The restaurant’s staff was “in the weeds” a lot more than a typical Saturday night and it was starting to overtake the kitchen. A full house of four and six-top tables loaded with hungry guests was starting to get antsy, and the manager knew that her reputation was on the line every time they got slammed like that. But it’s OK. She knew it was coming. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll reveal the most direct cause of customer loyalty. Then, we’ll look at improving the employee experience and how it flows into creating customer loyalty.

Imagine sitting in a waiting room, watching your car’s oil change when a marble suddenly blocks the funnel, causing oil to spill everywhere. As absurd as this scenario seems, it mirrors a common marketing blunder—focusing on mid-and top-funnel activities while neglecting the clogged bottom of the funnel. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore real-world examples of bottom-funnel issues across various sales models and provide insights on how to audit, communicate, and resolve these costly problems.

After Google’s “Helpful Content Core Update” in March 2024 and the recent notification in May that they will be adding AI Overviews to the top of organic search results, you might rightfully be wondering what Google will do next to challenge your ability to drive organic search leads. Well, the wait is over. On July 31, 2024, Google will discontinue the call history and chat features in all Google Business Profiles (GBPs).

We suspect one of the most intimidating challenges marketers face is the prospect of a rebranding effort. We’ve been contacted many times to provide expertise on the topic. This often comes from prospective clients whose business may be experiencing a sluggish period where they suspect their “brand” is the problem. The phone call to the agency goes something like, “I think we need to rebrand.” Then we’ll say something like, “Hmm, tell us more about why you think that,” then the conversation often veers into things like logos, TV commercials, slow sales, and “Brand X who is stealing our share because their branding is way better.”

Change is a constant in public relations and social media, but the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just another change – it’s a revolution. Generative AI goes beyond automating tasks. It has become a creative collaborator for many communication and public relations professionals, sparking fresh ideas for content creation, building media lists and helping overcome hurdles like writer’s block.

Over a decade ago, I attended a lunch and learn with RocketFuel to understand programmatic digital advertising. Promising precise ad placement in milliseconds, RocketFuel and MediaMath introduced AI-driven real-time bidding, revolutionizing digital ad buying. Today, there are countless DSPs offering similar capabilities. The question now is not whether to buy media programmatically, but which DSP is right for your needs.

In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore demand-side platforms, their selection process, and the best providers for your business.

For businesses heavily reliant on leads through their Google Business Profile (GBP) and local SEO, the temptation to boost rankings in the local pack through manipulative tactics is common. However, aiming to gain a competitive edge over rivals in ways that violate Google’s guidelines can end in catastrophe for many companies that try to game the system. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll give an overview of Google Business Profile ranking factors for 2024 and discuss some dos and don’ts for keeping your GBP healthy and thriving.

Few sporting events rival the Kentucky Derby’s blend of tradition, historical significance and sheer spectacle. For Dan Dry, PriceWeber’s Director of Content Creation and a seasoned photographer with 45 years of experience photographing “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” the Derby is more than just a horse race – it’s a canvas where stories are woven, emotions are captured and moments are frozen in time.

Many advantages come from the modern marketing landscape due to the technologies and data that marketers possess. Unfortunately, truly fair lenders can potentially put themselves at serious risk by unintentionally excluding certain populations from their marketing offers as a result of targeting what they view as desirable audiences. In this installment of Compound Interest, we will examine how financial institutions can steer clear of redlining risks from purely a marketing perspective.

The relationship between social media and organic search engine optimization (SEO) has become increasingly intertwined. Social media platforms serve as more than just channels for connecting with friends or sharing cat videos – they have evolved into powerful tools for increasing visibility while driving referral traffic to your website. Couple this with Google serving up social media profiles in search results, and you have a match made in brand awareness heaven. In this edition of Plain Talk, we will explore how savvy use of social media can help increase your SEO rankings.