FiredUp! is the show for marketers working in early and late-stage startups. Each week, we walk through fresh strategies and tactics to build brand and drive demand for your startup. Featuring interviews with marketing leaders, our take on the latest trends, and practical tips about PR, content marketing and growth marketing, we promise plenty of signal with some noisy fun along the way. FiredUp! is hosted by the team at startup marketing agency, Firebrand. Learn more at firebrand.marketing ...
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What's New in Cybersecurity PR with Nick Lagalante
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46:45The world of PR is constantly changing, but nowhere is it evolving as fast as in the cybersecurity space. The stakes are higher, threats lurk around every corner, and well-planned PR strategies often need to take a back seat when crisis arises. Nick Lagalante, the founder and CEO of Fractional 360, joins the podcast today to uncover the intricate s…
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In the world of startup marketing, uncertainty isn’t just a buzzword– it’s a daily reality. Whether it’s tariffs, rising interest rates, or the rising popularity of AI, marketing leaders are finding themselves in a challenging position to navigate the industry and reach their audience through the extra noise. That said, we wanted to take some time …
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Converting Trials Into Paying Customers with Claire Heginbotham
52:56
52:56
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52:56As marketers, we spend a lot of our time getting people to sign up on our website, converting them into leads. Too often, the job can feel done after this, but we’re far from it. Those free trial and freemium users need to be onboarded, engage with the product, and get enough usage out of it to be willing to pay for it. Claire Heginbotham joins the…
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Getting your startup’s message heard can feel like an uphill battle. And in the crowded startup market, making your message crystal clear isn’t just a nice-to-have but a matter of survival. To help you stay afloat, Nicole and Ian sit down on the podcast this week to explore how startups can cut through the noise and communicate their value proposit…
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How to Attract VC Attention with Kyle York
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40:25Navigating the competitive world of venture capital can be challenging for emerging entrepreneurs in need of funding. So, to uncover the secrets of VC engagement, we sat down with Kyle York, the co-founder and CEO of York IE, to get an idea of how VCs are making their deals, where they source their pipelines from, and how startups can strategically…
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Choosing the right digital marketing agency can be a complex and challenging process for businesses, especially startups. Fortunately, we have considerable insight into this process and know exactly what it takes to navigate the selection process, so you can set yourself up to maximize the agency’s effectiveness within your startup. This week, epis…
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With the uptick in people integrating AI into their workflow, we’re starting to uncover some of the downsides of this rapidly evolving tool. Marketers are finding themselves in a crossroads and asking the question, will generative AI elevate our strategies or reduce us to a sea of bland, algorithmic sameness? The answer: It all depends on how you u…
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We’ve heard time and time again over the years that PR is dead or content marketing is dead, but we beg to differ. We live in one of the most exciting times of being a marketer. Still, with the rising population of AI tools and the changing buyer behaviors, marketing is certainly becoming more challenging. What worked before doesn’t necessarily kee…
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Brand Experiences in the AI Era with Brian Tillman and Joe DePalma
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42:32AI search is changing the game with tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity providing instant answers and affecting website traffic. Even so, your website is a vital asset. So what does a startup need to do to make the most of the traffic they are still getting? To answer this question, we are joined by Brian Tillman and Joe DePalma from Punch, a creativ…
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How to Build a Thought Leadership Campaign
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42:49
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42:49We’ve already established that thought leadership is a powerful strategy for startups to build credibility, reduce churn, and drive sales. But where should you start when implementing a thought leadership campaign? The Firebrand team sits down today to dive deep into what it takes to create an effective thought leadership campaign that transforms a…
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Marketing's Role in Business Leadership with Juliana Pereira
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45:15As marketers, it’s easy to get pulled into the day-to-day tactical operations of marketing and lose focus of the big picture. Juliana Pereira joins us as we take a step back and highlight the ways in which marketing impacts various milestones in a startup’s lifespan. From early-stage hiring to fundraising and eventual exit strategies, marketing has…
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What Does it Take to be a Thought Leader?
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29:30Many brands and people want to be known as a thought leader, and for good reason! A survey by Edelman has revealed that 70% of prospects would think more of a brand if they had a thought leader and would be willing to pay more for their proposition. But what does becoming a trusted, authoritative voice in your industry take? The Firebrand team is h…
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Bringing a Product Mindset to Marketing with Clinton Bonner
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40:22
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40:22Standing out when it comes to your marketing isn’t just about having a great message– it’s about delivering that message with precision, consistency, and innovation. Enter the product mindset: a game-changing approach that takes your marketing from being hit-or-miss to a strategic, repeatable system. Clinton Bonner joins us today to break down how …
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On average, reporters receive between 50-200 pitches daily, with only 8% leading to written articles. So, how do you make sure yours stands out? The Firebrand team joins together to unpack just this. Morgan, Chris, and Ian share their insights into what makes a pitch stand out and how to increase your chances of securing media coverage! This week, …
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You're Fired - Why Clients and Agencies Break Up
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39:23Breakups are never easy, even in the business world. When the relationship between a client and their agency comes to an end, it can be an emotional and complex process, with challenges to both sides. The Firebrand team comes together today as they pull back the curtain on the common reasons why these partnerships dissolve and share their insights …
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Burning Questions About PR and Marketing [Part 3]
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36:21Are you wondering why your landing page isn’t converting? Or if you should be issuing press releases for every announcement? You’re not the only one! In our work, we see similar questions pop up time and time again. Topics like the credibility of market research, choosing the right newswire, data security concerns with new technologies, and so much…
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With over 250 million weekly users, the rise of ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the content creation world, leaving many marketers and writers grappling with how to leverage it both practically and ethically. The Firebrand team joins together in this podcast episode as they discuss the impact of ChatGPT on writing and content creation, explorin…
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How to Make Direct Mail Work in 2025 with Kris Rudeegraap
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34:06Everyone who has been in the industry for some time is familiar with or has experience with direct mail, or rather, the falling off of this marketing strategy. Kris Rudeegraap is here today as he unpacks the resurgence of direct mail and, more specifically, how startups can integrate direct mail into their marketing campaigns. This week, episode 73…
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Competing in an Established Category with Hollie Wegman
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37:17In this era of innovation, it is rare for startups, particularly tech startups, to enter into a green field market of opportunities. More often than not, they are up against established industry giants with proven success records. Hollie Wegman, the COO of Attio, a CRM startup, sits down with the Firebrand team to discuss Attio’s unique approach to…
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As marketers, journalists, and PR experts, we know a thing or two about proper grammar. But sometimes, breaking the rules just feels right. The Firebrand team joins together on this episode as they explore the nuances of writing style, from the beloved Oxford comma to the power of the em-dash and much more! This week, episode 71 of the FiredUp! pod…
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Compared to bigger, more established brands, startups face unique challenges when it comes to measuring the impact of their PR efforts. So much so that we would argue that PR measurement is broken for startups. Morgan McLintic and Ian Lipner come together as they discuss the complexities and challenges of PR measurement, the common problems that ar…
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As we usher in a new year, our team wanted to continue the tradition of reviewing our industry trend predictions from the previous year, seeing where we were spot on and where we might have missed the mark, and making our predictions for the upcoming year. This week, episode 69 of the FiredUp! podcast is about our startup marketing predictions for …
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2024 had a lot in store when it came to the news stories that shaped our industry. The Firebrand team dives into the re-election of Donald Trump, the impending effects of the Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, what this year’s advancements in AI can tell us about what’s to come, and so much more! This week, episode 68 of the FiredUp! podcast is ab…
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Startup Strategies for 2025: Navigating Social Shifts, AI, and PR Measurement
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40:53
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40:53The marketing and PR world is in a constant state of evolution, with seismic shifts in the industry happening as we speak. From mega-mergers to platform disruptions to the continued struggle of attribution, the Firebrand team takes a deep dive into the trending topics impacting agencies and brands. This week, episode 67 of the FiredUp! podcast is a…
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The Changing Role of the CRO with Daniel Rock
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36:00The role of the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) has evolved considerably in recent years, becoming a critical position for driving growth and aligning key business functions. Daniel Rock, a two-time CRO himself, joins us on the podcast this week to discuss the many hats of a CRO, from adapting to shifts in buyer behavior, fostering a collaborative go-t…
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With nearly 11% of all deals closing in December, fostering a successful partnership with your VC will be at the forefront of many startups' minds. Nate Martins joins us on the podcast today to share that your VC does more than just write the check! They play a huge role in your marketing and PR strategy as well. Nate shares his insider’s perspecti…
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In the fast-paced world of breaking news, the ability to quickly insert your brand’s voice and expertise can make all the difference. This week, the Firebrand team dives into the art of “rapid response”- the proactive media relations tactic that allows startups and companies to capitalize on timely stories and position themselves as industry expert…
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With more and more B2B brands entering the podcasting space every day, you may be wondering what one can really gain from joining the pool of podcasters already using this medium as an extension of their brand. The Firebrand team sits down on the podcast this week to explore the evolving state of podcasting, how to leverage podcasting to connect wi…
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Ten years ago, the world of B2B product PR looked very different than it does today. There has been a shift from treating product news as a story in itself to a model where product news is more of a reason to cover your sector or company as a whole. The Firebrand team sits down on the podcast today to discuss the evolution of B2B product PR, how co…
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Gated assets are a great way to share your expertise, give your unique point of view, and offer something of value, all in a way that generates leads. But it’s important to understand that not all content should be gated. In this episode, the Firebrand team delves into all things gated assets, from deciding whether to gate your content to crafting …
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In Q2, 2024, VCs pumped 3.9 Billion dollars into pre-seed, angel, and seed round companies. That’s over 1,500 companies in that quarter alone. Given this, it is more important than ever that when it comes time to launch your company, you do so in a way that you can stand out. In this episode, Morgan walks through the essential steps for launching a…
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The Role of Marketing in Driving Revenue with Christine Schaefer
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43:21Everything that people do in a for-profit company is done to drive revenue. More specifically, marketing plays a critical role in driving revenue and pipeline growth. Christine Schaefer, CMO of CrashPlan, joins us on the podcast as she shares her unique approach to marketing, how she ties her marketing efforts to attribution, the metrics she uses t…
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How to Work With Your VC's Marketing Partner with Laura Spaventa Lewis
45:31
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45:31The relationship between startups and their venture capital partners can provide immense value when approached the right way. Laura Spaventa Lewis, VP of Marketing at Eclipse, joins us on the podcast today as she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how early-stage companies can work with their VCs, particularly when it comes to marketing and PR st…
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Messaging, in essence, is what we agree to say (or not to say) about a particular topic. But when it comes to corporate messaging, it goes much deeper than that. Corporate messaging is what you agree to say about the company and everything that it’s trying to accomplish. This week, episode 57 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to create corporate…
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How to Recruit a Marketing Team with Chris Jensen
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34:32As the economy rebounds and marketing teams prepare to open new positions, it’s essential for startups to adapt their hiring strategies to reflect the market we’re in. Recruitment expert Chris Jensen joins the podcast today to unpack the latest trends and strategies for building a top-notch marketing team. From in-demand skills to streamlining the …
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Writing compelling copy is an art form that requires constant refinement. Too often, we fall prey to the “rules” of writing we have adopted over time that limit us more than they help us. In this episode, the Firebrand team comes together to pull back the curtain on our own processes of writing and tips and tricks we have learned over the years to …
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How AI Can Power Personal Connections with Dave Sifry
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56:24In an era where our digital connections far outnumber face-to-face interactions, we struggle with remembering, let alone maintaining, our Rolodex of network connections. But imagine if there was a way to store all of your past connections and bring them to the front of your mind right when you need them. That is precisely what Dave Sifry set out to…
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Setting Up a Fractional CMO for Success with Jessica Zall
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51:17Startups often need strategic marketing leadership but not necessarily the full-time commitment of a traditional CMO. Enter the fractional CMO- an experienced marketing executive who comes in to provide high-level guidance and expertise on a part-time or contract basis. In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Zall, a fractional CMO herself, to un…
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FiredUp! has officially been in production for a full year! As we celebrate this milestone, our team wanted to sit down and bring you a special episode as we reflect on how far we have come as podcasters, the lessons learned along the way, and what we’re excited about for the future of the show. This week, episode 52 of the FiredUp! podcast is abou…
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Burnout is a real struggle in the fast-paced world of startup marketing. It's that feeling of being mentally, physically, and emotionally drained, leaving you demotivated and unable to perform at your best. This week, episode 51 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to avoid burnout! Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer …
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The startup funding landscape is constantly evolving, and in 2024, the rules of the game have changed once again. Although we are still down from the peak of funding in Q4 of 2021, we are slowly working our way back up with an uptick in the number of funding announcements we’re seeing. To navigate this, the Firebrand team came together to share the…
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Most startups start fairly narrowly solving a particular niche problem. As they grow, the goal is to tackle adjacent use cases or vertical sectors using the same technology they started with. Neha Bajwa, the Vice President of Product Marketing at Neo4j, takes us behind the scenes as we delve into the details of how her company successfully unlocked…
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Starting Out with Account-Based Marketing with Ajay Khanna
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46:39Often for an early-stage startup, big account-based marketing (ABM) platforms can be too complex, too expensive, and ill-fitting for the stage of business they’re presently operating in. Yet, they still want to take some steps to go on that journey toward ABM. Ajay Khanna the CMO of Mezmo and an experienced marketing leader who has implemented ABM …
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How to Take Your Startup to the Next Level with Michelle Denogean
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34:04Scaling a startup is no easy feat; what works to get a business off the ground often doesn’t translate into driving sustainable growth. Michelle Denogean, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the startup world joins us on the podcast today to discuss strategies for scaling your startup, building a balanced team and so much mo…
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Lead Scoring Challenges with Arman Khayyat
44:21
44:21
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44:21While lead scoring is a critical strategy that startup marketers use to prioritize their most promising prospects, it doesn’t come easy. This highly sought-after marketing strategy still has a lot of points of contention and grey areas when it comes to implementation. Today we are joined by one of our own, Arman Khayyat, who leads the technical SEO…
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As a startup, understanding how an agency builds its pricing, will equip you with the understanding to set a scope of work more accurately, agree on a budget quickly, and help you be a better partner overall. That’s why this week episode 45 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how agencies price their work. Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack to…
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How to Measure Marketing Performance with Grant Johnson
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42:15With more technology, more data, and more processes than ever before, CMOs and heads of marketing are constantly defending decisions and trying to prove the value of marketing. Today’s guest Grant Johnson noticed this and created the Marketing Performance Index for CMOs, a methodology to assess and benchmark marketing performance. He explains how u…
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In our work, we run into common questions about PR best practices, industry trends, and strategies for startups. As a result, we started a series where our team gets together on the podcast to answer some of the questions we get asked. This week Chris and Morgan answer some of your questions on getting press to attend your events in a post-pandemic…
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At Firebrand, we aim to keep our finger on the pulse of everything happening in the marketing sphere, sharing it with our audience. So, while most startup marketers are finding themselves in the trenches of their business, trying to figure out what’s working, what’s not, and the best practices to keep moving forward, we decided to get involved and …
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Regardless of the agency you’re working with, the professional relationship you set will build the foundation for what you get out of the partnership. Here at Firebrand, we have worked with a range of clients from great to somewhat challenging, and have picked up on some best practices and things to avoid along the way. That’s why today on the podc…
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