Creator's Block

I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to NPR podcasts - especially since a lot of their best radio content airs when I'm busy here at the Quintain office, working on content for our clients. So the fact that I can catch up on what I missed on live radio after it airs makes me happy. 

But I'm not here to wax poetic about podcasts or NPR. Instead, I want to share a specific episode of Fresh Air, during which Craig Silverman of Buzzfeed Media was interviewed regarding what he learned about the fake news that plagued the recent election. (It's approximately 36 minutes long, but there is a transcript at the link.)

I tuned in as a politics nerd. But to my surprise, I found myself riveted as a marketer. 

By the conclusion of the interview, I had to admit that while I find the idea of fake news utterly repugnant, those behind it weren't successful by accident. In fact, when you push the heaping mess of politics aside, there is a lot us marketers can glean from what they were able to accomplish. 

So in this week's episode of Creator's Block, Shelby (in her first week as my full-time co-host!) and I talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of fake news. Because while you may want to roll your eyes and dismiss fake news, there is plenty to be learned.

A Note from Shelby and Liz: Before you listen to this podcast, we want to be very clear that while the recent election is a necessary part of the backdrop of the fake news story as a whole, our discussion on this episode is not about whether or not we agree (or disagree) with any particular politician or their beliefs.

In addition, while we are aware of the current "disagreement" around BuzzFeed's news practices - which occurred after we recorded this episode - we still believe that Silverman had a lot of extremely valuable insights to share during the Fresh Air interview posted above. 

 

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• What are the negative lessons we can draw from fake news?
• What content marketing strategies worked for those creating fake news?
• How much (or how little) are audiences reviewing your content?
• What kind of headlines attract the most attention and click-throughs?
• Google Adwords says they monitor for rule-breakers - but do they really?
• How can you A/B test with content?
• How tone deaf are you about what your audience wants?
• What does fake news say about the content we're trying to create?
• Are you expressing real opinions in your content, or are you playing it safe?
• You may win the battle with crappy content, but will you win the war?

 

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

• BuzzFeed: How Teens in the Balkans Are Duping Trump Supporters with Fake News
• Kathleen Booth: Create Insights Not Content
• Forbes: What Fake News Taught Us About the State of Content Marketing
• Muzli for Chrome
• Behance - "Showcase and Discover Creative Work"
• Finally, meet Bandit... the "most hipster of huskies"

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

Welcome to the first episode of Creator's Block of 2017! To kick off the new year, we brought Shelby Clarke (our amazing graphic designer) back to the recording studio to discuss a blog post she wrote some time ago: "7 Things a Graphic Designer Isn't." 

Not only does she make a lot of great points in the original article - seriously, go read it, if you haven't already - this post opens up a much larger discussion around the unspoken friction that often exists between marketers and the creatives that work with them. 

On the one hand, marketers have a clear vision or idea that they want to execute - but then a project they thought would be "simple" turns into something needlessly complex. Or the final product delivered is nowhere near what they wanted, and they don't know why or where things went wrong.

On the other hand, designers and content creators want to deliver the best product possible for those marketers - whether that be a logo or a blog post - but sometimes feel willfully misunderstood or treated like order takers, instead of the creative problem solvers they are.

So this week, we made it our mission to answer three questions: Why does this happen? What can you do to fix it? And finally, what big changes lay on the horizon for Creator's Block? Enjoy!

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

 

• The most common misconceptions marketers have about designers
• How much effort actually goes into creative projects
• How the agile points system helped our team get on the same page
• The worst things you can do or say to a designer or content creator
• Communication tips to have better relationships with creatives (and see better results)
• Why designers and content creators ask a lot of questions
• What creatives can do differently to improve their relationship with marketers
• The mortal sin of using the word "pop" with a designer
• Why giving creatives a "blank check" with a project is a terrible idea
• Changes coming to Creator's Block in 2017...

 

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

 

• Episode 5: Why You Need Brand Style Guides (and How to Make Them)
• Minisode 2: How to Choose Great Stock Photos
• What's the Point of Agile Points?
• Planning Poker: An Agile Estimating and Planning Technique
• Episode 13: How to Give Better Feedback
• Literal photoshop
• DiSC "C" profile overview (Shelby!)
• "Guinea Pigs Jumping the Lava"

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint, Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week!

One of the most common misconceptions about a website redesign project is that your work begins with an agency as soon as you make the decision that it's time for an online facelift. 

In reality, approaching the redesign of your website with that kind of mentality can be what ultimately makes the project a total disaster. 

So in the last episode of Creator's Block for 2016, Liz and I are verbally rolling up our sleeves and arming you with a step-by-step guide in terms of everything you need to do once you decide it's time to take the leap with a new website. Because you'd be surprised how much needs to happen before you even start thinking about an agency partner.

Enjoy!

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

 

• How to establish the boundaries for your website project's timeline and budget
• What technology details you need to understand clearly, before engaging with an agency
• How to bring the right people to the table internally and get their buy-in
• What internal stakeholders should be involved in your website redesign (and when)
• Considerations you need to take into account if your project will involve content
• What benchmark data you need to start collecting at least 30 days prior to engaging an agency
• The four free tools you need to collect the best data possible about your website

 

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

 

• Jessie-Lee: "Why Does My Website Look Like Everyone Else's?"
• Jessie-Lee: Your Website Isn't Outdated, Your Mindset Is
• Jessie-Lee: If You're Not Ready for HubSpot, Try Leadin (Now HubSpot Marketing Free)
• Jessie-Lee: 5 Web Design Trends to Watch in 2016
• Quintain LiveLab Website Edition (Plus Installation Notes)
• Episode 1: When It Comes to Websites, Which Comes First - Content or Design?
• Episode 4: Your Website Isn't About You

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @jhyphenl, and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

 

Welcome to our second minisode! This week, our graphic designer, Shelby Clarke, joins me as a co-host in Jessie-Lee's absence. (Long-time listeners will remember her from our episode about brand style guides.)

But this time, our topic wasn't one of our choosing. Instead, it came from one our awesome Creator's Block listeners, Frances (Hi, Frances!), who writes:

"How about a minisode on how to pick stock photography? I listened to the episode about why you prefer not to use stock photos but there are times when there aren't other options. I have one of those projects coming up. We need to 'refresh' the HR section of our website but our employees scatter whenever they see a camera. It's like everyone is in the witness protection program!"

As someone who prefers being behind the camera, I empathize with her employees. But as a content manager and marketer who leverages stock photos every single day, I also understand her challenge. 

So tune in to hear Shelby and I unpack this topic, including our best practices, favorite tools and absolute no-no's, when it comes to stock photography.

And if you have a question you'd like us to tackle on a future episode, let us know in the comments!

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

 

• Is stock photography really that awful? Or does it have a place?
• How we make our own stock photography choices
• The importance of developing a visual style for your own brand (and documenting it)
• Why you also need to understand what you don't like
• Moving away from literal interpretations of concepts in photography
• Becoming self-aware about your own photography aesthetic
• Our favorite resources and tools
• And much, much more! 

 

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

• 123RF
• Shutterstock
• Adobe Stock
• iStockphoto 
• Canva
• Bonus: "This Is Fine" dog
  

OTHER RESOURCES FROM SHELBY:

• Free vs. Paid Stock Photography: Which Is Better for Your Business?
• What Does High-Resolution Mean, and Why Does It Matter?
• Raster vs. Vector: What's the Difference? 
• Avoiding Cheesy Images: Best Stock Photo Websites

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. (And if you want to say hi to Jessie-Lee, because you missed her this week, she's at @jhyphenl!) You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

We're back with one of our full-length discussion episodes. And if you can believe it, a brand new year - 2017! - is only a few short weeks away. 

But before we say goodbye to 2016, we're pausing to reflect. Jessie-Lee and I - in addition to starting this podcast - have learned a lot this year, through projects, conferences and experiences, within our walls, with our clients and beyond. 

So this week, we're taking a deep dive into what content and design trends you should be focusing on in your marketing efforts, as we look ahead to the New Year. From video and the importance of having a "context mix," to flat design and mobile-first approaches, we've got all of the insights you need to start the year off right.

...and there may be a rant or three, thrown in for good measure.

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

 

• What marketers and others shouldn't be doing with trends
• The fact that people are finally talking about content, and not just content marketing
• How both design and content are moving more and more toward being user-focused
• How design trends are more of an evolution this year
• Moving toward a mobile-first approach in the design world
• Native advertising continues to gain tractoin, but why?
• Why you need to be really, really careful about how you promote content on Reddit (if at all)
• How, why and when you should be using video
• The rise of hand-drawn illustrations
• What is flat design, and why is it used now? Also, how is it changing?
• Terrible "trends" that we've seen out in the wild
• The difference between websites you use vs. websites you explore
• The phrase, "It's just not creative enough," and why it's terrible

 

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

 

• Jessie-Lee's 2016 design trends blog
• Target.com
• Holiday Inn Express case study with Buzzfeed
• Episode 10: Is Video Marketing Really That Big of a Deal?
• John's video on the Quintain website
• Game of Thrones website
• "Marketers Are Liars" by Stacy Willis
• Apple Watch website
• FYI: 86 percent of mobile time is spent on apps

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

Welcome to our very first minisode! Unlike our typical deep-dive discussion-based episodes, Creator's Block minisodes will be quick, down and dirty tutorials that will teach you how to do something in 20 minutes or less. 

This week, Liz is teaching us how to tackle what I think is probably one of the hardest parts of blogging - writing a killer introduction in a way that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out. That's because, for many of us, a blog introduction can be a roadblock that completely derails the writing process - even though an introduction is often only a couple of paragraphs long, at most.

But with the three strategies Liz shares in this minisode, you won't be able to blame your blog writing woes on introductions ever again. Enjoy! 

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• What makes writing blog introductions so hard?
• What are the three strategies for writing blog intros?
• How to write a story-based introduction
• How to write a response-based introduction
• How to write a "get down to business" introduction
• What rookie mistakes should you avoid?
• And what should you do if you just can't get an intro down on paper?

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

• Jessie-Lee's famous WIX.com blog
• Episode 19: The Thanksgiving Episode
• Episode 6: Should Content Creators and Creatives Care About Data?

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @jhyphenl. and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

On this very special episode, we're getting ready to celebrate one of our favorite holidays: Thanksgiving! Both personally and professionally, we have a lot that we're feeling thankful for this year - from family and friends, to professional milestones and favorite tools that help us do our job better.

So whether you're currently trapped in traffic, as you travel toward your Turkey Day destination, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or still at the office, we hope you'll join us for this episode.  

...especially since there's also a pretty big announcement. But you'll have to listen in to find out what!

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Our favorite Thanksgiving traditions and dishes
• What we're thankful for at work, including our team and our culture
• A year of change at Quintain, and what that meant to us
• The difference for me between working at Quintain and elsewhere
• Our favorite tools for content and design
• HubSpot's new content marketing certification
• Liz's love of AP Stylebook's online functionality
• Mentors and people in our field we're thankful for
• And Jessie-Lee shares some BIG news...      

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

• Corn pudding/casserole recipe 
  (Note: I split the cheese, half in the casserole and half on top, as directed.)
• Maryland "Beaten Biscuits" recipe (And here is Jessie-Lee making it.)
• The majestic Pekingese, dog show-ready
• HubSpot's new content marketing certification
• Luke Summerfield
• Larry Kim on Medium

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

We're back from Boston and HubSpot’s annual INBOUND conference! Before we left, we shared what we were hoping to get out of it, as well as our tips for getting the most out of the conference. 

But did it live up to the hype? What did we love? What annoyed us? What sessions blew our minds? Did we encounter any ideas that influenced our feelings or philosophies on content and design? How will what we learned impact how we help our clients win?

We had a lot to cover, so we got up on 6:30 a.m. yesterday morning and came into the office, coffee in hand, to answer those questions and many more. And whether you're into the conference or not, there's something for everyone. 

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• We're in "go mode," freefalling into the busy season before the holidays
• We celebrated 2,000 downloads of the Creator's Block podcast - thank you!
• Our biggest personal takeaways from the design and content perspectives
• To engage freelance writer, or not engage freelance writers
• What we liked about the conference, and what we think can improve
• Embracing the idea of upcycling content and agile content concepts
• Agile project management vs. waterfall project management
• Video vs. written content and the content mix
• Insights from Wistia's Partner Field Day
• The importance of radical honesty and insights in your content
• Did the election influence the conference? Of course it did... 
• Our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes

WHAT JESSIE-LEE HAD TO SAY:

• "We say all the time that INBOUND is what you make of it. It's an experience."
• "Moving to agile [project management]... it's not something you just come in and decide to do one day."
• "We all want to be Chip and Joanna [of HGTV], damn it."
• "I like to watch videos on Facebook, but I don't like to watch videos with sound."
  

WHAT LIZ HAD TO SAY:

• "That was a keynote where people were literally getting up and walking out."
• "We're all trying to become the shabby chic antique entrepreneurs when it comes to our content. It's all about upcycling and upkeep."
• "You can't set it and forget it with anything, when it comes to your marketing."
• "Rumors of the written word's demise have been greatly exaggerated."
  

RESOURCES WE MENTIONED:

• Ta-Nehisi Coates' INBOUND keynote (learn more about his work)
• Marcus Sheridan's INBOUND 2016 review
• HubSpot's The Growth Show Podcast: What Great Bosses Do Differently
• Alec Baldwin INBOUND interview/keynote
• Wistia's video voicemail
• A section of our HubSpot Certification Wall at Quintain
• Unfortunately, Michael Strahan's interview is not available for viewing at this time

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

Right now, the Quintain team is up in Boston at HubSpot’s annual INBOUND conference - but that doesn't mean we don't have a new episode of Creator's Block for you.

This week, Jessie-Lee and I invited my friend and immensely talented photographer Allison Zaucha to talk to us about a very important topic that most marketers overlook - or at the very least take for granted: the use of visuals and photography in their marketing. 

Even though we all have very different professional roles, we've all worked with businesses that are creating great content and telling compelling stories who completely fail, when it comes to leveraging visuals. 

It's a shame, too, considering how it's an indisputable fact how much visuals matter in the world of marketing and sales. 

So, grab a notebook, pull up a chair and listen as we unpack everything you need to be doing - or stop doing - when it comes to photography and visuals for your marketing and website projects.

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

 

• Allison's most recent show, book and project, Dreams That Could Be

• Just how much does photography influence prospective buyers

• What are the biggest sins we see businesses commit with photography and visuals

• How the misuse of photography can cost a business lots of money (seriously)

• Innovative ways to leverage social media to find new photographers

• Should you invest in custom photography?

• How do we make imagery decisions for our clients?

• What are the most important things marketers should keep in mind when selecting their own images?

• What should you look for in a professional photographer?

 

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @naptownpint and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

Next week, our entire team is closing up shop and heading to Boston for the week. Why? Well, the Quintain team will be joining over 10,000 marketing and sales professionals, and entrepreneurs for HubSpot’s annual INBOUND conference - or #INBOUND16, if you’ve been following the conversation on Twitter.

With this being my fourth year traveling to Beantown for the conference, and Liz’s second, we thought we would dedicate this week’s episode to HubSpot’s four-day whirlwind of bold talks, keynotes, spotlights and breakout sessions.

We talk about what we think of this year’s lineup, as well as some of our best tips and tricks - from pre-trip prep and live-tweeting, to solo networking and what to do if your sessions suck - to get the most out of HubSpot’s conference that celebrates some of the best ideas around inbound marketing, sales and entrepreneurial innovation.

And whether you’re a seasoned INBOUND pro, or this is your first trip to the big event, there’s something for everyone…

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Liz is back from Europe, and she had a birthday!

• What we’re excited for at INBOUND

• What bums us out about INBOUND

• Liz’s beef with the approach to content creation, as a topic

• What to do before INBOUND

• Jessie-Lee’s secret sauce of live-tweeting INBOUND

• How to get the most out of INBOUND, if you’re traveling

• What to do if a session you’re psyched about sucks

• How to keep your momentum going after you get back from INBOUND

• Principles vs. platforms, and the importance of knowing the difference

• Our favorite sandwiches

• And much, much more…
  
  

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“I was emotionally distraught from you leaving. You're right. It spun me into sickness.”

“Anytime you get to go up to Boston and visit HubSpot… you want to take on the world and make everything better. And do all the new things. And be beast at it, and just… rule the world.”

“HubSpot has built this incredible agency-to-agency culture where, yes, we all are competing with each other in the same space… but for the most part, we all tend to support each other, and really try to lift each other up, learn from each other's mistakes and share experiences.”

“[Livetweeting] is like a competition with myself. I've literally won a ticket to INBOUND on Twitter every single year because of it.”

 

LIZ

“If my iPhone photos are good enough to be considered stock photos… I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“I think sometimes we all like to pretend that marketing and sales do not have the same objectives, but they absolutely do.”

“I’m going to a session called, ‘Could a robot create your content?’ I swear, if the answer is anything but, ‘No!’ we’re going to have some massive problems.”

“I've been searching desperately for other content managers like me. If you're listening to this, and you are in content at an agency or content manager, let's hang.”

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• "5 Tips for Live-Tweeting HubSpot's Top Conference" by me

• "16 Very Real Feelings You Have When You Don't Get to Go to #INBOUND15" by Liz

• Liz's beer article on her trip to Belgium from The Capital

• "Inbound Marketing: Sales and Marketing Alignment Is Critical to Success" by Kathleen

• Woody the Cat

• Free resouce: #INBOUND16 Self-Interviewing Worksheet

• The HubCast podcast for HubSpot customers

• The Balance, Episode 21: We Must Evolve

• #INBOUND16

• #INBOUNDSolo and the #INBOUNDSolo Happy Hour
  
  

GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE CREATOR’S BLOCK LOVE

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to me at @jhyphenl and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don’t forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week!