Creating Intimacy With Words | with Ann Handley
Brand to Fan Show EP08
We’re renaming the Brand to Fan show once again for our guest! In this episode of the Brand to fAnn show—see what we did there?—host Lauren Teague welcomes Ann, who is a best-selling author and digital marketing visionary, among many other things.
The pair sit down to talk about how the rise of generative A.I. may change writing as we know it forever and what we should really be doing to serve our audience best.
Episode 08
In this episode of the Brand to Fan Show, Lauren Teague sits down with Ann Handley, the world’s first Chief Content Officer and a principal at training and education company MarketingProfs. Together, they discuss how generative A.I. is changing the game for writing and what it means to serve your audience in the best way possible.
Ann shares her insights on creating intimacy with your audience through words. She also emphasizes the importance of giving yourself grace on brand growth, revealing how long it really takes to find your brand voice.
Throughout the episode, Lauren and Ann give tips on amplifying the relationship with your audience, getting personal with your newsletter community, and measuring activity around brand affinity.
Whether you're a entrepreneur, marketer, or simply someone interested in creating closer connections with your audience, this episode is a must-listen. With valuable takeaways for everyone, tune in to learn from Ann Handley's wealth of knowledge on serving your audience on a personal level and creating intimacy with your fans.
“ I don’t think it’s about finding [your voice]. I think it’s about…engaging your voice a little differently. Evolving it and giving yourself permission, but also, gaining the confidence to let your voice ripen and evolve, then sharing it.
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The Guest: Ann Handley
“fAnn Handley” is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author focused on helping businesses worldwide escape marketing mediocrity to ignite tangible results. Her work has appeared in Entrepreneur, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Chicago Public Radio, and the Financial Times. IBM named her one of seven people shaping modern marketing. More than 50K people subscribe to her popular email newsletter.
She is the world’s first Chief Content Officer, a principal at training and education company MarketingProfs, and a regular speaker at events globally.
Ann is also a mom, dog person, and writer. Her favorite food is kale salad. But don’t hold that against her.
WHERE TO FIND Ann:
Ann’s Website and her Newsletter
In this Episode
2:17 - The world’s first Chief Content Officer
5:50 - Generative A.I. is changing the writing game
11:23 - Using subtitles as a marketing medium
15:35 - Creating intimacy with your audience using only words
20:17 - How long it REALLY takes to find your brand voice
23:09 - Giving yourself grace on brand growth
29:31 - Amplifying the relationship with your audience
32:19 - Getting personal with your newsletter community
40:31 - What Ann is a fan of right now
42:35 - Ann’s favorite piece of fanwear
The TL;DL wrap up
What are you a fan of?
I'm a fan of this little nugget right next to me, who is my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. His name is Auggie and he's 2 years old. I'm a massive fan of his.
I love almost any kind of writing. People will ask me often, “what's your favorite book?” My favorite book is the one i'm reading right now, because if I don't like it, then I just abandon it.
I love being outdoors. I have a rule where i'm outdoors for 1 hour every day, no matter the weather, no matter what's going on. It's my 1 hour of just rebalancing and and connecting to myself, because we live in such an online world.
What is your favorite piece of Fanwear you own?
I do love a good Boston Red Sox game, just because I love the experience of going to a Red Sox game. I have a Red Sox jersey that I wear to games, so I think that would have to be it.
Show Credits
Brand to Fan Show is produced by Teague FC and supported by FanWagn
Audio production by Bryan Griggs / Griggs Production
Producers: Kimberly Voorhis, Ashley Ruiz and Carrie Hellbusch
Video Editing by Garrett Teague
And I’m your host, Lauren Teague.
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