In this episode of forank marketing, we unpack a hard truth: marketing isn’t linear.

Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey are joined by Chris Nightingale, Performance Marketing Specialist at Can-Do Marketing, to explore why leads don’t follow a perfect funnel, why attribution isn’t as simple as it looks in reports, and why expecting instant ROI from a single campaign is a fast track to disappointment.

We break down how real marketing works—layered, messy, and full of touchpoints that rarely follow a straight line. Whether you're running ads, building organic content, or nurturing leads through email, understanding this non-linear journey will help you make smarter, more sustainable marketing decisions.

Ideal for: marketers, founders, and in-house teams juggling long sales cycles and complex customer journeys.

Topics covered:

• Why most buyers don’t convert after one touch
• The role of dark social and unseen influence
• How to communicate the value of long-term marketing
• Rethinking attribution and reporting
  

If you've ever struggled to explain why your marketing efforts are working even when the data doesn’t show it clearly, this episode is for you.

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠[www.forank.com]⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

⁠⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠ ⁠

Chris’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnightingale/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠[email protected]

In this episode of forank marketing, we tackle the big question: Hiring freelancers, Yay or Nay? Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey are joined by special guest Louis Smith to unpack the pros and cons of working with freelancers versus in-house teams or agencies.

From cost effectiveness and flexibility to quality control and communication challenges, we share real world insights to help you make the right choice for your business. You’ll learn when freelancers are a game changer, when they might fall short, and how to set yourself up for success if you do hire them.

Ideal for: founders, marketing managers, and business owners navigating resource decisions.

Topics covered:

• The true cost of hiring freelancers
• When to go freelance vs. agency vs. in-house
• How to vet and manage freelancers effectively
• Common mistakes to avoid

If you’re considering freelancers for your next project or wondering if they’re the right fit for your marketing strategy, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use right away.

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

⁠⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠

Louis' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-smith-b968a5b5/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠[email protected]

In this episode of forank marketing, we dive into SEO and PPC strategies that actually work for smaller businesses. From getting the basics right to smart budget allocation, Zoe Ashbridge and Leigh Buttrey share practical tips to help you drive traffic, generate leads, and compete with bigger players—without blowing your budget.

Whether you're managing your own marketing or working with an agency, you'll leave this episode with clear, actionable advice to boost your visibility and conversions through search.

Ideal for: freelancers, marketers, and founders growing on limited resources.

Topics covered: local SEO, keyword targeting, low-budget PPC wins, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction / Chats

04:30 Small Business Statistics

09:42 Marketing tactics for Small Businesses

25:42 Free tools to use for small businesses

28:46 Do small businesses need to do SEO and PPC?

34:00 How to spend marketing budget wisely

38:50 What to do if you have zero marketing team

42:40 Understanding lifetime value of a customer

44:39 Tips and takeaways

49:53 LinkedIn questions answered

54:04 Outro and next episode

📍Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com

⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠[email protected]

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Cracking the Code on B2B Attribution

Join Zoe and Leigh as they unpack one of B2B marketing’s toughest challenges: understanding what’s actually driving results.

From the hidden impact of SEO and the limitations of platform-reported data to practical ways to track the untrackable, this episode is all about making sense of attribution—without overcomplicating it.

We cover attribution models, offline conversions, multi-touch reporting, gut feel vs. data, and how to prove value when the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

If you work in B2B marketing, strategy, demand gen or leadership, this one’s packed with insight and practical advice.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠[email protected]

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: The Future of Marketing & AI Search! Join Zoe and Leigh as they explore how AI is transforming the way people search—and what that means for marketers. From changes in user behaviour and search engine algorithms to the tools shaping tomorrow’s strategies, we dig into what’s coming and how you can stay ahead of the curve. If you're in marketing, SEO, content, or strategy, this one’s not to be missed.

📍 Find us here:

Website: www.forank.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing

Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/forank

Zoe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/

Leigh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/

🎙 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at [email protected]

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Why Sales and Marketing Need to Align! Join Zoe and Leigh as they dive into one of the biggest challenges businesses face—getting sales and marketing teams on the same page. From sharing data and aligning messaging to creating campaigns that truly support sales, we explore why collaboration is crucial for growth. Whether you're a marketer, a sales pro, or a business owner, this episode is packed with tips to help your teams work better together and drive real results.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠www.forank.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Welcome to forank's latest podcast episode: Measuring Marketing Success! Join our hosts as they sit down with Kyle Rushton McGregor to dive into all things GA4, tracking, and analytics. From setting up accurate measurement frameworks to answering common questions, we explore why proper tracking is crucial for marketing success. Learn why you need to set up tracking, how it impacts your strategy, and how to make data-driven decisions that drive real results. Whether you're a business owner, a marketer, or just looking to improve your analytics skills, this conversation will give you the tools to measure and optimise your marketing success effectively.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠⁠www.forank.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠⁠

Kyle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylerushtonmcgregor/

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Welcome to forank's very first podcast episode! Join our hosts, Zoe, and Leigh, as they dive into the importance of getting a head start on your marketing for the new year. From setting clear goals to actionable tips, this episode is packed with insights to help you start the year on the right foot.

Whether you're a business owner, a marketer, or just looking for inspiration, this conversation will give you the tools to make your marketing strategies more effective and impactful.

📍 Find us here:

Website: ⁠⁠www.forank.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@forank-marketing⁠⁠

Zoe's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeashbridge/⁠⁠

⁠Leigh's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighbuttrey/⁠⁠⁠

🎙 Enjoying this episode? Show some love: like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠