In this episode of 'Marketing at Pops,' host Olivia welcomes Molly Tracy, the founder and CEO of VRAI Digital, an influencer marketing agency. Molly shares her extensive experience in the influencer marketing space, which she has been a part of since 2012, and discusses the evolving landscape, the importance of community and engagement over sheer follower count, and shifting marketing strategies. She emphasizes maintaining a boutique, referral-based creator roster focused mostly on female influencers in lifestyle, wellness, and motherhood sectors. Molly explains the significance of aligning marketing goals with the right kind of influencers, the importance of trial periods in campaigns, and red flags for brands entering influencer marketing. The discussion also touches on trends like the resurgence of long-form content via platforms like Substack, and the impact and challenges of incorporating AI in marketing strategies. Molly advocates for purposeful and impactful influencer partnerships that can change lives and stresses the need for genuine connection and alignment with creators.

Molly’s Links:

Website: https://vraidigital.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vraidigital/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyatracy/

MTP Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/108046360/admin/dashboard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingthatpops/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mktgthatpops https://thrivepop.com/podcast/

In this episode of 'Marketing That Pops,' host Olivia interviews Tiffany Davis, the founder and CEO of Thryve Companies and co-founder of Thryve Roots, a Black and female-owned business focused on sustainable agriculture and plant-based wellness. Tiffany shares her journey from the financial sector to the plant industry, emphasizing the importance of healthy soil, patience in plant care, and building an inclusive community. The discussion also covers Thryve Roots' intentional marketing strategies, including authentic social media engagement and upcoming product launches. Tiffany emphasizes the significance of culture in both small and large businesses and shares practical advice for new plant enthusiasts.

Thryve Roots Links:

Website

Instagram

MTP Links

LinkedInInstagramTikTok

Website

In this episode of 'Marketing that Pops,' hosts Olivia and Michele interview Keith Riegert, President of Stable Books Group and CEO of Perfect Bound, a SaaS platform for the publishing industry. Keith shares his extensive background in independent publishing and discusses pivotal industry trends, particularly the impact of AI on publishing. He debunks the myth that AI will replace human authors, noting ethical, legal, and quality concerns. Keith emphasizes data-driven strategies in publishing, discussing how using tools and analytics has guided his company's success. The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities presented by social media platforms like TikTok, the importance of authors' active engagement in book marketing, and the future trends in publishing, including the rise of special editions and self-publishing via platforms like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. Keith also highlights the crucial role AI tools can play in streamlining publishing processes while stressing the necessity for the industry to embrace technological advancements cautiously.

Keith Riegert Links:

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Website⁠

⁠Stable Book Group⁠

MTP Links:

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠TikTok

In this podcast episode, hosts Olivia and Michele welcome Lynn Tickner from Ink and Key, a branding expert and a seventh-year StoryBrand certified guide, who emphasizes the importance of simplifying brand messages. Lynn debunks the myth that a brand’s name should explain exactly what the company does, advocating instead for names that invoke curiosity and engagement. She shares her journey from participating in naming contests to founding her own naming agency, highlighting the significance of clear, concise messaging to prevent brands from getting lost in 'noise.' Lynn discusses common mistakes in the naming process, including the emotional pitfalls of rushing and failing to conduct thorough trademark checks. The conversation underscores the necessity of objective criteria in selecting a brand name and the benefits of having multiple viable options to avoid disappointment.

LINKS:

Lynn Tickner LinkedIn

Ink and Key Instagram

Website

MTP Socials:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Tik Tok

Michele's LinkedIn

Olivia's LinkedIn

In this episode of 'Marketing That Pops,' host Olivia is joined by Travis Lee, co-founder and president of 3D Mail, to discuss the relevance of direct mail in modern marketing. Travis shares statistics from USPS demonstrating the effectiveness of direct mail, noting its higher engagement and brand recall compared to digital ads. He discusses common misconceptions, such as the belief that direct mail is outdated, and highlights its advantages, including lower competition and tactile engagement. Travis also outlines effective strategies for implementing direct mail, from targeting lapsed customers with 'win-back' campaigns using 3D items like boomerangs and bank bags, to leveraging multimedia and omnichannel marketing for improved results. Additionally, he touches on the importance of consistent marketing and the need to adapt and test different approaches. The episode concludes with Travis sharing resources like his book on direct mail success and discussing the future trends in direct mail marketing, including personalized QR codes and integrated digital campaigns.

Travis Links:

Travisalee.com

3Dmailresults.com

Travis on LinkedIn

MTP Links:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Tik Tok

Michele's LinkedIn

Olivia's LinkedIn

In this episode of Marketing That Pops, hosts Olivia and Michele shake up everything you thought you knew about LinkedIn. Spoiler alert: it’s not just for job hunters and recruiters! They dive into how LinkedIn can actually boost your authority, build your personal brand, and turn you into a thought leader.

You’ll get practical, easy-to-apply tips for leveling up your profile, including custom URLs, killer profile pics, banners that pop, and headlines sprinkled with the right keywords. But it’s not just about looking good. Olivia and Michele show you how to spark conversations with posts, comments, DMs, and even fun tools like voice memos and videos.

Plus, Michele spills the hottest takeaways from Social Media World, including the "magnet formula" for engagement that actually works. They also highlight the LinkedIn traps to dodge, like ghosting comments or sounding too salesy.

By the end, you’ll be ready to optimize, engage, and connect like a pro and maybe even suggest the next episode topic while you’re at it.

In this episode of Marketing That Pops, hosts Olivia and Michele are joined by brand strategist Asia Dore. Asia shares her insights on helping entrepreneurs build expert brands by translating their extensive knowledge and experience into clear, effective messaging. They discuss the importance of personalized marketing strategies and the pitfalls of copying others' tactics. Asia also outlines her five-step 'strategy audacity method' for branding, which includes vision, catalyst, client, soul, and message. The conversation covers challenges in branding, the importance of strategy, effective communication with clients, and when to seek professional help with branding. Asia emphasizes the value of experimentation, authenticity, and consistent messaging. She encourages businesses to focus on their unique strengths rather than getting distracted by competitors. The episode concludes with Asia's advice for companies ready to elevate their brand and an invitation to her masterclass for further learning.

In this episode of 'Marketing That Pops', Olivia and Brittany discuss key takeaways from the Inbound 2025 conference. The conversation centers around the prevalent theme of AI, the importance of humanizing brands, and how to optimize marketing strategies in light of new AI technologies. They highlight deep dive sessions, particularly those by Spar and Webflow, which offered valuable, applicable tactics. They also touch on AI Engine Optimization (AEO), the continued relevance of SEO, and offer tips on making content more conversational and relatable. Additionally, they share insights from presentations on negative marketing techniques and the evolving dynamics of email subject lines. The episode wraps up with a promise of more marketing tips and strategies in future episodes.