Welcome to Embracing Marketing Mistakes, the essential top-ten pod for senior marketers determined to grow their brands all by learning from real-world screw ups. Each week, join hosts Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, seasoned PR professionals with over 45 years of combined experience, as they candidly explore the marketing failures most marketers would rather forget. Featuring insightful conversations with industry-leading marketing experts and value-packed solo episodes, the podcast tries t ...
…
continue reading

1
Marketing Blunder: When 500 Becomes 5K: A Coney Island New Year's Disaster
3:14
3:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
3:14What topic would you like us to cover next? The podcast explores notable professional mistakes and what can be learned from them. B2B Marketing expert Tom Basgil shares his experience organising a New Year's Eve fireworks event at Coney Island, where instead of the expected 500 attendees, 5,000 people showed up, creating major logistical challenges…
…
continue reading

1
Are You Still Measuring Outputs When You Should Be Measuring Outcomes?
1:00:04
1:00:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:04What topic would you like us to cover next? Let’s be honest, the PR world still loves a good-looking coverage book. A glossy spread in the national press, a namecheck in a podcast, a flurry of social mentions. It feels like success. But what’s it actually doing for the business? Not much, in most cases. For too long, we’ve let vanity metrics run th…
…
continue reading

1
FAIL: Hops and Dreams: The Beer That Nobody "Cheers'd" To
2:30
2:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
2:30What topic would you like us to cover next? Rachel Auty, head of marketing at Brew York, discusses the brewery birthday celebration that featured collaborations with international breweries like Lervig and Hidden Springs, creating six beers with a Eurovision tie-in called "Collabivision." What seemed like marketing genius internally received a luke…
…
continue reading

1
The Art of Authentic Brand Storytelling: Rachel Massey on Breaking Through B2B Blandness
31:31
31:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:31What topic would you like us to cover next? Rachel Massey, Director of Marketing at Huthwaite International, is a brilliant B2B marketing manager with deep experience in leading marketing operations and running fully integrated campaigns that actually deliver on business objectives. She’s worked across both large corporations and SMEs in a range of…
…
continue reading

1
Marketing Mishap: Using My Name As My Password Wasn't Great
2:45
2:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
2:45What topic would you like us to cover next? Moving fast in business means making quick decisions that can sometimes lead to significant mistakes, as Jack Sutcliffe, CEO of Powersheds, found out when their website was hacked due to an overly simplistic password. • Rapid decision-making is part of their business approach, which inevitably leads to so…
…
continue reading

1
FAIL: When your business feels like your baby, you take the losses personally
3:24
3:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
3:24What topic would you like us to cover next? Chris Simmance, Founder of OMG Centre, opens up about the hard leadership lessons learned through emotional reactions to business setbacks and poor financial management in agency life. • Letting emotional responses to client departures negatively impact team management • Acknowledging how leadership mista…
…
continue reading

1
FAIL: "I Started an Online Wine Business Right Before Lockdown"
9:12
9:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:12What topic would you like us to cover next? Josh Lachovic, ex-startup founder turned growth agency founder, shares his journey from digital marketing roots to founding a wine startup that experienced meteoric growth during the pandemic, only to face the harsh reality when lockdown behaviors proved unsustainable. • Started in SEO and content writing…
…
continue reading

1
Oinking Outside the Box: Marketing Lessons from a Cartoon Pregnancy
14:25
14:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:25What topic would you like us to cover next? Welcome to another Campaign Crunch episode where we take a look at trending campaigns, what they did and the results they gained. This podcast (presented by one of our Account Managers, Becca Quinlan) delves into one of the most fascinating PR campaigns of recent times - the introduction of Evie Pig to th…
…
continue reading

1
FAIL: I was almost printed on the front page of a national newspaper
3:53
3:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
3:53What topic would you like us to cover next? This clip explores career mistakes and what people learn from them. Andrew shares a memorable blunder from his early journalism career when he nearly became part of the printing machinery at the historic launch of the Today newspaper in 1986. • Sent to cover the launch of the Today newspaper as his first …
…
continue reading
What topic would you like us to cover next? Guy Utley from Tall Agency shares his journey from recognising his creative talents at school to founding a digital agency working with global brands like Lego and Shark Ninja, focusing on the critical importance of specialisation in marketing. • The value of using specialists rather than generalists - "I…
…
continue reading
What topic would you like us to cover next? Andy Green shares his biggest professional mistake from his time as deputy head of PR at Yorkshire Water, when he inadvertently angered 120,000 anglers by running a competition featuring a photo that violated pike fishing ethics. 😱 • Angling Times (circulation 120,000) ran a front-page headline: "Anglers …
…
continue reading

1
The Future of Chocolate Is Hidden in Volcanic Soil
49:59
49:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:59What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered what makes truly exceptional chocolate? The secret might be sitting right beneath its roots - volcanic soil. Tamsin Daniel, Head of Marketing at Firetree Chocolate, takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of premium chocolate production, revealing how cocoa grown in the nutrient-…
…
continue reading

1
The Art of Global Content with Shaheen Samavati
15:29
15:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:29What topic would you like us to cover next? Marketing across borders goes far beyond simple translation - it requires genuine cultural understanding and strategic adaptation. In this eye-opening conversation with Shaheen Samavati, co-founder and CEO of Vera Content, we explore the intricate world of multilingual marketing and why so many brands str…
…
continue reading

1
"Getting Fired Was the Best Career Move I Ever Made"
1:04:08
1:04:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:08What topic would you like us to cover next? Getting fired can be devastating to your career - or it can be the catalyst for something greater. For Patrick Collister, being unceremoniously dismissed from a French-owned direct marketing agency where he was billed at £1000 per hour became a transformational moment that propelled him toward success. In…
…
continue reading

1
Severance: The Marketing Masterclass Behind Apple TV's Cult Show - Campaign Crunch
22:12
22:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:12What topic would you like us to cover next? Marketing a TV show in today's crowded streaming world requires more than just trailers and billboards - it demands innovative thinking that captures attention and builds genuine connection. That's exactly what we explore in this fascinating conversation with Courtney Milne from our team at Prohibition, w…
…
continue reading

1
The Fake Follower Epidemic: Stop Vanity Metrics Killing Your Brand - Marketing Room 101 Special
35:09
35:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:09What topic would you like us to cover next? In this special episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Chris and Will take a seat on the guest side as they're invited onto the Marketing Room 101 podcast, hosted by Ben Norman. The theme? Banishing their marketing bugbears forever. Together, they tackle the frustrating world of fake followers, influenc…
…
continue reading

1
AI, Reddit, and Micro-Virality: Our Social Media Trends for 2025
50:17
50:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:17What topic would you like us to cover next? Following on from our most popular episode last year where we looked at social media trends for 2024, we have our 2025 prediction list. Social media continues to evolve rapidly, with new platforms emerging and established ones transforming to meet changing user preferences and behaviours. We look at the k…
…
continue reading

1
"I Didn’t Pay Myself for 3 Years" - How Agorapulse Built a Thriving Business
49:11
49:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:11What topic would you like us to cover next? What does it really take to build a successful SaaS business from scratch with no funding? Emeric Ernoult knows the answer all too well - he went three years without a salary while bootstrapping Agorapulse, now one of the world's leading social media management platforms. The journey began in 2000 with a …
…
continue reading

1
YouTube Dominance: Why Most Brands Fail at Video Marketing
1:01:30
1:01:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:30What topic would you like us to cover next? YouTube isn’t just holding its own against TikTok and Instagram – it’s thriving. In fact, in the US, it’s now watched more on televisions than computers, marking a major shift in how audiences engage with digital content. Yet despite this growth, many marketers still don’t truly understand how to make the…
…
continue reading

1
How to turn passionate fans into your most powerful marketing channel, with Paul Archer
52:49
52:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:49What topic would you like us to cover next? Who would you trust more to recommend a product or service - an influencer who is paid to promote it, or a friend who is a genuine fan and user of the brand? In this episode, we sit down with Paul Archer, founder of Duel and passionate 'advocate' for brand advocacy. He offers brilliant insight into how br…
…
continue reading

1
How a Family Cleaning Brand 'Swept Up' the Competition, with Howard Moss
1:04:00
1:04:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:00What topic would you like us to cover next? Yep, Astonish cleaning products really started out in a shed in Leeds… In this episode, we go behind the scenes of cleaning brand, Astonish, with owner and CEO Howard Moss, to learn about the one-man business that has transformed over 50 years into an international success, distributing to more than 30 co…
…
continue reading

1
Crisis Control 2025: What to Do When It All Goes Wrong
1:01:38
1:01:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:38What topic would you like us to cover next? It’s easy to feel like things are quickly spiraling out of control when a crisis hits. Our latest episode takes a look at exactly what needs to be done when the heat is high, the pressure is on, and it feels like your back’s against the wall because of one type of disaster or another. We discuss the types…
…
continue reading

1
Why Comms Teams Are Wasting £10K a Month (And How to Fix It)
54:19
54:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:19What topic would you like us to cover next? AI is transforming PR, but is it actually replacing PR professionals? In this episode, we sit down with Jono Matusky, founder of Newsprint AI. Jono has built AI tools that automate media monitoring, press release writing, and executive briefings. But does that mean the role of PR professionals is at risk?…
…
continue reading

1
The Powerful Role of Psychology in Business and Marketing with Abby Dixon
53:53
53:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:53What topic would you like us to cover next? Abigail Dixon, the brilliant mind behind the Whole Marketer, shares her inspiring journey from working at Burger King to hosting a podcast with over 130 episodes. Have you ever wondered how aligning personal values like connection, growth, and generosity with your career could transform your professional …
…
continue reading

1
How to Avoid the Dirty Tricks from the Media with Helen Nugent
51:29
51:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:29What topic would you like us to cover next? Award-winning journalist Helen Nugent, renowned for her 27-year career across multiple media channels, joins us to breakdown the world of journalism and media training. Discover how seasoned journalists carve out the perfect soundbite and why media training is essential for brand representatives. Helen sh…
…
continue reading

1
Why Your PR ROI is Failing – And How to Fix It
55:53
55:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:53What topic would you like us to cover next? Are you measuring PR ROI all wrong? If you’re relying on outdated metrics like AVEs or vanity impressions, you could be missing the real value of your PR efforts—and losing budget because of it. In this episode, we break down the biggest mistakes brands make when tracking PR success, why traditional measu…
…
continue reading

1
It’s Better to Belong: The Art of Building Customer Loyalty in Competitive Markets
59:11
59:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:11What topic would you like us to cover next? Nikki Dixon, Director of Brand & Marketing @ Leeds Building Society, shares her journey from retail to finance, highlighting the critical importance of authenticity and community in successful marketing. This episode explores her strategies for rebranding Leeds Building Society and building trust in a com…
…
continue reading

1
The £400 Billboard That Made Headlines: Mark Rofe’s Love-Seeking PR Stunt
48:37
48:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:37What topic would you like us to cover next? What does a £400 billboard, 1,400 unsold England flags, and a taxi website have in common? For digital PR expert Mark Rofe, they’re all part of a journey filled with creative risks, quirky mistakes, and invaluable marketing lessons. In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Mark shares the story of…
…
continue reading

1
From Zero to 110K Downloads: Master Podcasting in 2025 to Transform Your Brand
1:01:51
1:01:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:51What topic would you like us to cover next? Explore the power of podcasting, we discuss why it has become essential in today's marketing world for brands to maximise engagement and ROI. With practical insights and case studies, we reveal how to expose common challenges while crafting a successful podcast. • Understanding the importance of podcastin…
…
continue reading

1
How Gap Leveraged TikTok Trends for a Bold Fashion Move
21:21
21:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:21What topic would you like us to cover next? What happens when a legacy brand like Gap teams up with a TikTok star to redefine fashion trends? Senior account manager Sinead Morrissey joins us to share how Julia Huynh's quest for the ultimate "hoodie that hoodies" sparked a groundbreaking collaboration with Gap. This episode looks at the creative pro…
…
continue reading

1
Failing Forward: Brian Keane’s Road From Broke to Bestseller
54:11
54:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:11What topic would you like us to cover next? In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, we sit down with Brian Keane, bestselling author of The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset. Brian opens up about his journey from struggling as a personal trainer — living paycheck to paycheck and actually digging for a bus fare in his sofa cushions — …
…
continue reading

1
The Report That Scared CMOs: AI, Backlash, and Budget Squeezes
54:06
54:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:06What topic would you like us to cover next? Robin Smith, Head of Corporate at Censuswide, joins us in unravelling the complexities of modern marketing in our latest episode as we look at a brand new comprehensive report on CMOs. We invited Robin onto the show so you could gain real insight from their inaugural "Voice of the CMO Report" which questi…
…
continue reading

1
Unlocking 40% Profit Margins: The Secret to Agency Pricing Success
57:49
57:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:49What topic would you like us to cover next? Unlock the secrets to charging what your agency is truly worth with insights from Crispin Manners, CEO of Onvert and former chairman of the PRCA. We explore how agencies can move beyond outdated pricing models by embracing value-based strategies. Crispin shares his journey and experiences, from pioneering…
…
continue reading

1
Why 80% of New Grocery Products Fail: Lessons from the Food & Beverage Sectors
48:15
48:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:15What topic would you like us to cover next? Unlock the secrets to marketing success in the food and beverage industry in this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, where we dissect both the challenges and triumphs brands experience in this cutthroat arena. Featuring insights from industry experts like Tristan O'Hara of Pub & Bar and James Beeson…
…
continue reading

1
450K Emails in One Hour?! How a HubSpot Blunder Turned into a Nightmare
39:32
39:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:32What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how rejection can fuel innovation? Zohe Mustafa, the visionary founder and head of marketing at Growth Hakka, shares his inspiring journey from being turned away by advertising agencies to pioneering AI-driven marketing strategies. Learn how Zohe has transformed obstacles into opportunities,…
…
continue reading

1
How to Build a Premium Brand: Insights from Lexus - Mat Thomas
41:43
41:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:43What topic would you like us to cover next? World-renowned brand strategist Mat Thomas shares his fascinating journey from finance to marketing, offering insights on how his diverse experiences have shaped his approach in the competitive world of automotive branding. With a background in handling powerhouse brands like Unilever and Bayer, Mat revea…
…
continue reading

1
£15M and 37 Downloads: Inside the Kylie Minogue Campaign That Went Horribly Wrong - Tom Goodwin
34:04
34:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:04What topic would you like us to cover next? Can you imagine a world where the relentless march of technology isn't as swift as we perceive it to be? Join us as we explore this intriguing possibility with futurist and digital transformation expert, Tom Goodwin. In a thought-provoking conversation, Tom shares his insights on "Digital Darwinism" and t…
…
continue reading

1
How Can You Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking? Jayne Constantinis
56:54
56:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:54What topic would you like us to cover next? In this episode, we’re joined by Jayne Constantinis, an esteemed trainer and presenter whose career spans the high-pressure world of BBC broadcasting, corporate PR, and TEDx stages. Jayne shares her captivating journey from navigating live TV to empowering others with the tools to communicate confidently …
…
continue reading

1
Why My Generosity Flopped: The Reciprocity Lesson Marketers Need - Phill Agnew Nudge
53:34
53:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:34What topic would you like us to cover next? What if understanding consumer behaviour could transform your marketing efforts? Join us for an insightful conversation with Phill Agnew, the mastermind behind the Nudge Podcast, as we uncover the secrets of behavioural science in marketing. From his early days as a marketing student to becoming a leading…
…
continue reading

1
Is Guaranteed Coverage Really Just Paid Media in Disguise? Chris Pharo Explains
57:56
57:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:56What topic would you like us to cover next? If you’ve ever wanted “guaranteed media coverage,” this episode is a must-listen. We’ve all been there — clients expecting front-page headlines and PR teams doing their best to secure that all-important killer piece. However, many in the PR industry have asked how anyone can guarantee coverage and whether…
…
continue reading

1
How Top Marketers Avoid Vanity Metrics and Focus on Real Growth
56:58
56:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:58What topic would you like us to cover next? Want to know how to truly resonate with your audience and craft marketing strategies that hit the mark? Listen to our conversation with Alex Myers, head of marketing at the SEO Works, as we break down the essence of market orientation and how understanding your audience isn't just about sharing job titles…
…
continue reading

1
How to Master Strategic Copywriting and Boost Freelance Success with Sarah Townsend
52:26
52:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:26What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how to transform your business through the power of words? Join us as we chat with the incredible Sarah Townsend, a leading freelance copywriter and author who shares her remarkable journey from the corporate world to freelance success. Learn how clarity, simplicity, and human-centric writin…
…
continue reading

1
Falling Over, Failed Funnels, and Facebook Ad Fiascos: 50 Episodes of Mistakes
47:56
47:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:56What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how booking events in different cities on the same dates could turn into a hilarious marketing lesson? Or what it’s like to fall over during a high-stakes pitch? Join Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, as we celebrate our 50th episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes. We kick off with Lisa Thomp…
…
continue reading

1
How Class Diversity Can Be the Secret to Your Marketing Strategy with Lisa Thompson
57:20
57:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:20What topic would you like us to cover next? Unlock the secrets to more inclusive and effective marketing strategies with our special guest, Lisa Thompson, strategy lead at Wavemaker and founder of Common People. We delve into Lisa's experiences and insights, revealing how balancing data with human intuition can uncover missed opportunities and driv…
…
continue reading

1
Can a Government Campaign Change the World? Lessons from COVID and COP26 - Anil Manji
46:38
46:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:38What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how marketing strategies are crafted amidst the chaos of a global crisis? Join us on as we sit down with Anil Manji, a communications consultant with a remarkable journey from Grey London’s iconic campaigns to high-stakes government communications during COVID-19. Anil divulges the intricaci…
…
continue reading

1
Why Weird Works: The Secret to Guerrilla Marketing Success with Peter Freedman
53:24
53:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:24What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how silly PR ideas turn into marketing gold? We're thrilled to have Peter Freedman, the genius behind Thinking at Think Inc., join us as he shares his journey from the newsroom to the PR boardroom. Discover the secrets behind Peter's knack for crafting campaigns that have made giants like Ap…
…
continue reading

1
How your brand can get the most out of Pinterest - Meagan Williamson
56:47
56:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:47What topic would you like us to cover next? Unlock the secrets of Pinterest marketing success for 2024 with insights from Megan, a seasoned expert who transformed her viral moment into a thriving business. Ever wondered how an educational psychologist can pivot to becoming a top Pinterest consultant? Megan's journey is nothing short of inspiring, a…
…
continue reading

1
How the Wrong AI Approach Is Costing Brands Big: Lessons for Smarter Implementation - Andrew Bruce Smith
56:29
56:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:29What topic would you like us to cover next? Ever wondered how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Andrew Bruce Smith as we explore the significant strides AI has made over the past year. Witness Andrew’s unique perspective on evolving from early social media days to leading AI-driven marketing stra…
…
continue reading

1
Can AR Technology Transform Brand Advertising or Is It Just Hype?
50:36
50:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:36What topic would you like us to cover next? How can brands leverage cutting-edge technology and creativity to connect with their audiences? Join us as we sit down with Jed Hallam, the former Global Head of Strategy Arcadia at Snap, for a captivating discussion on his career and his innovative work at Snapchat. Jed's journey from agency life to the …
…
continue reading

1
The Hairy Fail: Gareth Turner’s PR Nightmare with a Human Hair Coat
48:58
48:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:58What topic would you like us to cover next? Unlock the secrets to brand growth with Gareth Turner, the mastermind behind the innovative Big Black Door agency. Gain insights from Gareth's rich experience in the FMCG and food and drink sectors, including the viral sensation Weetabix and Heinz Baked Beans campaign. You'll learn the marketing fundament…
…
continue reading