Challenging conventional thinking with testing and data analysis is the hallmark of innovation in digital marketing. On The Contrary seeks to enhance performance by breaking the status quo in digital advertising by encouraging new approaches to tackling campaigns through the open exchange of contrarian ideas. Join Closed Loop and industry experts as they push the boundaries of ‘best practices’ that take brand strategies from ‘industry standard’ to exceptional execution and beyond.
Host: Kayla Kurtz
Closed Loop Panelists: Greg Manfre, Madalyn McConnell, Kathryn Speltz, Megan Rae
Guest Panelists: Taylor Grey, Google
Expanding into international markets doesn’t have to be as complex and challenging as many brands think. In this second episode of On The Contrary, we explore how the right strategy, tools and partners can drive international campaign success, despite conventional thinking.
Objections we hear:
Since entering the digital marketing industry in 2011, Kayla has found joy in marrying her degree in Education with business development techniques to produce a consultative sales process wherever she goes. While most of Kayla’s time at Closed Loop is spent on expanding our existing client base, she also brings a strong set of efficiency and operational process improvement skills to our team as we continue to grow the agency.
Greg has experience across a range of industries from healthcare, to telecom, to SaaS in agencies and in-house. Whether working in paid search or paid social, he has a passion for ensuring audiences are thoughtfully developed to match the highest value customers for his clients. Greg maintains a deep interest in the human side of marketing, with measurable results beyond simple vanity metrics.
Kathryn is the living antithesis of “there is nothing new under the sun.” Passionate about finding new opportunities from platforms to industry-breaking strategies, this Minnesota-native-turned-Floridian specializes in driving innovation for paid search and paid social. Leading with business goals in mind, she also seeks to provide value how partners need it most, making it her mission to provide an agile client-agency experience.
A B2B and B2C, e-commerce and lead gen veteran, Megan brings insights from her previous in-house and agency roles to effectively manage both paid search and paid social campaigns for Closed Loop clients. With the ability to dive into high-level data and client business goals, carefully refining and optimizing accounts through rigorous testing, she focuses on driving the right strategy through the funnel from top to bottom.
Running campaigns without Offline Conversion Tracking is like fishing blind—uncertain and inefficient. Learn how OCT connects CRM data to ad platforms, helping CMOs optimize for real business impact, from quality leads to closed deals.
The B2B landscape is relentless, and mediocre video production won’t cut it. Learn why scaling high-quality video production is essential to drive ROI, stand out, and stay competitive in today’s paid media game.
Misaligned metrics and fragmented strategies aren’t just inconvenient—they’re costing your marketing team revenue and results. Explore the root causes of data chaos and learn how to align your metrics for paid media success.
AI tools promise automation and efficiency, but without human expertise in creative, strategy, and oversight, they amplify inefficiencies. Learn how to balance AI’s strengths with human intervention to drive results.
Amanda Meyer, Closed Loop Art Director, shares her insights on what it takes to turn a brand’s vision into compelling storytelling on screen.
Closed Loop has been named one of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work 2025 for the seventh consecutive year. Learn more about our achievement.