How to Build a Marketing Strategy That Actually Works? - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 21

How to Build a Marketing Strategy That Actually Works? - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 21

In this episode of the Video Marketing Toolkit, I’m joined by Aimee Elsey to break down how to build a marketing strategy that is practical, measurable, and actually gets used. We talk about why most businesses fall into “random acts of marketing”, why a proper audit is the best starting point, and how to build a simple plan around what your customers actually need to see (not just what you want to post).   We also run through a real example strategy for launching a local café, covering content, reviews, trust, and how to stay consistent when you are busy. Chapters 00:36 Marketing strategy, where to start (and who Aimee helps) 03:55 Why a marketing audit comes first 06:06 The common mistakes businesses keep repeating 08:02 Batching content without losing quality 11:34 Value-first marketing (stop the hard sell) 15:16 Positioning and winning your first clients 19:25 Example strategy: launching a local café 22:27 Make content about people, not the brand 27:39 Organic content, and why ads are changing 33:24 Consistency, measurement, and 90-day goals

How to Keep People on your Website for Longer? - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 20

If you want people to stay on your website longer (and actually take action), this episode is for you. I’m joined by Matt Johnson (Jono Designs), a web design and development freelancer, to break down what really keeps visitors on your site, from UX and trust to headings, structure, video, and clear messaging. We also chat about the realities of going freelance, why onboarding is everything in a web project, and how small design choices can either build trust or send people bouncing. Plus, we finish with our Ask the Expert quiz, web development edition. Guest: Matt Johnson (Jono Designs) Host: Dan Dennis, Video Formula

How Important Is It To Be Visible In Your Business? - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 19

If you have ever thought, “I know I should be posting… but I do not want to be the face of the business”, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with Jayne Hume (Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Academy) and Neil Betts (Go True North, creator of Vision to Venture) to break down why visibility matters, what people are really scared of, and how to start showing up without making it a big dramatic thing. We get into the reality that most business owners are not actually scared of being on camera, they are scared their content will look “bad” and they will be judged, especially around editing and posting. Jayne also shares why the Chamber kept seeing the same blocker come up whenever the word “marketing” was mentioned, and why visibility is something you cannot afford to ignore if you want to be found. In this episode, you will learn: Why “being visible” is not about being an influencer, it is about being findable What people are actually afraid of (and how to remove the friction). How to make consistency realistic, even if it is once a week. Why “everyone is a creator”, and what that actually means for business owners. If you found this useful, subscribe for more episodes of Video Marketing Toolkit and share this with a business owner who is stuck in the “I should post… but…” loop.

How to sell and make your first £10k! - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 18

What does it really take to sell with confidence and make your first £10k in business, without feeling like a pushy salesperson or hiding behind jargon? In this episode of the Video Marketing Toolkit, Dan sits down with sales OG Hugh Cochrane from Creative Folks to break down how he went from “no clue after uni” to building sales functions, launching a business just after lockdown, and now leading growth for a digital agency. Hugh shares honestly about failed ventures, terrible management, awkward pitches, and why most businesses get sales totally backwards. Together, Dan and Hugh unpack a simple, human process for winning work, building trust and actually closing deals. You will learn: * How Hugh fell into sales after uni and why that first role shaped everything * What launching a business just after lockdown taught him about risk, resilience and reality * Why so many agencies are “cowboy” and how to spot the red flags * Why outreach beats waiting for enquiries if you want your first £10k * How Hugh uses LinkedIn voice notes and video messages to stand out in crowded inboxes * A simple flow for outreach → discovery call → proposal → close * How to scope work, price properly and avoid giving away your profit * Why confidence in yourself always comes before confidence in your product * How to turn a client’s bad past experience into a long term relationship * Why selling is not B2B or B2C, it is human to human There is also a quickfire quiz at the end where Dan and Hugh go head to head on sales and business questions, powered by AI, with plenty of laughs and a bit of chaos. If you are trying to get your first £10k in consistent sales, this episode will help you see that you do not need fancy scripts or endless training. You just need a clear process, a bit of bravery and the willingness to show up as yourself.   Dan Dennis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-dennis-815a74172/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-dennis-815a74172/] Hugh Cockrane - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughcochrane-creativefolks/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughcochrane-creativefolks/]

How to go Viral In Your Local Area - Video Marketing Toolkit | EP 17

In this episode of the Video Marketing Toolkit podcast, I sit down with Leicester estate agent and creator, John Ghent, to break down how he has built a hyper engaged local audience by talking about streets, pubs, underpasses and storm drains. We talk through his journey from traditional estate agency to short form content machine, how one simple nightlife video exploded to over a million views, and how that attention now turns into real instructions and high quality leads. You will learn: * How to spot viral local story angles in everyday life * Why nostalgia and local history are gold for content * John’s simple content workflow for long form and shorts * How often you really need to post to stand out in your city * The mindset shift from “perfect video” to “post more” Perfect for any local business owner, estate agent or creator who wants to become the familiar face in their town or city.