FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing Podcast

Firebrand
  • 5.0 (17)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

FiredUp! is the show for marketers working in early and late-stage startups. Each week, we walk through fresh strategies and tactics to build brand and drive demand for your startup. Featuring interviews with marketing leaders, our take on the latest trends, and practical tips about PR, content marketing and growth marketing, we promise plenty of signal with some noisy fun along the way. FiredUp! is hosted by the team at startup marketing agency, Firebrand. Learn more at firebrand.marketing today. 

  1. Go-to PR Strategies for 2026

    6D AGO

    Go-to PR Strategies for 2026

    In the crowded tech landscape of 2026, building brand awareness isn't just about flashy logos or polished websites; it's about breaking through the digital noise with authentic human connection. The challenge right now is that corporate posts are being ignored while the AI slop of generic, machine-written content is eroding trust with potential customers and investors. On this episode of FiredUp!, we tackle the essential PR tactics that actually move the needle. We explore why executive visibility is seeing a massive resurgence and how you can leverage personal authenticity to outshine the robotic "Uncanny Valley" of automated marketing. This week, episode 127 of the FiredUp! podcast is about go-to PR strategies for 2026! Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, the Firebrand team shares the best ways to make your c-suite executives more visibe and actionable steps you can take right now to build a strategic PR plan for 2026.  Morgan and Chris discuss: Prioritizing Executive Visibility: Potential customers want to buy from people, not just faceless corporations.Seek Smaller Podcasts To Start:. Seek opportunities on smaller podcasts to build confidence and sharpen your talking points, preparing you for the big leagues.Authenticity Over AI Efficiency: While AI can boost productivity, its recognizable cadence can be a turn off for buyers seeking real connection. Authenticity is the ultimate signal of quality..Build the Rapid Response Muscle: Success in 2026 requires a strategic rapid response program that leverages breaking news and data storytelling to maintain a constant, authoritative presence in industry conversations.For more tips on the latest PR playbooks, subscribe to FiredUp! and check out our monthly newsletter, The Forge. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send a text

    49 min
  2. Why OOH is Working for Startups in 2026 with Ty Tinker

    FEB 5

    Why OOH is Working for Startups in 2026 with Ty Tinker

    In an era of digital ad fatigue, how does a startup break through the noise to build real-world authority? Startup marketers are feeling the burn of skyrocketing CPAs on social platforms and a growing distrust of purely digital brands. In this episode opf FiredUp!, we explore the modern evolution of Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising, from precision-targeted digital billboards to measurable attribution, with Ty Tinker.  We discuss how today’s OOH strategy allows you to target specific office buildings for Account-Based Marketing and track exactly how those offline impressions drive online conversions. This week, episode 126 of the FiredUp! podcast is about why out of home is working for startups in 2026!  Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, Ty Tinker shares the need for iterative planning and faster experimentation in OOH advertising and actionable steps you can take right now to bridge the gap between physical awareness and digital pipeline.  Ty Tinker is the Director of Analytics at AdQuick, a platform for planning, executing, and measuring out-of-home advertising campaigns. He is an innovative, forward-thinking data scientist with 4 years of experience using quantitative and qualitative methods of measuring.  Ty, Morgan, and Nicole discuss: Target Your "Whales" with OOH-led ABM: Move beyond generic placements. Use precision targeting to place digital billboards directly outside the corporate headquarters of your top-tier prospects, building immediate ‘around the office’ credibility for your sales team.Measure Offline ROI Like a Pro: Stop guessing if your billboard worked. By leveraging mobile location data, you can compare a control group of people who weren't exposed to your ad against an exposed group, measuring the exact lift in website visits or app downloads.The "Billboard Effect" is Real: OOH provides a level of legitimacy that digital ads can’t buy. Seeing a brand in the physical world signals to buyers and investors that your company is established, well-funded, and here to stay.Leverage Creative Optimization: Don't treat OOH as a static medium. With Digital Out-of-Home, you can run experiments with different creative versions and iterate based on performance data, just like you would with a Facebook or Google ad.Is your marketing strategy stuck behind a screen? The most successful startups in 2026 are those that own the physical space where their customers live and work. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH TY TINKER: LinkedIn CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    31 min
  3. The State of Writing in 2026

    JAN 29

    The State of Writing in 2026

    In 2025, we saw a massive surge in AI-generated content, followed by an even bigger backlash from audiences tired of shallow, automated insights. If your engagement is dropping and your brand feels indistinguishable from the competition, you’re likely falling into the trap of being AI-dependent rather than AI-enhanced. On this episode of FiredUp!, Morgan, Nicole, and Chris dive into the backlash against AI and the return of the human storyteller. They address the struggle of balancing the efficiency of AI with the need for authentic brand differentiation, why big tech companies are hiring storytellers, and how you can reclaim your narrative after AI-dependency. This week, episode 125 of the FiredUp! podcast is about the state of writing in 2026!  Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, the Firebrand team shares the difference between being AI-dependent and AI-enhanced,  and actionable steps you can take right now to create authentic, story-centric content to differentiate your brand.  Morgan, Nicole, and Chris discuss: Understanding the massive 2025 shift where audiences began rejecting generic, AI-led content. Deciding where to use AI and where it is more of a hindrance on your content and brand voice. The 80/20 Paradox: AI can provide 80% of a draft in 20% of the time, but the final 20% of the work—the deep thinking and fact-checking—requires 80% of the effort.Using original stories and case studies within your data to differentiate yourself in a crowded market.In the age of AI, the easiest path is rarely the one that builds a brand. Authenticity can’t be automated, and trust isn't built on "quick and easy" drafts.  Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    34 min
  4. Turning Old Content into New Demand

    JAN 22

    Turning Old Content into New Demand

    Most startup marketers have hundreds of old blog posts that are either gathering digital dust or worse, being surfaced by AI search bots with outdated messaging and stale data. In an era where 89% of B2B buyers use generative AI to build their vendor shortlists, your "zombie pages" could be disqualifying you before you even know a prospect is looking. On this episode of FiredUp!, we dive into the strategic blog refresh - moving beyond the simple cleanup to show you how to optimize your existing content for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and drive new leads from old assets. This week, episode 124 of the FiredUp! podcast is about turning old content into new demand!  Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, the Firebrand team shares the importance of a blog refresh in the face of GEO and actionable steps you can take right now to get fresh eyes on your existing content.  Morgan, and Nicole discuss: The AI Shortlist is Critical: Since 89% of B2B buyers use generative AI as a research partner, your blog content must be visible and authoritative to ensure your brand is cited when prospects ask ChatGPT or Perplexity for the "best tools" in your category.Prioritize Your Audit with Three Buckets: Don't try to refresh hundreds of posts at once; instead, focus on the top 20 posts in three categories: high organic search traffic, high AI search traffic, and those currently used as landing pages for paid (CPC) campaigns.Implement "Light Lifts" for High Rewards: Significant gains can be made without a full rewrite by simply updating outdated statistics, refreshing Calls to Action (CTAs) to point to current events, and adding GEO elements like FAQ sections and clear author bios.Kill the "Zombie Pages": Outdated blog posts with old messaging or defunct product focuses can confuse Google’s crawlers and AI bots, leading to lower brand authority; these should be redirected to more relevant, high-performing content.The B2B buyer journey is now a 211-day marathon with 76 individual touches across multiple channels. If your blog is a graveyard of 2022 trends, you are failing the "credibility check" that modern buyers perform daily. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    34 min
  5. Boosting AI Search with an LLM Cache with Jeff Reine

    JAN 15

    Boosting AI Search with an LLM Cache with Jeff Reine

    Traditional SEO is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades. We are moving from a world of "Search and Discover" to one of "Ask and Answer". If your brand isn't properly indexed by AI crawlers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude, you risk becoming invisible to your best B2B prospects. On this episode of FiredUp!, we tackle the "impatient" nature of AI search bots and explain why your  website might be actively blocking the very AI agents you want to reach. This week, episode 123 of the FiredUp! podcast is about boosting AI search with an LLM cache! Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! Podcast, Jeff Reine shares how AI search is changing the way we find answers on the internet and actionable steps you can take right now to optimize your website for AI searches.  Jeff Reine is the co-founder of Everything Machines, a company at the forefront of the "AI internet". Jeff is a veteran of the tech industry with a deep focus on how large language models (LLMs) and semantic search are reshaping discovery. His current mission is helping brands build an "AI cache"—a specialized, bot-friendly version of their web content—to ensure maximum visibility and accuracy in AI-generated answers. Jeff and Morgan discuss: Search is no longer about listing links for humans to click; it’s about LLMs synthesizing a single, finite answer for the user. If you aren't in that one answer, you don't exist in that session.Unlike Google, which might wait for your site to load, AI crawlers often have 1-3 second timeouts. They bias toward clean, text-heavy, authoritative HTML and rarely execute the JavaScript that powers your modern site's bells and whistles.Trying to satisfy both humans and AI bots on one site results in a compromised experience for both. The solution is a "shadow website" or AI cache that serves static, JS-free HTML specifically for crawlers.The next era of marketing is 1:1. You should structure your website content around specific personas so that when an AI "fans out" its query, it can find and deliver exactly the right messaging for that specific stakeholder.Every AI-ready site needs three baseline optimizations: JS-free static HTML, semantic descriptors from schema.org, and a well-structured content hierarchy.Is your website accidentally hiding its best content from the AI agents that are currently building your prospects' vendor lists? Don't let your "perfect" brand design be the reason your company gets left out of the next Perplexity search result. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH JEFF REINE: LinkedIn Email  CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Send us a text

    45 min
  6. The Best Podcast Strategies for 2026 with Andy King

    JAN 8

    The Best Podcast Strategies for 2026 with Andy King

    With millions of podcasts already out there, the biggest challenge of starting one isn't just recording audio—it’s finding an audience and keeping them engaged. On this episode of FiredUp!, we dive deep into the state of the podcasting industry with industry veteran Andy King. We address the specific pain points of audience acquisition, the shift toward video-first content, and the critical question every marketer must ask: Does your brand really need its own show, or should you be leveraging existing creators instead? This week, episode 122 of the FiredUp! podcast is about the best podcast strategies for 2026!  Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, Andy King shares the importance of identifying market openings and what will make your podcast stand out and actionable steps you can take right now to decide what form of podcasting is right for you.  Andy King is the Head of Podcast and Digital Media at Buchwald, a full service talent agency offering representation in all areas of the entertainment industry. A digital media & audio executive with 20+ years experience, Andy is developing original content while building and managing teams in broadcasting and industry roles. Andy, Morgan, and Nicole discuss: Consistency is Your Superpower: The #1 reason podcasts fail is "podfade"—quitting before the show finds its footing. Success requires a long-term commitment to a regular schedule, as audiences build habits around your release dates.Video is No Longer Optional: Podcasting has evolved into a visual medium. To maximize reach, you must have a YouTube strategy. Recording video allows you to create high-impact "clips" for social media, which serve as the primary discovery engine for new listeners.Marketing > Production: Many brands spend 90% of their budget on high-end production and only 10% on promotion. Flip the script. If you aren't actively marketing your show through social media clips, guest collaborations, and cross-promotion, even the best content will go unheard.The Brand vs. Creator Dilemma: Before launching a brand podcast, evaluate if your message would be more effective by partnering with an established creator. Buying into an existing, loyal community often yields a higher ROI than trying to build one from scratch. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH ANDY KING: LinkedIn Email CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    41 min
  7. Let's Put the Hosts in the Hotseat

    JAN 1

    Let's Put the Hosts in the Hotseat

    Are you feeling stuck in a cycle of "safe" marketing tactics that yield diminishing returns? Whether you are struggling with a "too many cooks in the kitchen" approach to content, or you're terrified of the "snake-like gaze" of a top-tier reporter, you are not alone. In this special New Year's edition of FiredUp!, hosts Morgan, Chris, and Nicole pull back the curtain on their careers to share the "war stories" that shaped their approach to agency life and brand building. Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. Nicole, Morgan, and Chris discuss: Podcasting is a Team Sport: Launching a successful show requires more than just a microphone; it involves a complex choreography of editing, graphics, distribution, and guest management. To avoid podfading, invest in a production team—like Galati Media—to ensure professional quality from the start.The "Message-Fit" Secret to PR: High-impact media pitching isn't about big ideas; it’s about finding the perfect alignment between what your audience wants and the timing of your message. When you provide exactly what a reporter needs, the process becomes clean and easy.Master the "RACI" Framework for Content: To prevent too many cooks from mangling your marketing assets, clearly define who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. Establishing a "pecking order" before you start a project prevents stakeholder anxiety and protects the final product.Audit for the Bottom of the Funnel: It is easy to get stuck writing entertaining top-of-funnel blog posts, but a library full of only gap content will slow your pipeline. Use visual case studies and "how-to-roll-out" guides to bridge the gap from awareness to conversion.Calculated Risks Drive Results: Don't be afraid of outlandish ideas if they align with your brand's value proposition. Whether it’s putting a bank account online to prove security or hiring recognizable voices for pitches, bold moves are often what break through cluttered media environments.As we head into 2026, take a hard look at your marketing. Are you leaning on white papers and blog posts just because they are comfortable? We challenge you to identify one tactic that makes you feel uneasy—whether it's B2B TikTok, short-form video, or a bold PR stunt—and give it a try. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    45 min
  8. The Biggest Tech Marketing News of 2025

    12/25/2025

    The Biggest Tech Marketing News of 2025

    2025 was a big year in tech marketing, so much so that it almost felt like its own decade! In this retrospective episode of FiredUp!, we dive into the "AI or Die" reality that defined 2025 and why your old SEO strategy is no longer enough to survive in 2026. Many B2B marketers are currently facing the reality of declining click-through rates as Google evolves from a search engine into an answer engine. We address the specific struggle of cutting through the noise in an era of AI-generated content and "rage bait" marketing, helping you pivot from simply ranking to becoming a trusted citation source. This week, episode 120 of the FiredUp! podcast is about the biggest tech marketing news of 2025!  Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution. In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, the Firebrand team shares highlights of the biggest tech marketing stories of 2025 and actionable steps you can take right now to prepare for the challenges and opportunities in marketing in 2026.  Morgan, Nicole, and Chris discuss: Mastering Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): Visibility in 2026 is less about ranking in the top 10 and more about being the cited source within AI-generated responses from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Overviews.The Reality of Agentic AI: While 2025 was the year of "agent" hype, 2026 will be the year of operational utility, where autonomous agents move beyond chatbots to handle complex lead-gen and security workflows. Why Rage Bait Marketing is a High-Risk Gamble: Using controversy to gain attention—as seen with recent startup backlashes—can generate short-term "cheap" visibility, but often fails to build the long-term trust required for B2B relationships.AR Glasses Win Over the Metaverse: The mass market has spoken; lightweight, stylish AR (like the Meta Ray-Bans) is gaining significant traction for everyday utility, while bulky VR "metaverse" experiences remain a niche product for big-budget experiments.Sustainability of the AI Economy: As the stock market continues to ride the AI wave, the real-world bottleneck is becoming infrastructure—specifically the rising cost of electricity and the massive data center build-outs required to power next-gen models. Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND: Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth. Youtube LinkedIn X (Formerly Twitter) Work with Firebrand Apply to Be a Podcast Guest Send us a text

    38 min
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About

FiredUp! is the show for marketers working in early and late-stage startups. Each week, we walk through fresh strategies and tactics to build brand and drive demand for your startup. Featuring interviews with marketing leaders, our take on the latest trends, and practical tips about PR, content marketing and growth marketing, we promise plenty of signal with some noisy fun along the way. FiredUp! is hosted by the team at startup marketing agency, Firebrand. Learn more at firebrand.marketing today. 

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