mcfarland minutes

EPISODE

11

Episode 11 - Top 10 Questions We Get Asked for Marketing - Part 1

EPISODE LINKS.

SHOW NOTES.

In this episode of McFarland Minutes, Natalie McFarland and Scout Foster are sharing a three-part series answering the top 10 marketing questions they frequently receive. The hosts dive into how to build an authentic brand in a noisy digital space, sharing insights on maintaining originality and naturally connecting with audiences. They discuss the effectiveness of different marketing tactics, debating the usefulness of cold calls and the resurgence of old-school marketing strategies like mailers. This episode provides invaluable lessons and practical advice on establishing and maintaining successful affiliate and influencer programs, strategies for selecting affiliates, nurturing these relationships, creating engaging content, and enhancing brand visibility through collaboration.

00:00 Introduction to McFarland Minutes
00:34 Episode 11: Top 10 Marketing Questions Series
01:20 Question 1: Building an Authentic Brand
04:51 Question 2: Retired Marketing Tactics
15:28 Question 3: Establishing Affiliate and Influencer Programs
16:55 Establishing Your Marketing Program
17:02 Identifying Your Target Audience
17:22 Defining Marketing Pillars
18:19 Choosing the Right Software
19:35 Recruiting Affiliates from Social Media
21:04 Understanding Brand Collaborations
22:10 Selecting and Managing Influencers
31:45 Nurturing Affiliate Relationships
34:06 Leveraging Affiliates for Events
35:45 Conclusion and Next Steps

ABOUT THIS EPISODE.

This series will address the top marketing questions we receive as a marketing agency. We are thrilled to present the first release of a three-part series. Let’s dive into the insights shared in Episode 11!

How to build an authentic brand in a noisy digital space?

The first question on our list revolves around the challenge of building an authentic brand within a saturated digital environment. Both Scout and Natalie emphasize the importance of authenticity.

Scout suggests that staying true to yourself and your company’s core values is crucial. As previously discussed in our episodes, understanding what and who you are and standing by those principles is essential. Natalie further highlights the idea of creating synergy between a brand and its community. Engaging genuinely with your target audience helps build a loyal following. An insightful example is the success of Yeti, whose alignment with outdoorsy values and storytelling through Yeti films has resonated deeply with consumers.

What retired marketing tactics do you actually like?

We reflect on what marketing tactics may have lost their effectiveness over time. Scout notably mentioned the mixed success of traditional cold calls, which might still work in specific scenarios, like smaller local campaigns. Natalie and Scout express a preference for adapting tactics based on audience fit rather than completely retiring them. They reminisce about effective print marketing strategies, like visually striking catalogs, that still manage to capture attention in today’s digital age.

How do you get new affiliates and influencers?

One of our favorite services provided by McFarland Productions is assisting clients in establishing brand collaborations and influencer management systems. Natalie explains that the first step is identifying your target audience and breaking down marketing pillars. Using tools like software to track affiliate links and integrating systems that provide influencers with easy-to-use resources are vital.

For affiliates specifically, understanding their genuine alignment with your brand’s community and values is crucial. Meanwhile, influencers are encouraged to maintain strong branding, from the design of their media kits to their outreach strategies. Both Natalie and Scout stress the importance of a thorough vetting process when choosing affiliates and influencers. Ongoing communication and providing affiliates with seasonal or new product launches help keep them engaged and motivated.

This episode marks just the beginning of our discussion on the top marketing questions. We eagerly anticipate diving into the subsequent parts in future episodes. As always, we aim to offer you practical insights and help you take your marketing strategies to the next level. Stay tuned, this is just the start of an enlightening journey into the heart of modern marketing!

We thank you for joining us for another soft launch to your Monday. Stay connected as we go further into these marketing questions in the upcoming episodes.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.

NATALIE MCFARLAND

Headshot image of Natalie McFarland wearing a black suit, red hat, and long blonde hair in front.

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

Marketing manager Scout in front of a horse statue wearing a red shirt, black pants, and jean jacket. She has her long brown hair down in front of her shoulders.

OUTREACH MARKETING MANAGER

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.

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