Elliot Ambalo is a seasoned marketing expert based in New York, with over 10 years of experience driving growth for businesses across diverse industries, including technology, retail, and finance. He specializes in digital marketing, brand development, and customer acquisition, working with both startups and established enterprises to deliver innovative, data-driven marketing strategies.
A lifelong learner, Elliot is deeply committed to staying ahead of emerging market trends and digital platforms. He is particularly skilled in SEO, content marketing, and social media strategies, which allow him to enhance brand visibility, engage audiences, and generate leads effectively. By leveraging marketing analytics, Elliot fine-tunes campaigns to achieve measurable ROI and continuously adapt to shifting consumer behaviors.
Elliot’s approach to marketing is highly collaborative, working closely with clients to fully understand their unique challenges and goals. His focus on personalized, results-driven strategies ensures that each campaign is tailored to meet specific needs, enabling businesses to thrive in competitive markets.
Over the years, he has successfully managed numerous high-profile campaigns, consistently exceeding expectations.
In addition to his expertise, Elliot is a passionate advocate for sustainable marketing practices and values long-term client relationships. Whether developing comprehensive digital strategies or optimizing a brand’s online presence, Elliot Ambalo is a trusted advisor for businesses looking to elevate their marketing efforts and achieve sustainable, long-term growth.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day usually starts around 6:30 AM with a quick workout or meditation to center myself before the day ramps up. I check my inbox and analytics dashboards first thing to assess how campaigns are performing. From there, I prioritize client calls, team strategy sessions, and deep work—usually writing copy or refining a digital strategy. I use time blocking religiously and always dedicate an hour to professional development, whether it’s reading up on a new SEO update or exploring marketing tech. Staying organized, eliminating distractions, and being intentional with my time makes each day highly productive.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start by identifying a real-world challenge or gap—then I reverse-engineer the solution. I sketch the core concept, map out the consumer journey, and test hypotheses using low-risk A/B campaigns. I also gather insights from trusted collaborators and dig deep into analytics. The key is rapid iteration: I launch lean, observe performance, and tweak based on feedback. Creativity is important, but execution brings ideas to life. It’s not about perfection—it’s about momentum. If something resonates, I scale it. If it doesn’t, I pivot. Ideas are only as good as your ability to translate them into results.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m genuinely excited about the rise of AI-powered personalization in marketing. Tools like machine learning-driven recommendation engines and adaptive email flows are making it possible to tailor experiences to individual users in real time. It’s reshaping how brands build trust and drive engagement. But what excites me most is the potential to combine AI with human creativity—allowing us to scale personalization without losing the authenticity that drives real connection. The marketers who master this balance will define the next era of brand loyalty and growth. We’re entering a golden age of intelligent, user-centric communication.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
My most effective habit is conducting a daily “power hour.” Every morning, I block one uninterrupted hour for deep work—no meetings, no distractions. During that time, I tackle my most cognitively demanding task of the day, whether it’s building a campaign framework, auditing strategy, or writing content. That early focus sets the tone and momentum for the entire day. I also end each day with a five-minute reflection to assess wins, bottlenecks, and plan for tomorrow. This simple routine helps me stay laser-focused and proactive, instead of reactive. Productivity thrives on clarity—and this habit keeps me sharp.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d tell my younger self: don’t wait until it’s perfect—just start. I used to overanalyze everything, afraid to take risks unless every variable was locked down. But the real magic happens in motion. Also, invest in relationships early. Networking isn’t just about career advancement—it’s about learning, growth, and mutual value. Lastly, be kind to yourself during failures. They’re not roadblocks; they’re course corrections. Every setback shaped me into the strategist I am today. You don’t have to know everything—you just need to be willing to show up, stay curious, and keep improving.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe brand-building is more important than performance marketing in the long run. That’s a tough sell in a world obsessed with instant ROI. Don’t get me wrong—I love data and conversions—but sustainable growth comes from emotional connection. Ads can get you attention; brand earns you trust. I’ve seen businesses scale faster once they stop chasing quick wins and focus on consistently delivering value, clarity, and authenticity. It’s not just about click-through rates. It’s about making people feel seen, heard, and understood. That kind of resonance doesn’t fade—it multiplies. Most people still treat branding as an afterthought.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I journal—every morning and night. Morning journaling helps me clear mental clutter and outline what matters most that day. Evening journaling is more reflective: what worked, what didn’t, what I learned. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for self-awareness and growth. In our fast-paced industry, it’s easy to operate on autopilot. Journaling slows me down just enough to make intentional choices. I recommend it to everyone, especially professionals juggling multiple hats. Even five minutes a day can unlock insights, reduce anxiety, and help you operate from a place of clarity instead of chaos.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I disconnect. I step away from the screen, silence my phone, and take a walk—ideally somewhere with nature or movement. Sometimes the best clarity comes when I’m not trying to force it. I also use breathwork or quick 10-minute meditations to reset. Another strategy: write down everything that’s on my mind and sort it into buckets—urgent, important, and noise. That helps me see what truly deserves my attention. Overwhelm usually stems from a lack of clarity, not a lack of capacity. The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to focus on what moves the needle.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One game-changing strategy has been building authority through content. I regularly share insights, case studies, and original perspectives on LinkedIn and industry blogs. This positions me not just as a marketer, but as a thought leader. It’s led to inbound clients, podcast invites, and even collaborations I never saw coming. Instead of chasing leads, I attract aligned opportunities by showing up consistently with value. The trick isn’t to sell—it’s to teach. When you educate your audience, you build trust. And in this industry, trust is everything. Authority compounds, and content is one of the most scalable ways to build it.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I launched a paid ad campaign for a startup without proper audience testing. I relied too heavily on assumptions and flashy creative. It bombed. We burned through a decent chunk of the budget with almost no conversions. That failure taught me the importance of data-driven experimentation and listening to your audience before scaling. Since then, I test everything—messaging, offers, visuals—before going all in. Failure stings, but it’s the best teacher if you’re willing to own it. Now, I view every setback as valuable data, not a defeat. Adaptation is a superpower in this game.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Launch a niche, high-value email newsletter focused on actionable marketing strategies for solopreneurs or creators in a specific field—like coaches, wellness brands, or SaaS founders. Offer one weekly tip, one case study, and one tool. Make it free to subscribe, then monetize through sponsorships, templates, or exclusive courses. People crave curated insights and clear value—especially in saturated markets. If you can simplify complex topics and build trust over time, that newsletter becomes an asset with multiple revenue streams. It’s low-cost to start and high-potential if you stay consistent. Think small audience, big impact.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion is my second brain. I use it to plan content calendars, track client projects, jot down ideas, and even journal. It’s flexible enough to be a CRM, to-do list, and knowledge hub all in one. I’ve built dashboards for campaign planning, weekly goals, and SOPs for recurring processes. The best part is how customizable it is—I’ve tailored it to work exactly how I think. Having one centralized space reduces decision fatigue and saves hours each week. If you’re managing multiple projects or teams, Notion can be a game changer for clarity and collaboration.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One book that’s had a huge impact is “Made to Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s all about why some ideas resonate and others don’t. As a marketer, messaging is everything—and this book gave me the mental frameworks to craft sticky, memorable campaigns that actually convert. For podcasts, I love Marketing Against the Grain—it’s insightful, current, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. Both the book and the podcast help me think more strategically about communication. They’ve sharpened my understanding of what drives human behavior, which is the core of great marketing.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched The Playlist—the Netflix series about the rise of Spotify. It was incredible not just for the storytelling, but for how it captured the tension between innovation, disruption, and resistance. What struck me was how each episode is told from a different stakeholder’s perspective—engineer, investor, artist, etc.—showing how multi-layered any innovation truly is. It reminded me that success isn’t linear, and often requires pushing through intense friction. As a business strategist, I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes decisions and risks. It’s inspiring and raw—and a must-watch for entrepreneurs.
Key learnings
- Execution, not just ideation, brings marketing ideas to life.
- Consistent personal branding and content creation drive long-term business growth.
- Building authority through teaching builds trust and opportunity.
- Daily reflection and journaling enhance focus, clarity, and performance.
- Failures are opportunities to refine strategies and strengthen resilience.