The One Thing Solopreneurs Get Wrong About Branding with Phillip Marzouk

“Marketing hasn’t fundamentally changed in 150 years. The tools have — but the core principles? Still the same.”

That’s Phillip Marzouk, branding strategist and marketing nerd (his words), explaining how modern business owners often get tripped up by tactics while missing the big-picture strategy. With a background spanning website development, airline marketing campaigns (hello, Hobbiton!), and helping mom-and-pop shops thrive, Phillip breaks down how solopreneurs can stop chasing every shiny tool and start focusing on what actually works.

Phillip has over 13 years of marketing experience, starting out in film before transitioning to the digital world. He’s led campaigns for big names like Qantas and Warner Bros, but what really lights him up is helping small businesses and solopreneurs cut through the noise and find what works for them — not just what’s trending.

We Also Talked About:

• The marketing truths that haven’t changed since Rolex used influencer marketing… in the 1920s
• What PPC (pay-per-click) and SEO really mean, and when you should use them
• Phillip’s journey from webmaster to high-level strategist (and why he left the Cannes Film Festival experience behind)
• How big-budget brands still rely on scrappy marketing strategies — and what solopreneurs can learn from that
• The critical moment when Phillip realized he preferred helping struggling small businesses over running blockbuster campaigns
• Why AI can’t replace your expertise — and how to use tools like ChatGPT without sounding like a robot
• The exact process he uses to turn bland AI output into high-performing marketing content
• When to stop doing it all yourself and finally hire help (hint: it's when you're spending more time fixing than growing)
• Why your business is no longer “your baby” once you start hiring — and why that’s a good thing

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Phillip’s website: https://digitalonbrand.com
• Sign up for Phillip’s newsletter and marketing tips via the website above

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