In this episode of Vox & Coin, hosts Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine unpack the most mind-blowing marketing and business development tools they’ve ever used—and why choosing the right tech stack can make or break your growth.

🧰 From enterprise dashboards and AI automations to lightweight, budget-friendly solutions, this episode covers:

• The marketing dashboard that replaces 9 tools and how to know when you’re ready for it (Adriel)

• Why Zapier crushes Make and how to avoid automation fails

• The power of deep research and autonomous agents in ChatGPT

• A no-code tool that writes and deploys code for you (Lovable.dev)

• Why SearchAtlas beats SEMrush for all-in-one SEO management

• Our favorite tools for proposals, CRMs, bookkeeping, project management, content repurposing & more (think: Proposify, PipeDrive, Wave, Monday.com, Repurpose.io, Loom, Fathom, Gusto, Looker Studio)

• Our top AI + automation stack for startups, scale-ups, and 7- to 9-figure agencies

🔍 Plus:

• Why engagement, not expense, defines a great tool

• The one mistake even billion-dollar companies make when choosing software

• How to evaluate whether a tool will actually make you money or save you time

🎯 Whether you're a solo founder or leading a marketing team, this episode is your no-fluff, all-playbook breakdown of the software stack we use and recommend to real businesses every day.

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💥 This is your toolkit. No sponsorships. No fluff. Just the software that’s actually working for real businesses in 2025. Want to talk tools for your brand? Hit us up at voxandcoin.com or find Jake @wizardmarketing and Dave @realdeval.

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review to help other marketers and founders discover the show!

Sharon Kuriakose, the CEO and Co-founder of Plates Full, an innovative online personal chef marketplace discusses the motivations behind creating Plates Full, the company's rapid growth across Texas, and their unique marketing strategies.

He shares insights on the importance of trust, quality, and customer obsession. Sharan emphasizes the significance of networking, partnerships, and a multi-faceted marketing approach to building a successful business.

Tune in to learn more about Plates Full's mission to become the go-to brand for in-home dining experiences and their future expansion plans.

Welcome to the first episode of Vox & Coin, where eCommerce insights collide with unfiltered conversation. Hosted by Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine, this debut episode dives deep into the real ROI of influencer marketing and why engagement rate trumps follower count in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you’re a startup founder, marketing exec, or eCom brand owner, this episode breaks down:

• Why micro-influencers often outperform macro-celebrities in lead generation

• How to find influencers already talking about your product using social search

• Why authenticity and BS-free brand storytelling drive conversions

• The real math behind TikTok’s algorithm (and how to hack it)

• How to use influencer content as ad creative gold without making it suck

• The case for bringing humor, relatability, and even brand mascots into your ad strategy

Plus, we unpack a real-world example where a product gifted to a small creator outperformed campaigns with creators 10x their size—and why that kind of authentic brand advocacy is the future of social commerce.

This isn’t theory—it’s the playbook. From Topgolf and Totino’s to Lincoln and Duolingo, we dissect what works, what flops, and what you should do next.

If you’re tired of wasting money on follower counts and want to grow your brand with real engagement, authentic partnerships, and high-converting content, this is your new favorite podcast.

Keywords to help you find us: influencer marketing, eCommerce podcast, TikTok algorithm, micro-influencer strategy, engagement rate, social media ROI, user-generated content, authentic branding, product marketing, digital advertising, social proof.

Subscribe and leave a review if you’re ready for honest takes and tactical breakdowns that’ll help you market smarter, not louder.

Follow Jake at @wizardmarketing and Dave at @realdeval on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.