More than a Few Words

I love the What Went Wrong  conversations because they remind me that even when things look like they’re working, there’s usually a crack or two hiding under the surface. In this episode, we dig into one of those uncomfortable moments every business owner faces. Growth slows, the numbers get fuzzy, and suddenly the team you built so carefully starts to feel… expensive. I sat down with Matt Levenhagen, founder of Unified Web Design and host of the Builder Podcast, to talk about what happens when you hold on just a little too long. Here’s what really stuck with me: • Hope is not a hiring strategy Matt kept his team based on where revenue had been, not where it actually was. When projects stalled, he filled time with “busy work” instead of facing the numbers. That gap between reality and optimism gets expensive fast. • The warning signs are usually obvious, we just ignore them Delayed projects, slow client responses, and scrambling to keep people busy. Those were all signals. The lesson? If you’re getting creative just to justify payroll, it’s time to pause and reassess. • Flexibility beats the “perfect team” Matt realized he didn’t need a full bench all the time. Now he’s building a more flexible structure with a mix of core team members tied to revenue and others brought in as needed. It’s not about loyalty, it’s about sustainability. • Invest in sales before you need it This one hit home. When things were good, he didn’t push marketing or sales hard enough. By the time revenue slowed, it was too late to quickly replace that pipeline. Yes, you want to invest in growth. But when the business shifts, you have to shift with it. Because holding on too long doesn’t just cost money. It costs momentum.

It started the way so many good ideas do, in conversation. Jen Edds, Lisa Mitchell, CFI, and I started talking about creating something different. Not another conference. Not another room where people talk at you. We wanted a space where smart women could actually talk with each other. And then, on March 26, we did it. This conversation is a bit of a celebration, a look back at what happens when you take an idea out of the group chat and bring it to life. Because honestly, that leap from “we should” to “we did” is where most ideas stall out. Here’s what stuck with me. Takeaways: • Pick one thing and go all in I’ll admit it, even as a marketer, I needed this reminder. One clear call to action, one place to send people. When everything matters, nothing stands out. Simpler really is smarter. • Borrow boldly and share freely Some of the best ideas in the room weren’t “original.” They were tested, tweaked, and passed along. That’s the magic. Less guarding, more sharing. We all get better faster. • Real conversations beat polished presentations We kicked things off by talking about what we’d messed up. And just like that, the walls came down. No posturing, no pretending. Just honest lessons and a lot of “oh good, it’s not just me.” • Create the room you wish existed Don’t wait for an invite. Build your own table. We kept it local, kept it small, and invited a mix of people we knew and people we didn’t. • Let the agenda breathe Instead of locking into a rigid schedule, we let the group shape the conversation. People voted on topics, and the discussion flowed from there. It felt more like a conversation and less like a conference. • Community doesn’t end when the event does The real opportunity is what happens next. Staying connected, sharing resources, continuing the conversation. That’s where the long term value lives. If you’re listening and thinking, “I wish I’d been in that room,” you might get your chance. We’re doing it again on June 11. Reach out. Raise your hand. Pull up a chair. Because the next great idea might be yours, and it deserves a room like this.   Links to our podcasts: Jen Edds https://brassybroad.com/podcast/ Lisa Mitchell https://divorcecurious.buzzsprout.com Lorraine Ball www.morethanafewwords.com   Everyone else in the room. .These are all podcasts you should check out Ally Brettnacher https://athletebouquets.com/pages/the-podcast Amanda Smith https://shareyourgenius.com/ Ericka Young, AFC®, CFEI® www.forbetterandworth.com Iris Goldfeder https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cookbook-recipes-for-marketing-business-success/id1627107453 Jennifer Denney 📈 https://elevatedmarketing.solutions/digital-marketing-podcasts Jennifer Longworth www.bourbonbarrelpodcasting.com Julie Kratz https://nextpivotpoint.com/podcast Kara Kavensky https://www.karakavensky.com/podcasts/ Tiffany Sauder https://www.tiffanysauder.com/podcast Rachel Randolph https://open.spotify.com/show/7GZgWJyTOcaVYNnSWXAqJm?si=tKRAKBA8R9uCC58itABUYA Katherine Coble https://borshoff.biz/in-the-loop/

When I moved from Texas to Indiana one of the things I loved best was the color of the seasons. Spring brings bright pastels which morph into the rich greens of summer. Then comes fall with the bring oranges, yellows and a few shades of brown. The only exception is winter filled with dreary colorless days which seem bland bland when compared to the vibrancy of colors throughout the rest of the year. I think that is why I appreciate  evergreen trees and the bright spot of colors they bring all year long. Just as these wonderful trees bring consistent color to my yard, evergreen content brings spots of color to a marketing calendar. What is Evergreen Content?  Evergreen content, unlike seasonal content or breaking news, this information is always relevant to your readers. Frequently asked questions, simple how-to blog posts, or product reviews make great evergreen content. These posts can be researched and written well in advance and be ready whenever you need some fresh content Start with the questions customers ask Look in your email folder for those long answers you have already written. This is a great starting point for a blog post. If one customer has the question, others will as well.  And these posts tend to index well on Google, as prospective customers search for answers. Include Key Words Brainstorm a list of keywords you want to rank for. Use a keyword tool such as Google Trends or Google Search Console to find alternatives and ideas. Look for niche words and phrases. which will have a better shot at rising to the top because there will be less competition Quality over Quantity If you want your post to stand the test of time, you can’t just slap up a 500 word article and call it a day. If you do, another article will come along pretty quickly and knock you down. Take extra time when you write evergreen content. Research the topic, add unique examples, and your perspective. Create an article which isn’t just another “5 Ways to Do This….”. Update Your Evergreen Content  I know, I said this would be the kind of blog post that would stand the test of time, it wouldn’t age and it would live on forever. All of that is true, but if it is a great traffic draw for your website, go back occasionally and add new content, a different image, and maybe a new CTA to keep it fresh.  

Sometimes the best way to explain marketing is with a good story. In this episode, I chatted with Ryan Ross, head of marketing at BrokersBloc and author of the novel Benefits with Friends. The book follows a very unlikely hero, Al Dente, a pasta manufacturer who suddenly inherits his father’s benefits brokerage. As Al tries to figure out how to grow the business, he learns some very real marketing lessons along the way. Ryan wrapped those lessons in humor, food puns, and a cast of memorable characters, but the marketing advice is solid and surprisingly practical. Here are a few ideas that really stuck with me. • Pick a niche before you pick a tactic Al starts with nearly a hundred clients but no clear direction. His mentor pushes him to choose a specific audience instead of trying to serve everyone. Because of his background, he understands manufacturing. Once he focuses there, everything else becomes easier. The message is clearer, the prospects make sense, and the marketing finally has direction. • Borrow credibility while you build it Al is still learning the benefits business, so he builds authority by creating content and connecting with experts. Speaking at industry events, hosting conversations, and sharing what he learns helps him build visibility faster than waiting until he feels like an expert. Teaching and learning at the same time can be a powerful combination. • Turn education into a marketing tool One of the smartest strategies Ryan shared was creating continuing education content for licensed professionals. If your audience needs CE credits to keep their license, offering approved educational sessions can dramatically increase participation. Even better, those sessions position you as a trusted resource while you help your audience solve a real problem. At the heart of Ryan’s story is a simple reminder. Marketing works best when you know who you want to help, show up where they gather, and share something useful. Turns out the recipe for good marketing is not that different from good pasta. Start with the right ingredients and keep it simple. About Ryan  Ryan Ross has is head of marketing at BrokersBloc, a GA for independent benefits brokers. He is the author of Benefits with Friends, a fictional book about a benefits broker, Al Dente, as he navigates reviving his father's benefits brokerage. Ryan spent 10 years in marketing and sales at Dow Jones, the Financial Times, and BrightTALK. He has completed 3 Ironman triathlons. Pre-order the book 

This week thousands of podcasters around the world take part in Podcastathon, a global effort that shines a spotlight on nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work in their communities. For one week, hosts swap their usual topics for stories about causes they care about and invite their listeners to learn more, get involved, or lend support. This episode is my contribution to that global event, and it gave me the perfect excuse to talk about one of my favorite nonprofits. Sometimes the hardest part of marketing isn’t getting attention. It’s helping people feel comfortable enough to try something new. That is exactly the challenge when you run a Fringe theater festival. In this episode, I chatted with Paul Daly, Executive Director of the IF Theatre in Indianapolis. IF Theatre is the home of the Indy Fringe Festival, one of the largest fringe festivals in the world, bringing dozens of performers and hundreds of shows to Mass Ave every summer. The festival celebrates creativity, experimentation, and the kind of performances you will not see anywhere else. But that same freedom can make newcomers hesitate. When audiences are not quite sure what they are getting into, they may stay home. Paul shared a simple marketing approach designed to make the experience easier to say yes to. Takeaways Give people a path into the experience Fringe festivals can feel overwhelming. With so many shows and styles, first timers do not always know where to start. This year IF Theatre plans to introduce curated show lists. Want a day of comedy? There is a list for that. Prefer serious drama or an eclectic mix? There are paths for those too. Instead of asking people to sort through dozens of options, the festival gives them a starting point. • Help people understand what to expect Younger audiences especially want clarity before they commit. What will this experience feel like? Is it funny, thought provoking, weird, or a little bit of everything? Clear descriptions and curated experiences remove uncertainty and make it easier for someone to buy that first ticket. • Tell the bigger story behind the brand Many people know Indy Fringe as a ten day festival. What they may not know is that IF Theatre runs year round programs, classes, and performances. One key message they continue to repeat is simple. IF Theatre is the organization. Indy Fringe is its biggest event. The lesson here is straightforward. When people feel unsure, they hesitate. When you guide them, they step forward. And sometimes all it takes is showing them where to start.            

We all love a good story. But here is the twist. If you are the hero, you are doing it wrong. In this conversation, I chatted with John Elbing, creator of the Story Building Method and author of a new book on the topic. We dug into the difference between storytelling and story building. It is not a play on words. It is a shift in perspective that can change how your marketing connects. John believes storytelling has turned into a coat of paint. Hooks. Tricks. Presentation tips. All fine. But before you polish the story, you need to decide which story you are telling. And here is the big idea. It is not your story. It is your customer’s. A few takeaways you can use right away: • Recognition comes first Before someone cares what you do, they need to see themselves in your message. In your words. In your images. In the problems you describe. When they think, “That’s me,” you have their attention. Skip this step and they scroll right past you. • Perception shapes your value People want to quickly understand what you do and where you fit. If they cannot put you in a category, they get confused. And confused people do nothing. Be clear about what makes you different and why that difference matters. • Projection closes the gap Help them imagine life after they work with you. What changes? What feels easier? What problem goes away? When they can picture that future, they are already moving toward a yes. One of my favorite examples John shared was about lawn care. You can say, “I mow lawns.” Or you can talk about the exhausted homeowner who wants to feel proud of her yard again. Same service. Completely different story. That is the shift. When you build your story around your customer’s aspirations, struggles, and trigger moments, your marketing feels less like a pitch and more like a conversation. And that is when people lean in. If your message is not landing, maybe it is time to stop being the hero and start being the guide.

I am going to be honest right from the start. This is a rant. A friendly one. But still a rant. I’m a geek at heart. I love shiny tools, clever plugins, little bits of tech that make my marketing life easier. But lately it feels like some of my favorites have decided to test me. Really test me. It started with my email marketing platform quietly turning off a third-party API I relied on. Their decision, fine. But maybe a heads up would have been nice. Instead, I spent four months wondering why new subscribers were suspiciously quiet. Turns out, the connection was dead. And I only discovered it while building a completely unrelated page on my website. When I reached out to support, they casually mentioned they don’t use that interface anymore. Terrific. Then my chatbot decided to hallucinate. I asked it to summarize an interview and create a teaser. Simple request. Except it thanked a guest who wasn’t even in the conversation. Not even close. I have no idea where it found that name. Apparently, creativity is a little too free these days. And just when I thought I had hit my quota for weird tech behavior, the tool I use to make reels took a detour. This is the tool I trust to pull clean little snippets and generate accurate captions. Instead, it rewrote my perfectly articulate guest into something that sounded like bro speak. She deserved better. I deserved better. The whole episode deserved better. So yes, this is a rant. But it is also a reminder. No matter how good a tool is, no matter how long you have trusted it, you still need to double check. Tools change without warning. Interfaces break. Technology goes off the rails. And if you are not paying attention, your marketing can end up in a ditch you did not see coming. Takeaways Check your tools regularly. Even the ones you think are rock solid. A quick test can save months of missing data or embarrassing surprises. • Never hand over your voice completely. AI is helpful, but it is not infallible. Review everything before it goes into the world with your name on it. Because in marketing, the only thing worse than tech that fails is not noticing it failed. More than a Few Words - Marketing Conversation  A bite-sized marketing podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable ideas, with no fluff and no jargon.

If smarter marketing really worked the way the tools promise, we would all be done by lunch. Instead, most days feel like standing in the cereal aisle staring at fifty boxes that all swear they are the healthiest choice. That is why I sat down with Lisa Raehsler to talk about what to skip when everyone is promising smarter marketing. Lisa is a PPC strategist with more than twenty years in the trenches and the founder of Big Click Co. She spends her days helping businesses sort out what actually works from what just looks shiny. Why this matters Paid ads are not plug and play. Between Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and the parade of AI tools promising instant results, it is easy to feel behind before you even start. Lisa reminded me that the problem is not a lack of tools. It is too many tools pretending they know your business better than you do. Key takeaways from our conversation Skip the “easy button” marketing. Every platform now offers a button that says “generate headlines” or “create images.” Lisa’s advice was simple. Use those ideas as a starting point, then step away. The platforms do not know your goals, your customers, or what makes you different. If you use what they hand you, you will look like everyone else. Start with your basics, not the platform. Before worrying about ad sizes or image specs, get clear on what you are selling, who it is for, and why it matters. Once that foundation is solid, you can adapt the message to fit how people behave on each platform without losing your brand voice. Real beats perfect every time. AI images and stock photos can feel polished, but they often trigger that subtle “something is off” reaction. Lisa shared that real photos from your business, even lightly enhanced, build more trust than flawless AI faces that look like they belong on a romance novel cover

Most business owners think success means being everywhere. Every platform. Every city. Every zip code. But the truth is, real growth usually starts much closer to home. Sometimes right down the street. In this episode, I sat down with Kyle Bailey, who spends his days helping home service businesses win where it matters most. Their local market. We talked about hyperlocal blogging, community connection, and why Google is paying attention to more than keywords. And yes, this is one of those conversations that makes you rethink how you show up online and in real life. Why this matters If you serve a local audience, broad and generic content is working against you. Google wants proof you belong in the neighborhood. Your customers do too. Hyperlocal content bridges that gap by showing, not telling, that you are part of the community you serve. ABOUT KYLE  Kyle Bailey has been helping Home Service Businesses increase sales through SEO, Local SEO, Social Media Marketing and Website Conversion for over 15 years. He founded Frontburner Marketing in 2010 to help Home Service business owners tell their story more clearly and help their ideal customers find them and buy from them faster and more often. With more than 30 years of sales experience, he brings deep passion and knowledge of the sales process to each engagement, and knows that every business owner wants one thing from every marketing engagement: more sales! 

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