In this episode, Itir is joined by Kevin Indig, a growth advisor and SEO expert with a rich history of leading SEO and growth at Shopify. Kevin shares his insights into the evolution of SEO, from the early days of keyword stuffing to today's sophisticated AI-driven approaches. They discuss how trust and user experience have become essential in search optimization, the impact of AI on search behaviors, and how businesses can stay ahead in this new era. Kevin also offers practical advice for optim...
May 22, 2025•41 min
Nuri Cankaya, the Vice President of Commercial Marketing at Intel and author of AI in Marketing , joins the show to discuss the transformative impacts of AI on various marketing functions, particularly product and partner marketing, as well as how to implement AI effectively within teams and organizations. Also in this episode: the importance of AI assessment, implementation, and measurement, along with practical advice on leveraging AI tools while maintaining data security. Nuri and Itir also d...
May 01, 2025•50 min
Totem cofounder and CEO Carter Fowler shares how he transformed a simple idea—a device that helps find friends at festivals without cell service—into a viral sensation and thriving brand. By focusing on founder-market fit, designing for organic sharing, and developing unique brand language, Totem created something people don't just buy, but buy into. Carter reveals how intentional branding from day one, customer conversations, and consistent storytelling through their newsletter ultimately attra...
Apr 17, 2025•56 min
In this candid conversation, Louis Grenier breaks down his book Stand the F*ck Out and shares his practical four-part marketing framework: insight foraging, unique positioning, distinctive branding, and continuous reach. While tools and tactics evolve, he argues that marketing fundamentals remain unchanged. Grenier passionately challenges marketing myths (especially the idea of "category creation") and emphasizes what really matters: identifying and solving those customer struggles that everyone...
Mar 20, 2025•41 min
Are you a seasoned marketing expert who's interested in becoming a fractional CMO? What does a fractional CMO even do? In this illuminating conversation, Duct Tape Marketing founder John Jantsch makes the concept of fractional CMO leadership approachable. Exploring the nuances of strategic marketing for small to mid-sized businesses, Jantsch reveals how fractional CMOs can provide high-impact leadership without a full-time commitment. He shares insights on developing systematic marketing approac...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min
Video marketing pro Juma Bannister breaks down what really works when it comes to video content in 2025 landscape. From debunking the myth that "scrappy" videos are always better to sharing practical tips on lighting and sound, the conversation covers all the bases you need to know to succeed with video this year. Bannister explains why it's not enough to just slap a video on your website anymore—it's about building genuine connections with your audience across multiple platforms. Plus, there's ...
Feb 13, 2025•50 min
If you want to be a successful consultant, you need to focus on process—on creating "a set of pipes only you can play," as world-renowned consulting expert Alan Weiss puts it. In this episode, Alan shares hard-won insights from his decades of experience, including why successful consulting means being a good marketer, why presentations and pitches are midcentury relics, and why value-based pricing is the clear choice over hourly fees. He also shares practical advice on starting and growing a con...
Jan 30, 2025•37 min
Marketing scientist Carl Driesener joins the show for a mini-masterclass on brand growth based on research insights from the Ehrenberg Bass Institute, where he is an associate professor. He and Itir cover how brand equity should be measured through consumer research and category entry points, the benefits of the "pick any" method for measuring brand image, why brand loyalty is often overstated, and the real source of brand growth. The discussion covers topics like pricing power, mental and physi...
Jan 09, 2025•47 min•Ep. 48
In the final episode of 2024, LinkedIn expert and B2B Growth Co founder Michelle J Raymond shares her thoughts on what shifts to expect on the platform next year, and how brands can prepare. On tap in today's discussion are the shift toward a pay-to-play model, the growing influence of Gen Z users, the downside of relying on AI for your LinkedIn content, and a lot more. Michelle emphasizes the need for company and individual brands to develop their unique voices and focus on emotional connectivi...
Dec 19, 2024•37 min
Brand strategist Massimo Giunco rejoins the podcast to share his rare perspective on the current state and future of marketing. Drawing from his extensive 25-year experience at Nike, Giunco explores critical challenges facing the industry in 2024 and beyond, including the pervasiveness of the "too big to fail" digital marketing ecosystem, increasingly intrusive data extraction, and the immense power of generative AI. Although he has become less sure of the power of marketing to drive consumers t...
Dec 12, 2024•26 min
Do you struggle with distraction and multitasking? Do you have trouble setting goals? Do everyone else's lives just seem cooler than yours on social media? In a departure from the usual marketing-related content, Itir welcomes her sister Defne Eraslan, a psychiatrist, for an in-depth exploration of mental health. The episode offers an intimate conversation about understanding psychological challenges, debunking myths surrounding mental disorders, and navigating modern psychological pressures. De...
Dec 05, 2024•55 min
Tom Denford joins Itir to discuss the challenges and opportunities marketers face in working with media agencies, focusing on transparency, trust, and long-term strategy. They cover the complexities of the buyer-seller roles within agencies, the shift toward in-house media capabilities, and practical advice for smaller brands looking to work with the right agency. A key takeaway is the importance of not cutting corners on media investments, as the cheapest option often comes at the expense of qu...
Nov 21, 2024•50 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, Allan Dib, founder of Lean Marketing and author of two bestsellers, shares his approach to setting loose goals and tight systems for continual progress—including how traditional goal-setting frameworks fall short. He explains the fundamentals of the lean marketing approach, and argues that today's marketers need to niche down— way down. Allan is the founder of Lean Marketing, a marketing accelerator that helps individuals and organizations learn and implement marketing best prac...
Sep 26, 2024•39 min
In this episode, Itir chats with Chris Do, an Emmy-winning designer and founder of Blind and The Futur. They touch on Chris's pivot from brand design to education, and dig into his practical advice for new entrepreneurs. Chris highlights the importance of staying financially secure before starting a business, finding market gaps that fit your skills, and offering free or low-cost services to build your experience. They also dive into client engagement tips, the pros and cons of project-based pri...
Sep 16, 2024•56 min
Professor Anindya Ghose discusses his upcoming book on AI and wellbeing, explaining the "House of AI" framework that corporate leaders can use to build an AI-driven organization and its applications in marketing. He covers topics like data engineering, marketing mix modeling, and the future of mobile advertising. He also shares insights on maintaining traditional marketing principles while embracing AI technologies, and why human creativity and intuition aren't going anywhere in the age of AI. A...
Aug 29, 2024•42 min
Dr. Jeffrey Funk offers a balanced perspective on AI hype, discussing the importance of understanding processes, evaluating technological progress, and critically assessing market signals. He emphasizes the need to look beyond superficial claims, like the idea that AI will replace 95 percent of marketers' workload. He also highlights potential pitfalls in AI adoption, and provides insights on avoiding investment bubbles in the tech industry. Jeffrey's recommended book is Emmanuel Maggiori's Sili...
Aug 08, 2024•41 min
Ashley Gross, AI marketing strategist and founder of the Prompt community, discusses how entrepreneurs can leverage AI to build businesses rapidly. She shares insights on overcoming challenges, creating personalized marketing campaigns on a budget, and using specialized AI tools. Ashley also details her journey from corporate marketer to AI-empowered entrepreneur. Ashley is an AI marketing strategist and entrepreneur with ten years of marketing experience and four years of expertise in AI-driven...
Jul 25, 2024•32 min
In this episode, Itır talks to Irit Levi, founder of Day by Day, about how marketers can optimize software selection and automation. Irit introduces the "Three Ps"—Purpose, Process, and People—framework for choosing software and stresses the need for automation to follow defined processes. They discuss ethical email list building, choosing email marketing platforms, and the importance of maintaining ownership when outsourcing. Irit also emphasizes the benefits of specialized tools like Zapier an...
Jul 11, 2024•51 min
Harvard professor Iavor Bojinov joins the show to discuss how businesses should experiment to learn how AI can best support their efforts. The conversation also touches on how AI models are developed, the importance of trust, and the fundamental shift in marketers' roles in the AI era. Iavor is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration and the Richard Hodgson Fellow at Harvard Business School. He is the co-PI of the AI and Data Science Operations Lab. Iavor's favorite coffee spot in Bost...
Jun 20, 2024•48 min
In this episode, Reid Robinson, Lead AI Product Manager at Zapier and self-proclaimed "student of social media," discusses the impact of AI and automation on marketing. He explores how AI can help us personalize customer communication, repurpose content, and streamline internal processes. You'll learn about the importance of providing context to AI models to drive more valuable outputs—and what can go wrong when you let AI write all your social media content! Reid harnesses the powers of AI and ...
Jun 06, 2024•48 min
In this thought-provoking episode, Itır Eraslan interviews Jason Fulton, an old friend and colleague and expert in consumer insights. They delve into the significance of qualitative research, emphasizing empathy, human-centric strategies, and storytelling in understanding consumer behavior. Fulton shares experiences from his agency, This Memento, discussing innovative approaches to marketing and insights, including the impact of AI on consumer research, and his agency's proven three-step "DIG" (...
May 09, 2024•55 min
Nemanja Zivkovic, founder of Funky Marketing , joins the podcast to discuss trends and best practices in B2B marketing, what it means to be a fractional CMO, why a relationship-based approach is the way to win, and how he leverages AI tools for success in his business. Nemanja is a B2B tech and SaaS growth strategist and the founder of Funky Marketing, a strategic marketing company that uses research, strategy, and creative to help B2B tech firms grow and build demand for how buyers buy (social,...
Apr 18, 2024•50 min
Today's guest is Cathy McPhillips, Chief Growth Officer at Marketing AI Institute, and she's passionate about sharing how AI can power today's marketing efforts. We discuss the role of AI in marketing, particularly in the context of Cathy's work at Marketing AI Institute; where AI will have the most impact on marketing in the next few years; and why Cleveland is the place to be when it comes to AI in 2024! Cathy McPhillips is the Chief Growth Officer at Marketing AI Institute. She leads growth e...
Apr 04, 2024•29 min
Liza Adams of GrowthPath Partners joins the podcast to talk about applied AI—moving beyond tactical uses and applying AI to improve efficiency, derive data-driven strategic insights, and personalize customer experiences. Liza shares the differences between generative AI and applied AI, what she teaches at her applied AI workshops, and how applied AI can help enhance go-to-market and strategic marketing initiatives. Liza Adams is an applied AI advisor and fractional CMO, working with B2B business...
Mar 21, 2024•44 min
In an era when AI tools are being used to create better content every day, how a creative can stay relevant and grow? We discuss how branding has evolved (for better or worse!), as well as techniques and habits to unlock creativity, Radim’s book writing process, and practical tips for new writers. Radim Malinic is a creative director, designer and bestselling author. Living and working in South West London, he runs Brand Nu Studio, an award winning branding and creative studio + Brand Nu Books a...
Mar 07, 2024•44 min
In this episode of our AI series, we discuss the future of marketing, the evolution of the marketer's role with AI, and the challenges and limitations of AI that marketers should keep in mind. How will AI tools be used to generate and optimize marketing content? Will we still need human creativity? how can we build trust with consumers regarding the use of AI in their marketing experiences? Christopher S. Penn is an authority on analytics, digital marketing, marketing technology, data science, a...
Feb 15, 2024•40 min
We discuss the future of marketing teams in the age of AI, as well as the fate of privacy, trust, and the user journey in light of machine learning advances. Paul Meinshausen is the founder and CEO of Aampe, a marketing automation platform for mobile apps. Paul Meinshausen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmeinshausen/ If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/...
Feb 01, 2024•51 min
In today's episode, we talk to Chris Hare about brand narrative—why it's a crucial part of strategy work, how it links to marketing, and how to build a narrative. Chris is the founder of The Storied Future, and he builds narratives that help CEOs advance their business strategies, elevate their executive brands, and transform their leadership. Chris Hare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hareforce1/ If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channe...
Jan 19, 2024•45 min
This is the start of a special series on AI. Felix Oberholzer-Gee is sharing his thoughts on how AI will shift the way we do business and strategy. Felix Oberholzer-Gee is the Professor of Business Administration in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School. He is the author of the book 'Better Simpler Strategy' and the co-host of the podcast 'After Hours'. Felix Oberholzer-Gee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-oberholzer-gee-16424b4/ Listen to the After Hours podcast: https://ha...
Jun 21, 2023•19 min
What are the questions you should ask yourself before you go solo at work. Self-employment is a tempting career path, but it’s not for everyone. Listen to this solo episode from Itir Eraslan if you are considering to start your own business. If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/
Jun 14, 2023•10 min
