Marketing That Actually Connects (and Converts) with Sarah Quezada

What if your marketing isn’t broken...It’s just not telling the right story? In this episode of Small Business Matters, Tim and Taylor Fulton sit down with Sarah Quezada, founder of Ruby Brick, to unpack what truly drives connection in today’s noisy, overcrowded marketplace. From nonprofits to growing businesses, Sarah shares a refreshing perspective: great marketing isn’t about making your brand the hero—it’s about empowering your customer to be. If you’ve ever struggled to stand out, questioned where to invest your marketing dollars, or wondered how AI fits into your strategy, this episode delivers practical clarity you can act on immediately. What You’ll Learn: • Why most marketing fails to connect (and how to fix it) • The simple messaging shift that changes everything • Where small businesses should really focus (hint: it’s not social media) • How to use AI without losing your voice • The surprising value of stepping away from your business to grow it Whether you’re building a brand, scaling a team, or just trying to get more traction from your marketing, this conversation will challenge your assumptions—and sharpen your approach. Highlights: [02:41] What matters most to small businesses? [03:16] The types of clients working with Ruby Brick [04:44] The difference between marketing for nonprofits vs. for-profit businesses [06:27] How marketing has changed in the past five years [08:04] The role as a business owner and leader [09:56] Taking a sabbatical [13:23] Advice for leaders thinking about stepping away from their business [14:37] The most common marketing mistakes small businesses make [17:10] How should businesses be thinking about AI in marketing today? [18:40] Developing a custom AI approach [24:15] Best advice for someone starting a business [26:40] Rapid Fire [30:50] Takeaways [32:05] SBM News About the Guest: Sarah Quesada is the founder and CEO of Ruby Brick, a marketing and communications agency that partners primarily with nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. With a background in nonprofit leadership, higher education, and corporate marketing, she specializes in helping organizations craft compelling, data-informed messaging that drives engagement and impact. Sarah is also an author and alum of the Emory University Start:ME Accelerator, where she sharpened her approach to scaling businesses. Known for blending strategy with storytelling, she brings a human-centered perspective to modern marketing—helping organizations connect more deeply with the audiences they serve. Contact Info: linkedin.com/in/sarahquezada Websites: sarahquezada.com (Personal) rubybrick.com (Company) Email:[email protected]