Imagine a baseball team that throws out the rulebook—not just for the game, but for how they do business. Meet the Savannah Bananas, a team that's less about scoring runs and more about sparking joy.   Led by owner Jesse Cole, this isn't your typical sports team. As Jesse puts it, "We have no interest in being a billion-dollar business, but we want to create a billion fans." The Bananas have grown into a fan-driven phenomenon built on a simple but radical idea: put fans first and never stop entertaining. When most teams chase sponsorship dollars, the Bananas ditch ads and create experiences people can't stop talking about.   Their approach is delightfully unconventional. They've removed third-party ticketing fees, sent handwritten thank-you notes, and featured players who might break into dance mid-game. Marketing that doesn't feel like marketing.    The result? They recently sold out their first NFL stadium, are building a passionate fanbase, and proving that when you truly put people first, the money follows. Join Jesse, Kara, Carson, and host Dave Charest for this masterclass in customer experience that any business can learn from.   Additional resources:   Create and Manage Tags Understanding Contact Segmentation Getting Started with the Automation Path Builder Connect your Shopify account to Constant Contact   Meet Today's Guests: Jesse Cole, Kara Heater and Carson Bowen of Savannah Bananas   🍌 What Jesse does: Jesse owns the Savannah Bananas and founded Fans First Entertainment. A former baseball GM turned showrunner, he reinvented the sport by blending Broadway-style entertainment with baseball, building a loyal fanbase and a sellout sensation that puts fans at the center.   💡 Key quote: "We will never put added fees on people. We will never do things just for money. We will never take a sponsor just to take money. We will never do any of that. If we can do things to be a better experience for fans, we'll always try to find a way to say yes to that."   👋🏼 Where to find Jesse: Linkedin | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter     ⚾ What Kara does: Kara is the Vice President of Marketing at the Savannah Bananas. Starting as an intern in 2018, she now leads a cross-functional team that turns live moments into viral content. Her strategy: tell stories that fans love, without pushing product.   💡 Key quote: "We never want to be the people who are sending 52 emails a day, and they have to unsubscribe 82 times to try and finally get rid of them out of their inbox. That's not us. We want people to get the information that they've asked for."   👋🏼 Where to find Kara: Linkedin | X, formerly known as Twitter     🎫 What Carson does: Carson is the Director of Ticket Experience for the Savannah Bananas. After six years with the Wilmington Sharks, he joined the Bananas in 2020 to rethink ticketing from the ground up—building a system that removes friction and centers joy in every detail.   💡 Key quote: "It's not just buying a QR code; it’s buying a family outing. It's celebrating someone's birthday. These things represent something. It's not just buying a ticket."   👋🏼 Where to find Carson: LinkedIn | X, formerly known as Twitter     👋🏼 Where to find Savannah Bananas: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X, formerly known as Twitter | Youtube | TikTok If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

Building an SMS contact list presents unique opportunities, especially for those already familiar with email marketing. Constant Contact's updated lead generation tools now allow you to collect phone numbers for contacts who've opted in to SMS, even without an email address. This allows you to expand your reach and makes it easier to grow your contact list.   Growing Your SMS Contact List   One of the biggest hurdles in SMS marketing is building a large list of contacts. Many businesses have a well-established email list but struggle to transition to SMS without a solid base of phone numbers.    This can be especially complex if you're managing contacts across multiple platforms. However, with the right tools and strategies, you can overcome these challenges and start leveraging the power of SMS marketing. Now you can create and import contacts using just a phone number for SMS into your account!   The Benefits of Using SMS-Only Contacts   Creating a contact with just a phone number provides many benefits. They remove the need for an email address and make lead capture easier. This is especially helpful for businesses starting with SMS marketing.   SMS only contacts do not count toward your email marketing contact tier, so let the SMS opt-ins roll in!    By segmenting your audience based on their preferred communication channels, you can ensure that your SMS marketing campaigns reach the right customers. For example, you can create automations that specifically target SMS-only contacts who have explicitly consented to receive text messages, allowing for more personalized and effective communication.   Lastly, SMS-only contacts offer flexibility, as you can always add email addresses to their profiles later if you decide to incorporate email marketing.   Collecting SMS-Only Contacts   Contacts from Other Sources: You can import phone numbers and consent dates from other sources into your Constant Contact account. This is ideal for businesses that already have a list of phone numbers from another SMS provider. Dedicated Landing Pages: Set up landing pages for visitors to enter their phone numbers. This allows them to receive updates easily. For example, a fitness studio could use this for class reminders. Public API: If you already utilize or are interested in developing an app that connects to our Public API, it will support the integration and import of SMS-Only Contacts. Text-to-join: Allow customers to text a keyword to a dedicated number to join your list. For instance, a local event organizer can set up a "text JOIN to [number]" campaign to quickly capture phone numbers from attendees.   Tips for a Smooth Import Process   Use a CSV or Excel file with columns labeled "SMS phone number" and "SMS consent date." Format phone numbers as "Phone Number" or "Text," and dates as "Date" or "Custom - General." Avoid multiple tabs and accented characters in the file name.   Always include a consent date. Without it, your contacts will be in a "no permission" status, and you won't be able to send them messages.   Diversify your collection methods. Use a combination of landing pages, webforms, and text-to-join to capture contacts from different sources. If you use another SMS provider, you can import those contacts into Constant Contact. Just make sure you have the right consent.   While you can import SMS contacts at any time, remember you need to add SMS to your Constant Contact subscription and complete the registration process to send SMS campaigns. Some plans include SMS marketing by default, so be sure to check your plan details.   Once your SMS contacts are imported, you can easily find them by viewing the list you added them to or searching by their status. This makes managing your contacts a breeze and ensures that you can start sending targeted SMS campaigns right away.   Grow Your Business with SMS   By using these improved collection methods, you can build a strong SMS contact list and take your marketing efforts to the next level. These tools will help small business owners and marketing pros connect with their audience better.   We'd love to hear from you! Have you tried any of these methods to grow your SMS contact list? Share your experiences in the comments below. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team. ... View more

Dan Knowlton didn’t plan to build a top-performing content agency by dressing up in wigs and fake mustaches — but that's what helped him stand out. In 2015, Dan and his brother Lloyd launched their marketing agency, Knowlton, from a spare room in their parents' house. No roadmap. No fancy setup. Just two brothers figuring it out as they went. What changed everything? Defining clear roles, setting long-term goals, and creating content people actually want to watch. "It has taken us so much longer to get to where we are now than I thought at the start point," Dan says, reflecting on the patience and persistence it took to grow a sustainable business. In this episode of Be A Marketer, host Dave Charest talks with Dan about growing from chaos to clarity. They unpack how to align your marketing with your strengths, what most small businesses get wrong about content, and why measuring results will sharpen your focus.   You’ll hear how Dan treats his agency like a client, how one strategy helped them double in size, and what Dan thinks every small business owner should start doing today.   Additional Resources:   Getting started with the Automation Path Builder Using Constant Contact SEO tools How to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series (with Examples) Set up to automatically resend to contacts who don’t open their email feature in Constant Contact   Meet Today’s Guest: Dan Knowlton of Knowlton Marketing   ☕ What he does: Dan Knowlton is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Knowlton, a UK-based marketing agency he started with his brother in 2015. The duo is known for blending creativity with strategy to create content people actually enjoy. Knowlton has worked with major brands like the BBC, Nestlé, and Constant Contact.   💡 Key quote: "No one cares about your brand. All they care about is problems they've got and how they can most effectively solve them."   👋 Where to find Dan: X, formerly known as Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Podcast   👋 Where to find Knowlton Marketing: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

Standing out on social media is no small feat.   Some of the biggest hurdles are figuring out what to post and how to design content that not only captures your audience’s attention, but drives meaningful results for your organization.   Join this free, one-hour webinar to gain valuable insights and practical strategies to navigate these challenges and create content that truly engages and builds your brand. You’ll:   Discover how to navigate the ever-evolving social landscape with proven strategies and essential tools. See how to identify your core content topics and plan around your goals. Learn how to use storytelling and design to create content that engages.   Joining from abroad or can’t make it to the live webinar? Register anyway to receive the recording.   Register    About the Presenters   Stephanie French Senior Content Manager, Webinars, Constant Contact   Stephanie's on a mission to help small businesses achieve their goals through educational content and webinars.   Megan Bieber Social Media Manager, Constant Contact   Megan is a social media marketing professional with more than ten years of experience working for large-scale technology companies. From 2020-2024, she ran her own social media consultancy business with a focus in small businesses ranging from coffee shops and bridal salons to children's clothing retailers and subscription box services. She is a mom of two and a firm believer in the Oxford comma. ... View more