Don't quote us on this: brand, marketing and the BS in between

What actually makes good social media… good? And why does so much of what we’re told to do feel like shouting into the void?

In Episode 8, Ro takes the mic (with strong opinions, obviously) to tear apart one of the most overused phrases in marketing: “just show up.” Because if that advice worked, we’d all be fully booked by now.

Spoiler: good social media isn’t about visibility. It’s about strategy.

They get into why most content doesn’t convert (even when it looks great), how social media is being completely misunderstood as a sales tool, and why your posts shouldn’t exist in isolation. Instead, it should all sit inside something much bigger… a journey that actually moves people from “who are you?” to “I need this.”

There’s also a brutally honest conversation about burnout, the pressure to constantly create, and why doing less (but doing it properly) will get you further. Plus, they dig into authenticity, oversharing, and the fine line between building connection and chasing attention.

If social media has started to feel heavy, noisy, or just a bit pointless… this episode will rewire how you think about it.

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What actually makes a brand personality stand out… and why do so many businesses end up sounding like slightly different versions of the same person?

In Episode 7, Ro hands the mic to Nic (finally) to unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of branding: personality. Not the boring, bullshit, “pick three adjectives” kind… the real, rooted-in-who-you-are kind.

Spoiler: a great brand personality isn’t something you invent. It’s something you uncover.

They dig into why copying trends creates forgettable brands, how your values and opinions are the real differentiators, and why the “you” in your USP is doing far more heavy lifting than you think. There’s also a very real conversation about self-worth, visibility, and why building a business that actually reflects you requires a level of internal validation most people aren’t prepared for.

Okay, we've talked about positioning a few times over the past few episodes and we get it. Sometime we chat shit and forget that not everyone lives and breathes brand and marketing the way we do.

So here we go - we're going to unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in branding and marketing: positioning.

Because it’s one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot - but very few people actually explain what it means in practice.

Spoiler alert: positioning isn’t just choosing a niche.

It’s about where you sit in the market, how people perceive you, and why the right people choose you instead of someone else.

And in this week’s Don’t Quote Us On This, we’re talking about brand collaborations - the brilliant ones, the baffling ones, and the ones that should never have happened.

You can follow Ro on Instagram and LinkedIn
And Nic on Instagram and LinkedIn

And remember… don’t quote us on this.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever walked out of a networking event thinking:
“Was that… actually worth my time?”

In Episode 5, Ro and Nic get into what good networking really looks like - and why so many people are doing it on autopilot with zero results.

Spoiler: turning up is not a strategy.

Yes, networking can be powerful.
Yes, it can build incredible relationships.
Yes, it can generate serious business.

But without intention behind it, it’s just a very expensive coffee break.

In this episode we get into:

• What actually makes a networking room worth your time
• The difference between expanding your network vs being stuck in one
• Why forced referrals and rigid structures feel… off
• The before, during and after strategy most people skip
• And why the follow-up is where the money really is

We also answer the question: why is lead generation so hard? - and unpack the two biggest reasons most businesses are struggling to convert.

And in this week’s Don’t Quote Us On This, we’re getting into the best and worst brand slogans - from iconic one-liners to campaigns that should never have made it out of the boardroom.

If you’ve been “doing the networking” but not seeing results… this one might hit a nerve.

You can follow Nic on Instagram and LinkedIn
And Ro on Instagram and LinkedIn

And remember… don’t quote us on this.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever said:

“I invested in my branding… so why isn’t my business exploding?”

In Episode 4, Ro and Nic unpack one of the most common frustrations in small business: expecting a rebrand to magically fix your sales.

Spoiler alert: your brand is not your marketing strategy.

Yes, great branding can spike attention.
Yes, it can elevate perception.
Yes, it can make you more memorable.

But without a plan behind it, it’s just a very pretty asset sitting there waiting to be used.

In this episode we get into:

• Why branding can’t do the heavy lifting alone
• The “I’ve built it, where are you?” trap
• Why visibility is only step one of the journey
• The real reason your brand might feel like it’s “not working”
• And why looking like everyone else is the fastest way to be forgotten
  

We also talk about the Canva effect, diluted branding, and what happens when you drift away from the rules that were designed to protect your potency.

And in what might be our spiciest moment to date, we call out the epidemic of borrowed identities.
The beige boho clones. The editorial Instagram twins.
The “inspired by” brands that look and sound… identical.

If your brand could be handed to someone else who does what you do… it’s not yours.

You can follow Ro on Instagram and LinkedIn
And Nic on Instagram and LinkedIn

And remember… don’t quote us on this.

This one is spicy.

In Episode 3, Ro and Nic dive headfirst into a growing problem in the industry: the explosion of marketing (and branding) courses being sold by people who… aren’t actually marketers.

If you’ve ever invested in a programme that promised transformation but delivered vibes, hype and a whole lot of tweaking your messaging, this conversation will hit home.

This episode is about experience vs hype. Strategy vs noise. Integrity vs manipulation.

And yes… we name some uncomfortable truths.

We'll also get into why you really DO need reciepts, what makes a great logo, and the problem with using urgency, scarcity & manipulation in your marketing.

You can follow Nic on Instagram and LinkedIn

And Ro on Instagram and LinkedIn

If you’ve ever wondered what the actual difference is between branding and marketing and why they’re so often confused, this episode is for you.

In Episode 2, Ro and Nic pull apart one of the most common (and costly) misunderstandings in business: assuming branding is marketing, or that marketing magically works without strategy.

As always, this is a bs-free conversation about what branding really does, what marketing is actually for, and why “just posting on social media” is not a strategy. Expect strong opinions, a few spicy takes, and a lot of clarity.

Branding has become one of those words people fling around like confetti… until it means nothing. So Rowena does what any sensible person would do: she corners Nic (who has 30 years experience in brand design) and asks her, directly, to define it.

Spoiler: branding isn’t “a logo and a vibe”, it’s the foundation underneath everything, the strategy and identity work you do before you touch photography, Canva, fonts, or a colour palette.

They get into why “buying the parts” (brand shoot, copywriter, email sequence, new visuals) without the core strategy creates a disconnect that quietly turns people off, and why the brands that win are the ones that feel rooted, human, and coherent.