Creator's Block

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

We've talked about websites before on this podcast - how your website isn't about you, and how it can be a bit of a balancing act to get the content creation and design processes just right for a website project. However, even though most people have at least a vague understanding that a lot of work goes into a website, there is one question we get from clients, prospects and others on an almost daily basis:

"Why do websites cost so much?"

To answer that question, first you need to understand that some people don't understand the effort that goes into a website project. And then there are those who, quite frankly, want a champagne website on a water budget - and that just isn't happening. 

The reality is that what drives the cost of a website up or down will depend on the project itself. But as a rule of thumb, you can expect to get out of a website design or redesign project what you put into it - from both a time and money perspective.

That said, we know, "Well, it depends," is a completely obnoxious answer. So in this episode, we get brutally honest about our processes, the hard numbers and what really goes the pricing of a website. (Spoiler alert: As my modest two-bedroom apartment can attest, those larger price tags are certainly not designed to pad my wallet.)

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• It was my last day before vacation, and I was in a mood
• What falls through the cracks when you cut corners in who you hire to build your website?
• Do people really want to know what level of effort is required to build a website?
• How does who you hire for a website influence price?
• How have websites changed, and how has that influenced the website design and redesign process?
• Working with inbound marketing agencies vs. traditional design agencies for websites
• Is involving inbound marketing with a website project just complicating things?
• What problems do people tell us they're having, when they want to redesign their website?
• What does it mean to "blow up" your content and start completely from scratch?
• How do we price our websites at Quintain?
• And more... 

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“A big part of the price of a website is who you hire."

"Your website isn't going to cost the same price if your nephew does it, or if I do it for you. The kind of expertise you're getting from us, is not the expertise you're going to get from the college kid next door."

"Traditional ad agencies are often going to be focusing first on aesthetics. But in my mind, the purpose of a website is to make sure that you can get conversions. You need leads to turn into customers."

"Your website is the one salesperson you have that works 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

 

LIZ

“I never learned to read. I just have hamsters on wheels under my desk, manually operating typewriters."

"Websites are no longer online billboards. So the function of developing a website has also evolved."

"The price of a website - and how much it will or will not cost you - will depend on how much you want to put it, and how much you're blowing up and starting from scratch."

"You can't blow up all of the content on your website and then say, 'Now you figure it out' Just like you can't take a sledgehammer to your house, give me a tiny broom and a dustpan and say, 'Figure it out.'"
 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• Flying Dog's The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale
• "It's Decorative Gourd Season..." via Timothy McSweeney's
• "How Much Should You Spend on a Website Redesign?" by Jessie-Lee
• "Dear Marketers: Content Creators Are Not Your Line Cooks" by Jay Acunzo
  

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?

Truth be told, we wanted to wait until after Liz got back from her vacation to chat about this week’s topic. Last week preparation for her vacation ramped up to it’s peak, and it just seemed like the appropriate moment to go ahead, record and take the opportunity to be as transparent as possible.

Avoiding burnout is a serious and real thing. Without trying to sound like a public service announcement, it’s a newer issue we all face in light of our always connected culture. Most of the time we don’t want to take a break, even when we know we should. Taking the time to take time for yourself is a difficult thing to do, but a necessary one.

In this episode, we’re talking about the do’s and don'ts of vacation. Having been on a vacation back in August I had some wise words for Liz who, at the time of recording, had a serious countdown going on. In contrast, Liz had some advice for me on how to stay motivated on the daily, especially when project and retainer work collide.

So, how do marketers, entrepreneurs and really anybody in our constantly connected world stay motivated and avoid burnout? What tools can help? What boundaries do you need to set? And does it all come into conflict with the work/life blend mentality?

So, What Did We Talk About?

• The magical productivity mode that comes right before reaching a major milestone
• What burnout really feels like
• What does constant connection do to our psyche
• We like who we work with and we like what we do, does this deter us from taking vacation?
• What boundaries do you need to set to have an effective vacation?
• Setting vacation expectations, both personally and professionally
• Lying to yourself about the breaks you are and are not taking
• Limiting distractions to stay motivated
• Tools that help keep us on track
• Staying motivated when your workflow changes (project versus retainer work)
• Remembering your "why?" to stay motivated

Here’s What We Had to Say: Jessie-Lee

“You want to be able to relax on vacation, not recover.”

“Don’t have a working vacation. Don’t tell anyone you’re going to be accessible. Don’t put yourself in that position.”

“If I’m feeling super unmotivated, I’ll leave. A change in environment is a huge help.”

“It’s very hard to turn creative on at 9:00 AM and turn creative off at 5:00 PM.”

“You don’t have to take a week off to get the full effects of vacation rejuvenation.”

Liz

“It’s getting harder and harder to unplug and step away.”

“Don’t lie to yourself and say you’re going on vacation when you’re not.”

“My biggest downfall to burnout is distraction.”

“I think we come to work and just expect ourselves to be into it.”

“A vacation is a microcosm of what you should be doing on a daily basis.”

Here Are the Resources We Talked About:

• 1st Meal by RAR Brewing

• Liz’s Instagram (since she is actually in Europe at publication)

• Teamwork

• Liz’s epiphany about her personal brand

• Beware the Busy Manager

• Jessie-Lee’s cat Woody in a bowtie

• Forest

• Noisli

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?

As Quintain's art director and content manager respectively, you might say that Jessie-Lee and I have a bit of experience in the art of giving and getting feedback about our work. Unfortunately, the quality of the feedback we receive is not always created equal.

This isn't a simple lesson of, "If you can't say something nice, don't say something at all," nor is it a petty diatribe against someone who didn't like our work, so our feelings are hurt. Jessie-Lee and I are both in agreement that if you work in any sort of commercial creative discipline - especially in an agency setting - being able to ingest and react productively to constructive criticism is part of the job description. (Many times, those challenges from our clients push us to create even better work.)

In this episode, we're talking about issues that transcend differences in aesthetic. Those instances when the "how" and "why" a nugget of feedback is delivered can be counterproductive and costly, as well as symptomatic of a much larger problem - the kind of problem that can evolve into something bigger, if left to fester.

So how can marketers and entrepreneurs who work with content creators and designers determine if the feedback loop they have in place is healthy or not? And if it isn't, how can they fix it, so the work their teams are producing top-notch with audience persona-resonance and creativity?

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Macromanaging vs. micromanaging, and how they're both awful
• Do you view your writers and designers as robots who execute?
• Does our DIY culture erode the legitimacy of what we do?
• Our biggest pet peeves with clients giving feedback
• Why you need to start telling designers and writers your problem, not the solution
• How perfect is the enemy of good (AKA, when good work dies in committee)
• How to tell when your feedback issues are a symptom of a something else
• What can content creators and designers do better to improve the feedback loop?
• How can you fix the feedback loops in your own backyard?

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

"Sometimes I won't agree with you in the moment... but ultimately, I'm mature enough to take it. I'm mature enough to say, 'This [project] is better because you gave me the tough feedback.'"

"As a designer, I'm not a puppet. I'm a visual problem solver... tell me the problem, so I can use my expertise to solve it."

"I find it absolutely infuriating when someone tells me to make the logo bigger. Okay, great. Sure, I have the capacity to do that. But why do you want the logo to be bigger?" 

"It becomes very frustrating when you start to become an order-taker, and not somebody with a brain and a background and education, to be able to approach these things strategically."

 

LIZ

"Even if you don't tell us, we know when you're unhappy. We're not dumb people; we spend all day giving and getting feedback."

"I never ask a client a question I don't want an answer to. Even if I don't like the answer."

"I need you to tell me what you don't like, because it helps me to do my job better."

"Ask yourself, do you really have an issue with the piece that's right in front of you? Or do you have an unspoken concern about the process they're using to begin with?"
 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• "3 Reasons Why WIX.COM Fails for Business Websites" by Jessie-Lee
• Episode 5: Why You Need Brand Style Guides (and How to Create Them)
• Episode 6: Should Content Creators and Creatives Care About Data?
• Canva
• DISC assessments
• "I" overview from DISC (Jessie-Lee and I are both I's!)

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?

Both Jessie-Lee and I have "been around the block" here at Quintain - although her moreso than myself, by a few years. In that time, both of us have come to realize the importance of the relationships we establish and nurture with all of our clients. (Seriously, we love our clients.)

As we've discussed in the past, however, these relationships can be broken or don't always work out. And in recent months, through conversations we've had with our own clients, we've come to realize that many of the "truths we hold to be self-evident" about agencies and clients also hold true for the majority of B2B relationships out there.

So this week, we laid it all out on the table for a candid discussion around why those partnerships sometimes do and do not work, as well as what agencies, agency clients and other stakeholders can do to prevent those often avoidable breakdowns that can happen in any business relationship.

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• The joyous welcoming of the month of October and pumpkin season.
• What's the difference between being a vendor and a partner?
• Where have we seen relationships with clients go wrong?
• What are the symptoms of a bad relationship?
• What do businesses need to be able to do before they engage with an agency or partner?
• What are the hallmarks of happy, healthy agency or business relationships?
• What do agency wonks and creatives need to do to effectively nurture their end of the relationship?

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

"There's a reason why you're not the CMO of your company. There's a reason why you don't have an internal marketing department. It's because it's not your strength; it's not something you're making a high enough of a priority."

"One of the really cool things about working at an agency is that you end up working with people... from anywhere. Anywhere, geographically speaking or in terms of industry."

"[If you work at an agency], you need to learn to say 'no," and understand where your boundaries are, in terms of what you can feasibly do."

"I have gourd-based boundaries. Get on my level."

 

LIZ

"You can't take a leap of faith with one foot still on the ground. You'll fall flat on your face."

"A business and an agency need to look at each other and say, 'We're working toward the same thing. In good faith, we're going to give you all we've got, and you're going to give us all that you've got. And we're going to be working toward the goals we've talked about together.'"

"Like modern-day philosopher Ice Cube once said, 'You can do it, put your back into it.'"

"There has to be a tremendous self-awareness. If you are a business who wants to engage with another firm or an agency, you have to be willing to acknowledge that you don't know what you don't know."

WHAT INSPIRED THIS EPISODE?

Since the beginning of the year, the team here at Quintain has been partnering with another local company (Skyline Technologies), to work on some “soft skills.” While the word “soft” might lead you to believe we are hanging out doing trust falls all day, don’t be fooled. These facilitated workshops focus on the tough stuff, like communication and leadership. These are big concepts and it poses an even bigger challenge putting these concepts into practice with a team that spans both coasts.

Last week, Kathleen and I headed to our final leadership session of the year. It was a full day packed with massive reflection on what we’ve learned and why. It led me to re-read a few of the articles we had touched on in previous months. The really great thing about taking the time to look back is that it gives you new perspective and builds on your experiences. Sometimes things appear differently the second or third time around, and that’s exactly what happened when I re-read “Reclaim Your Job” and “Beware the Busy Manager,” by Heike Bruch and Sumantra Ghoshal for Harvard Business Review.

Both articles had such an immediate impact, I quickly forwarded them to Liz.

We both reacted similarly, quickly determining that both articles had been written about and to us. There was no contest that the biggest thing we have struggled with in the past and are still struggling with today is the constant push and pull between being busy vs. being productive.

It’s so easy to confuse the two - whether you work at an agency like us, balancing so many different client demands and/or the demands of a business itself, or you're a business owner. (Heck, this conversation probably applies to anyone making their way in the professional world - marketers, entrepreneurs or otherwise.)

So, naturally we decided to take a deep dive into both articles for this week’s episode, in order to figure out what it is we need to take from these articles and how to start implementing it in our work-life blend.

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Our first experience with video marketing and being on the other side of the camera with at Quintain's Video PDQ event.
• Are managers and other professionals really as busy - or short on resources - as they say they are?
• Is there a difference between being busy and being productive?
• How does focus and energy play into how effective or purposeful you'll be in your role?
• What's the real reason behind procrastination? Or is there more than one?
• Why do we need to overcome the psychological desire to be indispensible at work?
• How do you take back control over your calendar?
• What bad habits are you enabling others that gobble up your time?
• Will Liz and I ever give the same answer on our secret question? Today might be the day...
  

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“Oh, there is a fine line between dumb and stupid, and I’ve danced across it many a time."

"Quintain is not going to close its doors if I cease to exist, which sounds a little harsh. But keeping that reality check in my mind means I can say, 'Okay, I didn't check my work email after 7 p.m. tonight. Stop feeling guilty about it.'"

"It's all cyclical. There's always an email to answer. There's always a phone call to take. There's always an alternate priority to sitting down and thinking or reflecting."

"You have to be focused on making sure you're the one in control of your schedule."

 

LIZ

"There are some people out there who I don’t think could possibly survive in a world where they actually attribute responsibility to themselves. The world will always happen to them."

“You can’t have a ‘Look busy, Jesus is coming,’ attitude about everything in your life, because you’ll just be spinning your wheels.”

“I think this is something that people succumb to a lot. That they don't have the ability to change their surroundings."

"Sometimes, depending on the depth of your organization, you're going to find a lot of managers that end up also having to be the executors."

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• "Reclaim Your Job"
• "Beware the Busy Manager"
• "This Is Why I'll Never Be an Adult" by Hyberbole and a Half
• Goals and Barriers Worksheet (Creator's Block "exclusive")

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 or Liz at @naptownpint.

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?

It seems like no matter where you turn, everyone is talking about video marketing. Heck, we are, too. But even with all of the stats floating around out there that make video marketing sound like a great idea for businesses and organizations, people are still hesitant to put their strategies (and their money) behind it.

So in this very entertaining episode, we invited Quintain President and Creative Director John Booth into the Creator's Block studio to help us answer one simple question: Is video marketing really that big of a deal?

More importantly, are the results measurable enough to compel business owners and marketers to leverage video in their own marketing strategies?

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• The "grass is always greener" mentality when agencies evaluate themselves against other agencies.
• Liz finally gets to the bottom of why she came into this discussion with some angst about video, as a consumer.
• The biggest statistics you need to know about video marketing.
• Why you shouldn't use Facebook and YouTube to host your business videos.
• Which businesses and brands are totally nailing it with their video marketing?
• What are the most common objections we hear about video marketing, and are they valid?
• Will the price of certain types of video always prohibit smaller businesses from getting in on the fun?
• What our parents meant when they called us "interesting" or "creative," or said, "We'll see," when we asked for anything... 
• Our feelings on Matthew McConaughey.
• ...and finally, Liz admits her personal branding experiment was a complete failure.

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

"Explainer videos are great - especially for software - they show you how something is going to make your life easier."

“What happens when three over-caffeinated I's walk into a podcast..."

"I can be a procrastinator, and I'm not ashamed to admit that."

 

LIZ

"What bothers me is when people use video for the sake of video. Like blogging for the sake of blogging."

“I don't dislike video. I dislike sh*tty video. I dislike the 'Buzzfeedification' of content."

“Google or Facebook is going to be Skynet. Prediction."

 

JOHN

"You always need to make sure the juice is worth the squeeze."

"It sounds like the real question is whether you dislike video, or you dislike how businesses use video."

"THINK. Is what you're about to say thoughtful? Is what you're about to say honest? Is it intelligent? Is it necessary? And is it kind?"

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• DISC Assessments (FYI: All three of us are "I"s.)
• State of Inbound
• Wistia (Seriously, forget YouTube.)
• Creator's Block, Episode 8: "What Goggle's New Algorithm Change Means for Your Website"
• Simon Sinek's Golden Circle
• TED Radio Hour: "Slowing Down"
• Dollar Shave Club videos
• Big Red video: "Don't Tell Mom Episode 2: Soda + Pop Rocks"
• Last Shirt on Earth
• Creator's Block, Episode 7: "The Kickass Marketing Strategy You Don't Have, But Need"
• Video PDQ
• "What Can Lincoln's McConaughey Ads Teach You About Inbound Marketing" by John Booth
• Towne Park (Our "really, really big website" project)
• Meet Liz Thibodeau
   

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 or Liz at @naptownpint.

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?

As a content manager at an inbound marketing agency, one of the most common complaints I hear in some form or another is: "Blogging is hard!"

No matter how many times clients or colleagues agree with me about the mission critical importance of blogging to any inbound strategy, it's still a task a good number of folks look upon with disdain. (That is, if they aren't outright avoiding it all together.)

But I want to know why. Why does the idea of blogging cause such middle school-esque angst in some of the most savvy entrepreneurs, business owners and marketers around? So in this week's episode, we sat aside our usual litany of tactics and tools, and got real with each other about why blogging is considered to be "so hard" - for ourselves and for our clients.

And before you say this isn't an earth-shattering topic, ask yourself this: When was the last time you were brutally honest with yourself about why you don't blog?

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Jessie-Lee has a fresh new 'do, and I talk about a new concept called the "shame brownie."
• What we've discussed internally as reasons why we (and you) sometimes avoid blogging.
• The metrics behind why blogging serves as an inbound marketing engine for your website.
• What topics should you be writing about? 
• What role should sales play in your blogging strategy?
• Different ways to create and present content on your blog - you don't have to write everything!
• Calling "BS" on people who say they're too busy to blog.
• The best meal we've ever had on vacation.

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“Who said I was legit enough to be on the internet?"

“When I sit down to write a blog, it's like pulling teeth sometimes. Like writing term papers in college."

"Blogging is why inbound took off so quickly. Suddenly the little guy could outsmart the big guys with a simple strategy."

"It doesn't hurt to put yourself out there when you really feel strongly about something, just to see what happens."

"What questions are people asking you? That's what you should be blogging about."

 

LIZ

"Blogging is like exercising. You know it's good for you. But you still don't want to do it."

“Don't put so much pressure on yourself to be Hemingway right out of the gate, with your first draft.”

“There are times that I avoid blogging, because I'd rather be sitting on my couch, watching Netflix. There are plenty of other things I'd much rather be doing. And I will not lie about it."

"If you blog, you will get 67 percent more leads than people who don't. It's that simple."

"People aren't just telling you to blog for your health. Blogging does bring real value to your business."

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• "The 5 Real Reasons Why Blogging Is Hard" by Crystal Monkman
• Seth Godin on HubSpot's "The Growth Show" podcast
• The Social Network
• "3 Reasons WIX.COM Fails for Business Websites" by Jessie-Lee Nichols
• "The Big 5: Blog Article Topics Guaranteed to Drive Traffic, Leads and Sales" by the Sales Lion
• Rev (transcription service)
• Kathleen's Friday Video Blog Series (great inspiration for other business owners)
• Grammarly
• Le Yaca in Williamsburg, Virginia

 

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 @liztypes and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl!

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 are back in our Saturday morning routine this week, and I don’t think either of us could be more happy about it.

But while I was away (sorry Liz!), Google announced a major algorithm change. You may remember the last major algorithm announcement Google made last spring. It fully confirmed everything we had been preaching about mobile-friendly websites. Marketers dubbed it "Mobilegeddon," and the phrase really stuck. It stuck so much, that this latest announcement is following in its footsteps and is aptly named Mobilegeddon 2, except this time the focus is on pop-ups.

So, why should you care?

Google has only announced an algorithm change once before (the aforementioned instance last spring), so the fact that they just did it again is a huge deal that absolutely anyone with a website should be paying attention to. Google wants you to care about your users more. That’s the bottom line. Google primarily exists to get users the most relevant information they need, when they need it. In the last couple of years, this has meant more than just having the best content on the web, it’s shifted into also providing the best experience on the web.

In this episode, Liz and I break down this announcement from Google and really dig into why it matters. Since it does have such a heavy emphasis on user experience, we talk a lot about what works and what doesn’t in terms of website functionality. We also get into where Google (the grand master of the web) should simply butt out.

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• I’m back from HubSpot, with some fun insights about Growth-Driven Design… and more to come!
• Google’s new announcement - “Mobilegeddon 2: This Time It’s Personal” - and what it means.
• How is it related to the 2015 Mobilegeddon announcement, and why are they announcing them?
• Is this the end of pop-ups and content marketing?
• How do these announcements impact the conversation around the web user experience? And should be Google influencing that so heavily?
• What are some of the website features/tactics we wish Google would penalize others for?
• How are content offers evolving? And are eBooks dead?
• Why is podcasting so effective?
• ...and of course, our lesson of the week and the secret question.

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“Stop trying to outsmart Google. It is a total waste of energy; it’s not going to happen. You’re not rich enough, and you’re not smart enough.”

“If you don’t have a mobile-friendly site, why are you still on the internet?”

“We have the ability to add so many things to our websites - the pop-ups, the slide-in calls-to-action and the live chat features… can Google step in and tell everyone to calm down?”

“Google is penalizing pop-ups that are too intrusive, they aren’t penalizing all pop-ups. Google is not saying that pop-ups need to die, they’re saying pop-ups need to tone it down a notch. They need to stop dancing on the table.”

“At the end of the day, the point [of your website] is to deliver a great experience to the user.”

 

LIZ

“Google is setting some boundaries very publicly about not being a d*ck on the internet.”

“[Google has] been slowly shutting down people who try to game the system.”

“As a content creator, I really like this change and this continuing evolution to make people ‘less evil’ [on the internet].”

“Consumers are never going to go, ‘You know what? I’m going to give sales back the entire buyer’s journey.’ If anything, they’re just going to be clamoring for more content; they’re going to want to ingest more; they’re going to want to own more.”

“This idea that content is suddenly just going to go away is completely asinine.”

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• “Helping Users Easily Access Content on Mobile” (Google’s pop-up announcement)
• “Google Is a Total Dictator, and It’s Making Us All Better” by Meghan Keaney Anderson of HubSpot
• Growth-Driven Design (Website)
• Growth-Driven Design (HubSpot certification, free to everyone)
• A great example of long-form content from GatherContent
• Hotjar (See how your visitors use your website)
• Mobile-friendly test from Google
• "What Is Mobile-First Content Marketing?" by Shelby Clarke
• OptinMonster
• “I Used to Hate Podcasts - Now I Think I Understand What Makes Podcasting Such a Powerful Platform” by Liz (Her first Medium post!)

 

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 @liztypes! 

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?

Not only is Jessie-Lee back from vacation - finally! - it's now September. The kids are going back to school, fall (my favorite season) is just around the corner and football season is on our doorstep. 

As we all grudgingly plug back into our daily and weekly routines, it's a great time to evaluate what you've been doing. However, we don't just mean evaluating what is and isn't working, from a tactical perspective - although that's important, too. This annual momentary pause is the perfect opportunity for you to consider the most important component of your business:

Your marketing strategy.

Over the past few weeks, we've been having some great internal discussions about our own strategy. But it made Jessie-Lee and I realize that many people don't have a marketing strategy. What's worse, they don't even realize it!

So in this episode, we're staging an intervention and asking you a question.

Do you have a marketing strategy? Are you sure?

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• Jessie-Lee's back from vacation (and had a birthday), and she's got stories.
• What are the most common "marketing strategies" we hear from clients, that aren't actually marketing strategies.
• What does a sales process and a marketing strategy have in common?
• What are consequences of not having a defined and documented strategy?
• What should go into a marketing strategy - inbound or otherwise?
• How do you create your own strategy?
• Our favorite tips and tricks for people who are new to the game.
• Why does the term "bears repeating" confuse Liz?

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“I love it when we have multiple contacts at companies, and you ask them what their strategy is, and they all have different answers."

"You would be surprised at the number of people we save from themselves. They have the marketing automation software, and they are on the brink of getting rid of it. They're saying, 'I see no ROI from this software whatsoever.'"

"A strategy can't live as a thought bubble in your head."

"Your strategy isn't set in stone. So if you wrote a strategy five years ago, you need to revisit it."

"Analysis paralysis is a real thing when it comes to strategy-writing. Don't fall into the trap."

 

LIZ

"Marketing automation software can only automate a process that already exists, has been tested, has some sort of thought, rhyme or reasoning behind it."

"Is a strategy even a strategy if no one else has ever heard it?"

"Truly great leaders are those who can unite people around a vision and have everyone work toward it - to create that vision."

"How can you layout a strategy that's supposed to be a roadmap to somewhere if you don't know where the hell you're going?"

"An unused strategy is like Google+. It's the home of the future no one is ever going to live in."

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• Bye bye, Blab
• But I'm an Oyster
• Audience Persona Worksheet
• "3 Ways to Combine Inbound Marketing with Outbound Marketing" by Kathleen
• Creator's Block, Episode 2: Why Processes Matter (and How to Create Them)
• Calmly (Liz's favorite distraction-free writer app)
• HubSpot's Composer blog tool
• Noisli (Liz's go-to ambient noise tool)
• ...and we're now on Instagram!

 

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 @liztypes and Jessie-Lee at @jhyphenl! 

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?

Back in June, Liz received an email with a simple subject line: "provocative email on content creation." Within it she found an article by Jay Acunzo entitled "Confessions of a Content Creator: I Don't Care About Data."

In this article, Acunzo admits that he knows he should care about data, but... he doesn't. Nor does he think he should have to. He goes on to say:

Here’s the thing: I’m far from alone in feeling this way. There are others like me, others who create content for a living — damn good content at that — and we don’t really think about data all that much. We’re walking among you right now, working on your teams, attending your meetings, nodding at our CMO’s shouts of MQLs and monthly lead-gen metrics.

We pretend to care. But we don’t really care.

We really care about our craft.

It took a couple of months for Liz to calm down from her angst over this article, but in this episode, we both dig deep to determine if he's right or wrong in whether or not creatives or content creators should care about data. 

And while we both went into this episode thinking our stances were fairly cut and dry, we surprised ourselves with a deeper conversation about what we do and how we do it than I think either of us expected...

SO, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

• How Liz (the only child) felt abandoned by everyone going on vacation.
• From our different perspectives - me as the Art Director and Liz as the Content Manager - how much does data influence our own work currently?
• What liked about the article - because his arguments weren't without merit. 
• Does data play any role in the creative decision-making process? Should it?
• We also talked a lot about Moneyball, Billy Beane and the power of data in that story.
• How much does data influence us on a subconscious level? Can we really get away from it?
• Do we need to be formulaic to some degree in order to be successful?
• The difference between creating for yourself and creating for others.

 

HERE’S WHAT WE HAD TO SAY: JESSIE-LEE

“I've gotta say - you showed me this article. You were very rage-y, and I was like, 'Okay, I'm going to get on board with this, and I'm going to rip it to shreds.' And then I read it, and... I didn't disagree with him."

"Yes, I do look at the data. I do look at the numbers, and that certainly fuels decisions. But when it comes down to me sitting down and creating something from nothing, I'm not necessarily saying, 'Okay, what are my data points? Do I use blue or orange here?'"

"There's a lot gut intuition that happens when you're being creative that I don't think gets enough credit anymore."

"Yes, I can sit there and draw you a photorealistic still life. But did I enjoy doing that? No, I frickin' hated it."

LIZ

"The [marketing] world has become crowded. It's become saturated with mediocre content."

"Data isn't a dirty word. If you break it down, data is essentially a numerical representation of people and behavior. It's a very human thing."

"I want my content to get found, because I want to help people answer their questions. And I want people to find my beautiful work. So if I'm not even taking keyword research into account when I'm doing my work... no one would ever see that really great content that I spent hours and hours slaving over."

"I don't think incorporating data into my work is mutually exclusive with flexing my creative chops."

 

HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT:

• GatherContent (Again, one of our favorite platforms)
• HubSpot (Basically marketing automation magic)
• Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
• Moneyball (the movie)

A CORRECTION AND A NOTE

In this episode, we noted that Acunzo said in the article that he worked at a digital marketing agency. In fact, he only made mention of working in digital marketing - sans "agency." It was an unintentional oversight/assumption, but still, we made a mistake, and we're sorry about that. 

Also, as we said in the episode, we want to say that while we disagreed in some respects with his position, we really loved (a) how he wrote it, and (b) that he gave us such a great opportunity to have what ended up being a more dimensional discussion than I think either of us expected. (And Jay, if you ever want to reach out and say, we would relish the opportunity!)

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 or Liz at @liztypes.

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

…until next week!