Making the Brand

In this episode, social media pro Codi Dantu-Johnson shares five marketing lessons we can learn from Missy Elliott… and these lessons are so great that even Missy Elliott herself agreed! Codi also shares some the hard truths about social media right now.

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This episode is over three years in the making! I get the chance to interview my BSB BFF, Danielle Spurge-Swavely. We met online in a BSB fan group and now she is my go-to concert sidekick. And honestly, Danielle is the reason this podcast exists. In this episode, we discuss how the Backstreet Boys became the best-selling boy band of all time.

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As marketers, there are SO many channels to keep up with, it can be exhausting. Do you need fresh ideas EVERY single day? Take it from a comedian as successful as Jerry Seinfeld… the answer is no! In this episode, we talk about how to repurpose content to make you a more efficient and strategic content creator.

Declaring your side of the boy band wars was one of the main ways millennial girls around the world expressed themselves. The question of ‘Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC’ sparked impassioned debates at every slumber party.

Check out Roadie Social at roadiesocial.com

Twitter and IG: @roadiesocial

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Barbra Streisand’s music legacy is undeniable! But she is also credited with helping create a social phenomenon every marketer should know: The Streisand Effect.

According to The Economist, The Streisand Effect occurs when “efforts to suppress a juicy piece of online information can backfire and end up making things worse for the would-be censor.”

We’ve seen countless examples of this in pop culture, but also surrounding important public service announcements.

Are your communication efforts backfiring on you? Learn more in this episode!

OMG, we’re back again with season 5! I’m sharing a content idea that works every time and will take the guesswork out of content creation. Thanks to Miss Congeniality for the inspiration on this one! 

Am I dreaming?!!? I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special episode where my friends and I INTERVIEW A BACKSTREET BOY!

Long story short, I also co-host a live stream show called Fangirls’ Night Out with my friends Danielle, Britt, and Kelsey. Between the four of us and the fangirl powers that be, we made our way to AJ McLean.

In this episode, we talk with AJ and his business partner, Josh Naranjo, about what they learned building a beauty brand.

Brands want to be where the people are — that’s where trending topics come in! Trending topics are a huge opportunity for brands to humanize themselves and create visibility, but insert themselves into the conversation the wrong way.

In this episode, we break down some brands who have done it right, along with some examples of what NOT to do.

In this episode, I interview business owner / Harry Styles fangirl, Kelsey Anderson. She shares how Harry Styles (formerly of boy brand, One Direction) activated his fans to promote his album and make him a solo superstar.

We break down these marketing efforts with takeaways that any business owner or brand can apply when marketing their own company.

Follow Kelsey on Twitter here! 

Also, check out the fangirl thesis she mentions in the episode.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song is beloved by many, but its lyrics contain an important message for marketers.

In this episode, we break down storytelling techniques inspired by Will and how his life got flipped-turned-upside-down.

Today, the gaming community is still strong, but it’s playing out in bigger ways thanks to the live-streaming platform, Twitch.

In this episode, I interview gaming and streaming expert, Joechuck aka the Fighting Wordsmith. He shares how to build a community both on and off Twitch, and some predictions about this platform that EVERYONE needs to watch.

Follow Joechuck’s Twitch streams here

If there’s any artist whose known for standing out with autotune, it’s T-Pain.

T-Pain wasn’t necessarily better than other hip-hop artists of his era, but he found a way to stand out with his unique voice.

And brands can too. We cover it all on this episode, along with the new 3 P’s of marketing!

On this episode, we hear from my from Azad Yakatally about how Nike built a tribe of customers who don’t just want their shoes, they NEED them.

We discuss:

• Sneakerhead culture and marketing power 
• The impact of scarcity on product sales
• Enthusiast brands like Nike and Fender
• The effects of nostalgia in marketing

Be sure to follow Azad on Twitter fore more marketing wisdom: @ayakatally.

Just like the rest of the world, I’ve been doing some reflection on the people of color who have made an impact on my life.

Aside from the incredible people I’ve come to know personally, there are a number of famous Black people who sparked my interest in music.

On this episode, I get personal and share some stories from my childhood, while offering some tips to help you dig deep and tell your own stories.

As we fight for racial equality, we need stories more than ever. Stories help us understand each other, which is a critical part of effecting change.

In this episode, I chatted with Jared Gaon, the creator of one of the hottest new meme accounts, @JordanJamming.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build on a pop culture moment and run your own meme account, you have to tune in to this episode! Jared shares how he got the idea for the meme, how he’s built a following, and some of the opportunities that have come his way.

 Even if you don’t love Taylor Swift, you have to listen to her song “All Too Well”. There’s one big storytelling lesson that will help you improve your writing!

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Wes Gay, a copywriter and owner of the Wayfinder agency, about a show we both love: Songland.

If you’re unfamiliar with Songland, it’s a songwriting competition where four unknown songwriters present their original songs to superstar artists. The artist then chooses three of the songwriters to move on to the next round, where they work with professional songwriters to tweak and improve their songs based on their expertise. Then, the artist picks his or her favorite, and turns it into one of their singles.

We often forget that more often than not, songs are STORIES! Here’s how your favorite songs can inspire your own marketing and content.

Personal branding doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just in what you wear!

Here are some fashion statements that have become signature identifiers for these celebrities.

It’s no secret that Janice from Friends wasn’t everyone’s favorite person to be around, but she certainly was a fan favorite!

From her nasally voice, to her unpleasant cackle, and signature catchphrase (OH. MY. GOD), Janice was always unapolegetically herself.

Here are some things about Janice that make her a shining example of how to build a personal brand.

I’m pretty sure anyone growing up in the ’90s adored the sitcom, Boy Meets World. The show was such a hit that it was later rebooted in 2014 on Disney with Girl Meets World.

In this episode, I’m talking with my friend and fellow copywriter, Terry Schilling, about what content creators can learn from Boy Meets World. He shares helpful advice on how to build a strong brand foundation, leverage nostalgia, and write stronger content that is always on-brand.

Follow Terry online at www.terryschillingwrites.com

In the marketing and social media field, we always hear the term “authenticity.” This speaks to presenting your true self with your audience, rather than portraying a facade.

Jessica Simpson exemplifies authenticity in her new memoir, Open Book. She lets herself be vulnerable and bravely puts everything out there. No topic is too personal or humiliating to address.

Whether you simply want to improve your mental health or find the courage to share more of who you are online, there are many takeaways inspired by Jessica Simpson and Open Book.

In February 2018, Ryan Reynolds acquired a stake in the liquor brand, Aviation American Gin. Along with a small but mighty marketing team, he has helped take the company to new heights with some of the most clever marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a long time.

Who could forget their incredibly swift move when they hired the infamous Peloton wife for a commercial?

But the brilliant marketing hasn’t stopped there. Fast Company named the Aviation Gin one of the most innovative brands of 2020, in large part to their quick responses to pop culture moments.

On the latest episode of the Making the Brand podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Adrian Molina, the senior brand manager behind Aviation Gin, and social media expert and professor, Dr. Karen Freberg.

It turns out that other companies should be taking notes on what Aviation Gin is doing. Pour yourself a negroni (Ryan’s favorite drink!) and listen in to hear the method to their madness.

Incorporating pop culture into your marketing strategy is one of the best ways to get your audience to resonate with your content. Here’s how to do it!

Cultivating your audience to become passionate superfans will grow your company faster than chasing down leads.

Here are six steps to turn ordinary customers into passionate groupies.

Well, kids these days are making dances, posting them on TikTok and becoming viral sensations.

But why? Is it really that simple?

In this episode, we break down why TikTok is such a huge success and what makes it different than every other social media platform we’ve known to date.

And by friends, I mean Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler.

Here’s every social media platform explained as Friends character.

I consider this a public service announcement!

Every time I see another small business in my community shut its doors, I think about the 1998 modern classic, You’ve Got Mail. Remember when Meg Ryan’s character, Kathleen Kelly, was forced to close The Shop Around the Corner because of corporate takeover?

Well, Instagram wasn’t around in 1998 and small business owners have the power of Instagram to reach potential customers. But many brands are doing it wrong!

Take a listen for some amazing tips small businesses can apply to grow on Instagram.

In this episode, we discuss break down the Christmas card trend and why it’s effective. You can apply the same learnings to your marketing message.

Look, I’m not here to rain on anyone’s parade — if you’re on social media to have fun and cheers to living your best life, I support that. But if you are a person or brand that actually wants to be compelling, Boomerangs aren’t doing you any favors.

Here’s why Boomerangs are failing your audience, plus what to post instead.

If you’re trying to advance in your company, position yourself as a thought leader, start a business, land a new job, or even change careers, listen to this episode for five things you can learn from Elle Woods.

I sat down with my good friend Gina to discuss Carrie and Sex and the City’s influence on marketing, blogging, and social media. By the end of this episode, I hope you’re inspired to start your own blog!

In this episode, we discuss the pumpkin phenomenon and how brands can create a frenzy of their own.

This episode also features tips from the book called Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall.

But sometimes, songs can even help us navigate challenges in the workplace.

At first listen, you might think “As Long As You Love Me” by the Backstreet Boys is about a romantic relationship, but if you listen closely, you’ll learn that it actually offers advice about your marketing strategy.

Take a listen to hear the advice for yourself.

But Phoebe’s true passion is her music, and although she never reached superstar status, she still understood the importance of marketing herself.

In this episode, we go over why your email list is your biggest marketing asset, yes, even in the age of social media.