Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Be A Marketer with Dave Charest
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| Building a Creative Business Legacy with Maria Miranda | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:47:23 | |
Building a successful business takes grit, determination, and a commitment to your vision. For Maria Miranda, founder and creative director of Miranda Creative, that journey began in 1988 with a simple yet powerful belief: work should be about respect, creativity, and client value. In this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Maria and host Dave Charest pull back the curtain on 35 years of experience, sharing the lessons learned and strategies honed along the way. Maria discusses how she built a thriving agency by focusing on authentic connections, organic content, and the enduring power of email marketing. "Little effort, little impact, big effort, big impact," she shares, emphasizing the importance of meaningful engagement and a long-term perspective. Tune in to hear how Maria empowers her team, embraces a community-driven approach, and navigates the dynamic world of marketing with intention and purpose. Additional Resources:
Meet Today’s Guest: Maria Miranda of Miranda Creative ☕ What she does: Maria is the founder and creative director of Miranda Creative, a brand management firm based in Norwich, Connecticut. For over 35 years, she has provided comprehensive marketing services to businesses. Maria was named the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year: Connecticut by the Small Business Administration. She holds a B.F.A. in graphic design/marketing from the University of Connecticut. 💡 Key quote: "Your email list is the only audience you actually own." 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Miranda Creative: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. | |||
| Ask Dave: How Can You Showcase Content to Grow Your Community? | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:17:59 | |
Want to grow your community and attract more subscribers on social media or LinkedIn?💡 In episode 68 of the Be a Marketer podcast, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, share their insights on how storytelling can help you capture your audience's attention. They also answer a question from the marketing and artist manager of the Gregangelo Museum, a Constant Contact customer since 2005, about key highlights and perks that can attract subscribers and grow their community. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts to hear how storytelling and personal experiences can set your marketing apart in the age of AI. 👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Resources:
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| Ask Dave: How do nonprofits benefit from SMS marketing? | 23 May 2024 | 00:16:12 | |
Are you part of a nonprofit and want to use SMS but aren’t sure how or even if it would be beneficial for your organization? On this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, talk you through it. Listen in to hear how to:
Resources:
👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Using SMS to Increase Attendance with Nicholas Jackson | 16 May 2024 | 00:39:26 | |
Libraries are often the heartbeat of the communities they serve — and Parsippany Public Library in New Jersey is no exception, offering much more than just reading materials. Head of Information Services Nicholas Jackson has been using Constant Contact for several years, both to distribute the library’s newsletter and to text workshop registrants. Before Constant Contact, the library had a problem: People would sign up for workshops and then forget to actually attend. So the library enabled attendee text messages to send reminders the night before and the day of the event. While not everyone checks their email constantly, most people check their texts immediately. Attendance problem solved. Above all else, Nicholas’s top marketing tip is to stay consistent. That consistency applies to the look and feel of your graphics — like fonts and color schemes — as well as to your marketing plan and analysis of what’s working and what’s not. On this episode of Constant Contact’s podcast, Be a Marketer, Nicholas and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss all the ways that Constant Contact has helped spread awareness and drive foot traffic into Parsippany’s libraries. 👉 Get started with SMS marketing in Constant Contact.
Meet Today’s Guest: Nicholas Jackson of Parsippany Public Library ☕ What he does: Nicholas is the Head of Information Services at Parsippany Public Library in New Jersey. Nicholas oversees marketing and PR, plus programming, technology, collections, books, ebooks, and media. He also manages the the Library of Things program where people can borrow items like hotspots, Chromebooks, tabletop games, sewing machines, and more. 💡 Key quote: “Our newsletter is the most powerful advertising-marketing-PR tool. We noticed this when we did an author talk back in 2022. We asked when people signed up, How’d you find out about this? And over 40% said, In the newsletter. We realized that we need to make the newsletter, inviting, helpful, and friendly.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Parsippany Public Library: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok
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| Ask Dave: How can I get informed of people who signed up for my list? | 09 May 2024 | 00:17:44 | |
Do you want to know when someone signs up for your email list? On this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, talk you through it. This week on the Be A Marketer podcast, learn how to be notified when someone subscribes to your email list so you can keep track of your list's growth. Also, Kelsi shares some exciting news about how she’s going to be a duck mom of three. Listen in to hear how to:
Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Finding Success through Good News with Marie Gilmore | 02 May 2024 | 00:55:11 | |
Despite being a newspaper, the Osprey Observer effectively utilizes digital tools like email marketing and social media. The key to running a successful local paper, for Marie, is being deeply involved in and committed to the local community. Her team focuses on covering local good news and events, and the relationships they build with local advertisers and readers. "We laser focus on what we do. We provide customer service. We try to provide all the best services for our small businesses, and we just have to stay laser-focused," Marie explains. Being a part of the community and engaging in local events has helped create a strong brand for the Osprey Observer. Listen to Marie share valuable insights on embracing the local community, the power of good news, and leveraging digital tools for better engagement, with host Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact. 👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Resources:
📰 What she does: Marie is the Managing Editor and Publisher for Osprey Observer, which started as a newsletter and now has grown into four local editions, covering the areas of southeast Hillsborough County. 💡 Key quote: “We all live and work in this community. That’s who we need to support.” - Marie 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Osprey Observer: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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| Ask Dave: Can I import purchased contacts into Constant Contact? | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:10:28 | |
Thinking about importing purchased contacts into your Constant Contact account? In this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, discuss why you should avoid importing purchased contacts into your account and how to grow your email list organically. Listen in to hear how/why:
Resources:
Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Getting Repeat Business with Clif Johnson | 18 Apr 2024 | 00:35:07 | |
Identifying and understanding who your key customers are is a crucial part of marketing for Clif Johnson, especially if you’re targeting diverse audiences like professionals and consumers. "You really have to put on kind of two marketing hats. You have to understand the needs of both of those customers and really be able to cater to them in order to effectively market to them,” says Clif. Once you know your audience, you can start providing them with targeted content with the help of segmentation to enhance marketing efforts. And while initial sales are important, repeat sales indicate effective relationship management. On this episode, Clif and host Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, dive into the importance of understanding key customers, repeat business, and the role of Constant Contact in their marketing.
Resources:
Meet Today’s Guest: Clif Johnson from Pablo Designs ⚡What he does: Clif is the Director of Global Sales and Marketing at Pablo Designs. Pablo Designs is a manufacturer and distributor of interior lighting that challenges traditional design metaphors. Their mission is to create designs that deepen the relationship between objects, their users, and their environment. 💡 Key quote: “Storytelling sells and engages far better than numbers on a spreadsheet. You can have the best product in the world, but if you're not telling a story around it…you're going to not only lose people's attention, but in many cases, you're probably going to bore them to tears.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Pablo Designs: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
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| Ask Dave: How can a nonprofit child welfare org use email marketing? | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:17:35 | |
Wondering how nonprofit organizations can use email marketing effectively? In this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, welcomes Kelsi Carter, the team’s new brand production coordinator. They go on to discuss the importance of storytelling, segmentation, and frequency in email marketing. Listen in to hear how why:
Resources:
Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Growing with Your Business with Corissa Saint Laurent | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:47:57 | |
For Corissa Saint Laurent, building relationships, understanding your audience, and leveraging email marketing are key ingredients for success. And when it comes to growing along with your business, it’s all about focusing on activities that align with your skills and passions while delegating tasks that fall outside your expertise.
"The goal should be to get to a place where you use your time doing the things you should be doing. Avoid the things that aren't in your skillset or that you're not passionate about," says Corissa. On this episode, Corissa and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, delve into the art of building relationships, understanding your audience, and the significance of marketing in connecting with customers. 👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Resources: Meet Today’s Guest: Corissa Saint Laurent, speaker, podcaster, and retreat leader 🎧 What she does: Corissa is a professional speaker, podcaster, and retreat leader. She not only helps businesses grow, but she also helps its people grow along with it. As host of The Everyday Mystic, she delivers practical spiritual guidance for a life of greater meaning, higher purpose, and true joy. 💡 Key quote: “The more you can provide value to your customers, build those relationships, and ultimately build loyalty. Those people become promotional agents for you. They're talking about you to others.” 👋 Where to find her: Website | Podcast | LinkedIn | Instagram If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to ratethispodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. | |||
| Ask Dave: How can we better market new in-person classes? | 28 Mar 2024 | 00:12:43 | |
Wondering how to better market new in-person events/classes? In this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, shares how understanding your audience, utilizing integrations, creating a clear progression path, building urgency, and leveraging different platforms can help you reach and engage your target market more effectively. Listen in to hear how to:
Resources: Achieve your marketing goals with Constant Contact integrations Create and manage tags with Constant Contact Create a segment of contacts in Constant Contact by choosing specific criteria Create a Constant Contact Survey Page DaySmart Recreation Constant Contact Integration Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Ask Dave: How many follow-ups should occur after the first email outreach? | 21 Mar 2024 | 00:08:02 | |
Wondering how many follow-ups you should send after an initial email outreach? What about the timeframe in which to do so? 🎧 Listen to our latest podcast episode where Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, shares his insights on email follow-ups and provides a suggested timeline. Key Takeaways:
Resources: Why you need to send more email than you think Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Reaching The Right Audience With Jonny Etherington | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:39:53 | |
Your next great marketing idea could come from an unexpected place — possibly from a totally unrelated industry. That’s a powerful lesson Jonny Etherington, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Care Advantage, has learned over the course of his career so far. It’s a mindset he’s applied in his role at Care Advantage, a trusted provider of in-home healthcare for 35 years. Jonny attributes the company’s longevity to its commitment to service and building a strong internal culture. "I'm very motivated to work with good people and people that are engaged on a daily basis and challenge you on your ideas," Jonny tells host Dave Charest. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Jonny and Dave explore the unique challenges of marketing in the healthcare industry. Discover how Jonny leverages various marketing channels, including Constant Contact’s email and SMS features to reach clients and caregivers. Tune in to learn how Jonny stays ahead of marketing trends, the importance of showcasing real people in marketing efforts, and why you should never underestimate the power of keeping a simple pad of paper and a pencil nearby. Additional Resources:
Meet Today’s Guest: Jonny Etherington of Care Advantage Inc. ☕ What he does: Jonny is the VP of Marketing and Communications at Care Advantage, a home healthcare organization based in Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Scotland, Jonny has over 20 years of experience in marketing and brand development. He is passionate about using his skills to make a difference in the lives of others. 💡 Key quote: “Take inspiration from different industries. Look outside your own industry and see how you can craft and culture messaging.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Care Advantage: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
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| Moving from Passion to Purpose with Aisha James | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:35:26 | |
When Aisha James set out to create an event celebrating Black-owned businesses in St. Louis, she didn’t think she’d end up running the largest Black-owned food festival in the Midwest. Even while spending her days working as an Operations Manager in the banking industry, Aisha finds time to fuel her passion: bringing together St. Louis’s Black community for a weekend of culture, food, and celebration, The Taste of Black St. Louis. But coordinating this large-scale annual event on a shoestring budget is no easy feat. “I’m considered the little guy that makes big numbers,” says Aisha. And she’s not kidding when she says “big numbers” — in just five years, the culinary festival grew from 16,000 to 83,000 attendees. On this episode, Aisha and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the unique communication challenges of planning such a big event and how technology helps her to remain organized—while also keeping her day job. Listen to learn the importance of developing calendars and timelines, seeking customer feedback via surveys, and leaning on segmentation to craft highly targeted and specific messaging for a variety of audiences. 👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Additional Resources:
Meet Today’s Guest: Aisha James of The Taste of Black St. Louis 🍽️ What she does: Aisha is the founder of The Taste of Black St. Louis, the largest Black-owned food festival in the Midwest. Formed in 2018, the multi-sensory food experience was created to bring local communities and visitors together for a full weekend of culture, tasting, and shopping while shining a light on Black-owned businesses. The event has grown from 16,000 attendees to 83,000. 💡 Key quote: “Remember why you started. Understand that there’s going to be so many bumps in the road, but always remember why you started and stay true to that.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn | Instagram 👋 Where to find The Taste of Black St. Louis: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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| Ask Dave: How should we review our marketing tools and approach for our church? | 07 Mar 2024 | 00:22:20 | |
Wondering how to review marketing tools and approaches, boost productivity, and execute effective marketing strategies for your organization? In this episode, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, dives into the secrets of reviewing, planning, and executing your marketing strategies. And discover how to leverage technology to streamline your processes. Listen in to hear how to:
Resources:
Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Coping with ADHD as an Entrepreneur with Dave Delaney | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:32:14 | |
Dave Delaney, a keynote speaker, author, and business owner, shares his journey of discovering his ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how it's impacted his entrepreneurial journey and strategies. Dave discusses the challenges he faced in 2020, his coping strategies, the importance of self-understanding, and his new podcast, "ADHD Wise Squirrels." He also delves into marketing strategies and time management techniques that have helped him succeed as an entrepreneur with ADHD. "Your best marketing is you at the end of the day,” he says. “And if you're somebody that's cool and honest and smart and can help people, then I think that's the best foot forward with your own marketing." On this episode of Be a Marketer, Dave and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss valuable insights into entrepreneurship, self-awareness, and marketing strategies. 👉 Want a winning framework to improve retention, communication, and culture at your company? Get a free copy of Dave’s The Nice Method ebook using code “BAM24”. Meet Today’s Guest: Dave Delaney of Futureforth ☕ What he does: Dave Delaney is a keynote speaker, author, and he also offers workshops and communication consulting through his business, Futureforth. Dave also hosts a podcast called ADHD Wise Squirrels, where he and his guests discuss and explore the coping mechanisms of late-diagnosed adults. 💡 Key quote: "I've learned just to give myself more grace and understand that there are limits to some of this stuff." 👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn 👋 Where to find ADHD Wise Squirrels: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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| Finding Your Calling with Gail Bernardo | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:36:15 | |
Gail Bernardo, owner of Invisilace Hair Spa, emphasizes the value of patience and persistence in business growth, as well as the power of combining online marketing with personal, face-to-face interactions. Gail also believes in the power of consistent customer contact. In her experience, even if a potential client doesn't require her services immediately, maintaining contact through newsletters means that when they do need her services, her business is top of mind. Gail recounts what she’s learned about marketing, “Sometimes it's not always instant. It may take time for your customer to come...and some people just think, oh, if I send out 500 brochures or I do this and do that, it's not working because in 30 days no one called me. So sometimes you have to be patient and you have to wait.” She’s successfully leveraged local resources, online marketing, and personal interactions to grow her business of 13 years. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Gail and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the importance of marketing for small businesses. Gail shares her strategies for building relationships with customers, including collecting email addresses at events and following up with Constant Contact newsletters. 👉 Check out An Overview of Constant Contact’s Mobile App Meet Today’s Guest: Gail Bernardo of Invisilace Hair Spa ☕ What she does: Since 2010, Gail Bernardo has been helping people with hair loss or thinning due to life-changing health issues. For Gail, it’s more than just a business. It's part of her calling. And she doesn’t take it lightly. After personal struggles with hair loss due to cancer, she knows what it means to her clients to feel good about themselves. 💡 Key quote: "Do your homework before you decide that you're going to open up a business. Understand that it's going to take some time and it's not going to take a whole bunch of money." 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Invisilace Hair Spa: Website If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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| Building Trust Through Stories with Brad Sundberg | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:37:06 | |
If you ask Brad Sundberg, storytelling is an effective marketing strategy that allows you to build trust. Brad shares his experience of using personal storytelling to promote events based on his time in the studio with Michael Jackson. He believes that sharing stories, especially about personal experiences, helps to establish connections with customers. “When you are a business owner,” he says. “You either sit on the couch and eat popcorn and go broke, or you've got to get out and beat the drum.” On this episode of Be a Marketer, Brad and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the power of personal branding, storytelling, and building trust in marketing. 👉 Check out How to Create a Facebook and Instagram Ad in Constant Contact Meet Today’s Guest: Brad Sundberg of In the Studio with MJ ☕ What he does: Brad Sundberg joined Michael Jackson’s team during the production of Captain EO in 1985, and remained with Michael as one of his engineers and Technical Director for nearly 18 years. Now, Brad shares these unique experiences with the public through his In the Studio with MJ seminars. 💡 Key quote: “Marketing is essential now. In the age of social media, whether you love it or hate it, it's an amazing tool. ” 👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn 👋 Where to find In the Studio with MJ: Website | Facebook | Instagram If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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| Ask Dave: How can I engage faculty to come to higher ed instructional technology webinars? | 08 Feb 2024 | 00:10:37 | |
Wondering how to get faculty to attend your webinars? In this episode, Dave Charest provides detailed strategies on audience understanding, creating engaging content, effective promotion, and collecting feedback. Listen in to hear how to:
Resources: How to create a survey page in Constant Contact How to create and activate an event in Constant Contact Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Creating Subject Lines that Get Opens with Jay Schwedelson | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:41:31 | |
Jay Schwedelson has had an interest in direct marketing since he was a five-year-old watching his parents’ direct mail business. Today, he’s one of the internet’s top email marketing experts, but the thing he loves most about email is that you don’t need to be an expert to do it well. “Just get it out there,” he says. “Iterate and keep going. Consistency will win out—you will beat out 95% of everybody else you’re competing with just by being there and doing it.” For nearly 30 years, Jay has run Outcome Media, an agency that today offers demand generation services and email and direct mail marketing. In 2021, he launched GURU Conference to offer affordable, accessible marketing education to business owners and marketers. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Jay and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss what’s most important for email marketing in 2024. Jay also offers his top tips and resources for business owners looking to tap into the power of email. 👉 Check out the email marketing conference mentioned in this episode: GURU 2024 Meet Today’s Guest: Jay Schwedelson of Outcome Media and GURU Events ☕ What he does: Jay is a lifelong entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Outcome Media and GURU Events. He is an expert in email marketing who also started SubjectLine.com, the free subject line testing service for email marketers. 💡 Key quote: “Email is the most important thing on the planet. Your email list is the most important asset in your company — no questions asked.” 👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Podcast 👋 Where to find GURU Events: Website | LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Outcome Media: Website | LinkedIn Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Ask Dave: I created a Sign-up Landing Page - where and how do I share it? | 25 Jan 2024 | 00:07:22 | |
In this episode of the "Be a Marketer" podcast, Dave Charest discusses the benefits of using sign-up landing pages and provides tips on how to effectively promote them in person, in print, and online.
Want to learn more about sign-up landing pages?
Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.
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| Taking a Leap of Kindness with Todd Shimkus and Maggie Fronk | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:36:09 | |
2024 is one of those special years that gives us an extra day—and this Leap Day, Todd Shimkus and Maggie Fronk want you to do something kind for someone else. Todd, the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, started Leap of Kindness Day in 2016 to support local impact-sector organizations. The premise is simple: Use February 29 to do something kind for someone else. That simple idea has catalyzed a worldwide movement, with communities around the United States and beyond running their own Leap of Kindness Day efforts. Maggie has seen the power of this simple call to action firsthand as CEO of Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga County. On the first episode of Be a Marketer for 2024, Todd and Maggie join host Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, to share how Leap of Kindness Day works and how others can take part. Tune in to learn how their organizations use Constant Contact to support businesses and nonprofits in Saratoga County and champion important causes through Leap of Kindness Day—and every day. 👉 Learn more about Leap of Kindness Day and how you or your organization can get involved. Meet Today’s Guests: Todd Shimkus of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Maggie Fronk of Wellspring ☕ What Todd does: Todd is the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, overseeing an organization that supports more than 2,700 businesses in the region. 💡 Key quote: “Think about somebody that’s done something special for you in your life. And on February 29, as part of Leap of Kindness Day, do something kind for them.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter 👋 Where to find the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube ☕ What Maggie does: Maggie is the CEO of Wellspring, a Saratoga County nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and engages the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. 💡 Key quote: “The more we are given opportunities to help others, to see the good, to do the good, to be recipients of somebody else’s kindness we never expected, the more we make a great community, and the more we feel better about this life.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Wellspring: Website | Instagram | Facebook Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured on an upcoming episode.
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| Facing Challenges Headstrong with Julianna Curtis | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:56:21 | |
When Julianna Curtis made the tough call to shut down her yoga and fitness studio in March 2020, she took a day to feel sorry for herself — then she sat down and figured out how to pivot. Julianna is no stranger to adversity in business. A year after opening The Energy Barre, she ended up in court facing a lawsuit about noise complaints from a neighboring tenant. Although the lawsuit was a setback, she pressed on, using headphones in class, until she and her building manager figured out a path forward. Today, The Energy Barre offers yoga, barre, and dance classes in three locations in Massachusetts and online. Julianna is candid about the storms she’s had to weather in building her business — and grateful for the lessons she’s learned along the way. “Once I made my way through the recovery periods, I was able to look back and see how much positive came out of those experiences,” she says. In this episode of Be a Marketer, Julianna and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the ups and downs of owning a small business in an unpredictable world. Meet Today’s Guest: Julianna Curtis of The Energy Barre ☕ What she does: Julianna is the founder and CEO of The Energy Barre, an independently owned fitness and yoga studio. Founded in 2013, The Energy Barre has three locations in Massachusetts and offers classes and sells apparel online. 💡 Key quote: “I am so excited and obsessed with the fact that this is what I get to do.” 👋 Where to find her: Instagram | LinkedIn 👋 Where to find The Energy Barre: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
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| Ask Dave: How can AI refresh my repetitive content? | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:08:10 | |
Wondering how to keep your marketing content fresh without constantly exhausting your brain for new ideas?💡 In episode 66 of the Be a Marketer podcast, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, explore how AI can help you create fresh content for recurring emails and other repetitive marketing campaigns. Tune in to hear more about how:
👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Resources:
If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. | |||
| Purpose Driven Marketing with Al Yeck | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:30:11 | |
“We’re all just trying to get through this life together,” says Al Yeck. “So let’s help each other.” As the Executive Director of the Veterans Healing Farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Al leads an organization devoted to enhancing the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of U.S. veterans and their families. A former Marine — and a former marketer — Al juggles many responsibilities in his role as Executive Director. He divides his days between managing the business side of the nonprofit and the farm itself, which doesn’t leave him much time for marketing. His primary goal for the organization is to achieve financial solvency. That means marketing is especially important for getting the word out to local veterans groups, gardening groups, and others who might be interested in the farm’s mission. Al leans on Constant Contact to help him spread the farm’s message efficiently. In this episode of Be a Marketer, Al and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, dig into the joys and challenges of running a nonprofit and the marketing tactics that are helping the farm grow. Meet Today’s Guest: Al Yeck of Veterans Healing Farm ☕ What he does: Al is a Marine Corps veteran and the Executive Director of Veterans Healing Farm, a nonprofit with a mission to enhance the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of U.S. veterans and their families. 💡 Key quote: “I just urge you, if you’re hurting, mentally or emotionally, to seek help… There should be no stigma attached to it. If you’re hurting, mentally [or] emotionally, join the club. We’re all broken. And we’re all just trying to get through this life together.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Veterans Healing Farm: Website | Donate | Facebook
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| Embracing What Works with Marissa Tilley & Chelsea Demby | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:22:49 | |
From an 800-square-foot store to 12,000 square feet of retail and warehouse space in just three years, Lady Black Tie is the picture of small business success. Owner and founder Marissa Tilley started Lady Black Tie as a brick-and-mortar store after leaving an unfulfilling corporate job. “It came down to the idea of wanting to have fun every day,” she says. “I thought selling dresses would be super fun.” Over the years, Marissa and her colleague Chelsea Demby, who runs Lady Black Tie’s media and influencer relations, have had to navigate a rapidly changing marketing landscape. A few years ago, Marissa says, you could get “a nine-to-one return on your ad spend.” Today, with iOS updates impacting the power of ads and search engines taking a bigger cut of ad sales, they’re seeing returns of three-to-four at best. That’s why Marissa and Chelsea are leaning into email marketing to continue growing Lady Black Tie. In this episode of Be a Marketer, Marissa and Chelsea talk to host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact. Tune in for their tips on sustainable marketing, from avoiding the pitfalls of algorithm changes to navigating virality. Meet Today’s Guests: Marissa Tilley and Chelsea Demby of Lady Black Tie ☕ What Marissa does: Marissa is the owner and founder of Lady Black Tie, a Massachusetts-based fashion company with three lines of business: retail, ecommerce, and wholesale. ☕ What Chelsea does: Chelsea is Lady Black Tie’s head of media and influencer relations. 💡 Marissa’s key quote: “It really came down to wanting to focus on the lighter side of life every day. Not every day is a joy. However, I do try to sit back and remind myself why I did this… seeing the smile on our customers’ faces when they find that dress.” 💡 Chelsea’s key quote: “My best advice is to really not strive for perfection. Have fun with it.” 👋 Where to find Marissa: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Chelsea: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Lady Black Tie: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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| What You Can Do to Avoid the Junk Folder With Jon Marburger and Tara Natanson | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:41:25 | |
Your email’s journey to the customer’s inbox isn’t magic — it’s intentional. Constant Contact has email deliverability experts working behind the scenes to keep your special message out of the dreaded spam folder. But in addition to our technical crew, you, as the sender, can make certain shifts to increase your email’s deliverability. Constant Contact’s Jon Marburger, Director of Email Deliverability, and Tara Natanson, Manager of Deliverability for ISP Relations, together have 31 years of experience in the email industry. Their biggest advice? Pay attention. Metrics and unsubscribe comments can help you understand who’s reading your emails, as well as who’s leaving and why. “The most underutilized part of our product is the opt-out comments,” says Tara. “People unsubscribe and leave you a message about why. You should really be looking at those. They are super enlightening.” On this episode of the Be a Marketer Podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Jon and Tara about other Constant Contact features that can help with your email deliverability. They cover the Gmail Promotions tab and its undeserved bad rap, technical ways to get higher open and click rates, and why you should avoid single-image emails. 👉 How to Build an Effective Email List: Best Practices and Strategies 👉 How to Interpret Your Email Marketing Reporting 👉 Do You Know Why People Are Unsubscribing From Your Emails? 👉 Understanding Email Authentication Meet Today’s Guests: Jon Marburger and Tara Natanson of Constant Contact ☕ What Jon does: Jon is the Director of Email Deliverability at Constant Contact. 💡 Key quote: “Listening to what your customers are telling you — even if it's a negative data point, giving the opportunity to indicate why they chose to unsubscribe — that's really important.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn ☕ What Tara does: Tara is the Manager of Deliverability and ISP Relations at Constant Contact. 💡 Key quote: “While it can be hard to see people leave, or to watch your list get smaller, having a smaller, more engaged list is way better for your deliverability than having a huge list that has a very low number of opens and clicks.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
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| Sharing Wisdom to Get More Business with Ed Doherty | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:34:22 | |
Ed Doherty has achieved something most marketers could only dream of: a 72-78% open rate on his Constant Contact newsletters. His secret? Authenticity. Ed launched his consulting business, Ambrose Landen, after being furloughed at the pandemic's start. He also launched a newsletter, Wednesday Weblogs, which he sends every Wednesday at 4:30 a.m. At 70 years old, Ed has plenty of experience under his belt, and he views marketing as an essential tool for showing prospective clients that he knows how to help them. He doesn’t use his newsletter to sell his services, though — he uses it to build his reputation. “I’m sharing my knowledge, my humor, my toughness,” he says. Three years into sending Wednesday Weblogs, Ed says that many of his current clients started as newsletter subscribers. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Ed and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss how authentic marketing can help you build a community that turns into customers. Meet Today’s Guest: Ed Doherty of Ambrose Landen ☕ What he does: Ed owns Ambrose Landen, a consultancy that offers strategic planning and leadership development services. In the past, Ed has been the human resources officer for an 11,000-person company and the president of a franchise company with 22 restaurants. He’s also the oldest of eight children. 💡 Key quote: “Anybody who’s in business by themselves is selling themselves. That’s what you have to do — you have to sell yourself. So I’m selling my knowledge, my humor, my history.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Ambrose Landen: Website If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. | |||
| Bringing Humanity Back to Marketing with Brian Solis | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:44:44 | |
It can be easy for marketers to forget that real people are on the other side of every interaction. But Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, aims to bring humanity back into marketing. Technology takes humanity out of the equation, he says. As a result, marketers focus too much on metrics like clicks and open rates instead of trying to build relationships. “Once you know more about the people you’re trying to reach,” he says, “the sales or the nurturing or the conversations will happen.” A self-described futurist and digital anthropologist, Brian believes that AI allows marketers to get closer to people. “Somewhere along the way, we confused technology with transaction,” he says. Marketers should approach AI by thinking about how they want customers to feel rather than what they want customers to do. “If you think differently about technology as investing in relationships and meaningful outcomes,” he says, you’ll get exponential returns. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Brian and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss how small business owners can put people back in the equation in their digital marketing and AI use. Meet Today’s Guest: Brian Solis of ServiceNow ☕ What he does: Brian is the Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow. He’s also an author, futurist, and digital anthropologist. He helps companies future-proof by looking at how to be more valuable, agile, and innovative as the world evolves. 💡 Key quote: “The thing I really like about my work is the ability to see the things that most of us are just too busy — or maybe distracted or biased — to see in order to bring people together for a greater purpose.” 👋 Where to find him: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn 👋 Where to find ServiceNow: Website | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
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| AI for Digital Marketing Agencies with Robert Mitchell | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:31:48 | |
Artificial intelligence might seem like complex technology that’s best suited for large businesses. But Robert Mitchell disagrees — he thinks small businesses have the most to gain from AI. Robert is the Chief AI Officer at WSI World, a digital marketing agency network that equips small agencies with the tools to grow and thrive, including AI. He helps WSI franchise owners use AI to create new revenue streams — and he’s thrilled by the possibilities the tech presents for small businesses. “I think this is an amazing opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses,” he says. “The nimble companies are the ones that are going to leapfrog on this. You can do more with less.” On this episode of Be a Marketer, Robert and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talked about how small businesses and their marketers can get started with AI. Meet Today’s Guest: Robert Mitchell of WSI World ☕ What he does: Robert is the Chief AI Officer at WSI World, a digital marketing agency network. After more than 20 years in franchise development, Robert dove into the world of AI. Today, he helps WSI serve as an AI consultancy for its franchise owners — and helps franchise owners become the de facto AI consultants for their clients. 💡 Key quote: “You’re already seen by your clients as the most knowledgeable on the technical aspects of marketing their business. It’s a very small leap from that to AI… all you need to be is that Sherpa, walking them through the process of implementing it.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find WSI World: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
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| What Small Businesses Really Think About AI with Michael Wood | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:24:15 | |
If you had an extra hour in your week, how would you use it? For small business owners who are using artificial intelligence (AI) and marketing automation, this is no longer a hypothetical question. According to Constant Contact’s latest research report, 91% of small businesses that use AI say that it’s helping them save time and work more efficiently. “It’s revolutionary technology,” says Michael Wood, Senior PR Manager at Constant Contact. “And it’s very new to a lot of small businesses.” As Michael — the company’s “hype man” — explains, Constant Contact produces reports like this regularly to help small businesses understand how their industries and customers are changing. “I want Constant Contact to be a resource for our customers,” Michael says. On this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Michael and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the results of the report and how it can help small businesses get started with AI. They also talk about how small businesses can use Constant Contact’s research to capture attention and help their own customers. 👉 Check out the research report discussed in this episode: Small Business Now Report Meet Today’s Guest: Michael Wood of Constant Contact ☕ What he does: Michael is the Senior PR Manager at Constant Contact. His job is to tell the world about all the great things going on at Constant Contact. He also leads the charge on Constant Contact’s research and trends reports, which explore topics relevant to small business owners and nonprofits. 💡 Key quote: “I want Constant Contact to be a resource for our customers, for other small business [owners] who aren’t our customers, for people who are just starting with marketing and are learning how to get better … I want Constant Contact to be synonymous with small business.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
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| Finding Your Niche Market with Charlotte Walsh | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:40:16 | |
It’s hard out there for brick-and-mortar businesses. Just ask Charlotte Walsh, the owner of running shoe store Charles River Running, who competes against her vendors for market share. But her store in Norwood, Massachusetts, offers customers what her direct-to-consumer competitors can’t: a place where new athletes can buy their first running shoes, friendly help finding comfortable footwear for people with active jobs, and a connection point for runners of all stripes to join weekly runs around the neighborhood. Charlotte, a Marine Corps veteran and a runner since age 13, started Charles River Running in 2012. She’d always dreamed of starting her own business, and though she’s had hits and misses along the way, being a business owner brings her joy. “I didn’t realize how much I was going to love my customers,” she says. Charlotte is proud to be part of Norwood’s vibrant downtown. She attributes her success to the community she’s built within her customer base, and Constant Contact is her tool of choice for engaging that community. On this episode of Be A Marketer, Charlotte and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss customers, community, and finding your competitive advantage. Meet Today’s Guest: Charlotte Walsh of Charles River Running ☕ What she does: Charlotte is the owner of Charles River Running, a full-service running and walking shoe store in Norwood, Massachusetts. A Marine Corps veteran with an MBA, Charlotte opened the store in 2012 to provide shoes, accessories, and anything active people need to pursue their goals. 💡 Key quote: “I just want to build a community of people who feel that Charles River Running is a place they can walk into even if they’re a mailman and they’re on their feet all day, or they’re a walker or a lapsed runner. I needed to build a space where people felt super comfortable and not intimidated.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Charles River Running: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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| Build Lasting Connections by Hosting Events with Jesus Flores | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:34:29 | |
If you're looking for ways to build community around your business, consider running an event. It’s a great way to connect with customers, other businesses, and community members. As Jesus Flores, a product manager at Constant Contact focusing on the Events tool, tells us, an event doesn’t have to be a massive production like a concert or gala. He encourages business owners to start small, try things out, and focus on the purpose. “As an organization, you have this purpose that you're aiming to serve or this need that you're aiming to fill,” he says. “How can you bring some of that to consumers in more of a way than just selling your products or your services?” This is where events fit in nicely, allowing you to humanize your business and bring people together. On this episode of the Be a Marketer Podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Jesus about how Constant Contact can help you execute the three stages of an event. They also discuss how to attract customers to your events and keep them coming back and what updates Constant Contact customers can expect to the Events tool in the near future. 👉 Webinar: Event Marketing Strategies for Building Lasting Connections 👉Create and Activate an event with Constant Contact’s Events Tool Meet Today’s Guest: Jesus Flores ☕ What he does: Jesus Flores is a product manager with Constant Contact who focuses on the Events tool. He works directly with customers to better understand their unique challenges and use cases regarding events. 💡 Key quote: “I think events are often looked at as something that only specific types of businesses might be able to leverage. The truth is that events are really a way to get engaged with your community and bring them into your business model.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
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| Nonprofit Email Tips for End-of-Year Fundraising with Julia Gackenbach and Darryl Moser | 07 Sep 2023 | 00:42:22 | |
Julia Gackenbach and Darryl Moser from DonorPerfect, are here to share their best email marketing tips for end-of-year fundraising. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Julia, Darryl, and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss how often you should communicate, common mistakes you don't want to make, and how technology can save you time. 👉 Webinar: How to Run Goal-Based Fundraising Campaigns Meet Today’s Guests: Julia Gackenbach and Darryl Moser of DonorPerfect ☕ What they do: Julia spent 10 years in the nonprofit space before joining DonorPerfect as the communications manager. The CRM system provided everything she needed it to do as a nonprofit employee: relationship management, gift management, anticipation of things she needed to do, reporting, and communications. Darryl is the Product Manager in charge of Partnerships at DonorPerfect. Darryl uses his software development skills and expertise to help nonprofits get the job done. 👋 Where to find Julia: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Darryl: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find DonorPerfect: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | |||
| Authentic and Timely Communication with Matthew Polstein and Tallie Martin | 08 Aug 2024 | 00:38:14 | |
It doesn’t get more authentic than the great outdoors. Matthew Polstein and Tallie Martin of the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC) like to preserve that authenticity in their marketing. Matthew founded NEOC over 40 years ago, offering guests in scenic Maine rafting and snowmobiling, plus lodging and an event center with scenic views of Mount Katahdin. Marketing Manager Tallie says it’s not always about making the hard sell in email communications, but connecting with the customer. “I'm seeing a higher click rate, and a higher opening rate for what I write in a newsletter. I'm like, Hey, this is what's up, here's what we're doing, here's what's relevant, here's what happened last weekend, here's what we're looking towards,” she says. “People are opening that rather than buy this, do this, come see that.” On this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Tallie, Matthew, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, Brand Production Coordinator at Constant Contact, talk about seasonality, timing communications to purchases, and using AI in email composition. 👉 From Rapids to Resorts: New England Outdoor Center Connects Customers to Nature Additional Resources:
Meet Today’s Guests: Tallie Martin and Matthew Polstein of New England Outdoor Center ☕ What Tallie does: Tallie is New England Outdoor Center’s Marketing Manager. In addition to managing social media and other marketing initiatives, she guides and teaches canoeing and kayaking at the center. 💡 Key quote: “It's all authentic marketing. It’s not pushing people in an inauthentic way. It's organic.” ☕ What Matthew does: Matthew is the President of New England Outdoor Center. Operating for over 40 years, NEOC offers rafting, snowmobiling, lodging, and a world-class business center and wedding venue. 💡 Key quote: “None of us stand alone. To small business people we often feel like we do, but we really need to make sure we take care of them, build a network of staff and supporters around us. It’s so important to have a community that incubates and grows your business.” 👋 Where to find Matthew: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find New England Outdoor Center: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. | |||
| Setting Up Systems for Content Marketing Success With Pamela Wilson | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:50:14 | |
When it comes to content marketing, many business owners make the mistake of creating general content that doesn’t address the specific needs of buyers about to purchase. Pamela Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer at Dental Claims Support, makes sure the company’s content answers the kinds of questions prospective buyers are asking just before they’re ready to buy. “There’s nothing wrong with answering those [general] questions, but if you never get beyond that, you end up getting a lot of people who are tire kickers,” she says. “They’re just trying to learn more, but they’re not actually trying to buy.” How do you go beyond basic? Get into the head of someone becoming aware of your solution. Think about what buyers ask as they go through the process of deciding whether they want to invest in your product or service. On this episode of the Be a Marketer Podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Pamela about creating more than just basic content. She shares setting her team up for success by scheduling creative time, having standard operating procedures in place, and finding the best generative AI tool for writers. 👉 Pamela’s book “Master Content Marketing” 👉 Pamela’s book “Master Content Strategy” Meet Today’s Guest: Pamela Wilson ☕ What she does: Pamela is the Chief Marketing Officer at Dental Claims Support, an end-to-end revenue cycle management company in the dental industry. She’s also written two books on content marketing. 💡 Key quote: “I have a very low tolerance for boredom. And there has not been one boring day in the CMO position.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn | Website 👋 Where to find Dental Claims Support: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
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| The Introvert’s Guide to Building Relationships with Valerie J. Lewis Coleman | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:30:45 | |
Raise your hand if networking and building relationships make you uncomfortable. There are at least a few of you out there. And even if you’re an introvert, you likely know how critical those relationships are to growing your business. Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, best-selling author and founder of Pen of the Writer, can talk about book publishing all day. Still, when it comes to more formal networking with strangers, she feels intimidated. “I can do this with you, Dave, all day long because we’re talking about something I’m passionate about,” she says. “But if I’m in a room with somebody I don’t know, after we talk about how cute your outfit is, I’m done.” But Valerie says that the biggest thing she’s learned over her 15+ years in business is that relationships are critical. She uses a weekly calendar to track what she needs to do to build those relationships. Being intentional about it makes it happen. On this episode of the Be a Marketer Podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Valerie about ways introverted people can be intentional about networking and marketing, the importance of surrounding yourself with others who share your aspirations, and the beauty of scheduling and segmenting emails. 👉 Check out Valerie’s books: Do it Right the First Time Anthology 👉 Learn how to create and manage tags in Constant Contact Meet Today’s Guest: Valerie J. Lewis Coleman ☕ What she does: Valerie founded Pen of the Writer, helping professional speakers and experts magnify and monetize their message by publishing quality books. She’s also written a best-selling children’s book and a relationship novel. 💡 Key quote: “I believe that this is what I'm called to do. It's not just something that I'm choosing to do, it's almost like I am compelled to do it.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn | Facebook 👋 Where to find Pen of the Writer: Website | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter
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| Cybersecurity for Small Business Owners With Sam Silberman | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:27:20 | |
Small businesses face plenty of challenges, but Sam Silberman, Constant Contact’s Director of Security Operations, wants to make sure that getting hacked or phished isn’t one of them. In this episode of Be a Marketer, Sam joins host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, to help small business owners stay safe in an increasingly dangerous digital world. Sam has spent over 13 years protecting Constant Contact and its customers against bad actors. He knows that small business owners have enough to worry about without adding complicated cybersecurity procedures to the mix. Tune in to hear Sam’s simple recommendations for protecting yourself and your business against hackers and phishers — no IT expertise required. Meet Today’s Guest: Sam Silberman of Constant Contact ☕ What he does: Sam is Constant Contact’s Director of Security Operations. Sam and his team protect Constant Contact from hackers and bad actors who try to abuse the system by sending spam from customer accounts. 💡 Key quote: “We all get tricked. I get tricked. We’re all susceptible to this — it’s our human nature.”
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| Serving a Greater Purpose in Marketing with Kim Jones Sneed | 10 Aug 2023 | 00:48:21 | |
Have you ever felt like your work doesn’t matter? You’re not appreciated? Someone else can do what you do? Kim Jones Sneed, owner of Stuff in the Bluff, an award-winning website focused on local news and entertainment in Pine Bluff, Ark., admits to feeling this way often. There have been many times she wanted to throw in the towel. But what’s kept her going for over 20 years is feeling like she’s serving a purpose greater than just making money. “It’s people who help you succeed,” Kim says. “Many times, it’s just that faithful customer who will continue to do business with you, who has the faith to take a chance.” Community has played a key role in Kim’s longevity, and she returns the favor by treating every single customer with the same care, pride, and enthusiasm. On this episode of the Be a Marketer Podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Kim about persevering through the tough times, uplifting a community through marketing, and sending emails multiple times daily. 👉 Check out the Constant Contact Community Meet Today’s Guest: Kim Jones Sneed of Stuff in the Bluff ☕ What she does: Kim owns Stuff in the Bluff, an award-winning website focused on local news and entertainment in Pine Bluff, Ark. 💡 Key quote: “Running a small business can be something that can really reach beyond barriers, walls, limitations.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Stuff in the Bluff: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter
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| The Secret Sauce for a Winning Customer Experience With Mike Bausch | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:55:55 | |
Starting a pizzeria at age 22 might seem ill-advised — and even though Mike Bausch did it, he frankly wouldn’t advise anyone else to do the same. But the now-owner of Andolini’s Pizza bases his customer experience on one big concept: “If you’re not impressive, by default, you’re unimpressive.” Process standardization and careful staff training provide a killer customer experience, a core part of Andolini’s brand. With marketing, Mike wants you to appeal to the individual. “The number one headline of marketing is connecting to the selfishness of an individual,” he says. “What the value is to them is how you have a value proposition.” In other words, focus on what you can give the customer and how you can appeal to their why, not why you want them to choose your business. It’s about them — not you. On this episode of the Constant Contact podcast, Be a Marketer, Mike shares what he’s learned since opening his first pizzeria in 2005 with host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact. 👉 Check out the full recording of the panel discussion featuring Mike Bausch, Candid Conversations: Celebrating Small Business Success Meet Today’s Guest: Mike Bausch of Andolini’s Pizzeria ☕ What he does: Mike of Andolini’s Worldwide Restaurant Group is a pizza restaurateur in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He started his first restaurant, Andolini’s Pizzeria, in 2005 at the age of 22. 💡 Key quote: “That’s where the real secret sauce is [in marketing]: automation and connection.” 👋 Where to find him: Book | Instagram | LinkedIn
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| Get Personal and Build Trust With Marianne Mernick-Sullivan | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:48:56 | |
Opening up about our personal lives via email isn’t easy, especially with people we may not talk to on a daily basis. Marianne Mernick-Sullivan, President of Consignments Ltd., had difficulty getting personal in her weekly newsletter. She stuck to interior design and what was on sale in her store. But once she opened up about being a type 1 diabetic, she built a new connection with her customers. “I wrote about my reasons for gratitude, and it was totally off-topic,” she says. “I had people crying, saying to me, I'm so glad you shared that. My brother's a diabetic, or I've had a health challenge. It just opens the customer relationship up to something bigger.” Marianne was no longer just a shop owner to her customers—she was a person. She didn’t intend to share openly as a strategy, but it became a great tool to connect her business to her customers.
On this episode of Constant Contact’s Be a Marketer podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Marianne about the importance of community connection, why you should have high standards for your business, and how to hire the right people. Meet Today’s Guest: Marianne Mernick-Sullivan of Consignments Ltd. ☕ What she does: Marianne is the President of Consignments Ltd. Her 6,400-square-foot brick-and-mortar store sells furniture, lighting, china, handbags, and jewelry to customers in Rhode Island. 💡 Key quote: “I was basically told, This is the most stupid idea that a person has ever had, and you're going to lose this money on this. It sounds hokey, but if you believe in it and you're willing to work hard at it, you have to be willing to go for it.” 👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Consignments Ltd.: Website | Facebook | Instagram
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| Welcome to the AI Revolution with Russ Morton | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:28:34 | |
Generative AI is all the rage right now. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard have become content creators’ best friends. But companies like Constant Contact have used AI for many years for tasks like A/B testing email subject lines, send-time optimization, and email subject line suggestions. Russ Morton, Chief Product Officer at Constant Contact, says generative AI is just a part of what we’re doing in the space. “We have trained our AI such that if you give us a couple of sentences of what you’re trying to do — it doesn’t even need to be in plain English — we’ll come back to you with a really well-crafted email,” he says. And early results show that the engagement you can get from working with our AI-generated content will only increase.
On this episode of Constant Contact’s Be a Marketer podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Russ about how we’re taking the guesswork out of email, tips for creating content that resonates with the click of a button, and Constant Contact’s vision for the future of AI. 👉 How to update your business profile in your Constant Contact account 👉 Use a recommended subject line in your Constant Contact email 👉 A/B test an email subject line 👉 Using AI-generated content as a small business marketer Meet Today’s Guest: Russ Morton of Constant Contact ☕ What he does: Russ is the Chief Product Officer at Constant Contact. 💡 Key quote: “There's no part of becoming a great marketer that we don’t aspire to take off your shoulders as a small business owner.” 👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
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| The Circle of Joy in Business With Paul Baik | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:24:43 | |
Paul Baik, President of Paul’s Beauty Warehouse, believes in taking a holistic approach to business relationships in the beauty biz. It’s never just about the customer. It’s also about vendors, employees, and the customer’s customers. That’s why he considers his business a “circle of joy.” “We wanted to focus not on making money, but making people beautiful … We look at everything holistically now,” Paul says. And that means looking at the bigger picture by exploring what parts of the job his team does, what parts of the job his customers do, and what parts of the job his vendors do. Paul’s Beauty Warehouse serves hairstylists, barbers, and trade schools in the Maryland/D.C./Virginia area. A “Costco for beauty” since 2006, Paul operates out of three locations and educates stylists through the company’s education program. Over the years, as his business has grown, he’s learned a few lessons. In the early years, Paul ran a lean team consisting of his mother and just one other employee. Now he oversees 45 employees across all locations. One thing he’s learned is that customer service-driven people make the best team members. This rang especially true for Paul during 2020, as his team stepped up to pivot during closures in the hair care industry. With the help of his dedicated team, he was able to quickly begin offering online ordering and curbside pickup.
On this episode of Constant Contact’s Be a Marketer podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks to Paul about the challenges and victories of serving the haircare industry and why email marketing plays an important role. Meet Today’s Guest: Paul Baik of Paul’s Beauty Warehouse ☕ What he does: Founded in 2006, Paul’s Beauty Warehouse serves hairstylists, barbers, and trade schools over three locations in the Maryland/D.C./Virginia area. Paul focuses on providing his customers with the highest quality hair care products. 💡 Key quote: “Just do it. Start it. Email is still very relevant. Get the email out consistently to customers every week. Share anything that your business is all about. It's something that all businesses should do.” 👋 Where to find Paul: LinkedIn
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| Transforming Marketing from Obnoxious to Engaging with Nicole Stevenson | 06 Jul 2023 | 00:47:51 | |
Marketing doesn’t have to be an obnoxious task you dread. Many small business owners are uncomfortable talking about themselves and their work with the public. Create an Instagram Reel? With me on camera? No, thank you. According to Nicole Stevenson, CEO and Creative Director of Dear Handmade Life, it’s not about you. It’s about your message. “I can’t serve my community if nobody knows about me,” she says. Dear Handmade Life curates events, education, and community for creatives and small business owners. During her time as CEO, Nicole has done many things that made her uncomfortable. Marketing is one of those things. In her work with other small business owners, she finds this attitude toward marketing is pretty common. Sharing your story is essential to building a community. And for Nicole, that community is everything. “I would not have a business without this community that we’ve curated,” she says. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Nicole and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss being more open to new systems and technologies, creating processes to complete your big tasks, and why it’s important to sit back and appreciate yourself once in a while. 👉 Marketing for Makers Summit, July 11 & 12, 2023 👉 How to Create a Custom Landing Page with Constant Contact Meet Today’s Guest: Nicole Stevenson of Dear Handmade Life ☕ What Nicole does: Nicole is the CEO and creative director of Dear Handmade Life, which helps curate events, education and community for small business owners. 💡 Nicole’s key quote: “Don't wait ‘til you're ready. Just dive in and get started. Just build that list. Do not only rely on Instagram or social media. Just don't do it. You've got to focus on email marketing as well.” 👋 Where to find Nicole: Instagram
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| Using Abundant Thinking to Solve Problems With Ed Bernstein | 25 May 2023 | 00:47:22 | |
If it costs a little and means a lot, just do it! This is Ed-ism number one. It’s also how Ed Bernstein, President of 25Score, manages to thrive in a market led by Groupon and LivingSocial. Ed bought 25Score, a local loyalty discount program, in 2009. Even with big-name competitors and a pandemic that forced most of his vendors to close temporarily, Ed’s business lives on. Lending a helping hand, even if it didn’t make a profit, allowed Ed to forge strong relationships throughout his community. Eventually, those relationships would create new customers. “There's no way I could have built this company off of just advertising,” he says. “It's all word of mouth. It's all belly-to-belly, helping people every single day, every single month.” On this episode of Be a Marketer, Ed and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the importance of reflecting on your own accomplishments and how automation can help reduce mistakes and make your business more efficient. Plus, they share why sometimes you may need to shift your strategy to stay afloat. 👉 Want more from Ed on business? Check out his “Ed-isms” 👉 Create and manage a Constant Contact welcome email 👉 Create a recurring Constant Contact birthday email 👉 Create a recurring Constant Contact anniversary email Meet Today’s Guest: Ed Bernstein of 25Score ☕ What Ed does: Ed is the President of 25Score, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley’s longest-running local loyalty discount program. 💡 Ed’s key quote: “You always look at yourself and say, What did I not get done? But if you look at what you did do, it's an insane amount of things that you've implemented.” 👋 Where to find Ed: LinkedIn | |||
| Ask Dave: How do we send more personalized emails? | 01 Aug 2024 | 00:14:21 | |
Looking for ways to increase personalization and segmentation for your organization? In episode 64, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, talk you through it. Kelsi also provides a long-awaited update on her ducks! Tune in to hear more about:
👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Resources:
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| The Joy of Being Your Own Boss With Lisa Hammer and Dave Newman | 18 May 2023 | 00:46:18 | |
Lisa Hammer is a business leader with a mindset for marketing, communications, and finance. Dave Newman is a mechanical engineer with a passion for teaching. Together, they run Leadership Techniques LLC, where their complementary skill sets drive their success. Lisa and Dave met while working for different companies and found common ground discussing the challenges they faced as managers. They decided to bring a group together to discuss handling personnel issues. Afterward, one participant asked them: “You two are so passionate about this. Why aren’t you teaching it?” They needed that motivation to take the plunge into starting their own business. Today, Leadership Techniques offers courses and consulting to help people become better managers and leaders. On this episode of Be a Marketer, Lisa, Dave, and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss what it takes to build a successful business with a partner and how to adapt when the world around you changes. Tune in to hear how Lisa and Dave share the business responsibilities, how they’ve adapted to change, and why they love email marketing as a tool for growing their business. Meet Today’s Guests: Lisa Hammer and Dave Newman of Leadership Techniques ☕ What they do: Lisa and Dave are the co-founders and owners of Leadership Techniques, a business that provides training and consulting on project management, math-oriented scheduling, and leadership skills. 💡 Key quote: “They say if you love what you do, you won’t feel like you’re working. We don’t… We have long days, but we absolutely love what we do. And we love making a difference. If you can find something that makes you feel good and makes you feel like you’re accomplishing something, it’s the best feeling.” 👋 Where to find Lisa: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Dave: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Leadership Techniques: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook
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| Building a Real Estate Business Through Email with Ricky Carruth | 11 May 2023 | 00:44:08 | |
Get ready to learn from a real estate expert who's experienced the ups and downs of the industry. Ricky Carruth closes about 100 deals a year without prospecting and credits his success to his weekly email newsletter. Since 2007, he has sent more than 830 emails — or one newsletter per week for 16 years. In addition to building his real estate business, the newsletters give him more time to focus on his other passion: coaching agents through Zero to Diamond, his free real estate coaching program. Ricky walks the talk: He has faced some really tough times. He lost everything and had to live in his car when the market crashed. He was back at real estate one year later, using a people-first approach. Today, he focuses on building lifelong relationships with everyone he meets, regardless of whether they’re buying or selling property. On this episode of Be a Marketer, host Dave Charest talks with Ricky about his real estate journey and uncovers his top advice for agents trying to grow their businesses. Meet Today’s Guest: Ricky Carruth of Zero to Diamond ☕ What Ricky does: Ricky is a top real estate agent in Alabama and founded Zero to Diamond, the world’s first completely free real estate coaching program. 💡 Key quote from Ricky: “It's just crazy to think back then, I didn't realize I was building a brand. I didn't realize that I was accumulating people. Once I got to that point, and I saw what the weekly email was doing back in 2008, ‘09, and ‘10, I was all in on it.” 👋 Where to find Ricky: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter 👋 Where to find Zero to Diamond: Website | Facebook
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| Go Big and Disrupt an Industry with Sonja Rasula | 04 May 2023 | 00:48:07 | |
Imagine emptying your 401K to the tune of $50,000 to book a venue for your first event as a business owner with no previous entrepreneurship experience. Go big or go home, right? That’s the confidence level Sonja Rasula had in 2008 when she started Unique Markets. As a former journalist, she had the research skills and natural interest in telling stories that helped her prepare for owning a business. For the last 15 years, Sonja has created large-scale pop-up markets across the country. She aims to support small businesses by showcasing up-and-coming designers, artists, and entrepreneurs just starting their journey. From the beginning, she set out to be a leader in an industry that didn’t even exist. “I do believe in the idea of go big or go home,” she says. “I wasn't going to create a little market that could happen outdoors in a parking lot. That's already out there. I wanted to create something new. I wanted to disrupt an industry.” On this episode of Be a Marketer, Sonja and host Dave Charest talk about the growing pains she experienced, why you shouldn’t fall for the social media trap, and the importance of focusing on yourself. 👉 Constant Contact Resend to Non-openers Feature 👉 Constant Contact Canva Integration Meet Today’s Guest: Sonja Rasula of Unique Markets ☕ What Sonja does: Sonja founded Unique Markets in 2008 to create large-scale pop-up markets nationwide. Her markets support small businesses by showcasing up-and-coming designers, artists, and entrepreneurs just starting their journey. 💡 Key quote from Sonja: “As a business owner, if you own nothing, that means Instagram or whatever social media platform you're using, that means they own you. That's a terrible position to be in.” 👋 Where to find Sonja: LinkedIn | Instagram 👋 Where to find Unique Markets: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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| Email Marketing Made Easy with Ken Countess | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:37:49 | |
Email marketing is the backbone of any digital strategy — a tried and true way to reach customers. And the best part is, you don’t have to get overly advanced to see results. Email marketing coach Ken Countess says what works best for his clients is keeping it simple. “People don’t scroll. Don’t sweat this idea that you don’t have enough content to go on,” he says. “Keep your brand up front. Make sure you're top of mind. Give them enough that they look forward to the next email they get from you.” Through his consulting business, Ken is Email, Ken has coached clients in email marketing for 22 years. He’s also a Constant Contact Certified Partner. His top advice always centers around simplicity and sticking to what works. “Everything takes time,” he says. “Be great at what you do. And once you're great at what you do that will give you permission to try something else. But don't steer away from the things that are working. They're working for a reason.” On this episode of Be a Marketer, Ken and host Dave Charest discuss why email should be the first go-to for a marketing strategy, Ken’s accidental journey to becoming a business owner, and how he coaches clients on email marketing. 👉 Ken’s 8 Essential Email Marketing Tips 👉 Constant Contact Partner Program 👉 Constant Contact Agency Directory Meet Today’s Guest: Ken Countess of Ken is Email ☕ What Ken does: Ken has been an email marketing coach for 22 years through his consulting business Ken is Email. He focuses on B2B companies and is a Constant Contact Certified Partner. 💡 Key quote from Ken: “I know for a fact that I've taught over 10,000 business owners how to use digital marketing. And most of it starts with email.” 👋 Where to find Ken: LinkedIn 👋 Where to find Ken is Email: Website | Podcast | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
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