COLLECTIVELY The Podcast for purpose-led business and marketing
Better business chats for purpose-led entrepreneurs and their teams
Join us for better business chats...
Collectively started as a bit of fun - another way for us to open the door into our marketing mindsets and chat about and with purpose-led businesses. It has very quickly become a space to share the marketing methods that move the dial for small businesses and a meaningful resource for ethical entrepreneurs and their teams.
With 40+ years experience between us, Monica and I are foundational brand builders, passionate about sharing our knowledge with businesses that exist for more than just profit.
Collectively is a podcast about building better businesses, and the journey all of us as business owners have along the way. In here, we share our experiences of building our own purpose-led businesses and the trials and tribulations, actions and results of our clients, as well as some of the most memorable and successful ethical and sustainable brands we admire.
"It's like I'm sitting in a cafe with girlfriends who really want me to succeed."
Tania Zambrano, Founder of Altruist Apparel
Episode 10
Connecting with your audience through emotion
In our previous episode, we talked about how to create personas that represent your intended audience. But what next? How do you use what you know about your audience to communicate in a way that really resonates with them and helps them connect what they need with what you’re selling?
Brands grow through emotional resonance. At the heart of great brand messaging is a true empathy for the humans you’re here to help. When you start with empathy, you can offer relevant solutions (not sales spin), alleviate rather than agitate a problem, connect rather than coerce and pull people towards a decision that’s right for them (rather than pressure them through potentially unethical techniques).
In this episode, we’re talking about why leading with emotion creates the connection you need to sell, how to understand the emotional drivers behind purchasing decisions, and why storytelling will be one of your best brand assets.
Episode 9
Defining your target audience without bias or stereotypes
Without knowing your audience, you’re shooting in the dark. It's essential for your marketing, messaging, and product development. As the adage goes: if you’re marketing to everyone, you’re marketing to no one. Really understanding your audience goes beyond demographics - especially in an increasingly diverse world. In this episode we’re talking about how to craft effective, inclusive brand persons (or buyer personas) by digging into the psychographics that drive decisions and avoiding bias and stereotypes.
And if you want to grab that free persona workbook we mentioned in this episode, visit www.markmywords.co.nz and hit the ‘DIY copy resources’ tab.
Episode 8
Sustainability reporting for SMEs
In this episode we’re joined by Gina Cook, a Partner at advisory firm, BDO Auckland, who shares more about sustainability - or ESG - reporting. ESG stands for environmental, social issues and governance, and is all about how an organisation can understand, and manage, its environmental and social impacts.
Sometimes reporting like this can be hard to start, because we’re not actually sure where or how to begin. Gina shares some simple first steps that we can do as businesses to actually make a start when it comes to measuring and understanding our impact.
Helpful tools mentioned in this episode:
Find out more about BDO’s sustainability and ESG services and learn about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Episode 7
Agencies - how to get the best and avoid the worst of them
We’ve heard horror stories and picked up the pieces of clients who have been burnt by bad experiences or paid high fees for inadequate results. It happens everywhere, not just in marketing. In every industry, there are people who do what they do well and others who let their clients and the industry down.
Paying for creative skills for your brand is an investment. How can you be sure you’re getting a good return for your business? In this episode we’re talking about red flags and green flags to look out for when it comes to choosing a creative or marketing agency to work with, and also, the part that you play in ensuring you get the best results.
If you’re interested in accessing the briefing document mentioned in this episode, you’ll find it alongside a bunch of other free resources at www.themarketingcollective.co.nz/resources
Episode 6
Building brand credibility with certifications & standards
Greenwashing, woke washing and virtue signalling— there are plenty of ways that brands can embellish the true results or impact of their products or processes to mislead consumers. So, are certifications and standards the solution to keeping brands accountable to their claims
Certifications and standards are more than just marketing tools, in fact they take some serious commitment to operational KPIs, but they can become a helpful tool to leverage when it comes to sharing your story and differentiating your brand. But ‘labels’ can also be misleading when they are simply self-certified and less-than transparent!
This week we’re taking a look at how third-party validations and commitments can potentially boost a brand’s credibility and build trust with increasingly-savvy consumers.
Episode 5
Are you an antisocial entrepreneur?
We know that not everyone feels comfortable showing up on social media, and that depending on your business, social media channels are not always the most effective means of reaching the right audience.
Social media can be an incredibly powerful tactic within your marketing strategy, but the pressure to show up a certain way can stop you from showing up at all.
In this episode we consider the answers to these questions (and more):
- Does your business NEED to be on social media?
- What’s the deal with faceless accounts?
- How do you build confidence about showing up on social media?
- What does ‘success’ look like on social media?
Is it possible to grow your brand while being anti-social? Have a listen!
Episode 4
Can cause marketing help you further your own brand’s impact?
Cause marketing is about aligning your business with a cause, charity or community group and giving back by donating profits, resource or time—and then meaningfully communicating and demonstrating why supporting the cause is important to you.
Perhaps there’s an organisation whose work resonates with you and you’d like to support their impact in some way. Or maybe, starting your own cause connected to your business is something you’ve considered.
Either way, how can you be transparent and authentic with how you talk about your partnership, ensuring that it’s a genuine part of your story, and not just a campaign or a trend?
In this episode we explore cause marketing: what it is, whether it’s right for your business and what to consider when it comes to aligning your brand with a cause, and how to avoid any pitfalls.
Episode 3
How intentional are your values?
So many brands talk about their values. But, do they really live and breathe them? How authentic are brand values these days. Do consumers even care? And, how do employees feel about them?
We uncover all this and more inside Episode Three:
- What are values and why do they matter?
- How do you define meaningful brand values that become more than just a poster on a wall?
- How do you apply brand values so they truly represent your brand and business, and create differentiation and connection in the market?
We also share our own brand values and how we bring to them life in our own brands.
Episode 2
The purpose of purpose
Just another marketing buzzword? We don't think so...
Brands that are purpose-led experience more fulfilment and more customer loyalty. In a world of overwhelm, purpose can help you create more meaning in your business. By focusing on a higher purpose than just profit, you can connect with your customers, communities and staff on a much deeper level. This drives both income and impact.
In this episode, we discuss what purpose is, why it's a marketing fundamental (in our books) and how to define or refine yours so that it becomes a feel-good common thread that runs throughout your business. It's good business, but it's also good for business!
Episode 1
Does the first time always suck?
We kicked off our Collectively podcast with a real and raw chat about doing things for the first time. In here, we discuss what it takes to get started with anything in business, and in life. Imperfect action, imposter syndrome, stepping out of your comfort zone AND tips and tricks for doing some of those marketing things for the first time. It's all in here!
Did we suck first time? You decide...
Want to be our guest?
We're looking for well told stories and business insights that are aligned with the purpose of our podcast - to inspire and educate values-led, ethical entrepreneurs and their teams.
Sound like you? Get in touch and tell us what you'd like to share!
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