B2B service firms have been told to niche down, build helpful content and trust the funnel. But in today’s competitive market, where everyone is applying the same formula, it’s not enough to stand out. When every firm looks and sounds the same, buyers tune out.

In this episode, Host James Lawrence, Co-Founder of Rocket Agency, sits down with B2B messaging strategist Alex James to unpack a smarter way forward. You’ll learn why having a clear perspective is more powerful than having the best tips, tactics or templates - and how your point of view can become your biggest differentiator in a crowded market.

We dig into the dangers of short-term metrics, why most B2B content fails to convert and how B2B service firms can win more work without blowing big budgets. This one’s for marketers who are done chasing clicks and ready to build something better.

• Alex’s marketing journey and the story behind his viral post: A Niche is No Longer Enough
• What it means to have a “perspective” in B2B marketing and why it matters
• Why messaging is not the same as copywriting and why you should know the difference
• What to focus on when 99% of your audience isn’t ready to buy
• The unique marketing challenges faced by B2B service firms compared to B2B SaaS businesses
• How professional services firms use perspective to create perceived differentiation - when their offer isn’t obviously unique
• Why content built around “best practices” often fails to generate demand
• Real-world examples of perspective-led marketing - including what B2B marketers can learn from Donald Trump’s campaign messaging strategy

Alex James is a B2B messaging strategist and the founder of Minimalist Marketing Co, a Melbourne-based consultancy that works with B2B service firms across the US and Europe. Drawing on over a decade of experience and a journey that spans multiple marketing roles, viral TikToks and content that’s shaped entire client pipelines, Alex helps firms build standout perspectives that resonate with buyers.

You can follow Alex on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about...

What happens when a generation that grew up online starts leading your marketing conversations? Host James Lawrence speaks with Katy Richardson, Global Head of Marketing at student living app Housr, about how Gen Z - and soon Gen Alpha - are rewriting the rules of brand engagement.

• How Gen Z is already influencing both consumer and B2B buying decisions, and what that means for marketers
• Why user-generated and employee-generated content is now non-negotiable as part of a social strategy
• How to make the most of influencers by giving them creative license
• Short-form videos vs long videos - what wins on social media?
• How social commerce is changing the way younger audiences discover and buy products
• The role of traditional channels like out-of-home advertising in connecting with digital-first audiences
• Why younger consumers expect brands to take real action on purpose, ethics and sustainability
• How to meet Gen Z’s demand for fast, responsive and real-time communication

Katy Richardson is the Global Head of Marketing at student living app, Housr. With over 12 years of creative and marketing experience across Australia and the UK, she specialises in connecting brands with young, digitally native audiences. Prior to Housr, Katy led B2C marketing for UniDays and worked agency-side on Gen Z-led campaigns.

You can follow Katy on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

We’re halfway through 2025 and AI is the buzzword on everyone's lips. And while it’s changing marketing fast, is the hype legitimate? Host James Lawrence is joined by Rocket Agency’s co-founder, David Lawrence, to unpack what AI adoption actually looks like on the ground, and how Australian marketers can equip themselves for what’s to come - inside agencies, in-house teams and across different marketing roles.

• Reality check: Has AI lived up to the hype - or has it already surpassed it in some areas?
• Where today’s large language models (like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude) are genuinely delivering value, and where the hype still outweighs results
• The shift from AI anxiety to AI empowerment and what that means for marketers’ careers
• What it means to adopt an “AI-first” mindset across different levels of marketing maturity
• How voice prompting and tools like Wispr are helping break old habits and unlock better output
• Why your workflow, not the tool, should determine which AI platforms you use
• A realistic look at AI in recruiting, what employers are really looking for and how to future-proof your role
• Tips for staying current: trusted newsletters to read and pragmatic influencers to follow

David Lawrence is the MD and Co-Founder of Rocket, an award-winning Australian full-service digital marketing agency. He is also the co-author of the Amazon #1 best-selling marketing book, Smarter Marketer. David has presented at several events, including Inbound Boston, Search Marketing Summit, Mumbrella360, CEO Institute, and various seminars and in-house sessions.

You can follow David on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

What makes people say "yes"? Rocket Agency’s Co-Founder James Lawrence sits down with Dr. Robert Cialdini, the godfather of influence and the world’s foremost authority on the psychology of persuasion, to talk about the timeless principles behind his work, his seventh principle of influence - Unity - and how AI, ethics and empathy are shaping persuasion in modern marketing.

• Origin story: How Dr. Cialdini went “undercover” in multiple industries to discover the universal principles of influence
• A walkthrough of the original six principles - Reciprocity, Scarcity, Authority, Consistency, Liking and Social Proof
• The 7th principle - Unity: Why bonds formed by shared identity matter today
• The importance of ethics: Why marketers should use persuasion techniques truthfully and responsibly
• Influence vs cultural differences: How different regions (e.g., Australia, Asia, Scandinavia) prioritise different principles of influence
• The rise of AI: How marketers are using AI to apply Cialdini’s principles
• The science of “pre-suasion” and how setting context before your message boosts effectiveness
• Real-world examples of effective use of influence and persuasion from brands like Avis, L’Oreal and Best Buy

Dr. Robert Cialdini is a globally renowned psychologist and the bestselling author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Pre-Suasion, and Yes!. His groundbreaking research on why people say 'yes' has shaped the way professionals across marketing, sales, leadership and behavioral science approach persuasion.

He is often referred to as the godfather of influence, and his principles of influence drive ethical influence strategies today.

You can follow Dr. Cialdini on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

With the growth of AI and LLMs like ChatGPT, the question "Is Google dying?" is often being asked. In this episode, James Lawrence sits down with Rocket’s Head of SEO, Joe Alder, to cut through the hype and discuss the facts about how AI is impacting SEO and search traffic in 2025. The conversation is backed by Australian-first research from Rocket’s SEO team.

Also discussed are the similarities and differences as it relates to SEO and AIO. Whether you're a CMO under pressure to ‘AI everything’ or an in-house marketer navigating new search norms, this is your guide to what’s actually changing and importantly, what is not.

• The current landscape - a reality check on AI traffic and its actual impact on search behaviour
• How Google remains resilient amid AI growth
• AI Overviews - What they are and who they impact
• 6 practical strategies to rank in LLMs that actually work
• The importance of doing good SEO
• How to optimise technical SEO
• Why high-quality content creation matters
• How to structure for ranking high
• How to build brand authority
• How to monitor and adapt to the changing landscape
• The future - How AI and SEO will change in the next 1-5 years

Joe Alder is the Head of SEO at Rocket, where he leads all SEO services and projects. He has over 8 years of experience in implementing complex SEO campaigns and driving tangible results for B2C, B2B and government organisations. Over the course of his career, he has worked for notable brands such as Amazon, Qudos, P&O Cruises, PE Nation, Fujitsu, and Coates, among others.

You can follow Joe on LinkedIn.

Access our free webinar with AdNews on AI and SEO in 2025.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

In-house marketers and agency leaders don’t always speak the same language - but when they do, the results can be game-changing.

In this episode, host James Lawrence sits down with Drew McLellan, CEO of the Agency Management Institute, to unpack what makes agency relationships thrive or fail. Whether you're managing one agency or several, or considering switching partners altogether, this episode is for anyone wanting to bridge the in-house/agency gap.

• The top reason agency-client relationships break down: (communication) and how to fix
• How in-house marketers can improve agency performance through more transparency
• Why caring (and showing it) really matters to agencies
• The red flags that indicate when it’s time to walk away from your agency
• Why investing in building a true partnership with your agency pays off

Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for 25+ years and started his own agency, McLellan Marketing Group in 1995 after a five-year stint at Y&R. He also owns and runs the Agency Management Institute (AMI), which is a consultancy for small to medium-sized agencies that has been helping agency owners grow their agencies since the early 90s. Drew’s agency was a member of the organization for years before Drew acquired AMI and began to run it full-time. Drew’s often interviewed/quoted in Entrepreneur Magazine, New York Times, CNN, BusinessWeek, and many others. The Wall Street Journal calls him “one of 10 bloggers every entrepreneur should read.

You can follow Drew on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

People don’t buy luxury for utility. In high-end markets, purchase decisions are driven by emotion, identity and status - not features or price points. For marketers in the high-end space, this changes everything.

In this episode of Smarter Marketer, Giverny Reid - Director at creative property marketing firm &Only and former Creative and Marketing Director at Crown Group - breaks down what actually drives demand in premium categories.

• What sets luxury marketing apart from traditional marketing
• Why legacy and brand credibility matter more than ever
• How to genuinely harness scarcity and FOMO without any tricks
• Why real-world experiences still dominate in luxury and property marketing
• Using digital, AI and emerging technologies like AR/VR to spark desire
• Where most marketers get high-end marketing wrong

Giverny Reid is the Director of creative property marketing firm &Only, bringing over 15 years of experience in building and positioning premium brands in the luxury space. Previously, she was the Creative and Marketing Director at Crown Group, where she played a key role in shaping one of Australia’s most recognised luxury property brands.

Giverny’s work has earned her recognition across the industry, including being named ‘Marketer of the Year’ by realestate.com.au in 2022. She’s also been a finalist in the B&T Under 30 Awards for Design and has led major brand and event campaigns across Australia.

You can follow Giverny on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

The agency pitch process is one of the most important - yet deeply flawed - aspects of the marketer-agency relationship. In this Smarter Marketer Podcast episode, Host James Lawrence talks about the realities of modern-day pitching with someone who’s been at the coalface for decades: industry veteran Darren Woolley, Founder and CEO of TrinityP3.

Darren unpacks the latest State of the Pitch 2025 Report by TrinityP3, revealing why things have actually gotten worse in 2025 - and what both marketers and agencies can do to fix it.

Read the State of the Pitch 2025 Report.

• The most common pitch mistakes made by marketers - and how to avoid them
• Why cost-cutting is undermining agency performance and client outcomes
• The real-world impact of involving too many agencies in a pitch
• How AI and automation are being overpromised in the pitch process
• Effective ideas to create a more respectful, effective and sustainable approach to pitching

Darren Woolley is considered a thought leader on all aspects of marketing management. A Problem Solver, Negotiator, Mentor, Founder & Global CEO of TrinityP3 - Marketing Management Consultants, Industry Commentator, Podcaster, and Author. He is also a Past-Chair of the Australian Marketing Institute, Past President of the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club, Ex-Medical Scientist and Ex-Creative Director.

You can follow him on Instagram [@_trinityp3_], LinkedIn, or find out more on his website.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.