More than a Few Words

Ever notice how being underestimated can light a fire under you? Too young. Too old. Not the right look. The wrong box. It’s frustrating. And it’s also fuel, if you know how to use it. In this episode, I sat down with Trevor Storm, a student entrepreneur running Media Wolf Marketing while earning his finance degree at Butler University. Yes, you read that right. And no, he’s not waiting for permission. We talked about what happens when clients look at you sideways and wonder if you can really do the job. Spoiler alert. That doubt can work in your favor. Here are a few moments that stuck with me. Say yes, then earn it. Trevor’s mindset is simple. Say yes to the opportunity, then do the work to make that yes pay off. Not reckless, just confident enough to learn fast and own the outcome. Use what they doubt as your advantage. Youth. Flexibility. Fewer layers. Trevor reframes all of it. More time. More focus. More care. When clients are your whole world, they feel it. The magic lives in the final 5 percent. Anyone can start strong. Credibility shows up in the follow through. The details. The batteries charged. The checklist signed off. That last little bit is where trust is built. If you’ve ever worried that you don’t look experienced enough or polished enough, this conversation is a reminder that credibility isn’t about age or titles. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and finishing strong. Sometimes the best way to prove them wrong is to simply do the job better than anyone expects.

There was a time when conferences felt a little bit magical. You’d show up, coffee in hand, and before the first session even started, you’d be deep in a hallway conversation that changed how you thought about your work. Those little moments, sitting on the floor near an outlet, laughing over lunch, that’s where the real magic happened. But somewhere along the way, that magic started to fade. Big events got flashier. More sponsors, more VIP packages, and a lot more “networking opportunities” that felt like thinly disguised sales pitches. It stopped being about connection and started being about clout. I found myself missing the kind of conversations that left me inspired instead of exhausted. So, with a few fellow podcasters, Lisa Mitchel and Jenn Edds, we started dreaming about something smaller, more human. A gathering for women behind the mic who aren’t chasing followers but chasing meaning. That’s how Beyond the Mic was born. Not a conference, but a conversation. A cozy afternoon in Indianapolis this March, no panels, no presentations, just 10 or 15 women sharing stories, scars, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. We’ll talk about the messy parts of podcasting, burnout, creativity, community, and how we can keep making something meaningful, one episode at a time. So if that sounds like your kind of magic, come join the conversation at talkbeyondthemike.com. Because maybe the best conference isn’t in the ballroom, it’s in the hallway, over coffee, between two people who get it.   Join me for Beyond The Mic in Indianapolis on March 26  - https://talkbeyondthemic.com

You know that feeling when you spend half your day chasing trends, tweaking hashtags, and wondering why your brilliant post is showing up three days late in someone’s feed? Yeah, me too. That’s why I sat down with Alice Seba, a content marketing pro who’s been helping online publishers turn persuasive content into real revenue for more than twenty years. She’s sold millions of dollars’ worth of content — and she swears the secret isn’t outsmarting the algorithm. It’s out-connecting it. As Alice put it, “You don’t need the algorithm to notice you if your community does. When you connect, collaborate, and share stories, you build something the algorithm can’t touch — real relationships.” And that’s the magic. When you stop trying to please the algorithm gods and start showing up for actual humans, you get noticed by the people who really matter — even when the social media winds shift. Here are a few big takeaways from our chat: Stop chasing the algorithm. Your business isn’t with code; it’s with people. Spend your energy on conversations — comments, DMs, collaborations — the kind that build real community and loyalty. Build your own audience. Social platforms change faster than fashion trends, but your email list is forever. Offer something useful, keep it conversational, and land in their inbox where you actually belong. Make your offers sound human. Ditch the sales pitch. Mention your freebie or toolkit the same way you’d share a good book recommendation with a friend. Helpful, not pushy. Use social time wisely. Ten intentional minutes beats an hour of doom-scrolling. Pop in, connect, and get out before you start comparing your breakfast to someone else’s curated lifestyle. When you strip away all the noise, the algorithm might be unpredictable, people aren’t. They remember who shows up, who listens, and who actually cares. Because no algorithm can replace a genuine connection — and honestly, that’s the best kind of marketing there is.

How do you establish meaningful milestones in your business? For years I treated my business plan like a glorified spreadsheet, a place to park projections and hope the numbers magically pointed me in the right direction. It took me longer than I care to admit to realize a plan without milestones is a lot like taking a road trip without those familiar green highway signs. You may get somewhere eventually, but you will spend a lot of time wondering if you missed your exit three miles back. The trick is to start with honest, challenging and absolutely measurable goals. I learned this the hard way. In one of my earliest ventures, I confidently announced we were going to grow. That was it. Just grow. Predictably, no one knew what that meant, least of all me. Was I talking about five new clients or fifty? Without specifics, we drifted instead of charging ahead. Once I began treating my goals like real mile markers, things changed. I set targets I could count, track, and celebrate. I tied them to timelines that forced me to make decisions instead of waiting for the perfect moment. Suddenly the business plan felt less like homework and more like a map with clear directions and a few helpful rest stops along the way. Those measurable markers shape your timelines, clarify who is responsible for what, and give your budget a backbone. They turn vague intentions into a plan you can follow. So here is my question for you. How do you set milestones that keep your business moving in the right direction?  

When was the last time you were pitch slapped? You know what I mean — you comment on someone’s post, and suddenly your inbox is full of “personalized” pitches that feel anything but personal. In this episode, I chatted with Billy Sammons of Live Local Marketing, who believes it’s time to push back against the noise and get back to what actually works: real, human connections. Billy’s been building local marketing communities for 15 years, and his message is refreshingly simple — relationships still matter. Here’s what stood out from our conversation: Go old-school — because it still works. As digital spaces get more crowded, buyers tune out. Billy says the antidote is face-to-face connections that make people feel seen and valued. Start small, start local. Forget the cold calls. Walk into a business you already support, strike up a conversation, and collaborate on something that helps you both. Keep it simple. You don’t need a fancy setup. A phone, a $19 mic, and a tripod are all it takes to start creating local content that connects. Be genuine. Giving only works when it’s authentic. If you help someone and immediately flip to a sales pitch, you’ve lost the magic. Stop chasing viral. The diamonds are in your own backyard — meaningful, local relationships that grow your business organically. Billy’s reminder is a good one: You don’t have to go viral to be valuable. Sometimes the best marketing starts with a handshake and a conversation. About Billy Sammons With 15 years of experience, Billy teaches proven strategies—like filming video commercials with local business owners—that put you in front of the right people, build stronger relationships, and generate long-term clients. His goal is to help others replicate what works, saving time and replacing cold leads with warm growth.” LEARN MORE  https://www.livelocalwarmmarketing.com Try the 5 day Challenge and see for yourself if warm marketing is the right way to grow your business. I want to give something for free, a trial run, which is a quick and easy way to try Warm Marketing for themselves.

If you think branding starts and ends with a logo, we need to talk. In this conversation, I dug into what really makes a brand work and spoiler alert, it has very little to do with what you personally like. We talked about why branding gets messy, where business owners go wrong, and how to build something that actually connects with the people you want to serve. I sat down with Jessica Adanich, an award winning designer, brand strategist, and founder of DesignProd Studio. She helps businesses turn half formed ideas into brands that are ready to stand up in the real world, not just look good on a screen. Here are a few takeaways you can use right away: Your brand starts with your audience, not your taste Jessica nailed this. If you do not know who you are talking to, every design choice is just a guess. The goal is not to please yourself. It is to connect with the people you want to attract. AI is a tool, not the answer AI can help you get unstuck, spot patterns, or gather insight. It cannot replace talking to real customers or making smart judgment calls. Think toolbox, not magic wand. Consistency beats creativity when it comes to trust You might feel repetitive showing up with the same look and message. Your audience feels reassured. Brands stick because they are familiar, not because they constantly reinvent themselves. A good logo has to work in the real world If it only looks good in color, at full size, on your laptop, it is not a logo. It is artwork. Your brand assets should hold up everywhere, including black and white and low tech situations. If your brand feels a little fuzzy right now, that is not a failure. It is a sign you are ready to clarify what you stand for and who you serve. About Jessica  Jessica Adanich is an alumna of the Cleveland Institute of Art where she studied industrial design, graphic design, sculpture and glass. She spent her early career working with renowned brands such as Vitamix® and Hasbro NERF®. She spent the next six years leading the design and marketing department of Mace® Brand. As a seasoned professional, Jessica yearned for a creative agency of her own. DesignPod Studio was born in Cleveland in the fall of 2018. Jessica moved to Tampa Bay in October 2019 to be closer to the ocean she loves, where she leads DesignPod Studio as well as her shark conservation endeavor Fuzzy Sharks that creates artwork to educate individuals on shark conservation. Learn More: 

Welcome to 2026. This week is exciting for a lot of reasons. It’s the beginning of a new year, which means I get to close the book on last year and start fresh.  I will be bringing along what worked and letting go of what didn’t. This week is also special because on January 7, I’ll be marking a big milestone: the 16th anniversary of this podcast. It’s kind of hard to believe I’ve been talking that long, but my mother would not be surprised. She always said I was born talking. While the show has gone through plenty of iterations, one thing has stayed consistent, a focus on creating great marketing insights for marketing professionals. I’ve changed formats over the years, but in the last few, I’ve settled into a rhythm that really works. That said, after 15 years of talking about marketing, I’ll admit I was getting a little bored with just the tech and the tools and the tools and the tech. So last year, I launched a series called What Went Wrong, where I interviewed marketing professionals about campaigns and programs that didn’t turn out quite the way they hoped. Those candid conversations became some of the most popular episodes last year, and What Went Wrong will absolutely continue in 2026. I’m also taking More Than a Few Words out of the studio this year with some in-person interviews, and I’m even working on a local podcaster conference here in Indianapolis. More details on that soon. I’m really looking forward to connecting with my audience in new ways, and one of my favorite tools for that is SpeakPipe. You can head over to morethanafewwords.com/contact to drop me a note or record a one-minute message. I’m hoping to include some of those messages in episodes throughout 2026. There’s more to come, so stay tuned.

Some days the problem isn’t your KPIs. It’s the fact that you’ve been staring at your own brand so long you can’t read the label anymore. That’s where this conversation with Charlie Sells got interesting. We dug into how easy it is for business owners to chase goals, tweak dashboards, and sprint through to-do lists while completely missing the bigger opportunity hiding in plain sight: curiosity. Charlie, the founder of Clarity Over Everything, spends his days helping leaders step back far enough to see what’s actually going on. And let me tell you, he’s right. I’ve lived this one myself. Takeaways Curiosity beats KPIs every time. When you stop assuming you already know your customer, your competitors, and your message, you finally spot blind spots you’ve been tripping over for months. Throw out assumptions and go look again. Competitors shift. Platforms shift. Markets shift. If you haven’t audited your landscape in a few months, you’re already behind. Not all ideas deserve your Time Once curiosity uncovers new possibilities, you need a simple roadmap so every shiny new idea doesn’t hijack your business. Leaders don’t need to get out of the way. They just need to stand in the right place. It’s not about consensus; it’s about alignment. When the team agrees where you're going, disagreement stops being drama and becomes fuel. Specific Actions You Can Use This Week Do a 20-minute assumption purge. Write down everything you think you “already know” about your audience, competitors, and message. Then test one of those assumptions with real data. Run a quick clarity audit. Click through your top three competitors’ websites. Look for changes in their messaging, offers, or positioning. Note one thing you should reconsider. Set a 12-week priority filter. Pick one quick win and one long-game improvement. Everything else goes in the “later” column until those two are done. Yes, everything. About Charlie - In his own words Hi I'm Charlie, the face behind Clarity Over Everything and a brand positioning and clarity strategist who helps leaders and teams get clear, move faster, and set their brand up for success. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked across copywriting, content marketing, branding, and strategy—helping national brands, local businesses, nonprofits, and small teams turn complexity into clarity. I uncover the hidden things causing confusion and misalignment, then partner with businesses to cut through the noise, simplify what matters, and get aligned and prioritized around what’s next. I also collect vintage vinyl records. Book a free discovery call and learn more about hiring me as your collaborative marketing and branding partner.  https://clarityovereverything.com   More than a Few Words  - A Marketing Conversation A bite-sized marketing podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable ideas, with no fluff and no jargon. Send a note or record a message https://morethanafewwords.com/contact/  

Ever feel like your marketing message is shouting into a crowded room? Every day, your customers are bombarded by thousands of messages—from family, friends, and brands all vying for their attention. So how do you make yours stand out? I chatted with Orly Zeewy, a speaker, educator, and facilitator of those “aha” light bulb moments, about one of my favorite topics: clarity. Orly helps entrepreneurs turn fuzzy ideas into sharp, memorable messages that connect and convert. As she put it, “What’s clear for you is not necessarily what’s clear for the person you’re speaking to.” And that’s the heart of the problem—most of us start by explaining what we do, when we should be showing people why it matters to them. We explored how clarity isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what helps people remember you long after they scroll past. And, Orley reminded me, true clarity starts with understanding who your message is for and what they actually need. Here are a few takeaways from our conversation: Start with your audience. Everyone says they market to “anyone,” but that’s a fast track to blending in. Get clear about who really needs what you offer. Fix your elevator pitch. Stop saying what you do and start saying what problem you solve. “I design websites” doesn’t stick—but “I turn fuzzy content into clear messages that cut through the noise” sure does. Own your superpower. Women especially tend to undervalue what comes naturally to them. Just because it feels easy doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Avoid being a hammer looking for a nail. When you don’t define your audience, you end up marketing to everyone—and connecting with no one. If you’ve ever felt like your message gets lost in the noise, this episode will help you find your voice, sharpen your story, and finally get your marketing to click.  Because let’s face it—when you make the fuzzy clear, everything else just falls into place. About Orly Orly Zeewy is an author, speaker, educator, and a facilitator of lightbulb moments. Her superpower? She makes fuzzy clear. She helps entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their zone of genius, so they can attract more of their ideal clients and go from invisible to memorable in 3 weeks. She has lectured at Wharton and taught in The Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Her book: Ready, Launch, Brand: The Lean Marketing Guide for Startups was published in 2021 and was endorsed by Seth Godin. Her new book: Why NOT Me? The Female Guide for Entrepreneurship will be published in Q1 2026. Learn More:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlyzeewy/ https://www.youtube.com/@orlyzeewy https://bit.ly/readylaunchbrand (to purchase my book) About the Show More than a Few Words is a bite-sized podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable marketing ideas, with no fluff and no jargon. Listen in as marketing pros swap real stories, smart strategies, and painful lessons as we discuss what’s hot, what’s not, and what went wrong If you live and breathe campaigns, content, and creativity, this is your space for practical advice, strategy and inspiration.    

In this episode of What Went Wrong, I chatted with Tim Bronson, the Fully Booked Coach, who came armed with not one but two “what went wrong” tales. Both are a little painful, a little funny, and packed with lessons marketers can actually use. First, there was the podcast that wasn’t. Back in 2008, Tim marched into a music store, dropped a grand on shiny equipment he didn’t understand, then promptly lost his nerve when it didn’t work. Without a clear plan or patience for the learning curve, he packed it up and walked away before ever recording a single episode. Fast-forward to 2019, and Tim’s book relaunch hit another snag. Following advice to line up 50 reviews at launch, he asked 50 people for help, assumed their polite “yes” meant they’d actually deliver, and stopped there. The result? Not nearly enough momentum to push the book up the Amazon charts. Two very different mistakes, but the themes are familiar to anyone who’s ever launched…well, anything. Impulse without preparation. Expectations without math. Starting strong but not following through. Key Points Success takes more than enthusiasm. Without a plan, even the best ideas fizzle. Technology and tactics get easier, but the discipline of sticking with it never changes. People will say “yes” to be nice. That’s not the same as showing up. Momentum matters. Half-measures rarely hit tipping points. Actionable Takeaways Do the prep work. Before buying tools or chasing tactics, get clear on what you’re building and why. Scale your numbers. If you need 50 reviews, ask 150. If you want 100 sign-ups, plan for 1,000 invites. Build in the buffer. Stick with it. The first version is always messy. Resist the urge to abandon ship before giving yourself time to learn. Don’t stop too soon. Momentum compounds—keep pushing even after you think you’ve done “enough.” Ask for help. Whether it’s a tech-savvy friend or a launch-savvy strategist, outside perspective can save you time and money. In short? Marketing isn’t about never making mistakes—it’s about making them, learning fast, and not letting them be the end of the story. About Tim  Tim Brownson is the owner of The Fully Booked Coach and has been coaching full-time since 2005. After turning his blog A Daring Adventure into one of the web’s top life-coaching destinations, he pivoted in 2012 to help fellow coaches master no-BS marketing. His book The Clarity Method is used by hundreds of coaches worldwide to uncover core values and fuel client breakthroughs. After spending 14 years in Orlando, he is now firmly ensconced in the very wet but very beautiful county of Cornwall in England with his wife and two Dobermans. Learn More :  https://thefullybookedcoach.com/  

When you were a kid, having an imaginary friend was harmless, maybe even healthy. But as a business owner? That imaginary friend can tank your marketing. Too many businesses build their strategy around an avatar that looks neat on paper but has nothing to do with the real people who buy from them. In this episode of *More Than a Few Words*, Rachel Allen and I dig into why client avatars often miss the mark and what you can do instead. **Key Insights** • Demographics alone are useless. Age, gender, and job title won’t tell you what keeps someone awake at 3 a.m. Worries and motivations matter more than surface stats. • Your best customers live at the intersection of three groups: the people you want to talk to, the ones you actually attract, and the ones willing to pay. That sweet spot is your marketing home base. • Data flattens people into averages. Great marketing leans into quirks, because quirks are what make your audience pay attention. **Actionable Takeaways** • Swap demographics for psychographics. Go deeper into what your audience values, fears, and hopes for. • Talk to 10 or 20 real people. Forget long surveys. Short, human conversations reveal more than a polished PDF ever will. • Audit your own copy. Ask yourself, “Would I say this sentence out loud to the last customer I spoke with?” If the answer is no, rewrite it. • Bring in an outside perspective. A trusted colleague, a coach, even a tool like ChatGPT can help you see blind spots you can’t catch alone. • Don’t shy away from edges. The quirky details that make your audience unique are the ones that make your marketing memorable. If you’re still writing for your imaginary friend, this conversation is your wake-up call. Stop talking to make-believe customers and start connecting with the real ones who are ready to listen.   About Rachel Allen  Rachel Allen is a fast-thinking, deeply nerdy marketer with broad-ranging experience in for-profit and non-profit sectors. She’s written for some of the biggest (and smallest) names in business, and excels at marketing that's equal parts data-driven and human-centered. Having run a marketing business for 17 years with clients in 21+ countries, Rachel’s written for some of the top names in entrepreneurship, as well as influencers, brick-and-mortar businesses, and non-profits around the world. Her work has contributed directly to high-ROI launches, leaps in audience engagement, industry awards, relationships with top venture capital firms, and national-level honors. Find out more at boltfromthebluecopywriting.com  

We all have closet bullies. Those are clothes that don’t fit, don’t flatter, or just don’t feel right anymore. But we hang on to them anyway, hoping someday they’ll magically work. Every time we open the closet, there they are, reminding us of money wasted or goals unmet. Turns out, my marketing to-do list had a few bullies of its own. Projects I meant to start. Brilliant ideas that just never made it off the page. Every time I saw them, I felt a little guilty. So I did what I did with my closet, I cleaned house. Some ideas were great… for someone else’s business. Off they went. Others? I pushed them a few months out, with a note to myself: if I’m still not ready then, it’s time to let them go for good. And you know what? The minute I cleared out those marketing bullies, I felt lighter. I could actually see the projects that mattered — the ones that fit my business right now. Here’s your takeaway: Clear the clutter. If an idea or project has been hanging around forever, either commit or cut it. Make room for what fits. When you drop the guilt and the “someday” tasks, you’ll have the space — and the energy — for marketing that actually works. So, what’s bullying your marketing list? Maybe it’s time to tell it to hit the road. If you've enjoyed this conversation, if it's prompted an idea or a question, I'd love to hear from you. Hop over to https://morethanafewwords.com/contact.  Drop me a note or better yet, record a quick message. Maybe I'll even include in an upcoming show.  

The conversation began, as many of mine do, with a topic I think we already understand.  This time it was influencer marketing. But before I could even roll my eyes at another mention of hashtags and brand deals, the discussion took a sharp turn toward something far more interesting: trust, storytelling, and what it really means to build relationships in a digital world that doesn’t trust much anymore. That shift came courtesy of Sarah Stahl, co-founder of Market Movers. She’s knee-deep in the world where AI, marketing, and hospitality overlap—a place where the glossy brand voice is fading fast, and authentic creators are taking the spotlight. Listening to her, I realized this isn’t just about influencers. It’s about how we all show up as marketers. What Makes a Good Creator Partnership Sarah’s approach to creators feels refreshingly human. She doesn’t chase follower counts; she looks for people who know how to build relationships. She compares choosing a creator to hiring an employee—sometimes you think you’ve found “the one,” and then day one tells a different story. That hit home for me. I’ve hired those “perfect” people before too, only to realize the chemistry wasn’t there. Her advice? Start small, watch how they work, and build from there. The Power of Storytelling We talked about how hard it is to sell something you can’t touch or taste online. Think about restaurants—how do you market flavor through a screen? The best creators don’t just post photos; they tell stories that make people feel the experience. Sarah shared a beautiful story about one of her creators who found healing while working on a campaign. That moment of real emotion became part of the brand story—and honestly, that’s the kind of marketing that stays with people. When Things Go Sideways At some point, every brand faces it: a creator says something that doesn’t quite fit. My instinct as a business owner is to cringe, but Sarah made me pause. “Perfection breeds mistrust,” she said. And she’s right. People don’t expect flawless; they expect real. When something uncomfortable happens, it’s an opportunity to step into the conversation—not hide from it. The New Rules of Visibility Sarah also made a point that stopped me in my tracks. AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t pulling most of their information from your shiny website—they’re pulling from stories. Creator content, real conversations, reviews. If your brand isn’t in that mix, you’re invisible. That’s a wake-up call for every business owner clinging to the “if we build it, they will come” mindset. Key Takeaways • Build trust first. Pick creators who care more about their audience than their follower count. • Find your storytellers. The ones who can make your product or service feel real. • Don’t panic over imperfection. Use it as a chance to connect, not retreat. • Invest in the relationship. The best results come from creators who grow with you. • Stay part of the conversation. The future of search and AI belongs to brands that keep showing up authentically. Influencer marketing isn’t about trends or chasing the next viral post. It’s about people—real voices telling real stories. And if you treat it that way, marketing starts to feel a whole lot less like work and a whole lot more like a conversation. And if that sounds a little too simple—good. Because simple usually works.   About Sarah Stahl Sarah Stahl, co-founder of Market Movers lives at the intersection of AI marketing and hospitality. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn “just another rental” into a brand guests remember (and actually book direct), that’s my sweet spot. I’m obsessed with helping property owners cut through the noise, escape OTA dependence, and build systems that truly sell themselves. These days, I’m 100% focused on agentic search and direct booking strategies because the future of hospitality marketing isn’t about chasing algorithms, it’s about building brands guests can’t forget. Always creative, always candid—that’s me. Want to learn more  Go to :  https://sarahstahl.com/  

Sometimes, early success can fool you into thinking you’ve built the perfect business. That’s what happened to Danny Kirk, who launched a software-as-a-service company right after finishing a music degree. He and his co-founder found a great niche, landed a $4,500 sale on a $300 MVP, and took off fast. The catch? Neither of them could actually build the product beyond that first version. They were great at selling and marketing but never filled their technical gap — and that’s what cost them. Five years later, they sold the business, while a competitor in the same space sold to Oracle for $200 million. Same idea, different outcome. Here’s what Danny learned: Find your missing piece early. Whether it’s a technical co-founder, a contractor, or even AI tools to bridge the gap, make sure every critical skill is covered before you scale. Build a team that makes you uncomfortable. The best collaborators are the ones who spot problems you don’t want to see and tell you the truth, even when it stings. Reward people who speak up. Create systems or incentives that encourage team members to flag issues — big or small — before they turn into disasters. As Danny put it, success isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about knowing what you can’t do,  and finding the right people (or tools) to fill that gap. About Danny Kirk Danny Kirk is a classically trained trumpet player, turned entrepreneur and small business owner. He’s started and grown multiple companies over the past decade, and now does growth marketing at ReddiReach for startups and SMBs, 500+ and counting.  Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpkirk/  https://reddireach.com/   Let's make this a conversation.   Leave a comment or voice message with a question, marketing tip or idea for an upcoming show.

Building custom GPTs for real work, not just party tricks is tricky. That's why I invited Len Ward to sit in my guest chair.  He's a former Wall Street pro turned agency builder, now leading Comexis, and he has the scars to prove what works and what does not. We covered where these tools shine, where they trip you up, and how to keep them sounding like you, not a committee of the internet. Key points The idea Build a focused GPT that acts like a virtual team member. Feed it your processes, products, locations, and goals so it can help with tasks like onboarding, strategy, and client communication. What can go wrong Trusting outputs without review, letting the model drift from your voice over time, and uploading sensitive info or leaving training on so your data fuels everyone else’s bot. What we would do differently Lock down privacy settings, create prompt playbooks, retrain with fresh voice samples on a set schedule, and keep humans in the loop for approval. What went wrong I learned the hard way that voice drifts. I had the GPT read my work, it started strong, then wandered off into generic advice land. Len called out why. If we keep feeding broad material and never course correct, the model forgets our tone. Another stumble is data carelessness. Uploading client details or financials, even as examples, can create risk. One more trap is blind faith. These tools are fast, not flawless. They still need a final pass from human eyes. Actionable takeaways for women running the show Scope the job Name one clear role for each GPT, such as Onboarding Coordinator or Content Draft Assistant. Narrow focus leads to better answers. Set privacy controls In settings, turn off training on your data. Do not upload personal or financial info. If you must, scrub names and use your own codes. Build a prompt playbook Ask the GPT to write the top ten prompts it responds to best. Save them and start sessions with those prompts to keep work on track. Refresh the voice Every few weeks, feed three to five recent posts, emails, or show notes and say, learn this voice again. Then ask for a short style checklist it must follow. Require a human check Before anything goes public, the content owner signs off. Think of GPT as the fast assistant, you are the editor in chief. Collect and centralize content Keep a clean library in Drive or Dropbox. Use clear folders for articles, FAQs, product sheets, and case studies. These become your training set. Answer real questions Watch chatbot logs or support tickets. Turn every repeated question into a page, a post, or a short video. If your site does not solve a problem as fast as ChatGPT, visitors leave. Forget silver bullets Old school SEO tricks are not the ticket. Strong brands with deep, helpful content win more often in AI answers. Keep writing, keep linking, keep it useful. Why this matters now We are shifting from search and retrieve to solve my problem. Custom GPTs, used wisely, can speed that shift inside your business, from onboarding to content to customer care. Used carelessly, they dilute your voice and increase risk. The good news is the fix is simple habits, not magic. About Len Ward Len Ward is a former Wall Street institutional equities professional, agency builder, and now Managing Partner of Commexis—an AI consulting firm helping businesses replace outdated marketing with intelligent systems that think. With over two decades of experience spanning finance, e-commerce, and digital marketing, Len brings a rare perspective on disruption cycles. He believes traditional agencies are finished and that AI is the operating system for the next decade of business. Known for his straight talk and contrarian edge, Len makes AI real, actionable, and impossible to ignore. Visit our website for a free consultation on AI.  https://www.Commexis.com

I sat down with Cara Chatellier, the founder and creative director of Bubbly Creative, to talk about something that hits home for every small business owner, the little things. You know, those simple, doable tweaks that don’t require a rebrand or a six-month strategy sprint, yet somehow manage to make your marketing sparkle. Cara calls them her “five tiny fixes,” and I couldn’t wait to dig in. Cara’s agency focuses on helping women-led service businesses stand out with personality and polish. Her approach is rooted in storytelling, strategy, and plenty of real-world experience. What I love about her “tiny fixes” is that they’re both practical and immediately actionable, the kind of steps that give you momentum while you’re building toward the big picture. Here are a few highlights from our conversation: 1. Show Your Face Cara’s first piece of advice is one that makes many small business owners squirm: put yourself out there. Literally. Swap the stock photos and text-heavy posts for images of you and your team. A professional photo shoot is worth the investment, not just because it looks great, but because it builds trust. When people can see who they’re working with, they’re more likely to connect and buy. 2. Don’t Ignore Google Business Think of your Google Business Profile as a free billboard that most folks forget to update. Add photos, post updates, and ask for client reviews. Even with AI changing how people search, Google still looks inward first. Keeping your profile fresh helps you stay visible and relevant. 3. Ask for Feedback, the Right Way Sometimes, the best marketing insights come from the people you want to reach, not the ones already on your team. Cara suggests gathering a small group from your target audience, maybe five to ten people, and asking them to look at your content, website, or social posts. No sales pitch, just honest opinions. You might be surprised by what they see that you don’t. 4. Tell Your Story on Video This is the one that makes even confident entrepreneurs gulp: video. Cara swears by it because it humanizes your brand faster than any post or blog ever could. Start small, a short clip about your founder story or a behind-the-scenes look at your work. If you’re nervous, use a teleprompter app or jot down a few bullet points to stay on track. And if you really can’t face the camera yet, write out your story and share it with a few photos. Then revisit it every six months as a reintroduction to your audience. 5. Stay Curious (and Keep Learning) Cara’s fifth tip was the one we didn’t have time to cover on the show, a little mystery to encourage you to head over to Bubbly Creative and discover the rest for yourself. Trust me, it’s worth it. Key Takeaways A few small tweaks can give your marketing fresh energy without overwhelming your to-do list. Personal photos and video build connection and credibility faster than any stock image ever will. Google Business is free, underused, and powerful, make it part of your content routine. Feedback from your ideal audience is marketing gold; you just have to ask. The more you share your authentic story, the more magnetic your brand becomes. If you want to dive deeper into Cara’s “tiny fixes,” head over to Bubbly Creative and check out her insights. Because sometimes, it’s not the sweeping overhaul that changes your business, it’s the little things you finally take the time to do.

Brands are personal. AI is not. So how do you use a tool that has no feelings, no experiences, and no voice of its own to help you build a brand that feels deeply personal and unmistakably you? It starts long before you ever open ChatGPT. Define Your Brand Before AI Touches It  Before you hand anything over to AI, take time to define your brand yourself. Ask: Who are my customers? What do they think about me now? What do I want them to say about me? That clarity becomes your North Star. Otherwise, you’re just asking AI to aimlessly generate words without direction. Audit What the Internet Thinks  Once you know who you think you are, find out what the internet thinks you are. Instead of Googling your name or company like we used to, go to ChatGPT and ask: “What is the brand perception of [Your Name or Company]?” “What is [Brand] known for?” “What do people say about this brand online?” Then compare what comes back with your original vision. That’s where the human part of branding kicks in. You have to decide: Do I adjust my message to match this audience, or do I refine my audience to match my message?  That’s not a whim—it’s a business decision. Know Who’s Actually Buying  Forget what you want to be true. Who’s actually opening their wallets? Sometimes your real buyers don’t match your target persona or AI’s assumptions. Analyze the overlap and decide: Who do I really want more of? Who do I actually have now? You can’t market to everyone. Pick your lane.  Define Your Voice  Next, upload three pieces of your own writing—blog posts, service pages, whatever—to ChatGPT and ask: “If you were another AI tool writing for this brand, how would you describe this tone and voice?” That gives you a practical, data-driven description of your style—something you can reuse for consistency across content. Once you’ve defined both your customer persona and brand voice, everything you produce should be filtered through those two lenses.  Clarify Your Unique Value  Now get specific about what makes you different. Ask: What problem do I solve? What pain does my customer feel? Why do they come to me instead of someone else? You can even ask ChatGPT to analyze common pain points for your audience—but always check it against what your actual customers tell you. That becomes the foundation for your positioning statement—your internal compass for marketing, not a fluffy public mission statement. Analyze Competitors  Then, ask AI for a competitive analysis within your market or niche—set clear parameters like geography or audience size. Use that list to identify where you stand, what gaps you can fill, and how to differentiate. Test, Measure, Adjust  Finally, make changes slowly. Update your copy, tweak your visuals, and every few months, check: Am I attracting the right audience? Is engagement improving? Are leads getting better quality? That’s how you use AI without losing yourself in the process.  REMEMBER:  You can’t outsource identity—AI refines it, not defines it. Use AI as a mirror, not a mask. Always verify what AI says about your brand with real human data. Voice + audience clarity = consistent brand growth. Branding is evolution, not automation.

Angel Tuccy is an award-winning speaker, radio host, TV producer, media specialist. She's the author of 15 bestsellers, and hosts multiple successful online events.  A recent one had 6,000 attendees.  So this girl knows how to throw a party. So I was surprised, when we talked about the first party she tried to throw which didn't go the way she hoped.  What Was the Idea? Angel wanted to create a space where podcasters and potential guests could connect. In 2020, she launched the Need a Guest Facebook community. It took off like wildfire, growing to 10,000 members in just two years.  What Went Wrong? Angel built the community but forgot one very important piece: the email list. Ten thousand people in her group… and not a single email address. No opt-in. No funnel. Nothing. As Angel put it, that number was a big fat goose egg. Cue the collective groan ... and laughter. How did Angel Turn it Around She started by adding a Chrome extension to collect emails as new members joined and sent a personal welcome message. That simple change meant every new connection is automatically added to her CRM, where she can follow up directly. Within two years, the group grew from 10,000 to 40,000 members, and this time she captured emails from every single one. Then came the second pivot. With the help of copywriter Jamie Atkinson, Angel went from sending no emails at all to sending a daily message. The result was immediate. Her audience, who had been waiting to hear from her, started responding. In the first month, six new clients signed on. From there, daily emails turned into conversations, conversations turned into sales calls, and sales calls turned into revenue. Building systems that connected the dots between community, communication, and clients was a game changer.  ABOUT ANGEL Angel Tuccy is an award-winning Speaker, Radio Host, TV Producer, PR Media Specialist, and author of 15 bestsellers. She is known for her exceptional expertise in helping her clients with media exposure. With a track record of personally securing thousands of media interviews for her clients, she also spearheads the online podcast network needaguest.com With over a decade in broadcasting, Angel’s accolades include being named “Most Influential Woman of The Year” and winning awards for “Best Morning Talk Show” and “Best Talk Show Team”. Her bestselling book, “Get Discovered”, offers a step-by-step guide to achieving media exposure in under 90 days, drawing from her extensive experience hosting over 2,500 broadcasts and interviewing over 5,000 guests. Known as the Media Matchmaker, Angel’s unique approach to media engagement sets her apart in the industry.

I might have been a little late getting started today because I fell down a rabbit hole on Reddit — and let me tell you, it was worth it. If you’ve never explored Reddit, think of it as a sprawling collection of dinner parties happening all at once. Each “subreddit” is its own table — one might be deep in marketing trends, another swapping cat photos, and a third arguing about the best way to brew coffee. You can learn a lot about human behavior (and marketing) by paying attention to what people are talking about at each table. To explore what Reddit can teach marketers, I sat down with Flynn Zaiger, CEO of Online Optimism — a marketing agency that knows a thing or two about digital communities, employee culture, and, yes, the occasional office cat. Conversation Highlights Reddit as a Listening Tool: Forget the focus group. Subreddits are where your customers speak freely — unfiltered, passionate, and brutally honest. If you want to know what real people think about your industry or brand, start lurking. Authenticity Wins Every Time: Redditors have a built-in radar for fake marketing speak. If your post sounds like an ad, they’ll downvote it into oblivion. The brands that thrive on Reddit are the ones that genuinely engage — answering questions, sharing insights, and adding value to the conversation. Community Before Conversion: Flynn reminds us that on Reddit, connection comes before conversion. You build trust by showing up consistently and contributing meaningfully — not by dropping links and vanishing. Cats Still Rule the Internet: Yes, we took a short detour to talk about pets in the workplace. Turns out, happy office cats (or dogs) can improve morale and your Reddit karma. Actionable Takeaways Listen before you speak. Spend a week just reading Reddit threads related to your industry. Notice what people are actually complaining about or celebrating. Be human, not a headline. When you do engage, drop the corporate voice. Talk like a real person — the way you’d comment on a friend’s post. Find your people. There’s a subreddit for nearly every niche. From r/marketing to r/smallbusiness and r/entrepreneur, hang out where your target audience already gathers. Share useful insights. Don’t pitch — teach. Share lessons learned, data, or stories. The value you give away becomes the credibility you earn. Bring that community mindset home. Whether it’s your internal Slack, your LinkedIn presence, or your podcast audience, think like a community manager — not a broadcaster. Connect with Flynn Zaiger You can find Flynn and his team at OnlineOptimism.com — and if you want to see their agency’s blend of creativity, culture, and data-driven optimism in action, check out their blog or find them on LinkedIn.

Reddit: once the quirky cousin of the internet, now a front-row player in the SEO and LLM (large language model) game. If your carefully crafted blog posts are suddenly being outranked by Reddit threads, you’re not alone. That’s exactly what sparked this week’s conversation with Danny Kirk—musician-turned-marketer and the founder of Reddit Reach. Lorraine sits down with Danny to ask the question on every marketer’s mind: Are we ready for Reddit? Together, they explore why Reddit is suddenly everywhere, how it’s being used to train AI tools like ChatGPT, and what marketers can do to adapt and thrive in this new digital landscape. Key Points Reddit is no longer niche. It’s showing up in Google’s top search results and training AI models—which means it can’t be ignored. Reddit’s ad platform is cheap and underutilized, making it a hidden gem for budget-conscious marketers. Subreddits are their own little countries. Each one has different rules, moderators, and expectations. If you want in, learn the local customs. Organic participation matters. You need “karma” to post effectively, and that only comes from genuine interaction—not self-promotion. Actionable Takeaways Warm up your Reddit account. Comment, contribute, and build karma before dropping any links or promotions. Start small. Join subreddits that align with your interests—personal or professional—and spend one minute a day reading and commenting. Check your LLM rankings. Use a tool like Peekaboo to see how generative search engines (like ChatGPT) are interpreting and indexing your site. Map SEO to Reddit. Once you know which phrases are trending, find those conversations on Reddit and contribute thoughtfully. Customize your content per subreddit. A copy/paste job won’t fly here—each subreddit requires its own approach and voice. About Danny Danny Kirk is a classicly trained trumpet player, turned entrepreneur and small business owner. He's started and grown multiple companies over the past decade, and now does growth marketing at ReddiReach for startups and SMBs, 500+ and counting.    Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpkirk/  https://reddireach.com/