#1160 What Went Wrong with More than a Few Words | Lorraine Ball

What Went Wrong: I Was Talking to the Wrong Audience

After years of interviewing guests about their marketing mistakes, I decided it was time to turn the microphone on myself. This solo episode of More than a Few Words dives into one of my biggest missteps—fifteen years in the making.

When I launched More than a Few Words, I imagined it as a smart marketing resource for small business owners. I was running a digital agency, working with contractors, lawyers, and local service pros. Naturally, I figured a podcast could attract more of them.

The idea seemed solid. The conversations were interesting. The episodes were sharp and useful. But there was one little problem.

My audience wasn’t listening.

Turns out, the folks I built the show for—the small business owners—weren’t looking for deep dives into marketing trends or strategy debates. That’s why they hired me in the first place. They wanted solutions, not theory.

So even though the podcast was fun to make and attracted listeners, those listeners weren’t potential clients. The show didn’t generate leads. It didn’t grow the business. It just... existed.

What I’d Do Differently

I wish I’d paused sooner to really look at who was tuning in. Because the people showing up every week weren’t roofers or accountants—they were marketers. Women like me. Creative professionals building their own businesses, trying to balance their love of marketing with the pressure of proving it works.

So I’ve finally stopped pretending this is a business podcast for business owners.

More than a Few Words is for marketers. For the curious, the committed, and the occasionally overwhelmed. For the ones who love what they do, but still sometimes wonder if they’re getting it right. It’s a space for real conversations—not just highlight reels—and stories that show what happens when things go sideways.

If that sounds like your kind of show, hit subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.