How I Made it in Marketing

Sometimes we overlook the ends, because we’re so focused on the means.

Today in marketing, that means can be algorithms and machine-built lookalike audiences and automations.

But as our latest guest explained in her podcast guest application, all that technology doesn’t matter if you don’t focus on the right ends: “It's all about the story – and it needs to include empathy.”

To hear the story behind that lesson, along with many more lesson-filled stories, I sat down with Carmen Collins, director of social media, Generac [https://www.generac.com/].

Generac is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange and reported $4.3 billion in net sales for 2024. Collins manages a team of three at Generac.

Stories (with lessons) about what she made in marketing

• Sometimes, you just do it. Consequences be damned.
• Your network is your net worth.
• It's all about the story – and it needs to include empathy.
• Speaking of breaking rules, that's her biggest learning, and it's taken her a long time.
• Metrics are the best sword and the best shield when it comes to social media marketing
• Have your own Fabulous Personal Advisory Board
• Advocate and champion for each other

Discussed in this episode

AI Guild – Want to boost your conversions and collaborate with top marketers? Claim your free 3-month AI Guild scholarship [https://join.meclabsai.com/] (from MeclabsAI, MarketingSherpa’s parent company).

Social Media Marketing: Educate your executives (podcast episode #123) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/social]

Substance Over Style: Good work has to speak for itself (podcast episode #111) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/substance-over-style]

CMO-CPO Collaboration: Bridge Marketing and Product for collaborative growth (podcast episode #95) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/CMO]

Innovative Marketing Leadership: It is okay to think outside the box but make sure you don't create surprises (podcast episode #82) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/innovative]

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This podcast is not about marketing – it is about the marketer. It draws its inspiration from the Flint McGlaughlin quote, “The key to transformative marketing is a transformed marketer” from the Become a Marketer-Philosopher: Create and optimize high-converting webpages [https://meclabs.com/course/] free digital marketing course.

Apply to be a guest
If you would like to apply to be a guest on How I Made It In Marketing, here is the podcast guest application – https://www.marketingsherpa.com/page/podcast-guest-application