UNF*DGE Your Marketing
The podcast where we talk about what really happens when marketing doesn’t go according to plan.
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Type of Interview
Celebrating 100 Episodes: Top Marketing Lessons Learned
Episode 100
To celebrate 100 episodes, Kristi Mitchell reflects on the lessons learned from 99 honest conversations with business owners about their marketing mistakes. In this solo episode, she shares the three key lessons that consistently arise in successful marketing turnarounds and the mindset shift needed to view failures as growth opportunities.
Refreshing Your Brand: From Marketing Autopilot to Authentic Visibility
Episode 99
Join Kristi Mitchell and Rachel Allen as they share real-life lessons from years of marketing, including the struggle of marketing your own business, evolving your brand identity, and overcoming the fear of visibility. Hear how embracing authenticity, refreshing outdated strategies, and reconnecting with your network can reinvigorate your marketing efforts. If you’ve ever felt stuck or hesitant to show up as yourself in your business, this episode is for you.
Lessons from a Failed Mass Messaging Campaign
Episode 97
Jon Goehring, founder of Story Trust Media, sits down with Kristi Mitchell to discuss a marketing misstep and the lessons he learned from using mass messaging campaigns with purchased lists. The conversation explores why building genuine relationships and prioritizing quality over quantity is crucial for high-trust, service-based businesses. Jon and Kristi share practical strategies for outreach, sustainable business growth, and creating value-driven content.
Stop Chasing Shiny Objects: Aligning Marketing Tactics with Your Values
Episode 96
Discover the real challenges of marketing when impatience and shiny new tactics cloud your strategy. Humaira Akhter shares her candid experience with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, why lead generation shortcuts rarely work, and how self-alignment and leveraging existing networks are crucial for growth. Kristi and Humaira explore the importance of trusting your instincts, the risks of abandoning effective foundations, and practical ways to get clear on what really works for your business.
I Messed Up: What Happens When You Own Your Marketing Mistakes
Episode 89
Discover how Kristi Mitchell turns personal marketing mishaps into powerful lessons for business owners. She openly shares real examples of mistakes with livestreams and email marketing, highlights the importance of authenticity and transparency, and explains how owning up to mistakes can actually build stronger trust with your audience. If you want to grow your business through genuine connections, this episode is for you!
From Bland to Brilliant: Transforming Your Testimonials
Episode 87
Discover why most testimonial strategies fall short and how authentic customer stories drive real business growth. Neil Carroll and Kristi Mitchell explore the hierarchy of testimonials, actionable tips for capturing impactful feedback, and methods to turn client insights into powerful marketing assets. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your testimonials to the next level, this episode offers practical advice to boost trust and credibility for your business.
The Power of Alignment: Why Your Lead Magnet Isn’t Converting
Episode 83
Discover how to avoid one of the most common marketing mistakes business owners make with lead magnets and sales funnels. Lisa Klein shares her journey from health coaching to business strategy, highlighting the importance of aligning your freebie with your core offer so you attract leads who are ready to buy. Kristi Mitchell and Lisa Klein break down actionable tips on creating strategic, high-converting lead magnets, building effective nurture funnels, and making sure your audience is the right fit for your services. Packed with relatable stories, practical advice, and honest reflections, this episode is a must for any business owner looking to optimize their marketing strategy and get better results from their list building efforts.
2026 Marketing Checklist – Four Essentials for Sustainable Growth
Episode 78
Kick off your 2026 marketing with a strategic checklist designed to help you grow sustainably and stand out in a noisy market. Allyssa shares the most common marketing pitfalls from the past year, including the dangers of generic content, the need for authentic messaging, and the importance of grounding your efforts in strategy. You’ll learn why email marketing is still essential and how to avoid burnout by phasing in new tactics instead of taking on too much at once. Perfect for business owners who want to start strong and avoid overwhelm, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you unfudge your marketing plan for the new year.
Finding Focus: How to Simplify Your Marketing and Get Results
Episode 77
Kristi Mitchell chats with Susan Harper, founder of Sharper Creative, about the realities of building a marketing strategy for service providers who have grown through referrals and relationships. Key themes include learning from marketing missteps, navigating the overwhelm of choosing platforms like LinkedIn, rebranding challenges, the value of repurposing content, and experimenting with creative outreach such as direct mail. Listeners will hear candid lessons about focusing on the right audience, managing bandwidth, building sustainable systems, and finding ways to stand out in a crowded attention economy.
Master the Marketing Basics, Then Find the Right Execution Partner
Episode 76
Join Kristi Mitchell as she chats with Barbara and Elisa of Homemade Events about their marketing journey, sharing the real struggles and lessons they faced while scaling their event planning business. This episode highlights the importance of understanding your own marketing strategy before outsourcing, how investing in your own education pays off, and the value of building trust with partners and yourself. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should hire out your marketing or learn the ropes yourself, this candid conversation is packed with practical takeaways to help you grow your business.
From Zero Clients to Consistent Sales: The Power of Patience
Episode 75
In this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, Kristi Mitchell sits down with Scarlett Stanhope, the “Biz Hippie” and money and abundance coach, to talk about early business struggles, launching mistakes, and the lessons learned along the way. Scarlett shares her journey from launching her first program with zero sales to eventually building a successful business rooted in clarity, audience-building, and self-confidence. Key themes include the importance of consistent marketing, building a solid organic foundation before running paid ads, staying patient with your growth, and making small, strategic tweaks instead of constant overhauls. Listeners will find actionable advice on investing in themselves, growing their audience, and owning their value as business owners.
Small Groups, Big Impact - How Personal Outreach Fuels Marketing Success
Episode 72
Join Kristi Mitchell and Kerry Dobson in Episode 72 of UnF*dge Your Marketing as they discuss the common marketing misstep of relying on passive market research through email newsletters, instead of direct outreach for feedback. Hear lessons about the power of personalized conversations, the importance of clarity in your ask, and how to cultivate genuine relationships for successful group programs. This episode highlights the value of quality, actionable insights over sheer numbers, and encourages transparency, vulnerability, and setting parameters when gathering feedback to fuel real growth.
Contracted for Results, Delivered Disappointment: Navigating Provider Expectations
Episode 71
On this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, Kristi Mitchell sits down with mindset coach Suzanne Longstreet to uncover the real-life challenges entrepreneurs face when hiring marketing support. Suzanne opens up about her personal experience navigating a health crisis while trusting a marketing professional who ultimately failed to deliver. Together, Kristi and Suzanne explore the importance of clear expectations, aligning on deliverables versus outcomes, and learning from setbacks. The conversation covers communication pitfalls, the value of measurable results, and how letting go of perfectionism can empower business growth—essential insights for any business owner seeking better marketing partnerships.
Why Marketing Pros Need Outside Help Too - Lessons from the Field
Episode 70
In this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, Kristi Mitchell chats with Anne Gillespie about the common marketing mistakes business owners make, especially around strategy and execution. Anne shares valuable lessons from her years running Fix and Form and 10 to Launch, emphasizing why even marketing professionals should hire external help for their own marketing and branding. The conversation highlights the importance of solid strategy before jumping into execution, the differences between graphic and copy-focused social media management, and using AI tools to streamline workflows without losing the human touch. Listeners will pick up practical tips on hiring, leveraging strengths, and building stronger brands.
Strengths-Based Business & Marketing: Amplify What Makes You Shine
Episode 69
Heather Kay joins host Kristi Mitchell to share her marketing journey, focusing on lessons learned from hiring a marketing consultant and navigating clear deliverables. Topics include the importance of setting strong expectations, effective communication, and the value of identifying your strengths to make a bigger impact. Heather and Kristi discuss strategies for leveraging personal talents, the power of networking, and avoiding common pitfalls when outsourcing marketing tasks. This episode is packed with practical advice for service-based business owners who want to avoid marketing mishaps and create collaborative partnerships that drive results.
Why Clear Agreements Matter: Learning from a Misaligned Partnership
Episode 68
On this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, Kristi Mitchell sits down with video expert Dan Bennett to unpack a tough lesson from a misaligned agency partnership. Dan shares his experience with hiring too soon, the pitfalls of in-kind service trades, and what happens when communication and boundaries aren’t clear. Together, they discuss the importance of setting milestones, holding vendors accountable, and learning to give yourself grace when things go sideways. If you want real stories and practical advice for avoiding marketing mishaps, tune in for candid conversation and actionable takeaways.
Staying True to Yourself in Marketing - Lessons from the Stage
Episode 66
In this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, host Kristi Mitchell chats with Ely Delaney, the "People Whisperer" and creator of the Follow Up Rockstar system. Ely shares a powerful story about a public speaking setback that pushed him to embrace his unique style instead of following advice that didn’t feel authentic. Themes covered include the importance of staying true to your core values in marketing, recognizing the difference between discomfort and misalignment, and why authenticity attracts the right clients. Listeners will gain valuable insights on learning from marketing missteps and how to show up as themselves to make a genuine impact.
Burned by Bad Marketing? Tips for Choosing Partners Who Deliver
Episode 65
Kristi Mitchell welcomes marketing expert Ben Albert for a candid conversation about common marketing mistakes business owners face, especially those who've been burned by flashy but ineffective marketing providers. Together, they unpack the dangers of one-size-fits-all solutions, the importance of trust and hands-on, tailored marketing strategies, and how to spot red flags when hiring a marketing partner. You’ll also hear practical advice on evaluating potential marketing vendors, questions to ask during discovery calls, and ways to build genuine value before making a hiring decision. This episode is all about helping business owners avoid marketing missteps and find approaches that truly align with their unique needs.
When “Handing It Off” Fails: How to Take Back Your Marketing
Episode 64
Join host Kristi Mitchell as she chats with growth expert Mara Whitener about the often-overlooked pitfalls of outsourcing marketing and the importance of operational clarity for CEOs. Mara shares hard-earned lessons from her own journey, including the challenges of finding the right marketing support, the consequences of vague messaging, and the value of customizing solutions to fit your unique business. Discover why you can't just “hand off” your marketing, how to get your content to sound like you, and actionable advice on building systems that let you grow your business on your own terms. Perfect for entrepreneurs ready to move beyond word-of-mouth growth and take control of their marketing.
Patience, Persistence, and Picking What Works: An Interior Designer's Journey
Episode 63
Award-winning interior designer Cristiana Crin joins host Kristi Mitchell to share her candid experiences navigating the challenges of marketing her business, Perpetuum Designs. From learning hard lessons about costly website and SEO mistakes to the importance of self-advocacy and patience, Cristiana reflects on the realities entrepreneurs face when hiring marketing providers. Key themes include the need for due diligence with vendors, aligning marketing tactics to your business model, and building resilience in the face of setbacks. This episode is a valuable listen for business owners seeking practical lessons and inspiration on overcoming marketing pitfalls.