Marketing Meetup Podcast

Marketing strategy, brand distinctiveness, and the courage to stop blending in: Louis Grenier shares fresh research on why 80% of B2B companies come across as invisible or generic. Digital beige is everywhere, and it's costing brands the very thing they're trying to build, memory.Louis audited 100 B2B tech companies against eight recognised brand asset types, colour, logo, visual device, typography, taglines, human identity, product UI, and sound, and found that only one made it to iconic. He breaks down what's overused (colour and logo), what's sitting completely untouched (sound and human identity, despite being scientifically proven to trigger stronger memory recall), and exactly what to do about it.Louis is a positioning and go to market expert for B2B and founder of STFO. He was previously the host of Everyone Hates Marketers, where he interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, including a famous conversation with Seth Godin.And if you haven't met Louis before, expect a bit of swearing and some very honest answers! 😂+Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction04:20 — Defining key terms08:00 — How the study worked13:24 — Top findings begin26:44 — Industry differences34:27 — Top three brands47:03 — Practical framework1:03:42 — Measuring brand impact+If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you.Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's freeeeee): https://themarketingmeetup.comListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-meetup-podcast/id1365546447Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdxg5pMwsfPkKjhXl9+The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you.Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Wistia + Prismic + Canva

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Marketing can feel creative and frazzled on the same Tuesday, and that's not a you thing. In this one, Joe and James break down the biggest findings from The Marketing Meetup's State of Marketers Report 2026, built from nearly 1,300 responses about how marketers are actually doing, not just how marketing as a practice is performing.They dig into why 80% of marketers who feel positively challenged also tick a hard feeling, why imposter syndrome still hits 4 in 10 marketers with 16+ years experience, how AI is changing what marketers use it for and how they feel about it, and why freelancers report feeling more connected to the industry than people working on site in teams. Then they close with practical takeaways on pay reviews, junior development, and building community before you need it.+ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction09:23 - Why The State of Marketers report exists13:02 - The five words marketers use to describe the job18:17 - Feeling both good and bad at once22:54 - Imposter syndrome at every level29:02 - How AI use is shifting35:12 - The connection score42:03 - Six practical takeaways53:59 - Q&A begins+ If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you.Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's free): https://themarketingmeetup.comListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-meetup-podcast/id1365546447Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdxg5pMwsfPkKjhXl9+ The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you.Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Mailchimp + Wistia + Prismic + Canva

Marketing strategy, creative strategy, and bold advertising: Hattie Matthews explains how to build braver, more effective campaigns without the fear of risk. The Confidence Gap can be a silent killer in modern marketing.Caught between tight budgets, short-term pressures, and complex stakeholders, it's easy to default to safe, forgettable "digital beige."Hattie Matthews will share her framework for building a Confidence Engine - using an intentional mix of GenAI, rapid prototyping, and neuroscience to validate brave, emotionally driven work before committing media spend. The session will cover how to minimise risk, bypass algorithmic bias, and build the evidence to get bold creative signed off by senior leadership.Hattie co-founded Uncharted, a global creative agency built for the future, bringing together human creativity and technology to give brands the confidence to set out without fear.An experienced leader in marketing, growth, and innovation, she was formerly managing partner at Karmarama, growth lead at Accenture and Non-Executive Director to HealthTech Start-Up of the Year, eargym. She is an active supporter and former trustee of The White Ribbon Alliance, advocating for women's healthcare in developing countries. She is also an active member of WACL, helping drive gender equality in the marketing and communications industry.00:00 — Introduction03:22 — Why marketing feels so beige07:16 — Seeking out human emotion11:43 — Avoiding algorithmic bias14:20 — Rapid prototyping with AI17:31 — Pre-testing and derisking ideas20:53 — Navigating the boardroom28:28 — Q&A begins54:08 — Performance vs ideas debateIf you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you.Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's freeeeee): https://themarketingmeetup.comListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-meetup-podcast/id1365546447Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdxg5pMwsfPkKjhXl9The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you.
Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Mailchimp + Wistia + Prismic + Canva

As marketers, we need to re-evaluate how we understand our audiences. Learn why demographics are outdated and how fandom can transform your brand strategy.Jodie Fullagar, Co-founder and Co-CEO at ‪@rundeep‬, joins us to break down why traditional audience segmentation no longer works and how brands can unlock the commercial power of fan culture. If you're rethinking how your brand connects with its audience, this discussion provides the framework to shift from broadcasting to passive audiences toward deeply engaging with active fans.We analyze the five core principles of building a fan-first strategy and how brands of any size can apply them. Jodie shares her perspective on why fan culture isn't a tactic but a business model, helping you understand how to unlock real commercial value from your most passionate customers. By the end of this conversation, you will have a clearer framework for building fandom into your brand strategy.This is essential viewing for anyone navigating brand strategy, audience segmentation, or looking to make their marketing more culturally relevant. Whether you're at a global brand or a small business with no budget, understanding these dynamics is crucial for staying relevant.Subscribe for weekly marketing leadership breakdowns, and comment below: what's a fandom you didn't expect to find yourself in?00:00 — Welcome04:06 — Introducing Jodie, Co-founder of Run Deep10:48 — Why demographics are outdated16:56 — The commercial case for fandom21:06 — Who counts as a fan (more than you think)27:56 — The five principles of fan culture41:03 — Why long-term commitment matters44:57 — Fandom on a small or no budget49:00 — Getting agencies to segment by culture52:57 — Measuring fan-led campaignsIf you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you.Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's free): https://themarketingmeetup.com/newsletterListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-meetup-podcast/id1365546447Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdxg5pMwsfPkKjhXl9The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you.Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Mailchimp + Wistia + Prismic + Canva

Building agency-client relationships requires clarity on goals, communication and trust. Learn what actually makes partnerships work and last.Gill Huber from Ingenuity+ joins us to break down what clients want from agencies and what agencies want from clients, drawing on data from over 250 marketing directors surveyed every quarter. This episode kicks off a brand new four week collaboration between The Marketing Meetup and WACL, the 103 year old network for women in advertising, marketing, tech and communications.We analyse the real reasons clients leave agencies, how AI is reshaping expectations on both sides, and how smaller agencies and consultants can get noticed without getting lost in an endless pitch process. Jill shares her perspective on what makes agency-client relationships thrive long term, helping you understand what's really driving decisions on both sides of the table.This is essential viewing for anyone working in or with agencies, whether you're managing client relationships, running pitches, or trying to win new business in a crowded market.Subscribe for weekly marketing leadership breakdowns, and comment below: what's the biggest reason you've seen an agency-client relationship break down?+00:00 — Welcome03:02 — The agency landscape today08:54 — Impact of fractional roles10:46 — How AI is changing client expectations16:16 — Has AI made execution too cheap?18:19 — Why clients really leave agencies21:20 — Getting to a shared definition of success24:29 — Avoiding the client-agency power imbalance27:07 — Escaping the endless pitch process32:51 — Advice for solo marketers and small agencies35:33 — When to discuss service level agreements41:41 — Retainers vs. project based work46:27 — Questions to ask before agreeing budgets49:20 — Building long term agency partnerships53:05 — Navigating compensation expectations55:51 — Collect experiences, build networks, enjoy the journey+If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you.+ Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's free): https://themarketingmeetup.com/newsletterListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-meetup-podcast/id1365546447Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdxg5pMwsfPkKjhXl9+The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you: Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Wistia + Prismic + Canva