In this episode of E-Coffee with Experts, our host Austin Willman sits down with Jake Tlapek, Chief Growth Officer at Finch, to break down what actually works in 2026.
Jake shares why personal branding is no longer optional for agency owners, founders, and marketing leaders, and how human-centric content has become a shortcut to trust, referrals, and deal flow. They dive deep into omnichannel marketing, why analytics alone can’t explain growth anymore, and how marketing efficiency ratio (MER) is replacing outdated metrics like clicks and impressions.
You’ll also learn:
→ Why relationship-driven marketing beats “value content”
→ How to quantify brand and content investments
→ Why video volume matters more than viral hits
→ How SEO, paid media, DSP, and content now work together
→ When it makes sense to sacrifice margin for growth
If you’re a founder, CMO, marketer, or agency leader trying to grow in a noisy, AI-driven market, this episode will shift how you think about marketing entirely.
Takeaways:
- Personal brands are now one of the fastest ways to scale a marketing agency.
- People buy based on trust and connection, not just data or tactics.
- Founder-led content works because it turns brands into relatable humans.
- Omnichannel marketing builds momentum even when attribution looks unclear.
- Content volume creates long-term wins, even if individual posts underperform.
- Analytics should validate strategy, not dictate what you create.
- Marketing efficiency ratio (MER) is a clearer growth metric than ROAS alone.
- Playing too safe with marketing budgets slows growth more than overspending.