Marketing Happy Hour

It's a special week for us at Marketing Happy Hour...we're celebrating 50 episodes! This week, Erica and Cassie introduce our fun rebrand, new logo, and cover art (made possible by 99designs and Amie Santavicca), share the Marketing Happy Hour origin story, chat through their favorite moments in the past 50 episodes (including clips from Ally Golden and Alice Hampton's interviews), explain what they're most looking forward to in the next 50, and give their top tips for marketers in 2023.  You'll also hear a few updates from past Marketing Happy Hour guests at the end! Cheers to 50 episodes, and cheers to all of you for making Marketing Happy Hour such an amazing community! Learn more about 99designs and get $20 OFF your first design contest: https://99designs.com/marketinghappyhour Check out MHH's new cover art photographer Amie Santavicca's work: http://www.amiesantavicca.com/  Listen to Amie's episode of Marketing Happy Hour: Brand Photoshoots 101: What You Need to Know | Photographer + Creative Amie Santavicca Listen to Ally Golden's full episode: Empathy in the Workplace + Humanizing Your Brand | Ally Golden of Upwork Listen to Alice Hampton's full episode: PR 101: Set Yourself Apart | Alice Hampton of ACP Management ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Learn more about 99designs and get $20 OFF your first design contest: https://99designs.com/marketinghappyhour Connect with Co-Host Erica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaspitzley/ Connect with Co-Host Cassie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassaundrapalmer/ Follow Co-Host Erica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espitz/ Follow Co-Host Cassie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiejoytucker/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, we're chatting with Your Soulcialmate Founder, "Soulcial Scoop" Podcast Host, and Content Creator Kristen Bousquet.  She's on a mission to help regulate the influencer industry and educate digital creators on how to be respected and successful running a business as an influencer. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:04:19] - Kristen walks us through her nonlinear entrepreneurship journey, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the launch of her blog and photography business, and how consistently offering the same advice around her learned experience in the influencer industry turned into a business of coaching creators and teaching them how to monetize their content. [00:10:29] - Kristen shares what platforms she uses to promote her business and why newsletters are important.  She also explains the process of starting her podcast and why she says "oversharing is underutilized" when it comes to promoting a show on social media.  We also talk about the value of podcast listeners vs. social media followers. [00:26:01] - We chat through how setting aside a small budget to play around with is going to be the key to success in 2023. [00:27:20] - Kristen shares PR tips for individuals and brands looking to land placements and why she recommends following journalists on Twitter and LinkedIn to build relationships and assert your expertise on those platforms. [00:29:51] - Kristen shares her unique insight into what a creator looks for in a brand when evaluating an influencer partnership, and how to be a brand that creators want to work with again and again. [00:33:11] Kristen sheds light on the importance of hiring a team, and how she's able to wear so many hats without getting burnt out. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Kristen's episode: Gen Z Work Habits: Balancing a Tech 9-5 and Full Time Content Creation | Angelica Song of Google Brand Photoshoots 101: What You Need to Know | Photographer + Creative Amie Santavicca ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Kristen on Instagram: @kbousq Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn: Kristen Bousquet Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

Welcome to Season 7 of the Marketing Happy Hour podcast! We're excited to kick things off with Erica's conversation with Bari Rosenstein, Social Media Manager at Auntie Anne's and Jamba. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:03:30] - Bari shares her experience working for agencies, transitioning brand side with Coca-Cola, how she found her current role with Auntie Anne's and Jamba, and how she and her team are bringing pretzels and juice to life on social! [00:08:47] - Bari reveals which platforms each of the brands are utilizing and what content does well on each platform. Her advice? Tailor the content to each audience and "drive the crave." [00:11:09] - Bari walks us through the importance that audience sentiment plays in determining a campaign's success, and gives us a behind the scenes look at building each brand's TikTok presence from scratch. [00:16:51] - Bari uncovers how Auntie Anne’s and Jamba's strategies differ on social, and how each brand promotes LTOs (Limited Time Offers). She shares tips on how to juggle multiple brands and how to let management know if and when you need to bring on additional help!  [00:25:10] - Bari chats all things Twitter and shares how brands can make a splash on social by standing out amongst the noise in their categories. [00:29:44] - Learn how social media truly impacts the bottom line for a brand, and the lasting impact that branding yourself as a professional on LinkedIn can have on your career. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Bari's episode: Social Strategy 101: What You Need to Succeed | Lauren Freund of Shutterfly Audience Insights 101: Sliding in the DMs | Sara Arbelaez of Heelys ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Bari / Auntie Anne's / Jamba on Instagram: @basicallybari / @auntieannespretzels / @jambajuice Connect with Bari on LinkedIn: Bari Rosenstein Check out Auntie Anne's and Jamba on TikTok: @auntieannes / @jamba Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, Erica and Cassie take a look back on Season 6 of the Marketing Happy Hour podcast, sharing their favorite moments, the lessons they've learned as marketing professionals throughout the season, and some sneak previews of what's to come in Season 7!  Erica and Cassie close out the year 2022 with some rapid fire reflection questions and reveal their number one ask this holiday season. Thank you to all of our wonderful Season 6 guests: How to Build Brand Loyalty | Kara Salazar of Southwest Airlines Instagram 101: Show Up Confidently | Instagram Strategist Natasha Samuel Growing a Community on Social | Karissa Widder of Kindred Video Content 101: Make It "Snackable" | Adam Cilley of Sports Card Investor Capture and Keep Audience Attention | Nidhi Bhagat of ESPN Audience Insights 101: Sliding in the DMs | Sara Arbelaez of Heelys Performance Marketing 101 | Alex Lewis of Later ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Connect with Co-Host Erica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaspitzley/ Connect with Co-Host Cassie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassaundrapalmer/ Follow Co-Host Erica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espitz/ Follow Co-Host Cassie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiejoytucker/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, Erica has the privilege of chatting with Alex Lewis, Performance Marketing Specialist at Later - a social media management platform and link in bio tool that our co-hosts LOVE! (Scroll down for a code that will unlock 2 months FREE!) Alex drops all of the knowledge she's gained during her time working in performance marketing, reveals how Later utilizes ads to round out their full funnel marketing strategy designed to drive user acquisition and growth, and shares some absolutely mic-drop-worthy career advice. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:04:04] - How Alex's agency experience set a solid foundation for understanding the customer journey and where a brand enters it. [00:09:44] - The key skillsets needed in performance marketing, including the understanding that past performance does not indicate current performance, the flexibility to endure constant changes, and the ability to remain "scrappy" in testing strategy. [00:16:18] - The benefits of starting with just one ad channel and getting a solid foundation on it first, then building one by one to reach "well-oiled-machine" status, and the importance of knowing where ad spend is going when communicating with your team. [00:20:34] - How Later activates their full funnel marketing strategy, and the thoughts behind their recent launch of Reels and TikTok scheduling. [00:22:48] - The conversion metrics that Later uses to determine success and their LTV (Lifetime Value) to CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) ratio. Alex also reveals her predictions for performance marketing moving into a "cookieless" future. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Alex's episode: Yes, you CAN work full time and get an MBA. Here's How. | Emma Wolgast of Red Ventures Your Guide to Social Media, Paid Media + Influencer Marketing | Halie Soprano of Traackr ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewisalexandra/ Use code "LEWIS2022" for 2 FREE months on Later's "Starter" plan (expires Feb 2023): https://later.com/pricing/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, Erica and Cassie sit down with Sara Arbelaez, Social Media and Influencer Marketing Specialist at Heelys and Feiyue Shoes, to chat all things brand personality, audience insights and analytics, ambassador programs, sliding in the DMs, and the "Comeback Era" of Heelys. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:03:31] - Sara shares her background in communications and storytelling, including her stumble into PR that led to a job in social, and encourages listeners to learn as much as possible early on.  [00:11:03] - Sara uncovers how Heelys speaks to their different customer profiles on social media and why being in tune with your audience community and taking the time to go into every DM to find connection points and insights can be highly beneficial for your brand. [00:14:30] - Sara dives into Heelys' current social strategy and how they're using video to showcase relatability. [00:18:12] - Sara walks through the "TikTok to purchase" flow, highlighting how TikTok keeps your brand top of mind and builds site sessions. She also shares how she tracks insights from TikTok and other social media platforms using Google Analytics. [00:21:60] - Sara gives us the Heelys ambassador and campus rep program details, citing that it's the best way to get UGC (User Generated Content).  She also shares the key differences between brand collaboration launches vs evergreen products. [00:32:58] - Sara explains how being in the comment sections of other videos on TikTok can have a lasting impact with the public, and why trusting your social media team to execute on this as experts in their field can be one of the best decisions ever. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Sara's episode: Gen Z Work Habits: Balancing a Tech 9-5 and Full-Time Content Creation | Angelica Song of Google TikTok 101: How to Build an Engaged Audience | Zaria Parvez of Duolingo ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Sara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraarbelaezz/ Keep up with Heelys: https://heelys.com/ Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraarbelaez/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, Cassie checks in with Nidhi Bhagat, Marketing Coordinator at ESPN.  Nidhi shares her career journey thus far, including her transition from the film and production industry into marketing.  She also gives great interview tips for landing your first job out of college and provides insight on how to stand out in your role and play the "long game" in your career through building relationships.  Finally, she gives us a peek behind the curtain at ESPN's content and planning strategies to ensure they're maximizing their efforts across marketing channels. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:04:20] - Nidhi walks us through her career journey thus far, from the film and production space into marketing. She also explains her current role in the live sports sector and what she's responsible for supporting as part of the marketing team at ESPN. [00:06:54] - Nidhi shares some of her favorite creative projects and partnerships she's had experience with during her time at ESPN.   [00:08:40] - Nidhi gives her best tips for keeping the door open to opportunities even after you leave a company and building lasting relationships in the workplace.  She also provides fantastic insight on how to stand out in the interview process and then within your role.  [00:14:42] - Nidhi explores how her previous career experiences have benefited her in her current role, demonstrating how you can pocket experiences and knowledge today in order to advance your future career. [00:17:58] - Nidhi dives into the importance of storytelling, and shares how to capture and keep your audience's attention within your content.  She also pulls back the curtain to share planning strategies ESPN uses to ensure they're maximizing their efforts across marketing channels. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Nidhi's episode: Landing a Full Time Marketing Job Right Out of College | Alison Taplin of FabFitFun Top Tips for Creatives | Lisa Meyer of Beekman 1802 ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Nidhi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nidhibhagat/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/ Check out wine subscription Winc: https://glnk.io/zn1l/espitz

This week, Erica and Cassie are catching up with Adam Cilley, Social Media Content Director at Sports Card Investor.  We first met Adam during our Clubhouse days when he was working as Senior Social Media Specialist at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and he shared the inside scoop on how he was able to grow their TikTok by hundreds of thousands of followers.  Now, Adam joins us to uncover how to navigate social media video strategy between platforms, share his experience changing industries from non-profit to for profit, and general keys to success in a social media career. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:04:32] - Adam shares what piqued his interest in social media early on and walks us through his career journey.  He also gives great interview tips for anyone looking to get started in social media.  [00:013:35] - Adam outlines the innovative strategies he used to grow CMA's social media presence, including utilizing Cameo, starting and scaling their TikTok, and working with animal influencers. [00:28:09] - Adam details his experience with Sports Card Investor, giving us a behind the scenes look at their current content strategy across platforms, the creation of "snackable" content on YouTube Shorts, and how they're sharing their founder's story as an audience connection touchpoint. [00:33:33] - Adam shares his management style in working with freelancers and communication advice for social media professionals.   [00:45:52] - Adam looks ahead to the future of social media and shares his thoughts on augmented reality and in-app experiences. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Adam's episode: Creating Unforgettable Customer Experiences Online | Stephen Kubiak of Universal Parks & Resorts Managing Social at a Startup? Listen to This! | Danielle Vito of AvantStay ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcilley/ Learn more about Sports Card Investor: https://www.sportscardinvestor.com/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/ Join our Marketing Happy Hour Insiders LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9238088/

This week, Erica chats with Social Media Manager Karissa Widder.  Karissa is an Instagram and creativity queen with a unique career path who joins Erica to teach us how to level up our creativity online, build community first, and use social media as a platform for good. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:04:12] - Karissa shares an overview of her career journey, from running point on social at her local Chick-fil-A, to managing the social media for her private university, transitioning to speech pathology, and finally venturing into full time social media management. [00:08:52] - Karissa explains that you can do anything if you just get started and that there's no one correct path. She also shares more about social media as a great outlet to advocate for things you're passionate about. [00:13:06] - Karissa gives insight to her relationship with clients, and how she helps them measure success on social media. [00:17:36] - Karissa unveils her top social media tip overall, and her #1 Instagram tip (hint: it's all about COMMUNITY)! [00:21:00] - How to avoid burnout as a social media manager, and Karissa's invention of #CameraRollCrumbs. [00:23:45] - Why diversifying how you're connecting with your customer is important, and one of the best ways to connect outside of social media. [00:31:45] - Karissa offers encouragement in your career journey and insists - everyone is just figuring it out! Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Karissa's episode: Managing Social at a Startup? Listen to This! | Danielle Vito of Avantstay Copywriting 101 | Ethical Copywriter + Email Strategist Karsen Murray ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Karissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karissawidder/ and https://www.instagram.com/kindredbyk/ Connect with Karissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissanickish/ Learn more about Karissa: https://www.karissawidder.com/ and https://www.kindredbyk.com/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/

If you're overwhelmed by Instagram's constant changes and are wondering how to best create content for the platform, this episode is for you. This week, Cassie sits down with Instagram Strategist, Educator, Speaker, and Video Expert Natasha Samuel. In her conversation with Cassie, Natasha shares that the secret to building trust and community with your followers is simply showing up. And we’re in luck, because Natasha uncovers her top tips for showing up confidently and consistently as an individual OR brand, how and when to post about your offers, and the best ways to spark engagement on Instagram. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:02:50] - Natasha provides an overview of her career journey from majoring in journalism, shifting to public relations and gaining social media exposure and knowledge, and developing her own unique video content methodologies that sparked her business, Shine With Natasha. [00:10:10] - Natasha dives into her strategic, proven system for creating and batching Instagram content. [00:15:35] - Natasha shares how to confidently show up on video in order to develop human connection and build authority in your industry through social media. [00:20:23] - Natasha explains her thoughts around analyzing your content's success and understanding why or why not you're seeing engagement. [00:23:08] - Natasha reveals her timeless tips for optimizing your Instagram profile by keeping in mind the "three part follower journey." [00:26:25] - Stories vs Feed Posts - Natasha unveils her top two tips for creating engaging Instagram stories. [00:31:05] - Natasha shares her experience landing podcast interviews, speaking engagements, and similar opportunities. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ----- Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Natasha's episode: Reels 101: What Works? | Karly & Kyrsten of Millennial Social Media Marketing Content Marketing 101: Creating an Effective Social Media Presence | Elyse Estrella of Wine Enthusiast ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and share your favorite moments from this episode - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. NEW: Check out our website! NEW: Join our email list! Follow Natasha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinewithnatasha/  Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashamariesamuel/ Learn more about Shine with Natasha:  https://shinewithnatasha.com/ Follow MHH on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketinghappyhr Follow MHH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-happy-hour/ Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Marketing Happy Hour Weekly: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/marketing-happy-hour-weekly-6950530577867427840/