Social Pulse Podcast: Real Conversations with Top Social Media Marketers

Are you struggling to see real results from your Meta advertising campaigns despite all the AI promises and tutorial videos you've consumed? You're watching course after course, implementing the latest AI features, yet your ad spend feels more like throwing money into a black hole than driving meaningful business growth. Here's the hard truth: AI tools are incredibly powerful, but they're not magic wands that automatically transform your advertising results. The missing piece isn't more technology or another tutorial – it's having a real human guide you through the actual implementation process when it's most relevant to your specific business situation. You're not alone in this frustration, and today's guest is here to show you exactly what you need to bridge that gap. Amanda Robinson is the Founder & CEO of The Digital Gal Inc. and a certified Meta Marketing Partner who has been revolutionizing how businesses approach Facebook and Instagram advertising since 2014. She's a sought-after international speaker who has presented at major marketing conferences, and co-authored the "Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing" published by Entrepreneur Press alongside myself and other industry experts. Amanda works with everyone from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and she's developed a unique system that combines AI-powered Meta advertising tools with personalized human guidance to help her clients achieve measurable results they can't get from watching videos alone. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Amanda Robinson about: 🧡 The Tutorial Trap - Why consuming endless Meta advertising content without hands-on guidance leads to wasted ad spend and frustration. 🧡 AI + Human Partnership - How combining Meta's AI capabilities with expert human guidance creates exponentially better results than either approach alone. 🧡 Implementation Over Information - Her proven system for moving from learning about Meta ads to actually executing profitable campaigns that drive real business growth. Learn more about Amanda Robinson Connect with Amanda Robinson on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode The Digital Gal Inc. Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Swift Kick in the Ads (Amanda's program) Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing Entrepreneur Press Advantage+ Gemini Meta's AI Llama model Molly Mahoney Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/why-ai-alone-wont-save-your-meta-advertising-and-what-will Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Rebranding a destination is one of the most challenging tasks in hospitality marketing. You're not just changing colors and logos—you're reshaping perceptions, realigning visitor expectations, and potentially disrupting years of established awareness. Many destination marketers struggle to effectively communicate these brand shifts, resulting in confused audiences, wasted resources, and fragmented brand experiences across channels. How do you ensure your rebranding efforts actually resonate with potential visitors? Which platforms drive meaningful engagement with your new brand identity? And how can you measure whether your rebrand is actually working? Today's guest has navigated these challenges with remarkable success. Cristal Rodriguez, Marketing Director at Tempe Tourism Office, has spearheaded a transformative rebranding initiative that's setting new benchmarks for engagement and campaign performance. With over 16 years of marketing leadership experience across diverse industries, Cristal brings a wealth of expertise in storytelling, digital strategy, and community building. Her innovative approach has not only elevated Tempe's brand presence but has created a blueprint for how destinations can leverage social media as the catalyst for successful rebranding. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Cristal Rodriguez about: 🟣Platform-specific strategy matters - Learn how to tailor your rebranding approach across different social platforms to maximize impact while maintaining brand consistency. 🟣Content drives transformation - Discover how strategic content creation can effectively communicate your destination's new identity while engaging both current and prospective visitors. 🟣Measurement beyond likes - Understand the metrics that truly matter when evaluating the success of your destination's rebrand on social media channels. Learn more about Cristal Rodriguez Connect with Cristal Rodriguez on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode 💜 Tempe Tourism Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo 🧡 Tempe Town Lake From Print to Digital: Transforming Tourism Storytelling in Hocking Hills  Tourism Marketing Unplugged: Real Challenges, Real Solutions ReelBros Bridge to Arizona: Tempe Tourism Reveals Rebrand Journey Asana Atla* Miro Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/rebranding-a-destination-social-media-strategies-that-actually-work Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you struggling to differentiate your agency in an increasingly crowded marketplace? Feeling like clients see you as just another vendor rather than a strategic partner? You're watching competitors win business with lower prices while you're trying to justify your value, and it's becoming harder to retain clients long-term. The traditional agency model of piecing together multiple tools, managing countless subscriptions, and acting as a go-between for various platforms is becoming obsolete, leaving agencies scrambling to prove their worth in an evolving landscape. Meet Shaun Clark, CEO of HighLevel, who has revolutionized how agencies operate by creating the first-ever all-in-one white-label marketing platform designed exclusively for marketing agencies. Shaun has empowered thousands of agencies to transform from service providers into comprehensive solution partners, helping them build stronger client relationships, increase retention, and position themselves as indispensable strategic allies rather than replaceable vendors. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Shaun Clark about: 🧡 Agency Evolution Strategy - How traditional agencies can transform their service models to stay competitive in today's market and position themselves as strategic partners rather than vendors. 🧡 Platform Integration Benefits - Why consolidating tools into unified platforms creates better client experiences and stronger agency-client relationships than managing multiple software solutions. 🧡 Future-Proofing Your Business - What emerging trends and technologies agencies need to adopt now to ensure they remain relevant and valuable to clients in the years ahead. Learn more about Shaun Clark Connect with Shaun Clark on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode HighLevel Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Start and Scale your SaaS business with HighLevel MarTech Show ChatGPT HighLevel YouTube Channel Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/the-death-of-the-traditional-marketing-agency-and-whats-rising-to-replace-it Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you pouring your B2B marketing budget into LinkedIn ads but struggling to prove their actual impact on revenue? You're not alone. Most marketers get stuck thinking LinkedIn advertising begins and ends with lead generation forms, missing out on sophisticated strategies that can transform prospects into paying customers. The reality is that advanced LinkedIn advertising goes far beyond collecting email addresses - it's about creating multi-touch experiences that warm prospects, support account-based marketing efforts, and provide clear attribution back to revenue. But how do you move beyond basic tactics to implement strategies that actually drive measurable business growth? That's exactly what AJ Wilcox is here to help us figure out. AJ is the founder and CEO of B2Linked, a LinkedIn Ads specialist agency, and quite literally one of the world's leading experts on LinkedIn advertising. He's managed over $20 million in LinkedIn ad spend for clients, hosts "The LinkedIn Ads Show" podcast, and has cracked the code on making LinkedIn ads profitable at scale. AJ is known for his data-driven approach and ability to help B2B companies achieve serious ROI through sophisticated LinkedIn advertising strategies that most marketers never even consider. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked AJ Wilcox about: 🧡 Prospect Warming Strategies - How to use LinkedIn ads to warm up prospects for weeks before any sales outreach attempts occur. 🧡 Account-Based Marketing Integration - The specific tactics for targeting key accounts with coordinated LinkedIn campaigns that support your ABM efforts. 🧡 Multi-Touch Attribution Models - How to track and measure the full customer journey from initial LinkedIn ad exposure all the way to closed revenue. Learn more about AJ Wilcox Connect with AJ Wilcox on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode B2Linked Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo LinkedIn Ads The LinkedIn Ads Show Salesforce  HubSpot Social Pulse Community LinkedIn Lead Accelerator LinkedIn Ads Fanatics Google Tag Manager Agorapulse’s New LinkedIn Ads Reporting Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/advanced-linkedin-advertising-from-lead-gen-to-revenue-attribution Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you tired of posting the same exact content across all your social media channels, only to see it fall flat on some platforms while performing well on others? If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. Many B2B marketers struggle with this common challenge - trying to make one piece of content work everywhere, or worse, feeling overwhelmed by the need to create entirely separate content for each platform. What if there was a better way? What if you could learn how to strategically adapt your core message for different platforms while maintaining brand consistency? Today's guest has mastered exactly that. I'm excited to welcome Meghan Pontius from Red Door Interactive, who has developed expertise in cross-platform content strategy through her work with numerous B2B brands. As a certified social listening expert and digital marketing strategist, Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge about creating platform-specific content that resonates with B2B audiences while maintaining a cohesive brand message across all channels. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Meghan Pontius about: 🧡 Platform-Specific Optimization - Learn how to adapt your core message for different social media platforms while maintaining brand consistency  🧡 Content Efficiency Framework - Discover a systematic approach to repurposing and adapting content across platforms without starting from scratch  🧡 Measurement & Refinement - Understand how to track cross-platform performance and adjust your strategy based on platform-specific insights Learn more about Meghan Pontius Connect with Meghan Pontius on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode Red Door Interactive Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Custom GPT AI Hat Podcast Sprout Canva For the Love of Insights: Embracing the Consumer Mindset in 2024 HeyOrca Viral Moment Annie Mai Hodge Social Media Trends and Insights by Later Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/the-art-of-platform-perfect-b2b-content-adapt-dont-copy-paste Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you posting videos on social media but struggling to see the engagement and results you're hoping for? You might be shocked to learn that the quality of your video production could be the invisible barrier between you and your business goals. Poor lighting, shaky footage, and unprofessional audio don't just look bad – they're sending subconscious signals to your audience that undermine your credibility, reduce trust, and ultimately hurt your bottom line. You're investing time and energy into creating content, but if your video quality isn't up to par, you might be doing more harm than good to your brand's reputation. That's exactly what our guest today is here to help solve. Luria Petrucci is a video production powerhouse who's been creating professional videos and livestreams for over 19 years and is honored in the Podcast Hall of Fame. She's appeared on ABC, NBC, and BBC, designed video studios for industry leaders like Amy Porterfield, Marie Forleo, and Michael Hyatt, and has run live productions for events featuring Gwenyth Paltrow, Mila Kunis, and Randi Zuckerberg. As the founder of Live Streaming Pros, Luria knows exactly how video quality impacts audience psychology and business results. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Luria Petrucci about: 🧡 Trust-killing video mistakes - The specific production elements that make viewers question your professionalism within seconds  🧡 The psychology of perception - How your audience's brain processes video quality and what that means for engagement and conversions 🧡 Cost-effective quality upgrades - Simple changes that deliver maximum impact on audience trust without breaking the budget Learn more about Luria Petrucci Connect with Luria Petrucci on LinkedIn Connect with Luria Petrucci on Instagram Subscribe to Luria Petrucci on YouTube Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode Live Streaming Pros Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Podcast Hall of Fame ABC NBC BBC Amy Porterfield Marie Forleo Michael Hyatt Gwyneth Paltrow Mila Kunis Randi Zuckerberg Jefferson Fisher Best Lights for Live Streaming - A Guide Zoom Google+ Hangouts On Air Chris Stone Logitech C920 Framing Tool (Video Production) StreamYard PlexiCam Elgato prompter Google Docs ASUS monitors Airmeet Quinlan Walther Rode PodMic Behringer mixer Elgato Wave3 Audio-Technica Shure Sennheiser Facebook Social Pulse Facebook Community Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/how-poor-video-quality-is-sabotaging-your-social-media-success Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you treating social listening like glorified brand monitoring? You're missing a massive opportunity. Most brands think social listening means tracking mentions and hashtags, but they're barely scratching the surface of what's possible. While you're counting brand mentions, your smartest competitors are mining social conversations for product ideas, competitive intelligence, and customer insights that directly drive revenue. The conversations happening right now on social media contain a goldmine of business intelligence - from unmet customer needs to competitor weaknesses to emerging market trends - but most brands don't know how to extract that value. That's exactly what today's guest, Brooke Sellas, is here to help with. Brooke is the CEO and Founder of B Squared Media, an award-winning social media agency specializing in social listening and customer experience. With over 15 years of experience, she's helped major brands like Michelin, Mastercard, and Coldwell Banker turn social conversations into revenue drivers. Named one of LinkedIn's Top 10 Rising Stars in Marketing and recognized as a Top 100 CMA Influencer & Strategist, Brooke is the author of "Conversations that Connect" and has revolutionized how brands approach social listening as a strategic business tool rather than just a monitoring exercise. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Brooke Sellas about: 🧡 Strategic Social Intelligence - How to transform everyday social conversations into actionable business insights that inform product development, marketing strategies, and competitive positioning. 🧡 Revenue-Focused Listening Framework - The proven methodologies for connecting social listening data directly to business outcomes like lead generation, customer retention, and churn prevention. 🧡 Competitive Intelligence Goldmine - How smart brands use social listening to uncover their competitors' weaknesses, customer pain points, and market opportunities that translate into measurable growth. Learn more about Brooke Sellas Connect with Brooke Sellas on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode B Squared Media Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo brookesellas.com Michelin MasterCard Coldwell Banker Conversations That Connect: How to Connect, Converse, and Convert Through Social Media Listening and Social-Led Customer Care Nike How to Leverage Social Media Mentions (and START Recycling Them!) C.A.R.E. Method™ How to Analyze Buying Intent from Social Media Engagement Google Meet Teams Gong Salesforce ChatGPT Brookebot Andy Crestodina Filling the Void: How AI Identifies and Closes Content Gaps with Andy Crestodina Reddit  Mention by Agorapulse: Why We’re Investing in Social Listening How To Win More Market Share With Competitive Social Listening Free Social Listening Workbook Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/the-social-listening-goldmine-how-smart-brands-mine-conversations-for-revenue Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you tired of endless Instagram "algorithm hacks" that promise the world but deliver nothing but wasted time and effort? You spend hours creating content based on the latest "insider tip" only to watch your reach flatline or even decline. You're constantly second-guessing your strategy, wondering if you're missing some secret formula that everyone else seems to know. The truth is, most of what you've been told about the Instagram algorithm is either outdated, oversimplified, or flat-out wrong. That's exactly what our guest today is here to help you fix. Jenn Herman is a globally recognized Instagram expert, author of "Instagram For Business For Dummies," and the mastermind behind Jenn's Trends - a blog that Social Media Examiner has consistently named as one of the top social media blogs you should be reading. She co-hosts the Socially Confident podcast and has been at the forefront of Instagram marketing education for years, helping businesses cut through the noise to find what actually works for sustainable organic growth. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jenn Herman about: 🧡 Algorithm Reality Check - Why most popular Instagram "hacks" fail and what the algorithm actually prioritizes for organic content. 🧡 Sustainable Growth Tactics - Proven strategies that build long-term engagement rather than chasing short-term algorithm tricks. 🧡 Content Strategy Evolution - How to adapt your approach based on real algorithm changes versus social media rumors and misinformation. Learn more about Jenn Herman Connect with Jenn Herman on LinkedIn Follow Jenn Herman on Instagram Follow Jenn Herman on Threads Follow Jenn Herman on Facebook Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode  Jenn's Trends Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Social Media Examiner  Instagram For Business For Dummies 1st Edition Emeric Ernoult Canva Meta AI ChatGPT Jenn Herman Membership Program Jenn's Trends in Social Media - A Facebook group Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/stop-chasing-algorithm-hacks-what-really-works-for-instagram-organic-reach Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you frustrated with the gap between what new social media hires learned in college and what they actually need to know on day one? You're not alone. Too many graduates enter the workforce with theoretical knowledge but lack the practical skills, strategic thinking, and real-world experience that employers desperately need. They can create content but struggle with crisis management, understand algorithms but can't tie campaigns to business objectives, and know the platforms but miss the strategic nuance that separates good social media work from great results. The disconnect between academic training and industry reality is costing businesses time, money, and missed opportunities. That's where our guest today comes in as the solution. Dr. Karen Freberg is a Full Professor of Strategic Communications at the University of Louisville who has spent her career building bridges between academia and industry. She's the award-winning author of "Social Media for Strategic Communications," has consulted with major brands like Adobe, Meta, and Hootsuite, and most importantly, she's the Director of The Bird's Nest - the University of Louisville's first student-run strategic communications agency where students work with real clients on real campaigns. Dr. Freberg has cracked the code on preparing students not just for their first social media job, but for long-term strategic careers that deliver measurable business impact. Social Pulse Podcast host Mike Allton asked Dr. Freberg about: 🧡 Bridging the Skills Gap - How educators can redesign social media curricula to focus on practical, industry-relevant competencies that employers actually need. 🧡 Student Agency Benefits - Why hands-on client work through student-run agencies creates more job-ready graduates than traditional classroom learning alone. 🧡 Strategic Thinking Development - How to teach students to think beyond content creation and develop the business acumen and crisis management skills that drive career advancement. Learn more about Dr. Karen Freberg Connect with Dr. Karen Freberg on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Karen Freberg on X Connect with Dr. Karen Freberg on Facebook Connect with Dr. Karen Freberg on Instagram Connect with Dr. Karen Freberg on Tiktok Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode University of Louisville Join Social Pulse Community on Facebook Learn more about Agorapulse with a free demo Social Media for Strategic Communication: Creative Strategies and Research-Based Applications 1st Edition Adobe Meta,  Hootsuite  The Birds Nest  Krissy Buck WSU Tech Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Alex Cooper Alix Earle  Unwell Network Mayor in Louisville Agorapulse Blog Social Media Professors Group Lia Haberman  UCLA USC Jason Fall’s Win Influence Podcast Mark Schafer UNC Bird Nest Student Agency on LinkedIn Bird Nest Student Agency on Tiktok Bird Nest Student Agency on IG Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/the-practical-professor-turning-social-media-students-into-strategic-professionals Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

Are you a social media manager tired of chasing trends, struggling to prove ROI, and trying to keep up with constant algorithm changes? It's time to stop the guesswork and start getting real results. Welcome to the Social Pulse Podcast, the new weekly show from Agorapulse, hosted by Chief Storyteller Mike Allton. This is your new playbook for what's actually working in social media marketing. Each week, Mike sits down with the industry's sharpest minds—leading experts, in-the-trenches practitioners, and top brand marketers—to break down the actionable strategies and real-world insights you need to level up your career. No fluff, no theories, just proven advice. Our first four episodes feature incredible guests like Karen Freberg, Jenn Herman, Brooke Sellas, and Luria Petrucci. And coming up soon, we'll be joined by titans of the industry like AJ Wilcox, Christopher Penn, Jon Loomer, Marley Jaxx, Neal Schaffer, and more. The first full episodes of the Social Pulse Podcast drop on Monday, July 1st. Hit that "Subscribe" or "Follow" button now so you don't miss a single episode, and visit our new home at SocialPulsePodcast.com to learn more. Welcome aboard! Show Notes for All Episodes: https://www.agorapulse.com/blog/podcasts/social-pulse-podcast/ Brought to you by Agorapulse: the #1 rated social media management solution. Follow Agorapulse on LinkedIn.Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse. If you’re interested in being featured on an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.