David Meerman Scott is a marketing strategist, bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR, and the originator of the term “newsjacking.” With a career that spans decades and a front-row seat to the evolution of real-time, fan-first marketing, David offers insights into how founders and brands can break through the noise without losing their authenticity. In this episode, he shares how to humanize your marketing, leverage AI with purpose, and turn passion into influence.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
00:01 – Intro and guest background
01:29 – Common marketing mistake: product obsession
03:10 – What’s stayed true vs. what’s changed
04:49 – Evolution of The New Rules of Marketing and PR
06:28 – The new rules for modern marketing
08:49 – HubSpot’s early playbook and inbound marketing
12:03 – Benefits of problem-first storytelling
13:59 – Feedback loop between content and product
17:43 – Importance of owning your content real estate
21:00 – Building a proprietary AI engine with your data
23:06 – Humanizing your brand in the age of AI
25:23 – Fandom, neuroscience, and proximity
27:34 – Mirror neurons and personal connection via video
31:10 – Using imagery and human faces in marketing
34:29 – Newsjacking: real-time marketing strategy
39:54 – Case study: Family lawyer grows business through newsjacking
43:06 – How to use AI without losing your voice
44:20 – The Savannah Bananas and fan-first marketing
48:22 – Organic storytelling vs. performance marketing
50:57 – Tools and AI resources for early-stage founders
52:00 – Crafting your first founder narrative
53:41 – The power of sharing personal passion as a founder
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