This episode was based on the following micro blog Megan wrote recently. It sparked some interest, so she decided to make it a quick solo show!

Networking working.

When I googled the definition of networking, the following came up: "the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts." And then when I looked on Dictionary.com, it said this: "a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest."

I think the second definition is closer to the mark. Perhaps it still doesn't fully get there (for me) because it doesn't include the words consistently or regularly. Maybe in my brain it should also include - then what? But perhaps that is another word. What's a word for what you do after you have made those contacts? Working your network... Communication? Relationship-building?

You see, I think if we have regularly or consistently continued to "work our network" or kept up with people, then folks are top of mind when opportunities come about.

This week I (almost) simultaneously got a reach-out from a former colleague to catch-up and a message from a friend who has been looking for a job for a bit. The former colleague had a potential advisory/consulting opportunity for me... and my job-seeking friend was reminding me she was still out there looking.

The timing of this caused me to look and see if the colleague's company had any job openings that might work for the job-seeker, and they did. Bingo! Now, I'm not saying that means this will be a perfect match and she will get hired, but we wouldn't know if I hadn't looked.

Perhaps there is some serendipity involved here, but my point is that keeping in touch with former colleagues is a great idea - and not just when you need something. The more we stay top-of-mind, the more potential we have to help others and ourselves.

Keep building those relationships by the random reach-out, by commenting on their posts, sharing their content... and always keep an open mind about how we can help each other! Work that network. 

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** Our editor Avri makes amazing

In this episode, we're diving deep into the heart of community creation with the dynamic duo Liz Lathan and Nicole Osibodu, founders of The Community Factory. This episode is a vibrant exploration of how to foster genuine connections and build a thriving community within the event space.

Learn about...

Our guests...

• Liz Lathan and Nicole Osibodu are not just community builders; they are community innovators. With a vision for more authentic, participant-driven events, they've revolutionized the way we think about engagement, connection, and the power of collective wisdom in the business world. As founders of The Community Factory and Club Ichi, they've crafted a space where professionals can break free from the 'rubber chicken' circuit and dive into experiences that are both enriching and empowering.

Tune in for an episode that's not only packed with actionable insights, but also brimming with the passion and energy that only Liz and Nicole can bring. Whether you're an event professional, a marketer, or simply someone who values the strength of community, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Making a Marketer is brought to you by Powers of Marketing - providing exceptional podcast experiences & online and in-person events. Check out episode 148, and if our show moves you, share it and let us know your thoughts!

Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

** Our editor Avri makes amazing

We dive into the dynamic world of brand ambassador programs on this show. As a personal branding expert and keynote speaker, our guest shares his wealth of knowledge on creating authentic, effective partnerships between brands and their ambassadors.

Phil is not just a strategist but also an innovator, globetrotter, and soon-to-be author of "AI for Small Business," set to demystify AI for entrepreneurs everywhere. With his non-conventional approach, he has advised hundreds of brands from over 30 countries, proving that he knows a thing or two about making a mark in the digital marketing realm.

Learn about...

- Strategies for Identifying and Vetting Brand Ambassadors: Phil underscores the importance of authenticity and connection, advising brands to consider their most passionate customers as potential ambassadors.

Our guest...

• Phil Pallen is a personal branding expert and keynote speaker. His non-conventional approach to digital marketing and talent for social media has built him a global audience.
  

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Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 147! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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Troy Sandidge is a past guest and friend who everyone benefits from listening to, y'all! We hadn't had him on in a few years (we talked Marketing Strategy in episode 65 and a mix of stuff on episode 81), so it was time to catch up and see how he has been turning online relationships into amazing offline opportunities.

In this enlightening episode, we dive into the world of digital evolution. Episode 146 is a treasure trove of wisdom and wit as Troy returns to share his journey from a "baby marketer" to a growth strategist with an impressive $175 million in client revenue under his belt.

Learn about...

- The Evolution of a Marketer: Troy discusses his transition from social media marketing to growth marketing and revenue operations, emphasizing the importance of adapting and evolving in the ever-changing marketing landscape.

- Building Online Relationships: Discover his insights on turning online connections into meaningful, real-life interactions, and the significance of nurturing these relationships over time.

- The Power of Podcasting: Troy shares his experiences with his solo show "iDigress" and his new venture "Unfiltered Growth," offering listeners a peek into the future of podcasting and the potential it holds for content creators and marketers alike.

Our guest...

• Troy Sandidge is a growth strategist who builds sustainable, scalable, and profitable strategies, systems, and solutions, generating $175 million in client revenue and launching over 35 brands worldwide.
  

Grab Troy's book: Strategize Up!

We recorded this one live if you'd like to watch, HERE.

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 146! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing

Goldie Chan is an amazing content creator who we have wanted to have on the show for years! We are so lucky we were able to fit into her busy schedule with this helpful episode around personal branding -- on LinkedIn, in particular.

Learn about...

• The importance of personal branding on LinkedIn: Goldie emphasizes the significance of personal branding on LinkedIn and suggests using soft words and hard words to reflect one's personal brand effectively on their profile. She encourages individuals to figure out their keywords and incorporate them into their title and the first paragraph blurb of their LinkedIn profile.

Our guest...

• Goldie Chan is a keynote speaker, author, advisor and cancer survivor. She's known as the "Oprah of LinkedIn" by Huffington Post and “Breakout Star of 2024” by LA Weekly and her creative video channel won LinkedIn Top Voice. Goldie founded Warm Robots, an award-winning social media strategy and creative agency based in Los Angeles with global clients like Adobe and Neighbor.
  

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 145! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing

Bonus Episode Here!

And... This one hurts for one of our hosts. Having to produce episodes where we talked so much about football... when your team has lost (with seconds left in overtime)... is a little painful!

It's a bonus episode where Jen and Megan not only talk about the BIG game (revisit of this 4 years ago), but we also compared the social media accounts of the 49ers and the Chiefs! Taylor's boyfriend has influenced those Chiefs numbers a smidge...

Both teams have great social media presence! We will both fight another day.

Rita Oak is the artist we mentioned who posts her drawings - check out her Twitter. 

If you'd like to SEE the fun, HERE is the video! (there were props and screen shares :)

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 144! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing

There’s marketing and there are business relationships, but are you including relationship marketing as an actual strategy in your business? On this episode we’re joined by past guest and friend of the show, Relationship Marketing Strategist & business owner, Jessika Phillips.

Also learn about...

Measuring ROI in Relationship Marketing: We discuss the challenges of measuring return on investment (ROI) in relationship marketing. Jessika suggests tracking metrics like client retention, repeat business, and customer referrals to gauge the effectiveness of our relationship-building efforts.

Prioritizing the Right Clients: Jessika shares her experience of prioritizing clients who align with her company's values and emphasises we should focus on serving the right audience. It serves us and them when we turn down clients who may not be the right fit -- and being willing to pivot when necessary.

Our guest...

Jessika Phillips

NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across the United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell. Jessika lives by a personal mission of helping inspire people to love more, give more and be more through authentic relating and proving doing what’s right, not what’s easy, can turn a vision into a profitable agency that produces results.

If you'd like to watch us record this one live, it is HERE. And THIS is Jessika's C.A.R.E. one sheet.

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 143! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

::: This episode is made possible by Powers of Marketing - emPOWERing

**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing

Short-form video is all the rage! On this episode we talk with a Meta Ads expert who is using short videos to teach. 

The enemy of done is perfection and that is one of our biggest takeaways from our chat with John Loomer -- just start. 

Learn about...

- The importance of getting started and not overthinking: John emphasizes the key to creating effective short-form video content is to simply get started without worrying too much about perfection. The goal is to learn and improve with each video, so it's essential to not overthink the process and just start creating.

- Consistency and long-term trust are crucial: Consistency is super important with short-form video content. Focus on your brand's messaging and create content your ideal audience will find interesting. Building long-term trust with your audience should be more important than chasing short-term gains.

- Find the right tools and workflow for you: John uses the editing software ScreenFlow for creating short-form videos. But, every marketer has their own preferred tools, so it's important to use what you're comfortable with to help you achieve your goals. Finding a workflow that works for you and your brand is key.

Our guest...

• Jon Loomer is a Meta ads educator who started jonloomer.com in 2011 and his private community PowerHittersClub.com in 2014. Jon focuses on the most advanced Meta advertising topics, helping his community look good and reach their goals along the way. Jon is an accidental marketer who started his business with hopes of creating the freedom he wanted to spend as much time with his wife and three sons as he could, dedicating countless hours as a baseball coach (now retired!). He’s now taking short-form video and AI head-on as we head into this next crazy phase of marketing.

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 142! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing

Community, customer experience, and content that aids in the development process are all not exclusive to the fintech industry, but our guest on this show has a TON of experience in that space. Marketers and more will benefit from our conversation on this one that's a smorgasbord of goodness! :)

Learn about...

- Community Building: Community should be viewed as more than just a channel or tactic, but as a group of people coming together organically around a brand or culture. Our guest shares his experiences, including when he was working at moov, where community was at the core of the company's DNA. 

- Sales & Marketing Collaboration: The discussion emphasizes the need for sales and marketing teams to work closely together. This collaboration helps bridge the gap between customer needs and company objectives.

- Customer Experience (CX): Marketers can respond to customer needs while also aligning with the company's goals. Defining the customer journey and aligning on goals are essential steps in providing a great customer experience. 

Our guest...

• Bryan McCarty
  

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 141! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

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As we embark on a new year, we can all use some tips on how to manage our time more efficiently! Our guest on this live episode is an expert on productivity. Erik Fisher has had a weekly podcast called "Beyond the To-Do List" for more than a decade. And we are so excited to have him back -- his previous show ("Marketing a Podcast and How to Get Started") was 100 episodes ago, and it's our 4th most downloaded episode EVER!

Learn about...

- The Pomodoro Technique: Erik highlights the Pomodoro Technique as an effective time management strategy. This approach helps maintain focus and productivity throughout the day.

- Remote Work and Flexibility: We discuss the benefits of remote work, such as eliminating commuting time and increasing flexibility. This can lead to increased productivity and work-life balance. 

- Constantly Learning and Experimenting: Eric emphasizes the need to constantly find ways to keep productivity strategies interesting and engaging. He suggests revisiting successful strategies from the past and experimenting with new approaches. By reevaluating and adapting strategies, individuals can find what works best for them and achieve productivity and success in both their work and personal lives.

Our guest...

Erik Fisher 

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Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE

Making a Marketer is here to give our guests a platform and to provide oodles of value to YOU, our listener! Check out episode 140! And share if you enjoy our show. Let us know what you think (again, link above!) https://bit.ly/mamITuneNEW

::: This episode is made possible by Powers of Marketing - emPOWERing

**ALSO: Our editor Avri makes amazing