If marketing is a journey, Michael and Wilbur are two steadfast explorers. Join them as they tackle all aspects of what running an agency is like and how marketing is changing in today’s world. Each episode is different—but every single one is worth your while.
-Insight on what marketing agency execs do daily, the problems they have, and the solutions they solve -Raw, real, and unrehearsed footage—consisting of just one take -New episodes published each week
Today's episode is a special one. Join Wilbur and Norris as they chat about what the past 10 years of Youtech means to them. And in case you were wondering—no, they aren't debating this time.
Episode Highlights
In the marketing world, content and design are often neck and neck.
When designing a campaign, what comes first? How can you sell something without words (like Apple does)? What's better? The answers are all here, in Episode 5 of Youtalk.
Wilbur is arguing for design. Norris is ready to die on the content hill.
Episode Highlights
A tale as old as time...sales vs. marketing. To get sales you need marketing. But marketing isn't always enough.
In this showdown, Norris and Wilbur discuss what's the better strategy: sales or marketing?
Wilbur is all for sales. Norris is on marketing's side. This episode's conclusion may surprise you—or maybe you already know the clear winner.
Ah yes...the Metaverse. For some, it's still a foreign concept. Others have already bought their first virtual real estate (hi, Snoop Dogg).
Regardless, the Metaverse opens up the conversation for how business will be conducted in the virtual world.
But let's start with the basics—should your business be in the Metaverse?
Wilbur says yes. Norris disagrees.
Who are you siding with? Choose your stance below.
Timestamps
Episode Highlights
So...whose side are you on?
Episode Highlights
So...who won this debate? Let us know.
Episode Highlights 1:07 - Digital Is the New Reality
7:32 - How Tech & Marketing Create Demand
12:58 - How Marketing Will Change
P.S. Meta might be a bit ahead of its time, but it’s something to keep an eye on and adopt early before the metaverse is saturated.
Episode Highlights 2:09 - Do Something You've Never Done Before—It's Important
8:41 - Good and On-Time VS. Perfect and Late
13:48 - Try...Just Try
16:39 - Perfectionism: The Enemy of Opportunity
21:20 - Comfortability: The Enemy of Progress
P.S. Throw it at the wall. Lose the money. Don't settle. Then succeed.
Episode Highlights 4:45 - Marketing Can Only Take You So Far
5:02 - Airbnb's Product Positioning: From Renting Mattresses to Making Millions
9:00 - How To Keep Up With a Changing Market (and Be Like Airbnb)
10:20 - Don't Be Afraid To Kill It—or Change It
P.S. Look at your copy. If you can replace your brand name with a competitor's name and it still makes sense, you're not articulating your position well.
Episode Highlights 7:20 - The Great Resignation & Post-Pandemic Reality
12:49 - How To Tell If Your Work Model Works
21:24 - Build a Better Business With Personal Branding
33:53 - People Over Brands, Every Time
41:26 - Is Your Vision Big Enough?
P.S. I think Donnie might have shown us up on our own show.
Episode Highlights 9:10 - How Amazon Drove Up Revenue For K&S
10:54 - Instantaneous Transactions Are Changing the Game
18:05 - Decreasing Customer Friction Leads To Business Growth
22:30 - Represent Yourself With E-Commerce
24:43 - Make Money 24/7—Even on Holidays
P.S. Where's the most friction in your sales process? Remove it and watch what happens.
Episode Highlights 0:46 - The Two Types of People Who Visit a Website
2:45 - Why a New Website Is Important
6:40 - A Website Is Worth the Money, Every Time
P.S. If your website sucks, you might as well throw in the towel on everything else digital.
Episode Highlights 1:10 - What Should Your Marketing Budget Be?
4:42 - Long-Term Marketing vs. Short-Term Marketing
6:00 - In-House Marketing vs. Outsourcing
10:05 - Prioritization: Knowing When to Outsource
13:15 - Final Advice: Budget, Take a Step Back, Budget
P.S. Just want to let you all know how much we love doing these. Thanks for the support.
Episode Highlights 0:35 - B2B vs. B2C
2:33 - The Problem With B2B Marketing
5:30 - B2B Marketing: Free Value
7:53 - The Power of the Funnel
14:00 - Nurturing Your Leads
16:00 - B2B: Variables To Consider
P.S. If you're not building a funnel, you've already lost.
Episode Highlights 1:11 - You're Taught To Be Wordy
3:20 - Clarity Over Creativity
5:40 - Write the Way You Talk
9:50 - Features vs. Benefits
11:50 - Hook, Proof, Offer
17:20 - Hierarchy of Needs
P.S. Clarity > Creativity. People need to know what it is you’re selling and why they should buy it above everything else.
Episode Highlights 1:25 - The Boom of Ecommerce
2:47 - When Others Are Scared, Make Your Move
5:15 - Getting Into the Digital Space
7:30 - Grab Market Share; Don't Lose It
15:16 - Top Marketing Services To Invest In
P.S. Anyone else ready for more precedented times?
Episode Highlights 5:12 - Using Email To Humanize the Brand
6:40 - Different Email Platforms
9:50 - Emails That Come From CEO or Founder
10:53 - Is It Valuable to the Customer? Send it
11:47 - Spammy Emails To Avoid
18:05 - The Benefit of Internal Emails
P.S. Sorry for the wait. We're back with a NEW episode. Finally, I know. This is a good one though. It was worth the wait, I promise.
Episode Highlights 4:31 - What's Next In Marketing
5:58 - Industry Ups and Downs
9:41 - The Inflation of Salary
12:41 - The Benefit of Company Culture
17:25 - Now's the Opportunity
P.S. If you're looking for a sappy, emotional episode about how much we appreciate everything we've gone through, this is it.
Episode Highlights 1:45 - The Biggest App Factor: Cost
3:10 - Creating Value for Your App
3:46 - Efficient App vs. Innovative App
5:04 - The Process of Developing an App
13:16 - Your App Will Never Be Perfect
15:43 - What To Know: Android & iOS App Platforms
P.S. Think value for the user before anything else, always.
Episode Highlights 3:00 - Media and Marketing
5:50 - Honest Media
12:33 - 3 Cops Talk Podcast
15:00 - Creating Conversation via Marketing
16:11 - Every Company Should Have Their Own Media
P.S. Have the hard conversations, or else they'll happen without you. Address your audience's potential objections upfront.
Episode Highlights 0:34 - The Basic Marketing Framework
1:23 - Pre-Existing Demand? Search
3:30 - No Pre-Existing Demand? Social
10:31 - More Time Than Money? Content
16:49 - More Money Than Time? Ads
P.S. You also want to be where your target market is. You have to balance this against what you're capable of doing.
Episode Highlights 0:42 - The Most Popular American Platform List
6:00 - #1 American Platform: Youtube
7:25 - Facebook Isn't Cool Anymore
8:14 - The Underrated Platform: Pinterest
9:39 - Connection vs. Content
P.S. Went with a shorter pod this time around (12 mins). Let us know if you like it better.
Episode Highlights 1:15 - Believing In the Product You Sell
1:47 - Timid Sales Guys Have Skinny Kids
5:57 - Selling Yourself vs. Selling the Product
14:30 - Our Sales Strategy
18:16 - The Pros and Cons of Sales
19:47 - Marketing and Sales Relationship
P.S. Alkaline 88 didn’t sponsor this pod. They’re just a cool client and we like them.
SEASON 1 BONUS
If you don't know DG, he's one of the most influential B2B marketers in the entire world right now. If any episode is a must-listen, it's this one. It's packed with good content.
Episode Highlights
1:12 - Using Your CEO to Market the Brand
4:54 - Pairing Expertise With the Founder Story
9:29 - Getting Employees to Post: Internal Marketing
15:07 - Writing a Book? Here's Where to Begin
22:21 - Paid Advertising vs. Building a Brand
28:30 - The #1 Marketing Channel: Email
1:10 - The Benefits of SEO
5:44 - The Power of Transparency
8:44 - New Google Update: What To Expect
10:22 - The Day of the Yellow Pages Are Gone
12:15 - How SEO Works
15:09 - How Valuable Content Impacts SEO
P.S. Tara is starting her own SEO podcast soon. We’re betting it blows Youtalk out of the water.
Episode Highlights 4:10 - Getting Into the E-Commerce Space
6:42 - Taking Control of Your Revenue
9:02 - Scaling With E-Commerce
13:30 - The Stigma of Discount Brands
16:57 - How Brand Awareness Sales
27:21 - Building a Digital Footprint Takes Time
P.S. Always be thinking about how you can provide value in your marketing. This is how inbound works.
P.P.S. Discounts aren’t the only way to provide value.
Episode Highlights:
1:10 - Your Website Is Your First Impression
4:10 - Website Aspects: Design vs. Functionality
6:32 - How Shopify Trailblazed Ecommerce Websites
10:54 - The Worst CMS Systems
16:23 - Website Best Practices
P.S. Where the hell are you supposed to put the apostrophes in do's and don'ts? There's no consistency.
Episode Highlights:
2:08 - Talent vs. Hard Work
7:19 - Learning Life Lessons
12:51 - Life Owes You Nothing
14:29 - Developing Good Habits
18:16 - What it Takes To Build
21:17 - Learn From Failures, Not Success
24:07 - Twitter's New Updates
P.S. Twitter Spaces vs. Clubhouse... Who do you have coming out on top? My bet is Twitter
On this episode:
Episode Highlights:
2:34 - Opening Multiples Locations: How To Decide4:40 - Hiring the Right Candidate6:18 - Gen Z Entering the Workforce10:05 - Adapting To Employees vs. Enforcing Guidelines15:11 - The Age of Awareness in Digital Marketing16:35 - The Downsides of WFH
On this episode:
Episode Highlights:
2:58 - What Season 2 Entails4:09 - What is Youtech9:36 - Marketing: Returning to Authenticity12:00 - About CMO and Host, Michael Norris17:54 - The Youtech Culture24:53 - Failing Your Way to the Top
Last season was about them. This season is about us.
We’ve met the industry's best—Founders, Entrepreneurs, Growth Marketers.
Now, we’re showing you who we are. What we do on a daily basis. The problems we face, and the solutions we find. Real conversations about everyday stuff that affects people across a wide range of industries.
P.S. Season 2 includes Youtech CEO, Wilbur You
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
1:09 - PR vs. Marketing3:42 - The Power of the PR4:34 - Build Credibility in Different Mediums6:52 - Is PR for everyone?12:08 - The PR Process22:48 - Tips to Immediately Build Your Authority
CEO of Victorious PR, Victoria Kennedy
Victoria Kennedy is a TEDx speaker and well-respected authority in Public Relations. She is the CEO of Victorious PR, an award-winning Full-Service PR Agency, that helps Impactful leaders and businesses be seen and heard to have a greater influence on the world.
In addition to running a successful PR & Marketing agency, she also has given talks, workshops, and has worked as a trusted consultant for Entrepreneurs, C-level executives, and top Inc 500 companies. She has been featured in over 200 publications and podcasts both nationally and internationally.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
19:06 - Advice on Developing a Brand22:57 - Survey vs. Conversation27:06 - Utilizing Different Marketing Channels29:38 - What it Means to Have Relevant Content37:29 - The Importance of Company Culture
Director of Marketing at Mdrive, Brian Kehoe
Kehoe has successfully helped build the lifestyle brand, Mdrive. What is Mdrive? Mdrive is a men’s health supplement line for driven men. They bring natural testosterone support for men looking to increase energy, strength, and drive. Among other things, Mdrive is a distinct voice in the health and wellness industry that encourages men to not let age beat them. Mdrive prides itself in being completely transparent, open, and honest. From leaving the clinical research in the open to always answering their phones, they want you to always feel like they've got your back.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
5:23 - Using Case Studies To Get Clients10:40 - The Role of the Growth Marketer13:22 - Fostering an Agile Team Culture23:03 - The Obsession With Low-Quality Leads26:29 - What's Your Marketing Philosophy?30:18 - Copying Competitors is Bad
Director of Growth Marketing at Nextiva, Gaetano DiNardi
DiNardi began his professional career as a lost college graduate who didn't want to do anything in life other than become a platinum superstar music producer. He spent 5 years as a full-time music producer & songwriter in New York, working with artists like Fat Joe, Shaggy, and Ryan Leslie. The grind was brutal but gifted him with a unique competitive advantage in the business world. He realized that musicians & B2B companies have the exact same problems. And without knowing it, he became a self-taught digital marketer.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
06:08 - The Evolution of Person-Centric Brands09:01 - Tying Customers' Realities to Your Brand Story13:31 - Building a Product You're Passionate About15:34 - The Challenges of Advertising CBD16:31 - Balancing Being a Boss and Mother20:11 - Advice for Building a Community for Your Brand22:12 - Knowing Your Audience Types
Founder and CMO, Amanda Goetz
Amanda Goetz is the Founder and CEO of House of Wise, which is a luxury CBD company helping women to live life on their own terms, and take control of their sleep, sex, stress, and wealth. To add to her busy but rewarding life as a mother and a boss, Goetz is also a half-time CMO at Teal—an online community and digital platform that enables professionals working in the tech industry to grow their careers with confidence. With 15 years of marketing and start-up experience, Goetz firmly believes that community builds a brand.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
02:10 - Marketing a Marketing Company13:36 - How to Market Broad Brands16:12 - Cybba: Seasonal Marketing20:08 - Marketing and Sales Relationship24:54 - Tracking Qualified Leads
Derek Sullivan
Derek Sullivan is a marketing manager for Cybba. Who is Cybba? Cybba built a powerhouse stack of integrated digital marketing and advertising technologies to propel user acquisition and conversion rate optimization. Its digital experts partner with marketing teams and provide custom strategies for campaign optimization.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
04:04 - Marketing Your Business: Where to Start05:39 - Foundation, Inbound, Outbound11:18 - Branding 101: No One Cares About Your Brand23:25 - Marketing Is Psychology Applied to Business30:50 - Tactics on Growing LinkedIn
Founder of Shift, Jason Vana
Do you have a killer product or service, but just can't seem to figure out how to market it well? That's where he comes in. Jason Vana helps businesses of all sizes do one thing: get more customers.
Think of him as your Fractional CMO (chief marketing officer). Rather than working with a slew of different marketing companies specializing in only one or two areas, he can help develop a comprehensive marketing plan for you and do all the work to make it happen.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
04:07 - Using Top Customers to Scale Business08:08 - The Power of the Referral System12:40 - Identifying the "Perfect Customer"13:16 - Saying the Perfect Thing to the Right Client17:40 - How to Consistently Look for Clients
Who is Ryan Staley?
Ryan’s mission is to cut decades off of your sales learning curve so that you can rapidly scale your results, create time freedom and a lifestyle of your own design. He has rapidly scaled Sales Professionals Results and Revenue by landing Net New Contracts from some of the largest Private and Publicly Traded Companies in the world. Creator & Founder of the Whale Selling System™, Ryan’s innovative, disruptive and highly-profitable Sales System continues cutting through the noise to deliver results regardless of age, experience, solution or vertical.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
1:31 - How JV Studios Came to Be2:55 - Playing to Your Strengths5:56 - Growing Your Customer Base10:56 - The Challenges of Growing a Company17:07 - From Basement to Studio: Facing The Doubts25:52 - What Sets JV Studios Apart
Who is JV Studios?
From the heart of the midwest, JV Studios is a full-service video production company, turning ideas into action for brands worldwide. They partner with innovative agencies and businesses to develop captivating creative content through cinematic storytelling.
Apologies for the audio quality, there was some tape on Parham's headphones that got picked up
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
1:17 - About Podcast Host Parham Elmi2:53 - Great Talkers Are the Best Listeners9:58 - The Personal Process Podcast13:47 - What Does Authenticity Sound Like?17:57 - Coping With Mental Health During COVID23:50 - Reduce Workday Stress With Just One Tip
Host of the Personal Process Podcast, Parham Elmi
Kinesiologist, Podcast host, entrepreneur—these are just a few of Elmi’s specialties. Primarily, Elmi hosts the Personal Process Podcast, which shares stories of the growth, struggles, journey, self-discovery, and success of guests in various fields of life so you can be ahead of the curve, develop your purpose, and learn to "trust the process." Elmi hopes to inspire and motivate individuals who want a diversified understanding of various topics in life so they can better relate and communicate with peers, friends, and clients.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
0:43 - About Dre de Vera2:23 - Using SEO to Land the Job8:40 - Creating a Strong Personal Brand16:03 - Be Seen: Exclaim Your Victories17:21 - The SEO Video Show22:04 - Using SEO in Everything You Do
Who is Dre de Vera & The SEO Video Show?
The SEO Video Show was founded by 15+ year SEO professional, Paul Andre de Vera, to help SEOs and digital marketers experienced the best SEO video content.
All of his videos are curated and organized to help you find the most valuable knowledge on all aspects of SEO, from off-page to on-page. His goal is to master the art of SEO through learning and sharing of knowledge bombs, gold nuggets, and secret tactics in the world of search engine optimization video content.
People say you learn twice through teaching. By curating SEO videos from other experts in the industry and answering questions through the live SEO Video Show on YouTube http://youtube.seo.video we can teach each other through live streams and chat. Let’s all become SEO masters together! Don’t forget to visit his site http://seo.video for a collection of curated videos that the live SEO Video Show will be reviewing and deconstructing.
Apologies for the sound quality on Lee's end. He's a bit muffled.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
0:41 - About Lee Auerbach12:58 - Sales: Building Rapport in Five Minutes18:42 - Avoiding Burnout in the Workplace
21:10 - ChatMeter Culture: A Word on Work Environments25:49 - The Pros and Cons of Good Company Culture
Who is ChatMeter?
Whether you have 20 locations or 20,000, ChatMeter can help you command the conversation around your brand – everywhere. Chatmeter’s all-in-one online Reputation and Local SEO management software helps multi-location brands and agencies stay in control of every location. Real-time monitoring of all reviews, social media pages, and listings makes it easy to take action where you need it most.
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
0:16- About Brady Morgan4:49- How Does a Virtual Assistant Work?9:38 - Delegating Tasks You Don't Know How to Do19:01 - The Process of Getting a Virtual Assistant31:14 - How Did the Virtual Assistant Idea Come About?34:21- Entrepreneur Advice: Letting Go vs. Quitting
On this episode we talk about:
Episode Highlights:
0:40 - About Ben Goodey1:51 - Joining the Podcast World5:44 - Building Strong Relationships via Podcasts8:18 - Should You Guest Star on Other Podcasts?13:30 - Making a Podcast That Stands Out18:28 - Say Yes: Getting People to Star in Your Podcast20:24 - Deciding on Podcast Content
What is How the Fxck?
We interview creative leaders to find out the secrets behind their most successful campaigns. Ever wondered how a CMO hit those metrics? How they got buy-in from their team? What they had to do to execute it well? How much it cost? Learn from the challenges of others on their path to success, grow your marketing expertise at How the F*ck.
Episode Highlights:
2:12 - The State of Radio & Audio Amid COVID7:22 - Targeting Your Audience With Digital Audio13:35 - OTT: The Future of TV19:29 - Questions You Should Ask About OTT22:15 - A Visualization of How Digital Radio Works
Who is Entercom?
Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM) is a leading audio and entertainment company engaging over 170 million consumers each month through its iconic broadcast brands, expansive digital platform, premium podcast network and live events and experiences. With presence in every major U.S. market, and accessible on every device, Entercom delivers the industry’s most compelling live and on-demand content and experiences from voices and influencers its communities trust and love. The company’s robust portfolio of assets and integrated solutions offer advertisers today’s most engaged audiences through targeted reach, brand amplification and local activation—all at national scale. Entercom is the unrivaled leader in local radio sports and news and the #1 creator of live, original local audio content in the U.S.
Episode Highlights:
1:55 - Content Marketing4:19 - How to Create Content That Attracts8:16 - Engaging on Social Platforms10:48 - The Benefit of Personal Branding16:14 - Steering Away From "Best Practices"17:02 - The Two-Channel Approach to Content19:11 - Growing Smaller Mobile Apps
Who is Tyler Burch?
Tyler joined BoardActive in May 2019 as a remote Marketing Specialist. Fun job, incredible team. He was promoted to Director of Digital Marketing in January 2020 in ATL. Hard work, humbling role.
BoardActive helps small to medium-sized mobile apps:
-Increase engagement to cut costly user churn
-Increase downloads by delivering personalized value with segmented targeting
-Supplement other marketing campaigns with cost-effective push notifications
If he was gonna bore you to death, he would mention buzzwords like mobile marketing strategy, user acquisition, advanced push notifications, and all that jazz.
But let's not go there.
Episode Highlights:
0:55- About Hochberg Sports Marketing1:14- The Value of Niche Athletes6:05- Sports Influencer Marketing for Grey-Area Companies8:05 - Fostering an Authentic Partnership10:50- Who is Athlete Marketing for?13:08- The Versatility of Athlete Marketing18:00 - Keeping Influencing Organic20:30 - Tips for Getting Started
Hochberg Sports Marketing:
An independent & socially-conscious sports sponsorship agency.
Hochberg Sports focuses on growing sports properties, boost the presence of athletes, and drive tangible results for brands.
Episode Highlights:
1:18 - The Benefits of the Norton Norris Acquisition3:03 - Why Now's the Time to Invest Amid Pandemic4:28 - Looking Back at Humble Beginnings6:45 - Advice for Entrepreneurship7:08- Surround Yourself With Good People7:57 - Fail Your Way to the Top10:17 - Why the Higher Ed Industry?12:13 - Advice on Acquisition
Who is Wilbur You?
$600, a vision, and fortitude. These are the three aspects that Youtech CEO Wilbur You had when he established the company in July 2012.
Without a consistent revenue stream, You and his team of two pushed through financial challenges by personally cold-calling 100 companies every day with an offer to build their websites for just $500.
Ninety-nine times of 100 the proposal was rejected—but all it takes is just one.
I recently sat down with cofounder and CEO of SparkToro, Rand Fishkin, to discuss many topics regarding entrepreneurship, marketing, business, and more.
Episode Highlights:
0:35 - The Positive & Negatives of Entrepreneurship1:13 - Why Uncomfortable Truths Are Your Best Selling Point5:15 - Sparktoro & Consumer Influencer Marketing6:45 - Google Monopolization & The Future of SEO10:44 - Pairing Content With Your Social Channels16:11 - When Should You Use Paid Advertising?20:42 - Should You Use Social Media as a Testing Ground?25:47 - TikTok's Demise28:30 - Big Tech Hearings
Who is Rand Fishkin?
Rand runs most of the show at SparkToro. He was formerly co-founder and CEO of Moz, co-founder of Inbound.org, and author of Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World.
He doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he does have a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and is deeply passionate about making SparkToro a great company (at least, by his own peculiar standards).
Who is Sima Dahl?
In today’s hyper-connected, social-centric global marketplace, competition is tougher than ever.
Marketers compete for brand awareness
Talent leaders compete to attract the best hires, and keep them
Sales teams compete for more referrals and new deals
Emerging leaders compete for their next promotion
To win, you’ve got to be smart. Hustle. Have a strong product or service. Be a great place to work. But that’s just the ante.
Today’s winners have a high Sway Factor. They know how to promote themselves as leaders and subject matter experts.
They make an amazing first impression, both online and off.
They behave in ways that attract opportunities, talent, and leads.
Sima’s Keynote Presentations and Consulting Solutions are designed to help you successfully increase your Sway Factor and create demand for who you are and what you do.
Career Civility Focuses On:
-Improving employee relations by uncovering negative communication patterns that inhibit teamwork
-Creating a positive and lasting culture that will help scale growth by using Civil Communication practices
-Developing communication trainings to teach your workforce how to be better teammates
What is Orbit Media?
Web Design & Development Experts since 2001 Orbit makes the internet more helpful and informative one website project at a time. We do this with teamwork, expertise and a helpful attitude, proving every day that business can be a force for good.
Topher Gleason is a Sales Expert of 20+ Years & Head of Sales For North America at Matador.ai.
On this episode, Topher shows tips for understanding what a prospect is thinking. Outside of these tactics, Topher shares his feelings on why being genuine and authentic is really the best sales tip.