As a small business owner, you need to be a lot of things to make your business go—but you don't have to be a marketer alone. Join host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, Brand Production Coordinator, as they explore what it really takes to market your business. Even if marketing's not your thing! You'll hear from small business leaders just like you along with industry experts as they share their stories, challenges, and best advice to get real results. This is the 2x Webby Award Honoree Be A Marketer podcast!
As 2025 wraps up, Dave Charest and Kelsi Carter take a look back at the biggest lessons from a year’s worth of Be A Marketer conversations.
From Neil Patel’s timeless marketing fundamentals to Christina Tosi’s community building and the Savannah Bananas’ fans-first approach, this episode revisits the key themes that defined 2025, and what every small business can carry forward into the new year.
Dave and Kelsi reflect on what it means to stay curious, keep experimenting, and keep showing up for your audience. Plus, a special announcement about what’s next for the show in 2026.
If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam (http://ratethispodcast.com/bam) and follow the simple instructions.
Additional Resources:
How to Build a Brand that Lasts with Dr. Knowles (https://community.constantcontact.com/be-a-marketer/post/how-to-build-a-brand-that-lasts-with-mathew-knowles-S6MZ2e0yvOG50dm)
Destination Marketing Strategies with Aljolynn Sperber (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Destination-Marketing-Strategies-with-Aljolynn-Sperber/ba-p/430718)
Building Multiple Revenue Streams in Real Estate with Jacqui Luberto (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Building-Multiple-Revenue-Streams-in-Real-Estate-with-Jacqui/ba-p/431360)
Bake Club's Recipe for Community Building with Christina Tosi and Shannon Salzano (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/A-Recipe-for-Community-Building-with-Christina-Tosi-and-Shannon/ba-p/430378)
Building a Fans-First Business from the Ground Up with The Savannah Bananas (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Build-a-Fans-First-Business-From-the-Ground-Up-with-the-Savannah/ba-p/432932)
Ways to Turn Loyal Customers into Your Best Marketing Channel with Gail Goodman (https://community.constantcontact.com/be-a-marketer/post/ways-to-turn-loyal-customers-into-your-best-marketing-channel-with-gail-iMQB2nDPtQ4nwc5)
Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business with Lea Turner (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Using-LinkedIn-to-Grow-Your-Business-with-Lea-Turner/ba-p/431804)
Art, Story, and the Business of Wonder with Gregangelo Herrera and Team (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Art-Story-and-the-Business-of-Wonder-with-Gregangelo-Herrera-and/ba-p/432555)
Building a Passion-Fueled Business with Jason Shron (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Building-a-Passion-Fueled-Business-with-Jason-Shron/ba-p/433169)
Building a Real Estate Powerhouse with Anthony Lamacchia (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Building-a-Real-Estate-Powerhouse-with-Anthony-Lamacchia/ba-p/431868)
Changing Your Behavior to Build a Stronger Business with Carissa Reiniger (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Changing-Your-Behavior-to-Build-a-Stronger-Business-with-Carissa/ba-p/431971)
The Future of Small Business Marketing and How to Keep Up with Frank Vella (https://community.constantcontact.com/be-a-marketer/post/the-future-of-small-business-marketing-and-how-to-keep-up-with-frank-vella-HS5Xt953nrSqdrA)
Practical Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business with Neil Patel (https://community.constantcontact.com/be-a-marketer/post/practical-marketing-strategies-to-grow-your-business-with-neil-patel-PI0bxqVC86qukk1)
Real Estate Teams, Systems, and Family with Verl Workman (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Real-Estate-Teams-Systems-and-Family-with-Verl-Workman/ba-p/431443)
Smart Ways to Use AI as a Solopreneur with Mike Allton (https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Be-A-Marketer/Smart-Ways-to-Use-Al-as-a-Solopreneur-with-Mike-Allton/ba-p/433487)
Preparing Your Business for the Future with Dr. Ja-Naé Duane (https://community.constantcontact.com/be-a-marketer/post/preparing-your-business-for-the-future-with-dr-ja-nae-duane-TjE3puBW19SMmLJ)
Meet Today's Guests: Dave Charest & Kelsi Carter of Constant Contact
🚀 What Dave does: He is the Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact. He helps small business owners make sense of online marketing and hosts the Be A Marketer podcast.
💡 Key quote: “Storytelling, of course, plays a big role here. Sharing your experience — the things that you’ve done and the things that you’ve helped your customers do, that’s how you bring those things to life. Because AI doesn’t have those stories, and those are how you connect with people.”
👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecharest/)
📝 What Kelsi does: Kelsi is the Brand Production Coordinator at Constant Contact and produces the Be a Marketer podcast. She also writes the Be a Marketer newsletter for Constant Contact's LinkedIn page.
💡 Key quotes: “A lot of people don’t really like being marketed to. But if you’re providing them with some valuable content or something educational, they’re more likely to gravitate towards you.”
👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsi-carter-1a323a121/)
👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website (https://www.constantcontact.com/smb/home) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/constant-contact/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/constantcontact) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/constantcontact/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@constantcontact)
6 Nov 2025
Using Creative Thinking to Break Through Business Roadblocks with Paul Sloane
When you’re stuck, sometimes the best solution is to stop thinking conventionally.
Paul Sloane, innovation expert and founder of Destination Innovation, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to show how lateral thinking can unlock breakthroughs in business. With over 20 books written and keynote speeches delivered worldwide, Paul has taught companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Disney to reframe challenges and discover fresh solutions.
In this episode, you’ll hear what lateral thinking looks like in practice, why small businesses have an edge when it comes to agility and innovation, and how Paul uses tools like Constant Contact and AI to keep his own marketing sharp after decades in business.
If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam (http://ratethispodcast.com/bam) and follow the simple instructions.
Additional Resources:
Understanding contact segmentation (https://knowledgebase.constantcontact.com/email-digital-marketing/articles/KnowledgeBase/5670-Understanding-contact-segmentation?lang=en_US?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=us_f_aw_we_bam_bt_ep-125&cc=Brand_Podcast_BeAMarketer_Dave)
Using click segmentation in an email (https://knowledgebase.constantcontact.com/email-digital-marketing/articles/KnowledgeBase/20817-Using-click-segmentation-in-an-email?lang=en_US?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=us_f_aw_we_bam_bt_ep-125&cc=Brand_Podcast_BeAMarketer_Dave)
Overview: Email reporting (https://knowledgebase.constantcontact.com/email-digital-marketing/tutorials/KnowledgeBase/5562-Overview-Email-reporting?lang=en_US?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=us_f_aw_we_bam_bt_ep-125&cc=Brand_Podcast_BeAMarketer_Dave)
Meet Today’s Guest: Paul Sloane of Destination Innovation
👤 What he does: Founder of Destination Innovation, a consultancy based in the UK that helps organizations spark creativity, challenge assumptions, and solve problems through lateral thinking and innovation workshops.
💡 Key quote: “Lateral thinking is approaching problems from a fresh direction. The best solutions often come from stepping away from the obvious path.”
👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsloane/?originalSubdomain=uk) | X (https://x.com/paulsloane?lang=en) | Instagram
(https://www.instagram.com/paulsloane3/?hl=en)
👋 Where to find Destination Innovation: Website (http://www.destination-innovation.com/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/p/Destination-Innovation-100064234236271/)
30 Oct 2025
Practical Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business with Neil Patel
Do the fundamentals of marketing still matter in an age of AI, social, and shiny new tools?
Neil Patel, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and co-founder of NP Digital, joins the Be A Marketer podcast to share why timeless fundamentals are the foundation for any successful marketing strategy. Named a top marketer by Forbes and the Wall Street Journal, Neil has helped businesses of all sizes, from Amazon to startups, drive growth by focusing on what works.
In this episode, you’ll hear why Neil believes in “search everywhere optimization,” how ugly marketing often outperforms polished campaigns, and why the fundamentals earn you the right to experiment with trends.
If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam (http://ratethispodcast.com/bam) and follow the simple instructions.
Additional Resources:
Try Constant Contact (https://www.constantcontact.com/partner-offer?pn=npdigital&cc=delay_w-indirect_&utm_source=npdigital&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=us_i_aw_in_pn_npdigital_influencer-initiatives&cc=delay_w_indirect_npdigital_influencer-initiatives)
Easily create a multi-channel campaign out of a single email, social post, or SMS (https://knowledgebase.constantcontact.com/email-digital-marketing/articles/KnowledgeBase/53978-Easily-create-a-multi-channel-campaign-out-of-a-single-email-social-post-or-SMS?lang=en_US?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=us_f_aw_we_bam_bt_ep-124&cc=Brand_Podcast_BeAMarketer_Dave)
Create a Social Post and schedule it to publish on social media (https://knowledgebase.constantcontact.com/email-digital-marketing/tutorials/KnowledgeBase/33131-Create-a-Social-Post-and-schedule-it-to-publish-on-social-media?lang=en_US?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=us_f_aw_we_bam_bt_ep-124&cc=Brand_Podcast_BeAMarketer_Dave)
Meet Today’s Guest: Neil Patel of NP Digital
👤 What he does: Co-founder of NP Digital, a global digital marketing agency with offices worldwide. New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most recognized marketers.
💡 Key quote: “If you do the fundamentals, you earn the right to try the shiny objects.”
👋 Where to find him: Website (https://neilpatel.com/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkpatel/) | Twitter (https://x.com/neilpatel?lang=en) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/neilpatel)
👋 Where to find NP Digital: Website (https://npdigital.com/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NPDigitalUS/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/npdigital/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
16 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
82
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