Making the Brand | Marketing with a Pop Culture Twist

We've come a long way from illegally downloading music on Napster and Limewire in the Y2K era. These days, we're willing to spend big bucks on everyone's favorite new (but old!) music format: vinyl records. 43.46 MILLION vinyl albums were sold in 2022!  In this episode, I chat with Nick Alt, the CEO and founder of VNYL — a vinyl record membership club that sends uniquely curated music just for you! Why have we seen a huge resurgence in this music pastime? Nick says: "Vinyl is a tangible format... it's nostalgic, it's much more appealing, deserving of attention than just purely listening to music online." I have to agree that listening to a vinyl record on a turntable is an easy way to elevate your experience as a music fan. And with VNYL, you can unbox something special every month. Hear Nick share his inspiration for starting VNYL (spoiler: it started thanks to his first job working in a record shop!), why we're so obsessed with nostalgia, and the power of a subscription model to nurture a loyal audience for your business. We also discuss how music discovery has changed over the years, and how influencers are inspiring all of us to spin records.  Check out VNYL.org to create your unique music profile! It syncs with your Spotify account so you can discover vinyl records that fit your vibe. Use this link to get 50% off your first month of 3 records! P.S. passionate about music? VNYL is hiring! Hear more about the opportunities around the 43:00 minute mark 👀 For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter Access the show notes here!

In the fall of 2021, my paths crossed with Leigh Dorough — an entertainment executive turned entrepreneur, and proud wife of Howie Dorough from my beloved Backstreet Boys! Leigh told me she was working on launching a new brand that was close to her heart — ESLLA. And it's now come to life! I had to invite her on the show to tell us about it! ESLLA stands for Ethically Sourced Luxury Leather Alternatives and offers gorgeous vegan handbags you can truly feel good about. I got the chance to chat with Leigh and her amazing co-founder and friend, Charlotte Wienckoski, about their journey introducing ESLLA to the world. I'm so inspired by how Leigh and Charlotte are innovating and making a difference with ESLLA. They're bridging the gap between luxury and sustainability, without sacrificing beauty or style. Listen to this episode to hear them reveal the surprising material they use to make ESLLA products, as well as the story behind the brand and their incredible partnership. And in true Making the Brand fashion, expect some fangirling, too! Learn more about ESLLA on their website: https://eslla.com/ Follow @ESLLA on Instagram Access the show notes here For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

In the lovable Apple TV series, Ted Lasso, the title character played by Jason Sudeikis has a one-word message to help his players get in the game: Believe. It turns out that this simple, yet powerful lesson from the locker room can also apply to your marketing. In this episode, we break down the difference between brand marketing and direct response marketing. We also go over how they work together to turn leads into believers and then buyers.  For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter Access show notes

Is Hanson a boy band? Maybe, maybe not... but one thing is for sure, nonprofits are always looking for creative ways to fundraise! In this episode, I'm sharing a story about the genius way my classmates raised money with a little help from MMMBop, along with some other nuggets of marketing wisdom for those working in the nonprofit world.  For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

This episode is over three years in the making! I get the chance to interview my BSB BFF, Danielle Spurge-Swavely. We met online in a BSB fan group and now she is my go-to concert sidekick. And honestly, Danielle is the reason this podcast exists. In this episode, we discuss how the Backstreet Boys became the best-selling boy band of all time.  For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

Who would you consider to be the most engaged celebrity on social media? I can't help but notice that Lizzo is everywhere! How does she do it?! Here's how you can become a more efficient content creator so you can build your own community.  This episode was brought to you by Attentive — a company helping thousands of innovative brands drive sales with text messaging. Did you know over 81% of consumers opt into text messages from their favorite brands? Level up your marketing with the power of SMS!  With the holidays coming up, now’s the time to plan how you'll use SMS this shopping season. Fortunately, Attentive made a helpful guide called the "Holiday Marketing Reboot"- full of all the examples and tips you need. AND it has a 90s nostalgia vibe, which I love. Check it out at attentive.com/holiday! Access show notes here

Kelly Clarkson is more than just one of the greatest voices of our generation. She is also an Emmy-award winning talkshow host. A big part of the show's promotional strategy is their daily #Kellyoke segment where she does her own rendition of a popular song. Listen to this episode to hear how karaoke may be a game-changer for your own social media content. For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 Access show notes

As marketers, there are SO many channels to keep up with, it can be exhausting. Do you need fresh ideas EVERY single day? Take it from a comedian as successful as Jerry Seinfeld... the answer is no! In this episode, we talk about how to repurpose content to make you a more efficient and strategic content creator.  Subscribe to my newsletter for more marketing and content wisdom inspired by pop culture! https://briannefleming.com/newsletter/ 

Declaring your side of the boy band wars was one of the main ways millennial girls around the world expressed themselves. The question of ‘Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC’ sparked impassioned debates at every slumber party. So what does this have to do with marketing? Well, giving your audience a a way to express their allegiance is sure to boost social media engagement.  Check out this episode that introduces 'See and Choose' content and dives into the science of System 1 and System 2 thinking. For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter  Access show notes 

Boy bands and memes are colliding on this episode! I had the chance to interview Kianna Davis, the original creator behind a meme we all know and love, the IT'S GONNA BE MAY meme featuring Justin Timberlake. Hear the story about how she came up with this meme in 2012, and the cool things that have happened since. We also touch on the importance of giving credit to creators like her.  Follow Kianna on Instagram at @astro_kianna For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

In this episode, I had the chance to interview Jess Sanfilippo, the founder of Roadie Social. Jess is setting out to help musicians create better experiences and foster a deeper connection with fans through social media. She shares her entrepreneurial journey — spoiler alert – Harry Styles is a big part of it! We also hear Jess's tips for how any brand can build stronger relationships with their audience. Check out Roadie Social at roadiesocial.com Twitter and IG: @roadiesocial Follow Jess! For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

In the age of social media, do you need a personal website to showcase your work? According to T-Pain, the answer is yes. Listen as we explore all the reasons a personal website is one of the best investments you can make in your career. For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 Access show notes

From blogs to video, social, email, and everything in between, content creation is a bit of a bear! It goes beyond just the idea and the piece of content itself. Just when you thought your work was done, you also have to complete several smaller steps and details to optimize your work. As Blink-182 said, "Work sucks, I know." Here are all the small things that can make or break your content.  For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 Access show notes

You may know Romy & Michele's High School Reunion as one of the most beloved comedies of the '90s, but it's actually about personal branding. Here are some personal branding lessons inspired by this iconic film!  For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

Sharing user-generated content in the age of social media is simple! But what was it like in the year 2000? How did brands hold contests or gather earned media? In this episode, we go down memory lane to hear how MTV's Total Request Live collected UGC. We'll also share some tips on how to make the most of your UGC. Spoiler alert: some UGC is good, but not good enough.  For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

If you're anything like me, you've put off launching a blog, podcast, or business idea for far too long because you couldn't land on the perfect name for it. Well, it's a beautiful day to stop overthinking and just do the damn thing! Here's my best advice on how to pick a name for your brand that not only works, but helps you get going!  For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

Barbra Streisand's music legacy is undeniable! But she is also credited with helping create a social phenomenon every marketer should know: The Streisand Effect. According to The Economist, The Streisand Effect occurs when “efforts to suppress a juicy piece of online information can backfire and end up making things worse for the would-be censor.” We've seen countless examples of this in pop culture, but also surrounding important public service announcements.  Are your communication efforts backfiring on you? Learn more in this episode!  For marketing and pop culture wisdom sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌

OMG, we're back again with season 5! I'm sharing a content idea that works every time and will take the guesswork out of content creation. Thanks to Miss Congeniality for the inspiration on this one!  Follow me on Twitter for more branding fun, @brianne2k

Am I dreaming?!!? I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special episode where my friends and I INTERVIEW A BACKSTREET BOY! Long story short, I also co-host a live stream show called Fangirls' Night Out with my friends Danielle, Britt, and Kelsey. Between the four of us and the fangirl powers that be, we made our way to AJ McLean. In this episode, we talk with AJ and his business partner, Josh Naranjo, about what they learned building a beauty brand. I highly recommend checking out the recorded live stream video here: https://bit.ly/2Nyr7oN 

If you watched the Framing Britney Spears documentary and Oprah's interview with Meghan Markle, you learned how the tabloids destroyed their mental health. They were powerless to the narrative the press was building. The tabloids wouldn't have stood a chance if Britney and Meghan were empowered with social media and an online presence. In this episode, you'll hear the importance of using the platforms at your fingertips to amplify your voice and shape your narrative.