Episode #259: Alyson Shane Part 2
Alyson Shane of Starling Social on Smarter Content, Email, and Ads That Actually Perform Alyson Shane is the founder of Starling Social—a nimble, data-driven digital marketing agency focused on strategy, social media and ads, PPC, and content that moves the needle. She’s a lifelong writer and A-type operator who brings order to chaos, builds clear processes, and believes in radical transparency with clients. If you care about measurable marketing (not vanity metrics), this conversation is for you. Why she matters: Alyson breaks down where small and mid-sized businesses should actually spend time and budget—from platform focus to blogging frameworks and email that converts. Her approach blends bullet-proof reporting, real accountability, and practical execution you can implement today. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Own your data & access. Run ads under your accounts and insist on transparent reporting you can verify directly in your dashboards. Skip co-managing chaos. Shared control of campaigns invites finger-pointing and mistakes—assign clear ownership for better results. Be where your buyers are (not where the hype is). TikTok can be resource-heavy and may not match your audience; diversify platforms with purpose. Email is a massive, underused advantage. Think of it as the “spare key to someone’s house”—direct, opted-in access where action is required. Blogging is a long-term growth engine. Use listicles, how-to posts, strong headers/structure, and the “bricks & feathers” model to repurpose big pieces into many smaller assets. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF1jEx3sys8 Memorable Quote: “Email marketing is like getting the spare key to someone’s house.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now
Episode #258: Alyson Shane
Alyson Shane, Starling Social — Building Trust-First Marketing That Actually Delivers Alyson Shane is a writer-turned-digital marketer and the founder and president of Starling Social, a boutique agency focused on content marketing, social media, PPC, and ads strategy. After publishing online since the GeoCities era and earning a degree in rhetoric, Alyson built a team (7–8 strong) that pairs persuasive writing with transparent, process-driven execution. She matters because she champions client ownership, clarity, and measurable results in a noisy agency landscape. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Content-first, channel-agnostic: Starling Social creates across blogs, newsletters, web copy, social posts, and ads—wherever content moves the needle. Process + transparency win: Real reporting, itemized invoices, and clear scopes are non-negotiable; clients should always see where budgets go. Own your assets: Ad accounts and content should live in the client’s accounts, not the agency’s—so performance data and creative don’t get held hostage. Vetting agencies: Look for verifiable testimonials tied to outcomes (e.g., admissions up, leads increased), ask about process, and demand regular reporting. Career arc with backbone: From a stifling accounting job to freelancing beyond her 9–5 and launching in 2014, Alyson built Starling Social by insisting on autonomy, accountability, and better client experiences. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBOGZwDVMY Memorable Quote: “I want all of my clients to have their own accounts so they can go in and look at it anytime.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now