Stay on the Bus: Why Persistence Matters in Business and Storytelling - Ep.108.

Join Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney as they welcome Chris Grimes to the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast. Chris is a facilitator, coach, podcaster and self-described "motivational comedian" who has mastered the art of drawing powerful stories from people through his unique storytelling framework. In this episode, Chris shares his journey from acting to becoming a professional story curator, and reveals how his Legacy Life Reflections project helps people preserve their most precious stories and voices for future generations.

Whether you're a marketer looking to harness the power of authentic storytelling, a business owner seeking to differentiate yourself, or someone interested in preserving family histories, this episode delivers profound insights on the value of personal narratives and how to uncover them.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Chris Grimes and his background
03:05 - The importance of storytelling in business and marketing
06:42 - How to draw authentic stories from reluctant storytellers
13:10 - The legacy life reflections concept: recording stories for posterity
19:03 - The Helsinki Bus Garage allegory: staying on your path
24:30 - The power of finding your "operator word" in marketing
33:15 - Be more hummingbird: standing out in a noisy marketing world
38:22 - Personal brand differentiation through authentic storytelling
43:05 - How storytelling helps businesses connect with the right audience
47:15 - Closing thoughts and where to find Chris online

This episode is packed with marketing gold for business owners who want to leverage the power of storytelling to connect with their ideal clients. Chris reveals how finding your unique "operator word" can dramatically transform how people perceive your business, and why "staying on the bus" is essential for long-term success.

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Mastering Zoom: Expert Tips on Virtual Backgrounds, Breakout Rooms, and Hidden Features Ep. 107

Join hosts Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney as they interview John Drinkwater, aka "Lord Zoom," to uncover game-changing Zoom features and techniques that most users don't know about. From mastering breakout rooms to creating professional-looking presentations, this episode is packed with practical tips for anyone who regularly uses Zoom for meetings, presentations or networking.

John shares his journey of becoming "Lord Zoom" during the pandemic, explains the most underutilised Zoom features, and provides expert guidance on everything from proper lighting techniques to branding your Zoom presence. Whether you're a casual user or rely on Zoom daily for your business, this episode will transform how you approach virtual meetings.

Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:05:05 How John Became "Lord Zoom" During COVID
00:12:05 Zoom's Organisation and New Features
00:14:30 John's Favourite Zoom Features Revealed
00:20:42 The Power of Unmuting Participants
00:25:20 Different Ways to Share Your Screen
00:29:05 The Rise of Breakout Rooms
00:36:20 How to Structure Effective Breakout Rooms
00:43:20 Virtual Backgrounds: John's Expert Opinion
00:45:15 Lighting Tips for Professional Appearances
00:49:15 How to Brand Your Zoom Presence
00:54:00 Where to Find John "Lord Zoom" Online


#marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips 

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Building Successful Memberships: Strategies for Recurring Revenue with Nathalie Doremieux - Ep. 106.

In this insightful episode of the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak Podcast, hosts Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney welcome Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of The Membership Lab and Podcast Leadflow. With 20 years of business experience, Nathalie shares her expertise on creating successful membership models that generate reliable recurring income.

The conversation explores why memberships work, how to identify if your business idea suits a membership model, and strategies for creating value that keeps members engaged long-term. 

Nathalie emphasises that successful memberships solve recurring problems with recurring solutions, but not all business ideas are suited to the membership format.

Whether you're looking to transition from one-on-one services to a scalable membership or launch an entirely new offering, this episode provides actionable insights to help you build a thriving membership community that delivers both value to members and sustainable income for your business.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Nathalie Doremieux
00:03:55 - Why Memberships? The Value of Recurring Income
00:07:38 - Key Characteristics of Successful Membership Ideas
00:12:15 - Examples of Different Membership Models That Work
00:19:04 - Co-Creating With Your Audience - The Interest List Method
00:28:35 - Community vs. Content: What Makes Members Stay
00:33:56 - Strategic Positioning: Frontend vs. Backend Memberships
00:39:38 - Pricing Models and Creating Exclusive Access
00:44:22 - Three Essential Tips for Starting a Membership
00:53:02 - Final Thoughts and How to Connect With Nathalie

#marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips 



Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

How Your Team's Emotions Impact Customer Experience with Sarah Dena - Ep. 105

In this episode of Giraffes Don't Eat Steak, hosts Erica and Alex welcome Sarah Dena, Managing Director of New Wave Learning and founder of The Cultivators. Sarah introduces us to the Emotional Culture Deck, a powerful tool for understanding and leveraging emotions in the workplace.

Sarah explains how emotions drive behaviour and why developing emotional literacy is essential for both internal team dynamics and external client relationships. She shares insights on positioning emotions as valuable data points, especially when working with analytical professionals who might initially resist conversations about feelings.

The discussion explores the growing importance of human skills in an AI-dominated world, how workplace culture impacts customer experience, and the crucial difference between emotional intelligence and emotional confidence. Sarah also shares personal stories about transformative leadership and how emotional awareness can make or break business relationships.


Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sarah Dena
02:20 New Wave Learning & Emotional Culture Deck
05:52 Human Skills in the Age of AI
07:56 The Connection Between Feelings & Behaviour
12:31 Emotional Literacy in the Workplace
17:37 Client Experience & Emotional Culture
23:22 Emotions as Data Points for Businesses
27:34 Developing Emotional Confidence
35:11 Workplace Culture & Leadership Impact
42:37 Emotions in Marketing & Customer Experience
47:15 Final Thoughts & How to Connect
.



#marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips 

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Why Your Business Needs a Nearbound Strategy: Referral Marketing Secrets Revealed with Dave Plunkett - Ep. 104.

In this insightful episode of the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast, hosts Erica and Alex welcome Dave Plunkett, a Nearbound Specialist who shares his expertise on transforming word-of-mouth marketing into a deliberate, strategic channel for business growth.

Dave explains the concept of "Nearbound" marketing - leveraging trusted human connections to generate referrals in an authentic yet intentional way. He discusses why referrals, despite being the oldest and often most effective form of marketing, don't get the strategic attention they deserve in most businesses.

Key topics include:
- How to make referrals easy for your clients
- The importance of specificity when asking for referrals
- Identifying the perfect "wow moments" to request referrals
- Navigating difficult referral situations and industries
- Practical advice for marketers uncomfortable with asking for referrals

If you're looking to elevate your referral strategy from chance encounters to a systematic growth channel, this episode provides actionable insights from one of the leading experts in the field.

Chapters
00:00 - Welcome and Introduction
01:13 - Dave Introduces Nearbound Marketing
03:07 - The Strategic Value of Referrals
06:15 - Making Referrals Easy for Clients
10:33 - The Power of Specificity in Referrals
22:40 - Finding the Right Timing for Referrals
27:50 - Insurance Industry Referral Challenges
31:57 - Handling Sensitive Referral Situations
36:38 - Dealing with Clients Who Won't Refer
40:24 - Advice for Marketers Uncomfortable with Asking
44:19 - Where to Find Dave Plunkett
44:52 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Building a Sustainable Business: B Corp Certification Explained with Martin Knowles - Ep.103

Discover how B Corp certification is transforming businesses with Martin Knowles  from Sales Untangled. Learn practical sustainability strategies that go beyond greenwashing to create meaningful impact.

Want to make your business more sustainable but don't know where to start? Listen now to get actionable insights from a certified B Corp expert!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the podcast with Martin Knowles
02:01 What is a certified B Corp?
04:57 Practical examples of B Corp certification
07:33 Focus on materiality in sustainability
10:30 Business travel impact on carbon footprint
12:49 Client perception of B Corp companies
16:40 Balancing business needs with sustainability
20:49 Beyond gimmicks: meaningful sustainability
25:22 Reconnecting with nature
28:54 Where to start on the sustainability journey
33:12 Values-driven business approach
35:00 Sales Untangled: Martin's B Corp business
39:30 Final thoughts on sustainability journeys

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

The Future of Marketing and Sales: Real-World AI Applications with Mickael Aubard - Ep.102

In this illuminating episode of Giraffes Don't Eat Steak, hosts Erica and Alex welcome back Mickael Aubard to discuss AI's transformative impact on marketing workflows. Mickael shares how his work at AdManage.ai is saving media buyers hundreds of hours monthly by automating repetitive ad creation tasks.

The conversation explores how AI differs from traditional automation tools, with examples of time-saving workflows that preserve personal communication styles. Discover how brands are using AI to mine customer comments for product insights, leading to viral marketing opportunities. The trio also addresses common fears about AI adoption and why embracing this technology as a productivity tool rather than a replacement is crucial for staying competitive.

Listen for practical examples of AI applications in marketing, from automated post-meeting summaries to scaling ad campaigns, and learn why creating effective AI prompts might be the next essential human skill in the workplace.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mickael, our first repeat guest
03:02 AI automation vs traditional automation tools
05:05 Structuring calls for better AI transcription
10:04 Introduction to AdManage.ai and time-saving
14:15 Why running multiple ads matters
19:20 Mining comments data for marketing insights
24:02 Using AI to analyse customer feedback
27:19 The camp against AI: fear of the unknown
32:19 Technology adoption cycles are accelerating
36:58 AI's personal touch: Claude quotes Erica!
40:30 The human element remains essential in AI
45:12 Final takeaways on embracing AI properly

Guest Bio

Mickael works with AdManage.ai, helping brands save hundreds of hours monthly launching ads in less than a minute on platforms like Meta and TikTok. The company works with over 200 brands including Canva, Bolt, Wise, and Perplexity. Prior to joining AdManage.ai, he gained extensive experience in performance marketing and growth.

Resources Mentioned

- AdManage.ai - Tool for launching multiple ads quickly across platforms
- Fathom - Call recording and transcription tool with new AI search capabilities
- ChatGPT - AI assistant for creating customised workflows
- Gemini - Google's AI assistant mentioned for prompt creation
- Claude - AI assistant that can find patterns in large datasets

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Making Your Clients the Rock Star: B2B Sales Psychology | Giraffes Don't Eat Steak Ep. 101.

Join Erica and Alex as they sit down with Ronald Gall, a veteran of the insurance industry and founder of a cutting-edge AI data transformation company. With over 20 years of experience in B2B sales, Ron shares his insights on reading the room, building lasting business relationships, and turning clients into rock stars within their own organisations.

This video shares essential business tips and sales techniques for effective sales prospecting. Enhance your sales skills with these expert-backed sales tips and discover the best sales techniques.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The psychology behind effective B2B sales messaging
How to read body language and adapt your pitch in real-time
Why making your client the hero is more powerful than selling features
The importance of building personal credibility and leveraging partnerships
How to create quick wins versus long-term sales cycles
The art of asking the right questions to uncover real pain points
Why solution selling beats product selling every time
Building a personal brand that opens doors

Ron also discusses his journey from managing 50+ insurance products to focusing on one powerful AI solution, and shares valuable lessons from going bankrupt multiple times as an entrepreneur. Plus, learn about his charity work helping stroke and head injury victims in Soweto.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction and Ronald's Background
3:30 The Art of Reading the Room
8:40 Quick No vs Long Sales Cycles
14:20 Focusing on One Solution vs Multiple Products
18:00 30-Second Video That Beat Global Companies
21:00 Psychology of B2B Sales - Making Clients Rock Stars
26:00 Solution Selling vs Product Selling
31:40 Establishing Credibility as a Startup
37:00 Importance of Not Burning Bridges
42:30 LinkedIn for B2B Sales - Pros and Cons
46:00 Final Advice and Contact Information

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

In this special 100th episode, hosts Alex Bilney and Erica Mackay take a journey through their favourite podcast moments. From the essential "Nail in the Foot" marketing theory to the importance of brand storytelling and niche targeting, they unpack the most impactful insights from their first 100 episodes.

Key concepts covered include:
• The difference between urgent and non-urgent customer pain points
• How to leverage your brand's origin story
• The critical importance of rapid lead response
• Strategic brand development with Bruce McKinnon
• The meaning behind the "Giraffes Don't Eat Steak" philosophy
• Finding your ideal audience through effective niche marketing

00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes Milestone
02:03 Special Episode
05:05 Nail in the Foot Theory
09:36 Pebble in the Shoe vs Nail in the Foot
14:17 Episode 63: The Power of Brand Backstory
21:01 Owen Richards on Lead Response Time
24:37 Bruce McKinnon on Brand Strategy
30:32 The Story Behind "Giraffes Don't Eat Steak"
34:37 Finding Your Lions: Niche Marketing
39:15 Michael Dodd: Communication and Humour
43:27 Looking Forward to the Next 100 Episodes

GiraffesDontEatSteak #MarketingPodcast #MarketingTips #PodcastAnniversary #MarketingStrategy #BrandStrategy #NicheMarketing #LeadGeneration #MarketingAgency #BusinessGrowth #BrandStorytelling #CustomerJourney #PainPoints #EpisodeMilestone #100episodes 

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

Vulnerability in Business Development and Sales: Why Authenticity Beats Scripts Every Time - Ep.99

In this insightful conversation with business development expert James Slade, discover why showing vulnerability might be your strongest business asset. James shares his journey from selling gym memberships to advising Formula One engineers, revealing the psychology behind successful sales conversations.

Learn why most sales scripts fail, how asking the right questions transforms prospects into evangelists and the crucial difference between immediate pain points versus future problems. James also breaks down his recent client successes, from helping veterinary equipment inventors find successors to validating a revolutionary sports league concept.

Whether you're in marketing, sales, or running your own business, this episode delivers actionable insights on building genuine connections and avoiding the unforgivable mistake most salespeople make.


Chapters
02:08 James' Journey from Corporate to Independent
05:08 Learning Different Markets in Automotive
09:06 Marketing vs Business Development
10:53 The Power of Curiosity in Sales
13:08 Vulnerability Builds Trust in Business
15:42 The Doctor Approach to Consultative Selling
21:11 The Nail vs Pebble: Selling to Pain Points
24:00 Creating Urgency vs Building Awareness
26:54 Smart Marketing: Right Audience, Right Mindset
31:40 Client Case: Veterinary Equipment Legacy
34:44 Client Case: Growing a Technology Cluster
36:53 Client Case: Sports League Feasibility Study
42:08 Leadership is a Different Job
47:20 The Unforgivable Sales Mistake: Not Listening

Connect with the hosts:
Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/
Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/

Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com

#MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast