Be a Marketer with Dave Charest

Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, Brand Production Coordinator at Constant Contact, have spent the year chatting with small business owners and marketing experts on the Be a Marketer podcast, gathering insights to help entrepreneurs thrive.Now, they're ready to share the best of those lessons. From goal-setting to storytelling, they've covered a lot of ground. But one theme keeps popping up: the need for flexibility. "Everything is changing all the time," Dave notes. "You often have to have an idea of where you're going to go and almost be broad with setting those objectives."Dave and Kelsi also explore the power of community engagement, the importance of audience-focused content, and how marketing automation can be a game-changer for small businesses.Tune in to hear how successful businesses are leveraging these strategies, what's working for building engaged audiences, and how you can apply these lessons to make 2025 your best year yet. Also, get Kelsi’s updates on her ducks and how she plans to keep them comfortable through the winter. Additional Resources:Getting started with the Automation Path BuilderUsing Constant Contact SEO toolsHow to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series (with Examples)Set up to automatically resend to contacts who don’t open their email feature in Constant ContactMeet 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: "Review, plan and execute. So really take a look at how things went for you as you close out the year and start to set those new goals for 2025."👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn📝 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: "I don't think goals should be set in stone. They need to be evolving with your business and growing with your business because needs change."👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTubeIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Most small business owners excel in their chosen fields, but marketing often feels like uncharted territory. You know you need a website and an email list, but what should your website look like? What should you be sending to your email list? And how do you know if any of it is even working?David Fischer, Founder and CEO of Solutions for Growth and Constant Contact Community Coach, understands these challenges. For 14 years, he and his team have helped small businesses nationwide elevate their marketing efforts and get real results.David joined Dave Charest on the Be a Marketer podcast to share his insights on how to level up your email marketing using the power of segmentation. Simply put, segmentation means dividing your email list into smaller groups based on specific criteria, like demographics, purchase history, or even engagement levels. This allows you to send more personalized and relevant emails that resonate with each subscriber.“The more targeted and more specific the message is to those people, the more it will resonate with them and the better results you're going to get," David explains.Tune in to learn tactical tips for segmenting your email list, understanding the difference between lists and segments, and sending the right message to the right people at the right time.Additional Resources:Email List SegmentationSegment Your ListsEmail List Segmentation Best Practices🎧 Ep. #63: Segmentation for Nonprofits with Stephanie Campbell Meet Today’s Guest: David Fischer of Solutions for Growth🚀 What he does: David Fischer is the Founder and CEO of Solutions for Growth, a full-service marketing agency that has been helping small businesses thrive for over 14 years. As a Certified Constant Contact Partner and Community Coach, David is passionate about helping businesses harness the power of digital marketing to achieve their goals.💡 Key quote: “The bottom line is that regardless of the company you are managing, a happy team delivers better results.”👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn👋 Where to find Solutions for Growth: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTubeIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Are your email marketing reports leaving you feeling puzzled? You're getting opens, you're even getting clicks, but are those translating to real results for your business?On this episode of Be a Marketer, Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, sits down with Lindsay Higgins, owner of L2L Creative Group and a Constant Contact Certified Partner. Lindsay understands the struggle of deciphering marketing reports. She shares her insights on going beyond vanity metrics like opens and click-through rates, to focus on what truly matters: conversions and achieving overall business goals.“There’s so many different methods of reviewing if your email actually worked,” says Lindsay. “But I think it goes back to the initial goal of your email and then kind of build from that.”Tune in to discover Lindsay's advice on testing subject lines, optimizing send times, and using resends effectively. You'll learn how aligning your email content with your goals can unlock success and boost conversion.Additional Resources:Getting started with the Automation Path BuilderUsing Constant Contact SEO toolsHow to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series (with Examples)Set up to automatically resend to contacts who don’t open their email feature in Constant ContactMeet Today’s Guest: Lindsay Higgins of L2L Creative Group👩‍💼 What she does: Lindsay is the owner of L2L Creative Group, a Constant Contact Certified Partner based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her company helps businesses with their email marketing from setup to ongoing management. Lindsay is also a Constant Contact community coach, offering real-time guidance to other users.💡 Key quote: “There's never going to be like the perfect subject line. There's never going to be the perfect day or time to send, in my opinion."👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn👋 Where to find L2L Creative Group: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Juggling a business is hard enough without adding the pressure of mastering multiple marketing channels. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, spreading yourself thin across social media, email, and who-knows-what-else. But what if there was a way to streamline your efforts and make your marketing work smarter, not harder?That's where multichannel marketing comes in. "When you use them together, you get a sum that's greater than the parts," says Aaron Wesley Means, Founder and CEO of Activate Business Solutions, emphasizing the power of combining channels like email and social media. In this episode of Constant Contact's Be a Marketer podcast, host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, welcomes back Constant Contact Community Coach Aaron. Aaron shares his expert insights on creating cohesive, impactful campaigns that extend your reach and boost your business growth.Tune in to learn how to leverage the unique strengths of each digital platform, discover how Constant Contact's Campaign Builder can streamline your multichannel strategy, and walk away with actionable advice to amplify your marketing impact.Additional Resources:Join The Ready, Set, Send ChallengeReady Set Send Challenge Week 4: Multi-channel Campaign CreationIntegrated Marketing Campaign Mastery: Transform Your MarketingCampaign Builder in Constant ContactQ&A: Achieve Your Goals with Multi-Channel Marketing CampaignsWelcome to the Constant Contact CommunityMeet Today's Guest: Aaron Wesley Means of Activate Business Solutions💻 What he does: Aaron is the founder and CEO of Activate Business Solutions, a full-service micro-agency based in Asheville, North Carolina. A Constant Contact partner since 2011 and community coach, Aaron is passionate about empowering small businesses and nonprofits through education and hands-on marketing support.💡 Key quote: "I've seen folks that are 'not techies' doing full campaigns with the Campaign Builder in five or 10 minutes."👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn👋 Where to find Activate Business Solutions: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Melanie Diehl had always envisioned a career path similar to her father's — dedicating 30 years to a single company and retiring comfortably. But then she got laid off and decided to use her severance to explore different options. That's when she discovered her talent with a sewing machine. Melanie learned by doing, navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship while building a loyal clientele. After 25 years in her interior design business, she worked with her husband on an overhead crane business. Today, Melanie runs a successful marketing firm, where she guides small business owners. “Know your worth and charge it," she advises. “There's someone out there who's willing to pay for the premium services and products that you have to offer."Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, sits down with Melanie to unpack her entrepreneurial journey and discuss actionable list-building strategies. Learn how to leverage Constant Contact tools like landing pages and pop-up forms to grow your audience and increase revenue. Tune in now.Additional Resources:How to Build an Effective Email List: Best Practices and StrategiesEmail Marketing Tips You Need To KnowWhat is a Landing Page?How To Implement an Email Marketing Landing PageMeet Today's Guest: Melanie Diehl of Melanie and Co. Marketing Collective☕ What she does: Melanie is the CEO and President of Melanie and Co. Marketing Collective. She's been a Constant Contact Certified Partner for over 10 years and also serves as a Constant Contact Community Coach, guiding small businesses on their marketing journeys.💡 Key quote: "I love seeing the aha moments for my clients. I love seeing the victories that they have.”👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn👋 Where to find Melanie and Co. Marketing Collective: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

After a corporate career in direct marketing, Aaron Wesley Means had no plans to start a business. It wasn't until he began helping his wife launch her dream dog grooming business that he immersed himself in small business marketing. Eager to build a brand and attract customers, he dove headfirst into researching list-building strategies, email campaigns, and the nuances of connecting with a target audience. Along the way, he discovered a gap — a real need for marketing expertise within the small business and nonprofit communities. In 2011, Aaron launched Activate Business Solutions, determined to fill that void. His mission? To empower small businesses and nonprofits with the tools and strategies they need to thrive. In this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Aaron, founder and a Constant Contact community coach, and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, pull back the curtain on email design and reveal why a thoughtful approach is crucial in a mobile-first world. "You can make the greatest email in the history of emails," Aaron explains, "And if they don't open it and know how great it is, it was for nothing."Tune in as Aaron breaks down seven essential design elements that can make or break your email campaigns. Learn how to craft compelling headers, leverage visuals strategically, and optimize your calls to action for maximum impact.Additional Resources:Ready Set Send Challenge Week 2: Designing the Perfect EmailBrandKitEmail Design: The Ultimate GuideThe Ultimate Toolkit for Call To Action ButtonsMeet Today's Guest: Aaron Wesley Means of Activate Business Solutions💻 What he does: Aaron is the founder and CEO of Activate Business Solutions, a full-service micro-agency based in Asheville, North Carolina. A Constant Contact partner since 2011 and community coach, Aaron is passionate about empowering small businesses and nonprofits through education and hands-on marketing support.💡 Key quote: “Both the subject line and the preheader text are your secret weapons to getting the most possible value out of your marketing and your effort."👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn👋 Where to find Activate Business Solutions: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Tracey Lee Davis never imagined she'd become a business owner. After years of managing a pet care company, she craved a simpler role where she could follow someone else's lead. But life had other plans.When unemployment benefits ran dry, and job applications went unanswered, Tracey reluctantly stepped into entrepreneurship. Now, as the owner of ZingPop Social Media, she couldn't imagine doing anything else."I really do love that I get to set what happens with my business," Tracey shares on the Be a Marketer podcast. Her journey from reluctant business owner to marketing expert showcases the power of setting clear, personalized goals.In this episode, Tracey and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, explore the importance of goal-setting in marketing. They discuss how to tailor goals to your specific business needs, the crucial role of measurable objectives, and why timeframes matter. Tune in to learn how you can transform your marketing efforts by setting the right targets for your business. Additional Resources:Welcome to the Constant Contact CommunityJoin The Ready, Set, Send ChallengeWeek 1: Goal SettingSMART GoalsQ&A: Decoding Online Marketing Success: Your Guide to Planning, Reviewing, and ExecutingFoundations for Online Marketing Success WorksheetCreating Goals and Measuring Success WorksheetMeet Today’s Guest: Tracey Lee Davis of ZingPop Social Media💼 What she does: Tracey Lee Davis is the owner of ZingPop Social Media, a Constant Contact Certified Partner, and a Constant Contact Community Coach. She works primarily with women-owned service-based businesses as a social media coach and marketing manager, helping them gain exposure, increase revenue, and enhance their online presence.💡 Key quote: "If you're not measuring, you're not marketing."👋 Where to find her: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn👋 Where to find ZingPop Social Media: Website | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter | Vimeo | LinkedIn | Facebook | PinterestIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Lucy Hall's journey into the digital world began with a chunky Dell computer and an eBay account. At 17, she became one of the first eBay power sellers, selling thousands of "ab belts" and discovering a passion for online marketing.This early experience set the stage for Lucy's future as a digital skills advocate and community builder. Today, she runs SocialDay, the UK's top Social Media Marketing Festival, and Digital Women, an online community with over 40,000 members dedicated to empowering women through digital skills education."If I could do it when I was 17 and my uncle can sell things online at age like 80, everyone in between can do it as well," Lucy shares, highlighting her belief in the power of digital skills for all ages.On this episode of Be a Marketer, Lucy and host Dave Charest dive into the importance of mindset in business, the challenges of growth, and the power of community. They explore Lucy's unique approach to content creation, her success on LinkedIn, and her tips for building engaged online communities.Tune in to hear Lucy's insights on balancing online and offline creativity, the importance of caring for your customers, and how to create content that resonates with your audience.Additional Resources:Guide to all Constant Contact Onboarding WebinarsNew Customer HubMeet Today’s Guest: Lucy Hall of SocialDay and Digital Women🚀 What she does: Lucy Hall is the founder of Digital Women and SocialDay, director at Skills of The Future LTD, and a professional speaker on digital media and social media. She's passionate about empowering individuals through skill development and community building, with her Digital Women community boasting over 40,000 members. 💡 Key quote: "If you don't know what they need, how can you create products for them? So I really do think caring about your customers, caring about your community, making sure that at the center of everything, you want to give them the thing that's going to help them to feel better or solve their problem."👋 Where to find her: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Snapchat | Instagram | Facebook |If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

Clients are everywhere, but so is the competition. This is the reality for real estate agents in a crowded market.But what if you could become the go-to expert in your community — the agent everyone remembers when it's time to buy or sell their home?For over a decade, Stephanie Alfonso has helped real estate agents transform their marketing strategies. Now, as the Senior Director of Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact, she’s empowering agents to navigate a changing market. With the national conversation revolving around buyer's commission and agent value, Stephanie champions digital marketing as the key to staying top-of-mind and building trust with clients. “If you could do one thing better, what would it be?” Stephanie asks, challenging agents to prioritize their marketing efforts for long-term successOn this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Stephanie and host Dave Charest explore why a strong online presence is crucial for agents. Discover the power of a consistent email newsletter and learn how agents can use AI tools to streamline their content creation.Tune in to learn actionable strategies for list building, content creation, and leveraging social media and SMS marketing to connect with clients and grow your business.Additional Resources:BAM #18 - Building a Real Estate Business Through Email with Ricky CarruthReal Estate Marketing Advice14 Top Real Estate Email TemplatesMeet Today’s Guest: Stephanie Alfonso of Constant Contact🚀 What Stephanie does: She is the Senior Director of Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact.💡 Key quote: “People do business with people they like, they know, and they trust. So we need to be intentional about getting people to like, know, and trust us."👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTubeIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.

What if you could transform the fear of rejection into a catalyst for growth in your business? Graphic designer Liz Mosley did just that. After realizing that playing it safe was holding her back from exciting opportunities, Liz embarked on a journey to reframe rejection as a stepping stone to success.Liz has been helping small businesses and creatives define their brands and attract ideal customers for over a decade. As host of the “Building Your Brand” podcast, she's no stranger to the power of marketing and connection. “I actually think for some people it's worth waiting a couple of years, letting the chips fall almost, and seeing what is the business that you really want to build and then invest in the branding,” she shares.On this episode of Be a Marketer, Liz and host Dave Charest delve into the strategies that have helped her build a thriving freelance business, including a counterintuitive approach to rejection, the importance of understanding your target audience, and her go-to social media scheduling trick.Tune in to discover how you can build a brand you love and attract dream clients with Liz's practical tips and inspiring story.Additional Resources:Create a social post and schedule it to publish on social mediaAutomatically apply your branding to your emailsMeet Today’s Guest: Liz Mosley of Liz Mosley Design☕ What she does: Liz Mosley is a U.K.-based graphic designer specializing in branding and animated GIFs for small businesses. She hosts the “Building Your Brand” podcast, where she shares marketing advice for small business owners looking to DIY their branding. Liz’s goal is to help her clients and audience create a brand that makes them feel proud and confident about promoting their businesses. 💡 Key quote: "You don't have to be the best at it. You don't have to have the slickest tech setup. You don't have to have invested in public speaking training. You just [have to] get going and learn on the job."👋 Where to find her: Website | X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Podcast | Instagram | TikTok | YouTubeIf you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions.