Simpli.fi

Douglas Spencer, President and Chief Message Builder at Spencer Brenneman, LLC

Ann Kraus and Douglas Spencer discuss the importance of strategic messaging in organizations, including non-profits. Douglas introduces the concept of a "chief message builder" that can apply to any organization. He explains the ABC methodology (Ask, Build, Connect) for crafting effective messages. They emphasize the need to periodically update messages and consider the role of digital platforms. Douglas notes that organizations must have an internal desire for change to reframe their messages successfully. The conversation highlights the importance of a compelling mission in both non-profit and for-profit organizations.

DJ Virtue, Northeast Region Manager, Simpli.fi

In this interview with one of Simpli.fi’s very own, DJ Virtue explains the concept of native programmatic advertising, which involves creating ads that seamlessly blend with the look and feel of a publisher's site. He discusses the advantages of native ads over traditional formats and highlights how the acquisition of Bidtellect brought additional contextual targeting capabilities to Simpli.fi. DJ emphasizes the effectiveness of native programmatic ads in delivering better consumer experiences and achieving improved results to advertisers. He provides valuable advice for brands looking to leverage this tactic, emphasizing the importance of aligning creative assets with the landing page to enhance user engagement.

Ross McDaniel, Founder of Fencepost

Ross McDaniel, a seasoned expert in the home services industry, talks about the highly effective Local Growth Formula. Ross explains how this formula, consisting of four key ingredients, can be applied not only to the home services industry but also to any local business and national brands with a local presence. The formula emphasizes the importance of visibility, competency, social proof, and referrals in driving local business growth. Ross highlights the significance of personal touch, consumer behavior, and lead quality in the formula's implementation. He shares valuable insights on how agencies can add value by improving business operations and offering measurable results.

Natalie Guzman, CEO and Co-Founder of Nadora.org

Natalie Guzman shares her inspiring story of building a successful business while working from home with two young children. She discusses how becoming a virtual assistant allowed her to have flexibility, choose her clients, and create her own schedule. Natalie emphasizes the importance of routines and establishing clear communication channels both within her business and with her family. She offers insights into training virtual assistants effectively through detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs), combined with video and audio recordings to cater to different learning styles. Natalie also highlights the capabilities of her virtual assistant agency in supporting marketing agencies worldwide and addresses common concerns and misconceptions about working with virtual assistants.

Gordon Firemark, CEO of Firemark Enterprises

In this Simpli.fi TV interview, “The Podcast Attorney™” Gordon Firemark discusses the intersection of media law and advertising. Firemark explains that media and entertainment law are closely tied to advertising and intellectual property, including deals, contracts, compliance with regulations, and privacy concerns. McBee highlights the relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) in advertising and its legal implications. Firemark emphasizes the need to consider intellectual property issues when using AI-generated content, as it may incorporate copyrighted material without proper consent. He also raises concerns about the ownership of AI-generated work and the potential lack of recourse for agencies if their creations are used without permission. Firemark predicts a surge in legal battles surrounding AI, including questions about the extent of AI's protection under copyright law, biases in AI technology, labor disputes, and consumer protection concerns. 

Patrick Smith, Founder and Creative Director, C2 Creative Studio

Ann Kraus and Patrick Smith discuss the significance of out-of-the-box thinking and branding strategies. Patrick emphasizes the importance of breaking the rules and shares the example of a water brand that disrupted the industry. They also explore why some organizations focus on specific products rather than the overall brand, and the benefits of investing in branding for smaller B2B businesses. Patrick suggests allocating around 5% of the budget for B2B brands and up to 10% for B2C brands. The conversation highlights the value of innovative approaches, strong brand image, and the long-term benefits of branding.

Brittney Garcia-Dumas, owner of BGD Digital Marketing

Brittney Garcia-Dumas discusses the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in marketing campaigns. She emphasizes that reflecting the diverse demographics of the consumer base is essential for long-lasting brands. Her company prioritizes DEI strategies by listening to clients and aligning campaigns with their values. Brittney shares a successful DEI campaign example for a Black-owned restaurant in Memphis. She challenges the assumption that diversity is unnecessary based on target markets, emphasizing the statistical improbability of a homogeneous consumer base.

Kyle Duford, President and Executive Director of Creative at The Brand Leader

In this episode, Kyle Duford emphasizes the importance of the creative portion of digital campaigns and how it conveys the message of a brand. He shares that creative is the message itself and the visual expression of it, whether it’s in words, campaigns, or sales messages. Kyle also provides best practices for creatives and highlights the importance of investing in experienced professionals rather than relying on cheap or inexperienced services. Kyle discourages using platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or AI to create campaigns, but does share some clever ways that his agency has leveraged artificial intelligence to be more productive.

Josh Richardson, Owner/Partner at Influence Digital Agency

In this interview with Josh Richardson, a marketing veteran with over 25 years of expertise, Josh emphasizes the importance of building campaigns specific to each client’s needs rather than creating generic campaigns. He gives an example of a recent campaign he designed for the Camping Carolinas Association (CARVC), in which he utilized lookback technology, addressable geo-fencing and keyword search retargeting. Josh also discusses the benefits of combining programmatic and search engine marketing to increase direct traffic and brand searches. The interview provides insights on the importance of tailored marketing campaigns and the value of a holistic approach to digital marketing.

Shannon Kinney, Founder of Dream Local Digital

In this conversation, David McBee of Simpli.fi TV interviews Shannon Kinney, the founder of Dream Local Digital, about the changes and trends in digital marketing, particularly in social media. Kinney shares that they have evolved from providing social media services to coaching clients on how to be part of the process and improve their engagement rates. They have also seen a growth in demand for a full-service solution, including lead generation and SEO. Kinney’s advice for agency leaders is to meet their clients where they are and provide coaching to help them achieve their goals while also accounting for the cost of quality customer service. Dream Local Digital has helped over 65,000 small and medium-sized businesses and media companies through their services.