As we close out 2024, the team at The Hop is reflecting on the trends, insights, and surprises that defined this year in marketing. From the evolution of AI and its role in supporting—not replacing—human creativity, to the rise of lead automation and unexpected podcast highlights, this wrap-up episode covers it all. Join Matt Taylor-Farrington, along with Martin, Nick, and Sam from Purple Bunny Marketing as they share their top takeaways, favourite moments, and predictions for what’s next in 2025.

Matt Taylor-Farrington chats with Jamin from Conetix about the critical topic of web hosting security. They delve into the most common threats businesses face, how to evaluate if your hosting provider is adequately protecting your data, and the key security features to look for when choosing a provider.

https://conetix.com.au/joomla-toolkit/

In this episode of The Hop, Matt sits down with Martin from Purple Bunny Marketing to explore the secrets to achieving standout email open rates. They dive into crafting irresistible subject lines, the power of segmentation for small businesses, and the importance of timing your sends for maximum impact.

Martin also shares how advanced personalisation techniques (beyond just using a name) can transform your email campaigns, along with practical tools and strategies to track and improve performance over time. Whether you’re an email marketing newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help your messages cut through the clutter.

Matt Taylor-Farrington is joined by Nick from Purple Bunny Marketing to explore the concept of “Don’t Blame the Channel” in social media marketing. They dive into common mistakes brands make when they attribute poor performance to the platform rather than their content. Nick shares practical advice on how businesses can identify if the content itself is the issue and avoid the temptation to jump to the latest trends just for relevance.

This week Matt sits down with Kira from River 94.9 to discuss how businesses can supercharge their radio ads for the year’s biggest shopping events: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. Tune in as they explore effective strategies for making your radio ads stand out, from capturing the excitement of holiday sales to crafting messages that resonate amid the holiday noise. Kira shares expert insights on creating urgency, designing irresistible offers, and tailoring promotions to draw in customers during high-traffic sales periods. Get ready to learn actionable tips for boosting your holiday sales through the power of radio!

Matt sits down with Sam from the Purple Bunny Marketing team to dive into the world of user generated content (UGC) and why it’s transforming modern marketing. Sam breaks down what UGC is and how it differs from traditional marketing content, making a compelling case for why businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, should embrace it. He also addresses common misconceptions that may hold businesses back from exploring UGC and provides practical steps to start integrating it into your marketing strategy. If you’re ready to let your community tell your brand’s story, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode of The Hop, Matt Taylor-Farrington teams up with marketing expert John Dwyer from the Institute of Wow to unveil The Facebook Contest Blueprint — a proven strategy that can guarantee leads for your business. John explains why running a Facebook contest is one of the most effective tools to drive engagement and build brand loyalty. They discuss the the benefits and challenges that come with it. Plus, John shares insights from one of the most successful Facebook contests he’s seen. If you’re ready to turn social media engagement into business growth, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode of The Hop, Matt Taylor-Farrington is joined by Kira Colledge from River 94.9 to explore how businesses can leverage radio in their branding and strategic advertising efforts. Kira dives into the 60/40 mix, explaining how to balance brand building and short-term activations through radio.

They also discuss the latest data from Deloitte, revealing that with shrinking attention spans, brands now need up to 19 interactions to capture a customer's consideration—up from the traditional 7. Kira shares actionable insights on how to navigate this shift and use radio to create impactful touchpoints.