The Marketing Companion

Other than AI, is there any word about marketing more prevalent than "authenticity?" And yet, it might be one of the most misunderstood and abused words out there.    In this deeply personal show, Mark Schaefer and Amanda Russell discuss how authenticity can help you, how it can destroy you, and how it might be more of a strategy than a default setting for a personal brand.

New research from Microsoft provides a glimpse of the near-term future of marketing agency life, including AI bosses, agentic employees, and new organizational charts. And, if you're a small agency, this might be your time to shine! Mark Schaefer and Andy Crestodina riff on the implications of te AI-first agency in this new episode of The Marketing Companion.

Paul Roetzer, co-host of The Artificial Intelligence Podcast, shares his insights on the intersection of AI and humanity. He discusses the challenges small business owners face against AI-driven competitors and the importance of adapting to an AI-centric marketplace. The conversation highlights the necessity of critical thinking in the workplace and promotes a human-centered approach to AI in marketing. Roetzer also delves into recent developments in AI chatbots, emphasizing their evolving personalities and memory, while pondering the future emotional relationships with these technologies.

Dana Malstaff, a business strategist and author celebrated for helping mom entrepreneurs, joins Mark Schaefer for a heartfelt conversation. They dive into the challenge of sustaining business amidst personal crises like illness and betrayal. The duo discusses the importance of vulnerability and support systems in overcoming emotional pain. They share insights on managing grief, navigating overwhelming emotions, and the need for community during tough times, emphasizing how these experiences shape resilience and professional success.

Carla Johnson, a speaker, educator, and author known for her expertise in innovation, joins the conversation to tackle the crisis of imagination in marketing. They explore the need to break through industry dullness, discussing the importance of playful, childlike creativity. Insights on cultivating creativity amidst work pressures and leveraging AI for innovation are shared, alongside an inspiring journey from selling t-shirts to launching themed bakeries. With anecdotes and practical habits, they encourage marketers to embrace audacity in their strategies.

Jay Acunzo, a vibrant content creator and entrepreneur, joins Mark Schaefer to explore strategies for staying relevant in a rapidly evolving world. They share personal anecdotes and emphasize the value of continuous learning and collaboration. The conversation transitions from tactical marketing tips to the significance of strategy and creative communication. They also highlight the transformative power of engaging with art, showcasing how active creation enhances understanding and keeps professionals ahead of the curve.

Amanda Russell, a marketing expert and educator, shares her journey of pivoting her personal brand toward real-time marketing experiments and community building. She candidly discusses the emotional challenges of evolving one's identity and the necessity of taking risks. Russell emphasizes the power of collaboration and iterative learning, reflecting on her plans for a new YouTube show that focuses on connection and experimentation. The conversation also touches on crowdsourcing ideas and maintaining consistency in content creation.

Join Andy Crestodina, a digital marketing expert and author of 'Content Chemistry,' as he dives into the seismic shifts AI is causing in the SEO landscape. Discover how AI impacts consumer search behavior and the necessity for high-quality content in this evolving market. The conversation also tackles the potential of LinkedIn newsletters for content marketing alongside traditional SEO methods. Lastly, learn about the importance of personal storytelling and authenticity in a world increasingly dominated by AI.

In this special episode, the legendary host of the Marketing Book podcast, Douglas Burdett, comes out of retirement to interview Mark Schaefer about his new book "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World." From now on, "competent" doesn't cut it. The bots are coming but we still own crazy. This is a time to ignite the human fireworks of creativity if marketing professionals are to transcend the threat from artificial intelligence.

As we hurtle into the AI Era, there will be many unintended consequences, and one of them might be a cognitive decline. Early research shows that as we increasingly depend on AI for our thinking and decisions, our brains become lazy. What are the implications for education? Are we re-defining humanity or returning to a simpler time before information overload?   Paul Roetzer and Mark Schaefer also discuss the DeepSeek outfall, Ai marketing fails, and more