Strategic PR: Assessing Influencers, Ditching Brand Trips & Building Community That Converts

Creator Marketing: Budget-Friendly Strategies for Strong ROI + The Metrics That Actually Matter

Emily Trenouth, former Head of Influencer at Amazon and creator marketing consultant (working across 26 international markets), reveals why most brands waste their creator budgets on the wrong partnerships and the exact framework that separates those building seven-figure communities from those burning money on vanity metrics. This isn't about follower counts or viral moments. Emily breaks down the brutal truth: if you have $1,000, don't spend it on one creator post. Instead, invest in intimate, curated experiences that build brand ambassadors who actually convert. From managing creator campaigns for global brands to navigating the messy world of contracts, usage rights, and exclusivity clauses, Emily's mission is simple: show founders the no BS playbook for working with creators in a way that drives real ROI. Forget treating creators like walking billboards or expecting one post to change your business overnight. Emily reveals the exact framework: • Why $1,000 should go toward a unique experience (a dinner, a coffee morning, a puzzle gift box) that builds community, not one random creator post • The email over DM strategy that actually gets responses (and why PR agencies are your secret weapon for finding the right creators without paying manager fees) • Why you shouldn't start paying creators until you have at least $20K to spend on a proper campaign (because one post for $1,000 won't get you anywhere) • The testing strategy that splits budgets across 10 creators to figure out who drives sales, who creates great content, and who gets reach (because every creator performs differently) • How Gymshark structures creator partnerships uniquely: some for content, some for sales, some for reach (and why you need to test to find your formula) • Why nano and micro creators (1K to 100K followers) often outperform macro influencers (and how relatability beats reach every time) From the comment section vetting strategy (where you actually see trust and engagement, not just vanity likes) to the usage rights trap that costs 50% more than the original post fee, Emily maps every decision that builds or destroys creator ROI. Learn why exclusivity clauses need to be specific (two months, mascara only, top three competitors), how to avoid paying for content you'll never reuse, why gifting without a contract means 80% of PR boxes never see the light of day, the Alix Earle equity model (and why storytelling matters more than celebrity names), and how UGC creators deliver beautiful content without needing to post it themselves. Plus: The affiliate comeback (and why starting with gifting plus tracking codes de-risks your spend), the Instagram Creator Marketplace (free tools platforms already offer), why Trello beats expensive workflow software, how Tano's AI agent Charlie automates creator outreach, and why screenshots still beat fancy reporting tools for tracking performance. Whether you're terrified of wasting your budget, stuck choosing between one big creator or ten small ones, or ready to build a creator strategy that actually converts, this episode delivers the tactical blueprint from outreach to contracts to reporting. No fluff, no hype, just the framework that turns creator marketing into measurable revenue and makes every dollar count. BONUS: Win a free 1-hour consultation with Emily to review your creator marketing strategy or discuss consulting opportunities! 1. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast] 2. Share the trailer IG Reels for this episode to your IG Story 3. Add the episode link on the IG Story post before posting (can be YouTube/Spotify/Apple link) 4. Add @aleenank as a mention on your IG Story so our host is notified of your submission: https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en] Follow Aleena's IG stories to find out who the lucky winner is within one week of the episode's air date!

Cracking YouTube for Brands: Expected ROIs, Playbooks & Mindset Shifts for Winning Results

Stokely Howard, founder of Trendy Grandad (working with Netflix, QuickBooks, and Daily Mail), reveals why YouTube isn't for brands chasing quick wins and the exact mindset shift that separates those building million-dollar communities from those burning budgets on vanity metrics. This isn't about viral shorts or subscriber hacks. Stokely breaks down the brutal truth: YouTube is a two to five year SEO play that demands seven hours of content before earning a single subscriber, but rewards patience with the most loyal fanbase you'll ever build. From managing entertainment-first channels for accounting software companies to scaling creator audiences into tens of millions of views, Stokely's mission is simple: anti-sell YouTube to anyone not ready to commit, and show founders who are ready the exact framework that turns long-form content into mind share, trust, and revenue. Forget treating YouTube like a dumping ground for repurposed TikToks or expecting ROI in year one. Stokely reveals the exact framework: • Why YouTube is the only platform where you can build parasocial relationships so deep that 50,000 subscribers generate millions in revenue (because viewers sit with you for hours, not seconds) • The mindset test: if you're not willing to invest £100K for a year to get 10,000 views, YouTube isn't for you (go do paid ads instead) • How QuickBooks built an entertainment-first channel that never mentions their software but wins mind share by making business owners think of them first when accounting problems arise • Why thumbnails and titles are the ONLY two things that determine views (not production quality, not budget, just curiosity-driven packaging) • The 5 to 7% click-through rate benchmark that separates winning thumbnails from awful ones (if yours is 1%, your thumbnail is killing your channel) • Why YouTube subscribers are a rented audience and getting them into email lists or WhatsApp groups is where you actually own the data From the copy and taste strategy (don't copy-paste competitors, take their format and do it your way) to the one-word framework (every piece of content must ladder back to your singular value proposition), Stokely maps every decision that builds or destroys channel growth. Learn why 97% open rates on tracking emails beat any marketing channel, how Mr Beast split tests 20 thumbnails in 24 hours to optimize the algorithm, why entertainment formats scale faster than education content (but education builds deeper funnels), the exact reason founders are your free resource (no actors, no influencers, just you), and why posting one long-form video creates infinite shorts but starting with shorts gets you nowhere. Plus: The payoff structure that keeps viewers watching to the end, why changing old thumbnails can add 10 million views overnight, how suggested traffic works (there are no competitors on YouTube, only collaborators), the 20 versus 1 format that hit 330K views for QuickBooks, and why monetization from YouTube itself is the lowest revenue stream (business, sponsorships, then maybe platform payments). BONUS: Win a free 1-hour consultation with Stokely to review your YouTube strategy or discuss opportunities with Trendy Grounded! 1. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast] 2. Share the trailer IG Reels for this episode to your IG Story 3. Add the episode link on the IG Story post before posting (can be YouTube/Spotify/Apple link) 4. Add @aleenank as a mention on your IG Story so our host is notified of your submission: https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en] Follow Aleena's IG stories to find out who the lucky winner is within one week of the episode's air date!

Strategic PR: Assessing Influencers, Ditching Brand Trips & Building Community That Converts

Sandy Kular, Senior PR and Communications Manager at UK’s Bicester Village (managing 160 brands), reveals why PR is not just influencer gifting and magazine features - and the exact framework that separates brands building real advocacy from those burning budgets on vanity metrics. This isn't about follower counts or viral moments. Sandy breaks down the blueprint that positions brands in spaces they don't own, builds communities that actually convert, and turns local coffee shops into more valuable PR channels than celebrity brand trips. From managing one of the UK's leading luxury retail destinations to navigating editorial lead times across markets, Sandy's mission is simple: strip away the glitzy misconceptions and show founders what PR actually means in 2026. Forget treating PR like a checkbox or hiring an agency before your product is even ready. Sandy reveals the exact framework: • Why PR is public relations, not press relations - and how it's fundamentally about meeting your audience where they already are (not where you want them to be) • The critical difference between PR and marketing: PR brings the horse to water, marketing makes it drink • Why your PR agency should be the LAST hire, not the first - and what to build before you ever sign a retainer • The quarterly strategy meetings, weekly challenge check ins, and WhatsApp communication style that keeps PR aligned with your actual business goals • Why sharing your cost of goods, break even points, and slow moving inventory with your PR is non negotiable (and how NDAs protect both sides) • The micro dosing influencer strategy that starts with gifting, graduates to Instagram stories, then feed posts, then events - never committing 12K upfront to someone who hasn't proven ROI From the Kitty Party strategy (South Asian ladies who lunch becoming your most powerful advocates) to the local coffee shop pop up that costs zero budget but builds authentic community, Sandy maps every PR channel founders overlook. Learn why 95% of Bicester's influencer work is organic gifting (not paid), how to identify creators who actually drive sales versus those who just content farm, why brand trips should be cancelled immediately unless you're using the content for six months of marketing, the exact questions to ask influencers before you commit (including story reply counts and 10th story reach, not just first story impressions), and why editorial is more important than ever because AI search pulls directly from those placements. Plus: The analytics red flags to watch for (spam comments, viral negativity, clickbait impressions), why newness isn't required if you're retelling your story to different audiences, how to hold back exclusives so you have more to say in three months, and why PR is about resonance, not just reach. Whether you're terrified of being pushy with influencers, stuck thinking you need a six figure PR budget, or ready to build advocacy that actually converts into sales, this episode delivers the tactical blueprint from community building to campaign reporting. No fluff, no glitzy nonsense - just the framework that turns coffee shop conversations into brand loyalty and makes PR finally make sense. BONUS: Win a free 1 hour consultation with Sandy to review your PR strategy or discuss brand opportunities! 1. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast] 2. Share the trailer IG Reels for this episode to your IG Story 3. Add the episode link on the IG Story post before posting (can be YouTube/Spotify/Apple link) 4. Add @aleenank as a mention on your IG Story so our host is notified of your submission: https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en] Follow Aleena's IG stories to find out who the lucky winner is within one week of the episode's air date!

Decoding Meta & Google Ads: How AI Has Simplified Paid Marketing - What Your Agency Won't Admit

DM @aleenank on IG to request Art’s KPI Calculator. Art Lindop, founder of Alpha Geek, reveals why your performance marketing agency can no longer justify overcharging - and how Meta and Google's AI algorithms have made complex ad accounts obsolete. This isn't about hacks or growth tricks. Art breaks down the exact blueprint that took a neuroscientist selling supplements from $800K to 10x revenue in 14 months, scaled Cassio watches, and consistently delivers 1800% year-over-year growth for clients. From his agency Alpha Geek, Art's mission is simple: strip away the ego-driven complexity that most agencies hide behind and show founders the truth about what actually works in 2026. Forget 30-40 campaign structures or restrictive audience targeting that tries to outsmart a supercomputer. Art reveals the exact framework: • Why Creative is the new targeting - and how Meta's predictive modeling beats any manual audience setup you think you need • The 10/70/20 budget split that works across a $4K monthly spend (and scales to six figures without changing structure) • Why Advantage Shopping campaigns (ASC) and Performance Max are the only two campaigns most brands actually need • The true top of funnel secret weapon that agencies hate recommending because it doesn't show immediate ROAS (but transforms long-term performance) • How to graduate creative from testing to scaling in just one week - not months of endless testing cycles • Why 12 pieces of content is Meta's sweet spot for launching your ASC (and how to pull them from your best organic posts in under two hours) From the KPI calculator that determines your exact target ROAS based on unit economics to the automated rules that shut off underperforming ads at 3am so you can sleep, Art maps every decision that separates profitable ad accounts from budget-draining chaos. Learn why low-fi founder-led content on your phone outperforms $10K production shoots, how to turn bad reviews into objection-handling ad copy that converts, why 80% of your spend should go to new customers (not retargeting existing ones), the exact five questions to ask your agency tomorrow that will make them panic, and why ROAS obsession is killing your scale. Plus: The POAS metric (profit on ad spend) that founders are ignoring, why Google brand spend over 10% means your agency is stats padding, how Robert Love scaled from $1K monthly ad spend to six figures using the same simple structure, and why complex ad accounts are the biggest red flag in 2026. Whether you're spending $4K or $400K monthly on ads, stuck with an agency that won't explain their strategy, or ready to cut through the smoke and mirrors, this episode delivers the tactical blueprint from account structure to creative testing. No fluff, no ego - just the framework that turns ad spend into predictable profit and makes performance marketing finally make sense. BONUS: Win a free 1-hour consultation with Art to review your ad account strategy or discuss opportunities with Alpha Geek! 1. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast] 2. Share the trailer IG Reels for this episode to your IG Story 3. Add the episode link on the IG Story post before posting (can be YouTube/Spotify/Apple link) 4. Add @aleenank as a mention on your IG Story so our host is notified of your submission: https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en] Follow Aleena's IG stories to find out who the lucky winner is within one week of the episode's air date!

Mastering a Pitch: 60-Sec Formula That Wins Investors & Customers From Elevator Pitch to Pitch Decks

[Live from Chicago!] Raj, founder of Startup Hypeman and self-proclaimed Chief Pitch Artist, reveals the exact 60-second formula that wins investors and customers - and why most founders lose attention before they even get to their product. This isn't about memorizing scripts or sounding like every other pitch. Raj breaks down the Que PASA framework (Problem, Approach, Solution, Action) that takes audiences from emotion to logic, plants seeds in their minds before you reveal your solution, and turns boring industries like logistics into compelling stories. From his multi-hyphenate background as a hip-hop artist, MMA ring announcer, yoga teacher, and podcast host, Raj brings a unique perspective on holding attention, reading rooms, and making pitches land - whether you're on stage in front of 500 people or in a boardroom with five skeptical investors. Forget leading with big TAM numbers or throwing out buzzwords like "AI-powered" and "one stop shop." Raj reveals the exact framework: • Why your elevator pitch should sound like you're talking to a customer, not an investor (and how this actually impresses VCs more) • The audio recording strategy that gets cold emails opened and meetings booked (instead of blindly sending pitch decks) • How NavFlex turned robotics and supply chain (the most boring industry ever) into a compelling pitch using Que PASA • Why your slide headers should read like newspaper headlines, not neutral labels like "Problem" and "Solution" • The Funding Triangle model that shows exactly where to focus your pitch deck based on traction (hint: pre-revenue founders need to sell themselves and the market, not just product features) • Why sending MORE information in your deck actually kills follow-up meetings (you need to leave gaps that create intrigue) From the brand manifesto document that replaces traditional pitch decks in early outreach to the secondary and tertiary market trends that make investors' eyebrows go up (like how one in five households spends more on kids' sports than their mortgage), Raj maps every step of the pitch journey. Learn why monotone delivery kills even the best-written pitch, how to win back a distracted audience mid-presentation without being awkward, why focusing on one engaged person in the crowd creates a ripple effect to everyone else, and the exact clothing strategy that unlocks your alter ego on stage. Plus: The six to eight slide send-ahead deck structure, why teaching through your pitch beats pitching through your pitch, how to identify the one person in the room who's most into it and speak only to them, and why removing phrases like "innovative" and "disruptive" makes you sound more credible. Whether you're terrified of public speaking, stuck using corporate buzzwords that sound like everyone else, or ready to raise capital but don't know how to structure your story, this episode delivers the tactical blueprint from elevator pitch to pitch deck design. No fluff - just the framework that turns 60 seconds into funded rounds, retail partnerships, and rooms full of people leaning in. Connect with Raj: https://www.startuphypeman.com/ [https://www.startuphypeman.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajnation/overlay/photo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajnation/overlay/photo/] BONUS: Win a free 1-hour consultation with Raj to review your pitch strategy or discuss opportunities with Startup Hype Man! 1. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@FullDisclosure-Podcast] 2. Share the trailer IG Reels for this episode to your IG Story 3. Add the episode link on the IG Story post before posting (can be YouTube/Spotify/Apple link) 4. Add @aleenank as a mention on your IG Story so our host is notified of your submission: https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/aleenank/?hl=en] Follow Aleena's IG stories to find out who the lucky winner is within one week of the episode's air date!