The Marketing Gateway

If you didn't already know, and couldn't tell by todays background, I am A HUGE Lego fan! So why not make episode 50 all about Lego?

Today we are talking about the evolution of Lego, and how they almost fumbled the bag... er... the box!

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and s...

Here is part 2 of my interview with Brandon! This was a really fun interview for me, so I am excited to share it with everyone!

Brandon's bio:

"Better questions reveal better truth."

Founder and CEO of Words Have Impact, a content agency that creates thought leadership that humans love, and that AI remembers.

Also founder of Human Driven Understanding, a market research company that reveals how and why a company's best clients buy so that they can replicate the journey and increase revenue.

Contact Brandon: https://www...

From neuroscience facts to marketing know how, Brandon truly has it all!

Today is part 1 of our interview, and I really enjoyed getting to speak with him. Tune in tomorrow for part 2!

Brandon's bio:

"Better questions reveal better truth."

Founder and CEO of Words Have Impact, a content agency that creates thought leadership that humans love, and that AI remembers.

Also founder of Human Driven Understanding, a market research company that reveals how and why a company's best clients buy so that they can replicate...

Unfortunately, our planned episode for today didn't work out, but thankfully, Microsoft gave me something to talk about instead!

As we have discussed recently, AI is becoming more and more integrated into the things we do daily, and the most recent example is Microsoft's latest move.

What are your opinions on their most recent change? Let us know in the comments below!

SOURCES:

https://electroiq.com/stats/microsoft-365-statistics/

https://expertinsights.com/email-security/microsoft-365-usage-and-security-statistics-for-2024

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us...

Does customer service really help with marketing? As a matter of fact, yes!

Word of mouth is extremely important to consumers when looking into a brand, so a bad experience for one person could completely put another off your brand without any input from you!

And while taking care of your customer is important, taking care of your employees is important too. They are often considered the face of the brand after all!

Sources:

https://www.reddit.com/r/rant/comments/1pyvbre/is_this_just...

While AI can be a helpful tool, it can also be pretty unreliable. Not only to you have proof from other people, but it even admits it itself!

If that's the case, why use it for marketing?

In today's episode, I'll give some examples of how to effectively use AI for marketing.

Love it or hate it, AI is becoming a bigger part of the world around us, so maybe we can use it for good!

SOURCES:

https://www.nielsen.com...

Last time you went shopping, do you remember seeing an ad for a particular brand?

RMNs, you've definitely seen them, but maybe you didn't know it had a name. Now you do!

In today's episode, we talk all about them, their advantages, and those pesky disadvantages!

SOURCES:

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/the-future-retail-media-networks-heres-what-the-numbers-say/742455/

https://www.sellerapp.com/blog/retail-media-networks/

https://martech.org/why-we-care-about-retail-media-networks/

https://www.emarketer.com/learningcenter/guides/definition-retail-media-networks/

https://www.aidigital.com/blog/retail-media-networks

Drop the beat, literally!

The future of advertising is here, with no sound required!

Do you think your ads can speak without a sound? No sound ads aren’t just silence; they're a strategy to engage viewers in a busy digital world. Grabbing the attention of the viewer is the important part!

SOURCES:

https://www.moreaboutadvertising.com/2025/09/silent-creative-how-no-sound-ads-win-attention/

https://www.wtaeadvertising.com/post/a-quiet-approach-loud-results-why-silent-ads-are-winning-in-2025

https://www.nextdropdesign.com/resources/sound-off-video-ads

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2019/05/10/the-silent-video-generation-10-ways-to-make-great-videos-without-sound/

...

What is treatonomics and how is it useful for marketing? Find out in today's episode!

Remember to make it easy and stress free for your consumer. That's what it is all about!

SOURCES:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/09/from-lipsticks-to-concerts-the-treatonomics-trend-is-booming.html

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/the-treatonomics-trend-explained-6494332/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/treatonomics-how-small-luxuries-became-america-s-big-coping-mechanism/ar-AA1KobCN

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and f...

The heyday of influencer marketing may be over in 2026!

Today we are discussing the impact of AI and bots on the industry and why brands need to rethink their strategies.

Important insight: Focus on real relationships, not vanity metrics!

SOURCES:

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/tilly-norwood-creator-responds-fears-over-AI-actors/story?id=128262727

https://www.404media.co/hack-reveals-the-a16z-backed-phone-farm-flooding-tiktok-with-ai-influencers/ (FULL: https://archive.ph/20uwc)

https://www.fraud0.com/resources/tiktok-bots-fake-accounts-scam/

https://www.vogue.com/article/from-labubus-to-brain-rot-how-2025-unfolded-on-tiktok

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates...

Are you still chasing the first page of Google? With AI searches taking over, being on page one isn’t enough anymore! 

Remember: Established brands have an edge, but new players need to innovate fast!

This is the final part of my series this week, but tune in next week as we look forward to 2026!

SOURCES:

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/new-front-door-to-the-internet-winning-in-the-age-of-ai-search

https://www.getpassionfruit.com/blog/are-ai-search-referrals-the-new-clicks

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast host...

Is email marketing becoming obsolete?

Join us as we uncover the harsh truth about email engagement in today’s digital world!

From spam filters to inbox blindness, it’s clear that we need to adapt!

This is part 4 of my 5 part series!

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean share...

Feeling overwhelmed by AI hype? 

In today's episode, we unpack the reality of AI’s impact on marketing and introduce the idea of Authentic Humanity.

Authenticity is key in building trust with customers. 

AI can be a tool, but it’s not replacing the human touch anytime soon! 

This is part 3 of my 5 part series this week!

SOURCES:
https://aimagazine.com/news/mit-why-95-of-enterprise-ai-investments-fail-to-deliver

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in...

In today's episode, we dive into how major brands like Disney, Southwest Airlines, and Target strayed from their core values and faced the fallout.

The lesson? Staying true to your brand matters more than short-term gains!

This is part 2 of my 5 part series this week!

SOURCES:
https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/20/airline-starts-charging-double-plus-size-passengers-25651583/

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/target-outlines-plans-to-grow-sales-by-15-billion-by-2030.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2025/12/15/target-withstood-dei-boycotts-to-show-signs-of-reputation-recovery/

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis...

In 2025, many brands like Apple TV and Microsoft made subtle changes that improved their image!

But then there are brands like the Philadelphia Museum of Art that learned the hard way that if you don’t engage your community, you might end up worse than you were before!

This is part 1 of a 5 part series I'm doing this week!

SOURCES:

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/12/02/rebrands-logo-2025/

https://www.fastcompany.com/91459850/7-designers-on-the-most-influential-rebrands-of-2025

https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/29/grammarly-rebrands-to-superhuman-launches-a-new-ai-assistant/

https://www.fastcompany.com/91375345/la-z-boy-rebrand-new-logo

AI can’t do it all!

Did you know an AI named Claudius was tasked with running a vending machine and failed spectacularly? From selling products at a loss to bizarre identity claims, this episode highlights the amusing (and concerning) limitations of AI.

SOURCE: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Today, I'm speaking with the 2 people that help keep this show going, Trish Mertens and Holly Wooten!

Trish is in charge of scheduling for the podcast, but she is also our interview coordinator on the RPG side. Holly is the in charge of production, but also does data analysis on the RPG side.

I enjoyed getting to have a casual chat with them, while getting to introduce them to our audience, and I look forward to getting to record our 2nd part!

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Ever thought about how superheroes could relate to research?

Superman and Batman represent the two distinct styles of insights research!

While Superman can embody quantitative analysis with his broad strokes, Batman dives deep into a more qualitative understanding.

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world o...

What's it like being in marketing and talking to scientists?

Find out today in part 2 of my interview with Ed Lahue!

Ed's plug: https://sbdc.missouri.edu/

Ed Lahue, MBA is an Innovation Consultant in St. Louis. Ed helps technology start-ups and established businesses expand their innovation efforts through supporting various universities and SBDC centers. He counsels and teaches new business modeling, market research and other startup curriculum.

With 40 years of experience, Ed has an extensive background in innovation, strategic marketing and branding...

Have you ever wondered how emotions shape group discussions?

Today we are diving into the unpredictable world of focus groups and how a professional moderator can guide the conversation!

Don't underestimate the power of skilled moderation, it's the key to unlocking genuine insights!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean s...

Think a high NPS equals success? Think again!

In this episode, we discuss the pitfalls of relying on NPS as a measure of customer loyalty.

Key Insight: Context matters! Customers have different reasons for their recommendations.

SOURCES:
The One Number You Need to Grow
https://nashc.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/the-one-number-you-need-to-know.pdf

Decomposing Brand Loyalty: An Examination of Loyalty Subcomponents, Product Price Range, Consumer Personality, and Willingness to Pay
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/2/189

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Today we are diving in the the incredible history of friend and fellow marketing mentor, Ed Lahue!

This is part 1 of 2. Tune in for part 2 on Tuesday, December 16th!

Ed Lahue, MBA is an Innovation Consultant in St. Louis. Ed helps technology start-ups

and established businesses expand their innovation efforts through supporting various

universities and SBDC centers. He counsels and teaches new business modeling, market

research and other startup curriculum.

With 40 years of experience, Ed has an extensive background in innovation...

Ever lost a customer over just a few cents?

Listen to my story from my McDonald's days and learn how small mistakes can lead to big consequences in customer relationships.

It’s a wake-up call for all businesses to prioritize customer satisfaction!

What’s the craziest reason you’ve heard for someone leaving a brand?

SOURCES:

https://hbr.org/2014/10/the-value-of-keeping-the-right-customers

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22870250/nft-beanie-baby-price-guide-bubble-princess-value

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1236458377/charity-roundup-donations-stores-fundraising

A...

Think customer service is just about making the sale? Think again!

In this episode, we discuss a pivotal moment in my career that taught me how crucial service is for success.

Picture sources (In order of appearance):

Miniseries at https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/anonymous-person-paying-with-their-cell-phone-gm1447777322-485498281

Porta from https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/multi-ethnic-group-of-people-having-group-therapy-session-gm1372536439-441614679

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-01-28/gamestop-gme-squeeze-should-i-invest-and-buy-shares-of-the-hot-stock

Springtime78 at https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/kleptomania-gm537906532-95583437

Rob...

Remember Flo from Progressive? She’s not just a face; she’s a marketing genius!

In our latest podcast, we explore how mascots like Flo and the Aflac Duck have skyrocketed brand awareness and success. They’re fun, memorable, and can capture your audience's attention like nothing else!

Who do you think is the most effective mascot?

SOURCES:

Mascots by Jeff Marzick

https://www.theculturecrush.com/feature/mascots

Handsome Dan: A 130-year-old legacy

https...

Console wars: a battle of brands and strategies!

The secret?

Knowing your customer better than your competitor! Sega’s victory against Nintendo shows the power of understanding your audience!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speaks to people who are working in...

Planning is everything!

In this episode, we uncover how the G-STIC framework helps marketers avoid pitfalls by clearly defining goals, strategies, and tactics.

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speaks to people who are working in various marketing roles - creative agencies, brand managers, MarCom p...

Ever thought about how brands shape your identity?

We’re uncovering how brands influence our identities in our latest episode. From the cool guy with a Mustang to the geek with a Prius, our choices define us! 

ARTICLE

https://www.scribd.com/document/734592400/schouten-mcalexander-1995

BAUM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Baum_(surgeon)

ATTRIBUTION

Leather jacket photo by Adrian Ordonez on Unsplash

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podca...

Ever heard of the infamous Rolling Rock ads featuring a fictitious VP of Marketing?

Their outrageous Moonvertising campaign aimed to spark conversation but left many confused instead.

SOURCES: SCHLITZ

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/04/06/the-ad-that-made-schlitz-infamous/

https://everything-everywhere.com/the-schlitz-mistake/

https://vinepair.com/articles/schlitz-history-ad-campaign/

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/schlitz-vintage-ads/

SOURCES: ROLLING ROCK

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/magazine/14Ideas-Section2-C-t-009.html (Archive: https://archive.ph/4L4kY)

https://vinepair.com/articles/rolling-rock-moonvertising-hoax/

https://www.wsj.com/a...

Let's take a road trip and learn more about outdoor advertising and billboards, one of the most reliable strategies for getting eyeballs from everyday people... but also one of the least-used among many types of products, brands and organizations!

Sean in St. Louis makes the case for why outdoor advertising is useful... and how to do it right!

NOTE: No motorists were harmed in the collection of the road trip footage in the Youtube version of this podcast! But it did make a long drive a lot more entertaining as Sean searched for billboards...

Ever wondered why it's called "Black Friday"? Let's find out in today's episode!

SOURCE: https://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wordroutes/the-origins-of-black-friday/

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speaks to people who are working in various marketing roles - creative agencies, brand managers, MarCom professionals, PR p...

From a family day, to a shopping day, and now back to a family day!

Let's talk about the shift in the meaning of Thanksgiving in today's episode!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speaks to people who are working in various marketing roles - c...

Ever wondered what makes Coca-Cola so irresistible?

Dive into the secrets behind the world’s favorite drink with us!

Coca-Cola has thrived not just on its recipe but on clever marketing. It’s a product people want, not need!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speak...

Misinformation isn't always malicious. Sometimes you're just that, misinformed!

Today's episode is all about Dr. Herta Herzog and how we are giving her her rightful spot in the history of insights research!

Links to what was mentioned in the episode:

https://www.academia.edu/5878704/The_Founding_Mothers_of_Communication_Research_Toward_A_History_of_a_Gendered_Assemblage?auto=download&auto_download_source=social-news

https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/90597/sopolis-herta-herzog-1910-2010.pdf?sequence=-1&isAllowed=y&lnkname=sopolis-herta-herzog-1910-2010.pdf

How important is art in marketing? How is marketing evolving? And how is technology evolving the marketing landscape?

Find out this and more in my interview with Wes Morgan!

Adventures in Advertising Wes invested the first 15 years of his career fine-tuning skills as a marketer in full-service advertising agency environments in New York, Los Angeles, Raleigh (NC), Miami and St. Louis. Brand assignments include a long list of well known and some lesser known brands such as Matchbox Toys, The United States Marine Corps, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Pepsi, Campbell's Soup, Se...

Our trilogy of episodes concludes with the lessons Sony learned from the disastrous launch of the PlayStation 3 allowing them to find huge success with the PlayStation 4...

...and Microsoft failing to learn the same lessons from the botched launch of the Xbox One, leading to a situation today where the once-valuable Xbox brand is now permanently tarnished while the PlayStation brand is still riding high.

It's all about marketing, and it's all here on The Marketing Gateway!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly...

Ever wondered how the Xbox 360 became a gaming powerhouse?

It all started with a bold marketing strategy that shifted the gaming landscape!

Find out how Microsoft turned what many would consider a massive loss on the original Xbox into a monumental win with the Xbox 360! What’s your take on the evolution of gaming consoles?

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests fro...

Did you know that Microsoft once tried to compete with the iPod?

In this week's episode, we dive into the story of the Zune and what went wrong for Microsoft. The key takeaway? Just throwing money at a product doesn’t guarantee success. Understanding your audience is everything!

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The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of https://www.researchplan.com/) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sea...

What lead Jolene to the MBA program at SIUE, and what big idea did her group have for Little Debbie? Find out this, and more, in part 2 of our interview!

Jolene Sherman is a longtime digital advertising and media leader who’s passionate about helping businesses grow smarter. With nearly two decades of experience across media sales, ad-tech, and business development, she now serves as Senior Director of Enterprise Solutions at Fluency, where she helps organizations streamline operations and unlock new revenue through automation. Jolene has led high-performing teams at Lee Enterprises, the St. Louis Po...

How does someone with an Elementary Education degree pivot into marketing? What was marketing like at the beginning of the internet age? Let's find out in today's interview with Jolene Sherman!

Contact information:

Jolene Sherman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolene-sherman/

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of The Research & Planning Group, Inc.) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.

Every week, Sean shares insights about the wo...

Southwest Airlines used to be one of the most beloved airlines in North America and one of the poster children of business school case studies. But recently, they've been under the control of an activist investor hedge fund and have been forced to become like every other airline... a move customers hate and that is ruining their brand.

Why did Southwest make these decisions, and what should they do to correct their course?

The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of ...