Crazy, Stupid Rebrands are everywhere—and professional services firms seem especially good at getting them wrong.

In this episode of Spiraling Up, the Hinge team breaks down the most common (and most painful) rebranding mistakes firms make when they rush strategy, ignore research, or let internal politics drive big brand decisions. Framed as a fast-paced, game-based discussion inspired by classic rom-coms, this episode explores how rebrands can either spark a new era of growth—or spiral into confusion and wasted investment.

You’ll hear real-world examples of branding blunders, including:

• Vibes-based rebrands with no research behind them
• “Ghost launches” that leave sales and BD teams in the dark
• Internal turf wars that derail brand strategy
• Identity-first design decisions without positioning clarity

Considering a rebrand (or recovering from one)? This episode will help you avoid a crazy, stupid mistake.

The post Rebranding FAILS and How To Avoid Catastrophe appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

Why do so many leadership goals feel inspiring in January—and irrelevant by March?

In this episode of Spiraling Up, the team is joined by Dr. Josh Elmore, organizational scientist, executive advisor, and host of the Land & Lead podcast, for a live leadership coaching session focused on New Year’s resolutions that actually stick.

Instead of vague goal-setting or motivational talk, Dr. Josh coaches the hosts in real time on their professional resolutions—covering topics such as delegation, visibility, burnout, and sustainable leadership growth. The conversation reframes resolutions not as acts of willpower, but as systems, environments, and behaviors that must be intentionally designed. You’ll learn:

• Why most leadership resolutions fail (and what to do instead)
• How “being the fixer” limits organizational growth
• The difference between execution-based success and leadership-based success
• How to design habits, systems, and accountability that support real change
• What high-performing leaders do differently when stepping into a new year

If you’re a business leader, executive, or professional services marketer looking to lead with more clarity—and less burnout—this episode will change how you think about goals, growth, and leadership development.
👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and professional services strategy.

The post Winning Resolutions For Business LEADERS appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

What actually separates high-growth professional services firms from everyone else?

In this episode of Spiraling Up, Austin McNair, Joe Pope, and Mary-Blanche Kraemer break down insights from Hinge’s High Growth Study using a fast-paced “This or That” format to challenge common marketing assumptions in professional services.

Rather than chasing trends or false binaries, the team digs into the real strategic tradeoffs firms face—and what the data shows high-growth firms consistently do differently.

You’ll hear discussion around:

• Brand vs. demand generation
• Thought leadership vs. lead capture
• Specialization vs. broad positioning
• SEO, visibility, and where marketers should actually focus
• Why some “either/or” decisions are the wrong question entirely

If you’re a marketing leader in any kind of professional services firm—and you’re trying to make smarter, data-backed decisions—this episode will help you recalibrate your strategy.

The post Marketing Done RIGHT: What High-Growth B2B Firms Do in 2026 appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

In this special year-end episode, the team looks back on 2025 and asks the honest question every firm-led podcast eventually faces: did this experiment deliver real value?

We revisit standout clips from across the year, reflect on what worked (and what didn’t), and unpack the lessons we learned about podcasting as a strategic business tool—not just a marketing channel. From audience engagement and format experiments to internal alignment and long-term ROI, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful professional services podcast.

Whether you’re considering launching a podcast, already producing one, or questioning if the effort is paying off, this episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of podcasting inside a growing firm.

In this episode:
• Was the Spiraling Up podcast experiment worth the time and effort?
• What surprised us most after a full year behind the mic
• Clips and moments that shaped the direction of the show
• Lessons on consistency, formats, and audience expectations
• What we’d double down on—and what we’d do differently
• How podcasting actually supports business development and brand growth

Who this episode is for:
• Professional services marketers and leaders
• Firm owners considering a podcast
• Podcast hosts questioning ROI or momentum
• Anyone curious about podcasting beyond “downloads and likes”

If you’re looking for a realistic, experience-based perspective on podcasting—not hype—this episode is a must-watch.

The post Starting a Business Podcast Was a Huge Risk… and it Paid Off! appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

In this episode of Spiraling Up, Dr. Mikah Sellers takes on our Blind Rankings challenge — and the results reveal the true skill gaps shaping the future of business leaders.

From EQ and power skills to AI literacy and data fluency, this playful experiment uncovers the capabilities leaders must prioritize as technology accelerates faster than ever. Stay to the end for a Pivotal Story with Hinge Managing Partner, Liz Harr, adding a real-world lens to the trends redefining the professional services landscape.

The post The Human Advantage: Why EQ Beats AI appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

We’re joined by two of the leaders behind this remarkable merger — Tara Davis, National Marketing Director, and Heath Alloway, Growth Partner — who take us inside the real story:

• How five long-time peer firms planted the seed for a larger merger
• How the idea spread to 16 firms within the BDO Alliance
• What it takes to align cultures, systems, processes, and people
• How they brought together hundreds of employees under a new shared mission, vision, and values

From the M&A strategy to the brand rollout, from overcoming fears and rumor mills to building trust and identity, Tara and Heath share candid insights into the challenges and breakthroughs that shaped Sorren’s launch.

Whether you’re navigating a merger, thinking about joining one, or simply curious about how large-scale integration actually happens, tune in for this masterclass in communication, culture, and leadership during transformation.

The post M&A Brand Therapy: Sorren’s Approach to Uniting 16 Firms appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

Together, they dig into what it takes to grow a thriving professional services business—balancing creativity, client management, and operational excellence. Then, things take a fun turn as they play Date, Marry, Dump: Business Edition—debating which marketing strategies and workplace trends they’d keep, test, or toss in today’s marketplace.

From thought leadership and speaking gigs to LinkedIn trends, company retreats, and even questionable office décor choices (yes, fake fig trees make an appearance), this episode blends laughter with serious insights about running a high-performing firm that still knows how to have fun.

The post Making Good Marketing (And Design) Choices appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

In this episode of Spiraling Up, Joe and Mary-Blanche sit down with marketing pros Amy Cuddy (Wilmot Sanz) and Abby Harrington (Gilbane Building Company) to unpack the parallels between proposal pursuits and modern matchmaking. From the principal in charge who “flies in and out” to the designer who just can’t stop tweaking, Amy and Abby share how to manage every personality type you’ll encounter in business development — and when it’s time to swipe left.

They’ll also play a round of The Business Development Dating Game, where red flags and green flags fly fast. Whether you’re chasing RFPs, courting clients, or trying to build better teaming partnerships, this episode will help you navigate the pursuit process with humor, empathy, and a few laughs along the way.

The post The B2B Business Development Dating Game appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

In this episode of Spiraling Up, the Hinge team dives into classic rom-com territory with ‘How to Lose a Lead in 10 Days.’ Austin McNair, Mary Blanche Kramer, and Joe Pope discuss seven surefire ways to lose a lead, from neglecting your website to giving prospects only one option.

The team touches on the importance of social media, the pitfalls of responding to every RFP, and why you should never just talk about your services. Plus, learn how to involve your subject matter experts and tailor your pitches to prospects’ actual needs.

The post How To Lose A Lead In 10 Days appeared first on Hinge Marketing.

In this episode of Spiraling Up, the Hinge team welcomes Wayne Larson, the CRM Plumber, for a lively discussion on how to un-clog your CRM pipes. From bad data to cumbersome reports, learn how to clean up your tech issues. Finally, the team dissects common branding missteps, taking lessons from Cracker Barrel and Patron Tequila.

The post 5 Ways to Fix Your CRM, with Wayne Larson appeared first on Hinge Marketing.