Ep. 7 - Ask the Coach: Your Real-World Marketing Questions, Answered (Part 1)

You’ve got the GUIDE™ Framework—now what? In this “Ask the Coach” episode, Steve and AnnieLaurie answer the real-world marketing questions that come up as business leaders turn marketing strategy into action. From personas to KPIs to content that actually works, you’ll walk away with practical tips and renewed clarity to keep your marketing moving. In this episode, you'll learn:How to identify your ideal client and build effective marketing personasThe difference between your brand story and your strategy—and how both drive growthHow to align your messaging, marketing, and sales efforts to meet business goalsPractical ways to build and execute a tactical marketing plan that worksWhat KPIs you actually need to track (even if you're “not a numbers person”)Common website and SEO pitfalls that hurt lead generation—and how to fix themSmart ways to use AI to brainstorm, create, and optimize your contentThis episode launches a new occasional format we’re calling "Ask the Coach," where Steve and AnnieLaurie tackle real marketing questions drawn from conversations with business leaders and clients. These episodes will pop in from time to time to offer practical, no-fluff coaching outside of our regular podcast series.If you have a question for Steve, email us at [email protected]: 00:00 - What’s the hardest part of marketing for small teams? 01:00 - Practical application of the GUIDE™ Framework 02:00 - Real questions from business leaders 03:00 - Who is your ideal client and how do you figure that out? 05:00 - What is your story and how does it impact strategy? 07:00 - Is your marketing strategy aligned with your goals? 10:00 - Silos between sales and marketing 11:00 - Top metrics to track alignment and progress 13:00 - Strategy vs. Plan: What’s the difference? 15:00 - How to build a tactical marketing plan 21:00 - Is your website helping or hurting you? 25:00 - Traffic vs. leads: what’s wrong? 27:00 - Why your new website may not be working 28:00 - What to know about social media for B2B 31:00 - Posting content that gets engagement 33:00 - Inform with Content: what works in B2B 35:00 - Should you put pricing on your website? 38:00 - What kind of blog content builds trust 41:00 - How to start content marketing from scratch 42:00 - Easy wins with AI in marketing 46:00 - Aligning sales and marketing as a revenue team 48:00 - What should a documented sales process include? 50:00 - Do small teams need formal meetings? 52:00 - Who should be in the room for planning? 54:00 - Can alignment still work with unbalanced teams? 56:00 - Can marketing say no to sales? 59:00 - What a 90-day review should look like 01:01:00 - Top three metrics to track 01:03:00 - When to pivot your strategy 01:06:00 - Final thoughts and encouragement🧭 GUIDE™ Framework Series:G – Generate Your Strategy and StoryU – Upgrade Your Online PresenceI – Inform with ContentD – Develop Your Sales PlanE – Evaluate and AdjustAdditional Resources from Wayfind Marketing:How “They Ask, You Answer” Wins the Sale and Educates Customers: https://wayfindmarketing.com/how-they-ask-you-answer-wins-the-sale-and-educates-customers/What Is the Big 5? Your Foolproof B2B Content Marketing Strategy: https://wayfindmarketing.com/big-5-content-marketing-strategy/Why Redesign a Website? 5 Signs Your Site Is Stuck in the Past: https://wayfindmarketing.com/why-redesign-a-website/Why Is My Website Not Generating Leads? The 5 Hidden Problems Holding You Back: https://wayfindmarketing.com/why-is-my-website-not-generating-leads/Should You Put Pricing on Your Website? The Answer May Surprise You!: https://wayfindmarketing.com/learning-center/topic-they-ask-you-answerSupercharge Your Website Conversions: The Ultimate FAQ Guide for Small Businesses: https://wayfindmarketing.com/how-to-improve-website-conversions/What is Google’s E-E-A-T? The Key to Improving Your Website’s Credibility and Rankings: https://wayfindmarketing.com/what-is-googles-e-e-a-t-the-key-to-improving-your-websites-credibility-and-rankings/Next Steps:Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:Steve Phipps: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevephipps/AnnieLaurie Walters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annielauriewalters/