Giraffes Don't Eat Steak - for curious marketers who zig when others zag!

Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney
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This is the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast, a show that brings you marketing stories, tips, hints, and much more. A treat for those who want to succeed in business or marketers who just want to learn.

  1. 11/12/2025

    Stay on the Bus: Why Persistence Matters in Business and Storytelling - Ep.108

    Stay on the Bus: Why Persistence Matters in Business and Storytelling - Ep.108. Join Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney as they welcome Chris Grimes to the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast. Chris is a facilitator, coach, podcaster and self-described "motivational comedian" who has mastered the art of drawing powerful stories from people through his unique storytelling framework. In this episode, Chris shares his journey from acting to becoming a professional story curator, and reveals how his Legacy Life Reflections project helps people preserve their most precious stories and voices for future generations. Whether you're a marketer looking to harness the power of authentic storytelling, a business owner seeking to differentiate yourself, or someone interested in preserving family histories, this episode delivers profound insights on the value of personal narratives and how to uncover them. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Chris Grimes and his background 03:05 - The importance of storytelling in business and marketing 06:42 - How to draw authentic stories from reluctant storytellers 13:10 - The legacy life reflections concept: recording stories for posterity 19:03 - The Helsinki Bus Garage allegory: staying on your path 24:30 - The power of finding your "operator word" in marketing 33:15 - Be more hummingbird: standing out in a noisy marketing world 38:22 - Personal brand differentiation through authentic storytelling 43:05 - How storytelling helps businesses connect with the right audience 47:15 - Closing thoughts and where to find Chris online This episode is packed with marketing gold for business owners who want to leverage the power of storytelling to connect with their ideal clients. Chris reveals how finding your unique "operator word" can dramatically transform how people perceive your business, and why "staying on the bus" is essential for long-term success. Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    54 min

  2. 11/05/2025

    Mastering Zoom: Expert Tips on Virtual Backgrounds, Breakout Rooms, and Hidden Features Ep. 107

    Mastering Zoom: Expert Tips on Virtual Backgrounds, Breakout Rooms, and Hidden Features Ep. 107 Join hosts Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney as they interview John Drinkwater, aka "Lord Zoom," to uncover game-changing Zoom features and techniques that most users don't know about. From mastering breakout rooms to creating professional-looking presentations, this episode is packed with practical tips for anyone who regularly uses Zoom for meetings, presentations or networking. John shares his journey of becoming "Lord Zoom" during the pandemic, explains the most underutilised Zoom features, and provides expert guidance on everything from proper lighting techniques to branding your Zoom presence. Whether you're a casual user or rely on Zoom daily for your business, this episode will transform how you approach virtual meetings. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:05:05 How John Became "Lord Zoom" During COVID 00:12:05 Zoom's Organisation and New Features 00:14:30 John's Favourite Zoom Features Revealed 00:20:42 The Power of Unmuting Participants 00:25:20 Different Ways to Share Your Screen 00:29:05 The Rise of Breakout Rooms 00:36:20 How to Structure Effective Breakout Rooms 00:43:20 Virtual Backgrounds: John's Expert Opinion 00:45:15 Lighting Tips for Professional Appearances 00:49:15 How to Brand Your Zoom Presence 00:54:00 Where to Find John "Lord Zoom" Online #marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips  Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    53 min

  3. 10/29/2025

    Building Successful Memberships: Strategies for Recurring Revenue with Nathalie Doremieux - Ep. 106

    Building Successful Memberships: Strategies for Recurring Revenue with Nathalie Doremieux - Ep. 106. In this insightful episode of the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak Podcast, hosts Erica Mackay and Alex Bilney welcome Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of The Membership Lab and Podcast Leadflow. With 20 years of business experience, Nathalie shares her expertise on creating successful membership models that generate reliable recurring income. The conversation explores why memberships work, how to identify if your business idea suits a membership model, and strategies for creating value that keeps members engaged long-term.  Nathalie emphasises that successful memberships solve recurring problems with recurring solutions, but not all business ideas are suited to the membership format. Whether you're looking to transition from one-on-one services to a scalable membership or launch an entirely new offering, this episode provides actionable insights to help you build a thriving membership community that delivers both value to members and sustainable income for your business. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nathalie Doremieux 00:03:55 - Why Memberships? The Value of Recurring Income 00:07:38 - Key Characteristics of Successful Membership Ideas 00:12:15 - Examples of Different Membership Models That Work 00:19:04 - Co-Creating With Your Audience - The Interest List Method 00:28:35 - Community vs. Content: What Makes Members Stay 00:33:56 - Strategic Positioning: Frontend vs. Backend Memberships 00:39:38 - Pricing Models and Creating Exclusive Access 00:44:22 - Three Essential Tips for Starting a Membership 00:53:02 - Final Thoughts and How to Connect With Nathalie #marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips  Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    50 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    How Your Team's Emotions Impact Customer Experience with Sarah Dena - Ep. 105

    How Your Team's Emotions Impact Customer Experience with Sarah Dena - Ep. 105 In this episode of Giraffes Don't Eat Steak, hosts Erica and Alex welcome Sarah Dena, Managing Director of New Wave Learning and founder of The Cultivators. Sarah introduces us to the Emotional Culture Deck, a powerful tool for understanding and leveraging emotions in the workplace. Sarah explains how emotions drive behaviour and why developing emotional literacy is essential for both internal team dynamics and external client relationships. She shares insights on positioning emotions as valuable data points, especially when working with analytical professionals who might initially resist conversations about feelings. The discussion explores the growing importance of human skills in an AI-dominated world, how workplace culture impacts customer experience, and the crucial difference between emotional intelligence and emotional confidence. Sarah also shares personal stories about transformative leadership and how emotional awareness can make or break business relationships. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sarah Dena 02:20 New Wave Learning & Emotional Culture Deck 05:52 Human Skills in the Age of AI 07:56 The Connection Between Feelings & Behaviour 12:31 Emotional Literacy in the Workplace 17:37 Client Experience & Emotional Culture 23:22 Emotions as Data Points for Businesses 27:34 Developing Emotional Confidence 35:11 Workplace Culture & Leadership Impact 42:37 Emotions in Marketing & Customer Experience 47:15 Final Thoughts & How to Connect . #marketing #entrepreneurship #business #businessadvice #businesssuccess #howtobesuccessful #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurmindset #howtostartabusiness #socialmedia #onlinemarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingagency #businesstips  Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    50 min

  5. 10/15/2025

    Why Your Business Needs a Nearbound Strategy: Referral Marketing Secrets Revealed with Dave Plunkett - Ep. 104

    Why Your Business Needs a Nearbound Strategy: Referral Marketing Secrets Revealed with Dave Plunkett - Ep. 104. In this insightful episode of the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast, hosts Erica and Alex welcome Dave Plunkett, a Nearbound Specialist who shares his expertise on transforming word-of-mouth marketing into a deliberate, strategic channel for business growth. Dave explains the concept of "Nearbound" marketing - leveraging trusted human connections to generate referrals in an authentic yet intentional way. He discusses why referrals, despite being the oldest and often most effective form of marketing, don't get the strategic attention they deserve in most businesses. Key topics include: - How to make referrals easy for your clients - The importance of specificity when asking for referrals - Identifying the perfect "wow moments" to request referrals - Navigating difficult referral situations and industries - Practical advice for marketers uncomfortable with asking for referrals If you're looking to elevate your referral strategy from chance encounters to a systematic growth channel, this episode provides actionable insights from one of the leading experts in the field. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction 01:13 - Dave Introduces Nearbound Marketing 03:07 - The Strategic Value of Referrals 06:15 - Making Referrals Easy for Clients 10:33 - The Power of Specificity in Referrals 22:40 - Finding the Right Timing for Referrals 27:50 - Insurance Industry Referral Challenges 31:57 - Handling Sensitive Referral Situations 36:38 - Dealing with Clients Who Won't Refer 40:24 - Advice for Marketers Uncomfortable with Asking 44:19 - Where to Find Dave Plunkett 44:52 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    47 min

  6. 10/08/2025

    Building a Sustainable Business: B Corp Certification Explained with Martin Knowles - Ep.103

    Building a Sustainable Business: B Corp Certification Explained with Martin Knowles - Ep.103 Discover how B Corp certification is transforming businesses with Martin Knowles  from Sales Untangled. Learn practical sustainability strategies that go beyond greenwashing to create meaningful impact. Want to make your business more sustainable but don't know where to start? Listen now to get actionable insights from a certified B Corp expert! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the podcast with Martin Knowles 02:01 What is a certified B Corp? 04:57 Practical examples of B Corp certification 07:33 Focus on materiality in sustainability 10:30 Business travel impact on carbon footprint 12:49 Client perception of B Corp companies 16:40 Balancing business needs with sustainability 20:49 Beyond gimmicks: meaningful sustainability 25:22 Reconnecting with nature 28:54 Where to start on the sustainability journey 33:12 Values-driven business approach 35:00 Sales Untangled: Martin's B Corp business 39:30 Final thoughts on sustainability journeys Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    38 min

  7. 10/01/2025

    The Future of Marketing and Sales: Real-World AI Applications with Mickael Aubard - Ep.102

    The Future of Marketing and Sales: Real-World AI Applications with Mickael Aubard - Ep.102 In this illuminating episode of Giraffes Don't Eat Steak, hosts Erica and Alex welcome back Mickael Aubard to discuss AI's transformative impact on marketing workflows. Mickael shares how his work at AdManage.ai is saving media buyers hundreds of hours monthly by automating repetitive ad creation tasks. The conversation explores how AI differs from traditional automation tools, with examples of time-saving workflows that preserve personal communication styles. Discover how brands are using AI to mine customer comments for product insights, leading to viral marketing opportunities. The trio also addresses common fears about AI adoption and why embracing this technology as a productivity tool rather than a replacement is crucial for staying competitive. Listen for practical examples of AI applications in marketing, from automated post-meeting summaries to scaling ad campaigns, and learn why creating effective AI prompts might be the next essential human skill in the workplace. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mickael, our first repeat guest 03:02 AI automation vs traditional automation tools 05:05 Structuring calls for better AI transcription 10:04 Introduction to AdManage.ai and time-saving 14:15 Why running multiple ads matters 19:20 Mining comments data for marketing insights 24:02 Using AI to analyse customer feedback 27:19 The camp against AI: fear of the unknown 32:19 Technology adoption cycles are accelerating 36:58 AI's personal touch: Claude quotes Erica! 40:30 The human element remains essential in AI 45:12 Final takeaways on embracing AI properly Guest Bio Mickael works with AdManage.ai, helping brands save hundreds of hours monthly launching ads in less than a minute on platforms like Meta and TikTok. The company works with over 200 brands including Canva, Bolt, Wise, and Perplexity. Prior to joining AdManage.ai, he gained extensive experience in performance marketing and growth. Resources Mentioned - AdManage.ai - Tool for launching multiple ads quickly across platforms - Fathom - Call recording and transcription tool with new AI search capabilities - ChatGPT - AI assistant for creating customised workflows - Gemini - Google's AI assistant mentioned for prompt creation - Claude - AI assistant that can find patterns in large datasets Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    45 min

  8. 09/24/2025

    Making Your Clients the Rock Star: B2B Sales Psychology | Giraffes Don't Eat Steak Ep. 101

    Making Your Clients the Rock Star: B2B Sales Psychology | Giraffes Don't Eat Steak Ep. 101. Join Erica and Alex as they sit down with Ronald Gall, a veteran of the insurance industry and founder of a cutting-edge AI data transformation company. With over 20 years of experience in B2B sales, Ron shares his insights on reading the room, building lasting business relationships, and turning clients into rock stars within their own organisations. This video shares essential business tips and sales techniques for effective sales prospecting. Enhance your sales skills with these expert-backed sales tips and discover the best sales techniques. In this episode, you'll discover: The psychology behind effective B2B sales messaging How to read body language and adapt your pitch in real-time Why making your client the hero is more powerful than selling features The importance of building personal credibility and leveraging partnerships How to create quick wins versus long-term sales cycles The art of asking the right questions to uncover real pain points Why solution selling beats product selling every time Building a personal brand that opens doors Ron also discusses his journey from managing 50+ insurance products to focusing on one powerful AI solution, and shares valuable lessons from going bankrupt multiple times as an entrepreneur. Plus, learn about his charity work helping stroke and head injury victims in Soweto. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction and Ronald's Background 3:30 The Art of Reading the Room 8:40 Quick No vs Long Sales Cycles 14:20 Focusing on One Solution vs Multiple Products 18:00 30-Second Video That Beat Global Companies 21:00 Psychology of B2B Sales - Making Clients Rock Stars 26:00 Solution Selling vs Product Selling 31:40 Establishing Credibility as a Startup 37:00 Importance of Not Burning Bridges 42:30 LinkedIn for B2B Sales - Pros and Cons 46:00 Final Advice and Contact Information Connect with the hosts: Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-mackay/ Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bilney/ Get in touch with us at The Marketing Detective Agency - www.themarketingdetectiveagency.com #MarketingStrategy #BusinessMarketing #TargetAudience #MarketingTips #OfficePolititcs #MarketingPodcast

    50 min
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This is the Giraffes Don't Eat Steak podcast, a show that brings you marketing stories, tips, hints, and much more. A treat for those who want to succeed in business or marketers who just want to learn.

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