EPISODE
23
Episode 23 - Marketing Software Goldmine
EPISODE LINKS.
SHOW NOTES.
In episode 23 of McFarland Minutes, the hosts discuss their most valued marketing software tools and their stand-out features. They delve into various software tools like CloudCampaign for social media scheduling, Drip for email marketing, Kinsta for website hosting, and ClickUp for project management. They highlight the importance of balancing the number of software tools used and how these tools can enhance productivity and efficiency. Additionally, they mention the usefulness of tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming and editing, and Descript for podcast editing. The episode offers insights into optimal software usage, ensuring you invest in tools that genuinely save time and resources.
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:48 The Struggle with Multiple Software Subscriptions
01:46 Balancing Software Necessity and Efficiency
02:44 Debating Software Purchases and Costs
04:38 Marketing Software Overload
06:08 Cloud Campaign: Our Social Media Scheduler
14:51 Drip: The Hidden Gem of Email Marketing
21:10 Website Hosting: The Best and the Worst
25:55 Google Workspace: Our All-in-One Solution
29:50 ClickUp: The Project Management Debate
32:33 Unreasonable Timelines and Project Management
32:52 The Role of ClickUp in Project Management
34:08 Challenges with ClickUp and Regular Tasks
34:50 Montana Silversmith Project and Deadline Management
35:49 ClickUp’s Impact on Project Management
36:49 Dubsado for Contracts and Invoicing
38:56 Descript for Podcast Editing
45:48 Adobe Creative Suite and Express
50:56 DaVinci Resolve for Video Editing
53:15 ChatGPT for Efficiency
01:01:25 Final Thoughts and Additional Tools
ABOUT THIS EPISODE.
Welcome to another episode of McFarland Minutes! In Episode 23, we talk about marketing software, exploring the tools that serve our marketing operations. Join Natalie and Scout as they navigate the delicate balance of using software to enhance productivity without falling victim to “death by subscription.”
Marketing professionals face the challenge of managing numerous software subscriptions. Natalie and Scout discuss having too many tools, often leading to confusion, wasted time, and unnecessary expenses. Instead, they advocate for a streamlined approach, weighing the pros and cons of each tool to determine its true value.
Here’s a breakdown of the marketing software tools that Natalie and Scout find indispensable:
1. Cloud Campaign
A social media scheduler, Cloud Campaign excels with features for scheduling, analytics, and social listening tools. While it has some drawbacks, such as the need for pre-cropping images, its speed and functionality make it a favorite for managing multiple accounts with ease.
2. Drip
Drip is a hidden gem in email marketing. Its affordability, advanced analytics, and seamless e-commerce integrations make it an essential tool for automating campaigns and conversions. Natalie and Scout cannot speak highly enough of Drip’s capabilities and efficiency.
3. Kinsta and Cloudways
When it comes to website hosting, Kinsta leads the pack with its reliable service and outstanding customer support. Cloudways is also a viable option, offering scalable hosting solutions that adapt to varying traffic levels.
4. Google Workspace
A powerhouse for collaboration, Google Workspace is the backbone of McFarland Productions’ operations. With its suite of tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Meet, it facilitates seamless communication and document sharing.
5. ClickUp
While opinions differ, ClickUp serves as a comprehensive project management tool that excels in visualizing workload and tracking timelines. Its flexibility makes it suitable for managing complex projects, ensuring deadlines are met efficiently.
6. Descript
A versatile tool for podcasting and video editing, Descript simplifies editing with its intuitive transcript-based interface. This software is a time-saver, allowing quick and precise edits, social clip generation, and audio corrections.
7. Adobe Suite and Da Vinci Resolve
For design and video production, Adobe Suite’s array of tools, including Photoshop and Premier Pro, provides creative professionals with the resources they need. Da Vinci Resolve, known for its exceptional color grading capabilities, becomes an indispensable ally for video editors.
8. ChatGPT
A controversial yet powerful tool, ChatGPT enhances productivity by aiding in brainstorming, pre-writing, and offering data-driven suggestions. Though never used as a standalone solution, its efficiency in analytics and content structuring proves invaluable.
Finding good marketing software is no easy feat, but with a strategic approach, it’s possible to find the right balance. Natalie and Scout emphasize the importance of vetting each tool thoroughly to ensure it meets the organization’s needs and enhances productivity without overwhelming the team. As technology evolves, staying informed about new software innovations can empower businesses to optimize their operations further.
Do you have a software tool you swear by? Let us know, we’re always eager to test new solutions. Thanks for tuning into this episode of McFarland Minutes, your soft launch to Monday.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.
NATALIE MCFARLAND
PRESIDENT, FOUNDER
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
After freelancing her way through college, Natalie established McFarland Productions in 2014, which has continued to grow rapidly over the last few years. Her passion and focus have always remained the same; capturing, understanding, preserving and promoting Ranching, Farming, Western Lifestyle and AgriBusiness. She has always had a love for the western culture and even at a young age it was unmistakably clear she would someday find a career serving the industry.
Natalie grew up on a small ranch, rodeoed, showed horses in a variety of disciplines, showed livestock, and participated in 4H and Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. She has trained herding dogs and started colts, worked with sheep and cattle and has had the experience of racing to finish up a hayfield before a rainstorm hit. She understands the joys, sorrows, wins, losses and hard work of ranchers and farmers. That’s why McFarland Productions can produce authentic marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations, events, and brands of the western and agriculture industry – it’s who she is.
With a passion for building community surrounding brands, Natalie focuses on building real connections between companies/brands and the people that make up their community. Telling the stories of your customers and making them apart of the brand’s story is her main focus. Creating real, human, meaningful connections and strengthening community within the western and agriculture industry through strategic marketing services.
SCOUT FOSTER
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC STORYTELLING
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
Scout’s faithfulness to the agriculture and western sports industry is rooted in tradition. Growing up in Central Florida, she stood by her family as they supported different sectors of the industry, including raising beef cattle, bucking bulls for local rodeos, and spending weekends with her grandparents who lived on Disney’s Wilderness Preserve.
Moving away from The Mouse, Scout graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nation’s top agricultural communications college at Texas Tech University in 2022.
Now residing in Crockett, she and her husband, Lane, keep busy raising beef cattle and bucking bulls with her family. Scout also loves gardening, raising chickens, reading, and her two dogs: Rue and Dill.
