, featuring Andy Crestodina, reiterates the need for authenticity The opening episode of season 2 is Andy Crestodina, cofounder and strategic director of Orbit Media, and God bless him for gracing Episode One with his presence. If not for Crestodina’s ability to navigate Ma’s meanderings and Baker’s bluster, turning their verbal pl…
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Google and congress leave everyone thinking "WTF did I just watch?"
1:10:00
1:10:00
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We realize podcasts aren’t necessarily supposed to have seasons. But hey, Congress isn’t supposed to ask stupid questions of powerful tech CEO’s, either. Yet here we are with a season finale chiefly about Congress doing just that thing. Rules were made to be broken on “Above the Fold.”For the last time in 2018, bamboozling tangents that involve San…
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Shane Barker reveals how influencer marketing can work
1:10:11
1:10:11
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Marketing under the influence. Episode 17 revisited a topic from a recent show: influencer marketing. The trend (think Instagram celebrities and personalities using their profiles to market products from partner brands) has gained a lot of attention lately, and not for the best reasons.It got very weird, very quickly in the penultimate episode of t…
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Extortion and the dark underbelly of influencer marketing
1:01:56
1:01:56
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The deep, dark side of influencer marketing is starting to take shape. Jeff and Francis discuss a Wired article that depicts an unregulated, wild wild west scenario where legitimate businesspeople are torpedoed and extorted to be successful. The story discusses Sahara Lotti who started a B2C cosmetics company called Lashify. Lotti was told that she…
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Cyrus Shepard talks robots, chatbots, and influencer marketing
1:06:01
1:06:01
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Cyrus Shepard, previous Head of Audience Development at Moz and current founder and owner of Zyppy, joined us to talk about the latest news in digital marketing. We opened the conversation with discussion about some automated brick-and-mortar developments in San Francisco. Jeff had his first experience in an Amazon Go store, a weird, Orwellian expe…
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When you hear about Google's workplace, you think "ooooh nap pods and gyms and free lunches", right? Apparently not. 1/5 of all employees around the world walked out on their employer due to a host of issues, including paying off top execs for unethical behavior. Francis explains you can't create culture with beanbag chairs and lunch, you need to c…
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Francis and Jeff react to 2 stories in the news and plunge into the crisp, blue waters of influencer marketing to attempt to make sense of it (for better or for worse). Surprisingly, the conversation covers the idea of ethics in the industry, and leads the boys down some interesting and surprisingly roads. 6:20 - Michael Arnstein is going to jail f…
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