We'd love to hear what's actually working for you in 2026! Here are the channels crushing it right now:

🎙️ PODCASTING - The Highest ROAS Champion

Why it's #1: Podcasting delivers a 5.6x ROAS - the highest return among ALL marketing channels. Whether you're advertising on podcasts OR hosting your own show, the ROI is unmatched.

The Numbers:

• 70% brand recall from podcast ads

• 59% of B2B decision-makers listen during work hours

• 52% completion rate (people actually finish episodes!)

• 80% of listeners trust their favorite host like a close friend

Real Examples:

• Sagemark HR: Launched podcast → 9 new clients within a year → now ranks #1 on Google for their category

• Upshift: Converted 50%+ of guest interviews into revenue

• Rebar Technology: Engaged 48 ICP executives through interviews, warming cold prospects

Best for: B2B, thought leadership, relationship-building, high-ticket sales
Your own show creates: Content marketing + SEO + relationships + sales enablement + brand authority - all in ONE channel!

Other Top Performers:

🔍 Content Marketing & SEO - CAC: $50-300 | Timeline: 6-18 months
Example: 40% of pipeline from organic at 70% lower CAC

🤝 Community-Driven - Cost: Time only
Example: 300% increase in trial signups from genuine engagement

🚀 Product-Led Growth - CAC: $10-100
Example: Simple "invite" feature drove 35% of new signups

🔗 Partnerships & Integrations
Example: 235% signup boost, 33% lower CPA

💬 What's YOUR top channel? Share:

• Your best performing channel

• Approximate CAC and ROAS

• For podcast users: Advertising on shows, hosting your own, or both?

Let's learn from each other! 🎓

Key Takeaway: Podcasting offers 5.6x ROAS when advertising and even better returns when it's your own show. The best channel? Often the one your competitors are ignoring!

In this episode of The Marketing Drive, Chris Doelle tackles a common obstacle businesses face when adopting artificial intelligence: internal resistance, particularly from IT departments. He explains that mid-sized companies are often the hardest hit by this challenge, as IT gatekeepers can slow down or block AI implementation. Chris offers practical advice on how to navigate this issue, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships and internal alliances to ensure a smooth and successful integration of AI into your business operations.

Key Takeaways

• The Challenge of AI Adoption: Mid-sized companies with dedicated IT departments often struggle to implement AI due to internal pushback and a desire to maintain the status quo. (Timestamp: [01:03])

• IT as Gatekeepers: IT departments can become a bottleneck, preventing experimentation and the adoption of new AI tools out of a need to protect systems and their own roles. (Timestamp: [01:58])

• The Role of External Consultants: Partnering with an outside AI consultant can help businesses identify the right opportunities and navigate internal politics. (Timestamp: [03:00])

• The Importance of Buy-In: To successfully implement AI, it is crucial to get buy-in from both the C-suite and the IT department, framing AI as a tool for empowerment rather than replacement. (Timestamp: [04:32])

• Empowering Your Team: The goal of AI integration should be to make your existing teams, including IT, more powerful and efficient, not to eliminate their roles. (Timestamp: [04:53])

Actionable Advice

1. Partner with Experts: If you are facing internal hurdles, consider bringing in an external AI consultant to provide an objective perspective and guide your strategy.

2. Build Alliances: Work to get buy-in from key stakeholders, including your IT department. Help them understand that AI is a tool that can enhance their capabilities.

3. Be Strategic: Don’t implement AI haphazardly. Analyze your business needs and identify where AI can provide the most value without disrupting your workflow.

About the Show

The Marketing Drive brings you short, actionable marketing messages you can use right now. Each episode, host Chris Doelle shares tips, tricks, and tidbits of marketing wisdom in bite-sized episodes perfect for your commute. No fluff, no theory—just practical advice you can implement immediately to get more customers and grow your business.