Drew Hendricks is the President of Barrels Ahead, a marketing agency focused on accelerating organic growth for the wine and craft industry. Drew began his journey in the wine industry after graduating with a degree in Philosophy and Ancient Greek. He later earned his MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance and became a web developer for independent wine stores before expanding his outreach to other companies.

Drew is also the President and Founder of Nimbletoad, Inc., a digital marketing agency specializing in web design, SEO, and PPC.

How can you make your winery stand out? Are there online strategies your company is missing out on that could be building your client list? And most importantly: what’s the best way to taste wine?

You may think that some visually-pleasing branding and packaging is enough to gain traction, but there’s more that needs to be done here to tell your company’s unique story. With almost two decades of experience in online marketing strategies under his belt, Drew Hendricks is here to spill his tips and share advice on the wine and craft industry. So no need to let choosing which social media platforms to pursue consume you: Drew is here to help.

On this episode of Pitcher This!, host Darren Fox talks with Drew Hendricks, President of Barrels Ahead, about his journey from philosophy and Ancient Greek to marketing wineries. They discuss his approach to online marketing, how to effectively tell your company’s story, and the importance of timing when it comes to your content strategy. Plus, Drew shares some of his favorite beverages. You won’t want to miss this fascinating episode of Pitcher This!

Marty McDonald is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bad Rhino, an award-winning digital marketing agency based in Philadelphia, PA. He has over 18 years of experience building and recruiting online marketing businesses. A craft beer connoisseur, Marty is the author of the book, Great Beer is Not Enough, and is also the host of the Taps and Tees podcast.

Do you want your business to have a successful social media presence? Are you struggling to gain traction and a following? Ever wonder what goes into digital marketing? 

Marty McDonald, the CEO and Co-Founder of the award-winning marketing firm Bad Rhino, has over 18 years of expertise in social media marketing, sales, and e-commerce—and he knows what you’re going through. Figuring out social media on your own can be confusing, challenging, and even disarming sometimes. But, with the right team and strategies in place, you can develop your online presence, grow your following, and increase your ROI. Take his word for it.

Join Darren Fox on this episode of Pitcher This! as he talks to CEO and Co-Founder of Bad Rhino, Marty McDonald. Together, they discuss how Marty got started in the digital marketing industry, his tips and tricks for maintaining a following on social media, and his most important tactics for helping other companies increase ROI through their websites. Plus, Darren and Marty chat about their favorite craft beers and places to grab a drink.

Jessica Merritt is an Associate Creative Director and Beer Blogger in the Chicago area known best as Beer Babe Jess. Jessica crafts copy and creative branding for ad agencies and companies by day, and scours the nation for the best craft beers by night. Jessica has over 12 years of experience as a creative leader and writer and knows that an emotional connection is a must for authentic and successful branding. She has flexed her creative strengths for companies like ULTA Beauty, Hyatt Hotels, and Allergan, using her marketing prowess to showcase various breweries to the masses as the Beer Babe.

How much can social media really affect your business? What can brands do to boost sales and spread their message? Most importantly, what’s the difference between barrel-aged and sour beers? 

Jessica, better known online as Beer Babe Jess, runs a successful Instagram page that showcases beers of all kinds and behind-the-scenes glimpses at different breweries and brands. For Jessica, it’s all about making connections—and there’s no better way to connect than with a cold beer in hand. As the Chicago Beer Babe, she gives a taste of how beer brings people together, how brands create personal connections online, and her experience in the beer industry.

Join Darren Fox on this episode of Pitcher This, where he talks with Associate Creative Director and Beer Blogger Jessica Merritt about the conversations seldom had about beer and the brewing industry. They also chat about her favorite parts of being a social media influencer, growing an online presence, and some of Jessica’s most memorable stories from her time in the beer industry. You won’t want to miss this exciting and thirst-quenching episode of Pitcher This!

Darren Fox, Founder and President, and Bill Skowronski, Director of Sales and Marketing, make up part of the team at Idea Marketing Group, a Chicago-based agency dedicated to producing high-quality websites and marketing strategies for businesses. Founded by Darren in 2009, Idea Marketing Group strives to create meaningful relationships with their clients and offers a multitude of strategies companies can take to grow their business and audience. 

Darren has over twenty years of experience in web design and marketing, is a successful keynote speaker, and likes the outdoors and craft beer. Bill shares that love of craft beer and has over a decade of experience creating and executing marketing plans.

How much can the design and look of a website impact your customer base? What are the basics to designing a concise and successful website? Should you be tracking user experience—and what tools do you use to do that? 

Whether you have answers to those questions, your business could be missing out on tons of revenue because of simple mistakes made with the design and accessibility of your website. So, how do you leverage your website for a higher impact? Darren Fox and Bill Skowronski have the answers for you in their Idea Insights 360 program. 

On this episode of Pitcher This, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Darren Fox and Bill Skowronski of Idea Marketing Group about what makes a great website. Together, they share their tips for optimizing navigation, tracking heat maps, and improving your user experience. Ready to learn about using Google Analytics, heat mapping, and other software to gain insight into your customer’s behavior? All this and more on this informative episode of Pitcher This, with Darren Fox and Bill Skowronski!

Darren Fox, Founder and President, and Bill Skowronski, Director of Sales and Marketing, make up part of the team at Idea Marketing Group, a Chicago-based agency dedicated to producing high-quality websites and marketing strategies for businesses. Founded by Darren in 2009, Idea Marketing Group strives to create meaningful relationships with their clients and offers a multitude of strategies companies can take to grow their business and audience. 

Darren has over twenty years of experience in web design and marketing, is a successful keynote speaker, and likes the outdoors and craft beer. Bill shares that love of craft beer and has over a decade of experience creating and executing marketing plans.

Do you know what goes into making a great website for your company? Are there really things you can do to make your website stand out? Done asking yourself questions and ready to learn some tips and tricks from experts in the field? 

Darren Fox and Bill Skowronski from Idea Marketing Group are here to share their knowledge on what audiences look for in a successful website, how important a website is for your business, the mistakes a company can make when launching a website, and much more. 

On this episode of Pitcher This, Darren Fox, Principal and Founder of Idea Marketing Group, and Bill Skowronski, Director of Sales and Marketing, share their strategies for website development, crafting a meaningful call to action, and connecting with an audience. You’ll even find out about some unique breweries in the Chicago area. You don’t want to miss this exciting and informative episode!