Shows
Imperfect Marketing328: Why Pick Just One? Lessons from the Classroom on Integrated MarketingSend us a textIn this episode, Kendra Corman shares a powerful classroom story that turned into a real-world lesson on integrated marketing communications. What started as a nonprofit fundraising case study became a master class—taught by her students—on how marketing channels work best when they work together.Kendra walks through how three student teams tackled a struggling nonprofit gala and what their insights reveal about building a smarter, more intentional marketing mix.The Classroom Experiment That Changed the ConversationStudents were asked to defend one of thre...
2026-01-2912 minImperfect MarketingMy Word of the Year for 2026 is NoSend us a textIn this New Year’s episode, Kendra Corman gets candid about why she’s heading into 2026 tired, excited… and fiercely committed to one word: no. After a 2025 defined by “forge” (building, growing, expanding), a family crisis and an overload of opportunities forced her to re-evaluate sustainability, boundaries, and what it really takes to preserve creative focus.Kendra shares the behind-the-scenes story of her year—what went right, what went sideways, and why the systems and people you build now are what save you later. What 2025 Taught Kendra About...
2026-01-0118 minImperfect MarketingWhy Your Social Posts Aren't Filling Your Events (And What Actually Will)Send us a textIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, host Kendra Corman dives into a common challenge many businesses face—getting people to actually register for events. From galas to webinars, it’s easy to assume that a few social posts will do the trick. But as Kendra reveals, likes don’t equal registrations, and engagement doesn’t always lead to action.She shares a real-life client story that sparked this conversation—one where a business expected 150 signups but only had three, just two weeks before the event. Through this story, Kendra breaks dow...
2025-12-0409 minImperfect MarketingYou Can't AI Your Way Out of Not Knowing Your AudienceSend us a textIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, host Kendra Corman tackles one of her biggest marketing pet peeves — believing that artificial intelligence can replace truly knowing your audience. With AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini becoming everyday marketing helpers, many professionals are skipping the fundamentals of understanding their customers. Kendra explains why that shortcut leads to bland, ineffective content and what to do instead.The Problem with Skipping the BasicsMany marketers use AI to generate content without doing the essential groundwork of understanding their audience.AI...
2025-11-0614 minImperfect MarketingTo Cite or Not to Cite AISend us a textWondering whether you need to disclose when AI helped you write a blog, email, or proposal? You’re not alone—and this episode is your permission slip to stop second-guessing.In this solo milestone episode, I (Kendra Corman) explore one of the most common questions I get from clients and students: “Do I have to cite AI if I used it to write something?”As someone who’s been ghostwriting for decades and now leans on AI to streamline my work (without letting it take over), I break down when to ci...
2025-07-1708 minImperfect MarketingAre You Too Close to Your Business?Send us a textIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, host Kendra Corman dives into a common but often overlooked entrepreneurial struggle: being too close to your own business. Drawing from personal experience and conversations with clients, Kendra explores why it’s so hard to see your business clearly—and how that impacts your marketing, messaging, and momentum.If you've ever found yourself stuck writing a LinkedIn post, unsure what makes you unique, or overwhelmed by daily to-dos, this episode will hit home. It’s a thoughtful, honest look at what happens when your e...
2025-06-1916 minImperfect Marketing292: My Most Successful Email in 2025 is About A Gas StationSend us a textEver wonder what kind of email actually gets replies—and closes deals?In this refreshingly personal episode, host Kendra Corman takes you behind the scenes of one of her most successful emails ever. Spoiler alert: it wasn't a sales pitch. It was a story about a 3 a.m. road trip, a surprise stop at Buc-ee's, and how one moment of gas station magic sparked real business results.If you're struggling to make email marketing work for you, or if storytelling feels like a buzzword you can't quite harness, this on...
2025-05-2208 minImperfect Marketing287: How to use AI for Marketing StrategySend us a textHow to Use AI for Marketing Strategy (Without Losing Your Voice)In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, host Kendra Corman tackles a hot-button topic: AI in marketing strategy. Is it a game-changer, a gimmick, or something in between? If you've ever rolled your eyes at those five-minute "AI builds your business" TikToks—or felt overwhelmed trying to organize your strategy—you’re not alone.Kendra shares a refreshingly balanced take on using AI as a powerful marketing assistant, not a replacement. She walks you through her ow...
2025-04-1715 minImperfect Marketing269: From Idea to Airwaves: Planning Your Podcast in 5 Simple Steps with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textKendra discusses the five essential steps to plan a successful podcast. From finding the right niche to setting up systems that save time, this episode is packed with actionable advice for aspiring podcasters.Highlights from today's episode include:Why narrowing down your topic is key to audience engagement.Setting realistic schedules and the importance of consistency.Tips for creating a content calendar and managing guests.Using AI tools like Perplexity.ai and ChatGPT for brainstorming and scripting.Systems and tools to simplify your podcast workflow.Join Kendra...
2025-01-1418 minImperfect Marketing265: New Year’s Resolutions: Setting and Achieving Your 2025 Marketing Goals with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textThis week, Kendra reflects on the importance of setting achievable goals as we prepare to welcome 2025. In this special New Year’s Eve episode, she shares practical tips on creating a balance between business and personal goals, ensuring focus, productivity, and a fulfilling life.Key Highlights:Why limiting your goals to five business and two personal ones is the key to success.Brainstorming techniques to identify impactful goals for the new year.Creative approaches to align your goals with your business and personality.How personal goals contribute to lo...
2024-12-3110 minImperfect Marketing264: Experimentation and Focus The Twin Pillars of Marketing Success with Guest Marcus SchallerSend us a textKendra talks Imperfect Marketing with Marcus Schaller, a marketing strategist and coach with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs and businesses focus on the right strategies to overcome marketing bottlenecks. Marcus works with experts like trainers, consultants, and solopreneurs to pinpoint their strengths and build strategies that align with their goals.Topics covered in today’s conversation include:How to focus on the right marketing tactics for your business.Why experimentation is key in discovering what works.The role of AI in shaping authentic marketing messaging.Ti...
2024-12-2631 minImperfect Marketing261: Reflecting on 2024: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textIn this episode, Kendra Corman takes listeners through her 2024 journey—the wins, lessons learned, and unexpected challenges. She shares personal and professional insights, covering topics like discipline, the impact of new technology, lessons from a writing coach, and the reality of staying accountable. Kendra also offers actionable advice on self-improvement, embracing change, and the importance of building systems to support growth. Tune in to discover key takeaways you can apply in your own journey into 2025!Key Topics Discussed:The power of discipline and consistency in personal and business ro...
2024-12-1712 minImperfect Marketing259: Simplify to Amplify: How to Cut Down on Marketing Channels and Boost Results with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textIn this episode, Kendra shares her journey to streamline her marketing strategy and explains how reducing the number of platforms can be transformative for marketers. With the pressure to be everywhere online, many marketers feel overwhelmed. But Kendra explains that focusing on one or two channels can amplify your impact and cut down on burnout. She dives into the value of relationship marketing, sharing her personal experiences in using a small but meaningful approach to build connections that drive long-term business growth. Finally, Kendra reveals how she efficiently repurposes content across p...
2024-12-1013 minImperfect Marketing257: Productivity Tools for Marketers: Apps and Techniques to Boost Efficiency with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textKendra shares her favorite productivity tools and techniques that keep her marketing work organized and effective. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by marketing tasks or struggled to manage time effectively, this episode is for you.Highlights from today's episode include:Why Asana is a must-have for task and project managementUsing Microsoft 365 to keep sensitive client information secure and organizedMetricool for social media scheduling and competitive insightsProductivity hacks: the Pomodoro Technique, time blocking, and the two-minute ruleBalancing digital tools with the Full Focus Planner for prioritizationJoin Kendra every Tuesday...
2024-12-0307 minImperfect Marketing255: Planning for 2024: Setting Up Your Marketing Calendar with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textPlanning your marketing calendar for 2025 might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, Kendra Corman walks you through the essentials of creating a manageable and effective marketing calendar. Learn how to stay consistent, save time, and align your marketing efforts with your business goals by leveraging the power of content repurposing.Highlights from today's episode include:The importance of a marketing calendarThe power of content repurposingKey components of a 2025 marketing calendarSteps to create your 2025 marketing calendarResources & Links:
2024-11-2610 minImperfect Marketing254: Creating More Freedom and Impact in Your Business with Erin MarcusSend us a textKendra talks imperfect marketing with entrepreneur and business mentor Erin Marcus. Erin helps entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve financial and emotional freedom by learning how to be in charge, take action, and get results. With over 20 years of experience in mentoring and training, she guides people to succeed beyond what they've dared to dream.Topics covered in today's conversation include:How to intentionally restructure your business for more freedomThe power of time blocking and setting boundaries in your scheduleWhy mindset work is crucial for business successTips for making decisions...
2024-11-2132 minImperfect Marketing253: The Art of Focus: Minimizing Distractions in a Digital World with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textKendra discusses how distractions in our modern digital age hinder our productivity and marketing efforts. From social media notifications to environmental distractions, staying focused can feel impossible. She introduces strategies like the Pomodoro Technique and other productivity tools that can help listeners regain control over their attention.Highlights from today's episode include:How to identify your biggest distractions and address themThe Pomodoro Technique and its benefits for productivityDigital decluttering and setting up a distraction-free workspaceUtilizing apps like Forrest, Rescue Time, and Freedom to minimize distractionsImportance of taking mindful...
2024-11-1914 minImperfect Marketing252: How to Build a Thriving Online Community with Guest Paul GowderSend us a textIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Kendra Corman talks with Paul Gowder, the founder of PowWows.com, the leading online community celebrating Native American arts and culture for over 25 years. Paul shares his insights on how he built one of the largest and most engaged online communities while maintaining a full-time job. Whether you’re looking to build a community from scratch or scale an existing one, Paul’s advice on community building, email marketing, and audience engagement is invaluable.Key Topics Discussed:Defining Commun...
2024-11-1426 minImperfect Marketing251: Personal Branding with AI: Building Your Unique Voice with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textImperfect Marketing with host Kendra CormanEpisode 251: Personal Branding with AI: Building Your Unique VoiceKendra discusses how to leverage AI for personal branding while maintaining authenticity and consistency across platforms.Highlights from today's episode include:Creating a voice paragraph to guide AI in mimicking your brand voiceExperimenting with different tones and styles for various platformsDeveloping a "words not to use" list to refine AI-generated contentTips for training AI to amplify your unique voiceThe importance of authenticity in AI-assisted personal brandingResources:...
2024-11-1210 minImperfect Marketing249: Unlocking the Potential of AI: Elevate Your Social Media Content with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textImperfect Marketing with host Kendra CormanEpisode 249: AI for Social Media: Crafting Engaging Content with Host Kendra CormanKendra discusses how to effectively use AI tools for social media content creation without losing your authentic voice.Highlights from today's episode include:The importance of using AI as an enhancement, not a replacement for your creativityHow to avoid creating AI-generated content that feels inauthenticPractical examples of using AI in podcast production and social media content creationTips for infusing AI-generated content with your personal stories...
2024-11-0510 minImperfect Marketing248: Beyond the Press Release: Creative Strategies for Media Coverage with Guest Liese GarderSend us a textEpisode 248: Beyond the Press Release: Creative Strategies for Media Coverage with Guest Liese GardnerKendra talks imperfect marketing with seasoned communications and PR expert, Liese Gardner. Liese founded Liese Gardner Communications in 1999, driven by her passion for helping creative companies, both large and small, increase their visibility and brand presence. She specializes in brand strategy, content marketing, and offers exclusive writing workshops. Liese’s approach as a "brand therapist" uses writing and visual storytelling to elevate her clients' brands.Topics covered in today’s conversation include:How to iden...
2024-10-3127 minImperfect Marketing247: AI in Marketing Automation: Enhancing Customer Journeys with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textImperfect Marketing with host Kendra CormanEpisode 247: AI in Marketing Automation: Enhancing Customer JourneysKendra discusses how AI is revolutionizing social media content creation and marketing automation, offering insights on using AI tools effectively without losing authenticity.Highlights from today's episode include:The role of AI in content creation and why it's a game-changer when used correctlyHow to avoid common pitfalls of AI-generated contentPractical examples of using AI in podcast production and social media managementThe importance of maintaining your unique voice and expertise when...
2024-10-2912 minImperfect Marketing246: Podcasting for Business: Strategies for Content, Monetization, and Growth with Guest Cody McLaughlinSend us a textEpisode 246: Podcasting for Business: Strategies for Content, Monetization, and Growth with Guest Cody McLaughlinKendra talks imperfect marketing with Cody McLaughlin, an experienced podcast showrunner, guest, and host with over 1000 media appearances. Cody is a published writer in the outdoor space and is responsible for all elements of production at Trout Stream Studios, from planning to distribution.Topics covered in today's conversation include:Starting a podcast and the importance of having something valuable to sayStrategies for monetizing podcasts, including ad support, affiliate marketing, and subscription modelsThe...
2024-10-2431 minImperfect Marketing245: The Future of SEO: How AI is Changing the Game with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textImperfect Marketing with host Kendra CormanEpisode 245: The Future of SEO: How AI is Changing the GameKendra discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming SEO and how marketers can leverage AI tools while maintaining their unique voice and expertise.Highlights from today's episode include:The evolution of SEO from keyword stuffing to user intent and quality contentAI tools revolutionizing content optimization, keyword research, and SERP analysisHow AI algorithms like RankBrain and BERT are influencing search engine resultsThe importance of human creativity and unique perspectives...
2024-10-2211 minImperfect Marketing243: Productivity Hacks: Leveraging AI Tools for Efficient Workflows with Host Kendra CormanSend us a textImperfect Marketing with host Kendra CormanEpisode 243: Productivity Hacks: Leveraging AI Tools for Efficient Workflows with Host Kendra CormanKendra discusses how AI tools can significantly boost productivity and save time for marketers and content creators.Highlights from today's episode include:The role of AI in streamlining podcast productionUsing AI tools like Riverside.fm and ChatGPT for efficient content creationLeveraging AI for social media content and image creationAI-powered organizational tools for better time managementThe importance of balancing AI use with personal creativity and expertise
2024-10-1513 min