What should brands do when controversy hits — or worse, when they create it?

In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Sa Maria Boyd and Kylie Scarborough break down how major brands handled (and sometimes mishandled) high-visibility social media moments — from Duolingo’s AI-first backlash to American Eagle’s campaign controversy, Cracker Barrel’s rebrand reversal, and Southwest Airlines’ policy changes.

When public sentiment is heightened, culture is shifting, and emotions are running high, marketers don’t have the luxury of “just posting.” Every message is amplified. Every silence is interpreted. And every decision has consequences.

We explore:

-Whether all press is really good press

-When brands should pause content during cultural or global tension

-The role of social media managers in crisis communication

-Why humor sometimes works — and sometimes falls flat

-How nostalgia, identity, and brand equity impact backlash

-When it’s smart to stand your ground… and when to pivot

This conversation is especially relevant for B2B marketers who often believe controversy is a “B2C problem.” It’s not. Social media is now the front line of brand reputation for every industry.

If you're releasing something that could even be perceived as controversial, double-check it. You may overthink it. You may delay it. You may even lose money adjusting the plan.

But the bigger question remains:

Is the short-term attention worth the long-term brand damage?

Social media managers carry more strategic weight than many organizations realize. They’re not just posting content — they have a pulse on culture. And in moments of crisis, that insight matters.

We’re officially in a digital marketing arms race — and most brands are walking away with black eyes.

Paid search costs are volatile. Competition is brutal. AI is changing how buyers search. And suddenly, the old playbook of “just run more ads” isn’t working like it used to.

So what the hell is actually going on?

In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Dacia Coffey and Sina Azmoudeh unpack:

-Why paid media feels harder (and more expensive) than ever

-The truth about AI search and large language models -Whether SEO is really “dead”

-Why content is no longer optional — it’s a core competency

-How to stop chasing ROAS in isolation and start building a real marketing ecosystem

-What “shots on target” content really means (and why volume matters)

-The Reddit effect and how AI is actually learning about your brand

Here’s the hard truth: If your company doesn’t have a scalable, consistent content strategy, you’re stuck fighting in a paid arms race you probably can’t afford to win.

But if you build influence through quality, resonant, emotionally intelligent content — and deploy it consistently — you stop renting attention and start owning it.

AI isn’t the enemy. Paid media isn’t dead. But the rules have changed.

This episode is a no-fluff conversation about what’s real, what’s hype, and how B2B leaders should be thinking about digital marketing in 2025 and beyond.

If you’re a CEO, CMO, or growth leader wondering why performance feels unpredictable right now — this is your episode.

🔗 Find out more about The Marketing Blender

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AI search is changing how buyers find you—but here’s the truth: AI SEO isn’t a replacement for traditional SEO… it’s an extension of it.

In this special episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Hudson Lab and Ramsey Sanchez break down what B2B leaders need to know right now to rank in AI-driven search (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, AI Mode) while still winning the fundamentals of Google.

You’ll learn:

-What “AI SEO,” “Generative Engine Optimization (GEO),” and “AI search optimization” actually mean -Why traditional SEO is still the foundation (and why most B2B companies are behind)

-The 4-stage, 100-day SEO rollout plan: keywords → content → publishing → paid amplification

-How Google Ads + SEO can work together to increase visibility and improve engagement signals -Why brand reputation + social signals (TikTok, Reddit, reviews, forums) can impact AI visibility -The new way to measure performance: mentions, visibility, and AI Overview tracking (not just keyword rank)

If you’re a B2B marketer or business owner trying to cut through the noise and build a strategy that actually holds up as AI evolves—this episode is your roadmap.

🔗 Find out more about The Marketing Blender

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