On this episode of the Trade Legends Podcast, we’re joined by Stick and Jack from Trademark Digital, the no-bullshit marketing agency helping tradespeople and construction brands connect with the people who actually buy from them. We start with the question every marketing agency is being asked: if AI can build websites, write social posts, create adverts and plan a business strategy, why do we still need agencies? Stick and Jack explain why AI is a massive opportunity rather than a threat, how they use it to work faster, and why it will never replace trust, personality or the human support people need when things get difficult.We dig into Trademark Digital’s rapid growth, the mistakes they made early on and why they changed their business model several times before finding what worked. They explain why traditional monthly retainers weren’t always affordable for sole traders, how that led to the creation of the Trademark Toolbox, and why its community has become far more valuable than they ever imagined. We also discuss tradespeople becoming personal brands, why 10,000 engaged followers can be worth more than 100,000 passive ones, the declining trust in influencer marketing, and why businesses can no longer judge creators by follower numbers alone.Stick also opens up about the reality of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, including being told she wouldn’t win a contract because she was female and sitting in meetings where questions directed at her were answered to her male business partner instead. Jack reflects on rebuilding his life after a stroke took him away from carpentry, while together they reveal the long days, constant travelling, missed family time, and moments when running the business nearly became too much. From viral posts and online hate to trade shows, networking and building a community people genuinely want to join, this is an honest conversation about showing up consistently, backing yourself and building a business around people rather than algorithms.

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