Shoestring

SimpleTexting•fast.wistia.net

Welcome to Shoestring, the show dedicated to helping small businesses with big ambitions and tight budgets. In each episode, our team of scrappy, seasoned marketers collaborates with a business to find out their goals and brainstorm creative solutions to achieve them. Tune in to hear us pitch ideas — then find out which ones worked, and learn from those that didn’t. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting, a Sinch company.

Last refreshed: July 4th, 2025 at 6:12 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Leaf & Limb: Finding new ways to educate customers

Basil is the owner at Leaf & Limb, a tree service company that evolved from cutting down trees to healing and preserving them. But before Basil can grow his mission-driven business, he needs to solve a fundamental challenge: helping people understand why trees matter. In this episode, we explore interactive ways to help Leaf & Limb educate new audiences about the vital role trees play in our environment — all while staying true to their no-sales-pitch philosophy. Shoestring is produced b...

Oct 22, 2024•8 min•Ep. 10

Sao New York: Scaling content creation as a team of one

When Oriana isn't at her day job, she's building her online sustainable home goods brand, Sao New York. She has the branding and partner relationships in place but is left with little time for marketing. In this episode, we showed Oriana a simple, yet engaging way to get more eyes on Sao New York's mission and products. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting , a Sinch company. Does your small business need marketing help? Text us at (954) 419-3657....

Aug 14, 2024•13 min•Ep. 9

Connecticut Watersports: Segmenting emails for higher engagement

Ian and his crew at Connecticut Watersports maintain a steady stream of customers every summer. But now, five years into the business, he's wondering if there's a way to keep customers engaged year-round with a consistent email marketing strategy. Ian also wants to segment his customers so everyone gets the most relevant messages. In this episode, we brought our best email tips aboard to help Ian provide more value to his customers and generate more bookings. Shoestring is produced by SimpleText...

Jul 22, 2024•13 min•Ep. 8

A Frugal Chick: Growing your brand community (ft. Rand Fishkin)

Deal blogger Laura has spent the past 14 years growing her brand, A Frugal Chick. Today, thousands of bargain-hunters look forward to her deals, but Laura's nervous about the future of her community. Companies like Meta and Google are changing so rapidly that Laura can't rely solely on their technology to connect with her audience. In this episode, we team up with marketing legend Rand Fishkin to help Laura protect her relationship with her followers through email and SMS. Shoestring is produced...

Jun 11, 2024•16 min•Ep. 7

Simply Smashing: Breaking out of a business slump

Stephen’s rage room facility, Simply Smashing, has been a local hotspot for eight years. But with a recent drop in bookings, Stephen and his daughter Mari are looking for ways to refresh their marketing strategy. In this episode, we take a swing at creative ways to get more people smashing and even enlist the help of a stranger on the internet. Shoestring is a podcast by Sinch , the customer communications cloud. Does your small business need marketing help? Text us at (954) 419-3657. Here’s the...

Apr 29, 2024•14 min•Ep. 6

Gramercy Atelier: Designing a sales funnel that converts

Robert and Maria are the co-founders of Gramercy Atelier, a design house in New York City. Robert handles the business, and Maria creates stunning bespoke special occasion dresses for customers all over the U.S. Although the couple has a steady flow of leads looking for the perfect dress, they’re having trouble getting them to commit to a consultation. In this episode, our team uncovers ways to encourage more leads to book that first phone call. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting , a Sinch ...

Mar 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 5

Blue Barn Pet & Hobby Farm: Getting creative with AI

Deb leads the marketing efforts at Blue Barn, a family-owned business that is thriving in the competitive pet store industry. The business is growing but Deb can’t help but wonder what she could be doing better. In this episode, our team digs in to find missed opportunities and experiments with an out-of-the-box way to leverage AI to collect data and delight customers. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting , a Sinch company. Learn more at SimpleTexting.com. Does your small business need market...

Feb 08, 2024•13 min•Ep. 4

Check-in with Makers Collective

In episode 1 of Shoestring, we met the Makers Collective team and pitched ideas to help grow their SMS list. What did they do with the ideas, and did they work? Find out in this check-in episode. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting , a Sinch company. Learn more at SimpleTexting.com. Does your small business need marketing help? Text us at (954) 419-3657 for a chance to be a guest on an upcoming episode. hkZnRkEzmnW2bwKDoPW2

Jan 16, 2024•6 min•Ep. 1

Zesty Urban Farms: The power of being small

John is fully invested in Zesty Urban Farms, his microgreens business. He has made the leap from selling at his local farmers market to opening a new retail location. His products are a hit among loyal fans, but most people in town don’t know he exists — or what microgreens even are. Listen in as we brainstorm ideas to elevate Zesty Urban Farms from a hidden gem to a household name. Shoestring is produced by SimpleTexting , a Sinch company. Learn more at SimpleTexting.com. Does your small busine...

Dec 14, 2023•19 min•Ep. 2

Makers Collective: Building a list without being spammy

The 13th annual Indie Craft Parade is right around the corner, but Lib and Jackie are struggling to market to current and future attendees. Their organization, Makers Collective, sells most of its tickets at the door, which makes collecting useful attendee data a marketer's nightmare. While SMS marketing can help solve this challenge for future events, Lib and Jackie now need creative ideas for building their contact list and keeping subscribers engaged year-round. Shoestring is produced by Simp...

Oct 16, 2023•26 min•Ep. 1

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