Marketing Happy Hour Podcast

Hosted by Shelby McFarland

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Join The Marketing Broker, Shelby McFarland, for the Marketing Happy Hour Podcast. With over 13 years of entrepreneurial experience and as the owner of a successful sign shop, Shelby brings a unique perspective to the world of marketing. Each episode, Shelby dives into insightful discussions, practical tips, and expert interviews designed to help entrepreneurs and marketers alike navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, branding, and business growth. Grab your favorite beverage and join us for a lively conversation at the intersection of creativity and strategy. Welcome to the Marketing Happy Hour Podcast with your host, Shelby McFarland. Cheers! 🥂

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 16, 2026Episode 3833 min

How A Marketing Pro Builds Confidence Through Seasons Of Life

Send us Fan Mail One bad email can wreck your whole day, your mood, and your next sales call, unless you learn how to pause. Guest host Jason Fakouri sits down with Shelby McFarland, “The Marketing Broker,” for a candid conversation about confidence, boundaries, and the mindset shifts that quietly drive better marketing results. Shelby shares how her “boss persona” started as pure survival, being the youngest person in the room and learning to carry herself like she belonged. Then motherhood, postpartum depression, and the chaos of COVID forced a deeper reset. We talk about how personal seasons shape business seasons, why “balance” is a myth, and how sustainable small business marketing starts with knowing what you can actually execute consistently. We also dig into real numbers and real lessons: slow sales, losing clients, building an offboarding process to learn why people leave, and why cutting marketing budgets during uncertainty can backfire. Shelby explains how she went from more clients to fewer clients while doubling monthly revenue by tightening service, increasing pricing, and focusing her energy where it matters. Along the way, we swap practical tools like daily affirmations, the stoic pause for tough messages, and content repurposing strategies that turn one video podcast into blog posts and social media clips. If you’re rebuilding your confidence, refining your brand, or trying to market through a hard season, this one will hit home. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find the show. Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com Support the show

October 9, 2026Episode 3716 min

How Business Development Creates Reliable Referrals

Send us Fan Mail Referrals feel like magic when they show up and like frustration when they don’t, so we get practical about what actually creates them. Shelby McFarland sits down with Hannah McDonald, a professional business developer in the insurance world, to talk through the real work behind relationship marketing: coffees, lunches, drop-ins, follow-ups, and the consistency it takes to become the name people trust. Hannah shares her path from radio sales to promotional products to remote corporate sales leadership, and how burnout pushed her back toward people-first growth. We break down the business development ROI question every business owner asks: “How do I justify paying for relationships?” Hannah lays out a clear accountability system that starts with measurable activity goals (meetings and follow-ups), then graduates to referrals, then closed business once the pipeline has time to mature. We also get blunt about a common mistake: hiring one person to do both business development and social media marketing. Content creation is a full-time job, and mixing roles usually hurts both outcomes. Then we zoom out to growth and purpose. Hannah talks about expanding into Northwest Arkansas without a traditional staffed office, what she looks for when hiring someone far from headquarters, and how a repeatable timeline can guide expectations. She also introduces her strategic mindset coaching, a personalized program focused on mindset, goals, and real accountability for professionals and business owners who feel stuck. If you want better referrals, clearer KPIs, and a smarter way to hire for growth, hit subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the one metric you wish you could track to prove your marketing is working? Support the show

October 2, 2026Episode 3621 min

Organic Growth For Wellness Businesses

Send us Fan Mail You can eat “pretty healthy,” work out, and still feel like your body is failing you. That’s what made this conversation with Megan Green hit so hard, because her turning point wasn’t a trendy plan, it was finally getting the right lab testing after years of being brushed off as “just a busy mom.” Megan is a registered dietitian with 20 plus years of experience, and she shares how an autoimmune disease was misdiagnosed for eight years, leaving her depleted, inflamed, exhausted, and desperate for real answers. We get into what functional nutrition actually looks like when it’s done with integrity: comprehensive labs, symptom patterns, lifestyle reality, and a plan built around the person in front of you. Megan explains common deficiencies she sees (magnesium, vitamin D, B12, iron), why food alone doesn’t always fix them, and how stress, sleep, movement, gut health, and hormone pathways all connect. We also talk through her personal shift, including the hard truth that going gluten-free made a difference, even when she didn’t want it to. Then we pivot into the business side: how she built a thriving integrative and functional nutrition practice with organic marketing, referrals, and social media consistency, plus what to do when the economy slows down and leads dry up. We share why “talking to the void” still works, how engagement compounds over time, and how to stay credible when wellness fads and MLM noise are everywhere. Follow Megan at Meg Green RD, and if you liked this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave us a review so more women can find the support they’ve been missing. Support the show

September 25, 2026Episode 3546 min

Building A Business In A Field You Never Studied

Send us Fan Mail You can start from scratch in a brand-new industry and still build something real, as long as you stay coachable and keep showing up. Shelby McFarland sits down with Chelsea Todd from Revolution Financial Management, who openly shares how she went from having zero finance background to becoming a trusted resource for families, without cold calling or door knocking. The thread running through everything is simple: bet on yourself, learn fast, and let your integrity do the marketing. We get practical about how referral marketing actually works when you are new. Chelsea explains why your first clients often come from the people who already trust you, and what to do when friends and family do not support your business. Shelby adds her perspective from 14 years in marketing, including why reputation matters more than ads, why disappearing during your slow season hurts, and how consistency can be as simple as a few solid posts a week. The conversation also hits deeper with the phrase “people don’t know what they don’t know,” especially around financial literacy, protection planning, and the way shame keeps people from asking basic questions. We connect that directly to small business marketing and social media strategy, where many owners assume it is “just posting” until they see the real work behind analytics, planning, and execution. If you want encouragement that feels honest, plus actionable advice on networking, personal branding, and staying consistent when it is hard, this one delivers. Subscribe for more conversations with business owners, share this with a friend who is starting over, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can build the next topic around what you need most. Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com Support the show

September 18, 2026Episode 3414 min

What If The Problem Isn’t Your Marketing

Send us Fan Mail Marketing can be a punch in the gut when the numbers refuse to move, even when you know you’re doing the work the right way. I’m sharing a story that was hard for me to admit out loud: I landed an exciting out-of-state client, built a full digital marketing plan, and still watched the results fall flat. You’ll hear what it’s like to market a software product in a competitive niche where the big players have investors and huge monthly budgets for Google ads. I walk through what we tried across SEO, backlink building, social media marketing, content shoots, and paid ads like Meta and geofencing. The analytics looked great on the surface with lots of clicks, but the conversion rate told the real story. When traffic doesn’t turn into subscriptions, it forces you to ask better questions about the offer, the funnel, the website experience, and whether you’re battling a market that’s already dominated. I also talk about the mindset side: pricing your services with confidence, not racing to the bottom, and how it feels when a client has to pause because the budget runs out. Then we zoom out to the lessons I’m keeping: do deeper competitor analysis and market research early, know what you’re up against, and make smart shifts for a season when the industry demands it. If you’re a marketer who feels responsible for everything, I want you to hear this clearly: we can’t carry product-market fit and execution alone. Listen now, share this with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a review if it hits home. What’s a time you felt like you did everything right but the outcome still didn’t follow? Support the show

September 11, 2026Episode 3312 min

Strong Policies And A Calm Mindset Keep A Business Standing

Send us Fan Mail A customer tells you they won’t pay a deposit, they’ll pay “when they see it and like it.” Another tries to cancel a project halfway through. Somewhere in the middle, you’re answering emails, keeping clients happy, and wondering why it feels like a full moon every day. We’re getting honest about what that pressure does to your brain, and how you can respond like a seasoned business owner instead of spiraling like the old version of you. We dig into the mindset shifts that come with experience: letting stress exist without letting it run your life, tightening your processes, and building the confidence to enforce your policies. We talk payment terms, why deposits protect your labor and materials, and how chasing money for 60 to 90 days can become the worst part of the job. You’ll also hear why solid contracts matter, what to do when someone tries to terminate early, and how documentation can protect you when people threaten lawsuits, harassment, or damaging reviews. Then we zoom out to the bigger issue: customer entitlement and the trust gap hitting small business owners and service providers. We share a more human way to handle mistakes, fixes, and feedback without going nuclear, while still expecting respect and fair pay. If you’ve been tempted to bend your rules out of fear, this conversation helps you reset, stand up straighter, and remember your value. If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs a backbone boost, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find us. Support the show

September 4, 2026Episode 3232 min

Women Leaders And The Hidden Weight Of Doing It All

Send us Fan Mail Loneliness does not always look like being alone. Sometimes it looks like running the meeting, leading the team, keeping the home calendar in your head, and still lying awake at night thinking, What did I miss and what do I need to do next? We get into the loneliness of leadership for women and why it hits differently when you are also carrying motherhood, boundaries, and the invisible mental load that rarely gets acknowledged. We talk about the double standards women face in male-dominated industries, the pressure to wear a “work mask,” and why vulnerability is often treated like a weakness even when it is a normal human need. We also touch on the reality of hormones, PCOS, endometriosis, and how women keep delivering while managing physical and emotional waves that most workplaces never make room for. Along the way, we unpack the resentment that builds when domestic labor is treated like a gender role instead of a life skill, and how that dynamic amplifies leadership burnout. Then we get practical. Kayla shares a simple daily practice: “connect to your intentions,” so you can stop living in ten tabs at once and fully commit to what matters most in the next hour. We also share what support can actually look like, from women mentors who “get it” to friends who listen without trying to fix you, and why building community is not optional if you want sustainable success. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a woman who is carrying a lot, and leave a review so more leaders who feel alone can find the conversation. What part of leadership feels the loneliest to you right now? Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com Support the show

August 28, 2026Episode 3131 min

What “Reasonable” Pricing Really Means For Small Businesses

Send us Fan Mail “Reasonable” sounds harmless until you’re the one paying rent, utilities, supplies, insurance, and self-employment taxes while still trying to deliver flawless work. Shelby McFarland sits down with Rachel Harris for an honest, funny, and deep talk about what customers don’t see behind the chair and behind the screen. We dig into the real economics of a service-based small business: licensing and training costs, the pressure to people-please, and why “you get what you pay for” isn’t a slogan, it’s math. We talk about the clients who demand endless tweaks on the smallest budget, the fear of negative reviews, and the moment every entrepreneur hits where you have to stop bending over backward and start protecting your standards. Rachel shares what it takes to finally charge your worth, and Shelby breaks down practical ways to reduce time-wasters, like charging for consultations and tightening your process. You’ll also hear our take on discount culture, promo requests, cancellation policies, and why supporting local businesses should be a year-round habit, not something you do only when Amazon can’t deliver fast enough. If you own a small business (or want to), you’ll walk away with clearer boundaries, stronger pricing confidence, and a better way to communicate value without guilt. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs the pep talk, and leave a review so more small business owners can find us. Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com Support the show

August 21, 2026Episode 3010 min

A Practical Guide To Meta Ads Budgets Targeting And ROI

Send us Fan Mail One ad. A clear hook. A budget that actually makes sense. That’s how you stop throwing money at Facebook and Instagram and start getting results you can measure. We’re talking Meta ads with the practical perspective of someone who used to avoid paid social completely, then spent the last two years running campaigns that consistently improve ROI for real clients. We walk through what “good” looks like at different budget levels, including a roofing company spending $1,000 a month that doubled website views in the first month, plus an example of an ad pulling 126,000 views while spending under $300. Then we unpack the common mistake that quietly kills performance: splitting small budgets across too many ads. If you only have $100 a month, you’ll hear why one strong branding ad often beats a pile of tiny campaigns that never reach enough people to learn or optimize. From there, we get tactical with Meta Business Suite setup, how to use an existing post or upload fresh creative, and how to write ad copy that still feels like your organic content while pushing people toward a real call to action. We cover scroll-stopping hooks, graphics versus video, and why captions are essential when most viewers watch with sound off. We also dig into ad targeting and demographics, including location strategy, industry restrictions around housing-related ads, and why ultra-specific filters like high-income targeting often backfire. Finally, we share a simple way to use AI tools to brainstorm audiences and ad creative, then tailor everything to your voice and your market. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a business owner who’s stuck on ads, and leave a review. What budget are you working with right now, and what result would make Meta ads worth it for you? Support the show

August 14, 2026Episode 3036 min

Who Carries The Mental Load When Nobody Sees It

Send us Fan Mail You know that feeling when you finally sit down to work and you’re already wiped out and all you’ve done is make choices for everyone else? That’s what Shelby and Kayla unpack, honestly and in real time, as we talk about decision fatigue and the mental load that quietly runs your day. From sick kids and last-minute school messages to travel recovery and the constant “Where is it?” questions, we get into why the smallest decisions can be the ones that break you. We also dig into a truth that surprises a lot of high-achieving women: business decisions can feel easier than personal ones. At work, the feedback loop is clearer, the priorities are sharper, and the energy you spend often comes back as fulfillment or income. At home, decisions are endless, emotionally loaded, and paired with invisible labor. We talk about being the default keeper of the schedule, the pantry, the appointments, the plans and how even supportive partners can add to the burden when they ask what to do instead of noticing and doing. You’ll hear practical, real-life strategies to reduce decision fatigue: deleting tasks that never needed to exist, delegating without redoing someone else’s work, empowering kids to make age-appropriate choices, and building rest into your life before burnout forces it. We also name the power of validation, especially hearing “I see you” and “this isn’t fair,” and we call out the double standard of celebrating men for basic adult chores. If you’re tired of carrying the thinking for everyone, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your best tip for making decisions feel lighter. Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com Support the show