🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

00:01 – From Intern to CEO: Sara Nay’s Leadership Journey

Sara opens up about her incredible 15-year journey within Duct Tape Marketing, going from intern to CEO. She shares how experiencing every role from account manager to COO has made her a more empathetic and effective leader.

03:00 – What Strategy First™ Really Means

Sara explains Duct Tape’s foundational Strategy First™ model and how it helps small businesses avoid the chaos of disconnected marketing efforts. Strategy isn't just about tactics, it’s about creating clarity and alignment before execution begins.

06:00 – Why Small Business Marketing Feels Overwhelming (and How to Fix It)

Sara breaks down why so many small business owners feel stretched thin, managing scattered teams, piecemeal services, and conflicting advice. Her solution? Centralize leadership and let strategy guide all marketing activities.

08:00 – The New Era: Using AI to Turn Strategy into Execution

Discover how Duct Tape Marketing integrates AI to assist in strategy research, streamline execution, and ensure that marketing plans actually get implemented. Sara explains how AI amplifies human creativity instead of replacing it.

11:00 – The Strategy Pyramid: Aligning Business, Marketing, and Team

Sara introduces the Duct Tape Marketing Strategy Pyramid, starting with business goals, moving into marketing strategy, and finishing with team strategy. The key takeaway: your team (human and AI) can only succeed if aligned with a clear plan.

16:00 – Connecting Visibility to the Customer Journey

Visibility isn’t just about being seen, it’s about guiding customers through a journey from awareness to advocacy. Sara shares how small businesses can craft effective customer journeys that lead to repeat sales and referrals.

18:00 – Sara’s Personal Visibility Evolution

From avoiding public speaking to stepping into the spotlight as CEO and author, Sara discusses how she built her visibility muscle and offers encouragement for women entrepreneurs doing the same.

20:00 – Writing Unchained: Why Sara’s First Book Had to Be Written

Sara talks about her upcoming book, Unchained: Breaking Free From Broken Marketing Models, and her passion for helping small business owners regain control of their marketing.

22:00 – Sara’s Advice for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs

Sara closes with a refreshing message: marketing overwhelm is normal, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. She offers practical advice on simplifying strategy, building supportive systems, and easing into greater visibility.