A lot of brands have unnecessary friction in the customer experiences they deliver. That friction negatively impacts those brands’ conversions. That friction and impact on consumers is even more pronounced when it comes to people from underrepresented and underserved communities. This episode is all about how to identify and get rid of the friction in the customer experience your brand delivers specifically for consumers from marginalized communities. As a result, your conversions will increase. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode

Most brands don’t know how much they could improve their conversions by optimizing their website and social media to also work for consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities. Conducting a website and social media audit can highlight opportunities to deliver better experiences for all the customers you want to serve while improving your conversions. In this episode, I walk you through how to get started with a website and social media audit for your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode Work With Me

When you look at the ethnic group that is the largest in the U.S., by far, it is the Hispanic population. As of the 2020 Census, 18% of the population was of Hispanic/Latino descent. And this number is growing. Another analysis from the U.S. Census showed that 1 in 4 children in the U.S. are Latino. As a brand, particularly if you are marketing to consumers in the U.S., know that having a sound understanding of how to market to the Latino population is increasingly becoming more important. To help you navigate how to market to this growing customer base, I sat down with Federico Gagliardone, COO at MECENAS, a minority-owned publishing and full-stack media company that connects brands with U.S. Hispanic and multicultural communities. And if you’re not in the U.S. or not marketing to consumers in the U.S., this episode is still totally worth the listen, because many of the principles are applicable to underrepresented and underserved communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter MECENAS WeAreCocina.com StarPicks

Key points covered in this episode: The role of inclusion in performance marketing Where many performance marketing campaigns fall short with regard to inclusion Why so many people are often excluded from performance marketing campaigns Why inclusive marketing is a solution to ad fatigue The key question you should ask to enable you to include more people in your ad campaigns The data you need to build more inclusive campaigns and the caution you should use when analyzing it How to ensure your partners in performance marketing have an inclusive mindset Get the episode transcript here Links and resources mentioned in this episode: www.apiarydigital.com Algorithms of Oppression The End of the Majority, and What it Means for Your Brand with Julye Williams - Inclusion & Marketing podcast episode 11 About Karen Amundsen: I'm a white lady named Karen, passionate about racial equity. As the Founder and Chair of Apiary Digital, the area I'm able to have the biggest impact is in business and marketing. Apiary Digital is a full-service performance marketing collective headquartered in the cloud. We believe that humans are greater than business, and that inclusive performance marketing is one and the same as succeeding in our client's customer acquisition goals. What inclusive brand type are you? Take this quick quiz to find out: www.inclusivemarketing.co/quiz

Representation matters. It isn’t enough to just have representation of the talent in front of the camera. It is just as important to have representation and or expertise behind the camera that is poised to capture diverse talent in the proper light (pun intended). Remember, the people you serve need to see themselves or who they aspire to be reflected in the visual imagery your brand puts forth. If your brand regularly publishes imagery of diverse communities that they don’t think is flattering, then they will get the message that they don’t belong with you. The effort you put into securing representative talent won’t yield the results you like if people are disappointed with the imagery. The next time you and your team start preparing for a photo, video, or content shoot that features and includes diverse talent, it is imperative that you take the time to give proper thought to these roles behind the camera to ensure you get a final product all can be pleased with. Get the episode transcript here ElleUK Wakanda Forever Cover: https://twitter.com/ELLEUK/status/1575763902121803776/photo/1 Elle Brasil Viola Davis Cover: https://twitter.com/ellebrasil/status/1570475582160240640/photo/1 Vogue Simone Biles Cover: https://twitter.com/BritniDWrites/status/1281713398963564544/ ------ What inclusive brand type are you? Take the quiz here to find out. www.inclusionandmarketing.com/quiz

A big barrier to effectively engaging with diverse consumers and communities is the way we think. In many instances, we default to our own frame of reference, perspectives, and ways of doing things. However that limits your ability to practice empathy and to give consumers who are different from you exactly what they need from you. In this episode, I walk you through the essential practice of decentering yourself, they key areas you need to focus on doing it, and of course, I offer up practical ways to do it as well. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Some brands do really well when it comes to celebrating communities during their heritage months, like Black History Month, Women’s History Month, PRIDE, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Month. However, there are plenty others that struggle. And there’s also a large group of brands that stay on the sidelines, because they aren’t sure how to engage, or even if they should. So as we get closer to a new year, and it’s time to decide about what your brand will celebrate and what you won’t - I thought it’d be helpful for you to bring in some reinforcements to help guide you. That’s why I chatted with Arturo Gutierrez, the SVP of Strategy at Codeword, an integrated marketing agency.  Arturo and his team at Codeword did a survey to find out what consumers want with regard to these types of celebrations – and the insights, and the discussion we have around them is relevant and applicable for you – no matter your size, your budget, or your experience engaging with communities in this manner. Get the episode transcript here Key Points: Why brands should consider celebrating heritage months for diverse communities How you should be thinking about the people who are buying your product Why so many diverse communities are indifferent to heritage month campaigns, and what to do about it What you should and shouldn’t be measuring as it relates to heritage month celebrations How brands should think about the objective of heritage month campaigns How to ensure your heritage month celebrations leave a lasting impact What diverse communities want from brands during heritage months and beyond About Arturo Gutierrez Arturo Gutierrez is the SVP of Strategy at Codeword, an integrated marketing agency that develops smart marketing strategies, manages editorial and social channels, and drives news coverage for tech clients both big and small. A former management consultant having advised Fortune 500 clients across The Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Arturo’s expertise include leadership, marketing strategy, and organizational growth. Links https://twitter.com/Art_Gutierrez  https://www.codewordagency.com/  Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

"Hire a diverse team" is often the advice and cry people tout when brands struggle with being inclusive with their marketing. So common practice, is to tap into diverse talent to get them to provide their feedback and expertise on various topics related to campaigns and internal initiatives. But this isn't always the right thing to do, and can impede your efforts to make your diverse talent feel like they belong with you. No bueno. In this episode, I walk you through common challenges with this approach, and what you should do instead to get the feedback you need, tap into the power of having a diverse team, while also making them feel like they belong. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Cultural appropriation happens more often than in should. And inappropriate use of a culture not your own happens even more often. Both of these practices are harmful, and in this episode I'm walking you through clear examples of both, and giving you practical guidance on how not to engage in them. In addition, you'll walk away with practical guidance on how you as an individual and consumer can play a role in shutting down these practices as well. Get the episode transcript here Here are the links mentioned in the episode: Hailey Beiber make trend rant - Shantal Smith The cultural appropriation of yoga - Blair Imani The Maasai People Take Back Their Brand Dia de los Muertos Barbie Walks a Fine Line Between Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation Kim Kardashian West's Kimono underwear meets Japanese backlash How Disney redeemed itself with 'Coco' after the Dia de Muertos trademark fiasco Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

All over the world, but specifically in the United States, there has been a lot going on in the past few years. From the Black Lives Matter movement that gained momentum in the wake of George Floyd's murder just two years ago, to the surge of Asian hate during the pandemic, and now another hate crime in Buffalo. And to be frank, I am disappointed in the responses to this event, or lack thereof from many businesses. With this uptick in interest in social justice matters, it is more important than ever for businesses to stand for what they believe in. In the season finale of the Inclusion and Marketing Podcast, I share: The importance of brands expressing their beliefs and taking action around important social and political issues affecting the current climate How to get started on brand advocacy How to be authentic when shaping your brand advocacy Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Today we’re going to explore the critical link between equity and customer success with a very special guest! My sister Deborah Pickett, a middle school math instructional trainer and coach, will share her valuable words of wisdom for those who are ready to embark on the lifelong process of being dedicated to equity. Our conversation will cover: What is the difference between equity and equality? From a business standpoint, what happens when equity isn’t prioritized? How to start using data to analyze potential equity issues in your business? What is the link between equity and access? What do equitable practices look like? What does it mean to say that justice is in the details? What is the relationship between equity, empathy, and compassion? What is the water vs the fish principle, and what are some real world examples of this way of thinking? Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Why should business leaders consider text communication as part of their digital marketing strategy? In this episode, we’ll have an enlightening discussion with Bianca Blake, co-founder of Klickrr, about best practices for text marketing, and how text messaging can help brands develop a deeper degree of intimacy with the people they want to serve. We also cover: What are the advantages of text marketing? The relationship between inclusive marketing and customer experience The importance of taking your audience’s preferences into account when developing brand communication strategies Realizing that inclusion isn't always about demographics--sometimes it's about giving people the option to engage with your brand according to their personal preferences Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter here

What does it mean to be antiracist? Today we’re going to cover what antiracism is, what it looks like in business, and how you can work to embody antiracist principles on a daily basis. To help us with this, I brought in an expert on the topic, Dr. Nicole Charles. Nicole is a wellness entrepreneur as well as an intersectional feminist and antiracist educator, author, researcher and professor of women and gender studies. We’ll talk about: The concept of antiracism as a whole, and specifically in the business world Examples of racist practices that permeate business that are more common than you might think The importance of investing in and learning from Black, Indigenous People of Color After making the commitment to antiracism, where do people commonly get tripped up? The challenges that arise when society and businesses lean towards centering only the most privileged identities Recommended resources for further reading and learning Nicole’s delicious recipes at healmedelicious.com (Check out the pumpkin spice cake donuts!) Nicole's Embodying Equity Course It’s important to really think about your values and how they can guide your business decisions. As you work on applying what Nicole and I covered today in your own life and business, take the time to think about a specific scenario in your life where you could decenter the predominant narrative. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter here

I spend a lot of time talking about belonging and how important it is for you as a brand to ensure you’re making the people you serve feel like they belong with you. But how do you go about doing that exactly? My guest today, Lydia Michael, author of Brand Love, has ideas for you. Lydia has created a framework for you that will not only help more people love your brand, but feel like they belong with you in the process. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Lydia's book - Brand Love Lydia's consulting agency - Blended Collective

Business is about belonging, and identity is a critical aspect of belonging. As you work to build an inclusive brand, it’s essential to think carefully about identity and what types of categorizations are necessary. As we dive into this complex topic, I’ll go over challenges, real-world examples and strategies to help you approach your customer’s various identities. Identity matters. Don't take shortcuts with it! The people you serve will reward you when you take the time to get it right. This episode will also cover: Common questions including the difference between ethnicity and race The various challenges that can arise when categorizing groups of consumers How categorizations and the data associated with them can help companies identify equity concerns and gaps Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion and Marketing newsletter

Words matter! They have the power to uplift and include, as well as tear down and exclude. In your quest to make your audience feel like they belong with you, it’s essential to use inclusive language. But how do you start creating written content that creates a culture of belonging? Nailah King, founder of The Content Witches, shares insights into how conscious business leaders can learn to craft messaging that helps foster transformative change and create a sense belonging within their communities. My conversation with Nailah also covers: What is inclusive language and what is its connection to belonging? Idioms, binaries, appropriation and other examples of language that can be harmful How can you determine if your content isn’t inclusive or needs an update? How can you maintain transparency throughout the process? How to use tools like etymonline.com Essential forms of content governance including inclusive language policies and brand style guides Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Today we're going to talk about a common type of toxic relationship between brands and underrepresented communities: Extraction. True inclusive marketing is about sharing power and creating belonging. Belonging cannot exist when one party is constantly extracting value from the other. As we dive deeper into the concept of extraction, I will share examples from today’s business world with the hope that by bringing these harmful practices to light, we can all start to do better. This episode will also cover: The concept of co-creation and the different forms it can take Best practices for engaging with communities you want to learn from and the dangers of traditional market research Lessons learned from a popular Disney film How to start adding value instead of extracting it, so everyone wins Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

We know that inclusive marketing is the future of marketing. As we move towards this future, more and more cutting-edge tools are becoming available to help brands assess their progress. How inclusive is your brand’s visual communication? In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Raquelle Zuzarte, Founder and CMO of Equity Project for All, and Frederico Salvitti, Tech & AI Specialist. Their AI platform, Gradient, shows brands where they stand on diversity and inclusion through comprehensive data-driven analysis of their visual imagery. Our conversation will cover: What is the current state of representation and marketing from a diversity and inclusion standpoint? What are examples of major brands or industries that have been making strides in these categories? How to build customer intimacy through listening and observation The importance of authentically and sincerely expressing your brand’s core purpose How brands can start building stories around people who have traditionally been underrepresented and underserved How the Implicit Association Test can help you recognize and address your blind spots Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Equality is essential in certain aspects of society. But in some situations, unapologetically treating people differently will help you win the attention, adoration and loyalty of more consumers, especially people that brands often ignore. As a business leader, how can you decide when it's appropriate to treat everyone equally, and when you should treat certain groups of people differently? In this episode, I will go through my 3-step process for identifying these situations, so you can do a better job of consistently making life better for the people you serve while also making them feel like they belong with you and your brand. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter here

The Census Bureau projects that by 2043, the US will become a minority-majority. What does this major shift in the makeup of our population mean for your business? In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with my friend Julye Williams, founder of Project 2043, about how business leaders can start leaning into the power of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Be prepared to do the inner work! The first step is to acknowledge and accept that our world is changing. After reflecting and setting your intentions, you can begin to think about how you can help your business thrive in a diverse society. My conversation with Julye will also cover: What does it really mean to be a good ally? The relationship between inclusion and power How to exercise your power to help level the playing field within your sphere of influence Advice for small business owners How to create more equity, balance and opportunity both personally and professionally Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

The last thing you want to do as a brand is exclude potentially loyal customers. One of the best ways to make sure you aren’t doing that is by creating a Buyer Persona.  In this episode, I talk about how creating a Buyer Persona and treating those that fall under that profile as your friends will create a more inclusive brand that consumers keep coming back to. In this episode I go over: How creating a buyer persona create a roadmap for your company to follow to bring ideal customers closer to your brand 3 ways that having a Buyer Persona will help your brand create content How excluding people in your buyer persona if done intentionally can actually help your brand 3 ways to tell if your buyer personas are a repellent to potentially loyal customers 4 steps to include your intended customers into your buyer persona Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Who decides what is mainstream? In today’s episode, I talk to Gelaine Santiago about how she rewrote her script and lead her companies by focusing on her story. Gillian began her businesses' branding by following the conventional idea of “mainstream,” but it wasn’t until she ditched that idea that she saw her customer base grow like never before. Gelaine is the CEO of Cambio & Co, a Filipino jewelry company, and Sinta & Co, a Filipino wedding company. Through running those companies she has learned about the power of storytelling, and now helps small businesses and entrepreneurs reach new audiences through the mastery of storytelling. We also talk about: How to defy the gatekeepers What mainstream actually is How brands can authentically represent differences even if their team are not a part of those communities Connect with Gelaine: Her website Her brands Cambio & Co. and Sinta & Co. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

An inclusive brand means an inclusive culture. In this episode I cover how to approach building a company culture that is healthy, competitive, and most importantly: inclusive. Some of the points that I cover include: How building a core document (value statement, company statement, or mission statement) codifies company values and culture for your team Ways that brands weave their core company values into their social media content 3 high level steps to build and nurture a company culture that is healthy and competitive Lead by example The importance of starting the work at the top of the company ladder in order to set a tone for the entire company Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Brands have power. Your consumer wants to see a reflection of themselves in your marketing. They want to be treated equally, not discriminated against for any pre-existing conditions.  In this episode, I share my journey of finding health insurance after quitting my full-time job and going freelance and my struggles of getting affordable coverage due to my pre-existing condition. I also cover examples with Unilever, my husband Jonathan’s experiences, and the ADA. What is the impact on the people who have the problem that your business solves who can’t achieve the process of the transformation you deliver because they can’t access it? Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

People from underrepresented and underserved communities are often viewed as not being "normal" or very different from everyone else -- which is why the don't get the attention and support they should. But what does it mean to be "normal"? Who gets to decide what "normal" is? And is "normal" even a real thing, or is it a construct we should all reject? I cover all these important questions, and ways to think about it for your brand in today's episode. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter The Canary Code book Unilever ditches the world "normal" Inclusive marketing ethics Inclusive marketing spectrum

In this week's episode, I interview Desiree about how a company’s brand and DEI (Diversity Equity, and Inclusion) must be considered and developed to create a positive employee experience. Company culture has shifted away from “you’re lucky to have this job,” and instead given a lot more control to the employee. Desiree and I go over what companies need to think about to attract ideal talent and then retain them. We go over: The importance of investing in the candidate and employee experience How creating a good company culture can directly impact your employee's ability to deliver their best work and be their best selves How to balance social proof without doing it in a performative way Is it important to think about all different levels of employees (full-time, part-time, contractors, etc.)? Get the episode transcript Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Tevia has been in the fitness business for 18+ years, and in today’s episode, I talk to her about her role in creating a more inclusive space in the fitness world. We cover: What inclusive means in the fitness world, price inclusivity, location inclusivity, and how all of those play a factor in Tevia’s business Tevia’s experience running her own Cycling Studio and how she broke down norms by bringing on a more unique set of instructors than what the industry standard used to be How CycleBar creates a community bound by inclusivity specifically by working outside of the studio walls CycleBars work in fundraising for different causes including MS, environmental damaged areas, and riders who are in need Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

As you can probably tell in the title of today's episode- I'm sharing a bit more about me and how I became an Inclusive Marketing Strategist.  I share my journey through multiple different corporate jobs, at places like Inc and Johnson & Johnson, and how those jobs taught me the importance of inclusion. I open up about some of the tough moments that really shaped who I am today. Along with my career path, I also cover my travels across the globe: my journey to China and India, as well as my experiences in South America and a few of the details of my love story! Thank you so much for listening, and being a part of this ongoing journey. If you enjoyed today's episode please consider sharing this episode or rating it below! Get the episode transcript Join the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

The future is more diverse than it has ever been, which means the makeup of the people your business serves is shifting. In this episode, I go over how to translate the changing demographics of the day-to-day world into your business marketing. Together lets reimagine who your Ideal Customer Avatar is to be more inclusive to all, not just to the “typical” customer that businesses spent decades focusing on. Get the episode transcript here Get the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

In this episode, I interview Antoine Andrews, who has been in the diversity field for almost 20 years and is currently the Chief Diversity and Social Impact Officer at Momentive (formally known as Survey Monkey). We cover: The research done on diversity on Momentive The shift in consciousness he's noticed over the last 15-18 months What he believes is most important to gain from the research What he thinks is most important for businesses to focus on moving forward Get the episode transcript here Join the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Welcome to the first episode of the Inclusion and Marketing Podcast! In this episode, I cover what inclusivity really is. It’s 2022, and it’s time for every business owner to know how important it is to completely redefine their rules. Gone were the days where just adding a seat to the table is enough. One size does not fit all. Join me on this journey as I dig deeper into not only how to be more inclusive, but why it is the future of business marketing. Get the episode transcript here Join the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

If you’re new here — welcome. This show is about one thing:how to drive growth by removing the friction that stops customers from moving forward. Because most brands don’t have a traffic problem. They don’t have a content problem. They don’t even have a targeting problem. They have a friction problem. The kind that shows up when customers land on your brand and ask one question: “Is this for someone like me?” And when the answer isn’t clear — they don’t complain. They don’t give feedback. They just leave. On this podcast, we break down the real reasons growth strategies underperform — and what to do about it. You’ll learn how to: Identify the hidden friction in your customer experience Build more effective buyer personas and growth strategies Improve conversion by making your marketing more relevant Design for the full mosaic of customers you want to reach If you’re a marketing leader, founder, or strategist looking to unlock more efficient, sustainable growth — you’re in the right place. Hit follow and start with one of the latest episodes. Get the Frictionless Growth Lab newsletter: www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/newsletter

Recently, rankings for the Most Culturally Inclusive Brands were announced. The rankings come from the Association for National Advertisers’ (ANA) Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), in partnership with the Cultural Inclusion Accelerator (CIA). For the second year in a row, the Lysol brand has been awarded “Best in Ad Effectiveness” by more than 80,000 consumers with a broad diversity of identities. I wanted to find more about Lysol's approach to inclusive marketing, and how they've gone about becoming so effective in their efforts. So I sat down with Gary Osifchin, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and General Manager at Reckitt U.S. Hygiene, the makers of Lysol. Gary had a TON to share, and there's a lot to learn from he and the team's approach. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Lysol

Most business engage in email marketing to some degree. And because email marketing is such a commonly used tool that reaches a broad diversity of consumers, it is important to understand how to ensure the emails you send are inclusive, and make the people you serve feel like they belong with you, rather than pushing them away from you. So in this episode, I sat down with email conversion strategist Samar Owais, founder of Emails Done Right, to chat through the ins and outs of inclusive email marketing. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Samar Owais

Brand messaging is a critical component of the marketing strategy for any brand. And when it comes to ensuring that your brand messaging speaks to all the people you want to serve, including those from underrepresented and underserved communities, it takes intentional effort to ensure your brand messaging will resonate. In today's episode, I sat down with Diane Wiredu, a brand messaging strategist and founder of Lion Words, to talk about how you can ensure you're delivering brand messaging that will clearly show the people you serve that you see them, get them, and that they belong with you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Lion Words Diane Wiredu on LinkedIn

It's reported that Nike will be signing a signature shoe deal with Caitlin Clark. While excitement for, viewership, and support of women's sports, including the WNBA are on the rise, there are some major disparities happening from a representation standpoint. Nike's shoe deal with Caitlin Clark amplifies the problem. In this episode, I walk you through what's happening, dive deeper into the root cause of the issue, and cover how all of this impacts your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter LinkedIn post that inspired this episode Episode 45: Factors that influence your customers's success that you should be aware of

Cultural intelligence is essential for any brand that wants to be effective with their inclusive marketing efforts. It is the foundation for helping you engage in an authentic way to make people from underrepresented and underserved communities feel seen and like they belong with you. In this episode, I sat down with an expert who actually wrote a book on cultural intelligence for marketers -- to talk about that very topic. Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is a cultural theorist, writer, social critic, and strategist specializing in inclusivity within marketing, media, and tech. She's currently a senior insights lead at Reddit, and has consulted for brands inclusing Nike, Samsung, Disney, Ulta Beauty, and Amex. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Dr. Anastasia Gabriel on LinkedIn Cultural Intelligence for Marketers book

Communication is a core part of marketing. And yet it feels like so many brands struggle with communicating in a manner that is both inclusive and authentic. As a result, a lot of times brands struggle with communicating in a manner that doesn't turn people off or push people away that they would prefer to draw closer. In today's episode, I sat down with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, a linguist, inclusive language expert, and author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide. During our chat, we cover a framework for using inclusive language that gives you the confidence you need to design your communications in a way that makes more people feel like they belong with you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter The Inclusive Language Field Guide Dr. Suzanne Wertheim Episode 15: Getting started with inclusive language with Nailah King

Major changes are coming to the 2030 Census in the U.S. And even though we're a few years away from those changes taking effect, the implications for brands start now. In this episode, I walk you through the changes the U.S. government recently announced for the Census, why the changes were made, and how they impact your brand. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter U.S. Census Changes Just Approved Sample 2030 U.S. Census Questionnaire Suzanne Wertheim SightsSet Consulting - Renita Bryant

The experiences you deliver play an important role in how well you do at converting people who are considering your brand. Far too often, brands deliver customer experiences that do not hit the mark for people from underrepresented and underserved communities. As a result, conversion rates for people in those communities suffer, as they go off in search of another brand that does a better job at meeting their needs. In this episode, I walk you through 3 ways you can increase conversions for your brand overall, by doing a better job of serving people from underrepresented and underserved communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Visuals and examples mentioned in this episode 👇🏾 Work With Me Inclusive Marketing Assessments: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/assessments/ Consulting & Custom Traning: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/consulting/

Inclusive marketing really is just doing marketing well. Even though we aren't there now, eventually, we'll get to a place where won't even need to call inclusive marketing inclusive marketing anymore -- it'll just be the way we do marketing. The good news -- we're not too far away from that being our reality. That's because that's the way some brands are already operating today. Zumba is one of those brands that has that approach. In today's episode, I sat down with Zumba's Chief Marketing Officer, Carolina Moreas, who gave a ton of insight into the way the brand operates, that has enabled them to build a global and fiercely loyal customer base in more than 180 countries. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Zumba

The Home Depot was recently named "The Most Culturally Inclusive Brand" by the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive & Multicultural Marketing (AIMM). I thought it would be great for you to learn about their approach to inclusive marketing, so I sat down with Chante LaGon, Sr. Manager of Multi-Cultural Marketing at The Home Depot to get insight into how they think about and execute inclusive marketing. There's lots to learn from this chat. Pull out your pen and dig in. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter The Home Depot

Inclusive marketing is a fairly new discipline. As a result, inclusive marketing consultants and strategists are newer areas of expertise for talent. Whenever I introduce myself and explain that I'm an inclusive marketing consultant, coach, and strategist, I always find that I need to explain what that means. That includes sharing the ways I support clients for people to get it. An inclusive marketing consultant isn't like a copywriter, sales person, or even market researcher where people tend to understand right away more or less what you do. Thankfully, more brands are focusing on building inclusive brands that attract and retain a bigger and more diverse customer base. As such, I thought it would be helpful to understand how an inclusive marketing consultant can support you in your efforts. This is especially relevant if inclusive marketing isn't firmly rooted into the DNA of the way your brand operates. Get the episode transcript Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Book a call with Sonia

Have you ever encountered someone different from you, and then fumbled your way through interacting with them? I know I have, and I included a few of those stories in this episode. From my observations -- it seems like too often, we struggle to build authentic connections with people who are different from us, and I wanted to explore why that was. So I sat down with Topsie VandeBosch, a mindset and emotional intelligence consultant for business leaders, and a licensed psychotherapist. Topsie helped me understand why we behave in this way and gave some super practical tools for how to do better so we can authentically build relationships with people who are different from us -- which is becoming critically important as demographics change in our society. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Topsie VandenBosch website Topsie VandenBosch LinkedIn

Customer intimacy is one of my five pillars of building an inclusive brand. The most effective way to build customer intimacy is through actually talking to your customers. But a lot of brands don't do this -- and get nervous of even the thought of doing so, especially when it comes to people from underrepresented and underserved communities. So in today's episode we're going to fix that. I sat down with the brilliant Andi Jarvis, the founder and Strategy Director of Eximo Marketing, a marketing strategy consultancy based in the UK and Ireland. Andi also hosts the Strategy Sessions podcast. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Strategy Sessions podcast Andi Jarvis on LinkedIn Andi Jarvis on Instagram

Search engines connect interested consumers with willing brands. That's why smart brands optimize focus on SEO to make it easy for these curious customers to find them. But too often, brands forget about customers who have the problem their brand solves when it comes to consumers who speak other languages -- even when they are equipped to serve customers who speak other languages. In this episode I sat down with Sarah Moon, an SEO marketing and business strategy consultant, to cover practical ways you can do multilingual SEO to so you can attract and convert consumers who are looking for what your brand offers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Get the episode transcript Sarah Moon

More brands are acknowledging the many ways consumers are different, and adjusting their marketing approach accordingly to ensure they make all the people they serve feel like they belong with them. In this episode, I sat down with Santronya Smith, Director of Enterprise Sales at Suzy, a market research company, where we chatted about strategies some of the brands she's worked with have used to do a better job of connecting with and serving consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Get the episode transcript Santronya Smith on LinkedIn Suzy

One of my goals this year is to bring you more stories of marketers who've been out in the trenches using inclusive marketing to grow their brands. For this episode, I sat down with Bryan Alston, former CMO of Greater Than, who's also worked on brands such as Magic Spoon and GoClove.com. We chatted a lot about inclusive marketing strategies he's used with these eCommerce companies that helped them achieve a greater degree of growth. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Get the episode transcript Brand Castle Growth Partners - Bryan's new company

People want authenticity in their food.  We need authenticity in our relationships. And we definitely crave authenticity in marketing. Today, we’re going to talk about authenticity in marketing. These days especially, more and more consumers want brands to be authentic. That is one of the things that makes inclusive marketing – and really, most marketing effective. Authenticity. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Get the episode transcript Episode 97 - Inclusive marketing ethics Shaq Buick commercial Jimmy Kimmel - Basketball mean Tweets Fresh Prince of Bel Air cheesesteak episode Kendall Jenner Pepsi Ad Ben & Jerry's bans 2 scoops of same flavor

Marketing ethics, or more specifically, the ethics associated with inclusive marketing doesn’t get talked about nearly enough as it should. Of course, I’m a big proponent of brands engaging and serving people from underrepresented and underserved communities. But there are times when I wish brands wouldn’t focus on specific communities, and would just leave them alone. Why? Because in certain instances, brands do more harm than good when engaging with certain underrepresented and underserved communities. In this episode I walk you through 5 inclusive marketing ethical considerations, and the mindset you need to have to ensure you're not causing harm to the communities you want to serve. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter here Get the episode transcript here Find links to everything covered in this episode here