by 2TheTopDesign with James Maxwell
Where did your last marketing dollar actually go? And did it come back?
That’s the question behind Paid Attention, a podcast for business owners and marketing leads who sign off on the spend and live with the results. James Maxwell sits down with people who have paid to get noticed, whether that was ads, a new website, a sponsorship or a billboard, and asks what earned a buyer’s attention and what actually paid back.
Who Paid Attention is for
If you’re the person who approves the marketing budget, you’re who James is talking to. Here’s who you’ll hear from most:
Service businesses
Real estate brokerages, insurance agencies, mortgage lenders, law firms, financial advisors and home improvement companies. When one new client is worth thousands, you think in cost per lead, and a few extra deals a year pays for the marketing.
SaaS companies
Growth-stage software companies where a founder or a small team wears the marketing hat. You’re in a crowded niche, and getting found (and recommended by AI tools) is what drives signups.
E-commerce brands
Online stores past the startup stage that lean too hard on paid ads. You want traffic and sales you don’t have to rent, and you know the site experience is part of the sale.
Non-profits
Hospitals and health foundations, universities, community foundations, museums and larger charities. You need to stand out to donors, grant makers and volunteers, and you measure it in donations and reach.
What you’ll hear on the show
Most marketing advice comes from people selling the thing they’re recommending. Well, the truth is the person who can tell you whether something worked is the one who paid for it.
So that’s who James interviews. You’ll hear what they spent, what they expected, what happened, and what they’d do differently next time. Sometimes it’s an ad campaign. Sometimes it’s a website rebuild, a referral program or a local sponsorship. Every story starts with a real decision and real money behind it.
Listen and subscribe
Meet your host, James Maxwell
Raised near Nashville in a family rooted in music, education, and IT, James developed an appreciation for art, learning, and technology from an early age. Over the years, he’s gained experience across different areas of marketing and advertising, learning to adapt, build relationships, and bring a little something different to every project.
With over a decade of experience in marketing and advertising, James believes in doing things the right way, with honesty, authenticity, and a genuine appreciation for people. His goal is to create strategies that connect with audiences without losing sight of what makes a business unique.
A natural storyteller who values genuine relationships, James brings a creative, people-first approach to his work, helping clients connect with their audiences, build lasting relationships, and make a meaningful impact.
At 2theTop, James manages client accounts and runs our clients’ paid advertising. Read more about James and the team.
Be a guest on Paid Attention
Have you spent money to get a buyer’s attention, and do you know whether it paid back? James wants to hear about it. You don’t need to be a marketer, either. Owners, executive directors and whoever signs off on the budget make the best guests.
Tell us about your business and what you’d talk about. James reads every pitch himself and replies with a link to book your recording time.
Latest episode recaps
Every episode gets a written recap on the 2theTop blog, with the takeaways you can actually use.
First episodes coming soon. Pitch yourself above, or follow the show so you hear them first.
Got a story about money you spent to get noticed? Pitch it to James, and let’s find out if it paid back.
Want a show like this for your own business? We produce those, too: see podcast production for SEO.