In episode 119, I sit down with Jessica Malnik, a B2B messaging strategist who’s helped over 75 founders and lean marketing teams craft content that actually gets read—and drives results. We talk about the risks of over-commoditized content in the age of AI and why a flood of “cheap” output isn’t a strategy. Jessica walks me through her signature framework, the Marketing MOAT, which focuses on Messaging, Distribution, and Content Efficiency.
She also shares practical, low-lift ways agencies can build content machines, maximize existing assets, and stay consistent without burning out. We even talk about content imposter syndrome, the curse of knowledge, and why you don’t have to be totally unique—you just need to show up as yourself.
If you’ve ever struggled with creating content that converts (and keeps converting), this episode is packed with clarity, systems, and smart takes that’ll help you raise your signal-to-noise ratio.
Key Bytes
• Messaging without a unique perspective leads to content that gets ignored • AI-only content creation can dilute your brand and commoditize your services • Her “Marketing MOAT” framework focuses on messaging, distribution, and content efficiency • Distribution must be built into strategy from the beginning, not as an afterthought • Agencies should reuse and repurpose evergreen content instead of always creating new • Consistency (3x/week on LinkedIn) matters more than frequency spikes • Authenticity in content doesn’t mean oversharing—it means resonance • Set goals based on team size, budget, and business stage, then reverse engineer your strategy
Chapters
00:01 Welcome and intro to Jessica Malnik 01:46 Common agency messaging mistakes 03:26 Why AI-only content is risky for agencies 05:14 Jessica’s Marketing MOAT framework explained 07:21 How to develop “spiky” messaging and content positioning 10:34 Distribution strategy: where your audience actually is 14:04 Own your content—don’t rely only on social algorithms 15:09 Content efficiency and repurposing systems 19:00 Best practices for publishing frequency 21:16 Balancing personal and professional content 22:28 Reverse engineering content strategy based on goals 23:41 Rapid Fire Q&A with Jessica
Jessica Malnik has helped over 75 B2B founders and lean marketing teams fix their positioning and craft messaging people actually read and respond to.
She’s spoken at half a dozen in-person conferences in the U.S., Australia, and Thailand, as well as dozens of virtual webinars, workshops, and podcast guest appearances. She’s also been featured in WSJ, The Next Web, MicroConf, Wynter, SXSW, and MSN UK, among many others.
Contact Jessica on their website or join their newsletter.
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