StrategyCast

Lori Jones from Avocet Communications

The StrategyCast podcast explores the nature of what it means to be at the helm of marketing decisions. Every episode is crafted to make people think, to spark some “aha!” moments, and to illustrate just how important a truly integrated marketing strategy and a solid, inspired brand presence are to success and longevity.Your host, Lori Jones, is the President & CEO of Avocet Communications, and she has over 30 years of integrated marketing experience. Lori has interviewed over 400 top business leaders on the show with backgrounds in B2B and B2C from brands such as General Motors, IBM, McDonald's, and Netsuite.It is the wisest and most successful of leaders who know the value of advice, can listen, and can share their experiences with others. Whether you're a CEO, a CMO, a Marketing Director, or an entrepreneur who wears many hats, this podcast is for you. For more information and show notes, go to strategycast.com. You can also follow @Strategy_Cast on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

  1. 3 days ago

    Don’t Let AI Kill Your Authenticity: Here’s What Brands Miss, feat. John Golden

    AI can help marketers move faster, but if it comes at the expense of authenticity and trust, it could do more harm than good. In this episode of StrategyCast, Lori Jones sits down with John Golden, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Coevera, to discuss why trust is becoming the most valuable competitive advantage in modern marketing. They explore how AI is changing the way brands communicate, why buyers are becoming more skeptical, and how marketers can use AI to increase efficiency without losing the human relationships that drive growth. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 03:38 Starting a career in Sweden01:47 John's journey through technology disruption and AI04:36 Why marketers should lead AI transformation08:16 Trust vs. efficiency, where brands get AI wrong10:13 Why consumers remain skeptical of AI14:05 Revenue networks and modern B2B buying15:53 Personalizing marketing for buying committees18:24 Why marketers should verify AI instead of blindly trusting it20:20 Using AI without sacrificing authenticity22:01 Authentic thought leadership in the AI era25:09 Aligning internal culture with external brand trust27:33 Consistency across every customer touchpoint31:23 Why trust will define marketing in 202734:10 Smart people using smart AI is the real competitive advantage ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    Don’t Let AI Kill Your Authenticity: Here’s What Brands Miss, feat. John Golden
  2. 28 Jul

    How IKEA, Pampers, and Visa Turned Marketing Into Cultural Movements, feat. Scott Goodson

    Brand strategy is changing. The brands creating lasting growth are not just running campaigns; they are building movements that people want to join. In this episode of StrategyCast, Lori Jones sits down with movement marketing pioneer Scott Goodson, founder of StrawberryFrog, to explore why movement thinking is replacing traditional advertising and how organizations of any size can rally customers, employees, and communities around a shared idea. Through real-world examples from IKEA, Pampers, Visa, Smart Car, Northwell Health, Mahindra, and FourLeaf Credit Union, Scott explains how the world's most successful brands create cultural momentum that drives long-term business growth. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 03:38 Starting a career in Sweden08:08 Modernizing home decor trends12:09 Debating Purpose-Driven Brand Missions15:04 Working with Scandinavian brands18:51 Post-recession organizational focus21:14 Creating a brand movement23:16 Launching the Rise movement26:15 Identifying market trends and culture30:51 Launching Money Like a Woman35:23 Tapping into public frustrations38:07 Embracing AI for business growth40:01 Expanding Marketing with AI43:11 Laurie expresses gratitude ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    How IKEA, Pampers, and Visa Turned Marketing Into Cultural Movements, feat. Scott Goodson
  3. 21 Jul

    The Four Layers of Proof That Build Buyer Trust

    Most buyers no longer trust marketing claims at face value. They investigate, compare, and verify before they believe. In this solo episode of StrategyCast, Lori Jones explains the four layers of proof that help brands build buyer trust in an increasingly skeptical marketplace. As AI makes content easier to create, unsupported claims are losing value. Buyers now examine leadership behavior, customer experiences, thought leadership, consistency, and visible expertise before they speak with a sales team. The brands that stand out will not simply make stronger claims. They will make their credibility easier to observe. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 00:00 Introduction and 600th episode milestone03:31 Understanding the trust shift08:44 Evolving role of proof in marketing10:00 Limitations of borrowed proof15:37 Future of Marketing Trends17:13 Developing a trust architecture framework20:01 Closing thoughts and contact info ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    The Four Layers of Proof That Build Buyer Trust
  4. 14 Jul

    The New Marketing Skill That Matters More Than Prompt Engineering, feat. Dan Nestle

    Prompt engineering is useful, but it isn't the marketing skill that will define the future. In this episode, Lori Jones and Dan Nestle explain why strategic thinking, authority, and AI-powered research are becoming the real competitive advantage for modern marketers. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 01:56 Dan's marketing journey and building enterprise brands04:41 How AI would have transformed marketing at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries12:25 AI's biggest impact on content creation and research15:15 Can AI shorten complex B2B sales cycles?17:25 Using AI to improve organizational alignment19:47 Competitive analysis in minutes instead of weeks23:57 Rethinking audience segmentation with AI26:57 Where marketers still misunderstand AI29:04 Executive authority, thought leadership, and AI credibility33:15 Building authority that AI can recognize34:11 Final marketing lessons and key takeaways ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    The New Marketing Skill That Matters More Than Prompt Engineering, feat. Dan Nestle
  5. 7 Jul

    Why Authenticity Is Becoming Marketing's Biggest Competitive Advantage, feat. Jennifer Reichenbacher

    As AI reshapes marketing, the brands that win won't be the loudest. They'll be the ones customers trust. Discover how authenticity, transparency, and customer experience are becoming the keys to long-term growth. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 04:36 Targeting office coffee drinkers07:00 Building trust through demos09:53 Importance of customer validation15:01 Trust, transparency, and service loop18:13 Educating customers about credit fees19:58 Balancing digital budget and AI testing23:19 Understanding AI and user preferences26:46 Balancing AI with human input30:57 Working with embedded payments partners33:20 Trust issues with influencer marketing ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    Why Authenticity Is Becoming Marketing's Biggest Competitive Advantage, feat. Jennifer Reichenbacher
  6. 16 Jun

    How Smart Marketers Use AI Without Losing Trust, feat. Fred Wiechmann

    Is AI helping your marketing, or quietly damaging customer trust? In this episode of StrategyCast, Lori Jones sits down with Fred Wiechmann to explore how marketers can use AI to improve efficiency without sacrificing authenticity, trust, or meaningful customer relationships. Discover why the most successful brands put strategy before technology, how to avoid common automation mistakes, and practical ways to use AI to enhance human connections instead of replacing them. Learn how to build stronger customer relationships while staying true to your brand and creating long-term loyalty. And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details. ==Let's Break It Down== 05:43 Balancing AI with human connection08:02 Long-term strategic planning10:13 Importance of clear communication strategy14:52 Getting a quote via AI assistant17:38 Importance of inclusivity in parks19:48 Understanding customer needs and decisions24:57 Miley's inclusive playground journey28:08 Focusing on customer insights31:06 Focusing on top of the funnel34:13 Airline rebooking for frequent flyers ==Where You Can Find Us== Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast ==Leave a Review== Hey there, StrategyCast fans! If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

    How Smart Marketers Use AI Without Losing Trust, feat. Fred Wiechmann

About

The StrategyCast podcast explores the nature of what it means to be at the helm of marketing decisions. Every episode is crafted to make people think, to spark some “aha!” moments, and to illustrate just how important a truly integrated marketing strategy and a solid, inspired brand presence are to success and longevity.Your host, Lori Jones, is the President & CEO of Avocet Communications, and she has over 30 years of integrated marketing experience. Lori has interviewed over 400 top business leaders on the show with backgrounds in B2B and B2C from brands such as General Motors, IBM, McDonald's, and Netsuite.It is the wisest and most successful of leaders who know the value of advice, can listen, and can share their experiences with others. Whether you're a CEO, a CMO, a Marketing Director, or an entrepreneur who wears many hats, this podcast is for you. For more information and show notes, go to strategycast.com. You can also follow @Strategy_Cast on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.