Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: The Future of Marketing & AI Search! Join Zoe and Leigh as they explore how AI is transforming the way people search—and what that means for marketers. From changes in user behaviour and search engine algorithms to the tools shaping tomorrow’s strategies, we dig into what’s coming and how you can stay ahead of the curve. If you're in marketing, SEO, content, or strategy, this one’s not to be missed.

📍 Find us here:

Website: www.forank.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/forank

Zoe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Why Sales and Marketing Need to Align! Join Zoe and Leigh as they dive into one of the biggest challenges businesses face—getting sales and marketing teams on the same page. From sharing data and aligning messaging to creating campaigns that truly support sales, we explore why collaboration is crucial for growth. Whether you're a marketer, a sales pro, or a business owner, this episode is packed with tips to help your teams work better together and drive real results.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠marketing@forank.com⁠

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Measuring Marketing Success! Join our hosts as they sit down with Kyle Rushton McGregor to dive into all things GA4, tracking, and analytics. From setting up accurate measurement frameworks to answering common questions, we explore why proper tracking is crucial for marketing success. Learn why you need to set up tracking, how it impacts your strategy, and how to make data-driven decisions that drive real results. Whether you're a business owner, a marketer, or just looking to improve your analytics skills, this conversation will give you the tools to measure and optimise your marketing success effectively.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠⁠www.forank.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠⁠

Kyle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylerushtonmcgregor/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠marketing@forank.com⁠⁠

Welcome to forank's very first podcast episode! Join our hosts, Zoe, and Leigh, as they dive into the importance of getting a head start on your marketing for the new year. From setting clear goals to actionable tips, this episode is packed with insights to help you start the year on the right foot.

Whether you're a business owner, a marketer, or just looking for inspiration, this conversation will give you the tools to make your marketing strategies more effective and impactful.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠⁠www.forank.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠marketing@forank.com⁠⁠

In this episode of forank marketing, we unpack a hard truth: marketing isn’t linear.

Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey are joined by Chris Nightingale, Performance Marketing Specialist at Can-Do Marketing, to explore why leads don’t follow a perfect funnel, why attribution isn’t as simple as it looks in reports, and why expecting instant ROI from a single campaign is a fast track to disappointment.

We break down how real marketing works—layered, messy, and full of touchpoints that rarely follow a straight line. Whether you're running ads, building organic content, or nurturing leads through email, understanding this non-linear journey will help you make smarter, more sustainable marketing decisions.

Ideal for: marketers, founders, and in-house teams juggling long sales cycles and complex customer journeys.

Topics covered:

• Why most buyers don’t convert after one touch
• The role of dark social and unseen influence
• How to communicate the value of long-term marketing
• Rethinking attribution and reporting
  

If you've ever struggled to explain why your marketing efforts are working even when the data doesn’t show it clearly, this episode is for you.

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠[www.forank.com]⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

⁠⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠ ⁠

Chris’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnightingale/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we tackle the big question: Hiring freelancers, Yay or Nay? Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey are joined by special guest Louis Smith to unpack the pros and cons of working with freelancers versus in-house teams or agencies.

From cost effectiveness and flexibility to quality control and communication challenges, we share real world insights to help you make the right choice for your business. You’ll learn when freelancers are a game changer, when they might fall short, and how to set yourself up for success if you do hire them.

Ideal for: founders, marketing managers, and business owners navigating resource decisions.

Topics covered:

• The true cost of hiring freelancers
• When to go freelance vs. agency vs. in-house
• How to vet and manage freelancers effectively
• Common mistakes to avoid

If you’re considering freelancers for your next project or wondering if they’re the right fit for your marketing strategy, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use right away.

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

⁠⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠

Louis' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-smith-b968a5b5/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we dive into SEO and PPC strategies that actually work for smaller businesses. From getting the basics right to smart budget allocation, Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey share practical tips to help you drive traffic, generate leads, and compete with bigger players—without blowing your budget.

Whether you're managing your own marketing or working with an agency, you'll leave this episode with clear, actionable advice to boost your visibility and conversions through search.

Ideal for: freelancers, marketers, and founders growing on limited resources.

Topics covered: local SEO, keyword targeting, low-budget PPC wins, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction / Chats

04:30 Small Business Statistics

09:42 Marketing tactics for Small Businesses

25:42 Free tools to use for small businesses

28:46 Do small businesses need to do SEO and PPC?

34:00 How to spend marketing budget wisely

38:50 What to do if you have zero marketing team

42:40 Understanding lifetime value of a customer

44:39 Tips and takeaways

49:53 LinkedIn questions answered

54:04 Outro and next episode

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com

⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠marketing@forank.com

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Cracking the Code on B2B Attribution

Join Zoe and Leigh as they unpack one of B2B marketing’s toughest challenges: understanding what’s actually driving results.

From the hidden impact of SEO and the limitations of platform-reported data to practical ways to track the untrackable, this episode is all about making sense of attribution—without overcomplicating it.

We cover attribution models, offline conversions, multi-touch reporting, gut feel vs. data, and how to prove value when the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

If you work in B2B marketing, strategy, demand gen or leadership, this one’s packed with insight and practical advice.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠marketing@forank.com

AEO, GEO, SEO—what do they actually mean, and why should you care?

Search is changing fast, and the old rules don’t apply the way they used to. In this episode, we break down SEO (Search Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)—what each one is, how they’re different, and how they work together in today’s AI-driven search landscape.

Whether you’re a marketer, business owner, content creator, or just trying to keep up with Google, ChatGPT, and beyond, this episode will help you understand how people really find information now—and how to stay visible when they do.

📍Find us here:

Website: https://www.forank.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love — like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we take you behind the scenes for a candid conversation on Our Freelancing Journey, the real story of how Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey built their careers outside the traditional 9–5.

Zoe and Leigh share the unexpected wins, the tough lessons, and the pivotal moments that shaped their paths as freelancers and, eventually, agency founders.

From finding those first clients and pricing early projects to navigating imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and learning what not to do — this is a transparent look at the realities of freelancing in the marketing world.

We break down what makes freelancing both challenging and incredibly rewarding, the misconceptions many new freelancers face, and the practical steps to build a sustainable, confident freelance career.

Ideal for: New or aspiring freelancers, marketers looking to go solo, and agency professionals curious about the journey that happens before agency life begins.

Topics covered:

• How Zoe and Leigh got started in freelancing

• The biggest challenges in the first year — and how they overcame them

• Finding clients and building a reputation from scratch

• Mistakes made along the way (and what they taught us)

• Tips for building confidence, clarity, and long-term stability as a freelancer

If you’re thinking about going freelance — or want to feel less alone in your own journey — this episode offers honesty, encouragement, and plenty of hard-won insights.

📍Find us here:

Website: https://www.forank.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love — like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes! Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we lift the lid on a topic that makes many marketers squirm: Audits Exposed — The Secrets Your Marketing Doesn’t Want You to See.

Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey peel back the layers on what really happens inside a marketing audit — the blind spots, hidden inefficiencies, and misalignments that quietly drain performance while going unnoticed by teams and stakeholders.

We explore why audits are one of the most underrated tools for growth, the recurring issues they uncover, and how transparency (even when it stings) can dramatically sharpen your strategy.

From underperforming channels and misreported metrics to messy tracking setups and neglected customer journeys — this episode is loaded with unfiltered insights and practical recommendations.

Ideal for: marketers, founders, in-house teams, and agency pros who want to understand what’s actually working in their marketing… and what’s only pretending to.

Topics covered:

• Why every marketing team needs regular, honest audits• The most common problems uncovered during audits — and why they matter
• How to spot misalignment between strategy, spend, and execution
• Fixing hidden tracking, attribution, and measurement issues
• Using audits to create clarity, accountability, and smarter decision-making

If you’ve ever wondered what a marketing audit would reveal — or want to tighten up your strategy before small issues become expensive ones — this episode is for you.

📍Find us here:

Website: https://www.forank.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Enjoying this episode?

Show some love — like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we dive into a refreshingly honest theme: Marketing: Lessons in Failures.

Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey open up about the campaigns that didn’t go to plan — and why those moments often lead to the biggest breakthroughs in marketing.

We unpack why failure is such a powerful teacher, the most common reasons campaigns flop, and how to turn setbacks into strategic wins. From misjudged targeting and overcomplicated funnels to lessons in testing, measurement, and mindset — this episode is packed with real-world insights and practical advice.

Ideal for: marketers, founders, and agency professionals who know that great marketing comes from experimentation, not perfection.

Topics covered:
• Why failure is a vital part of the marketing process
• Common campaign mistakes and what they teach us
• How to frame failures constructively with clients and teams
• Turning failed tests into future wins
• Building a “fail smarter” culture in your marketing

If you’ve ever launched a campaign that didn’t quite land — or want to learn how to turn missteps into momentum — this episode is for you.

📍Find us here:
Website: www.forank.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing
Zoe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/
Leigh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Enjoying this episode?
Show some love — like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com

In this episode of forank marketing, we dive into a powerful theme: impact marketing for charities and non-profits.

Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey are joined by Tom Pratt, Director at Albert Road Consulting, to explore how mission-driven organisations can build campaigns that inspire action, maximise limited budgets, and genuinely make a difference in the world.

We unpack what impact marketing really means — aligning every message with a mission-driven outcome, balancing emotional storytelling with measurable results, and building trust that keeps supporters engaged long-term. From the challenges of donor retention to the opportunities of multi-channel storytelling, this conversation is packed with strategies you can put into practice straight away.

Ideal for: charity leaders, non-profit marketers, fundraisers, and anyone working to create campaigns that go beyond awareness and drive real change.

Topics covered:

• What impact marketing is and why it matters

• Building emotional connection before asking for support

• Why measuring impact is so challenging (and how to do it better)

• Planning campaigns that work with limited resources

• Practical tips from Tom, Zoe, and Leigh on maximising impact

If you’ve ever struggled to prove the value of your charity marketing, or wondered how to achieve more with less, this episode is for you.

📍Find us here:

Website: www.forank.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrtompratt

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at marketing@forank.com