Why You Should Read Business Books That Are Not About Business

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brandy Burch, CEO and co-founder of BenefitBay, a company innovating the employee health benefits industry through Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs). With a vision to make health benefits more accessible and customizable, Brandy has rapidly expanded BenefitBay and helped redefine how employers approach employee health coverage by ensuring fair and equal purchasing power. We discuss the evolution of employee health benefits, the advantages of ICHRAs for employers and employees, and the complexities involved in implementing these arrangements. From Tech-first inexperienced health benefit startups to the burden of having too many choices, Brandy Burch explains that DIYing health benefits internally is not all it's cracked up to be and giving employees a say in what benefits they choose from pets to fertility can be an enormous BENEFIT to seeking talent, as an agency. Brandy Burch also shares insights on risk management, the role of BenefitBay in the market, and the importance of personalization in employee benefits. The conversation also touches on the challenges female CEOs face in the insurance industry and the unique advantages of Kansas City as a tech hub for health benefits innovation. More About Brandy Burch: Check out Brandy Burch's Website Connect with Brandy Burch on LinkedIn Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click HERE - scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn! Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE.

In this episode of the Duck Tape Marketing Podcast, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Sara Nay. Sara Nay is the COO of Duct Tape Marketing. She oversees day-to-day operations to support the growth of Duct Tape Marketing and the Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network. She focuses on strategic planning, goal setting, and directing the company's operations in support of its goals. And on a personal note, she’s also my daughter—which makes me “Pop Pop” to her kids! In this episode, we change it up a bit as I become the interviewee. We explore my journey into entrepreneurship, why I started my own business, why I didn’t work for someone else (the answer will surprise you), my passion for small businesses, and the evolution of marketing over the years. I reveal lessons from my polar opposite parents and my former fears about running a business. We also dive into my favorite topic: the impact of AI on small businesses, the opportunities and challenges they face, and the importance of curiosity and innovation in business. I wrapped up with a glimpse into my future aspirations—what might life look like after Duct Tape? And I answered the timeless question: What’s my all-time favorite business book? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click HERE - scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn! Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE. This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Oracle Nobody does data better than Oracle. Train your AI models at twice the speed and less than half of the cost of other clouds. If you want to do more and spend less, take a free test drive at Oracle.

In this episode of the Duck Tape Marketing Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Edelman, a seasoned digital transformation and marketing expert. As CMO, Edelman guided Aetna (now part of CVS Health) through becoming a digitally oriented, customer-centric brand. He built McKinsey’s Digital Marketing Strategy Practice and had leadership roles at BCG and Digitas. Repeatedly recognized by Forbes as one of the “Most Influential CMOs in the World” and by AdWeek as one of the “Top 20 Marketing and Technology Executives,” his work has attracted over 1.1 million followers to his LinkedIn blog. Currently, David advises top executives on AI and personalization. In this episode, we dive into the ever-evolving world of personalization in business, uncovering the game-changing role of AI in redefining how companies connect with their audiences. Edelman emphasizes the importance of creating customer experiences at scale and the competitive advantage that effective personalization has. Edelman explores the advantages of personalization, while highlighting the ongoing challenges of overstepping boundaries—a pitfall many of us have encountered firsthand. He shares practical examples of how AI enhances customer interactions and tackles concerns about data privacy and the potential discomfort of overly personalized marketing. The conversation also touches on the challenges marketers face in content creation and the need for more thoughtful, effective communication strategies. Key Takeaways: Personalization is about creating customer experiences at scale. AI enhances personalization by analyzing customer data. The privacy factor in personalization must be managed carefully. 70% of consumers are comfortable with data use for value. Speed of learning is crucial for competitive advantage. Companies often have more data than they realize, but it's fragmented. AI can help integrate data from various sources effectively. Successful personalization can lead to increased customer satisfaction. Content should be bite-sized and easily digestible for consumers. Empowering customers with their data can enhance their experience. More About David Edelman: Check out David Eldelmen's Website Connect with David Edelman on LinkedIn Grab a copy of Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click HERE - scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn! Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE. This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Oracle Nobody does data better than Oracle. Train your AI models at twice the speed and less than half of the cost of other clouds. If you want to do more and spend less, take a free test drive at Oracle.

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kory Kogon, Vice President of Content Development at FranklinCovey. With over 25 years of business expertise spanning frontline roles to executive leadership, she brings a deep understanding of how to apply FranklinCovey’s world-renowned content to drive success within organizations. Her insights into the strategies and principles for building exceptional leaders, robust systems, and winning cultures demonstrate how FranklinCovey’s blended learning solutions create real, practical impact—enabling the critical behavior changes needed for transformational results. She is a co-author of the #4 Wall Street Journal bestseller The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity, and Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager.  More About Kory Kogon: Check out Kory Kogon's Website Connect with Kory Kogon on LinkedIn Grab a copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click HERE - scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn! Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE. This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Oracle Nobody does data better than Oracle. Train your AI models at twice the speed and less than half of the cost of other clouds. If you want to do more and spend less, take a free test drive at Oracle.

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Itai Sadan, founder of Duda, a website builder designed for marketing agencies and small businesses. As a digital marketer since the birth of the internet, I remember Duda's early days. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of this website builder from a mobile-first solution to a comprehensive platform for responsive web design. Given how competitive the market is, Itai Sadan shares insights on the strategic shift to focus on web professionals and agencies. We also talk about the role of AI in enhancing agency efficiency and the unique value Duda offers compared to competitors like WordPress. Also, being one of this episode’s sponsors, Itai Sadan gives a Cohen Brothers explanation of the origin of the brand’s unique name.   Key Takeaways: Duda started as a mobile-first solution for small businesses. The platform evolved to support responsive web design. Focusing on web professionals helped Duda clarify its mission. AI is transforming how agencies operate and deliver services. Duda provides tools to enhance agency productivity and efficiency. The company emphasizes the importance of websites in marketing. Duda's support team offers 24/7 assistance to users. The platform integrates various tools to streamline website creation. Duda is committed to improving Core Web Vitals for better performance. The name 'Duda' is inspired by the film The Big Lebowski. More About Itai Sadan Check out Itai Sadan's Website: https://www.duda.co/ Connect with Itai Sadan on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/itaisadan Follow Duda on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/duda Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-duct-tape-marketing-podcast/id78797836 Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ducttapemarketing/ Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE - dtm.world/freeprompts This episode of The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by: Duda - Today's episode is sponsored by Duda—the web design platform trusted by agencies to create beautiful, high-performing sites fast. Ready to impress your clients? Visit duda.co and start building something amazing! ActiveCampaign - Try ActiveCampaign free for 14 days with our special offer. Exclusive to new customers—upgrade and grow your business with ActiveCampaign today! https://www.activecampaign.com/free

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Argentina-based author Leigh Shulman. A writing mentor with two decades of experience under her belt. She founded The Inspired Writer Community, an online mentoring community for writers at any stage in their writing lives. Her bestselling book The Writer’s Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal Writing Life helps thousands find their way in the writing world. Her international writing retreat and website are listed as The Write Life’s top resources for writers, and her words have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Longreads, and Guernica, among others. Leigh lives with her family, where she writes and contemplates (like most writers do) about whether she’s the only person who doesn’t like Dulce de Leche. We discuss the profound impact of writing a book on business success, the importance of storytelling in both fiction and nonfiction and the role of coaching in the writing process. We also explore how books can serve as trust builders, the influence of AI on writing, and strategies for finding time to write amidst busy schedules. Key Takeaways: Writing a book acts as a calling card for businesses. A book can directly lead to client engagement and revenue generation. Books can amplify credibility and visibility in the market. Every business can benefit from telling their story through a book. Books are part of a continuous learning process. Setting clear goals for your book is essential for success. Writing solidifies your process and helps define your next steps. Feedback from readers and peers can guide future writing projects. Both fiction and nonfiction writing share common storytelling elements. Coaching can alleviate the challenges and self-doubt in writing. More About Leigh Shulman: Connect with Leigh Shulman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighshulman/ Grab a copy of The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way to Your Ideal Writing Life: https://amzn.to/4f8zluO Sign up for the Inspired Writer's Community: https://leighshulman.com/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-duct-tape-marketing-podcast/id78797836 scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ducttapemarketing/ Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE - dtm.world/freeprompts This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Oracle: http://oracle.com/ducttape Nobody does data better than Oracle. Train your AI models at twice the speed and less than half of the cost of other clouds. If you want to do more and spend less, take a free test drive at Oracle.

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marketing Hall of Famer and frequent guest, Seth Godin. A renowned expert in marketing, entrepreneurship, and strategic philosophy, Seth shares his invaluable insights once again on our show. With over 30 years of experience and multiple bestselling books to his name, Seth and I dive into my favorite topic—STRATEGY. In this episode, we explore how both businesses and individuals can transform their strategic approach for greater success. In his latest book, This is Strategy: Make Better Plans, and a little anecdote about a chef, an electric car, and 30 years of veganism, he defines strategy as a philosophy of becoming and explains how understanding systems, the art of choosing customers, and competition can lead to long-term success. Seth Godin challenges conventional strategy ideas, emphasizing empathy and awareness of the systems influencing customers and competitors. His thoughts on building sustainable, intentional strategies are a must-have for agencies, entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to stop running around in circles and make a meaningful impact. More about Seth Godin: Seth Godin's Blog: https://seths.blog/ Add Seth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethgodin/ Grab a copy of This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans: https://amzn.to/3Bwv31Z If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-duct-tape-marketing-podcast/id78797836 scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ducttapemarketing/ Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE - dtm.world/freeprompts

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Steve Oriola, CEO of Unbounce. Steve Oriola is a tenured CEO with over two decades of experience scaling dynamic B2B SaaS platforms, including Act!, Constant Contact, Pipedrive, and Julius. He recently led Unbounce through the acquisition of Insightly CRM, in which the two companies effectively merged. We discuss the findings of a recent benchmark report on CONVERSION RATES. That’s right—we tried to get rid of email, but it looks like it has entered the chat again. Our conversation covers the importance of simplified copy, the enduring effectiveness of email marketing, the dynamics of mobile versus desktop conversions, and the rise of Instagram as a leading platform for conversions. We also cover the significance of writing at (if you can believe it) a lower grade level for better engagement, the nuances of industry-specific language, and the role of conversion-rate optimization in marketing strategies.

In this Duct Tape Marketing Podcast episode, I interviewed Micah Solomon, an expert on customer service, hospitality, and customer experience. He delves into the unique concept of anticipatory customer service and its powerful potential to enhance brand loyalty and drive business growth. He’s a bestselling author with a fresh perspective on how businesses can transform their customer service strategies to foster enduring loyalty. In his latest book, "Can Your Customer Service Do This?: Create an Anticipatory Customer Experience that Builds Loyalty Forever," Micah delves deep into the intricacies of customer service, making it an indispensable read for entrepreneurs eager to elevate their customer relations and propel business success. Key Takeaway: Anticipatory customer service is not just about reacting to a customer's needs but predicting them. By serving even the unexpressed wishes of customers, businesses can create an unparalleled customer experience that fosters brand loyalty and catalyzes growth. In an era where customers crave personalization and a touch of anticipation, this approach is a game-changer in the marketing and customer service sectors.   More About Micah Solomon: Discover the insights and strategies in Micah’s book, "Can Your Customer Service Do This, create an Anticipatory Customer Experience that builds Loyalty Forever" - https://amzn.to/46JtnfE Micah's website - https://micahsolomon.com/ Connect with Micah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/customerguru/ This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Oracle Nobody does data better than Oracle. Train your AI models at twice the speed and less than half of the cost of other clouds. If you want to do more and spend less, take a free test drive at Oracle. http://oracle.com/ducttape

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Tiffany Slowinski, an entrepreneur and co-owner of three successful franchises. Tiffany shares her journey in the franchise industry, insights on using the Culture Index to improve team dynamics, and the importance of self-awareness in leadership. She discusses how data-driven information can transform business communication and productivity while addressing common misconceptions about leadership tools. Tiffany Slowinski emphasizes the need for buy-in from leadership and the role of self-awareness in effective team management. More About Tiffany Slowinski Check out Tiffany Slowinski's Website - https://www.teamsparkadvisors.com/ Follow Tiffany Slowinski on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyslowinski/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Click here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-duct-tape-marketing-podcast/id78797836 scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let us know what you loved most about the episode. Connect with John Jantsch on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ducttapemarketing/ Are you stuck trying to figure out your marketing strategy? Get Your Free AI Prompts To Build A Marketing Strategy HERE - dtm.world/freeprompts This episode of The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by: ActiveCampaignTry ActiveCampaign free for 14 days with our special offer. Exclusive to new customers—upgrade and grow your business with ActiveCampaign today!