Questions? Feedback? powered by Olark live chat software
Jan 12 2010
posted by

Marketing Podcast with Grammar Girl

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Mignon Fogerty (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

For this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast I thought I would grab one of my favorite podcasters Mignon Fogarty. Fogarty is known to legions as Grammar Girl and she’s built an impressive empire dishing out Grammar and a growing list of other topics in Quick and Dirty style.

On top of finding a way to build an audience for tips about grammar, she has turned her approach and idea into the the Quick and Dirty Tips Network. The Quick and Dirty Network is a platform created for other experts including Dog Training, Nutrition, Sales, Get it Done Guy and Public Speaking. The brand and approach has led to traffic, advertising and book deals for several of the experts.

Fogerty’s the author of New York Times bestseller Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing and the 365 day long Grammar Devotional. Mignon makes grammar fun and lord knows we could all use a bit of that. Make sure you check out some of the t-shirts she’s created.

In this podcast:

  • About the Quick and Dirty Network
  • Secret behind the success of the Grammar Girl podcast
  • Five worst grammar mistakes
  • Grammar Girl vs. The Elements of Style
  • Making grammar and usage discussion interesting
  • Resources from Grammar Girl


GoToWebinar is the presenting sponsor of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ,
Jan 6 2010
posted by

Six Pixels with Mitch Joel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Mitch Joel (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes


In this week’s episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast I visited with Mitch Joel, President of Twist Image and Author of Six Pixels of Separation

Given the subtitle of the book – Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone – you can guess we talked a bit about how social media can impact a company’s growth.

Like me, Mitch is a long time podcaster so it was great to finally swap stories. I also got to return the interview favor when we met recently at the Word of Mouth Marketing Summit in Chicago.

In this podcast:

  • Inspiration behind Six Pixels of Separation
  • Social networking: are we too connected?
  • Measuring Social media buzz vs. measuring ROI
  • Using social media to enhance marketing


GoToWebinar is the presenting sponsor of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With:
Dec 29 2009
posted by

Tim Ferriss on the New 4-Hour Workweek

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Tim Ferriss (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes


For this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast, I grabbed a few minutes with Tim Ferriss, author of the newly released – The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated. The expanded edition features over 100 pages of case studies and anecdotes taken from people that embraced Tim’s Lifestyle Design theme and put it into action in their lives over the last few years.

Tim’s book was a surprise run away best seller when first released and landed him in the spotlight for those who garnered hope from his positive message of work less and live more. However, his message also created a camp of doubters that likely felt the message was unrealistic. I find it ironic that Amazon has his book selling in tandem with Gary Vs CrushIT message of work 80 hours a week until your eyes bleed.

I’ve always felt that Tim’s detractors fall somewhere in one of the camps of resenting his books sales, resenting his go get em sales tactics, or misunderstand the core message of the book. I wrote a post long ago called The Four Daughter Workweek that takes what I think is the message of this work and makes it relevant for me.

Hey, putting yourself out there as the 4-Hour Workweek guy is always going to have people questioning, it’s like saying your holy or the world’s best parent -if you do, your kids sure better behave in public :) Either way, hope you enjoy our conversation and I welcome your thoughts.

In this podcast:

  • Expansion of The 4-Hour Workweek
  • Applying the 4-Hour Workweek principles
  • Tim’s tech tool tips
  • Concept of selling around the product
Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With:
Dec 17 2009
posted by

Practical Guide to Social Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with OpenForum (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

ScreenSnapzThe above podcast is an interview I conducted with OPEN Mic, hosted by Monocle editor Tyler Brûlé, as part of a social media special. Guests also include Adam Ostrow of Mashable and several very interesting small businesses from around the world.

The project, sponsored by AMEX OpenForum, included a written guide to social media with contributions from Ostrow, Anita Campbell and myself. You can download the complete OPEN Book: A Practical Guide to Social Media

Filed Under: Podcast, Social Media Tagged With: ,
Dec 15 2009
posted by

How to Measure Social Media Like a Scientist

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Dan Zarrella (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

dan zarrellaThere are a lot of social media marketing books out there telling you what to do. Dan Zarrella’s The Social Media Marketing Book tells you how to do and, perhaps these days more importantly, how to measure and track success.

Dan calls himself a social media scientist and employs the under the hood analysis to strategies and tactics often missing from the advice of social media gurus. His website is a great visit as well and make sure you download and read his latest free report: The Science of ReTweets.

    In this podcast:

  • Social media scientist vs. social media guru
  • What’s in The Social Media Marketing Book
  • Measuring social media results and tracking return
  • Social media and direct selling
  • Useful content on www.DanZarrella.com
  • Social media tools in 2010
Filed Under: Podcast, Social Media Tagged With:
Dec 8 2009
posted by

Why We Really Buy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Martin Lindstrom (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

Project Buyology was a fascinating research project conducted by Martin Lindstrom that used brain scans to better understand what really motivates someone to buy a product or get excited about a brand. The research was conducted at a cost of around $7 million, but you can learn a great deal about the results of the study in Martin’s book Buyology.

Martin is a great interview and was named a 2009 Time Magazine Top 100 Most Influential Individual.

It’s easy to assume that this kind of research is something that’s only applicable to big brands, but you’ll discover in this interview and book that there are some very practical and applicable ideas for the smallest of business marketers here.

Martin’s science of research has been called Neuro Marketing and relies heavily on the brain and marketing tactics such as Semantic Markers to help drive brand adoption.

    A couple highpoints:

  • Do something that slaps people in the chin
  • Use the senses – add music to your web site
  • Make your business card truly impactful
  • How to use mirror neurons to create positive feelings
  • The parallel between religion and branding
  • Brands needs a strong and vocal enemy
Filed Under: Marketing Strategy, Podcast, Vision, Web Marketing Tagged With: ,
Dec 3 2009
posted by

Made to Stick Podcast

Marketing podcast with Chip Heath (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

For this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast I reached back into the archives and grabbed a greatest hits session with Chip Heath, co-author, with his brother Dan, of the mega hit Made to Stick.

Chip, Stanford Professor and Dan, Duke Professor, also write a terribly smart column for Fast Company.

Also, check out this AMEX Open Forum video with Dan Heath – How to Stand Out in a Crowd – “It’s not enough to be 3% better and 2% cheaper.”

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: , ,
Nov 24 2009
posted by

Marketing Podcast with Biznik

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marketing podcast with Dan McComb (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

biznikI’ve been running with a consistent theme of late that the best use of social media platforms comes from blending online and offline tactics. My guest for this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast is Dan McComb the co-founder of Biznik.com. Biznik is a social network that allows people to join and form local communities as well as create and host local events. You can view my profile on Biznik here.

Biznik recently conducted a small business survey in conjunction with iStockphoto and the finding make up a large part of our interview. You can view a summary of the survey findings here

Some notes of interest

  • 33 percent said that the most important reason they started a business was to do something that they enjoyed!
  • 26 percent said they did because they didn’t want to work for someone else
  • 6 percent did it for the money

The biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs? I

  • Reduced income (44 percent)
  • Isolation (19 percent)
  • Long hours (15 percent)
  • Lack of access to health insurance (13 percent)

In this podcast:
The meaning of Biznik

  • Findings from Biznik and istockphoto entrepreneur survey
  • Online support/community for entrepreneurs
  • Using social media to expand business
  • Difference between Biznik and other networking sites
  • Biznik’s growing success
Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ,