The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast
Insightful interviews with authors, experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who share valuable marketing tips, growth strategies, and resources. Hosted by John Jantsch, one of America's top small business marketing experts, this show is dedicated to helping you craft effective marketing strategies that will grow your business. Whether you're a small business owner, marketing professional, or marketing agency owner, you'll gain valuable insights and actionable advice on topics such as marketing strategy, consulting, social media marketing, content marketing, SEO, email marketing, lead generation, business management, entrepreneurship and much more. With over 900 episodes since its inception in 2005, The Duct Tape Marketing podcast...
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10 Questions That Reveal the Truth About a Marketing Partner
<p>Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00:00 Introduction</p> <p>00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard</p> <p>00:04:26 10 Questions Overview</p> <p>00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership</p> <p>00:07:20 Questi...
7 Stages to a Complete Marketing Operating System
<p>John breaks down the 7 stages of a complete marketing operating system and why most businesses struggle without one. He explains how the marketing pyramid, business strategy, brand development, and customer experience all work together to create a repeatable, scalable system. You'll learn how to eliminate random tactics, integrate AI into your workflows, and build a structured approach that finally drives consistent results. If you've ever wondered how to build a marketing operating system for your business, this episode gives you the roadmap.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 01:09 The Marketing Operating System<br /> 02:00 Business Chaos and...
The Brain Science Behind Successful Marketing
<p>*This episode originally aired in August 2025</p> <p>Michael Aaron Flicker, founder of XenoPsi Ventures and co-founder of the Consumer Behavior Lab with behavioral scientist Richard Shotton, joins John Jantsch to explore how psychology shapes the world's most successful brands. Drawing from their book Hacking the Human Mind, Michael shares insights into the hidden science behind consumer decisions and brand loyalty. Listeners will learn how to apply behavioral science to create more effective campaigns, craft memorable messages, and drive real business growth.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Start<br /> 01:03 Meet Michael Aaron Flicker<br /> 01:46 Hacking the Human M...
Why Great Employees Don't Always Make Great Managers
<p>John talks with Ashley Herd—founder of Manager Method—about why top performers often struggle when promoted into management and what organizations can do differently. Using real-world examples, Ashley breaks down how clear expectations, practical feedback, and better one-on-one conversations can transform team performance. She also shares her "career quilt" approach and a simple framework managers can use to make better decisions. If you want to build confident, effective leaders without burning people out, this conversation delivers the tools and long-tail strategies you need.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 00:33 Meet Ashley Herd<br /> 01:07 Accidental Managers Prob...
How AI is Rewriting the Customer Journey
<p>With over two decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, John dives solo into this episode to explore how AI is revolutionizing the buyer's journey. He breaks down the stages of his signature "Marketing Hourglass" framework and shares how businesses must adapt their strategies in an AI-driven world. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your marketing by aligning with evolving customer behavior, embracing self-service tools, and doubling down on authenticity and trust. Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett</p> <p>00:09 The evolved buyer journey</p> <p>02:29 Reintroducing the Marketing Hourglass as a flexible customer journey mode<...
Using AI to Convert More Leads and Save Time
<p >In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we explore how small businesses can use AI to convert more leads while reclaiming precious time. John Jantsch talks with Rainmaker CEO Joe Gagnon about AI-native sales workflows, 24/7 phone agents, and why automation doesn't have to feel inauthentic. Together they break down how AI can improve inbound conversations, overcome objections, and deliver more predictable growth. Learn how AI tools that help small business owners save time can also create better customer experiences and streamline every step of the sales journey.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 00:33 Welcome...
Magnetizing the Right Clients
<p>In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we uncover how to magnetize the right clients by escaping the "obscurity tax" and building true market eminence. Guest David Newman breaks down the power of contrarian thinking, bold positioning, and sharing real expertise—not watered-down content. Learn why polarizing your message attracts perfect-fit clients while repelling the wrong ones, and how generosity, insight, and future-focused thinking fuel unstoppable growth. If you're ready to stand out in a noisy marketplace, this conversation gives you the long-tail strategies you need.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 01:33 The Obscurity Ta...
10 Questions That Reveal the Truth About a Marketing Partner
<p>Choosing the right marketing agency can make or break your business — and in this episode, John Jantsch shares the 10 essential questions every business owner must ask before hiring a marketing partner. Using real-world examples and industry red flags, he breaks down how to protect your data, evaluate reporting, connect tactics to strategy, and spot agencies that overcharge while underdelivering. If you've ever worried about getting ripped off or want to make smarter marketing decisions, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence you need. Discover how to avoid costly mistakes and choose a partner that truly drives results.</p> <p>...
4 Pillars for Social Selling
<p>John Jantsch sits down with LinkedIn expert Lorenzo Johnson to break down the four pillars of social selling that drive real results. Lorenzo explains how to improve your LinkedIn SSI score, build trusted relationships, and create value-driven content that stands out in a sea of generic AI posts. You'll learn why video, carousel posts, and authentic engagement outperform automation—and how to optimize your professional brand for 2026. If you're looking for best practices for social selling on LinkedIn, this episode delivers a clear blueprint you can put into action today.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00 Introduction<br /> 00:33 Me...
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Agency
<p>Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts.</p> <p>Today we discussed:</p> <p>00:00:00 Introduction<br /> 00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard<br /> 00:04:26 10 Questions Overview<br /> 00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership<br /> 00:07:20 Question 2: Measuring Success<br /> 00:09:11 Que...
