Almost Productive: A podcast mostly about marketing

Psst! Hey, marketers! Need to sharpen your communications chops? Want to stay on top of the latest trends? The team shares ideas for professional development for even the busiest schedules. Need a growth mindset? Shawn delivers motivation. Want branding best practices? Follow Addie’s social media recs. Niche interests? Julie’s got an email newsletter to cater to every marketing whim. Listen in and brush up!

Pranks aren’t just for whoopee cushions and hand buzzers — marketing teams get in on the fun, too. In this Coffee Break, the Almost Productive crew explores the world of April Fools' marketing, from fake product launches to brand stunts that actually worked well (and a few that maybe should’ve been real).

Follow along as our Almost Productive hosts combine the drama of March Madness with the productivity and satisfaction of spring cleaning. In a bracket-style showdown, we help you decide which marketing efforts to prioritize as you tidy your company’s house. There will be upsets. There will be cheers. And ultimately, there will be one Spring Cleaning March Madness Champion.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

As marketers, the Super Bowl is one of our favorite events. The commercials are the real spectacle, and it can be more fun to watch which brands score big than to follow the actual game. In this episode, we break down our favorite spots, call out the misses and take a hard look at how well (or badly) AI showed up. Readddddy, break!Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Ever wonder why certain ads stick or deals feel irresistible? In this episode, our team unpacks key aspects of consumer behavior and the subtle ways our brains shape why we click and buy. Join us as we dive into cognitive biases, clever strategies and quirks of the human brain.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

In this episode of Almost Productive, things get artsy! Our hosts welcome co-worker and graphic designer extraordinaire Chelsey Oliver to the studio. Chelsey spills on her creative process, and everyone weighs in on their favorite design trends (plus a few pet peeves).

In this special episode of Almost Productive, our team celebrates two years of hosting and producing the podcast. (Time flies when you're having fun!) Tune in to hear our favorite moments, things we've learned and what this milestone means.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Whether it’s written, spoken or shown, everything your business produces builds (or breaks) trust. Editing should be a key part of your marketing strategy to ensure your brand comes across as professional and aligned with your tone. In this episode of Almost Productive, our hosts share faux pas they’ve seen in the wild, editing tips and more.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

When it comes to marketing decisions, some of them really grind our gears. In this Coffee Break, we're petting our marketing peeves — from novel-length billboards to unimpressive stock photos. Warning: mild ranting ahead.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

We love ALL of our clients—and we know strong relationships make for the best work. In this episode, the Almost Productive team shares the good, the bad and the Comic Sans. From setting expectations to spotting red flags, we’re swapping stories, offering advice and breaking down what makes a creative partnership succeed.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Get ready for some hot (marketing) fun in the summertime as the Almost Product crew breaks down the perks and pitfalls of marketing when the weather warms up. Even if your brand isn’t among the top summer verticals, your marketing shouldn’t take a vacation.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

The missing link in your social strategy might just be LinkedIn. Sometimes dismissed as a job-hunting platform, LinkedIn boasts a highly engaged audience of professionals, and the marketing data shows it. In this episode, Addie breaks down why she’s pro LinkedIn.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

From scare tactics to comedic and everything outside and in-between, there are a number of ways to market to your audience. The team goes through a handful of tactics and break down which ones work and don't work for them.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]

Brainstorming sounds simple, but there's an art to a successful session. In this episode, our hosts discuss how to get the best ideas out of a team and ensure a collaborative, fruitful meeting. Plus, we kick things off by admitting to our (maybe not-so-) guilty pleasures. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

Would you want to know if your colleagues were going to happy hour without you? Working remotely has its share of plusses and minuses. (Grabbing a drink virtually falls squarely in the second category.) From increased productivity to decreased access to coworkers’ snacks, the team explores what works — and what doesn’t — in our hybrid team.Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: ⁠newbostoncreative.com⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

Web accessibility ensures that everyone can use or consume online content, no matter their ability status. Making sure your online presence is totally web accessible isn't just the right thing to do, it's legally required. Listen in as the Almost Productive hosts discuss common accessibility mistakes and how to fix them. Ready to make some magic? Let’s do this! Have your people call our people and we’ll do lunch. Or, give us a jingle, shoot us an email, fill out your deets, pop off a letter ... whatever your method, we’ll be pleased as punch to hear from you!Website: newbostoncreative.comEmail: [email protected]

Just because the Super Bowl is over doesn't mean we're done discussing the commercials! Our team highlights our MVC (Most Valuable Commercial) as well as other favorite comedic, serious and meh commercials from the Big Game.MVCChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhb5pEo_j0Favorite ComedicLiquid Death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqtWWWhIMasTotino's Pizza Rolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYkPHUiCW4Bud Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qbswwBCDoGo Daddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc-XvA9sNKUSerious CommercialsNovartis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVCU6sg8cjkNike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Ezn5pZE7oMeh CommercialsMountain Dew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QPLoTLAdh8Tubi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMDrZDhxWBsRITZ Crackers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNjINFAdmhI

From car dealerships to law firms, the team weighs in on the good, bad and ugly of local commercials. Should you feature your kids in your commercial? Should you double down on humor? Should you play it straight and be sincere? (Spoiler: no, probably not and for sure.) Join us for a lively discussion of common categories, crazy themes and more.

Do you set annual resolutions? Or is New Year’s Day just another 24 hours? Either way, we’re willing to bet you’ve noticed some of the marketing trends that pop up like clockwork around this time. Our Almost Productive hosts are here to break it all down — from New Year’s statistics to brand strategy. Plus, we discuss our own experiences with the trend.

Rebranding a business is no joke! From (seemingly) simple website refreshes to logo updates, there’s a lot to consider before, during and after the process. Listen in as our Almost Productive hosts discuss questions to ponder before rebranding, pitfalls to avoid and keys to freshening up your look without alienating your audience. Plus, you’ll hear examples of real-life endeavors gone wrong.

In this bittersweet Coffee Break episode, the Almost Productive hosts dig deep. On the sweet side, you’ll hear everything from stories of childhood lore to preferences for faux holidays. But on the bitter end, this is (sadly) Ben’s last episode with the squad before pursuing an exciting career move. Tune in for all the details.

Silly, sassy and downright unhinged: Brands can make surprising plays on social media, with tones running the gamut from wholesome to lusty. In this Coffee Break, the team discusses a few standouts, including Wendy’s and Duolingo. Ben stumps the team with a pop quiz on some real-world social posts, and the results are surprising — at least for one team member.

Whether you geek out over data or find yourself a newbie to marketing numbers, Julie and the rest of the podcast team dive into some of their most-asked analytics questions, from “Where the heck do I start?” to “What does success look like?” If you've been wanting to develop a measurement plan for your business or better understand how your marketing efforts are doing, join them as they cover the basics of marketing analytics.  Curious to learn more? Check out the companion blog on our website.  

In honor of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ben takes Addie, Julie and Shawn through some friendly, marketing-style competition. From an intense A/B testing challenge to a puzzling acronym identification match, whoever wins the most gold medals becomes the inaugural Marketing Olympics champion of 2024!

As a business owner, you know just how important positive reviews can be to attracting new customers. On the flip side, negative reviews can be detrimental. In this episode, Addie and the team cover the ins and outs of best practices for responding to those Positive Pollys (yes, you should be responding to positive reviews too!) and Negative Nancys. Let’s dive in.

Why do people work where they work? Sure, the money — but what else? What keeps employees engaged and motivated? As a follow-up to our episode on marketing careers (go check it out!), Julie and the team dive in to what brings them joy on the job. Find out what’s cool about working in marketing!

If you’ve ever considered using video as a strategy to market your business, you are not alone. Video is one of the best ways to build brand awareness, increase customer engagement and provide informative content. In fact, the average person watches close to an hour of video across theirsocial platforms each day. Tune in to this episode as Shawn, video producer Nick and the rest of the team dive into all things video marketing. 

Last episode’s brand loyalty discussion was so jam-packed, we had to extend it into two parts. In this follow-up Coffee Break, listen as Addie quizzes the rest of the Almost Productive gang on which American brands have the most loyal — dare we say “crazed?” —customers. You’ll never guess who is third on the list!

Are you particular about which brand of soda you sip? Will you go to war to defend your favorite piece of technology? These strong preferences impacting your daily decisions are a result of brand loyalty. In this episode, Addie and the team discuss their favorite brands and how that loyalty developed over time.

For this Coffee Break episode, Shawn and the team put informative banter to the side as they duel it out over a fun game of Snake Oil. Who can deliver the best sales pitch to win it all? Listen to find out!

If you could automate a part of your life with artificial intelligence, would you? That’s the question Ben and the team dive into on this episode of the Almost Productive podcast. From text message autocorrection to customer service chatbots, AI is already taking the world by storm. One of the most notorious AI sources, ChatGPT, is causing quite the stir, especially for marketing and other creative fields.

Despite perusing multiple social media platforms in a day, we all have one favorite. In this Almost Productive Coffee Break episode, Ben and the gang discuss the pros and cons of their social media platforms of choice. Have you ever fallen victim to the two-hour TikTok consumption hole only to come to and realize you don’t know who you are or what day it is? We definitely haven’t …

From concerns about it taking our jobs to appreciation of its ability to help us brainstorm, artificial intelligence, or AI, is a hot topic. On this Coffee Break podcast episode, Shawn and the team use a little help from AIto create a musical ode (with artwork!) to the Almost Productive podcast. Can’t get enough? Follow this link to view the artwork: https://newbostoncreative.com/blog/2024/04/08/almost-productive-podcast-coffee-break-ai-writes-a-song-for-us-episode-3   Check out the lyrics below: [Intro] Hey, hey, hey! Let's get loud, let's get proud, For the crew that's breaking the cloud, Shawn, Julie, Addie, and Ben, "Almost Productive," where the fun never ends!   [Verse 1] In the world of marketing, where ideas collide, They're the voices you trust, the ultimate guide, Chatting 'bout life, sharing laughs that never hide, With "Molly Jokes," they take you on a joyride.   [Pre-Chorus] Every episode's a journey, never the same, "Dive into "Nicks Noodles," it's more than a game, Would you rather this or that? It's not about fame, With Terry popping in, every moment's aflame.   [Chorus] "Almost Productive," where the beats never stop, From the highs of the market to the casual shop, With fake sponsors that'll make your jaw drop, This is the hype, and we're taking it to the top!   [Verse 2] Shawn brings the insight, with a wisdom so keen, Julie's got the stories that you've never seen, Addie's laughter, a treasure, always bright and serene, And Ben's the glue, making the team a machine.   [Bridge] In a world full of noise, they're your clarity, Discussing, laughing, in full sincerity, "Almost Productive," a podcast community, Join the fun, embrace the unity.   [Chorus] "Almost Productive," where dreams come alive, Where marketing's mystery we all can derive, With each host's charm, together they thrive, In this jock jam, we all take a high five!   [Outro] So here's to the team, to the laughs, and to the lore, To the questions, the noodles, and so much more, "Almost Productive," it's what we adore, Hit play, let's soar, it's what we're all waiting for!

With so many paths available to get the word out about your business, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Email marketing is one option that is often overlooked. On today’s episode, Julie and the team break down the pros of email and how to build an impactful email newsletter. Don’t miss it!

The insurance commercial market is highly competitive and boasts a dazzling cast of characters (Flo! LiMu Emu! Jake!!). On this Coffee Break episode, Julie and the gang have an insurance commercial showdown. The top insurance companies enter a stadium, and only one comes out. Who will be the victor? Dig into the GEICO Gecko's origin story here: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1102496094 Does this SNL skit make you rethink LiMu Emu's chances? https://youtu.be/sI3RhwSF8mo?si=8vZhoEDtXcepxNXy

For episode 6 of the Almost Productive podcast, host Shawn and the rest of the New Boston gang cover the ins and outs of building an online presence. From creating a website to developing email marketing campaigns, learn what goes into building an existence on the web.

In our first-ever Almost Productive Coffee Break episode, the hosts bring together two fan favorites: football and advertising. Just because the Super Bowl is over doesn’t mean we’re done discussing the commercials! In this new, shorter format, our team chooses their commercial champions and explains why their picks were so effective. Links to our favorite commercials: Dunkin' Donuts | The DunKings: https://youtu.be/Ve2miT5iF2M?si=OmMOuIIE4qxC5nka Uber Eats | Don't Forget Uber Eats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7mLeyIETu0 Doritos | Dina & Mita: https://youtu.be/qQJyZseER6I?si=1Y8IcalmOe6GuTwd CeraVe | Michael CeraVe: https://youtu.be/vAf5TjiUJgo?si=bVBvB_bbX44sb4ZS

Counting down the days until the 2024 Super Bowl? Excited to chow down on your favorite snacks and watch this year’s commercials? (Oh, and the actual game?) We are too. In this episode, host Addie and the rest of the team discuss why Super Bowl commercials are such a big deal, which brands have thrived or flopped in previous years, and predictions for the 2024 ad lineup.

On this episode of the Almost Productive podcast, New Boston dives into, well, podcasts! Should every business jump on the podcast bandwagon? What are the benefits? And what all goes into making one yourself? The team also discusses a very philosophical question from producer Nick. Be sure to listen!

Happy holidays from your favorite marketing podcast team! Episode 3 dives right into everything merry and bright. Julie confesses she still gets her photo taken with Santa, and the team discusses the ins and outs of holiday marketing. Come for the laughs and leave with some advertising knowledge you never knew you needed. Links to the ads discussed in the episode: Meta Quest 2: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=354 Wayfair: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=622 Amazon long form: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=788 (short form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFvK-AbUNU) Bubly: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=994 Kroger long form: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=1038 (short form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwxhLJ5inKM) Home Depot: https://youtu.be/TLH71Av9TkQ?feature=shared&t=1176

In Episode 2, the New Boston gang discusses everything social media — from which platform is right for your business to how soon is too soon to buy into a new tool. (We’re looking at you, Threads.) The team also touches on Addie’s favorite season, football season, which just so happens to be Shawn’s biggest anxiety trigger.

In this inaugural episode, Shawn, Julie, Addie and Ben discuss the pumpkin spice phenomenon, the varying career paths that brought them to New Boston Creative Group and the pros and cons of working at a smaller marketing firm. Listen in as we answer a pressing Would You Rather question, offer career advice and pine for workplace-scented candles. Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:53) Stankee Candle Company Sponsorship (01:45) Office Update: Singer, Actor or Athlete? (05:22) Pumpkin Spice Marketing Phenomenon (12:59) Careers in Marketing (13:55) Responding to Criticism (20:22) Pressure, Deadlines and Limitations (23:12) Least Favorite Parts of Our Jobs (28:04) Why We Became Marketers (33:22) Sharing Our Work with the Public (35:19) Favorite Parts of Our Jobs (38:32) Career Advice for Marketers (40:13) Jokes