The answer isn't louder marketing or bigger budgets. It's better storytelling, stronger community, and experiences that connect people to your mission in a meaningful way. That's the case Stephanie Matthews makes in this episode.

Stephanie is the Executive Director of A Tribe for Jazz, a nonprofit redefining what arts education can look like. After more than 20 years as an award-winning photographer and creative director, she moved into nonprofit leadership, where she's using visual storytelling, cross-sector partnerships, and programs like Jazz Lab to connect jazz, STEM, and creativity for the next generation.

In this episode, we get into how her background in visual storytelling changed the way she thinks about marketing a mission, what nonprofits often miss when telling their own story, and how to market something people might not immediately understand. We also talk about what makes one nonprofit's brand memorable while another fades into the background, how to inspire people emotionally without it feeling like a constant ask, and what jazz's principles of improvisation and listening teach us about leadership and marketing. Plus, the one storytelling principle that's held true across documentaries, campaigns, live performances, and nonprofit work, and where a nonprofit with almost no visibility should focus their time over the next year.

Connect with Stephanie Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemmatthews/

Learn more about A Tribe for Jazz: https://www.atribeforjazz.org/

Need help with your marketing? Visit us at https://thecultofrebel.com/

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Events shouldn't be a one-night success story, they should be a springboard for long-term relationships. Lisa Wein, CSEP, founder of LW Events, joins us to break down what most organizations get wrong about that mindset and when post-event strategy actually needs to start.

In this episode, Lisa shares how nonprofits can use events to tell their mission instead of just hosting another fundraiser, what's changed after 20+ years working inside nonprofit events (including a trend that's disappeared and one organizations should be embracing now), and how she intentionally designs the moments a donor should feel before they leave a gala. We also get into the real time investment behind nonprofit events (500 to 1,500 hours to produce), how to think about the ROI of outsourcing versus keeping it in-house, the subtle details that signal professionalism at any event, and where a small nonprofit with a limited budget should invest first.

Connect with Lisa Wein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-wein-csep-0053558/

Learn more about LW Events: https://www.lweventscbus.com/

Need help with your marketing? Visit us at https://thecultofrebel.com/

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Your network really is your net worth, and no one proves it better than LaChandra Baker, founder of LBB Edutainment and self-described "Conduit for Connection."

In this episode, LaChandra joins us to talk about how relationships, not just strategy, drive real business growth. We get into how she landed on the name LBB Edutainment and what it takes to stand out in a crowded market, why she calls herself a "Conduit for Connection" instead of a consultant or coach, and how to actually connect relationship-building to revenue when people write it off as just "nice to have."

We also cover what builds instant credibility (and what quietly damages a personal brand), what authentic leadership looks like beyond the buzzword, and why being a mentor and "community auntie" has helped her business rather than distracted from it. If you have the skills but no visibility, LaChandra shares the first three things to do in the next 90 days to change that.

Connect with LaChandra Baker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachandrabbaker/

Learn more about LBB Edutainment: https://www.lbbedutainment.com/

Need help with your marketing? Visit us at https://thecultofrebel.com/

Subscribe for more conversations on marketing, branding, and business.

Random acts of marketing might keep you busy, but that doesn’t mean they’re moving your organization forward. In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, Yasmine and Izzy break down the difference between marketing activity and an actual marketing strategy. Posting more, sending more emails, and creating more content won’t deliver better results if there’s no clear goal, consistent direction, or plan behind it.

We’re talking about:

🔥 Why “just post more” is not a marketing strategy

🔥 The problem with promoting an event at the last minute

🔥 Why pretty content doesn’t always perform

🔥 How constantly changing direction wastes time and money

🔥 The importance of testing, tracking, and learning from your results

🔥 How clear guidelines help you say no to random marketing requests

🔥 Why someone needs to truly own your organization’s marketing

🔥 How social media, SEO, and your website work together to build trust

If your marketing feels like a collection of disconnected tasks, this episode will help you take a step back, create a real strategy, and stop wasting resources on things that aren’t working.

Want to take a closer look at your own marketing?

Download our complimentary marketing worksheet at myrebelmarketing.com/checklist. Subscribe for more honest marketing conversations, practical strategies, and absolutely no marketing nonsense.

#MarketingStrategy #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #SmallBusinessMarketing #NonprofitMarketing #MarketLikeItsHot

When everyone owns marketing, no one really owns it. In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, Yasmine and Izzy break down what happens when nonprofit marketing becomes everyone’s responsibility. Missed deadlines, mixed messaging, endless committee feedback, and the loudest voice in the room making decisions are usually signs that no one has clear ownership. We’re talking about:

🔥 The difference between contributing to marketing and directing it

🔥 Why marketing committees struggle to make decisions

🔥 What happens when leadership treats marketing like a list of tasks

🔥 How to keep “Steve from finance” from controlling the strategy

🔥 The right and wrong ways to use AI in your marketing

🔥 How clearer roles and processes can prevent marketing chaos

If your nonprofit’s marketing feels scattered, inconsistent, or stuck in an endless approval process, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more honest marketing conversations, practical strategies, and absolutely no marketing nonsense.

#NonprofitMarketing #MarketingStrategy #NonprofitLeadership #DigitalMarketing #MarketLikeItsHot

Experiential marketing is changing the way small businesses attract customers, build relationships, and stand out from the competition.

In this episode of Market Like It's Hot, Yasmine Robles sits down with Asia Smith, founder and CEO of H&H Luxury Events, to explore why memorable customer experiences have become one of the most effective marketing strategies available today.

As the entrepreneur behind Columbus' only GlamBot, luxury photo booth experiences, and the innovative Signature Sketch experience, Asia shares how she's bringing big-city event technology to Columbus while helping businesses create moments people can't stop talking about.

Whether you're planning a networking event, fundraiser, conference, customer appreciation event, or product launch, this conversation is packed with practical marketing ideas that can help you create more engagement and a stronger return on your event investment.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why experiential marketing creates stronger brand awareness than traditional advertising
• How interactive event technology can increase customer engagement
• Ways to capture leads and build your email list during events
• How networking and strategic partnerships helped grow H&H Luxury Events
• Why innovation and market research are essential for staying ahead
• How businesses can create memorable event experiences without an unlimited budget
• The importance of nurturing relationships long before someone becomes a customer

Asia Smith is the founder and CEO of H&H Luxury Events, a Columbus-based company transforming ordinary events into unforgettable experiences. Through luxury photo booths, Ohio's only GlamBot, and the Signature Sketch experience, she's helping businesses and organizations create interactive moments that increase engagement, strengthen brands, and leave lasting impressions.

Connect with Asia

🌐 https://hhluxuryevents.com

📱 Follow @hhluxuryevents on Instagram and social media to see the latest event experiences and innovations.

Want to know if your marketing is actually working?

Download Rebel Marketing's FREE Marketing Checklist and discover the biggest opportunities to improve your website, social media, SEO, email marketing, and more.

👉 https://www.myrebelmarketing.com/checklist

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Market Like It's Hot, leave a review, and share it with another business owner looking for smarter ways to grow their brand.

Keep it spicy. Never settle for boring.

What makes someone actually remember a brand?

In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, Yasmine Robles and Izzy Dadosky sit down with Artina Promotional Products Vice President of Marketing Art Bouzounis to talk about the surprising staying power of promotional products in a world dominated by digital marketing.

From branded tumblers and event giveaways to employee recognition and activation stations, Art shares why tangible marketing still creates stronger emotional connections, deeper brand loyalty, and longer-lasting impressions than many businesses realize.

The conversation dives into:

• Why promotional products are more than “free swag”
• The psychology behind tangible marketing
• How branded merchandise impacts employee culture and retention
• What makes a giveaway memorable instead of forgettable
• Why trust and relationships still drive long-term business growth
• How family businesses survive and evolve across generations
• The future of promotional marketing, AI, and customer experience

Art also shares insights from helping brands create meaningful touchpoints for nearly 35 years through one of Columbus’ long-standing family-owned businesses.

If your organization is investing heavily in digital marketing but overlooking physical brand experiences, this episode will change how you think about marketing strategy.

Learn more about Artina Promotional Products

Explore more episodes and free marketing resources from Rebel Marketing

You can have great marketing. You can have demand. You can even have leads coming in.

But if your backend is a mess… your business will hit a ceiling. Fast.

In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, we sit down with Devin Lee, systems strategist and self-proclaimed “systems magician,” to break down the real reason so many businesses struggle to scale.

Spoiler: it’s not your marketing. It’s what happens after someone says yes.

What We Cover:

• The biggest signs your systems are holding your business back
• Why “scrappy” stops working (and when it’s time to level up)
• How poor systems quietly destroy your client experience
• Where businesses create friction without realizing it
• The easiest systems to implement first (without overwhelm)
• How to automate without sounding like a robot
• Why onboarding is make-or-break for trust and retention
• The real connection between marketing, operations, and growth

Real Talk Moment:

“Growth without systems is just stress with better branding.”

Who This Episode Is For:

• Service-based business owners ready to scale
• Founders stuck at capacity with no room to grow
• Agencies and consultants juggling too many clients
• Anyone whose backend feels… chaotic

Key Takeaway:

Systems are not about being corporate or rigid.

They’re what give you the freedom to grow without everything falling apart.

Resources & Links:

Connect with Devin: https://www.devinlee.com/

Inbox Zero Hero: https://www.devinlee.com/mini-systems#inboxzerohero

If your marketing is working but your business still feels messy… that’s your sign. Grab your free marketing worksheet 👉 myrebelmarketing.com/checklist and figure out what’s actually working vs. what’s quietly breaking your growth.

Join the Conversation:

What’s one process in your business that feels chaotic right now? Tell us on LinkedIn, we want the real answers.

Final Reminder:

Stay strategic. Stay efficient. And stop trying to scale chaos.

You can have a strong brand. You can have great marketing. You can even have people lined up to work with you. But if your customer experience falls flat… none of it sticks.

In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, we sit down with LaZendra Danforth, owner of Konfetti Carts and Studio D Meetings & Events, to break down what actually separates businesses people forget… from the ones they rave about.

And here’s the kicker: most businesses think they’re doing it right. They’re not.

• Why “being nice” is NOT customer service
• The small mistakes that quietly kill client trust
• How poor communication loses you business (fast)
• The difference between a good experience and an unforgettable one
• How to turn difficult clients into loyal advocates
• Why retention is more valuable than constant lead chasing
• How customer experience becomes your strongest marketing channel
• Simple ways to improve your client experience this week

Your clients won’t remember every detail… but they will remember how you made them feel.

• Service-based business owners
• Agencies and consultants juggling client expectations
• Event planners, creatives, and hospitality pros
• Anyone tired of chasing new clients instead of keeping great ones

Marketing gets people in the door. Customer experience is what keeps them coming back and telling everyone else.

Want to create an experience people actually remember?

Check out Konfetti Carts:

www.konfetticarts.com

@konfetticarts

(Luxury ice cream experiences for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations that don’t feel… basic.)

If your marketing is working but your clients aren’t sticking… you don’t need more leads. You need a better experience.

Grab your free marketing worksheet 👉 myrebelmarketing.com/checklist

What’s one experience that made you never go back to a business? Or one that made you rave about it? Tell us. We’re watching!

Stay strategic. Stay memorable. And stop losing clients after you worked so hard to get them.

Burnout isn’t just about working too much… it’s about how we’re expected to work.

In this episode of Market Like It’s Hot, we sit down with Ashley Burton-Mims, Founder and CEO of Emerald & Rose Consulting, to unpack what burnout actually looks like for founders, leaders, and mission-driven teams.

With nearly 20 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience and a unique lens as a postpartum doula, Ashley breaks down why burnout isn’t a personal failure… it’s a systemic issue.

We get into:

• Why hustle culture is still harming founders and teams
• The real reason mission-driven leaders burn out faster
• How visibility and marketing expectations contribute to exhaustion
• Practical ways to set boundaries without hurting growth
• What sustainable leadership actually looks like in real life
• How to build a business that supports your life… not replaces it

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still feel depleted, this conversation will shift how you think about success, productivity, and leadership.

Key Takeaway:

You don’t need to work harder. You need systems, boundaries, and support that actually match your capacity.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Founders and business owners feeling burned out
• Nonprofit and mission-driven leaders
• Marketing and operations leaders juggling too much
• Anyone trying to grow without sacrificing their well-being

Resources & Links:

Connect with Ashley: https://linktr.ee/emeraldandrosellc

Learn more: https://www.emeraldandrose.com/

If this episode made you rethink how you’re showing up in your business, don’t stop there.

Grab your free marketing worksheet at 👉 myrebelmarketing.com/checklist and figure out what’s working, what’s not, and what to fix next.

Let’s Keep It Real:

Connect with us on LinkedIn and tell us… What’s the worst piece of marketing advice you’ve ever followed?

Final Reminder:

Stay strategic. Stay a little spicy. And don’t settle for burnout disguised as success.