Can you believe it? We’ve actually hit 50 episodes of Embracing Marketing Mistakes! What a journey it’s been. From jaw-dropping fuck ups to laugh-out-loud moments, we’ve had some incredible guests share their biggest marketing fails—and, let’s be honest, we’ve had more than a few of our own along the way.
To mark this rather odd milestone, my co-host Will Ockenden and I decided to do something special. We’ve gone through the archives and put together the Top 10 Most Memorable Marketing Mistakes from the last 50 episodes. This is our way of celebrating how far we’ve come, but more importantly, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned together.
As I mentioned in the episode, “This is a chance to reflect on the mistakes that taught us the most. And let’s be honest, there’s been plenty of laughs at our own expense too.”
One of the standouts for me is Lisa Thompson, who once fell over in the middle of a pitch – not even I have done that. Although I did call a website – webshite once. She somehow managed to keep going, but it taught her a key lesson: “Only wear a heel if you’re sitting down to present!” It’s these kinds of stories that make the podcast what it is—a mix of humour and real takeaways that we can all hopefully apply in our careers.
Another highlight is from my mate Paul Sutton, who bravely shared the story of launching a luxury pet accessories brand, only to realise after six months that footfall was rapidly declining and the business wasn’t going to make it. His biggest lesson? Sometimes it’s better to cut your losses early than to keep pushing a failing idea.
And I can’t help but mention Gareth Turner’s rather odd story—how do you promote a chocolate milkshake? Well, Gareth thought it would be clever to make a coat out of human hair. Yes, you read that right. Needless to say, the concept didn’t quite hit the mark, but the story is unforgettable and a little odd.
This episode isn’t just about the laughs though. Every single story is packed with important lessons that marketers like us need to hear. I am actually very proud of this episode. Whether it’s avoiding costly ad campaigns, learning to handle a PR disaster, or simply staying calm when things go off the rails, there’s something in here for everyone.
So, join us for a trip down memory lane as we celebrate 50 episodes of marketing madness. I guarantee you’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll never look at a marketing fuck up the same way again. You never know – you might actually be dropping me a line to tell your story. 🤣
Don’t forget to let us know which of the top 10 is your favourite—share your thoughts on X or leave us a comment wherever you follow the show. And if you haven’t already, make sure to follow and subscribe for more episodes packed with insights from marketing’s top leaders (and their biggest blunders).
Thanks so much for supporting us through these 50 episodes—here’s to the next 50!
Listen to the full episode here.
Cheers,
Chris
Chris Norton is the founder of Prohibition and an award winning communications consultant with more than twenty years’ experience. He was a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University and has had a varied PR career having worked both in-house and in a number of large consultancies. He is an Integrated PR and social media blogger and writes on a wide variety of blogs across a huge amount of topics from digital marketing, social media marketing right through to technology and crisis management.
