Social Media Strategy, Intentional Marketing & Engagement with Hannah Balliet | Brand Retro Ep. 94
Release Date: 02/20/2024
Reality Bites
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
🧾 Episode Summary In this “Lost Episode” from the Brand Retro vault, Mike Brevik sits down with Chris Bolton of Murmur Creative for a candid conversation about the realities of running a modern creative agency. Chris shares how Murmur evolved from a design-focused studio into a strategic branding firm, and why agencies must learn where to draw the line when clients ask for “everything marketing.” Together, Mike and Chris unpack the challenge agencies face trying to balance specialization with the growing expectations of clients who assume marketing firms can do it all. They also...
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Underdogz of Sports Media
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
Episode Title Underdogz of Sports Media Episode Summary In this Brand Retro Vault Series (“Lost Episode”), Mike Brevik sits down with Dave Behar, founder of ION Network, to explore how the world of sports media is evolving far beyond traditional leagues and broadcast models. Dave shares how ION Network is building a multi-platform ecosystem designed to support emerging sports leagues, niche athletic communities, and content creators who are often overlooked by mainstream media. By combining localized media channels, digital platforms, and brand partnerships, ION is creating new...
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The Experience Economy
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
Episode Summary In this Brand Retro Vault Series (“Lost Episode”), Mike Brevik sits down with Steph Silver, founder of VINE Collective, to explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of branding: the experience behind the brand. Steph shares how her unconventional journey, from theater and storytelling to marketing and leadership coaching, shaped her belief that a brand is not just what customers see on the outside, but what happens behind the scenes inside the organization. From how employees are treated to how decisions are made during difficult seasons, every internal choice...
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Visibility Over Virality
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
EPISODE SUMMARY In this Brand Retro Vault Series (“Lost Episode”), Mike Brevik sits down with Carrolee Drummonds to explore the mindset behind entrepreneurship and the importance of finding new paths to visibility in an increasingly noisy digital world. During the conversation, Carrolee shares her perspective on what many entrepreneurs experience today—the pressure to constantly produce content for social media and chase algorithms that rarely lead to meaningful engagement. Instead, she discusses the importance of shifting focus toward platforms that allow deeper conversations and...
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Brand Spotlight: LORIER Watches
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
Summary Welcome to The Lost Episodes... a series of conversations from the Brand Retro vault. These are the episodes that, for one reason or another, never made it out when they were first recorded. Different backdrop. Different format. Same solid conversations. Think of it like a lost album from a band you love, maybe it showed up late, but it still hits. In this episode of Brand Retro, Mike Brevik sits down with Lauren and Lorenzo Ortega, the husband-and-wife founders of LORIER Watches, to explore how a passion for vintage craftsmanship turned into one of the most respected micro-brands in...
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Stay Moving with Josh Roush
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
Episode Summary Welcome to The Lost Episodes... a series of conversations from the Brand Retro vault. These are the episodes that, for one reason or another, never made it out when they were first recorded. Different backdrop. Different format. Same solid conversations. Think of it like a lost album from a band you love, maybe it showed up late, but it still hits. In this Lost Episode, Mike Brevik sits down with Josh Roush of Movetic for a conversation that feels just as relevant now as it did then. The two dig into the real value of brand, why too many companies still downgrade its...
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Scaling Smarter with Ann Carden
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
Episode Summary In this Lost Episode, Mike Brevik sits down with Ann Carden, longtime business strategist, marketing expert, and growth coach, for a conversation about what it really takes to build a business that scales. Ann breaks down the difference between brand influence and lead generation, why too many entrepreneurs rely on one without the other, and how real business growth comes from building the right marketing engine in the right order. She also talks through the dangers of cookie-cutter marketing advice, the importance of customized strategy, and why entrepreneurs have to stop...
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Exercising Creativity - Inside the Red Dot Auction and the Legacy of Chuck Jones
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
EPISODE SUMMARY In this energizing episode of Brand Retro, Mike Brevik sits down with returning guests Craig Kausen and Ben Olson to unpack the story and impact behind the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s 16th Annual Red Dot Fundraising Event. What began as a simple idea, artists donating 12x12 works to raise funds, has evolved into a nationally recognized celebration of imagination, nostalgia, and community impact. This year marks a major shift: for the first time, the artists' stories will stand alongside their work, adding deeper meaning to every piece. Craig shares the philosophy...
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Eco-Friendly Branding & Sustainability Marketing with Lindsey Coffey | Brand Retro Ep. 114
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
In this Brand Retro episode, Lindsey Coffey shares how brands can build eco-friendly branding and sustainability marketing without greenwashing. We cover ethical consumerism, transparency, and how EcoBranders helps businesses create real environmental impact while staying profitable. Who’s the Guest? Lindsey Coffey, an acclaimed model and Miss Earth 2020, has leveraged her extensive experience in the fashion industry to champion environmental sustainability and ethical consumerism. With over a decade in modeling, Lindsey has gained a profound understanding of the inner workings of fashion...
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From Motion Graphics to Dental Marketing Entrepreneur | Luke Infinger | Ep. 113
Brand Retro with Cyberdogz
In this Brand Retro episode, Mike Brevik talks with Luke Infinger, founder of HIP Creative, about building a niche marketing agency for orthodontic and dental practices. Luke shares his path from motion graphics and high-profile production work to entrepreneurship, and breaks down the mindset, positioning, and relationship-based growth that helped him scale a specialized creative business. Who’s the Guest? Luke Infinger is the founder of HIP Creative, an agency specializing in the orthodontic and dental space. He began his career with a deep interest in the arts, developing skills in...
info_outlineIn this Brand Retro episode, Mike Brevik talks with Hannah Balliet of Ugly Mug Marketing about social media strategy and what actually drives results beyond surface-level engagement. Hannah shares how intentional, purpose-driven social media helps brands understand platform dynamics, audience behavior, and build predictable marketing systems that generate leads and sales.
Who’s the Guest?
Hannah Balliet is the passionate and purposeful leader of the Social Media Department at Ugly Mug Marketing. Over the past 4 years, Hannah has grown her department by over 340%, and has worked alongside hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs as they navigate the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.
Her key focus is helping businesses build predictable marketing systems that consistently produce leads and sales. From private clients to social media masterclasses, Hannah brings her expertise and energy as she teaches clients how to use social media to scale their business, generate leads and achieve RESULTS.
Highlights
03:18 Hannah’s new role as the director of communications, which included developing a cohesive strategy aligned to the companies' needs
07:22 Stepping into the role for the Ugly Mug Marketing
13:13 How intention and strategy are key elements in social media marketing, and how these aspects are continually adjusted for optimal results
15:22 Why you should have a solid strategy in social media marketing
17:01 The importance of realizing that businesses can have multiple customer avatars
19:28 Identifying the primary platform where your audience is and focusing your resources there
23:46 Different payoffs from various investments
26:34 Importance of creating success and then the challenge of replicating it in a constantly changing marketing environment
29:38 How vanity metrics like total followers or likes do not necessarily equate to business success
34:01 Investigating bad reviews to improve overall business services, as it is all part of the customer experience
37:56 The 'natural progression' of a customer journey from being strangers to becoming friends, customers, and eventually evangelists for the business
41:02 The value of delivering quality after the sales process, and living up to the promise made to the customer
Episode Resources
- Connect with Mike Brevik:
- www.brandretro.com
- http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
- mike@cyberdogzmarketing.com
- Connect with Hannah Balliet
- https://www.facebook.com/uglymugmarketing
- https://www.instagram.com/uglymugmarketing/
- https://www.uglymugmarketing.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahacosta
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