In this episode, Rob Twells speaks with Pat Butkus, SVP of Marketing & Growth at Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company. They explore why podcasting continues to outperform expectations in a landscape dominated by video. The conversation covers how 63% of listeners say they trust their podcast host – and how that level of trust leads to real, measurable action. Pat shares how brands of all sizes are leveraging podcasting to drive both brand awareness and performance, and why ...
Jul 22, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode of Room 301, Rob sits down with Lynn Power, a former ad agency executive who has worked with brands like L’Oréal, Clinique, Amex, and Gillette, and now turned indie beauty founder of Masami Haircare. They unpack what it really takes to grow a modern ecommerce brand without a massive budget or a celebrity name. Lynn shares how she’s built a loyal, engaged customer base by focusing on what most brands overlook: authentic relationships, community-driven marketing, and scrappy experi...
Jun 24, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode of Room 301, Rob Twells is joined by Ryan Jones, Marketing Manager at SEOTesting, to unpack the real value of SEO experimentation. They explore why testing matters, how it helps overcome client pushback, and the surprisingly powerful results Ryan’s seen from even the simplest changes. He also shares a few lessons from career missteps and failures, and explains why SEO isn’t dead, no matter what buzzword comes next. If you’ve ever felt like SEO is part science, part guesswork, thi...
May 13, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 7
In this episode of Room 301, Rob Twells chats with Tim Elliott, a B2B marketing expert, about the power of differentiation. They delve into what truly makes a brand unique beyond basic customer service and value propositions. Tim emphasizes the importance of storytelling, visual cues, and focusing on a niche to gain a competitive edge. He also discusses something called the "torchbearer's calling" tools – speeches, stories, ceremonies, and symbols – to effectively communicate distinctiveness and...
Apr 22, 2025•39 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Join Rob as he chats with Dani McNabb, a product marketer at SBS Software in Paris. Dani shares her insights on effective product positioning, emphasising storytelling and customer solutions. She discusses the importance of collaboration in a global company, the value of documentation, and learning from marketing mishaps. Dani also reveals her unique career journey and advocates for specialisation over being a 'jack of all trades' in marketing. It's time to step into Room 301... brought to you b...
Apr 08, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode of Room 301 , we chat with PPC specialist Sophie Logan about holding digital agencies accountable for paid ad performance, the importance of post-click optimisation, and why businesses shouldn’t rely solely on PPC for growth. Sophie shares hard-learned lessons from her agency days, including costly mistakes, and gives her take on the evolving role of PPC professionals in an AI-driven world. Plus, she reveals the marketing trends that frustrate her the most... If you work in digit...
Mar 25, 2025•32 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode of Room 301 , host Rob Twells sits down with Paid Media Account Manager Lewis Hall to uncover why businesses burn through their PPC budgets without seeing results. They dive into the biggest mistakes advertisers make, the evolving challenges of conversion tracking, and the future of paid media in an AI-driven world. Lewis also shares his must-have marketing tools, a nightmare ad mistake that cost thousands, and his biggest pet peeve in digital marketing. If you're running paid ca...
Mar 11, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Join us on this episode of Room 301 as Rob Twells chats with Bet Hannon, Founder and CEO of AccessiCart, to explore the world of web accessibility. Bet shares her journey from non-profit management to leading an agency focused on making eCommerce more inclusive for people accessibility requirements. They discuss why accessibility is more than just a legal requirement – it’s about business, independence, and opening digital doors for everyone. From the most common accessibility mistakes to the ro...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode of Room 301 , brought to you by The Digital Maze , we're joined by Caroline Smith, brand and growth consultant at Smudged, to explore the importance of aligning your business with purpose-led values. Caroline discusses how understanding who you are and what you stand for is key to making meaningful connections with your clients. We dive into the challenges of B2B marketing, stressing that marketing isn’t just about promotions—it’s about building a solid brand strategy and knowing...
Feb 11, 2025•28 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this episode of Room 301 , we’re joined by Mark Saxby, founder of Status Social and Positive Social, to uncover the secrets behind his success in social media marketing. Mark shares the tools he swears by (hint: it’s not fancy apps) and why he likes to put his faith in people over technology. He also opens up about the lessons learned from his most ambitious flop and the surprising campaign that had national press buzzing. Plus, discover the LinkedIn practice he’d banish forever and the unusu...
Dec 17, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode of Room 301 , host Rob Twells chats with John Hoey, the Digital Lead at Maintel, about his journey from graphic designer to marketing "unicorn" with expertise spanning SEO, web design, and digital strategy. We explore the tools and techniques John swears by, the importance of good planning and learning from your failures (never launch a website on a Friday), and the marketing pet peeves he'd like to see banished to Room 301. Tune in for insights, a few laughs, and plenty of pract...
Dec 03, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 8
This week on Room 301, Emma Glover, founder of Victress Digital, joins Rob Twells for a no-nonsense look at social media marketing in the B2B world. Emma talks about her journey from agency life to launching her own business, sharing why she believes in the power of whiteboards, handwritten lists, and keeping things simple for clients. They dig into the reality of balancing traditional strategies with new tools, why Em’s “don't be a yes man” approach has been a game-changer, and the pitfalls of ...
Nov 19, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Join Rob Twells and returning guest Rudi Dalchow for another insightful episode of the Room 301 podcast. Rudi, the Global SEO Strategy Lead at Improove, highlights the importance of curiosity and never being afraid to ask too many questions (even "stupid" ones) as essential tools for success in SEO. He also shares insights into key SEO tools like Microsoft Clarity and the evolving role of AI in digital marketing. Plus, find out what we decide to throw into Room 301 this time, with some light-hea...
Nov 05, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this thought-provoking episode of Room 301, we discuss the challenges and nuances of navigating authenticity in a world increasingly dominated by AI. Join Rob and John as they unpack the pervasive issue of watered-down networking, where AI-generated comments flood social platforms and online discussions, leaving meaningful conversations feeling like a rarity. In their quest for authenticity, they discuss turning to books for insights to gain perspective and step away from the digital noise (w...
Oct 22, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Join us in the latest episode of Room 301, as Rob Twells, co-founder of The Digital Maze , sits down with Nina Alexander , a seasoned Marketing & Sales Automation Strategist at CPD Standards Office. They jump head first into the increasing importance of automation in today's marketing landscape, sharing real-world insights on the tools and strategies that drive success. From the power of nurturing leads to the intricacies of understanding customer behaviour (as well as the pitfalls of misund...
Oct 08, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Welcome back to Room 301! In this episode, Rob Twells sits down with Rob White, the global head of marketing at FNG , to explore Rob's fascinating journey from drama school to marketing leadership, diving into the AI tools transforming his team's content creation and outreach efforts. He also recalls a spooky marketing event that went hilariously wrong—complete with Halloween decorations, a witch’s cauldron, and a guest appearance by... Uncle Fester?! Brace yourself for a Room 301 like no other,...
Sep 24, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this exciting episode of Room 301, Rob Twells chats with Emma Clark , Director of Brand and Marketing at Opencast , for a no-nonsense look at what it takes to thrive in the world of digital marketing. With an amazing 25 years of experience, Emma reveals her winning strategies, including the powerful 70/20/10 rule and why you need to embrace a bit of "craziness" to succeed. From tackling risk aversion to building bold, data-driven campaigns, Emma’s insights will challenge your thinking and ins...
Sep 10, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In the latest episode of Room 301, brought to you by The Digital Maze , we’re thrilled to welcome Kathryn Strachan, the dynamic founder and director of CopyHouse , a leading content marketing agency that has carved a niche in the complex worlds of technology, fintech, and healthcare. Learn all about the strategies that fueled her rapid growth, the challenges she overcame, and her unique approach to content marketing that focuses on clarity, audience understanding, and building relationships at s...
Aug 27, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Rob Twells jumps into the controversial topic of cutting marketing spend and its impact on business success with our special guests, Pete Bingham, Brand Growth Manager, and Lucy Bradley from our Client Success Team at The Digital Maze . Join us as we explore how to shift the perception of marketing from a 'nice to have' to an indispensable part of any business strategy. We'll discuss the short-term and long-term commercial impacts of cutting marketing budgets and share real-life...
Jul 18, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Rob Twells joins TDM’s Paid Media Account Manager Lewis Hall and Brand Growth Lead Pete Bingham to explore how elevating visibility, attracting customers, and fostering growth for startups and small businesses requires nuance, cost-effective tactics and strategic decision-making to strike the right balance between growth and sustainability. Drawing from their experiences, we'll discuss all the common challenges and strategies associated with a fledgling business, sharing real-life examples to he...
May 17, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this edition, we'll be talking to The Digital Maze 's Senior SEO Strategist Helen Halfpenny and our Director of Tech, Liam Nelson all about the challenges eCommerce marketers are likely to face in the upcoming months. Whether its AI, Google frustrations or communication breakdowns, join us as we discover why adopting a comprehensive full stack approach, and appreciating each team's contribution, is crucial for eCommerce success in 2024.
Apr 11, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 2
We're back with a new format, where two experts from The Digital Maze from two different ends of the marketing spectrum provide their uniques perspective on an industry topic. This episode we're looking at how PPC and design teams can optimise PPC ads for maximum reach. From landing pages, to client and competitor research, how do different marketing teams tackle this subject? What can we learn from each other? Are we all secret Reddit users? And, crucially... how do you sell fire to the devil?...
Mar 14, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
SEO expert Josh Allerton guides us through effective budgeting, collaborative experimentation and more as we delve into the world of commercial SEO. With expert insights on how to leverage it for substantial growth, tune in today! Brought to you by The Digital Maze .
Nov 30, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This month, Rob Twells is joined by Clare Taylor of Apricus Marketing as they discuss the four core strategic principles behind every successful marketing campaign. Evaluate, Plan, Implement and Measure. We'll discover the importance of evaluating the market landscape, aligning objectives with business goals, crafting a diverse mix of targeted content, and measuring metrics to optimize results. Catch it now. Brought to you by The Digital Maze ....
Nov 02, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, Rob is joined by Ryan from imail comms, who shares valuable tips on getting stakeholder buy-in as a marketing leader. Discover the challenges of gaining support from stakeholders, identifying key stakeholders, and managing relationships with them whilst we explore the importance of being emotionally aware, providing concrete facts and figures to support your strategies, and selling your ideas effectively. Tune in to discover essential insights on stakeholder management and how t...
Sep 28, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Join Rob Twells chatting with Caroline Smith from Smudged, as they discuss all the fantastic reasons why you should humanise your brand. With plenty of examples of those B2B companies doing it right (and those doing it wrong), as well as buckets of advice on where to begin, and how to get long-lasting buy-in from your team, stakeholders and customers. If you're in digital marketing, you won't want to miss this latest episode!
Aug 24, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Billie Hyde, Founder of Uptake Agency, to delve into an important topic within the marketing realm—how to avoid unconscious bias in marketing campaigns. Marketing plays a pivotal role in shaping perceptions, influencing decisions, and driving consumer behaviour. However, unconscious biases can unintentionally seep into marketing campaigns, perpetuating stereotypes and excluding certain groups. Billie shares her expertise and insights on how mar...
Jul 27, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Join us on this episode as we delve into the world of marketing with our special guest, Kat Sale, Co-Founder of House of Performance. In this insightful conversation, we explore the challenges and strategies involved in managing a shrinking marketing budget. As economic downturns strike, many businesses face the dilemma of whether to increase their marketing budgets. Kat shares her perspective on this matter, discussing the potential benefits and considerations involved in allocating resources d...
Jul 13, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Join Rob Twells as he talks with Bee Craft and she spills the tea on leading teams through sprints. Get the inside scoop on goal setting, killer communication, and keeping the team motivated. Bee's adaptability and collaboration tips will have you sprinting like a pro! If you're a marketing leader, Bee's got must-hear advice for implementing sprints. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable tips and tricks to level up your sprints! Brought to you by The Digital Maze ....
Jun 23, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Join Rob and Pete as we unravel the mysterious connection between UX and SEO in building websites with serious impact! Looking to captivate your audience and conquer search engine rankings? We've got your back! Rob and Pete dive into the nitty-gritty of user experience and search engine optimisation, sharing tips for the ultimate power combo for online success. Brought to you by The Digital Maze .
May 19, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 9
