From Neil Patel’s timeless marketing fundamentals to Christina Tosi’s community building and the Savannah Bananas’ fans-first approach, this episode revisits the key themes that defined 2025, and what every small business can carry forward into the new year.

Dave and Kelsi reflect on what it means to stay curious, keep experimenting, and keep showing up for your audience. Plus, a special announcement about what’s next for the show in 2026.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• How to Build a Brand that Lasts with Dr. Knowles
• Destination Marketing Strategies with Aljolynn Sperber
• Building Multiple Revenue Streams in Real Estate with Jacqui Luberto
• Bake Club's Recipe for Community Building with Christina Tosi and Shannon Salzano
• Building a Fans-First Business from the Ground Up with The Savannah Bananas
• Ways to Turn Loyal Customers into Your Best Marketing Channel with Gail Goodman
• Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business with Lea Turner
• Art, Story, and the Business of Wonder with Gregangelo Herrera and Team
• Building a Passion-Fueled Business with Jason Shron
• Building a Real Estate Powerhouse with Anthony Lamacchia
• Changing Your Behavior to Build a Stronger Business with Carissa Reiniger
• The Future of Small Business Marketing and How to Keep Up with Frank Vella
• Practical Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business with Neil Patel
• Real Estate Teams, Systems, and Family with Verl Workman
• Smart Ways to Use AI as a Solopreneur with Mike Allton
• Preparing Your Business for the Future with Dr. Ja-Naé Duane

Meet Today's Guests: Dave Charest & Kelsi Carter of Constant Contact

🚀 What Dave does: He is the Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact. He helps small business owners make sense of online marketing and hosts the Be A Marketer podcast.

💡 Key quote: “Storytelling, of course, plays a big role here. Sharing your experience — the things that you’ve done and the things that you’ve helped your customers do, that’s how you bring those things to life. Because AI doesn’t have those stories, and those are how you connect with people.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

📝 What Kelsi does: Kelsi is the Brand Production Coordinator at Constant Contact and produces the Be a Marketer podcast. She also writes the Be a Marketer newsletter for Constant Contact's LinkedIn page.

💡 Key quotes: “A lot of people don’t really like being marketed to. But if you’re providing them with some valuable content or something educational, they’re more likely to gravitate towards you.”

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Paul Sloane, innovation expert and founder of Destination Innovation, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to show how lateral thinking can unlock breakthroughs in business. With over 20 books written and keynote speeches delivered worldwide, Paul has taught companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Disney to reframe challenges and discover fresh solutions.

In this episode, you’ll hear what lateral thinking looks like in practice, why small businesses have an edge when it comes to agility and innovation, and how Paul uses tools like Constant Contact and AI to keep his own marketing sharp after decades in business.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Understanding contact segmentation
• Using click segmentation in an email
• Overview: Email reporting

Meet Today’s Guest: Paul Sloane of Destination Innovation

👤 What he does: Founder of Destination Innovation, a consultancy based in the UK that helps organizations spark creativity, challenge assumptions, and solve problems through lateral thinking and innovation workshops.

💡 Key quote: “Lateral thinking is approaching problems from a fresh direction. The best solutions often come from stepping away from the obvious path.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | X | Instagram

👋 Where to find Destination Innovation: Website | Facebook

Neil Patel, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and co-founder of NP Digital, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share why timeless fundamentals are the foundation for any successful marketing strategy. Named a top marketer by Forbes and the Wall Street Journal, Neil has helped businesses of all sizes, from Amazon to startups, drive growth by focusing on what works.

In this episode, you’ll hear why Neil believes in “search everywhere optimization,” how ugly marketing often outperforms polished campaigns, and why the fundamentals earn you the right to experiment with trends.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Try Constant Contact
• Easily create a multi-channel campaign out of a single email, social post, or SMS
• Create a Social Post and schedule it to publish on social media

Meet Today’s Guest: Neil Patel of NP Digital

👤 What he does: Co-founder of NP Digital, a global digital marketing agency with offices worldwide. New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most recognized marketers.

💡 Key quote: “If you do the fundamentals, you earn the right to try the shiny objects.”

👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

👋 Where to find NP Digital: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn

Dr. Ja-Naé Duane, behavioral scientist, entrepreneur, and co-author of Super Shifts, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to help small businesses navigate the structural and technological changes shaping the future. A longtime innovation leader (and former member of Constant Contact’s own team), Ja-Naé works with organizations worldwide to anticipate change before it hits.

In this episode, you’ll hear why adaptability is small business owners’ superpower, how to prepare for AI-driven shifts in customer behavior, and what you can do now to stay competitive tomorrow.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
• Create lists and segments

Meet Today’s Guest: Dr. Ja-Naé Duane

👤 What she does: Behavioral scientist, entrepreneur, and co-author of Super Shifts. Former Constant Contact innovation team member, now helping leaders worldwide embrace change and prepare for the future.

💡 Key quote: “The size of your business is your greatest advantage, because you can adapt faster than anyone else.”

👋 Where to find her: Website | LinkedIn | X | Instagram

Kunal Madan, co-founder of Amarra, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share how he and his brother grew a formalwear design house into one of the largest in the world, with dresses in over 800 boutiques worldwide. From zero marketing experience to mastering email, design, and relentless testing, Kunal’s story shows what’s possible when you refuse to settle.

In this episode, you’ll hear why balancing marketing to both wholesalers and end consumers has been key to growth, how beautiful imagery and strong email campaigns keep Amarra top of mind, and why email data like open rates and clicks help Kunal close more sales.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Using the Contact Management Dashboard
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Overview: Email reporting

Meet Today’s Guest: Kunal Madan of Amarra

👤 What he does: Co-founder of Amarra, a global formalwear design house and wholesaler based in New Jersey, distributing to boutiques across the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.

💡 Key quote: “Even if you have the best product, it doesn’t mean you’ll make sales. Marketing is the biggest component.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Amarra: Website | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Lisa Franco, Director of Development at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, joins the Be a Marketer podcast to share how she combines a marketing background with a passion for wildlife to grow support, increase donations, and strengthen community ties.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Lisa balances fundraising with education, why storytelling is her most powerful tool for driving engagement, and how Cedar Run uses creative approaches like “Weddings in the Wild” to reach new generations of supporters. Lisa also explains how Constant Contact helps them segment audiences, simplify giving, and keep donors connected to the impact of their contributions.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Understanding contact segmentation
• Add your contacts' details to an email
• Customize what each contact sees in your email with dynamic content
• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you

Meet Today’s Guest: Lisa Franco of Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge

👤 What she does: Director of Development at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, the oldest and busiest wildlife hospital in New Jersey, which also serves as a sanctuary and education center. Lisa oversees fundraising, donor stewardship, communications, and special events.

💡 Key quote: “The best marketing is just being genuine. For us, it’s easy because our mission is a good cause. There’s nothing bad about saving animals and protecting the environment.”

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Cedar Run: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

Marcus King, Global CEO of House of Colour, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share how the UK-founded style and image consultancy scaled internationally by balancing empathy with structure. With operations in seven countries and rapid growth in the U.S., Marcus explains how the franchise has managed to maintain its personal, one-to-one impact while equipping stylists with the systems they need to thrive.

In this episode, you’ll hear why empathy and structure are the secret ingredients to scaling a people-first business, how House of Colour empowers solo entrepreneurs with marketing and operational support, and why Marcus sees email as a critical channel for maintaining brand consistency and driving ROI. You’ll also learn how the company uses community, culture, and communication to turn growth into something sustainable.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Constant Contact Multi-Account Solution
• Constant Contact for Franchises

Meet Today’s Guest: Marcus King of House of Colour

👤 What he does: Global CEO of House of Colour, an international franchise helping people discover their best colors and styles, with operations in seven countries and rapid growth in the United States.

💡 Key quote: “Empathy and structure are the secret ingredients to scaling a people-first business.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find House of Colour: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

In this episode, you’ll hear how showing up as a person, not just a logo, helps build trust online, why consistency and community outweigh follower counts, and what Evan recommends if you only have 15 minutes a day to market your business. You’ll also discover why documenting your journey, highlighting others, and focusing on trust over trends can be the difference between noise and real impact.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Create a Social Post and schedule it to publish on social media
• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
• Allow Constant Contact to publish to your social media accounts

Meet Today’s Guest: Evan Kirstel of eViRa Health

👤 What he does: Tech influencer, B2B content creator, and founder of eViRa Health, a Boston-based agency that helps executives and companies grow influence and customers through social media.

💡 Key quote: “It’s not about the number of followers, it’s about being a trusted source of content.”

👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X

👋 Where to find eViRa Health: Website | LinkedIn

Peter Nieves, founder of Nieves IP Law Group, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share how he turned decades of intellectual property experience into a business that helps small businesses, startups, and creators protect what they’ve built—without getting lost in legal jargon or surprise fees.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Peter went from running a top-ranked IP department at a large firm to launching his own practice and educational platform, why small business owners need to understand the risks of AI-generated content, and the most common intellectual property mistakes entrepreneurs make (and how to avoid them).

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• How to Add a PDF to Your Constant Contact Email
• Downloading .PDF Files After Form Submissions
• Nieves IP Legal Services

Meet Today’s Guest: Peter Nieves of Nieves IP Law Group

👤 What he does: Founder of Nieves IP Law Group, a New Hampshire–based law firm and educational institution dedicated to making intellectual property law accessible for small businesses, startups, and creators.

💡 Key quote: “If you get to the top of the mountain and you’re alone, you did something wrong. Somebody should be at the top with you to enjoy the view.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | Facebook

👋 Where to find Nieves IP Law Group: Website | LinkedIn

Gloria also shares the system behind their communications calendar, why she caps weekly sends to avoid fatigue, and how email is the primary engine that drives traffic and action. If you’re juggling limited bandwidth and big goals, her playbook for consistency, measurement, and member value is refreshingly doable.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Understanding contact segmentation
• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
• Overview: Email reporting

Meet Today’s Guest: Gloria Hammond of NGCOA Canada

👤 What she does: Director of Communications at National Golf Course Owner’s Association Canada in Ottawa. She’s been with the organization since 2006, starting in events before moving into her current role in 2018.

💡 Key quote: “Two minutes after that communication goes out, I have my first survey response.”

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find NGCOA Canada: Website | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

Mark’s team uses the “green classroom” approach, which takes learning outside so people actually apply what they learn. That hands-on style has helped thousands of professionals communicate better, collaborate more, and see measurable ROI. 

We also dig into how he blends segmentation, metrics, and a touch of AI to keep relationships warm and content consistent, plus the simple “cash on the table” test he still uses to decide which marketing bets are worth it. 

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Using the Contact Management Dashboard
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Send birthday wishes using the Automation Path Builder
• Overview: Email reporting
• How Constant Contact is innovating with AI and what that means for you

Meet Today’s Guest: Mark Soanes of Call of the Wild

👤 What he does: Director at Call of the Wild, a leadership and team development company in South Wales, UK, known for experiential learning in the outdoors. 

💡 Key quote: “No point doing it if you’re not tracking the results, because that’s the key. That’s why you’re doing it.”

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Call of the Wild: Website | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

Christine Gritmon, personal brand strategist and host of Let’s Talk About Brand, helps entrepreneurs build confidence in showing up as themselves, and turning that into their biggest business advantage.

In this episode, Christine shares why your quirks are your magic, how to build trust faster by being yourself, and why email is still your strongest owned asset. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to elevate your personal brand, her insights will help you show up more confidently and connect more authentically.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Save your brand colors, logo, and images in your account (BrandKit)
• How to schedule and send an email
• Create more personalized emails to improve engagement
• Build your brand with a custom designed template

Meet Today’s Guest: Christine Gritmon of Let’s Talk About Brand Podcast

👤 What she does: Christine Gritmon is a personal brand strategist, international speaker, and host of Let’s Talk About Brand. She’s worked with business owners and marketers worldwide, helping them use personal branding, storytelling, and content to grow their businesses with confidence.

💡 Key quote: “People connect with people, not job titles. Stop hiding the things that make you memorable.”

👋 Where to find her: Website | Podcast | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Cindy Clearwater, also known as Cindy Leigh, turned her passion for island life into a thriving multi-channel business by focusing on what really works: email, authentic content, and showing up as herself.

In this episode, Cindy shares how she built My St. Croix VI into a trusted travel guide, why 95% of her product sales come from her email list, and how she uses one business as a testing ground for all the others.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels on social media, this conversation will remind you that consistency, personality, and email marketing are the real game-changers.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Grow your contact list with sign-up forms
• Use an email to grow your contact list
• Enable Text to Join to grow your list
• Using the audience growth center
• Automatically generate a marketing campaign based on your goals (Campaign Builder)

Meet Today’s Guest: Cindy Clearwater of Cindy Leigh Media and My St. Croix.VI

👤 What she does: Cindy Clearwater is the creative director and content strategist for Cindy Leigh Media. She runs Mystcroix.vi, a popular island travel guide based in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is the founder of IDM Strategy Lab. Cindy is also preparing to launch Explorinista, a platform for Gen X women who love to travel smart.

💡 Key quote: “People want connection. When I started sharing my own stories, my email list became my strongest marketing tool.”

👋 Where to find her: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

👋 Where to find My St. Croix.VI: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Frank Vella, CEO of Constant Contact, understands firsthand the complexities small business owners face every day. Having started his journey by helping a friend run marketing campaigns through Constant Contact, he now leads the company with a deep appreciation for the challenges entrepreneurs navigate.

In this episode, Frank shares why staying obsessively close to your customers is crucial, how technology can simplify marketing complexity, and why Constant Contact remains passionately committed to small businesses. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by marketing, Frank’s insights will show you how to leverage tools and relationships to create lasting success.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Campaign Builder: Automatically generate a marketing campaign based on your goals
• Getting started with Constant Contact

Meet Today’s Guest: Frank Vella of Constant Contact

👤 What he does: Frank Vella is the CEO of Constant Contact. With a rich background from companies like Microsoft, Xerox, and General Electric, Frank now leads Constant Contact, ensuring the company remains a dedicated partner in the growth and success of small businesses.

💡 Key quote: "Small businesses are going to be successful when they focus on what they do best. And our job is to make sure that we take as little time away from what they do best."

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Gail Goodman, the former CEO of Constant Contact, helped build a company that defied the odds in an industry where many thought their business model wouldn't work. By focusing on customer needs and creating a strong company culture, she turned this skepticism into a 30-year success story.

"What I kept from all of it was to stay close to your customer," Gail emphatizes. "Understand the problem you're solving for your customer and stay focused on what they need to successfully use your product."

In this episode, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, reconnects with Gail to explore how to build something that truly lasts. They discuss the power of repeat business, why resilience matters when hitting plateaus, and how staying obsessively close to your customers drives sustainable growth, even when others say it can't be done.

Listen to discover practical ways to build stronger customer relationships and create a business that stands the test of time.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Constant Contact On-Demand Library
• Getting Started with Constant Contact webinars

Meet Today’s Guest: Gail Goodman of Entrepreneurship for All

👤 What she does: Gail is the former CEO of Constant Contact and current mentor, board member, and chair of Entrepreneurship for All, a nonprofit dedicated to helping underrepresented entrepreneurs grow their businesses. She led Constant Contact for over 16 years, taking the company from startup to successful industry leader in small business marketing.

💡 Key quote: "The biggest advice is always stay close to your customer and notice how they are, how whatever they do that is related to you is changing and then try to get ahead of it."

👋 Where to find her: Website |  LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter 

👋 Where to find Entrepreneurship for All: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

Dr. Knowles, founder of Music World Entertainment and former sales exec at Xerox and Johnson & Johnson, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share how he applied the same marketing fundamentals, audience insight, branding, and process, to launch Destiny’s Child, grow a multi-million-dollar hair salon business, and teach entrepreneurship around the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear how he made the leap from corporate sales to the entertainment industry, why “practicing failure” was core to his management style, and what every small business can gain from learning the psychology behind entrepreneurship.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources:

• Book Dr. Mathew Knowles to speak at MathewKnowles.com
• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
• Getting started with the Automation Path Builder

Meet Today’s Guest: Mathew Knowles of Music World Entertainment

👤 What he does: Dr. Knowles is an award-winning music executive, entrepreneur, author, professor, and cancer survivor. He’s best known for managing Destiny’s Child and Beyoncé’s early solo career, but his journey began in corporate America with a 20-year run at Xerox, Philips Medical Systems, and Johnson & Johnson.

He later launched Music World Entertainment in Houston, Texas, and grew it into one of the world’s leading music and entertainment companies, landing major brand deals, developing new talent, and expanding into fashion, haircare, and education. Dr. Knowles now travels the world teaching the next generation of business leaders through speaking and mentorship.

💡 Key quote: “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect anybody else to believe in you?”

👋 Where to find him: Website |  LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter | Instagram

👋 Where to find Music World Entertainment: LinkedIn | Instagram 

In this episode of Be A Marketer, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks with Jayson and his teammate, Shane DiMantova, who leads PR and social media for the team. Together, they've built a loyal fan base by treating their racing operation like a business, from segmenting email lists to planning content calendars around class schedules.

"Even when we're not at the track, we still try to build it up as much as possible," Jayson says. "I see a lot of drivers that, if they're at the track, great, they're posting. If they're not, they're just gone. We want to make you think we’re racing every weekend—even if we're off for a month." Shane adds, "Without Constant Contact, we'd be chickens with our heads cut off.”

They share how they use automation, segmentation, and SMS to grow fan engagement, boost merch sales, and pitch sponsors—even on off weeks. Their approach proves that with the right tools and a plan, small teams can move fast and grow big.

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Additional Resources

• Understanding contact segmentation
• Create a segment of contacts by choosing specific criteria
• Using contact lists, tags, and segments based on your list size
• Customer Spotlight: Jayson Alexander Racing Stays in the Fast Lane with Constant Contact

Meet Today's Guests: Jayson Alexander and Shane DiMantova from Jayson Alexander Racing

Jayson Alexander

👤 What he does: Jayson Alexander is a NASCAR driver, entrepreneur, and full-time college student. He's the founder of Jayson Alexander Racing and co-founder of Premier Performance Group, where he helps fellow drivers land sponsorships and navigate professional racing careers, all while serving in the military and playing collegiate lacrosse.

💡 Key quote:  "There's so much more than just showing up and driving. We have everything. We have the social media side, we have the sponsorship side, we have the marketing side."

👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Shane DiMantova

👤 What he does: Shane DiMantova is a sports management student, freelance designer, and Director of PR and Social Media at Jayson Alexander Racing. He helps run the team's day-to-day marketing, from email campaigns to giveaways, bringing fan engagement and brand identity to the forefront of their growing NASCAR presence.

💡 Key quote: "Without Constant Contact, we'd be a bunch of people running around like chickens with their heads cut off, for sure. We'd be all over the place, not knowing what to do, trying to build up our brand."

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | Instagram

Emma Easton, founder and “chief bolloxologist” of Business Bollox, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to talk about the trap of overcomplicating marketing and why simplicity and clarity are the real secret weapons for small businesses.

In this episode, Emma and Dave dig into the pressure business owners feel to show up everywhere and post constantly, and how that noise can actually get in the way of meaningful connection. You’ll hear why marketing needs to start with your business model, how to reframe what “strategy” really means, and how to get your time and focus back.

Whether you're new to marketing or feeling stretched thin, this episode is a refreshing reminder that doing less but doing it with intention can actually lead to more.

Additional Resources:

• Optimize the subject line of an email
• A/B test an email subject line

Meet Today’s Guest: Emma Easton

👤 What she does: Emma Easton is the founder and “chief bolloxologist” of Business Bollox, a marketing strategy company based in the UK. With a background in corporate PR and small business branding, Emma now helps entrepreneurs cut through the noise and grow their businesses with clarity and confidence.

💡 Key quote: “You don't need to be doing everything. You just need to be doing the right things.”

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn 

👋 Where to find Business Bollox: Website | LinkedIn 

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

That moment sparked what would become BuyBlack.org, a platform that has grown from 10,000 to over 50,000 listings of Black-owned businesses across the country. What started as David's passion project in 2022 is now a comprehensive ecosystem helping consumers discover and support Black-owned businesses while providing those businesses with marketing tools and resources.

"Our mission just as an organization is to drive traffic and revenue to black owned businesses," he explains in this episode of Be a Marketer.

What marketing strategies are working for BuyBlack.org? In this episode, David and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, explore how the platform uses email automation, digital advertising co-ops, and community engagement both online and offline.

Tune in to hear how David built partnerships with organizations like Constant Contact, why certification matters for Black-owned businesses, and how a parade float became one of his most meaningful marketing moments.

Additional Resources:

• Create and manage an automated Welcome Email
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Using click segmentation in an email

Meet Today’s Guest: David Derryck of BuyBlack

☕ What he does: David Derryck is the founder and CEO of BuyBlack.org, a mission-driven platform based in Oakland, California that helps consumers find and support Black-owned businesses across the country. What started as a passion project during the pandemic has grown into an ecosystem with over 50,000 listings and counting. 

💡 Key quote: “I think there's a clear recognition in this country that we've been on. Like wealth inequality exists, revenue inequality exists, and I think there's a clear recognition that people want to fix that.”

👋 Where to find David: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Buy Black: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

As the host and Senior Producer of This Is Small Business, Amazon's podcast for entrepreneurs, Andrea treats the show like a product. That means creating branding guidelines, defining listener personas, building workflows, and committing to quality long before the first mic check.

"We make sure to stay true to both of these," Andrea explains. "We're thinking about what our listener will take away from the story we're telling, while staying authentic to the person or business featured in the episode—our guest." That dual focus shapes every decision, from production to promotion.

In this episode, Andrea joins Be A Marketer host Dave Charest to talk about why strong creative work starts with strategy. She shares how frameworks like "the five whys" and "test, fail, learn fast" help founders focus, why social media might not be the best marketing channel for a podcast, and how showing up consistently builds trust and community.

Additional Resources

• A/B test an email subject line
• Using the audience growth center
• Grow your contact list with sign-up forms
• Enable Text to Join to grow your list
• Use an email to grow your contact list

Meet Today's Guest: Andrea Marquez from This is Small Business 

👤 What she does: Andrea Marquez is the Senior Producer and Host of This Is Small Business, Amazon's award-winning podcast for entrepreneurs. A first-generation Latina with a background in advertising, she built the show from the ground up to spotlight real-world business stories and provide practical guidance for small business owners.

💡 Key quote: "Everything starts from understanding who you're telling the story to and why they want to hear it, all the way to every single day of recording, guest chasing, scheduling, etc."

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | TikTok | 

👋 Where to find This Is Small Business: Spotify |  Apple Podcasts | Amazon

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

As founder and CEO of the Austin Ekeler Foundation and Eksperience content platform, Austin shares how his early marketing efforts yielded diminishing returns until he discovered the power of audience segmentation. "What makes marketing successful? Consistency," Austin explains as he reveals how automated messaging and targeted communication transformed his business relationships.

Austin candidly discusses his $1.2 million tech investment misstep and how that painful lesson shaped his more measured approach to business growth. His marketing journey began with simple email collection during his Twitch streaming days and gradually evolved as he expanded into multiple ventures, including real estate projects and an investment fund.

Whether renovating high school weight rooms through his foundation or helping athletes connect with fans via Eksperience, Austin demonstrates how proper audience segmentation builds authentic relationships. His methodical approach offers a practical blueprint: start small, test strategies, learn from setbacks, and thoughtfully implement technology to maintain personal connections at scale - a balance of automation and hands-on engagement that any business can adapt for their marketing efforts.

Additional resources:

• Create and Manage tags
• Use the Automation Path Builder to add or remove tags from your contacts
• Automatically send a series of emails when a contact joins your list

Meet Today's Guest: Austin Ekeler of the Washington Commanders and the Austin Ekeler Foundation

🏈 What he does: Austin Ekeler is the current running back for the Washington Commanders. He's also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of multiple business ventures, including the Austin Ekeler Foundation, which renovates weight rooms in high schools nationwide, and Eksperience, a content management platform for athletes and organizations. 

💡 Key quote: "I think it's important to know that the journey doesn't stop and it's not an unsuccessful journey if your business is not successful. I think it's only an unsuccessful journey in the business world, entrepreneurial world, if you don't take the lessons that are learned from your wins and from your losses."

👋 Where to find him: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

👋 Where to find Eksperience: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Austin Ekeler Foundation: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

To celebrate National Small Business Week, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, hit the road for live Q&As at Small Business Expo events in Boston and NYC. In this special “Ask Dave” edition of Be a Marketer, he answers real questions from real business owners on the spot.

In this conversation, you’ll hear insights on how to get started with marketing when you’re new to it, ways to clean up and grow your email list, how introverts can build a content strategy that feels natural, and how to use automation, segmentation, and AI to stay consistent without burning out. Whether you’re running a solo business or building a growing team, you’ll walk away with honest, tactical advice straight from the field.

Additional Resources:

• Getting started with Constant Contact
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Schedule and send an email
• Create a Social Post and schedule it to publish on social media
• Create and activate an event
• Automatically send a series of emails when a contact joins your list
• "Ask a Trainer" Daily Drop-In Sessions
• Kickbox integration with Constant Contact
• Keeping clean contact lists
• View the location of your clicks in the Email Heat Map
• Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
• SCORE

Meet Today’s Guest:

This episode features a wide range of small business owners who stepped up to the mic during our live Q&A sessions at the Constant Contact booth. From marketing agencies and HR consultants to spa owners, content creators, and market researchers, these entrepreneurs brought their most pressing marketing questions to the table.

In their conversation with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, each offered a different perspective on the small business journey. You’ll hear thoughtful questions about finding your audience, creating content that feels true to who you are, staying consistent with marketing efforts, and making technology work for you, not the other way around.

As Sophie put it: “I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect with people when I’m stuck in that introverted way.” That moment captured exactly what this episode is about, meeting business owners where they are, and helping them build confidence and clarity with every step forward.

These conversations were recorded live at the Small Business Expo events in Boston and NYC.

Aleah Carter: Marketing professional at Jillian Circus, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Long Island, NY 

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

David Williams: Founder of Triton Talent Solutions, an HR consulting firm focused on recruiting for small businesses 

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

Sophie Lee: Founder of a multimedia production company

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

Tatiana Guerrero: Director at Diamond Aesthetics Academy and co-owner of Diamond Skin and Body Spa in the North Shore area 

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

Alice Sungurov: Freelance content and marketing consultant exploring a business in art licensing 

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

James Saunders: Founder of EventAndTravel.com, a long-time event and travel professional based in NYC

👋 Where to find him: Instagram

Rob Hebron: Commercial real estate broker and third-generation partner in a family-owned firm

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn

Martha Hayward: Founder of Bird Dog Insights, a market research company helping businesses better understand their customers

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

His secret? A strategic blend of AI tools and email marketing automation that turns one piece of content into many, all while building deeper connections with his 45,000+ subscribers.

"AI is not a tool. It's a technology. It's an underpinning to everything that we're doing today. It's like electricity or the Internet," Mike explains on this episode of Be A Marketer.

In his conversation with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, Mike reveals his approach to creating high-quality content at scale and how his open rates increased by 100% after switching to Constant Contact.

He also shares practical ways to use AI as a collaborative partner in marketing and explains why welcome emails and segmentation are crucial to email marketing success.

Additional Resources:

• AI Content Generator
• Automatically Generate a Marketing Campaign
• Agorapulse podcast episode with Dave Charest (Three Actions That Drive Small Business Marketing Success)
• Create a Segment of Contacts
• Grow Your Contact List With Sign-Up Forms
• Using Click Segmentation in an Email
• Resend to Non-openers
• Create and Manage an Automated Welcome Email

Meet Today’s Guest: Mike Allton of The Social Media Hat and Agorapulse

🎯 What he does: Mike Allton is an AI strategist and podcast host at The Social Media Hat, as well as the chief storyteller at Agorapulse, a social media management tool. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing, helping marketers make sense of blogging, SEO, social media, and now AI.

💡 Key quote: "We are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, the AI revolution, where everything we do and know as a society is literally changing. And that's not just hype, that's actually what's happening right now."

👋 Where to find him: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn  | YouTube | Instagram  

👋 Where to find The Social Media Hat: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

👋 Where to find The Agorapulse: Website | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Jennifer Nespola Lantz, VP of Deliverability and Industry Relations at Kickbox, brings over 15 years of expertise to this critical aspect of digital marketing. What began as an accidental career shift has blossomed into a passion for improving email deliverability and helping businesses connect reliably with their customers.

"Consent is number one. And this consent needs to be clear and conspicuous so that when somebody gives you their address, they know exactly who they're giving it to, what they're getting in return, and how often," Jennifer emphasizes on this episode of Be a Marketer.

On this episode, Jennifer joins host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact to explore why growing your email list the right way matters more than growing it fast, how to protect your list from bots and bad data, and what email verification does for your business's reputation.

Additional Resources:

• Integrating with Constant Contact
• Install a Contact Sign-Up Form on a Website
• What is a DMARC Policy and Why Do I Need One?
• Collect new sign-ups with a Lead Generation Landing Page
• Create a Segment of Contacts by Choosing Specific Criteria
• 🎧 What You Can Do to Avoid the Junk Folder With Jon Marburger and Tara Natanson

Meet Today’s Guest: Jennifer Nespola Lantz of Kickbox

✉️ What she does: Jennifer is the Vice President of Deliverability and Industry Relations at Kickbox, an email verification and deliverability service based in Texas. She leads Kickbox's consulting team, helping businesses improve the quality of their email lists and ensure their messages get delivered. She's been doing email marketing for over 15 years.

💡 Key quote: "An unsubscribe, though, is a much more desirable action than a spam complaint. I think we tend to forget that there are people on the other end of that email."

👋 Where to find Jennifer:  X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog

👋 Where to find Kickbox: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | GitHub | X, formerly known as Twitter

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Jason, two decades later, is the president of Rapido Trains Inc., Canada's largest manufacturer of high-end model trains, with operations in North America and the UK.

Rapido is built on a foundation of attention to detail and radical transparency. "If we screw up, we just tell people," Jason explains on this episode of Be a Marketer. "Being totally straight with customers has transformed how they connect with our brand."

What can small business owners learn from a company that achieves 81% email open rates? On this episode, Jason and host Dave Charest unpack how obsessive honesty drives customer loyalty, why embracing your passion is marketing magic, and the incredible ROI of knowing your audience.

Tune in to discover how your business can harness Constant Contact tools to build deeper customer connections and resonate with your audience.

Additional Resources:

• Overview: Email resend options
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Install a contact sign-up form on a website
• Create a sign-up landing page 

Meet Today’s Guest: Jason Shron of Rapido Trains Inc.

🚂 What he does: Jason Shron is the president of Rapido Trains Inc., Canada's largest manufacturer of high-end model trains and accessories. After leaving his PhD program in art history to pursue his passion, he built an international company with operations in North America and the UK. Fun fact: He has a 20-foot section of a real train in his basement.

💡 Key quote: "We want to tell people what's going on, and there will be people who are not reasonable… But that honesty, I think, is very important. And the newsletters are a great way. It's a direct way to communicate with the end customer."

👋 Where to find Jason: LinkedIn | Instagram

👋 Where to find Rapido Trains Inc.: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

In this episode, Dave Charest speaks with Constant Contact product leaders Jesus Flores, Product Manager focused on audience growth; Ryan Burke, Director of Product specializing in small business growth; and Mike Crawford, Senior Product Manager responsible for the contacts experience. They discuss the risks of relying solely on social media for marketing and why building a contact list you actually own is the foundation of sustainable marketing.

"Owning your audience means having a direct line of communication with people who have explicitly shown interest in your brand, typically through an email list without a dependency on a governing social platform," explains Jesus. "It's your list, you own it. You can carry it from platform to platform."

The team discusses how businesses can convert social followers into email subscribers, introduces Constant Contact's new Lead Magnet tool, and explains how contact data helps create more effective marketing campaigns.

Whether you're just starting to build your contact list or looking to better leverage your existing contacts, this episode offers actionable strategies to help turn audience growth into business growth.

Additional Resources:

• Create a Facebook and Instagram Ad
• Create a Pop-Up Contact Sign-Up Form for Your Website
• Create a QR code from a URL
• Create a Google Ad with Kliken
• Using Contact Lists, Tags, and Segments Based on Your List Size
• Overview: Email Reporting
• Install a Contact Sign-Up Form on a Website
• Create a Sign-up Landing Page to Collect New Email and SMS Contacts Online
• Create a Lead Magnet and Capture Leads
• Create and Manage Custom Contact Fields
• Latest Small Business Now Report

Meet Today's Guests: Jesus Flores, Ryan Burke, and Mike Crawford of Constant Contact 

Jesus Flores 

👨‍💼 Who he is: Jesus is a Product Manager at Constant Contact who works on the audience growth team. His entire initiative is focused on helping small businesses and nonprofits grow their audience through multiple channels. He specializes in strategies that convert social media followers into owned contacts through website traffic, social media platforms, and in-person interactions. 

💡 Key quote: "That engaged email list allows you to nurture those leads, build customer loyalty, and directly promote your products or services without the reliancy on social platforms that you just candidly don't own."

👋 Where to find Jesus: LinkedIn

Ryan Burke 

👨‍💼 Who he is: Ryan is a Director of Product at Constant Contact focusing on small business growth. He helps businesses early in their journey get up and running, and hit "day zero" when they're ready to operate. Ryan has been at Constant Contact for about 18 months but brings almost 15 years of experience in product and digital marketing. 

💡 Key quote: "It's a marathon, not a sprint. So I think there's trying, there's changing, there's pivoting and being comfortable with that kind of ambiguity that how you're working and how you're running and launching and growing your business, it takes time."

👋 Where to find Ryan: LinkedIn

Mike Crawford 

👨‍💼 Who he is: Mike is a Senior Product Manager at Constant Contact responsible for the contacts experience since 2021. He focuses on helping businesses manage their contacts and all the data around them, working to make Constant Contact the source of truth for contact information. Mike specializes in leveraging contact data to power more targeted marketing campaigns. 

💡 Key quote: "We see a lot of return on users doing a segmented send rather than just a bulk list send. They get better opens, they get better clicks. So that would be the first step I would take."

👋 Where to find Mike: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest | LinkedIn | Podcast

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Led by owner Jesse Cole, this isn't your typical sports team. As Jesse puts it, "We have no interest in being a billion-dollar business, but we want to create a billion fans." The Bananas have grown into a fan-driven phenomenon built on a simple but radical idea: put fans first and never stop entertaining. When most teams chase sponsorship dollars, the Bananas ditch ads and create experiences people can't stop talking about.

Their approach is delightfully unconventional. They've removed third-party ticketing fees, sent handwritten thank-you notes, and featured players who might break into dance mid-game. Marketing that doesn't feel like marketing. 

The result? They recently sold out their first NFL stadium, are building a passionate fanbase, and proving that when you truly put people first, the money follows. Join Jesse, Kara, Carson, and host Dave Charest for this masterclass in customer experience that any business can learn from.

Additional resources

• Create and Manage Tags
• Understanding Contact Segmentation
• Getting Started with the Automation Path Builder
• Connect your Shopify account to Constant Contact

Meet Today's Guests: Jesse Cole, Kara Heater and Carson Bowen of Savannah Bananas

🍌 What Jesse does: Jesse owns the Savannah Bananas and founded Fans First Entertainment. A former baseball GM turned showrunner, he reinvented the sport by blending Broadway-style entertainment with baseball, building a loyal fanbase and a sellout sensation that puts fans at the center.

💡 Key quote: "We will never put added fees on people. We will never do things just for money. We will never take a sponsor just to take money. We will never do any of that. If we can do things to be a better experience for fans, we'll always try to find a way to say yes to that."

👋🏼 Where to find Jesse: Linkedin | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter

⚾ What Kara does: Kara is the Vice President of Marketing at the Savannah Bananas. Starting as an intern in 2018, she now leads a cross-functional team that turns live moments into viral content. Her strategy: tell stories that fans love, without pushing product.

💡 Key quote: "We never want to be the people who are sending 52 emails a day, and they have to unsubscribe 82 times to try and finally get rid of them out of their inbox. That's not us. We want people to get the information that they've asked for."

👋🏼 Where to find Kara: Linkedin | X, formerly known as Twitter

🎫 What Carson does: Carson is the Director of Ticket Experience for the Savannah Bananas. After six years with the Wilmington Sharks, he joined the Bananas in 2020 to rethink ticketing from the ground up—building a system that removes friction and centers joy in every detail.

💡 Key quote: "It's not just buying a QR code; it’s buying a family outing. It's celebrating someone's birthday. These things represent something. It's not just buying a ticket."

👋🏼 Where to find Carson: LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter

👋🏼 Where to find Savannah Bananas: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X, formerly known as Twitter | Youtube | TikTok

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

In 2015, Dan and his brother Lloyd launched their marketing agency, Knowlton, from a spare room in their parents' house. No roadmap. No fancy setup. Just two brothers figuring it out as they went. What changed everything? Defining clear roles, setting long-term goals, and creating content people actually want to watch.

"It has taken us so much longer to get to where we are now than I thought at the start point," Dan says, reflecting on the patience and persistence it took to grow a sustainable business.

In this episode of Be A Marketer, host Dave Charest talks with Dan about growing from chaos to clarity. They unpack how to align your marketing with your strengths, what most small businesses get wrong about content, and why measuring results will sharpen your focus.

You’ll hear how Dan treats his agency like a client, how one strategy helped them double in size, and what Dan thinks every small business owner should start doing today.

Additional Resources:

• Getting started with the Automation Path Builder
• Using Constant Contact SEO tools
• How to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series (with Examples)
• Set up to automatically resend to contacts who don’t open their email feature in Constant Contact

Meet Today’s Guest: Dan Knowlton of Knowlton Marketing

☕ What he does: Dan Knowlton is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Knowlton, a UK-based marketing agency he started with his brother in 2015. The duo is known for blending creativity with strategy to create content people actually enjoy. Knowlton has worked with major brands like the BBC, Nestlé, and Constant Contact.

💡 Key quote: "No one cares about your brand. All they care about is problems they've got and how they can most effectively solve them."

👋 Where to find Dan: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Podcast

👋 Where to find Knowlton Marketing: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

In this episode, host Dave Charest talks with Gregangelo Herrera, Artistic Director of the Gregangelo Museum and Velocity Arts & Entertainment; Angelica Irreno, Artist Manager and Marketing Coordinator; and Marcelo Defreitas, Creative Director. Together, they share how they transformed a private home into an immersive storytelling experience — and how that became their most effective marketing tool. “We didn’t sit down and make a strategy,” Marcelo says. “By doing it, we reinvented.”

Tune in to hear how they leaned into storytelling over ads, how this small team markets through meaning, not money, and how their outdoor art garden helped them stay open during the pandemic.

Additional Resources:

• Create a reusable email template
• Guide: Create, customize, and send an email
• Understanding contact segmentation
• Compare reporting stats for multiple emails
• Constant Contact: Email Marketing

Meet Today's Guests: Gregangelo Herrera, Angelica Irreno, and Marcelo Defreitas of Gregangelo Museum and Velocity Arts & Entertainment.

🎨 What Gregangelo does: Gregangelo is the Artistic Director of the Gregangelo Museum in San Francisco. A lifelong artist and performer, he founded the immersive museum experience inside his own home, blending storytelling, installation art, and cultural rituals. He’s also the founder of Velocity Arts and Entertainment.

💡 Key quote: “My form of marketing has always been to show up and invite people in.”

👋 Where to find Gregangelo: Facebook | LinkedIn

🎭 What Marcelo does: Marcelo is the Creative Director at the Gregangelo Museum. He brings a background in nonprofit leadership, events, and design. After hiring Gregangelo’s troupe for an event years ago, Marcelo joined the team and now leads strategy, operations, and creative direction for the museum and its experiences.

💡 Key quote: “We’re not just performing anymore. We’re helping people reconnect—with themselves and with each other.”

👋 Where to find Marcelo: LinkedIn

📱 What Angelica does: Angelica is the Artist Manager and Marketing Coordinator at the Gregangelo Museum. Originally from Colombia, she began as a marketing intern during the pandemic and helped reimagine how the museum connects with its audience through storytelling and content.

💡 Key quote: “At the beginning, I didn’t quite get the selling point. Then I realized—it’s not just the art. It’s the stories.”

👋 Where to find Angelica: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find the Gregangelo Museum: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok

👋 Where to find Velocity Arts & Entertainment: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Rather than walking away entirely, Lorraine kept the pieces she loved — her podcast, “More Than a Few Words”, and her consulting work — while selling the rest. “The day you start [your business], you need to think about your exit,” she says on Be A Marketer. “You want to build a business that someone will want to buy.”

On this episode of Be A Marketer, host Dave Charest sits down with Lorraine to explore the key lessons she's learned along the way. She shares why answering customer questions is one of the most effective ways to improve marketing, how business owners should plan for their exit strategy from day one, and why automation is essential for filtering and prioritizing leads.

As a longtime Constant Contact Partner, Lorraine also dives into how marketing automation and email segmentation have helped her streamline her efforts, engage her audience more effectively, and deliver personalized experiences that drive results.

Additional Resources:

• Email Marketing Automation Software
• Click Segmentation Feature
• Constant Contact Integrations
• Constant Contact Partner Programs

Meet Today's Guest: Lorraine Ball of More Than a Few Words

☕ What she does: Lorraine is a marketing strategist, Constant Contact Partner, and host of the More Than a Few Words podcast. After nearly two decades running her agency, Roundpeg, she transitioned into consulting, helping businesses refine their marketing strategies and improve their results.

💡 Key quote: "When you get people from different kinds of ways that they find you, and you dump all of them into one email list, and you send them all the same email every single week, you're going to watch your open rates fall, you're going to watch your engagement fall, you're going to see a lot of unsubscribes. When you start tying different people based on how they come to you to different campaigns, and you start sending them information that is relevant to what they're looking for, it has a level of personalization. It feels more like you're talking to them. People love that.”

👋 Where to find her: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

👋 Where to find More Than a Few Words: Website | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Amazon | Pandora | Podbean

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

That's exactly what Marc Newberry and Jasmin Bollman have accomplished at Genumark, Canada's leader in custom-branded merchandise and apparel. With a marketing team of just four people, they've mastered the art of personalized communication while expanding into the US market.

"Having those emails coming from the account managers rather than the info@Genumark email is definitely the best half an hour I spend in my marketing week or month," Marc explains, highlighting a simple yet effective strategy that dramatically improves their engagement rates. By personalizing each email to come from the client's specific account manager, they achieve better open rates and direct client-representative communication.

On this episode of Be a Marketer, Marc and Jasmin join host Dave Charest to reveal how their small marketing team achieves big results through authentic communication. They discuss their recent rebranding process, how they maintain a consistent brand voice, and why personalization is crucial for cutting through inbox clutter.

Tune in to discover their 30-minute email marketing hack, how they organize their marketing calendar around a monthly newsletter, and practical tips for humanizing your business communications to build stronger customer relationships.

Additional Resources:

• Create a New Email Contact
• Understanding Contact Segmentation
• Create a Sign-up Landing Page
• Create More Personalized Emails

Meet Today’s Guests: Marc Newberry and Jasmin Bollman of Genumark 

Marc Newberry

🎨 Who he is: Marc is the Creative Director at Genumark, Canada's leader in custom-branded merchandise and apparel. He's been with this family-owned business for 14 years, starting as an account manager before moving into creative roles. Marc helps lead their small four-person marketing team, creating content for their expansion into the US market and supporting their certified B Corporation status.

💡 Key quote: "It's definitely consistency in timing, content and visuals is definitely key to kind of making the email marketing work as well as it can. I think that's something that we've got better at recently and it's definitely the biggest piece of advice I would give to others."

👋 Where to find Marc: LinkedIn

Jasmin Bollman

🎨 Who she is: Jasmin is the Marketing Manager at Genumark. She joined the company as a freelancer after working in the tech industry and running her marketing consultancy. Attracted by Genumark's creative environment, she transitioned to a full-time role about a year ago. Jasmin handles all the written content for the company, from email campaigns to social media copy.

💡 Key quote: "I've always been a big proponent of — the way you talk online should be the way that you talk to somebody face to face, just like you're speaking with a friend. Because authenticity is what's going to make people connect with you."

👋 Where to find Jasmin: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Genumark: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

From the power of education-based marketing to leveraging AI and automation, Dave, Stephanie, and Kelsi reflect on the most impactful advice shared by expert guests, including Marki Lemons Rhyal, Christine George, Verl Workman, Ian Hoover, and Anthony Lamacchia.

They discuss:

✔️ Why giving away knowledge builds trust and authority

✔️ The importance of owning your niche and branding with intention

✔️ How to delegate effectively to scale your business

✔️ The role of culture in team-building and retention

✔️ Why embracing AI and automation is crucial for modern marketing

Whether you're in real estate or another industry, this episode provides actionable marketing strategies to help you grow your business with confidence.

Additional Resources:

• AI-Powered Marketing Tools for Small Businesses
• How to Build an Effective Email List
• Content Marketing Strategies That Drive Engagement

Meet Today's Hosts: Dave Charest, Stephanie Alfonso, & Kelsi Carter of Constant Contact

🎤 What Dave does: Dave is the Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, He helps small business owners understand and utilize online marketing. Dave co-hosts the Be A Marketer podcast, offering practical advice and inspirational stories.

💡 Key quote: “Not everything you do is going to work. Not everything you do is going to be ‘the right thing to do’. And I think that's the mentality that you really need to come at this with — marketing as a whole is a learning experience.”

👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter | Pinterest

🚀 What Stephanie does: She is the Senior Director of Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact.

💡 Key quote: “People do business with people they like, they know, and they trust. So we need to be intentional about getting people to like, know, and trust us."

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

🎤 What Kelsi does: Kelsi is the Brand Production Coordinator at Constant Contact and co-host of the Be A Marketer podcast. She loves being deeply involved with projects, especially working with different types of creatives.

💡 Key quote: "It's really the trial and error, but also just looking at your data and then improving and enhancing so that it matches."

👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn

👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | X | Pinterest

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Using her background in psychology, Carissa used behavioral change to build a company that helps small businesses set and hit financial goals. Her SLAP (Silver Lining Action Plan) platform serves tens of thousands of businesses in 77 countries, focusing on giving entrepreneurs the structure and support they need to succeed.

"I would estimate that on average, when small businesses come to SLAP, they are wasting — and I’m using that word very intentionally — about 80% of their time and 80% of their money. They are misusing it," Carissa reveals during her conversation on the Be a Marketer podcast. "  I don't mean they're cheating, I mean that they're spending it on things that are not helping them grow their business."

What has worked for Silver Lining so far? On this episode, Carissa and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, explore the challenges of the "Cash Flow Capacity Catch 22" and how business owners can break free from it.

Tune in to discover why focusing exclusively on the highest-priority activities matters and how building a business on your terms leads to both financial success and meaningful impact.

Additional Resources:

• Tips for Building a Solid Content Marketing Strategy
• Email Marketing Conversion Rate: Enhance Your Campaigns for Better ROI
• Using The Customer Journey Map to Personalize Email Marketing
• Personalize and Connect: Customer Relationship Marketing

Meet Today's Guest: Carissa Reiniger of Silver Lining

👩‍💼 Who she is: Carissa Reiniger is the founder and CEO of Silver Lining, a company she started in 2005 with a mission to change the global economy, one small business at a time. With a background in psychology, she created a SaaS platform based on behavior change science that helps small businesses set and hit financial goals. Her company offers a "pay what you can" model and has worked with thousands of businesses in 77 countries.

💡 Key quote: "I think people are looking for these magical, mystical answers. And the reality is it's very specific to each small business and their ideal client."

👋 Where to find her: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram 

👋 Where to find Silver Lining: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

When he entered real estate in 2004, he brought that bold marketing mindset but quickly discovered that different businesses require different approaches. Through trial and error, Anthony found unique selling propositions that helped him build Lamacchia Realty into a powerhouse brokerage across New England and South Florida.

"When you educate, you attract," Anthony says on this episode of Be A Marketer. This philosophy has helped him build an audience of nearly 100,000 realtors across the country and establish himself as a thought leader in the industry.

In this conversation with hosts Dave Charest and Stephanie Alfonso, Anthony shares his marketing journey and the principles that drive his success. Learn how to identify marketing "veins" worth pursuing, why consistency builds top-of-mind awareness, and when to pivot your strategy when a vein dries up.

Tune in to discover why education-based content works so well, how to segment your audience effectively, and why boldness in marketing separates successful businesses from the competition.

Additional Resources:

• Create Targeted Segments of Your Email List
• Email Sign-Up Tools to Help You Grow Your List and Your Business
• Grab Attention with These Subject Line Best Practices

Meet Today’s Guest: Anthony Lamacchia of Lamacchia Realty

🏠 What he does: Anthony Lamacchia is the founder of Lamacchia Realty, a real estate brokerage that helps buyers and sellers across New England and South Florida. He also owns Crush It in Real Estate, a training company for real estate professionals in North America. Last year, his company sold 4,764 homes, 882 rentals, and 182 vacation rentals.

💡 Key quote: "Be bold. You got to be bold, and you have to do it consistently [...] It's a constant effort to educate, and it's a mix. When you educate, you attract, but when you mix the education with offerings, that's how you make things happen."

👋 Where to find him: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

👋 Where to find  Lamacchia Realty: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

In 2019, she was a single parent running a small transcription service, struggling to make ends meet and relying on government support. The corporate, polished world of professional networking seemed light-years away from her reality.

But everything changed when Lea decided to do something radical: be entirely, unapologetically herself.

"I kind of had a screw it moment. I'm just gonna be myself because this is not fun. Pretending to be corporate, pretending to be some professional businesswoman that's like everybody else, is never gonna work for me because that's not who I am," Lea explains.

What unfolded is a remarkable story of transformation that defies every traditional career narrative. By embracing her uniqueness—her humor, candid storytelling, and real-life experiences as a single mom—Lea turned LinkedIn from an intimidating platform into her greatest business asset. Her follower count exploded from 400 to 10,000 in just a few months. More importantly, she gained over 100 inbound clients for her transcription business, proving that authenticity is the most powerful marketing tool.

On this episode of Be A Marketer, join Lea and host Dave Charest for this masterclass on personal branding, marketing strategy, and the power of embracing your true self as Lea shares how this journey led to the creation of The HoLT, her membership community designed for small business owners, freelancers, and solopreneurs.

Additional Resources:

• Email Marketing Tips You Need To Know
• LinkedIn 101
• How to Get Started on a LinkedIn Marketing Strategy
• Build an Effective Email List: Strategies, Tactics, and Best Practice

Meet Today's Guest: Lea Turner of The HoLT

☕ What she does: Lea is the founder of The House of LT (The HoLT), a membership community for small business owners, freelancers, and solopreneurs. She's a single mother, podcast host, and former LinkedIn trainer who transformed her business through strategic marketing.

💡 Key quote: "I still cringe sometimes before I start posting something or second-guess myself because I know loads of people are going to see it. But I also know that by doing it, I'm changing the life for my son and creating a better existence for both of us. So I'm more scared of dying or lying on my deathbed and going, 'Oh, if only I'd done that,' than I am of putting myself out there and giving it a go."

👋 Where to find her: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Podcast 

👋 Where to find The HoLT: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Today, his brokerage stands as the second-largest independent firm in Western Pennsylvania, and he's authored a book called "Short-Term Memory Loss" about his journey. But success didn't come from chasing top producers. Instead, Ian built a culture focused on developing new talent into high performers.

"I can lead a horse to water, can't force them to drink it. I can show you how to sell real estate, but if you can't hold a conversation, you might have some problems. You got to build those relationships and that rapport," Ian explains. 

On this episode of Be A Marketer (Real Estate Edition), host Dave Charest and real estate expert Stephanie Alfonso talk to Ian about his approach to brokerage growth. Learn how he leverages AI and automation for business efficiency, builds strong agent relationships, and maintains a "short-term memory loss" mindset that turns setbacks into opportunities.

Additional Resources:

• Email Marketing Guide for Real Estate Agents
• Real Estate Brokerage Marketing: The Broker’s Manual
• The Ultimate Guide on How to Recruit Real Estate Agents
• How to Put Together a Real Estate Marketing Plan

Meet Today's Guest: Ian Hoover of Deacon & Hoover Real Estate Advisors

🏠 Who he is: Ian S. Hoover turned getting fired from retail into founding one of Western Pennsylvania's largest independent brokerages. Since launching Deacon Hoover Real Estate Advisors in 2017 (after a tipsy wedding conversation), he's built a team of 60 agents who feel more like family than colleagues. His recent book "Short-Term Memory Loss" shares his unique approach to sales success.

💡 Key quote: "If you get anything from my book, I hope it's that you can legit use your sales ability — and we all have a sales ability, whether you know it or not — to get further down the road. If you want that promotion, if you want that job, be the squeaky wheel. Make sure you're there, and you're showing whoever you got to show how important you are, and eventually, it'll work out for you."

👋 Where to find him:Website | Podcast |  Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | X, formerly known as Twitter 

👋 Where to find Deacon & Hoover Real Estate Advisors:  Website | Facebook | X, formerly known as Twitter | Instagram | YouTube 

 If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Nick has a deep understanding of effective communication strategies through his work at TechSoup, a global nonprofit that connects other nonprofits with essential technology resources. "You cannot not communicate," Nick explains. Everything you do is communicating to your audience, and this includes when you are not saying something to them."

During this episode of Be A Marketer, Nick and host Dave Charest explore the fundamentals of nonprofit messaging and how organizations can maintain consistent communication despite limited resources. They discuss why email remains a powerful tool for nonprofit outreach, how to speak the language of different audiences, and ways to develop intentional communication strategies that resonate.

Listen in as Nick shares practical advice for nonprofits looking to strengthen their messaging approach. He also reveals how TechSoup's tiered membership model helps organizations make smarter technology decisions while building a collaborative nonprofit community.

 Additional Resources:

• Constant Contact for Nonprofits Offer Details
• The Key to Effective Email Segmentation for Nonprofit
• The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Email Marketing
• Charity Marketing Strategies: Boost Your Nonprofit's Impact

Meet Today's Guest: Nick Fynn of TechSoup

🎯 What he does: Nick Fynn is the Head of Global Growth Marketing at TechSoup, a 501c3 nonprofit that helps other nonprofits and NGOs gain access to technology and learn to use it effectively. With an extensive background in communications and advocacy, Nick focuses on helping organizations connect technology with their mission.

💡 Key quotes: "Every nonprofit out there should be doing email. I don't think there's any one-fits-all frequency of how often you should be doing it, or what should it say, but everybody should be using it. It's a foundational tool."

👋 Where to find him: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn

👋 Where to find TechSoup: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

But Verl's drive to innovate pushed him beyond traditional real estate sales, into technology training and public speaking. Now, as CEO and co-founder of Workman Success Systems, he empowers real estate teams to achieve "predictable greatness."

Verl challenges the solo agent model, advocating for the power of teams in real estate. He emphasizes leverage and delegation as keys to a balanced life. "Anything you do three times, create a system for it," Verl advises, encouraging realtors to prioritize high-value activities and delegate less profitable tasks. This approach frees up time for family and personal pursuits while building a successful business.

On this episode of the Be A Marketer podcast - Real Estate Edition, Verl sits down with hosts Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Stephanie Alonso, Sr. Director, Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact, to share his unique system for achieving predictable success in real estate. They delve into niche marketing, building a family-centric business culture, and harnessing the power of storytelling to forge deeper connections with clients. 

Additional Resources:

• The Power Of Segmentation (And How To Start)
• 8 Best Practices for Email List Segmentation
• How to Avoid Real Estate Agent Burnout
• The Power of Storytelling: How Great Stories Turn People into Brand Champions 
• Raving Referrals For Real Estate Agents: The Proven Step-By-Step System To Build A Profitable Real Estate Business
• About Raving Referrals for Real Estate Agents

Meet Today’s Guest: Verl Workman of Workman Success Systems

👨‍💼 What he does: Verl Workman is the CEO and co-founder of Workman Success Systems, a business coaching company specializing in real estate teams. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and coach with a passion for helping real estate professionals achieve predictable greatness in their businesses and lives. He believes in building strong family-centric businesses and leveraging systems and teams to create sustainable success.

💡 Key quote: "If you stop looking at the past to define what your future looks like, and you wipe it clean and say, 'what if,’ it's game-changing."

👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

👋 Where to find Workman Success Systems: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube |  LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter

If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Jacqui opened her brokerage in 2020, on the day Florida shut down and has since built a network of six interconnected businesses that help clients at every step of their ownership journey.

"I look at a property when I sell it to someone, and I say, 'What are all of the things they can do with this property?' I want to be a part of their entire journey," Jacqui shares on the Be a Marketer podcast.

What drives Jacqui's success? In this episode, Jacqui and host Dave Charest explore how she leverages her marketing background to build lasting customer relationships. They discuss her strategic approach to timing customer communications, why social media positivity matters, and how she uses monthly community events to stand out in a crowded market.

Listen in to learn how Jacqui uses Constant Contact's versatile platform to manage communications across multiple businesses, ensuring she stays connected with customers throughout their journey.

 Additional Resources:

●  Real Estate Content Ideas to Get More Clients

●  Real Estate Client Appreciation Ideas: Events, Gifts, and More

●  Real Estate Lead Conversion: Nurture Leads and Increase Sales

●  Content Marketing for Real Estate

Meet Today's Guest: Jacqui Luberto of Realty One Group & One Family Property Services

🎯 What she does: Jacqui is the broker/owner of Realty One Group and five other interconnected businesses in Destin, Florida, including One Family Property Services, Defender Insurance, Gulf Coast Beachfronts, Emerald Coast Referral Network, and Nest Vacant Property Management. She combines her marketing background with real estate expertise to maintain long-term customer relationships.

💡 Key quote: " I would lie if I said I didn't have any doubts, but the road is paved with dead squirrels who had doubts. So we just have to move and you'll be able to figure it out. It's real estate, no one dies, this is not surgery… You can change course, but if you're not moving swiftly and intentionally, you're just going to get left behind."

👋 Where to find her:Website | Podcast |  Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | X, formerly known as Twitter 

👋 Where to find Realty One Group:  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube 

 If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Christine has spent over 15 years in the real estate industry, refining strategies that empower agents to market themselves with confidence. In this episode, she shares her journey and her "three A's" framework: Awaken, Activate, and Amplify. Through this process, agents can define their niche, craft intentional marketing strategies, and make authentic connections with their ideal clients.

"When you are true to who you are, your clients feel it," Christine explains. "They feel it. So focus on what you do and what you do well and continue to challenge yourself along the way, but forget about what everybody else is doing because they're not watching you and whatever they're doing."

Tune in today to the Be A Marketer podcast with hosts Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Stephanie Alfonso, Senior Director of Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact, to discover how to craft your unique brand, attract your dream clients, and make meaningful connections that fuel your success.

Additional Resources:

• Get Started With Email Marketing: 10 Things You Need to Do First
• How to Build an Effective Email List: Best Practices and Strategies
• How to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series (with Examples)
• Goal Getter: 3 Email Marketing Goals to Set for the New Year