The Long Game

Any marketing claim you make that doesn’t have some form of evidence is a weak statement. Unsupported claims just lead to undifferentiated content, a lack of trust, and low conversions. But proof on your web pages and in your content does the opposite. It builds credibility and gives people a reason to believe in your brand. One piece of content that offers social proof, acts as conversion copy, and works in a content strategy: case studies. In this episode, Andy Crestodina, the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Orbit Media Studios, explains how proof is the key to every type of marketing, whether you’re playing the long game of account-based marketing (ABM) or building your email list.Show TopicsUse case studies to build trustData points can support sales messagesReduce the investment in the ROICreate sales enablement contentDon’t publish content without an expert contributorHave prominence, promise, proofShow Links Check out Orbit MediaFollow Andy Crestodina on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Watch a video clip and find key takeaways hereContent creation is a tricky business. You have to know what your clients want, when to say yes to new projects, and how to find the writers you need. For Brad Smith, creating and producing top of the line content is his bread and butter. Brad is the CEO of Wordable, co-founder of uSERP, and founder and CEO of Codeless, all of which are aimed at producing, ranking, and publishing SERP-topping content. During this episode of The Long Game, Brad shared with us his insight on determining content quality, how to work with clients, and what you need to scale content writing production.Show TopicsTrain your writers on consistent practicesFind out what content quality meansKnow when your client needs an in-house writerFigure out the client’s styleDisqualify people as soon as possibleLook at quality versus cost of applicantsDon’t work with people who aren’t a good fitWait to interview writersEmbrace a ‘good enough’ mentalityShow Links Check out WordableCheck out uSERPCheck out CodelessPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

A sustainable freelance career requires you to balance stability with growth. Think of that balance like a barbell. Half of your time should be spent on your retainer clients that bring you a guaranteed income. The other half should be spent on riskier projects where you charge higher initial rates or negotiate a stake in its performance. The steady work is how you pay the rent, but the risks are how you get to the next level. That balance doesn’t just apply to how you should divide your clients, but how you break up your time between billable and non-billable hours, and current work and future work. Freelance Like a Pro founder and freelance copywriter Brian Speronello has spent a decade managing that balance. In this episode, he gives us his tips and hard-won lessons.Show TopicsUse a barbell strategy for your projectsFreelancers have to know how long things takeSet retainers for a maximum amount of hoursAsk for the last month upfrontExchange your time and focus for referralsYou need some non-billable hoursShow Links Check out Freelance Like a ProFollow Brian Speronello on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

This episode is part of our Kitchen Side series, where we pull back the curtain and share the behind the scenes conversations we have at our agency.We included Tommy Walker in this discussion to help us outline the difference between an audience, a community, and a customer. Together, we discuss ways to define your audience, nurture relationships, and leverage community in order to build your audience.Show TopicsKnow the difference between a buyer and a customerDistinguish the levels of your audienceStart with a core group of peopleNurture individual relationshipsGauge audience interestRefine your messageGround your content in dataBuild trustLeverage community to build your audienceTommy runs his own content marketing consultancy, The Content Studio. Follow Tommy Walker on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

How can brands build trust with an increasingly cynical audience? Margot Bloomstein believes you can win over any audience by creating consistent, high-quality content. But in order to cut through the noise, you need to build a clear content strategy and be vulnerable. As the principal of Appropriate, Inc., a Boston-based brand and content strategy consultancy, a speaker, and an author, Margot has experience partnering with a range of organizations to deliver quality messaging, including Sallie Mae, Lovehoney, Scholastic, Fidelity, Harvard University, and the American Montessori Society.She talked to us about the nuances of building trust with increasingly distrustful audiences, prototyping in public, and focusing on consistency.Show TopicsMake good on content strategy through content marketingCreate message architecture from a content hierarchyUse the same wording as your clientsNurture confidence in your audienceAdvocate for solving problems through contentRespond to cynicism by building trustCut through the noiseGuide better decision-makingPrototype in publicFocus on consistencyCheck out Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust GapFollow Margot Bloomstein on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In loving memory of Onita Simmonds. How do a grandmother’s life lessons apply to business? Ross Simmonds translates the life lessons he learned as a kid into core values that help his business and team members grow. As the Founder and CEO of the content marketing agency Foundation, Ross focuses on developing others, staying curious, and driving results for his clients. He talked to us about why it’s important to embrace a mindset of abundance, hire based on values, and stay true to yourself in order to succeed in both life and business.Show TopicsPractice, practice, practiceFocus on what you can controlEmbrace a mindset of abundanceBe okay with asking for helpHire based on valuesHelp others unlock their full potentialKnow when to say noCreate the content you want to consumeStay true to who you areRemember to market your contentWatch a video clip from this episode on our YouTube channel.Check out DREAM: The Distribution PlaybookFollow Ross Simmonds on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)](https://beomniscient.com/blog/dan-shure-evolving-seo/)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Omniscient DigitalListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Growth and productivity should not come at the expense of health and happiness. Rand Fishkin learned that the hard way with his first startup, Moz. When it came time to start SparkToro, he knew that he wanted to build a business differently. SparkToro is an audience research software tool that lets you discover the behaviors, demographics, and sources of influence for any online group.Startup hustle culture tries to teach us that sleep deprivation and good decisions can go hand in hand, but they can’t. There are plenty of studies that bust that myth. When you are in your best head space and health space, you can do your best work. In this episode, Rand discusses how he’s finding ways to grow a business without creating a stressful and unhealthy culture.Show TopicsDon’t put growth and productivity in front of health and happinessGet rid of micromanagingUse a different fundraising modelBuild brand and sources of influenceFind your way to your audience through relationshipsSpend less time on metricsDendrobates frogs (you’ll understand when you get there)Show Links Check out SparkToroFollow Rand Fishkin on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Many modern companies claim to have an in-house media company, but they don’t. Being a media company is more than expanding content beyond a blog, or even adding a podcast and courses. That’s still just content marketing. When you build an in-house media company, you’re expanding into different content formats, but more importantly you’re looking at how they all work together. You’re looking to reach multiple demographics with a series of content and then turning that into a franchise. In this episode, Ronnie Higgins, Director of Content for Hopin, talks to us about how building an in-house media company is like creating the equivalent of the Marvel universe.Ronnie has a decade of content marketing experience. Previously, he worked at Eventbrite where he helped to build the content engine before scaling it globally. An advisor to startups, he is currently building a content engine and in-house media company from scratch at Hopin – one of the fastest growing SaaS companies around.Show TopicsConnect content together to build a media companyTake something familiar and make it newBuild cross-functional alignmentCreate sustainable contentFind your way to other people’s propertyWork with subject matter expertsShow Links Check out HopinFollow Ronnie Higgins on TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Struggling to reach your target audience? You’re not alone.While the execution may be challenging, the secret is simple: listen to your customers.Emily Marsh joined us on The Long Game podcast to share her go-to marketing techniques to engage prospects.As a content manager and podcast producer at Iconosquare, an all-in-one analytics and management platform for social media marketers, building an audience-driven marketing machine is Emily’s bread and butter. She offered up some valuable insights on TikTok, SEO, and the best ways to approach audience-driven content.Show TopicsManaging and connecting with international teamsPositioning your content for advanced audiencesTargeting and segmenting international customersHow to use TikTok as a B2B marketerStructuring your day to mitigate burnoutShow LinksCheck out IconosquareFollow Emily Marsh on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

The episode begins at 4:12 if you want to skip ahead, but first I'd I’d like to announce our Office Hours speaker line-up and topics for March 16th. Office Hours is our bi-monthly event where we get the best speakers and experts in content, SEO, and marketing to give 20 min practical talks for our audience.Michael Keenan, Co-Founder, Peak FreelanceThe Freelance Writing Trends of 2022 (And How To Act On Them) The freelance writing industry is moving at the speed of light. It's estimated there are over 204 million freelance writers globally, right now. As a writer at any experience level, keeping up with the changes isn't easy. Stay ahead of the curve with the most important freelance writing trends of 2022, according to experts and data from Peak Freelance.Adrienne Barnes, Founder, Best Buyer PersonaHow To Create A Buyer Persona You'll Actually Use  Over 77% of marketers never use their buyer personas. It's time to create meaningful personas, with strong segmentation that can actually be used to create marketing campaigns, content, and copy. Join Adrienne as she shows her step-by-step process for creating meaningful personas you can put to use.Emma Siemasko, Founder, Stories By UsHow to Use Compelling Case Studies to Sell Your Stuff Most B2B and SaaS marketers know that case studies can help clinch deals. But many case studies are bland and lackluster. How can you create case studies that actually encourage prospects to convert? In this talk, Emma will share what makes a good case study, how to create one, and some ideas on how to best use them to fuel your marketing and sales process.Join us by registering here. If you can’t make it we’ll send you the recording and key takeaways.***Now, for this week’s episode. What do lemonade stands, freelance writing, and Greek philosophy have to do with starting a business? We connect the dots in this episode of our Kitchen Side podcast series. Kitchen Side is a series of the podcast where we take you behind the scenes at our agency, Omniscient Digital.Our Growth Content Marketer, Karissa, spearheads a discussion about our unique backgrounds and how we landed in content marketing, biggest accomplishments, lessons learned, and the legacies we want to leave behind. We also explore how to bring big ideas to life and take risks that align with your professional calling.Show TopicsFind your own way to creativityDon’t rely on external validationBuild solutions for pressing problemsTake risks that align with your callingUse work as a medium for personal growthMake a positive mark on your communityConnect with Alex on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with David on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Allie on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Karissa on LinkedIn or Twitter Check out more episodes from our Kitchen Side series:015: Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?017: How Do Growth and Content Overlap?027: Is Organic Traffic the Best Traffic?Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Sean Blanda (Crossbeam), Ilona Abramova (AppSumo), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:020: Spark Creativity and Generate Memorable Content with Ryan Law (Animalz)041: Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)045: Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)009: The Long Game Podcast: Building Communities, Teams and Companies through Marketing with Sabel Harris019: Peak Performing, High-Earning Freelance Writing with Michael Keenan (Co-Founder at Peak Freelance)028: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:https://beomniscient.com/podcast/