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
Why More Isn’t Always Better: Smarter Ads and Marketing Spend
Episode 91
Discover the biggest marketing mistakes business owners make when it comes to ad placement, messaging, and budget strategy. Guest Lindsey Laughlin and host Kristi Mitchell share their approach to audience-focused marketing, using real examples from client work. Learn how to avoid spreading your budget too thin, create strategic campaigns, and build lasting customer relationships. If you're tired of generic ads and want actionable advice for smarter marketing, this episode is for you.
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!
Avoiding Expensive Marketing Mistakes: Strategy First, Tactics Second
Episode 88
Discover why so many small and midsize business owners mistake marketing activity for real strategy, and learn how to simplify your approach for sustainable growth. Kristi Mitchell and Shay Prosser share practical examples of common marketing missteps, like misaligned lead magnets and over-complicating tactics, and offer actionable advice for building strong marketing foundations rooted in clarity and intentionality. You'll walk away with tips for focusing your efforts, knowing your true audience, and when to seek expert guidance so you can avoid burnout and get better results.
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.
Solving the Sales-Marketing Disconnect – Real Stories and Solutions
Episode 82
This episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing features a conversation between Kristi Mitchell and Adam Rojas about the critical need for alignment between marketing and sales teams. Key themes include the pitfalls of disconnected messaging, the importance of unified customer-centered communication, and practical strategies for fostering collaboration between internal teams and external agencies. Adam Rojas shares real-world examples from his work with founder-led and early-stage companies, highlighting how misalignment not only impedes growth but also affects customer satisfaction and delivery. Listeners will walk away with actionable advice on bridging the gap between marketing and sales, ensuring their messaging resonates from first contact to final sale.
Stop Talking About Yourself! How to Build a Client-Centric Brand
Episode 81
Join Kristi Mitchell and Kim Marie McKernan as they explore the biggest branding mistakes business owners make, why skipping brand strategy can derail all your marketing efforts, and how embracing authentic, conscious marketing leads to real results. They discuss the importance of understanding your client's perspective, the danger of chasing shiny new tactics, and the power of feedback from your best customers. Whether you’re a small business owner or a marketing leader, this episode is packed with practical tips to build a trustworthy, standout brand and create marketing you actually enjoy.
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.
Creating Your Unique Signal: Standing Out in an AI-Powered World
Episode 73
On this episode of UnF*dge Your Marketing, Steven Larmer joins Kristi Mitchell to talk about how business owners and coaches can avoid common mistakes when using AI in their branding and marketing. They explore why alignment and authenticity matter in building a memorable brand, and discuss the dangers of relying too heavily on AI-generated content without infusing personal perspective and truth. The conversation highlights lessons learned from real-world marketing experiments, the importance of genuine connections, and practical advice for creating content that truly reflects your brand’s unique voice.
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.
5 Marketing F*dges to Fix Before Year-End: Evolving Your Marketing Plan Over Time - Don’t Set It & Forget It
Episode 62
Learn why a “set it and forget it” approach to marketing can stall your growth, and discover the importance of treating your marketing strategy as a living, evolving process. Christy Mitchell wraps up her 5-part Q4 Kickstart series with actionable advice on how to regularly review, refresh, and optimize your marketing efforts—whether that’s quarterly, twice a year, or annually. Get inspired by real client stories, practical tips for setting review cadences, and ways to keep your messaging and tactics aligned with changing market trends and audience needs. Perfect for mission-driven service providers who want to finish the year strong and set themselves up for a successful future.
5 Marketing F*dges to Fix Before Year-End: Avoiding Costly Marketing Mistakes - Fixing Your Funnel Before Fueling Your Fire
Episode 61
Kristi Mitchell unpacks the "Magic Bullet Fudge," a common marketing mistake where business owners treat tactics like paid advertising or lead generation services as quick fixes for deeper marketing issues. She highlights the importance of building a strong organic marketing foundation—focusing on your website, email marketing, and social media—before investing in ads. Kristi shares real-world examples and actionable advice on how a solid, strategy-first approach is essential for sustainable business growth, urging listeners to move beyond shortcuts and invest in a holistic marketing plan.
5 Marketing F*dges to Fix Before Year-End: Avoiding the Roller Coaster – Building a Stable Pipeline for Your Business
Episode 59
Discover actionable strategies to break free from the feast-or-famine cycle in your marketing. Christy Mitchell tackles the common pitfalls that come when client work takes priority and marketing efforts fall by the wayside. Learn how to maintain a consistent marketing presence—even during your busiest seasons—by creating a minimum viable plan, setting non-negotiables, and leveraging accountability to keep your pipeline healthy. Perfect for client-centered service providers who want to achieve sustainable business growth and avoid that dreaded rollercoaster.
5 Marketing F*dges to Fix Before Year-End: Escaping Random Acts of Marketing – How to Stop Winging It
Episode 58
Discover the most common marketing mistake holding businesses back—random acts of marketing without a clear strategy. Kristi Mitchell, a marketing strategist for mission-driven service providers, kicks off her Q4 Kickstart series by breaking down how to move from scattered efforts to a focused marketing plan. Learn how to use the marketing funnel framework (attract, convert, nurture, close) to organize, prioritize, and optimize your marketing activities, so you can finish the year strong and stop feeling overwhelmed. Perfect for business owners who want clarity, direction, and tangible results from their marketing efforts.
Surviving LinkedIn Lockout — Why Your Business Needs More Than One Platform
Episode 55
Miranda Von Fricken joins host Kristi Mitchell to share her journey from relying solely on LinkedIn for business growth to embracing a more diversified marketing strategy. Hear Miranda’s real-life marketing missteps, including her panic moment when she was unexpectedly locked out of LinkedIn, and how it inspired her to build her email list and expand her marketing ecosystem. This episode explores the importance of not putting all your eggs in one social platform basket, nurturing relationships beyond social media, and staying authentic in your marketing efforts. Perfect for entrepreneurs and business owners looking for candid advice and actionable tips to un-fudge their marketing approach.
Integrity Over Income: The Truth About Marketing Recommendations
Episode 52
Join host Kristi Mitchell and guest Maria Platusic as they explore the importance of integrity and customization in marketing. They discuss common pitfalls business owners face when working with marketing providers, the dangers of one-size-fits-all solutions, and how to ask the right questions to ensure your unique needs are met. Discover actionable advice on building trust with marketing experts, choosing sustainable strategies, and finding the right fit for your business’s long-term goals. Perfect for mission-driven service providers seeking authentic, client-centered marketing guidance.
Why Live Launching Isn't for Everyone – Trusting Your Gut in Marketing
Episode 50
Kristi Mitchell interviews business growth strategist Michelle DeNio about her marketing journey, focusing on the highs and lows of live launching. Together, they explore why certain marketing strategies—like open-and-closed cart launches—might not feel aligned for every business owner, and how tuning into your energy and preferences can lead to more authentic and successful marketing. Michelle shares her transition to evergreen offers and emphasizes the importance of picking marketing tactics that are both effective and enjoyable. The conversation is packed with real advice on overcoming burnout, finding your unique approach, and building marketing strategies around what truly works for you.
Authenticity, Automation, and Analytics: Winning Strategies from 19 Years in Business
Episode 49
UnF*dge Your Marketing host Kristi Mitchell sits down with Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global, to explore the ups and downs of transforming marketing strategies in a tech-focused business. Allen shares his journey of consolidating multiple marketing systems into a single platform, the impact of data-driven decision making, and the power of streamlining processes for greater efficiency. The conversation highlights embracing imperfection, setting firm deadlines to drive progress, and the importance of authenticity and relationship-building in marketing. Listeners will gain practical insights on leveraging technology, evolving messaging for ideal clients, adapting nurture strategies, and keeping marketing fresh and effective through periods of change.