with Victoria Usher, Founder of GingerMay

PR is often seen as something you do once you’ve “made it”.

But what if visibility isn’t the reward… what if it’s part of the growth engine itself?

In this episode of Brand Mixology, Claire sits down with Victoria Usher, founder of the multi award-winning PR agency GingerMay, to explore what PR really is today, when it works, when it doesn’t, and how founders can think about visibility in a way that actually supports sustainable growth.

With 16 years of experience building and scaling her own agency, Victoria brings a rare dual perspective. She understands PR not just as a communications discipline, but as a strategic lever that only works when the foundations of a business are right.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about timing, focus, leadership, and why PR can amplify a business, but never fix one.

1. What PR actually is today and how it has evolved beyond press releases
2. Why timing matters more than tactics when it comes to PR
3. The biggest signals that a business is not ready for PR yet
4. How PR should sit within a wider growth strategy, not alongside it
5. When visibility supports sales and when it becomes a distraction
6. How founders can prepare for PR before hiring an agency
7. Whether PR is something you can do yourself in the early stages
8. The growing role of PR in GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AI search
9. Why credibility, trust, and quality sources matter more than ever
10. What sustainable growth really looks like after scaling too fast
11. Victoria’s success “ingredient” and what founders should put on ice

PR doesn’t create credibility.

It amplifies it.

When the messaging, audience clarity, product, and sales foundations are in place, PR can accelerate growth dramatically. When they’re not, it simply magnifies the cracks. That’s why saying “not yet” is sometimes the most responsible advice an agency can give.

Find Victoria

Visit teamgingermay.com Connect https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-usher-a3013a9/

Find Claire

Visit www.brandmixology.co Connect https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamclairemarshall/

What Investors Really Look for in Founders (It’s Not the Pitch Deck)

In this episode, Claire sits down with Andy Evans, a multi-exit founder and active investor who has backed more than 20 businesses across media, marketing, tech and beyond.

Andy shares what actually matters when investors decide who to back and why many founders chase investment far too early. Drawing on decades of experience building, selling, advising and investing, this conversation cuts through the myths around funding, AI, personal branding and growth.

If you are building a business and questioning whether investment, visibility or scale is the right next move, this episode will help you think more clearly and act more intentionally.

1. Why most founders do not need investment and when raising money is actually a distraction
2. What investors really look for in founders beyond pitch decks and projections
3. The role of resilience, focus and financial discipline in long-term success
4. How Andy thinks about AI as an assistive tool, not a replacement for human judgement
5. The “Jam Sandwich” model for using AI without losing credibility or trust
6. Why focus beats chasing shiny ideas every time
7. The biggest mistakes founders make after raising money
8. How traction, not ideas, shapes investor confidence
9. Why visibility matters but personal branding often misses the point
10. The overlooked reason female founders may struggle to access investment
11. How communities, networks and relationships quietly shape opportunity

1. Founders considering investment and unsure if it is the right move
2. Business owners feeling stretched, distracted or pulled in too many directions
3. Entrepreneurs navigating AI, visibility and growth without wanting to lose the human edge
4. Anyone building something meaningful and wanting to avoid costly mistakes

Investment does not fix unclear thinking.

AI does not replace human judgement.

And growth rarely comes from doing more, it comes from focusing better.

1. You can connect and find out more about Andy here https://linktr.ee/digitalfounders
2. You find out about Eleven Writing here https://www.elevenwriting.com/
3. Download the investors deck Andy mentions here http://deck.digitalfounders.co.uk/
4. Download the "Jam Sandwich" Thesis here http://deck.thejamsandwich.com/

In this episode, Claire is joined by Nick Lima, founder of Rank Fresh, to unpack what it really takes to be seen in 2026 and beyond. With over 20 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing, Nick shares practical insights into how AI, Google, brand trust and consistency now work together to decide which businesses get surfaced and which get overlooked.

This conversation goes far beyond traditional SEO tactics. It’s about understanding how humans search, how machines interpret authority, and how founders can build long-term visibility without chasing gimmicks or quick wins.

If you’re a founder who wants to future-proof your brand, attract the right audience, and stop feeling invisible online, this episode will give you clarity and direction.

1. Why being “good” is no longer enough to be found online
2. How AI is changing the way search works
3. What still matters with SEO and what no longer does
4. Why brand mentions and trust signals matter more than ever
5. How smaller businesses can compete with bigger brands
6. The importance of consistency over perfection
7. Common SEO mistakes founders keep making
8. What to focus on now to stay visible in 2026 and beyond

Visibility today is not about tricks or volume. It’s about trust, clarity, consistency and being genuinely useful to the people searching for you.

Nick Lima is the founder of Rank Fresh and has been working in SEO and digital marketing for over two decades. He helps businesses get found online by focusing on clarity, trust and long-term strategy rather than short-term tactics.

Website: https://www.rankfresh.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklima1/