What’s it take to be a content marketing pioneer and Wall Street Journal bestselling author? Find out from this week’s podcast guest, Ann Handley! Episode #27 of the Wild Business Growth podcast HAS DROPPED and features the Queen of Content Marketing, who is the world’s first Chief Content Officer. She rocks that title at MarketingProfs, the leading marketing education company she’s led to unprecedented heights over the past 17 years. Listen to the episode on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and your other favorite audio platforms – subscribe and leave a 5-star review if you can’t help but smile listening to Ann!

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Hear how entrepreneurs & innovators unleash creativity to grow bigger and better businesses. Hear from an exciting new guest every single week who’s turning wild ideas into wild growth. Guests include startup founders, product inventors, social media influencers, and much more. Hosted by our digital marketing dude Max Branstetter – that’s me!

Episode #27: Ann Handley – Queen of Content Marketing, Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs

Ann Handley, the Queen of Content Marketing, World’s First Chief Content Officer, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, and Keynote Speaker joins the show to share how she’s grown MarketingProfs to new content heights. Ann and I connected over social media, where she consistently puts out amazing content on her @MarketingProfs Twitter, @AnnHandley Twitter, and @AnnHandley Instagram. It was incredibly surreal speaking to such a marketing icon about her story and the subjects she’s so passionate about. Ann is a remarkably smart and creative thought leader who is above all a TON of FUN! This episode covers everything from how she became a digital pioneer to how to find your voice. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

  • How she became the world’s first Chief Content Officer
  • Why you should stay curious and test out new ideas
  • How she sold her previous business, ClickZ, just 3 years after launch
  • Why David Meerman Scott’s bestseller The New Rules of Marketing and PR changed Ann’s life
  • How she decided to write Everybody Writes, her Wall Street Journal bestseller about writing
  • Why writing is so important today
  • Tips on staying creative while working from home
  • What skill she’s the best in the world at

Connect with Ann at AnnHandley.com, MarketingProfs at MarketingProfs.com, and sign up for Ann’s newsletter at AnnHandley.com/Newsletter.

Enjoy the show and sing “Happy Birthday” to Ann if you ever meet her! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

  • Intro
  • Growing MarketingProfs to New Content Heights
    • [8:42] @MarketingProfs & @AnnHandley Twitter
    • [9:14] How Ann got her role at MarketingProfs
    • [9:30] Allen Weiss
    • [10:10] Why Ann initially turned down MarketingProfs
    • [11:05] Why you should be careful who you say no to
    • [11:55] Lifestyle business
    • [12:10] USC Marshall School of Business
    • [12:55] What has been instrumental to MarketingProfs’ growth
    • [14:20] The power of effective webinars
    • [15:17] MarketingProfs was one of the first consistent webinar companies
    • [15:55] B2B Marketing Forum
    • [16:15] When Ann knew MarketingProfs would be successful
    • [16:35] Why blogging was the turning point for her personal brand
    • [17:30] Why David Meerman Scott’s bestseller The New Rules of Marketing and PR changed Ann’s life
    • [18:48] How Ann divide’s her time between MarketingProfs and her personal brand
    • [20:10] Tina Fey High Five
    • [21:27] Connect with Hippo Direct at HippoDirect.com for all your mailing list, email list, digital marketing, and podcasting needs
  • Everybody Writes & the Ever-Growing Importance of Writing
    • [21:50] How Ann decided to write Everybody Writes, her Wall Street Journal bestseller about writing
    • [22:05] Ann’s first book Content Rules
    • [22:15] Wiley
    • [23:20] The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White
    • [23:40] Why everybody hates writing
    • [24:10] Why writing is so important today
    • [25:40] My Twitter
    • [26:08] My Instagram
    • [26:30] Writing tips for beginners
    • [27:02] Why you can’t be afraid of writing
    • [27:37] Marketing voice vs. your real voice
    • [28:55] How Ann inspired change in an Instagram photographer’s captions
  • Inspiration & Creativity: People, Hobbies, and Resources
    • [30:30] What Ann does to stay creative
    • [30:45] Reading non-business books
    • [31:08] How getting outside helps to clear your head
    • [31:44] Ann’s tiny house office
    • [32:04] Starbucks
    • [32:55] Defeating writer’s block
    • [33:12] Tips on staying creative while working from home
    • [33:28] Why it’s more important than you think to get dressed every morning
  • Wild Business Shoutout of the Week
    • [34:51] CB Insights newsletter, CEO Anand Sanwal
    • [36:00] What Ann likes about the newsletter
    • [36:28] Our newsletter is the Hippo Digest – your Weekly Recap of Creative Marketing
    • [37:02] Ann’s Instagram
    • [37:28] How she approaches Instagram
    • [37:52] Ann’s face as a cookie cutter
    • [38:02] Why you should just share what delights you
    • [38:12] Subscribe to Ann’s amazing newsletter Total Annarchy!
    • [38:20] Why you should just have fun with everything you do
  • Rapid-Fire Q&A
    • [39:25] Ann’s favorite word
    • [39:38] Her unique talent she’s the best in the world at
    • [39:55] Instagram Stories
    • [40:45] What Ann would eat if she had to eat the same thing every day
    • [40:55] What she’d listen to if it had to be the same song every time
    • [41:20] Connect with Ann at AnnHandley.com and MarketingProfs at MarketingProfs.com
    • [41:35] Ann’s final thoughts
    • [42:22] Subscribe to Ann’s amazing newsletter Total Annarchy!
    • [42:35] Sign up for the Hippo Digest – your Weekly Recap of Creative Marketing
    • [42:53] Love books just like Ann does? Check out the favorite books of Wild Business Growth Podcast guests
    • [43:05] Connect with Hippo Direct at HippoDirect.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
    • [43:07] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn at @MaxBranstetter
    • [43:15] Subscribe to the Wild Business Growth podcast and leave a 5-star review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts and more!
    • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – Jungle Tribe – provided by Jamendo

How do I start a podcast?

How’d you like a podcast of your own? Email me at max@hippodirect.com with questions on any part of the podcasting process:

  • Podcast Planning
  • Podcast Production
  • Podcast Promotion
  • More!

We’re happy to start out with a free 30-minute consultation and provide some helpful resources that have been instrumental in getting the Wild Business Growth Podcast up and rolling and connecting with high-quality guests. We love making your podcast the best it can be. Let your podcast Run Wild!

The Handley Ann can! That’s all for Episode #27.  Stay tuned for a new wonderful guest every single Wednesday morning! Let us know any guests you’d like to see on the show and follow along for your favorite marketing tips, business tips, and podcasts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube. You’ll especially enjoy this list of the favorite books of Wild Business Growth Podcast guests. Sign up for the Hippo Digest email newsletter for your Weekly Recap of Creative Marketing. Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!