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On this episode, we’ll spend some time discussing the latest on COVID-19 and how the media uses tactics like “lumping” to persuade people’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Episode 110: Facebook Messenger Changes and The Future of Chat Marketing
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This week Sean and I welcome Mary Kathryn Johnson on the show to discuss the new rule changes with FB Messenger (March 4th) and whether marketers should be concerned.
Nicknamed #ChatBotMom, Mary Kathryn Johnson has created online success since 2003. A fall while pregnant with her second son landed her with two broken legs, her first book, and her first business.
She is now using that 17 years of roller-coaster family and business success to help entrepreneurs abandon their low-converting marketing funnels for the conversational engagement of Messenger Funnels.
Mary and her team at Messenger Funnels help their clients augment falling email funnels with Messenger Funnels, which provide higher conversion for webinars, course launches, e-commerce, value ladders, book launches, coaching practices, and mastermind groups.
You can learn more about her company by visiting https://messengerfunnels.com.
Episode 108: How He Grew a Security Business to $14 Million a Year Using Direct Mail
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On this episode, we welcome Joe Ferdinando, founder of Building Security Services in New Jersey. Joe will be sharing how he used “lumpy mail” to help him grow his security guard company to a $14 million a year business.
In 1982, Joe founded Building Security Services, Inc. after already running a successful commercial janitorial company. Starting with his existing, loyal customer base, he grew his company to provide premium security services in New Jersey and New York.
Joe will be sharing some great stories and important lessons on not only growing a multi-million dollar business with direct mail but also establishing a track record of long term success.
Episode 107: An Interview with Silicon Valley’s Favorite Magician
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On this episode, Daniel Chan joins us to talk about “persuasion and magic”. Dan is an internationally renowned, award-winning magician whose magic has taken him all over the world. He’s regarded as one of the nation’s top corporate magicians and performs at events for thought leaders and influencers worldwide.
Before Dan was a full-time magician, he was a pre-IPO Silicon Valley employee. He worked alongside Elon Musk and Peter Thiel at PayPal with a side hustle performing magic, pick-pocketing, and fire juggling. He had only vested 13 months of my stock options when he left to pursue his dream of performing magic, and in the process gave up approximately 3/4 of his stock options.
He is now regarded as Silicon Valley’s Favorite Magician, and with good reason. He has a trick that stumps top software engineers. He’ll take an iPhone from a volunteer, show the crowd it’s locked, and then hand it back to that person completely unlocked.
On this episode, Dan will be sharing his amazing story as well as offering some lessons on how to persuade better using the tricks magicians use.
You can learn more about Dan by visiting https://www.danchanmagic.com.
Featured Beer
On this episode, I’m having a Starless Swarzbier from Wise Acre Brewing Co. in Memphis, TN. For this beer, they use an old german technique for imparting darkness without extracting bitterness. Its called “mash capping” which consists of crushed roasted grain being spread upon the mash over the top just before the grain is rinsed. It’s dark brown, nearly black with a fluffy tan head. It has a flavor of roasted grain and chocolate with a slightly bitter finish.
Sean is having a Shiner Dark Cherry lager. This beer offers an aroma of dark chocolate, big cherry, with a bit of hazelnut coffee. The taste is sweet, ending in a light bitterness.
Why Advertising Makes Us Unhappy
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On this episode, we’ll be discussing a number of random topics. One topic of discussion centers around a recent article in the Harvard Business Review by Nicole Torress entitles Advertising Makes Us Unhappy.
The article focuses on the research of professor Andrew Oswald and his team at the University of Warwick. Their research concludes that when companies pour more money into advertising each year, people become less satisfied and even feel their own accomplishments, belongings, and experiences are less adequate. The research findings are similar with social media.
We’ll be discussing this article and dissecting it with our own thoughts. Is Advertising really the culprit, or are there other factors this research misses?
We’ll be discussing this and also why our social security numbers can prime us to make irrational buying decisions.
Featured Beer
On this episode, I’m having a delicious Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout from Abita Brewing Co. It’s a smooth brew that combines the rich flavor of roasted coffee with a full-bodied stout. This beer is like tasting a cold frappuccino. It makes a good first impression with a strong coffee aroma and a taste of dark roasted malt and a subtle milky sweetness.
Sean is having a Peanut Butter Cup Stout from Odd Side Ales. Has a peanut butter candy on the aroma and initial taste. The taste is comprised of light roast, & sweet milk chocolate.
Enjoy the show and cheers!
Episode 104: Super Bowl LIV Ads – The Amusing and the Awful
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On this episode, we spend time discussing some ads during Super Bowl LIV. The cost of advertising for this year’s big game was roughly $5.6 million for a 30-second spot. Most of the ads were one minute so let’s just say around $11 million. Most were forgettable. A few were amusing.
One of the best ads was one you probably didn’t see. It wasn’t a national ad, but was one of the few offering a clear call to action.
Being clever doesn’t sell, but that said there was one that stood out in terms of pure nostalgia. It was Jeep’s commercial featuring Bill Murray back as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. His reason for getting up every day this time is his love of taking a spin in that beautiful orange Jeep. Oh, and don’t forget Punxsutawney Phil.
This clever ad deals with a serious problem but offers no call to action.
I like Bryan Cranston, but this one was just plain weird.
I doubt many will remember Michelob Ultra in this one, but it might have helped Jimmy Fallon who is in need of a ratings boost right now.
There were plenty more that we’ll discuss, but most of them were money down the drain.
