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The FWD: Thinking Show

The FWD: Thinking Show is a podcast dedicated to sharing innovative email marketing strategies from the most successful, forward thinking marketing minds in the world (see what we did there?). From copywriting to email design, conversion optimization, and everything in between, we uncover the game changing tactics and strategies that enable small businesses and entrepreneurs to accomplish more with email marketing. The FWD: Thinking Show is brought to you by the team at AWeber, the powerfully-simple email marketing solution that helps small businesses build their audiences and grow their businesses.
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Now displaying: 2016
Dec 6, 2016

Here are a few notes shared in the episode:

AWeber Named 17th Best Place to Work in Pennsylvania - https://blog.aweber.com/press/aweber-named-17th-best-place-to-work-in-pennsylvania

The 2016 Holiday GIF Guide - https://blog.aweber.com/email-marketing/the-2016-holiday-gif-guide.htm

Excellence Expected: Volume 2 - http://www.excellence-expected.com/audio/

Have a safe, happy, and successful holiday!

Sep 27, 2016

The Ask Me About Email Marketing podcast is going on an indefinite hiatus.

Listen to find out why!

Follow us on Twitter, @tnrt and @AWeber to keep tabs on some exciting new projects in the works.

Leave Us A Review

If you received any value at all from any of our episodes, it'd make my day, week, and year if you could leave us a quick review on iTunes. Let us know what you'd like to see in the future.

Search for "Ask Me About Email Marketing" in iTune, or click here!

Thanks all for your time, attention, and for being a stellar podcast audience.

Sep 22, 2016

In this bonus series of the show, Tom talks with Ernest Barbaric about getting unstuck and moving towards creating meaningful work.

Today is your day to take action!

Check out our latest batch of checklists and success stories to help you accomplish your marketing goals at AWeber.com/today.

Learn more about our guest expert, Ernest Barbaric, and check out his incredible rut-busting course, Project un(stuck).

Sep 20, 2016

In this podcast episode, take a look at the top ten most popular episodes to date (as ranked by your downloads) in a curated Ask Me About Email Marketing clip show!

Join Tom T. as he reflects on the amazing guests and content explored over the course of the past 40 episodes.

Curious what the top downloaded episodes are? You'll have to tune in to find out!

Episode synopsis

Over the past year, we've covered many different email marketing topics, from copywriting and list-building, to community management and entrepreneurship. Get a wide sampling of the best tips and tactics in this episode, as we hear from some of favorite guests, like Madalyn Sklar, Nick Westergaard, Noah Kagan, Ben Settle, and more.

Ask us anything!

Have a question about email marketing that you want answered in a future podcast episode? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Sep 15, 2016

In this bonus series of the show, Tom talks with Ernest Barbaric about facing the fear that often keeps us from realizing our most meaningful work.

Today is your day to take action!

Check out our latest batch of checklists and success stories to help you accomplish your marketing goals at AWeber.com/today.

Learn more about our guest expert, Ernest Barbaric, and check out his incredible rut-busting course, Project un(stuck).

Tune in next week, or subscribe via iTunes, as we conclude this four-part series.

Sep 13, 2016

Ah, yes! The first 100 subscriber mark. It is quite possibly the most rewarding benchmark in your email marketing adventures.

If you haven't gotten there yet, that's not a problem! This episode is just for you. :)

Join Tom T. as he chats with fellow AWeber team member, Andy Obusek of CleanSwifter.com, to dig into how he grew his list from 0 to 100 in just five months.

Now, you may be thinking, "That's not a big deal, I attract 100 subscribers a week," or, "I hit my first 100 subscribers in way less time than that!"

What makes Andy's experience unique is that, unlike so many of us who frequent this blog, he is not a marketer by trade. Andy is an iOS software developer and team lead, who feverishly guides our efforts in enhancing our Stats app. Andy wrote code, not copy. Andy's expertise was in refactoring, not retargeting.

So how does a non-marketer with a passion to share go from Swift test automation to conversion rate optimization? And what does this mean for you? How can you apply Andy's learnings to help you get your first 100 subscribers, even if you're new to marketing?

You'll just have to tune in to find out.

Episode synopsis

Finding your tribe and growing your list is not an easy feat, especially if email marketing is a brand new discipline.

In this episode, you'll learn about the successes and failures of a passionate and unconventional non-marketer as he grew his list from 0 to 100 subscribers in just five months.

Listen in as we discuss:

  • How to gamify your early content creation and SEO strategy
  • Suggestions to create a strong lead magnet and high-converting signup form
  • Powerful tactics to leverage social media to attract new subscribers
  • A simple low-budget Facebook ad strategy to consider testing
  • Ideas on content and email marketing monetization options
  • ... and much more!

Here are a few links referenced on the show:

Ask us anything!

Have a question about email marketing that you want answered in a future podcast episode? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

 

Sep 8, 2016

In this bonus series of the show, Tom talks with Ernest Barbaric about finding your purpose and tapping in to your most meaningful work.

Today is your day to take action!

Check out our latest batch of checklists and success stories to help you accomplish your marketing goals at AWeber.com/today.

Learn more about our guest expert, Ernest Barbaric, and check out his incredible rut-busting course, Project un(stuck).

Tune in next week, or subscribe via iTunes, as we continue this four-part series.

Sep 7, 2016

Last week, our Director of Deliverability Mohammed Ahmed posted a fantastic post on why email engagement is more important than ever for email deliverability.

It's not something we always consider before every send, but email engagement is an important factor to consider when optimizing your email deliverability and inbox placement.

Check out this podcast episode to learn three tips to help boost your engagement!

Episode Synopsis

There's no doubt that internet service providers (ISPs) and email providers like Gmail, and Hotmail are looking at subscriber behavior and engagement to determine what emails get flagged as spam, and what emails end up in the inbox.

In this episode, Tom T reemphasizes the most important tips and tactics shared by AWeber's Director of Deliverability to help you maintain and grow a healthy and responsive email list of subscribers.

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Sep 1, 2016

In this bonus series of the show, Tom talks with guest expert Ernest Barbaric about getting unstuck and facing the fear of the unknown.

Today is your day to take action!

Check out our latest batch of checklists and success stories to help you accomplish your marketing goals at AWeber.com/today.

Learn more about our guest expert, Ernest Barbaric, and check out his incredible rut-busting course, Project un(stuck).

Tune in next week, or subscribe via iTunes, as we continue this four-part series.

Aug 30, 2016

In early July, I had the pleasure of joining a few AWeber team members in Chicago for Podcast Movement 2016.

I wanted to know how these creative and passionate content creators were engaging their listeners with email marketing and beyond, so we took a couple of mics and built a makeshift studio right at our exhibitor’s booth.

We had a few amazing AWeber fans and users swing by to chat and record some brief interviews about how they’re serving their audience with email marketing.

This is part 2 of 2 of our interview series from Podcast Movement. Check out part 1 here.

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Ask Me About Email Marketing, check out the second part of our live interview series, as we talk with Kristin Ingram of Small Biz Life, Ryan Gray of Medical School HQ, Yann Ilunga of 360 Entrepreneur Podcast, and Jeffery W. Ingram of Worldbuilder's Anvil.

Listen above to get the latest tips and tactics from the pros. Also, check out this post I wrote exploring the similarities between email marketing and podcasting.

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Aug 23, 2016

In early July, I had the pleasure of joining a few AWeber team members in Chicago for Podcast Movement 2016.

I wanted to know how these creative and passionate content creators were engaging their listeners with email marketing and beyond, so we took a couple of mics and built a makeshift studio right at our exhibitor’s booth.

We had a few amazing AWeber users swing by to chat and record some brief interviews about how they’re serving their audience with email marketing.

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Ask Me About Email Marketing, check out the first part of our live interview series, as we talk with Natalie Eckdahl of BizChix.com, Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation, and Juan Sepulveda of The Gentlemen's Brotherhood.

Listen above to get the latest tips and tactics from the pros. Also, check out this post I wrote exploring the similarities between email marketing and podcasting.

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Aug 16, 2016

Do you run the show?

Being a business owner is not easy. Marketing trends keep changing, your audience's attention is getting harder to capture, and you need to keep on selling to keep on keeping on.

Luckily, the web is full of digital mentors to help guide us along the way. One such mentor is Jon Butt, who has built and sold many online businesses. Now, Jon's developed a successful resource site, blog and podcast to help owners market their business in this digital age.

Episode Synopsis

In this episode, we discuss how Jon establishes marketing systems to grow his businesses. Jon's site Marketing for Owners is a phenomenal resource for business owners looking to grow with marketing.

Listen in as we discuss:

  • How Jon got his start selling fire extinguishers
  • The five questions that every business owner must answer to be truly successful
  • Why most people miss the mark on marketing
  • Developing marketing 'systems' to help you grow your business
  • The 7 P's, or the Perpetual Sales Cycle
  • Ways to make the most of a lead magnet with a strong autoresponder series
  • How to encourage repeat buyers with email marketing
  • ... and much more!

Additional Resources

Here are the links mentioned during the show:

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Aug 9, 2016

What if you had the power to create affordable and incredible game-changing content for your business and email marketing campaigns? Would you use it?

As email marketers, we revel in the written word. However that means we often overlook one of the best ways to speak to our subscribers... which is literally speaking to our subscribers through video.

Thankfully, creating videos is easier than ever: Advances in laptop and cell phone tech, as well as the quality of affordable lighting and accessory gear, have removed the barriers to entry with video creation.

In the latest podcast episode, Margot Mazur, partnership coordinator of Wistia (an amazing video hosting platform), shares her expertise to help us non-video marketers get up and running with an outstanding video-in-email strategy.

 

Episode Synopsis

In this episode, we discuss everything you need to know to step up your video game. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to video (like myself,) you'll find some action items worth noting in this episode. After you listen, head on over to AWeber.com/today to use our nifty "How To Record Your First Video" checklist to get started.

Today is your day to take action. Who knows? You may even find that you're a pro behind the camera!

Listen in as we discuss:

  • How to engage your audience and develop trust with video
  • Why video is way easier to create now than ever before
  • Tips for creating the perfect video thumbnail for your emails
  • How to write a strong subject line to boost video engagement
  • How video analytics can inform your strategy
  • How to use email to collect subscribers and grow your lists
  • ... and much more!

Additional Resources

Here are the links mentioned during the show:

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Aug 2, 2016

What are your deepest and darkest fears?

For years, independent author J. Thorn has been exploring the question through his fear and fantasy fiction writing. He's sold over 150,000 copies of his work and topped the Amazon charts - once landing at #5 in Horror, next to his childhood favorites, Dean Koontz and Stephen King.

Through his work, Thorn has developed a strong, unique voice, both in his respected genres and in the independent writers community. And he's leveraged that connection to his fans through email marketing.

In this episode, we discuss valuable strategies that anyone - not just authors - can apply, to attract the right kind of subscribers, offer immediate value, engage their readers. We talk about the ways to maintain a consistently above-average open rate and find your ideal subscriber persona. We even break down J.'s unique lead magnet and welcome message, and what makes them so successful.

If you fantasize about having hundreds of loyal subscribers and fear ending up in the dark depths of the spam folder, you'll want to tune in, take notes, and take action!

Episode Synopsis

Listen in, as we discuss:

  • How J. took the leap and finished his first novel
  • The platforms and options for independent authors
  • Ways to structure your lead magnet and welcome series
  • The importance of writing to a persona
  • ... and much more!

Additional Resources

Here are the links mentioned during the show:

Ask Us Anything

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

 

Jul 26, 2016

Are you sending spam without even realizing it?

In this episode of the Ask Me About Email Marketing podcast, we talk with John Bonini, Growth Director at Litmus.

In a blog post written earlier this year, John explored the nuances of selling and spamming. Email marketing is evolving, and it's crucial for marketers to reinforce the value they're providing, while redefining traditional views on spam. John shares his take on how to be relevant, be human, and tactfully write to convert.

Check out the episode above, and you'll hear about:

  • How email marketers define spam vs. how consumers are defining spam
  • Different ways to consider personalization
  • Why NOT selling your solution is selfish
  • How to source great marketing copy
  • The importance of manual outreach
  • And much more...

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

We didn't get to cover it, but here is a fantastic series of articles Litmus put out regarding Single v. Double Opt-in:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jul 19, 2016

Are you using email marketing to generate an income? If not, do you want to?

Writing to sell without feeling "salesy" or "sleazy" is a challenge. When it comes to selling via email, the autoresponder has made it possible to send a sequence of automated emails over time to ensure you get the right message to the right person when they need it most.

Also known as "drip campaigns," marketers set up these automated emails to provide information about themselves, the problems they solve and the products they offer. You'll also find that many seasoned marketers teach their strategies and tactics for moving subscribers through the buyer "funnel" in a way that allows them to feel like they're "selling without selling." In fact, we've written a ton about mastering the autoresponder and creating sophisticated automated campaigns, too. (Not to mention, AWeber has been known for providing a great reliable email automation platform since 1998!)

While drip campaigns can be effective, however, that's not the only way to influence people to buy your product or service.

In this episode of the Ask Me About Email Marketing podcast, we talk with expert email copywriter, Ben Settle. Forget all the conventions of email marketing that you've clung to over the years and listen to this episode.

Ben sends one to two emails a day to his main list with very few spam complaints. Sure, he gets unsubscribes, but unlike a lot of email marketers, he welcomes them. His unique philosophies on daily emailing, unselfish selling and copywriting have helped email marketers find their niche, write with confidence and conquer their fears of selling.

Listen above, and you'll hear about:

  • How Ben got his start in copywriting and email marketing
  • The benefits of sending daily
  • Why NOT selling your solution is selfish
  • The importance of mixing promotion with teaching
  • How email marketing is like talk radio
  • The importance of mixing promotion with teaching
  • The #1 1990s television show that all email marketers must watch
  • ... and much more!

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jul 12, 2016

Pop quiz: What's the best way to generate a ton of qualified leads, while also providing a fun an engaging interactive experience?

It's a pop quiz, of course!

In this podcast episode, we discuss exciting and effective lead generation and list-building techniques with Josh Haynam, co-founder of Interact.

The mantra at Interact is a simple one. They are a "lead generation platform for a content and social media driven world." With interactive personality quizzes, assessments, and giveaways, marketers are finding success in growing their email lists, but also learning about their subscribers interests, personalities, and needs.

Listen above, and you'll hear about:

  • Josh's entrepreneurial path to Interact
  • The impact of personality quizzes and assessments on list growth
  • How to segment your leads based on their answers and tailor your emails based on context
  • Josh's least favorite type of subject lines
  • ... and much more!

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jul 5, 2016

In this episode of the Ask Me About Email Marketing podcast, I tackle three big listener questions.

  • Do I need to use LeadPages to use AWeber?
  • How do I create a compelling lead magnet?
  • What's more effective for marketing, a short email or a long email?

Learn how to grow your list and supercharge your account, the acronym I use whenever developing a new lead magnet, and the secret behind email length (spoiler: you may not like the answer.)

Listen above and share your opinions in the comments.

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have your own question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jun 28, 2016

Ready to be a smarter marketer?

With blogs, podcasts, videos, snaps, chats, and tweets coming at us from all directions, it's getting harder and harder to find the content that will truly level up your chops. One way to ensure your getting the proper marketing nutrition is to have a well-balanced content diet, including not only digital content, but also great marketing books.

In this episode of the Ask Me About Email Marketing podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Douglas Burdett, expert marketer and host of the Marketing Book Podcast. Douglas shares with us his experience reading the best marketing books, and interviewing their authors. Books provide us with an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves into a topic, and as Douglas puts it "rewire your marketing brain."

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • Douglas' personal book recommendations and journey into marketing and podcasting
  • The benefits of a well-balanced content diet
  • Ways to evaluate if a book's worth your time
  • Books to read to level up your email marketing
  • Some great marketing tips for email marketers of all levels
  • ... and much more!

Here is a list of all the books we mentioned on this episode:

Here are a few other links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jun 21, 2016

Thinking about starting a podcast? Today is your day! Starting a podcast is an exciting venture, and can lead to all sorts of fruitful happenings for you and your business. My fellow podcasters can attest to this.

That's not to say picking up the mic is easy! Podcasting can be a challenge if your not equipped for success. Luckily, heroic individuals like Jerod Morris are out there serving as a digital mentor for newbies and pros alike. With Jonny Nastor, Jerod cohosts The Showrunner, a podcast about podcasting. Over the course of a few episodes, Jerod and Jonny discussed the importance and value of building an engaged email list. To discuss and reiterate some of those points, I've recruited Jerod to join the show.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How to develop a hypothesis for your show's concept
  • How a strong email strategy can be your podcast differentiator
  • The importance of crafting a strong lead magnet
  • The impact of email marketing on your show
  • Jerod's advice for forming strong relationships with listeners and subscribers
  • ... and much more!

Ready to rock the mic? Already a podcaster? Check out our Email Marketing for Podcaster's Guide to get start building your community today.

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

 

Jun 14, 2016

It might seem odd to hear an email marketing podcast focus on Twitter, but rest assured there's tremendous opportunity to reach a wide audience with the little blue bird that could. Not only can you use Twitter to build your list, but you can also engage with your current subscribers by connecting on the social platform.

Twitter can be a bit intimidating for most (it certainly was for me!), and it’s easy to see why. You get a limited character count to post content, and there's just an endless flow of tweets to consume and keep up with.

So what's a time-strapped, tweet-driven digital marketer to do? Call on the experts, of course!

For this week’s podcast, we teamed up with top ranked social media power influencer Madalyn Sklar to bring you all the latest tactics to tap into the power of Twitter. You'll be growing your list, and seeing boosts in engagement in no time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • The current state of Twitter marketing in 2016 and how to best use it
  • How to leverage Twitter lists to attract attention
  • Tips to engage your subscribers to follow you on Twitter
  • What are Twitter Chats, and how can they help you grow your following
  • How to 'pin' your lead magnet
  • How Twitter Cards can help you get more leads – and at no cost! (Check out the example below)
  • <li">... and much more!

It’s a jam-packed episode, and if you want to get started with Twitter or improve your strategy, you don't want to miss it.

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

Jun 7, 2016

Forming personal connections is one of the welcome benefits of email marketing. But so frequently, we end up sending emails to subscribers with little to no interaction back. We revert to pushing out content that may yield high open rates, but maybe not much else. What if there was a way to get to know our subscribers better, a way to form a true unified community?

Well, there is. In this episode, we go beyond the inbox. Olivia Dello Buono, AWeber's Social Media Specialist and Community Manager, joins the show to explore how to find, build, and nurture your own communities.

Here are a few topics we discussed:

  • How and where to find 'your people'
  • The value of building a public or private community
  • The platforms available for marketers to build a community
  • The role of a great community manager
  • How to deal with trolls and trouble-makers
  • ... and much more!

Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

May 31, 2016

On this episode of Ask Me About Email Marketing, we discuss starting, failing, monetization, driving traffic, staying accountable, growing businesses, connecting with people, and much more with Noah Kagan, the chief sumo at SumoMe.com. Whoa, that's a lot to talk about. In fact, Noah covers so much ground in our brief conversation, I'm convinced that this episode will be THE most downloaded episode to date. Let's make it happen. In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why quality of subscribers supersedes quantity
  • How to commit to an email strategy and stay accountable
  • The velocity to $1 principle, and value of selling early
  • Ways feedback from subscribers can shape your strategy
  • The importance of sticking with your business
  • Some tactics for getting traffic, what to do with it, and why you might not need traffic at all
  • ... and much more!

Thanks to Noah for joining the show, dropping some knowledge, and providing marketers with a ton of valuable tools at SumoMe. Here are a few links that were mentioned on the show:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

 

May 20, 2016

In this bonus content, I share three key lessons from our most popular episodes to date. To get access to all the bonus audio content for this show, be sure to sign up to the feed through iTunes, or your favorite podcast app.

May 18, 2016

Like many marketers, I can get overwhelmed when it comes to producing high-quality content on a consistent basis. That's why I find the idea of repurposing content so appealing.

If you've been following our blog, you'll remember Monica's post on repurposing content. I was so inspired by the ideas she compiled, that I wanted to share them with you, our podcast listeners.

In this week's episode, I discuss the value of repurposing your content - and, more importantly, ways you can start doing it today.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How to find your most successful content
  • Why you should give new life to your high-performing content
  • Where and how to repurpose content
  • An illustrated example on how a single blog post can lead to a new project
  • ... and much more!

When you're a wearer of many hats within your business, creating compelling content often falls on the back burner. (And frankly, it can feel like a chore.) The next time you find yourself under pressure to get new content out the door, try repurposing something you already have. Take a listen above and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Here are a few links that were mentioned in the post:

Have a question about email marketing? Leave us a message at aweber.com/podcast.

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