United, JetBlue Roll Out Cross-Platform Booking
United Airlines and JetBlue have launched cross‑platform booking, allowing customers to purchase eligible itineraries on either carrier’s website or mobile app. Travelers can pay with cash, points, or miles, instantly expanding the flight inventory displayed on both platforms. The feature is a key milestone in the Blue Sky partnership and precedes a future capability to book single itineraries that combine United and JetBlue segments. It also reinforces reciprocal loyalty earning and redemption introduced last year.
Why the CEO-Led Growth Model Breaks at Scale
Growth-stage firms that rely on a founder‑led, informal go‑to‑market model encounter a predictable breakdown as revenue scales beyond $10 million. The article maps three failure phases—heroic effort, functional silos, and compounding failure—showing how misaligned sales and marketing erode forecast accuracy, talent...
The Procurement ROI Model CFOs Actually Believe (Idle Time, Expedites, Tax Leakage)
The episode breaks down why traditional procurement ROI models fall flat and introduces a CFO‑trusted framework that ties purchasing decisions to cash flow, risk, and operational speed. It highlights three hidden cost drivers—employee idle time from delayed hardware, costly expedites...
Selling Outcomes Instead of Services
Joe Pine, co‑author of *The Experience Economy*, discusses his new book *The Transformation Economy* on the Duct Tape Marketing podcast. He explains how businesses are moving from delivering experiences to guiding customers through lasting transformations that achieve personal aspirations. The...
ShipTime Acquires Majority Stake in Warehowz
ShipTime Canada, a Paid Inc. subsidiary, has purchased an 80% stake in Warehowz, the on‑demand warehousing marketplace. The deal brings more than 2,500 warehouse locations onto ShipTime’s fulfillment platform, giving merchants flexible storage and faster delivery options across North America....
7 Best Freelancing Sites of 2026: Pros, Cons, and Costs
In this episode, Kathleen Weng breaks down the seven top freelancing platforms for 2026—Fiverr, Toptal, Upwork, 99designs, TaskRabbit, Creative Circle, and Freelancer.com—detailing each site’s costs, strengths, and drawbacks. She explains key criteria for choosing a platform, such as trustworthiness, payment...
PE Is No Longer Coming to the Rescue. And That Probably Means No One Will.
Private equity, once a reliable exit for B2B SaaS firms hitting $20M ARR, has largely withdrawn its support as of 2026. While total technology M&A reached a decade‑high $587 billion in 2025, PE capital is now concentrated on AI‑accelerated, high‑growth or...
How Markets Price AI Risk
The post highlights a stark valuation split in software stocks as vertical SaaS companies plunge 43% YTD while dev‑tools decline only 21%, reflecting market pricing of AI risk. It argues that despite strong moats, vertical firms’ slower 8% growth triggers...
Building A Scalable Contractor Business: Strategies That Work
The episode outlines how contractors can transform their businesses into scalable systems by prioritizing data‑driven growth, solid operational structures, and strong branding. It stresses saying no to low‑margin jobs, building repeatable processes for quoting, onboarding, and workflows, and leveraging specialist...
How to Build and Maintain Executive Presence Over Email
Email is emerging as a critical venue for executives to project authority in digital‑first workplaces. Duarte outlines a four‑step framework—The Big Idea™ formula, audience segmentation, contrast storytelling, and a “new bliss” call‑to‑action—to turn routine messages into presence‑building assets. By focusing on a...
Amazon Shifts Key Leadership in Selling Partner Services
The episode discusses Amazon’s recent leadership reshuffle in its Worldwide Selling Partner Services (SPS) division, with VP Dharmesh Mehta moving to a Technical Advisor role for CEO Andy Jassy and Amit Agarwal taking over SPS while also overseeing Customer Trust....
Planning Your First Sales Hire? You Don't Need a Performer. You Need a Producer.
In this episode, Garrett Brown explains why early-stage startups should hire a Sales Producer—not a traditional Sales Performer—for their first sales hire. He defines the Producer role as the person who invents the sales playbook, identifies target customers, sets pricing,...
Try This If You Often Second-Guess Yourself in Meetings
The article addresses the common habit of second‑guessing oneself in meetings, linking it to imposter syndrome and its ripple effect on team collaboration. It highlights that participants are already vetted by invitation, a simple mental reset that can curb self‑doubt....
In Early-Scale Growth, the Dominant Cost Is Not CAC. It’s Time.
The episode argues that for early‑scale startups with clear product‑market fit and ample runway, the biggest cost isn’t customer‑acquisition spend but the time lost to slow learning. It explains why obsessing over CAC too early can double burn by extending...
A Tactical Guide to B2B Ecommerce Growth: Tools, Workflows & Metrics
The episode outlines a tactical framework for scaling B2B eCommerce by focusing on five foundational pillars: clean, centralized product data; a human‑centric buyer experience; aligned sales and marketing; blended assisted‑self‑serve options; and seamless omnichannel back‑office sync. It walks listeners through...
Please Stop Selling Like It’s 2021
The post argues that B2B sales tactics from 2021 are obsolete in 2026. Buyers now expect AI‑driven solutions that install themselves, cost less, and eliminate migration friction. Demonstrations and lengthy calls no longer persuade when customers can “vibe‑code” their own...
How Can You Maximize LinkedIn Lead Conversion Using Automation?
The episode outlines how to boost LinkedIn lead conversion through automation, covering personalized connection requests, timed follow‑up messages, and lead segmentation. It explains building a simple funnel that includes automated profile visits, skill endorsements, and data‑driven adjustments to messaging. Integration...
01 Quantum Reports Q4 2025 Revenue Growth & PQC Deployments
01 Quantum Inc., rebranded from 01 Communique Laboratory, reported FY 2025 revenue of $767,993—up 86% from the prior year—driven by commercial deployments of post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions such as DoMobile Ver.5. The company raised $3.78 million in equity financing and continues to...
IQM Surpasses Competitors in On-Premises Quantum Computer Sales
IQM Quantum Computers announced Jan Goetz as sole CEO, ending its co‑CEO structure, and promoted Søren Hein to COO and Deputy CEO. The Finnish firm reported that it sold and shipped more on‑premises quantum computers than any rival last year, cementing its...
B2BKing: A Powerful B2B & Wholesale Plugin for WooCommerce
The episode explores B2BKing, a comprehensive WooCommerce plugin that adds enterprise‑grade wholesale capabilities to WordPress stores. It walks through core features such as granular guest access restriction, tiered pricing tables, and a customizable business registration workflow that together enable hybrid...
A Buyer’s Guide: Using a Corporate Gifts Catalog to Pick the Perfect Product
The episode explains how e‑commerce and Shopify brands can leverage corporate gifting to humanize digital interactions, using a centralized gifts catalog to streamline selection, budgeting, and bulk ordering. It highlights key criteria—recipient relevance, practicality, brand alignment, quality, and scalability—while warning...
Global Baby Furniture Suppliers List: Standards, Materials & Certifications
The episode outlines how importers and brands can secure a market edge by partnering with top baby‑furniture manufacturers such as DaVinci, Babyletto, Bugaboo, Clafbebe, Peg Perego and UPPAbaby, emphasizing their blend of high‑design aesthetics, scalable production, and strict safety compliance. It...
Scaling International GTM for B2B SaaS eCommerce Products
The episode outlines how B2B SaaS eCommerce firms can scale internationally by first establishing a stable global positioning spine and then tailoring emphasis to regional buyer priorities. It stresses redefining the ideal customer profile with regional filters and using inbound...
USPS Loosens Amazon’s Grip on Its Last-Mile Delivery
The United States Postal Service has launched a new bidding platform that lets any shipper compete for access to more than 18,000 destination delivery units nationwide. The move challenges Amazon’s long‑standing exclusive Sunday‑delivery contract, which runs until October 1 2026, and aims...
Dear SaaStr: What Do The Top 1% of Sales Reps Do … That The Other 99% Don’t?
The post argues that the single biggest differentiator for the top 1 % of sales reps is extreme time efficiency. These reps enter every deal with a pre‑mapped playbook, knowing exactly how to replicate a winning pitch across similar accounts. By...
Survey Finds Optimism on Growth in 2026 Despite Cyber and Tech Risks
A new Protiviti and NC State ERM survey of over 1,500 global executives reveals strong optimism about revenue growth through 2026, with nearly 70% seeing significant opportunities despite ongoing economic, geopolitical, and technological turbulence. Leaders are shifting from risk avoidance...
6 Marketing Trends You Need to Focus on in 2026
John Jantsch’s Duct Tape Marketing podcast outlines six marketing trends shaping 2026, focusing on tactics already gaining momentum. He emphasizes the expanding influence of local SEO, authentic human storytelling, and unconventional "mischief" offline experiences. The episode also calls for a...
Where Agency Revenue Is Heading: Fewer Big Retainers, More Mid-Market Retainers, and Longer Engagements
The 2025 State of Digital Agencies survey shows agencies are holding clients longer, with 31% retaining them for over three years and 19% for two to three years. Retainer contracts dominate, rising to 85% of engagements, yet 86% of monthly...
Building a Content Engine for Your Company
The article defines a content engine as a systematic, purpose‑driven machine that turns content marketing into a repeatable business function. It introduces the SAUCE Framework—Strategy, Audience, Users, Contribution, Execution—to structure that engine and align it with revenue goals. Video‑first production...
How to Automate Your Workday with Google Workspace Studio: A Real-World Example
In this episode, Christopher S. Penn demonstrates how Google Workspace Studio (formerly Google Flows) can automate routine marketing tasks by integrating AI agents, or "Gems," with Gmail and Google Chat. He walks through a real‑world workflow that scans Peter Shankman's...
AI Is Doing Everything We Said It Never Would—And Sooner Than You Thought
In this episode, Christopher S. Penn dismantles the old "AI will never" myths by showing how generative AI now creates ads, tops music charts, and even acts as a companion or therapist. He argues that AI can emulate empathy, judgment,...
The SAUCE Framework For Better Content Marketing
The blog introduces the SAUCE framework—Strategy, Audience, Users, Contribution, Execution—to inject purpose and flavor into content marketing. It argues that bland, random content fails to demonstrate impact and urges marketers to align each piece with clear business priorities. By mapping...
One Leadership Habit That Will Transform Your 2026
Simon Sinek argues that teams of average performers consistently outshine star‑filled groups, because trust outweighs individual brilliance. He proposes a single habit for leaders: after every win, ask “Who helped you?” and publicly recognize those contributors. This practice shifts focus...
How to Do B2B Keyword Research Using Ubersuggest
The Neil Patel blog walks marketers through a step‑by‑step B2B keyword research process using Ubersuggest, emphasizing intent over raw volume. It stresses interviewing sales teams, mapping keywords to the TOFU‑MOFU‑BOFU funnel, and organizing terms into pillar‑cluster structures. The guide also...
What Is an Influencer? A Guide to Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing has become a core growth channel, with 92% of consumers trusting creator recommendations over traditional ads. The global market reached $30 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $120 billion by 2030. Brands of all sizes, including B2B, are...
Top 10 Duct Tape Marketing Podcast Episodes of 2025
John Jantsch’s year‑end roundup spotlights the ten most influential Duct Tape Marketing Podcast episodes of 2025. The selected shows capture how small‑business marketers navigated rapid AI adoption, evolving privacy rules, and the rise of voice‑first search. Each episode delivers actionable...
Unlock AI’s Hidden Power: Why This Simple Prompt Hack Gets You Better Results Every Time
In this episode, Christopher S. Penn explains why structuring prompts as "think, explain, then answer" yields better results than "think, answer, then explain". He reveals that because large language models predict each token sequentially, providing an explanation first gives the...
B2B Marketing Strategies: A Complete Guide
Neil Patel’s B2B content marketing guide argues that volume‑driven tactics no longer deliver pipeline. He proposes a revenue‑first system where every piece is filtered by its impact on sales and aligned with buyer intent. The post outlines proven tactics—pain‑first topics,...
Top Tracking Issues We Help Our Clients With
NP Digital outlines the most common data‑tracking failures that undermine marketing ROI, from biased attribution and GA4 revenue gaps to consent‑management lapses and fragmented cross‑device IDs. The firm recommends a systematic audit, unified taxonomy, and integration of GA4 with a...
Discover Why MarketingProfs B2B Forum Feels Like Home for Marketing Professionals
In this episode, Christopher S. Penn reflects on the MarketingProfs B2B Forum in Boston, highlighting how meticulous care—from venue design to fine dining—creates a welcoming, "home‑like" atmosphere that fosters genuine connection among B2B marketers. He notes that this nurturing environment transforms...
Why Your Business Needs a Marketing Operating System
John Jantsch’s latest post argues that traditional campaign‑centric marketing is outdated for small businesses. He introduces the Marketing Operating System (MOS) as a unified framework that aligns strategy, execution, and measurement. The MOS turns ad‑hoc tactics into repeatable processes, leveraging...
Grow Your Business with the Marketing Hourglass Framework
John Jantsch introduces the Marketing Hourglass™ framework, a systematic model that maps the entire customer journey from discovery to advocacy. Designed for small‑business owners, it replaces fragmented tactics with a repeatable process that drives measurable results. The framework emphasizes data‑driven actions,...
Why Great Employees Don’t Always Make Great Managers
The Duct Tape Marketing post and accompanying podcast reveal that high‑performing employees often stumble when thrust into managerial roles because the skill set required to lead differs from that needed to execute. Host John Jantsch and guest Ashley Herd argue...
Unlocking Disney-Level Event Success: Why MAICON’s Small Touches Create Magic
Christopher Penn compares top‑tier events to Disney World, emphasizing that meticulous, low‑friction details turn a good conference into a magical experience. He highlights MAICON’s operational excellence—clear signage, fast lunch pickups, constant coffee, protein‑rich breakfasts, and generous breaks—that keep attendees energized,...
The Most Powerful Growth Engine in AI: Freemium Fueled Word of Mouth
Sean Ellis explains that AI product growth hinges on a freemium model that creates an instant "wow" moment, enabling frictionless first use and sparking word‑of‑mouth referrals. He argues AI lacks latent demand, so viral adoption depends on users experiencing powerful...
Bridging the AI Gap: Why Infrastructure Remains the Biggest Hurdle in AI Automation
Christopher S. Penn explains that the biggest obstacle to AI automation today isn’t the models themselves but the infrastructure needed to move from simple prompts to fully automated workflows. He outlines three skill curves—prompting, building mini‑apps (Gems, GPTs, Claude Projects),...
The 2025 State of Digital Agencies: It’s Still Rough Out There, but Slowly Improving; and Is AI Really a Threat?
The 2025 State of Digital Agencies survey shows a mixed but improving picture. Half of agencies reported revenue growth, while net margins rose for roughly a third. Concerns about AI as a business threat increased to 53%, and two‑thirds worry...
Using AI to Convert More Leads and Save Time
Joe Gagnon, CEO of Raynmaker, discussed on the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast how his AI‑native sales platform helps small businesses automate lead handling, scheduling, and payments. The solution blends conversational AI with workflow automation, offering 24/7 call coverage for $500‑$1,000...
36 Video and Podcast Content Frequently Asked Questions
Content Monsta published a comprehensive FAQ guide titled “36 Video and Podcast Content Frequently Asked Questions.” The article, authored by A. Lee Judge, answers common queries about remote recording workflows, technical support options, pricing structures, return on investment, and performance...
Mastering Generative AI: How One Workshop Transformed B2B Marketing in London
The episode recounts the launch of Trust Insights' first Generative AI for B2B Marketers workshop in London, which sold out to 25 participants eager to learn practical AI applications. Host Christopher Penn explains why the timing and location were crucial,...
