Making the Brand | Marketing with a Pop Culture Twist

No matter your relationship status, you need to hear this episode with Michael Kaye of the online dating app, OkCupid!

Michael is the Head of Global Communications and is sharing the brilliant ways they use data and insights to engage their app users.

In this episode, we cover:

Psst... Michael is also sharing a special gift if you're out there looking for love! This episode will fascinate you 💗

Follow Michael on Twitter at @MichaelKayePR

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Access the show notes here!

Welcome to my new segment, MTB News! These short and informative episodes are the perfect way to stay sharp on industry innovations and trending pop culture news.

Today's topics 🔥

This segment features perspectives from other marketers who participate in my weekly Twitter chat called #PopChat. To get in on the conversation, join #PopChat on Twitter every Friday at 1pm ET by following @brianne2k.

For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

We've come a long way from illegally downloading music on Napster and Limewire in the Y2K era. These days, we're willing to spend big bucks on everyone's favorite new (but old!) music format: vinyl records. 43.46 MILLION vinyl albums were sold in 2022! 

In this episode, I chat with Nick Alt, the CEO and founder of VNYL — a vinyl record membership club that sends uniquely curated music just for you!

Why have we seen a huge resurgence in this music pastime? Nick says: "Vinyl is a tangible format... it's nostalgic, it's much more appealing, deserving of attention than just purely listening to music online."

I have to agree that listening to a vinyl record on a turntable is an easy way to elevate your experience as a music fan. And with VNYL, you can unbox something special every month.

Hear Nick share his inspiration for starting VNYL (spoiler: it started thanks to his first job working in a record shop!), why we're so obsessed with nostalgia, and the power of a subscription model to nurture a loyal audience for your business. We also discuss how music discovery has changed over the years, and how influencers are inspiring all of us to spin records. 

Check out VNYL.org to create your unique music profile! It syncs with your Spotify account so you can discover vinyl records that fit your vibe. Use this link to get 50% off your first month of 3 records!

P.S. passionate about music? VNYL is hiring! Hear more about the opportunities around the 43:00 minute mark 👀

For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

Access the show notes here!

We're officially kicking off season 7 of Making the Brand with a new series: MTB News!

While we love to get nostalgic on this podcast, this new series will keep you up-to-date on the latest marketing and pop culture news for the week. These short and informative episodes are the perfect way to stay sharp on industry innovations and even hot celebrity goss.

You can expect MTB News segments mixed in with our regularly scheduled programming. We've got plenty of new episodes planned! 

Today's topics 🔥

This segment features perspectives from other marketers who participate in my weekly Twitter chat called #PopChat. To get in on the conversation, join #PopChat on Twitter every Friday at 1pm ET by following @brianne2k. 

For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

Every fandom has their community where they go to connect with other fans to talk about their favorite thing. There's usually someone who has to lead the charge, be a source of information, and create excitement within the fandom. And as a Backstreet Boys fan, I’m excited to chat with Karah-Leigh Hancock, who is the owner of BSB Fangirls and also the author of an upcoming book celebrating BSB’s 30-year legacy. 

Pre-order your copy here! The book drops on April 11th. 

Access the show notes here.

 For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

I'm always trying to understand Taylor Swift's genius writing brain. In this episode, we review the writing categories she uses to group her lyrics and help make the writing process a bit more imaginative. And the best part? We can take inspiration from her framework and apply it to our own content creation. I explain how!

Episode resources:

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Liz Wilcox is a diehard *NSYNC fangirl AND email marketing expert. She dropped some actionable takeaways to help you turn your email subscribers into friends who will gladly become your customers! Hear her share the biggest advantage small businesses have, as well as the one simple section you can add to your emails RIGHT NOW to boost conversions. I found myself taking notes throughout this episode. For more of Liz's wisdom, be sure to follow her, subscribe to her email list, and even consider joining her incredible email marketing membership. She is truly the Fresh Princess of Email!  

Access the show notes here

Follow Liz: @thelizwilcox on Instagram 

Check out her website! https://lizwilcox.com/

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When Nicole Tabak saw Taylor Swift trending ahead of her latest album release, she decided to jump in on behalf of her client... Harvard Online. Her thread comparing Taylor Swift albums as Harvard courses went viral. Hear Nicole tell the story and share why brands are Swifties too.

Access the show notes

Subscribe to Nicole's social media and mental health newsletter, Social Media Detox. 

Follow Nicole on Twitter at @NicoleTabak 

For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter

In the fall of 2021, my paths crossed with Leigh Dorough — an entertainment executive turned entrepreneur, and proud wife of Howie Dorough from my beloved Backstreet Boys! Leigh told me she was working on launching a new brand that was close to her heart — ESLLA. And it's now come to life! I had to invite her on the show to tell us about it!

ESLLA stands for Ethically Sourced Luxury Leather Alternatives and offers gorgeous vegan handbags you can truly feel good about. I got the chance to chat with Leigh and her amazing co-founder and friend, Charlotte Wienckoski, about their journey introducing ESLLA to the world.

I'm so inspired by how Leigh and Charlotte are innovating and making a difference with ESLLA. They're bridging the gap between luxury and sustainability, without sacrificing beauty or style.

Listen to this episode to hear them reveal the surprising material they use to make ESLLA products, as well as the story behind the brand and their incredible partnership. And in true Making the Brand fashion, expect some fangirling, too!

Learn more about ESLLA on their website: https://eslla.com/

Follow @ESLLA on Instagram

Access the show notes here

For marketing and pop culture lessons sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter here! 💌 https://briannefleming.com/newsletter