UNFUDGE YOUR MARKETING

If your website is not converting, your emails are not getting responses, or people are landing on your pages and disappearing without taking action, you might think you have a words problem. But chances are you have a strategy problem. Elle Rosselli, conversion copywriter and messaging strategist, joins Kristi to talk about what happens when businesses skip the foundational work and jump straight to getting words on a page, and why that shortcut almost always costs more in the long run. Elle and Kristi unpack the difference between guessing at your audience and actually listening to them, why copy rooted in real client language outperforms polished professional writing every time, and what it looks like to build messaging that actually converts. You'll learn: Why imagining a buyer persona is not the same as understanding your actual buyer How one early client experience taught Elle that strategy has to come before a single word is written The real reason your website is not converting, and why it is almost never about the design What voice of customer research actually looks like and why it can feel like cheating when you do it right How to spot the signs that you have a messaging problem, not a traffic problem Why using your clients' exact words in your copy is more powerful than any polished headline you could write The practical first step Elle recommends if you think messaging might be holding your business back If you have ever poured time and money into a website or a campaign that produced crickets, this episode will help you understand why and what to do about it. Connect with Elle Rosselli: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurel-elle-rosselli-conversion-copywriter-coaches-consultants?originalSubdomain=ca Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review so you never miss a chance to unfudge your marketing. Learn more about Kristi and get in touch with her to learn how to Unf*dge YOUR marketing: kristimitchell.com

You can shout from every rooftop, post on every platform, and get all the exposure in the world. But if your messaging is unclear, inconsistent, or stuck in an older version of who you are, that exposure can actually work against you. Hersh Rephun, personal brand strategist and founder of Yes Brand Builders, joins Kristi to talk about one of the most common and costly mistakes he sees: a failure to maintain messaging coherence as visibility grows. Hersh and Kristi unpack why wrong fit referrals, constant self-explanation, and missed opportunities are often symptoms of a messaging problem at the source, and what it looks like to fix it. You'll learn: Why getting more exposure without a clear signal can calcify the wrong perception of who you are How to spot the early signs that your messaging is sending mixed signals to your audience Why wrong fit referrals are often a clue that something in your messaging needs attention The neurologist and orchestra conductor story and what it teaches us about what makes you truly memorable Why clarity alone is not enough if you are being crystal clear about the wrong thing How to trace a breakdown in understanding all the way back to where the disconnect first happened Why the truth of who you are is your greatest marketing asset and the one thing no competitor can replicate If you feel like you keep explaining yourself or the right people just are not finding you, this episode will help you figure out why. Connect with Hersh Rephun: Website: yesbrandbuilders.com Book: Selling the Truth, available at sellingthetruthbook.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review so you never miss a chance to unfudge your marketing. Learn more about Kristi and get in touch with her to learn how to Unf*dge YOUR marketing: kristimitchell.com

Facebook ads promise passive leads, an autopilot pipeline, and clients flowing in while you sleep. But what really happens when you put real money behind that promise and the results just do not show up? Nancy Zare, PhD, a sales psychologist, joins Kristi to share her honest experience running Facebook ads not once, but twice, and walking away with little more than spammy email addresses and a lighter wallet. Nancy and Kristi unpack why the appeal of passive lead generation is so powerful, especially for heart centered business owners who would rather serve their clients than sell to them, and why a single tactic is never going to be the answer to your marketing challenges. You'll learn: Why Facebook ads felt like the perfect solution and where the promise broke down in reality The difference between impressions and clicks versus actual buyers, and why vanity metrics can mislead you What two separate attempts with two different providers taught Nancy about the platform and about herself Why heart centered entrepreneurs are especially susceptible to the allure of passive marketing shortcuts How to know when you have given a tactic a fair shot versus when it is time to move on Why your marketing foundation has to come before paid ads, not after The one piece of advice Nancy leaves every business owner with: do not do it alone If you have ever been tempted to throw money at ads hoping they will solve your lead generation problem, this episode is your honest reality check. Connect with Nancy Zare: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nancyzare Nancy is also on Substack, Facebook, and YouTube Learn more: nancyzare.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review so you never miss a chance to unfudge your marketing. Learn more about Kristi and get in touch with her to learn how to Unf*dge YOUR marketing: kristimitchell.com

When you are launching a new business and trying to do everything yourself, AI can feel like the perfect shortcut. Alan Lamparella, founder of Tasklight Business Advisory, found out the hard way that when it comes to branding, fast and cheap does not always get you where you need to go. After 30 years leading manufacturing and industrial organizations, Alan set out on his own and leaned heavily on AI to name and brand his business. What he got back felt bland, disconnected, and just plain wrong. Alan joins Kristi to talk about what changed when he brought in the right humans for the job, why clarity and confidence in your brand identity matters more than speed, and what the experience taught him about knowing when to trust the technology and when to call in the pros. You'll learn: Why AI kept producing bland branding results and what was actually missing from the process How a single question from a branding expert, tell me why your business exists, unlocked everything The real cost of settling for good enough when you are building something you have to believe in Why lack of clarity and conviction early on can quietly slow your growth down the road How to think about AI as a tool in your marketing without letting it replace the human connection your brand needs Why solopreneurs especially need people in their corner, not just software The case for hiring specialists even when you already have marketing support If you have been wondering where AI fits in your marketing and where it falls short, this episode gives you an honest and grounded answer. Connect with Alan Lamparella: LinkedIn: Alan Lamparella Website: tasklightadvisory.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review so you never miss a chance to unfudge your marketing. Learn more about Kristi and get in touch with her to learn how to Unf*dge YOUR marketing: kristimitchell.com

Paid ads can feel like a money pit, especially when you are told you need to be everywhere, reach everyone, and just keep spending. Lindsey Laughlin, VP at Gravity Group, joins Kristi to cut through the noise and talk about the most common missteps she sees businesses making with their ad dollars, and what to do instead. From cramming too much into your messaging to spreading your budget across too many channels, Lindsey shares why less is often more when it comes to paid advertising. She also pulls back the curtain on how her agency operates differently, and why that difference matters a lot for the clients they serve. You'll learn: Why trying to say everything in your ad messaging actually communicates nothing How spreading your budget too thin across too many channels quietly kills your results Why your audience, not your leadership team, should be the hero of your marketing message The often overlooked power of post purchase nurturing and what most businesses are leaving on the table How to think about the next best product or service for your existing clients and why it costs far less than finding new ones Why more impressions does not equal more results, and how to have that conversation with a media rep What to ask any agency or media buyer about markups before you sign anything If paid ads have ever left you frustrated and wondering where your money went, this episode will help you ask better questions and make smarter decisions. Connect with Lindsey Laughlin: LinkedIn: ⁠Lindsey Laughlin⁠ Website: gravitygroup.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share, and leave a review so you never miss a chance to unfudge your marketing. Learn more about Kristi and get in touch with her to learn how to Unf*dge YOUR marketing: kristimitchell.com