Episodios

  • How to Build a Brand that Lasts with Mathew Knowles

    How to Build a Brand that Lasts with Mathew Knowles
    Jul 31 2025

    What can entrepreneurs learn from someone who built global brands in both medical tech and music?


    Dr. Knowles, founder of Music World Entertainment and former sales exec at Xerox and Johnson & Johnson, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share how he applied the same marketing fundamentals, audience insight, branding, and process, to launch Destiny’s Child, grow a multi-million-dollar hair salon business, and teach entrepreneurship around the world.


    In this episode, you’ll hear how he made the leap from corporate sales to the entertainment industry, why “practicing failure” was core to his management style, and what every small business can gain from learning the psychology behind entrepreneurship.


    If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.


    Additional Resources:

    • Book Dr. Mathew Knowles to speak at MathewKnowles.com
    • Use the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you
    • Getting started with the Automation Path Builder


    Meet Today’s Guest: Mathew Knowles of Music World Entertainment

    👤 What he does: Dr. Knowles is an award-winning music executive, entrepreneur, author, professor, and cancer survivor. He’s best known for managing Destiny’s Child and Beyoncé’s early solo career, but his journey began in corporate America with a 20-year run at Xerox, Philips Medical Systems, and Johnson & Johnson.


    He later launched Music World Entertainment in Houston, Texas, and grew it into one of the world’s leading music and entertainment companies, landing major brand deals, developing new talent, and expanding into fashion, haircare, and education. Dr. Knowles now travels the world teaching the next generation of business leaders through speaking and mentorship.


    💡 Key quote: “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect anybody else to believe in you?”


    👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter | Instagram


    👋 Where to find Music World Entertainment: LinkedIn | Instagram

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    56 m
  • How to Drive Awareness, Loyalty, and Revenue with Jayson Alexander and Shane DiMantova

    How to Drive Awareness, Loyalty, and Revenue with Jayson Alexander and Shane DiMantova
    Jul 24 2025
    At 18, Jayson Alexander wasn't racing go-karts or growing up in a motorsports family. He was in his bedroom, learning to drive through video games. Today, he's a NASCAR driver and founder of Jayson Alexander Racing—running a full-fledged brand while juggling college, lacrosse, and military service.In this episode of Be A Marketer, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, talks with Jayson and his teammate, Shane DiMantova, who leads PR and social media for the team. Together, they've built a loyal fan base by treating their racing operation like a business, from segmenting email lists to planning content calendars around class schedules."Even when we're not at the track, we still try to build it up as much as possible," Jayson says. "I see a lot of drivers that, if they're at the track, great, they're posting. If they're not, they're just gone. We want to make you think we’re racing every weekend—even if we're off for a month." Shane adds, "Without Constant Contact, we'd be chickens with our heads cut off.”They share how they use automation, segmentation, and SMS to grow fan engagement, boost merch sales, and pitch sponsors—even on off weeks. Their approach proves that with the right tools and a plan, small teams can move fast and grow big.If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.Additional ResourcesUnderstanding contact segmentationCreate a segment of contacts by choosing specific criteriaUsing contact lists, tags, and segments based on your list sizeCustomer Spotlight: Jayson Alexander Racing Stays in the Fast Lane with Constant Contact Meet Today's Guests: Jayson Alexander and Shane DiMantova from Jayson Alexander RacingJayson Alexander👤 What he does: Jayson Alexander is a NASCAR driver, entrepreneur, and full-time college student. He's the founder of Jayson Alexander Racing and co-founder of Premier Performance Group, where he helps fellow drivers land sponsorships and navigate professional racing careers, all while serving in the military and playing collegiate lacrosse.💡 Key quote: "There's so much more than just showing up and driving. We have everything. We have the social media side, we have the sponsorship side, we have the marketing side."👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramShane DiMantova👤 What he does: Shane DiMantova is a sports management student, freelance designer, and Director of PR and Social Media at Jayson Alexander Racing. He helps run the team's day-to-day marketing, from email campaigns to giveaways, bringing fan engagement and brand identity to the forefront of their growing NASCAR presence.💡 Key quote: "Without Constant Contact, we'd be a bunch of people running around like chickens with their heads cut off, for sure. We'd be all over the place, not knowing what to do, trying to build up our brand."👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn | Instagram
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    44 m
  • The Power of Knowing Your Market with Emma Easton

    The Power of Knowing Your Market with Emma Easton
    Jul 17 2025

    Does your business feel like it’s constantly doing all the things but not seeing the results you want?


    Emma Easton, founder and “chief bolloxologist” of Business Bollox, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to talk about the trap of overcomplicating marketing and why simplicity and clarity are the real secret weapons for small businesses.


    In this episode, Emma and Dave dig into the pressure business owners feel to show up everywhere and post constantly, and how that noise can actually get in the way of meaningful connection. You’ll hear why marketing needs to start with your business model, how to reframe what “strategy” really means, and how to get your time and focus back.


    Whether you're new to marketing or feeling stretched thin, this episode is a refreshing reminder that doing less but doing it with intention can actually lead to more.


    Additional Resources:

    • Optimize the subject line of an email
    • A/B test an email subject line

    Meet Today’s Guest: Emma Easton

    👤 What she does: Emma Easton is the founder and “chief bolloxologist” of Business Bollox, a marketing strategy company based in the UK. With a background in corporate PR and small business branding, Emma now helps entrepreneurs cut through the noise and grow their businesses with clarity and confidence.


    💡 Key quote: “You don't need to be doing everything. You just need to be doing the right things.”


    👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn


    👋 Where to find Business Bollox: Website | LinkedIn


    If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    58 m
  • Building a Marketing Ecosystem for Black-Owned Businesses with David Derryck

    Building a Marketing Ecosystem for Black-Owned Businesses with David Derryck
    Jul 10 2025

    David Derryck, founder and CEO of BuyBlack.org, came across a powerful quote: "People always talk about what would they have done during the time of slavery or during civil rights era. And the answer is, whatever you're doing right now."

    That moment sparked what would become BuyBlack.org, a platform that has grown from 10,000 to over 50,000 listings of Black-owned businesses across the country. What started as David's passion project in 2022 is now a comprehensive ecosystem helping consumers discover and support Black-owned businesses while providing those businesses with marketing tools and resources.

    "Our mission just as an organization is to drive traffic and revenue to black owned businesses," he explains in this episode of Be a Marketer.


    What marketing strategies are working for BuyBlack.org? In this episode, David and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, explore how the platform uses email automation, digital advertising co-ops, and community engagement both online and offline.

    Tune in to hear how David built partnerships with organizations like Constant Contact, why certification matters for Black-owned businesses, and how a parade float became one of his most meaningful marketing moments.


    Additional Resources:

    • Create and manage an automated Welcome Email
    • Understanding contact segmentation
    • Using click segmentation in an email


    Meet Today’s Guest: David Derryck of BuyBlack

    ☕ What he does: David Derryck is the founder and CEO of BuyBlack.org, a mission-driven platform based in Oakland, California that helps consumers find and support Black-owned businesses across the country. What started as a passion project during the pandemic has grown into an ecosystem with over 50,000 listings and counting.


    💡 Key quote: “I think there's a clear recognition in this country that we've been on. Like wealth inequality exists, revenue inequality exists, and I think there's a clear recognition that people want to fix that.”


    👋 Where to find David: LinkedIn


    👋 Where to find Buy Black: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn


    If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    54 m
  • Why Community Matters More Than Content with Andrea Marquez

    Why Community Matters More Than Content with Andrea Marquez
    Jul 3 2025

    Andrea Marquez didn't set out to "just" launch a podcast. She built a fully branded experience, with research, structure, and intention behind every episode.

    As the host and Senior Producer of This Is Small Business, Amazon's podcast for entrepreneurs, Andrea treats the show like a product. That means creating branding guidelines, defining listener personas, building workflows, and committing to quality long before the first mic check.


    "We make sure to stay true to both of these," Andrea explains. "We're thinking about what our listener will take away from the story we're telling, while staying authentic to the person or business featured in the episode—our guest." That dual focus shapes every decision, from production to promotion.


    In this episode, Andrea joins Be A Marketer host Dave Charest to talk about why strong creative work starts with strategy. She shares how frameworks like "the five whys" and "test, fail, learn fast" help founders focus, why social media might not be the best marketing channel for a podcast, and how showing up consistently builds trust and community.

    Additional Resources

    • A/B test an email subject line
    • Using the audience growth center
    • Grow your contact list with sign-up forms
    • Enable Text to Join to grow your list
    • Use an email to grow your contact list


    Meet Today's Guest: Andrea Marquez from This is Small Business


    👤 What she does: Andrea Marquez is the Senior Producer and Host of This Is Small Business, Amazon's award-winning podcast for entrepreneurs. A first-generation Latina with a background in advertising, she built the show from the ground up to spotlight real-world business stories and provide practical guidance for small business owners.

    💡 Key quote: "Everything starts from understanding who you're telling the story to and why they want to hear it, all the way to every single day of recording, guest chasing, scheduling, etc."


    👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | TikTok |

    👋 Where to find This Is Small Business: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon

    If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    50 m
  • What an NFL Running Back Can Teach You About Marketing with Austin Ekeler

    What an NFL Running Back Can Teach You About Marketing with Austin Ekeler
    May 22 2025
    From Colorado ranch life to NFL stardom, Austin Ekeler has built multiple successful ventures through resilience and strategic marketing. In this episode, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, explores how the Washington Commanders running back applies the same determination to his business ventures as he shows on game day.As founder and CEO of the Austin Ekeler Foundation and Eksperience content platform, Austin shares how his early marketing efforts yielded diminishing returns until he discovered the power of audience segmentation. "What makes marketing successful? Consistency," Austin explains as he reveals how automated messaging and targeted communication transformed his business relationships.Austin candidly discusses his $1.2 million tech investment misstep and how that painful lesson shaped his more measured approach to business growth. His marketing journey began with simple email collection during his Twitch streaming days and gradually evolved as he expanded into multiple ventures, including real estate projects and an investment fund.Whether renovating high school weight rooms through his foundation or helping athletes connect with fans via Eksperience, Austin demonstrates how proper audience segmentation builds authentic relationships. His methodical approach offers a practical blueprint: start small, test strategies, learn from setbacks, and thoughtfully implement technology to maintain personal connections at scale - a balance of automation and hands-on engagement that any business can adapt for their marketing efforts.Additional resources:Create and Manage tagsUse the Automation Path Builder to add or remove tags from your contactsAutomatically send a series of emails when a contact joins your listMeet Today's Guest: Austin Ekeler of the Washington Commanders and the Austin Ekeler Foundation🏈 What he does: Austin Ekeler is the current running back for the Washington Commanders. He's also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of multiple business ventures, including the Austin Ekeler Foundation, which renovates weight rooms in high schools nationwide, and Eksperience, a content management platform for athletes and organizations. 💡 Key quote: "I think it's important to know that the journey doesn't stop and it's not an unsuccessful journey if your business is not successful. I think it's only an unsuccessful journey in the business world, entrepreneurial world, if you don't take the lessons that are learned from your wins and from your losses."👋 Where to find him: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram👋 Where to find Eksperience: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn👋 Where to find Austin Ekeler Foundation: Website | Instagram | Facebook If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    42 m
  • Ask Dave: 2025 National Small Business Week Edition

    Ask Dave: 2025 National Small Business Week Edition
    May 20 2025
    What happens when you take your marketing questions directly to the source, live and in person? You get real, unfiltered conversations with small business owners tackling everything from email strategy to AI content creation.To celebrate National Small Business Week, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, hit the road for live Q&As at Small Business Expo events in Boston and NYC. In this special “Ask Dave” edition of Be a Marketer, he answers real questions from real business owners on the spot.In this conversation, you’ll hear insights on how to get started with marketing when you’re new to it, ways to clean up and grow your email list, how introverts can build a content strategy that feels natural, and how to use automation, segmentation, and AI to stay consistent without burning out. Whether you’re running a solo business or building a growing team, you’ll walk away with honest, tactical advice straight from the field.Additional Resources:Getting started with Constant ContactUnderstanding contact segmentationSchedule and send an emailCreate a Social Post and schedule it to publish on social mediaCreate and activate an eventAutomatically send a series of emails when a contact joins your list"Ask a Trainer" Daily Drop-In SessionsKickbox integration with Constant ContactKeeping clean contact listsView the location of your clicks in the Email Heat MapUse the Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for youSCOREMeet Today’s Guest: This episode features a wide range of small business owners who stepped up to the mic during our live Q&A sessions at the Constant Contact booth. From marketing agencies and HR consultants to spa owners, content creators, and market researchers, these entrepreneurs brought their most pressing marketing questions to the table.In their conversation with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, each offered a different perspective on the small business journey. You’ll hear thoughtful questions about finding your audience, creating content that feels true to who you are, staying consistent with marketing efforts, and making technology work for you, not the other way around.As Sophie put it: “I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect with people when I’m stuck in that introverted way.” That moment captured exactly what this episode is about, meeting business owners where they are, and helping them build confidence and clarity with every step forward.These conversations were recorded live at the Small Business Expo events in Boston and NYC.Aleah Carter: Marketing professional at Jillian Circus, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Long Island, NY 👋 Where to find her: LinkedInDavid Williams: Founder of Triton Talent Solutions, an HR consulting firm focused on recruiting for small businesses 👋 Where to find him: LinkedInSophie Lee: Founder of a multimedia production company👋 Where to find her: LinkedInTatiana Guerrero: Director at Diamond Aesthetics Academy and co-owner of Diamond Skin and Body Spa in the North Shore area 👋 Where to find her: LinkedInAlice Sungurov: Freelance content and marketing consultant exploring a business in art licensing 👋 Where to find her: LinkedInJames Saunders: Founder of EventAndTravel.com, a long-time event and travel professional based in NYC👋 Where to find him: InstagramRob Hebron: Commercial real estate broker and third-generation partner in a family-owned firm👋 Where to find him: LinkedInMartha Hayward: Founder of Bird Dog Insights, a market research company helping businesses better understand their customers👋 Where to find her: LinkedInIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    1 h y 11 m
  • Smart Ways to Use Al as a Solopreneur with Mike Allton

    Smart Ways to Use Al as a Solopreneur with Mike Allton
    May 15 2025
    Four hours per week. That's all Mike Allton needs to run a content machine that includes newsletters, blogs, and multiple podcasts. As an AI strategist, podcast host, and chief storyteller at Agorapulse, Mike has mastered the art of efficiency.His secret? A strategic blend of AI tools and email marketing automation that turns one piece of content into many, all while building deeper connections with his 45,000+ subscribers."AI is not a tool. It's a technology. It's an underpinning to everything that we're doing today. It's like electricity or the Internet," Mike explains on this episode of Be A Marketer.In his conversation with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, Mike reveals his approach to creating high-quality content at scale and how his open rates increased by 100% after switching to Constant Contact.He also shares practical ways to use AI as a collaborative partner in marketing and explains why welcome emails and segmentation are crucial to email marketing success.Additional Resources:AI Content GeneratorAutomatically Generate a Marketing CampaignAgorapulse podcast episode with Dave Charest (Three Actions That Drive Small Business Marketing Success)Create a Segment of ContactsGrow Your Contact List With Sign-Up FormsUsing Click Segmentation in an EmailResend to Non-openersCreate and Manage an Automated Welcome EmailMeet Today’s Guest: Mike Allton of The Social Media Hat and Agorapulse🎯 What he does: Mike Allton is an AI strategist and podcast host at The Social Media Hat, as well as the chief storyteller at Agorapulse, a social media management tool. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing, helping marketers make sense of blogging, SEO, social media, and now AI.💡 Key quote: "We are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, the AI revolution, where everything we do and know as a society is literally changing. And that's not just hype, that's actually what's happening right now."👋 Where to find him: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram 👋 Where to find The Social Media Hat: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn👋 Where to find The Agorapulse: Website | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.
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    53 m