Marketing without the hype - why we need a  back to basics approach – MAF298 Is our marketing activity annoying our customers? Is the hype surrounding the latest digital toys making obsessed with digital tactics at the expense of customer focus? Maybe it’s time to rediscover the full marketing picture, including customer research, product development, pricing, and promotion. How to develop a deep understanding of customers and their needs, and articulate a clear, standout offer that is simple and easy to understand. Welcome to the 298 Marketing and Finance podcast and another short sharp ..read more

This ancient but simple marketing formula still works now - Monroe's Motivated Sequence - MAF296 This week let's talk about a delightfully simple structure for creating a piece of marketing content. It could be an advert, social media post or a conference speech. It's called Monroe's Motivated Sequence. This is episode 296 of the MAF Podcast - part of the 2023 Simply Marketing Series. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • What are some of the simplest marketing communications formulas? • AIDA and PAS and my favourite, Monroe's Motivated Sequence • The 5 stages of Monroe's Motivated Sequenc ..read more

Don't fall into the ChatGTP bland, average and mediocre (BAM) trap - MAF295 You're probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about ChatGPT already but you really need to hear this. And I really need to get this off my chest. Please don't fall into the ChatGPT bland, average and mediocre trap. This is episode 295 of the MAF Podcast - part of the 2023 Simply Marketing Series. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • What ChatGPT is and how it works • Prompts can create poems, stories, PHP code and marketing content • It does a decent job but it's Bland, Average and Mediocre (BAM) • Why you nee ..read more

Introducing "The Simply Marketing Series" - Strategy versus tactics - MAF294 This week let's talk about the difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics. It's part of a new shorter, bite-sized series of episodes called the Simply Marketing series. This is episode 294 of the MAF Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • The new shorter format of the show for the first part of 2023 • The Simply Marketing series of episodes • Why digital marketing tactics may have affected the wider marketing discipline • The difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics • Al ..read more

Marketing truths that bear repeating - time and time AGAIN - MAF293 This week let's talk about marketing truths that bear repeating - AGAIN. Which really means busting some marketing myths that won't go away. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 29 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode:  3 marketing truths we need to revisit again and again Why marketing is more than just promotion The full academic marketing strategy model versus the Circle of Marketing Simplicity How marketing is an investment, not a cost 3 tips for keeping marke ..read more

Why simplicity can be a business strategy and how you can invest in it - MAF292 This week let's talk about simplicity. Simplicity can be a strategy. Simplicity can be your competitive advantage. It's hard but it's what customers want. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 292 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Why are so many businesses complex? • How complex language can be a red flag for complicated products and processes • What customers think about complexity • Four reasons why businesses get complicated and stay complicated ..read more

How financial advice is evolving, using TikTok and targeting Gen Z with Eunicia Peret - MAF291 This week let's talk about how financial advice is evolving. We'll also look at how to make financial planning more attractive to younger clients and we'll challenge some of the financial advice being given on TikTok. My guest is Eunicia Peret and this is episode 291 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast What you’ll hear about in this episode: How Eunicia went from a strategic career to building The Empowered Financial Planner Is financial advice more like financial coaching? Differences in financial ..read more

When marketing creatives suck - is your strategy to blame? - MAF290 This week let's talk about that sinking feeling you get when you realise your marketing creatives suck. It's easy to blame the agency and to look elsewhere. But maybe it's all about your strategy. Or lack of it. This week it's just me and the mic and this is episode 290 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode:   The Agency Pitch Meeting and when creatives suck Why it's likely down to your brief rather than the agency's lack of creativity How research from the Institute of Profes ..read more

More than logos and fonts - how to create a strong brand with David O'Hearns - MAF289 This week let's talk about brand and positioning But we'll go beyond logos, fonts and colours and look at what branding is really about. My guest is David O'Hearns and this is episode 289 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Why branding is more than logos, fonts and colours • Brand values and tone of voice • How looking at what you hate can reveal what you stand for • Why TV's Apprentice does branding a disservice • Sticking to brand values in the long-term but avoi ..read more

Great creative business ideas - is in-person or online the best way to find them? - MAF288 This week let's talk about coming up with creative business ideas. Is an in-person setting better than an online one for finding them? Let's grab a coffee and talk about it some more. This is episode 288 of the Marketing and Finance Podcast. What you’ll hear about in this episode: • Creativity that comes from accidental conversations • Has the pandemic-inspired move to online meetings stifled creativity? • TED speaker Adam Grant and what he calls creative collisions • The magic that happens at conferenc ..read more