Marketing Sucks – Details, episodes & analysis

Too many entrepreneurs out there are suffering from an identity crisis and pretending to be something they’re not. If marketing your business feels super hard, it may because you’re forcing it — and because your efforts are unaligned with your unique gifts. Instead of twisting into a pretzel trying to fit someone else’s mold, you need to identify and lean into your authentic superpowers in your businesses.

Superpowers are more than just skills or talents. They’re a combination of strength, experience, and perspective. When you know how to work with them, they can help you build your business with way more ease and confidence... and identifying your gifts is easier than you think. You’ll walk away from this episode of Marketing Sucks with the tools you need to own your superpowers and start standing out in your market!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• How I realized my superpowers (and how I wield them in my business!)
• A simple activity that will help you uncover your true superpower  
• How to apply your superpowers to your marketing and content strategy

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Intro

01:19  My superpowers

04:42  Finding your superpowers

05:31  Why superpowers matter

06:52  Superpower activity

08:42  Applying superpower to strategy

10:39  Your action item

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📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

When you’re making a big-ticket purchase, I’m going to bet that you check out three things: the features, the pricing, and the reviews. Very few people want to hand over their credit card deets without seeking out social proof… and that includes your prospective customers. If you’ve been wondering how to fill your website with glowing client testimonials, this episode of Marketing Sucks is for you!

In this solo episode, I look at all things client feedback — how to get testimonials, why you need them, and where to use them. Tune in to learn how reviews can help you build your thought leadership, strengthen and refine your messaging, and massively boost your sales!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• The best moments to ask for reviews from your customers 
• The best channels for featuring your client testimonials 
• How to help your customers craft powerful and effective feedback (and how to leverage negative reviews!)

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:11  Intro & statistics

03:17  Why reviews matter

05:37  Requesting reviews

07:47  Best places for testimonials

10:20  Turning reviews into social content

12:10  Ads, testimonial libraries & user-generated content

13:21  Leveraging negative reviews

14:19  Your action item

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📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

When you’re used to doing everything in your business online, popping up at an event and networking face-to-face can feel like something out of the Twilight Zone - but some of the strongest brand-building happens offline.

In this episode of Marketing Sucks, I sit down with the fabulous Amanda Leach, an accomplished entrepreneur and Realtor in the Greater Toronto Area, to talk about the magic that can happen when we shut down our laptops and meet up IRL.

During this conversation, Amanda shares some truly brilliant strategies for turning community events into valuable referral sources, upgrading your listening skills, and keeping your chill when meeting your business idols.

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• Where Amanda sees the biggest wins from making in-person connections
• How to master the art and science of the follow-up 
• The #1 networking tip for introverted and socially anxious biz owners

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Guest bio: An entrepreneur for 18 years, Amanda Leach has landed in Real Estate and focuses on helping families upsize in the suburbs of the GTA. A wife and mom of two children and two puppies, she is busy balancing work and home life.

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Meet Amanda Leach

03:12  Where to find networking opportunities

06:14  Following up

10:18  Active listening tips

13:23  Introverts & the socially anxious

16:47  Arlene Dickinson & Grade 2 stories

21:39  Amanda’s brand-building results

26:40  Your action item

32:43  Quick-fire questions

33:34  Outro

Links mentioned:‌ ‌

Amanda Leach

amandaleach.com 

Facebook: facebook.com/amandaleachrealestate 

Instagram: @amandaleachrealestate

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

In a world where literally billions of people hop on Instagram every month, social media is an amazing tool for growing your audience, building your thought leadership, and selling your offers. But as crucial as social media is for modern biz owners, there’s a major downside that we need to talk about.

Here’s the thing: you do NOT own your social media space. At any moment, your fave platform could have an outage that lasts for hours - or even days. If you want a channel that will always be under your control, you need to start building (and selling to) your email list, too. 

Find the idea of email marketing intimidating? Don’t worry - I got you! In this short and sweet episode of Marketing Sucks, you’ll find five easy and effective email strategies that will help you start strong!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• How to organize and segment your list to maximize the value you deliver
• How to write subject lines that stand out and get clicked (and gather the evidence through A/B testing)
• How to give your audience exactly what they want and expect from you, every time!

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Intro

02:18  Start with an audit

03:53  Segmentation

07:05  Subject lines

10:29  Providing value

12:25  Optimize for mobile

14:20  CTAs

16:00  Your action item

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📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

Being a female biz owner is like playing the entrepreneurship game on hard mode. Not only are we expected to juggle work and home in ways that men aren’t, we tend to put more pressure on ourselves in both arenas. And when we’re not our best selves, it can be REALLY freaking hard to Do It All™. 

In this episode of Marketing Sucks, I sit down with the amazing therapist and mindset shift coach Natacha Pennycooke to talk about entrepreneurship, boundaries, wellness, and whether “finding balance” is a real thing. This super-juicy conversation explores how to identify what you truly need to have the life you want, how to give yourself permission to prioritize yourself - and how to actually make it happen!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• How to communicate your needs to others clearly and effectively
• Where to find a healthy support system in your 30s, 40s, and 50s
• How to create a supportive, human-first culture in your business

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Guest bio: Natacha Pennycooke is a leader in workplace mental health, equity education, and psychological safety, a Mindset Coach, and an award-winning psychotherapist. With over 13 years of experience, she is CEO of Natacha Pennycooke Psychotherapy, a flourishing anti-oppressive, healing-focused, and trauma-informed private group practice.

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:13  Meet Natacha Pennycooke

03:50  Mental health at work

05:38  Building a healthy work culture

08:19  Giving permission & scheduling self care

12:02  List-making & delegation

14:42  Support systems & communication

18:45  Envisioning & acting on your future

21:56  Fear zone v. growth zone

24:42  Social media strategies for mental health

29:24  Your action item

30:28  Quick-fire questions

32:17  Outro

Links mentioned:‌

Natacha Pennycooke

natachapennycooke.com

theacceleratedleader.com

Instagram: @natachapennycooke.therapy, @natachapennycooke.ceo

Mental Health at Work

hbr.org/2021/10/its-a-new-era-for-mental-health-at-work

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📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

When it comes to video, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about how you’re going to deliver your message. But when you get creative with b-roll, you can communicate a lot without saying a single word.

B-roll footage tells a story without the use of dialogue or text. When you see Reels set to the latest hit single showing people having a blast at a hot-ticket conference, giving a product demo, or offering a behind-the-scenes look into their creative process or morning work-out, you’re looking at b-roll. Yup, those sun-soaked vacation shots also count!

B-roll is great for breaking up long, monotonous shots of video and keeping an audience awake and interested, but it’s also fantastic for telling an impactful story in a really short amount of time — all it takes is a little editing magic! In this episode of Marketing Sucks, you’ll discover everything you need to know about using b-roll to keep your content fresh, dynamic, and engaging.

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• 5 main types of b-roll footage and how to use them effectively
• Why you may already be sitting on a total goldmine of b-roll footage 
• 5 types of shots to capture, how they work, and when you should use them

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Intro

00:51  What is b-roll footage?

01:49 Atmospheric b-roll

02:56  Undirected b-roll

03:54  Archival b-roll  

05:01  Visual detail b-roll

06:20  Storytelling b-roll

06:58  Wide-angle shots

07:46  Medium shots

08:21  Close-up shots

09:25  Over-the-shoulder view

10:07  Tracking shots

11:02  Checklist

12:15  Your action item

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

To niche or not to niche? A lot of biz owners and course creators resist the idea of really niching down. But the more you tailor your offer and marketing to a carefully chosen niche, the more they’re going to check the boxes for those people who need you the most.

In this episode of Marketing Sucks, I chat with the incredible Megan Walker, a health and medical marketing expert who helps her clinician clients create killer healthcare courses. Over the last two decades, Megan has become a legit master of evolution and reinvention — and she has a TON of juicy insights to share when it comes to owning your niche!

Join us as we go deep into the nitty-gritty of developing a course, including what you need to consider BEFORE you get started. If building a program is on your to-do list, then you’re definitely in the right place!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• The biggest things that people forget to include in their programs (and why you need them!)
• How to identify the niches and program ideas that will likely have the highest ROI 
• Whether it’s better to drip-feed course content or have it available all at once

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Guest bio: Megan Walker is a health and medical marketing expert with over 25 years' experience. Her big focus is teaching clinicians how to develop healthcare courses that create time and financial freedom while helping more people improve their health.

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:13  Intro

00:55  Meet Megan Walker

02:19  Megan’s business

04:41  Finding your niche

07:12  Gauging interest

11:24  What to include in your program

16:44  Improving your program

19:07  Drip feed or all-at-once?

21:04  Favourite tech

26:03  AI

31:12  Your action item

35:25  Quick-fire questions

37:13  Outro

Links mentioned:‌ ‌

Megan Walker

meganwalker.com 

meganwalker.com/bot 

meganwalker.com/10waystosave 

Instagram: @meganwalkermarketsavvy

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

Here’s the thing about growing a business: you need to just get up and do the damn thing… even on those days when life feels hard. If you sometimes struggle to find the motivation to make your moves, you’re not alone. Literally no one has their sh*t together all the time — not even the shiny business gurus posting branded Reels daily. 

But when grief enters the picture, doing the damn thing can sometimes feel impossible.

Grief is a super-intense human experience that impacts all areas of our lives. Even if you’re head-over-heels for the work that you do, grief can make it hard to even respond to your emails, let alone create content or continue a launch.

This week’s episode of Marketing Sucks explores how we can still show up in a healthy way when life feels very, VERY hard — while giving ourselves the grace and patience that we deserve.

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• 8 things that have helped me keep showing up even when things get really rough
• Why you don’t need to fake a smile for your audience (in fact, it can be better NOT to) 
• How to set up necessary boundaries when you need to take a pause

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Intro

04:05  Share your experience 

05:24  Take a break

06:00  Schedule content

07:09  Delegating responsibilities

08:54  Limiting engagement

10:12  Lean on your support systems

11:10  Focus on meaningful content

12:10  Make yourself a priority

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

Have you ever followed a biz owner for years, loved their content, and finally started working with them… only to find that their offline personality is totally disconnected from the way they show up online? Yikes. It can feel like a Twilight Zone moment (and maybe even make you wonder what else they’ve been faking).

In this episode of Marketing Sucks, I sit down with Natalya Sebastian, creator of the super-popular PilatesBodyWorkout platform, to talk about how to keep it REAL (and sustainable) on your socials.

Natalya has built an incredible business that allows her to live a fabulous life overseas. Tune in as we dig into how her authenticity helped her grow her audience, her biggest business mistakes and lessons, and what to do when the haters and trolls start coming out of the woodwork.

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• The hidden areas where you may be wasting money in your business
• Why “good” content isn’t dependent on getting a gajillion likes (and how reaching ONE person can make all the difference)
• Why women need to support other women — and why you should go ahead and pull off that audacious DM slide

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Guest bio: Natalya Sebastian is a Pilates Transformation coach with over 20 years experience. She is a mom of two, an entrepreneur, and the creator of PilatesBodyWorkout.

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:12  Intro

01:25  Meet Natalya Sebastian

05:04  Do you even need a website?

08:48  Building a social media following

11:46  Keep it authentic & consistent

13:50  Stop counting likes & followers

17:41  Don’t sweat the Stories

18:31  Dealing with haters

21:34  Women supporting women

30:01  Control what you can  

32:57  How we manage

41:36  Maybe it’s not about YOU

44:59  Show up even in the sh*tty

46:29  Your action item

47:30  Quick-fire questions

00:00  Outro

Links mentioned:‌ ‌

Natalya Sebastian

pilatesbodyworkout.com

Instagram: @pilatesbodyworkout

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency

How do you turn a total stranger into your latest happy customer? You meet them where they are in the customer journey… and give them exactly what they need in order to keep moving through it. 

This episode of Marketing Sucks is all about the five stages of the customer journey —  from ‘totally unaware’ to ‘pulling out the credit card’ — and how to let your potential customers know who you are, what you do, why you do it, and why they need you, without leaving them confused, skeptical, lost, or bored.

Tune in for a ton of juicy tips that will help you tailor your content throughout your website and socials, so you can connect with your audience no matter which stage they’re at!

Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌

• How to keep people on your page and engaged as they learn about your brand
• The most effective ways to leverage testimonials and user-generated content to get people ready to buy
• How to create a sense of urgency (without being sleazy or slimy!)

Please rate, review, and subscribe!

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:11  Intro

00:50  The Unaware stage

02:45  The Problem-Aware stage

03:50  The Solution-Aware stage 

05:41  The Product-Aware stage

06:52  The Ready-to-Buy stage

08:50  Recap

09:37  Your action item

—

📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com.

🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall

Get social

Instagram: @grindsocialmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA

📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me!

Podcasting support

Production: theultimatecreative.com

Show notes: copymagic.agency