David Meerman Scott is a marketing strategist, bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR, and the originator of the term “newsjacking.” With a career that spans decades and a front-row seat to the evolution of real-time, fan-first marketing, David offers insights into how founders and brands can break through the noise without losing their authenticity. In this episode, he shares how to humanize your marketing, leverage AI with purpose, and turn passion into influence.

In Today’s Episode We Discuss:

00:01 – Intro and guest background

01:29 – Common marketing mistake: product obsession

03:10 – What’s stayed true vs. what’s changed

04:49 – Evolution of The New Rules of Marketing and PR

06:28 – The new rules for modern marketing

08:49 – HubSpot’s early playbook and inbound marketing

12:03 – Benefits of problem-first storytelling

13:59 – Feedback loop between content and product

17:43 – Importance of owning your content real estate

21:00 – Building a proprietary AI engine with your data

23:06 – Humanizing your brand in the age of AI

25:23 – Fandom, neuroscience, and proximity

27:34 – Mirror neurons and personal connection via video

31:10 – Using imagery and human faces in marketing

34:29 – Newsjacking: real-time marketing strategy

39:54 – Case study: Family lawyer grows business through newsjacking

43:06 – How to use AI without losing your voice

44:20 – The Savannah Bananas and fan-first marketing

48:22 – Organic storytelling vs. performance marketing

50:57 – Tools and AI resources for early-stage founders

52:00 – Crafting your first founder narrative

53:41 – The power of sharing personal passion as a founder

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