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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contactㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out June 9, 2026).All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206ㅤSubscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletterㅤRegister for Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.comㅤRegister for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.comㅤConnect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/askㅤLeave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!ㅤListen to Kipp's podcast Marketing Against the Grain, and pre-order his new book with Kieran Flanagan, Loop: Outlearn. Outmarket. Outgrow.ㅤJay Schwedelson wanted Kipp Bodnar on the show since day one, and it's easy to hear why once the two of them get going on the one thing keeping marketers up at night: whether AI has quietly torched the playbook everyone spent fifteen years building. HubSpot's CMO makes the case that content isn't dead, it just has a brutally short shelf life now, and the marketers who win are the ones who treat originality and taste like the scarce resources they've become. Along the way they get into why the new robots reward writing for actual humans, what a real content engine looks like when you're starting from zero, and the reasoning behind Kipp's new book in a year when four million others got published.ㅤBest Moments:(02:01) Why AI didn't kill content marketing but did break the old playbook and slash content's shelf life(04:16) The T-Swift theory of content, why being good isn't enough anymore and you have to be prolific too(05:56) Writing for the new robots, how AEO flips twenty years of SEO into a human-first game(08:48) Why Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube quietly became the sources AI search trusts most(10:53) The one content engine Kipp would build first if he were starting with nothing today(13:18) Why he wrote a book in the middle of the short-form video era, and who it's really for(16:17) The journalism-school lesson that beats a business degree, repetition doesn't ruin the prayer
Anthropic's most powerful models are still offline, and the U.S. government now wants a guarantee no lab can give. Paul Roetzer and Mike Kaput unpack the ongoing export-control standoff, the Lutnick letter, and what it means for the models expected this week, then turn to Satya Nadella's "future of the firm" essay, the unsolved mess of AI pricing and usage limits, a wave of lab talent shakeups including Noam Shazeer's move to OpenAI, the G7 AI summit, Midjourney's leap into medical scanning, and research showing AI can out-persuade expert humans. Show Notes: Access the show notes and show links here AI-Pulse Survey: Fill out this week's AI-Pulse Survey here. Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:44 — Anthropic vs. the White House 00:22:37 — Microsoft CEO on the Future of the Firm 00:34:37 — AI Pricing and Usage Strategy 00:56:04 — Noam Shazeer Joins OpenAI (and Other Major AI Hiring Updates) 01:04:57 — Trump's G7 AI Push 01:09:33 — Midjourney Launches a Medical Division 01:12:59 — AI Can Now Out-Persuade Expert Humans 01:17:00 — AI Use Case Spotlight 01:22:12 — AI Product and Funding Updates This week's episode is brought to you by SiteImprove. AI search is changing what it means to be discoverable. Siteimprove is the Agentic Content Intelligence Platform marketing teams use to track, optimize, and prove performance across both traditional and AI-driven search. From AEO visibility to content quality, Siteimprove helps you stay ahead of the shift. Start with a free AEO check at siteimprove.com/aipod. Visit our website Receive our weekly newsletter Join our community: Slack Community LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for content and resources? Register for a free webinar Come to our next Marketing AI Conference Enroll in our AI Academy
Is your brain cluttered with every new tool, platform, and software someone told you that you absolutely need? Same. This episode started as a simple refresh of our tech stack after a listener wrote in asking what we actually use to run our businesses. Spoiler: the list is still shockingly short. But somewhere between Google Sheets and listing descriptions, we took a turn into AI territory, and y'all, we are not turning back. We walk through our bare-bones tech stack (yes, we still use a spreadsheet), talk honestly about how we are each using AI in our real estate businesses right now, and share why keeping things simple is not laziness, it is a strategy. We also get into SEO vs. AEO vs. GEO (yes, GEO is a real thing and it matters), what AI actually pulled up when Alissa searched herself, and the big announcement: Katy is teaching a monthly AI class inside the Hustle Humbly Community starting now. If you have been quietly panicking every time someone mentions AI, or if you have been using it already and want to go deeper, this episode is for you. Here's what we cover in this episode: The listener email that prompted this episode and our full simple tech stack answer Why simpler systems get used more consistently (and cost less money) Google Sheets, Trello, Canva, email, Google Drive, MLS, and yes, a little AI Transaction management and e-sign tools required by our brokerages How to qualify your tech choices based on the type of business you want to run SEO vs. AEO vs. GEO: what each one means and which one actually matters for your real estate business What happened when Alissa's seller looked her up with AI (hint: reviews matter a lot) How Alissa used ChatGPT to analyze multiple offers and review pre-approval letters Using AI to virtually stage photos, repaint rooms, and show sellers the vision How Katy used Claude to turn listing appointment notes and photos into a beautiful PDF checklist for a seller The Plaud device that listens to your appointments and summarizes them Why shiny tools do not fix broken habits Claude vs. ChatGPT: what is different and why Katy made the switch Projects, skills, and co-work inside Claude explained simply The new monthly AI class inside the Hustle Humbly Community for $25/month Why your Google reviews are your most important AI visibility tool right now Key Quotes & Takeaways: "Shiny objects feel productive, but they can delay real progress." Alissa "New tools do not fix broken habits. If you have systems in place that you're not using, a new system is not going to help you." Alissa "As long as you're running your business like a business and getting reviews from people, the internet and the AI are going to pick up on that." Alissa "You can not ask for more business if you are not taking care of the business you already have." Alissa "Using AI well will probably cut your task in half." Katy Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned: Episode 8: Tech Tools for Real Estate (hustlehumblypodcast.com/8) Google Sheets (free) Trello (free) Canva (free and paid) Google Drive (free and paid) ChatGPT (chatgpt.com) paid plan ~$20/month for photo editing Claude / Claude.ai (claude.ai) paid plan ~$22/month MLS e-sign (included with board dues) Dotloop (e-sign & transaction management) SkySlope (transaction management) Hustle Humbly Community (hustlehumblypodcast.com/membership) Email Templates 101 (emailtemplates101.com) Want to toast someone on the show? Send us a voice or video message with your name, who you are toasting, and why! Email it to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com. Leave us a review at http://ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly Get your FREE Database Template: http://hustlehumblypodcast.com/starthere Email Templates 101: http://emailtemplates101.com All Resources: http://hustlehumblypodcast.com Submit your topic ideas and toasts to Team@HustleHumblyPodcast.com
Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Layoffs hit even the SEOs who survive every prior cut. Paul Andre de Vera, founder of Answer Engine Optimization and a 15-year enterprise SEO leader at Workday, Stripe, and Anaplan, spent two years rebuilding after a startup layoff—landing his next role by ranking a target keyword number one within 24 hours during an interview. He breaks down using your own SEO skill set to build a personal brand and rank for your name, the over-deliver interview approach that makes you memorable to recruiters long after the initial conversation, and a content refresh strategy that pairs SERP-driven optimization tools with AEO factors like declarative headings to win in both traditional rankings and LLM results.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Once upon a time, a legal tech vendor's goal in getting seen by potential customers was to rank on the first page of Google search. But in the age of AI, that is no longer enough. Now, when a potential buyer asks ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini to recommend a vendor, what matters is whether the company shows up in the answer the AI generates. And that, increasingly, depends on who is quoting you, citing you, and treating you as the authority in your category. On this episode of LawNext, host Bob Ambrogi talks with two legal marketing and communications leaders who are seeking to help their clients get ahead of that shift. Amy Juers is CEO of Edge Marketing, a firm she founded in 1997 that serves clients across legal technology and accounting. Valerie Chan is CEO of Plat4orm, a strategic communications firm working across legal, cybersecurity, AI, and other regulated industries. Last week, these longtime competitors announced a strategic partnership and a new framework they call the Trusted Answer Growth System, designed to help companies adapt to how buyers research and shortlist vendors in AI-driven search. In the conversation, Amy and Val discuss how generative AI is reshaping the buyer's journey, why earned media and third-party credibility carry more weight than ever, the new vocabulary marketers are wrestling with — from GEO to AEO — and what companies can do when AI tools get their story wrong. They also explain why, after years of competing, they concluded they were better off working together. Thank You To Our Sponsors This episode of LawNext is generously made possible by our sponsors. We appreciate their support and hope you will check them out. Paradigm, home to the practice management platforms PracticePanther, Bill4Time, MerusCase and LollyLaw; the e-payments platform Headnote; and the legal accounting software TrustBooks. Briefpoint, eliminating routine discovery response and request drafting tasks so you can focus on drafting what matters (or just make it home for dinner). CosmoLex, helping law firms manage their entire practice in one platform, from intake to payment. Try it free. If you enjoy listening to LawNext, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.
Kaffeen Espresso | supercharged agency new business & marketing
Park Howell joins Charlotte to share how he built authority and enterprise-level demand through storytelling, podcasting, and a proprietary framework. Park explains his early transition from running an ad agency to growing Business of Story, including how the US Air Force became a client after discovering his podcast. He breaks down why a clear methodology (his Story Cycle System and the and/but/therefore framework) is essential for differentiation, and how long-form content now fuels discoverability via SEO and AI search tools like ChatGPT. Park also walks through how StoryCycle Genie turns a website into a practical brand narrative and content engine, plus what makes it different from generic AI tools.Key topics covered- Turning a podcast into long-term client acquisition - Selling storytelling by attracting people already interested - SEO, AEO and writing for “humans and bots” - Framework-led positioning and “be clear, not louder” - StoryCycle Genie pricing and best-fit users (agencies, consultants, enterprises)Links and resourcesWebsite: https://businessofstory.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkhowell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessOfStory/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofstory/ X: https://x.com/ParkHowell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Businessofstory Blog: https://businessofstory.com/storytelling-blog/ Podcast: https://businessofstory.com/podcast/
Sarah Watz är entreprenör, föreläsare, AI-rådgivare och grundare av Business Heroes®. Hon har drivit företag sedan 90-talet, lett internationella organisationer och hjälper idag företagare och ledare att skapa tydlighet, struktur och tillväxt i en AI-driven tid.00:00 EU AI Act förklarad enkelt – vad företag måste förstå03:02 Saras bakgrund: digitalisering, automation och AI-ledarskap06:05 När vanliga företag möter AI – rädsla, möjligheter och första steget09:00 Kommer AI ta jobben? Jurister, rådgivare och kunskapsarbete12:00 AI är inte ett verktyg ovanpå processen – börja med inventering15:00 Risker, transparens och AI-policy för byråer och konsulter21:00 Från policy till vardag: utbildning, ansvar och AI-körkort24:02 AI-stress och upskilling – så får du med medarbetarna30:01 Frigör oss från skärmen: walk & talk, nya arbetssätt och livskvalitet36:00 AI, samhällsansvar och frågan om alla verkligen hänger med42:02 Arbetsgivarens ansvar: stöd, självledarskap och AI-coaching45:01 AI som personlig coach – säljträning, feedback och mikrolärande54:00 AI-adoption i stora bolag: varför du ibland måste konkurrera med dig själv01:00:00 AI och framtidens entreprenörskap – kan fler driva sin lilla idé?01:09:00 Praktiska regler: inventering, GDPR-risk och AI-chattbotar01:15:01 Kundresan i AI-eran – marketing automation, service och mänsklig kontakt01:21:01 SEO blir AEO: strukturerad data, CMS och synlighet i AI-sök01:27:01 Community, open source och globalt ledarskap – Saras Joomla/Vimla-erfarenheter01:42:00 Saras viktigaste medskick: använd EU AI Act som wake-up call
Don't listen to everything you hear…in the AI age, SEO is NOT dead. It's just expanding. Guest Mike Witham of 97th Floor Agency breaks down what it all means. Some people thought AI would kill SEO, but the truth is that SEO isn't going anywhere. We just have to learn how to partner with AI to optimize search, especially when it comes to showing up in AI summaries. Marketers have to adapt to new search rules, plus AEO and GEO capabilities. What's the difference between using AI and using a search engine to find information? The key is keywords: while people are searching via AI in an experimental way, SEO thrives on keywords. You have to make sure you're optimizing for that to drive traffic. Should you ask AI for sources? And if you do, will it provide credible ones? Plus, we're in the age of chatbots and relevancy. What are some good tools to make sure your chatbots are not only giving relevant information, but accurate information, too? If you're looking to level up your SEO knowledge and anticipate what's going on with AI, AEO/GEO, this is the episode for YOU. Follow Mike: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-o-witham/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
How can financial advisors get found in AI search, build trust faster, and use online reviews in a compliant way?In Episode 111 of The Influential Advisor Podcast, Paul G. McManus interviews Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender, about one of the biggest opportunities in advisor marketing today: compliant online reviews as a trust signal for Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and other AI-powered search tools.Financial advisors have always relied on referrals, reputation, and trust. But today, before a prospect reaches out, they are often searching online, reading reviews, asking AI tools who to consider, and comparing advisors before the first conversation ever happens.That means your digital reputation matters.In this episode, Paul and Brian discuss how financial advisors can use compliant online reviews, third-party credibility, Google visibility, and AI search optimization to help prospects make a more informed decision about whether you may be the right advisor for them.You'll learn:How financial advisors can get found in AI searchWhy online reviews are becoming a major trust signalHow compliant reviews differ from traditional Google reviewsWhat the SEC Marketing Rule changed for testimonials and reviewsWhy ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI tools may use reviews to summarize reputationHow reviews can support SEO, AEO, and GEO for financial advisorsWhy “stars” matter, but client stories matter even moreHow advisors can ask for reviews without cherry-pickingHow reviews can help independent advisors compete against larger firmsWhy advisor-level reviews may matter as much as firm-level reviewsHow niche advisors can use reviews to strengthen local and specialized visibilityWhy a book, a website, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, and reviews all work together as authority signalsThis conversation is especially relevant for independent financial advisors, RIAs, wealth management firms, advisor marketing teams, and practice leaders who want to understand how trust is built in the age of AI search.If you are a financial advisor wondering how to show up when someone asks ChatGPT, “Who is the best financial advisor for me?” this episode will help you think through the credibility signals that matter.Learn more about Influential Advisor Media:https://influentialadvisor.com/Learn more about Wealthtender:https://wealthtender.com/COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWEREDCan financial advisors use online reviews?How can advisors ask clients for reviews compliantly?Do financial advisor reviews help with SEO?Can online reviews help advisors show up in ChatGPT?What is the difference between Google reviews and Wealthtender reviews?How do testimonials work under the SEC Marketing Rule?How many reviews does a financial advisor need?Why do online reviews matter for financial advisor referrals?How can advisors build trust before the first meeting?How can financial advisors improve AI search visibility?#FinancialAdvisorMarketing #FinancialAdvisorReviews #AIsearch #Wealthtender #AuthorityMarketing #FinancialAdvisors #RIAmarketing #AdvisorSEO #AEO #GEO #TheInfluentialAdvisorSupport the show
What happens when a third-generation note investor who grew up taking apart computers starts applying AI to every layer of the note business? You get Dominic — and this episode is packed with the kind of real-world, no-fluff automation insight that note investors and note creators rarely hear. To obtain this week's Real Estate Notes Show guest Dominic McFadin's information, use this link https://bit.ly/4upMLK1
Marketing teams are producing more content than ever, and feeling less confident about it than ever. In this episode, Clark Newby sits down with Holly Enneking, VP of Marketing at Markup AI and co-founder of Indy Marketers, to dig into what she calls the Bermuda Triangle of content, AI, and search: a space where a lot of great marketing intentions seem to disappear.Holly brings a brand-first lens to a conversation the industry badly needs — not about how to generate more content faster, but about how to make sure what you're putting out actually sounds like you, serves your audience, and holds up under scrutiny. She shares what she's seen working with B2B marketing teams at different stages of AI maturity, including a striking disconnect between how C-suite leaders and their marketing teams assess readiness.They also explore how AI is reshaping the full content funnel, and what it means for the humans doing this work, including how marketing career paths are evolving and why junior talent still matters more than leadership might think.In this episode:- Why AI-generated content at volume is creating a brand consistency crisis- The C-suite vs. marketer perception gap on AI readiness (and why it matters)- How quality content is becoming a genuine differentiator in a sea of AI sameness- What "the confidence layer" looks like in practice for marketing teams- How the shift from SEO to AEO is changing content strategy from top to bottom of funnel- Building marketing community in a post-COVID, AI-accelerated world-----CONNECT with us at:Website: https://leadtail.com/Leadtail TV: https://www.leadtailtv.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead...Twitter: https://twitter.com/leadtailFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leadtail/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadtail/----#b2bmarketing #b2b
The branded voice is losing its grip, and the people inside your company are about to replace it. In this episode of Content Amplified, Nicole Gates, VP of Global Growth at Varonis, makes the case that user-generated content is where B2B marketing is headed. She explains why what works in B2C tends to land in B2B two to three years later, and why AI is accelerating the shift by making buyers more skeptical of brand messaging and hungry for the human element. Nicole shares how she leans into employee advocacy and industry influencers without prescribing the script, pointing to her own sales reps who film videos in their cars talking about the product. She gets practical on AEO and GEO, where LLMs increasingly pull from Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube instead of pay-to-play search. And she lays out where to start: know your story first, build a unique point of view, and find the people already willing to share it. As she puts it, it always comes down to the story. If you are trying to figure out how to stay trusted in an AI-flooded landscape, tune in.About NicoleNicole Gates is the VP of Global Growth at Varonis, a cybersecurity company, where she has spent about four years. Her background spans content marketing, social media, and demand gen across various industries and roles, all of which now roll up into what her team calls growth. She believes the trends shaping B2C marketing reach B2B a couple of years later, and that the next wave belongs to human, user-generated content over the branded voice. Nicole also writes a Substack called Perspective and Pipeline, where she shares her thoughts on marketing, growing a team, and working in growth marketing and B2B.Show NotesConnect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolepgates/Nicole's Substack, Perspective and PipelineText us what you think about this episode!
從入口網站、搜尋、電商到平台經濟,鄒開蓮幾乎走過台灣網路時代每一場最劇烈的變革。她曾帶領Yahoo奇摩,最懂流量、資料與平台的力量。但這幾年當所有人都在談AI應用,這位最懂數位浪潮的領導者,最常談的反而是兩件很有「人味」的事:勇敢做自己,以及心理安全感。 這集節目的來賓是鄒開蓮,從入口網站的變化談起,從Yahoo到ChatGPT、Gemini、Claude,討論品牌如何在AI推薦中被看見(AEO),與AI對傳統入口網站的根本衝擊。 但鄒開蓮真正想提醒的是AI時代的組織與人。她認為,AI讓願意學習的人如虎添翼、不想學的人很危險;而企業最稀缺的人才,不是最會給答案的人,而是會問問題、敢說真話的人。 【聽完這集你會知道】 03:17|從Yahoo到ChatGPT 過去入口網站幫你縮短決策、累積你的資料;AI更進一步,連「你來做決定」這步都直接省略。這是超越任何人想像的典範轉移。 17:51|AI時代什麼人才不會被淘汰? 有全局觀的人用AI如虎添翼。年輕人別只做被交辦的小事,從Day 1就要想清楚「我到底在解決什麼問題」,要會問問題。 26:51|心理安全感不是是讓人敢說真話 真正的心理安全感,是員工願意說「這季我只做得到七成」而不怕被處罰。開會沈默,走出會議室才熱烈討論,是缺乏安全感的警訊。 30:19|主管的一言一行就是文化 一屋子坐10個人,為什麼只有1個跟你對話?主管最重要的角色是帶人,不是給答案。花時間鍛鍊團隊思考與發聲,才是真正有效的領導。 【本集金句】 「一個團隊最可怕的不是能力不好,而是沒有人敢說真話。」 #鄒開蓮 #心理安全感 #AI入口戰爭 #AEO #AI人才 主持人:天下雜誌共同執行長 吳琬瑜 來賓:富恩投資董事長、前Verizon Media國際事業董事總經理 鄒開蓮(Rose) 製作團隊:李洛梅、錢玉紘、陳紀帆、劉駿逸 *立即探索《天下學習》:https://hi.cw.com.tw/u/j85asib/ *早鳥優惠立即報名7/29天下管理高峰會:https://bit.ly/4dO86GW *訂閱天下全閱讀:https://bit.ly/3STpEpV *意見信箱:bill@cw.com.tw -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
The Information's Tech and Politics Reporter Leo Schwartz talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about the White House's latest regulatory showdown with Anthropic and its broader implications for foreign tech talent. We also talk with Enterprise Software Reporter Kevin McLaughlin about OpenAI and Anthropic's competitive hiring freeze on Salesforce talent to build their enterprise engines, Power Law CEO Mike Dinsdale about giving public market investors private market exposure to massive players like SpaceX, and Adobe's Varun Parmar about the structural shift from SEO to answer engine optimization (AEO) in digital advertising.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-anthropic-tap-salesforce-talenthttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropic-ban-stirs-concerns-openai-beyond-crackdown-foreign-ai-talenthttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-burned-3-7-billion-first-three-months-2026Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agendaTITV airs weekdays on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Follow us:X: https://x.com/theinformationIG: https://www.instagram.com/theinformation/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@titv.theinformationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theinformation/Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:13 - OpenAI Q1 Cash Burn and Financial Runway02:45 - The White House's De Facto Ban on Anthropic12:35 - OpenAI and Anthropic Raid Salesforce Talent21:00 - Power Law CEO Mike Dinsdale on SpaceX Exits32:51 - Adobe's Varun Parmar on the AI Ad Disruption
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThis episode, Kemberly Gong, VP of Marketing at Contentful, joins Eric to walk through what some marketing leaders are calling “The Great Content Collapse”, and what marketers can actually do about it.The setup: 60% of Google searches now result in zero click-through, and replaced by GenAI models like AI overviews. LLMs already account for 5% of traffic and climbing. Marketing budgets are flat or shrinking. Companies are flooding consumers with AI slop to hit KPIs. And consumers can smell it. 50% lose trust in a brand when they think the content was written by AI.Explore Contentful: https://www.contentful.com/?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fy27-q2-global-tl_awareness&utm_content=gcc What you'll learn:What is the "great content collapse" and why traditional content strategy is breakingAEO vs SEO: where they overlap and where they divergeWhy agentic agents prefer structured, query-aligned content with third-party validationHow buyer behavior is changing and what marketing teams can do to stay aheadWhere brands over-rely on AI and how to keep the human voiceThe 30-day content audit for the agentic webThe Pets Deli case: 50% conversion lift from one personalization changeThe Ruggable BFCM case: 7x CTR and 25% conversion lift from personalized hero banners + homepagesHow Bossard scaled its content across 18 languages and 38 countries with AI workflows using personalization softwareWhat On Running does to drive 40% of sales onlinePlus: Kemberly Gong's 30-day content audit checklist for the agentic web.Timestamps:00:00 The Great Content Collapse05:38 AEO vs SEO Explained10:08 Why Personalization Wins in 202613:27 Where AI Actually Helps Marketing Teams22:23 Building Brand Trust Across ChannelsSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video
Answer engine optimization (AEO) and generative engine optimization (GEO) rely heavily on brand recommendations, mentions, and citations within AI-generated answers. Employee advocacy directly feeds these artificial intelligence models by distributing highly trusted, human-sounding employee-generated content (EGC) across social channels and communities like LinkedIn and Reddit.We are joined by Gabrielle Herrera, Leader of Community Growth at HubSpot, who details her fascinating journey taking HubSpot's employee advocacy initiative from a 12-person pilot program to a global framework accessible to over 9,000 employees. Gabrielle shares how her extensive experience at the intersection of customer marketing, scaling growth, and global email strategy helped her design a sustainable roadmap for widespread workforce adoption.Throughout our chat, Gabrielle outlines why traditional SEO is evolving into Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), making decentralized community conversations across LinkedIn and Reddit vital for brand survival. She offers a masterclass on why customer success teams make the ultimate pilot testing ground, how to provide actionable content structure without destroying employee authenticity, and the continuous battle between deep-link attribution tracking and social algorithm health. Listeners will walk away with an exact understanding of how to move past uniform "lazy copy" and create an enablement framework that fosters intrinsic creator motivation, driving real enterprise growth.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download The World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study.Subscribe to the Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast on Spotify or your favorite platform to never miss an episode.
Oliver Bruce breaks down the real difference between SEO, AEO and GEO: search engine optimisation, answer engine optimisation and generative engine optimisation. Most marketers and most agencies treat these as the same thing with different names. They are not. They work on different surfaces, need different strategies and are measured with completely different KPIs.The stakes are simple. In the first four months of 2026, 68% of Google searches ended without a single click. Across 680 million AI citations, just 15 domains captured 68% of all citation share. This is a winner takes all environment. If your brand is not in the top tier of cited sources for your category, you are invisible to AI.Oliver walks through a step-by-step action plan for each discipline. How to fix your technical foundation and build topical authority for SEO. How to win featured snippets and zero click answers with AEO. How to become the source that ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude and Google Gemini trust, cite and recommend with GEO.This is a concrete playbook you can start executing this week.Key topics covered: The real difference between SEO, AEO and GEO Why 68% of Google searches now end without a click How to run a technical SEO audit AI crawlers can actually read Building topical authority with pillar pages and content clusters The EEAT signals Google uses to judge content quality Mapping the question landscape for answer engine optimisation Writing direct answer content that wins featured snippets Using structured data and schema to surface your content Auditing whether AI tools currently mention your brand at all Creating original research that AI models want to cite Building offsite brand presence across PR, Reddit and LinkedIn Monitoring your AI share of voice month on month Key takeaway: The brands that win the next decade of search will run SEO, AEO and GEO in parallel. The ones still selling the 2022 playbook will disappear from the conversation.Sponsored by Incard — Sponsored by Incard. Sign up now. All your finances. One platform. For 2% Cashback for year 1 on Ads, SaaS, Travel and other everyday business expenses. Uncapped. Here's your promo code: UNLOCK2026 More Value:Follow on YouTube for deep-dives & video episodes: www.youtube.com/@TheUnlockOliverBruceNeed a 1-2-1 with Oliver or want to be on the show, visit: www.oliverbruce.co.ukRead more information on key points in Oliver's newsletter: The Brucey Bonus newsletterFollow The Unlock & Oliver's socials:LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube | Instagram | Apple Podcast | Spotify podcast
Is GEO or AEO really changing the game - or is it just SEO with a new coat of paint? Russ is joined by Search Theory co-founders David Vernon and Sara Kavanagh for an honest conversation about the state of search in 2026. They make the case that SEO fundamentals still rule, dig into why AI-generated content keeps failing, and explain what digital PR actually means in an LLM-driven world. Tired of the hype? This one's for you.
Place in B2B used to mean partnerships, system integrators, and analyst relations. Now everyone's adding AEO and GEO to the list. But Matt and Liam question whether being mentioned by an LLM actually changes buying behavior — or whether it's just a new version of the same old "just get in front of people" fallacy. A grounded, skeptical conversation about what distribution really means when your product lives in the cloud. Keywords: GEO, AEO, B2B distribution strategy, B2B SaaS go-to-market, AI search marketing, brand consideration
In this episode of The Paywall Podcast, Pete sits down with James Baldacchino, fractional CMO of Leaky Paywall and AI SEO specialist at Ellipsis, to break down what publishers need to do as AI reshapes search and reader revenue: how to optimize your content for LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, why most publishers underprice their content and how to run a silent price test that lifts revenue without spooking subscribers, plus a live teardown of a high-traffic B2B publication that exposes the exact paywall friction points costing publishers paid conversions.
You know SEO matters for your photography business. You have heard it a hundred times. But every time you sit down to actually do it, you freeze up, second-guess yourself, and end up scrolling Instagram instead. Sound familiar?In this episode, I'm sitting down with SEO strategist Brittany Herzberg to break down how to build an SEO system you can actually maintain as a solo family photographer. Brittany is the creator of the SEO and Grow method and the host of the Basic B podcast. She went from being a massage therapist who could barely make rent to accidentally discovering that SEO was the reason clients were finding her online. Now she teaches established entrepreneurs how to stop chasing clients on social media and start getting found on Google. She also serves as the SEO strategist inside The Family Photographer's Marketing Society, where she teaches foundational SEO skills to our members every single month.What you'll hear in this episodeWhy family photographers get stuck between knowing SEO matters and actually doing itA realistic monthly SEO routine that takes one to six hours (not one to six hours per week)How to plan a quarter of blog content using just two types of postsThe one URL mistake that is costing you keyword space on Google (and how to fix it)Why renaming your image files before uploading is one of the fastest SEO winsHow to turn a basic gallery blog post into an actual SEO assetWhat AI search (GEO, AEO) actually means for family photographers (spoiler: your starting point has not changed)The 15-minute exercise to do before you ever touch keyword researchHow SEO maintenance mode works without draining your energyResources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/how-to-build-seo-system-family-photographer/▸ Get the Blogging & Visibility System For Family Photographers (only $37): https://dollydelong.thrivecart.com/organic-marketing-blogging-system-yt/▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society▸ Grab the FREE Family Photographers Marketing Trends Report: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/family-photography-marketing-trends▸ Check out the SEO Sprint HERE: https://brittanyherzberg.com/5-day-seo-sprint-intensiveConnect with Brittany Herzberg
Send us Fan MailApple's Worldwide Developers Conference just happened - and the message for home builders is bigger than most people realize. In this solo episode, Anya Chrisanthon - CCO at Anewgo - breaks down the biggest announcements from WWDC 2026 and translates them into plain language for home builder sales and marketing leaders.Siri goes agentic Apple rebuilt Siri from the ground up - powered by Google's Gemini and Apple's own on-device models. The new Siri doesn't just answer questions. It takes actions across apps on behalf of the user. Composing emails, managing files, performing multi-step tasks without manual navigation. The home buying version of this - scheduling tours, requesting brochures, getting answers about a specific floor plan - is coming. The builders whose digital presence is ready for it will have a significant advantage.Visual Intelligence in the Camera app Apple introduced a dedicated Siri mode inside the camera app. A buyer standing in front of your model home points their camera at the exterior - and Siri tells them the elevation, color scheme, community, and starting price if that information is structured and accessible online. Apple just built the infrastructure for a visual AI layer that sits on top of every physical space a buyer walks into. That changes what a model home experience looks like.The hidden feature Apple didn't announce After the keynote, developers discovered a hidden Extensions framework in the iOS 27 developer beta that lets users swap ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini inside Siri - infrastructure Apple built but chose not to announce. Apple is hedging. Siri becomes the container. The AI model underneath can be whatever the user prefers. When a buyer asks their phone about your homes, it might be Siri answering. Or ChatGPT through Siri. Or Claude. Or Gemini. If your digital presence doesn't give any of those AI systems enough specific, accurate, structured information to answer with confidence - you're not in that conversation. This is exactly why AEO matters across all platforms, not just one.Search gets faster Apple rebuilt the foundation of search across Spotlight, Mail, and Photos - and the new infrastructure indexes new files and data almost immediately. The lag between publishing content and having it surfaced by AI systems is closing. A community page that hasn't been updated in six months is going to look stale in a way it never did before.
The Healthtech Marketing Podcast presented by HIMSS and healthlaunchpad
Something fundamental has changed in how health tech buyers do research — and if you're watching your website traffic decline, you might be misreading what it actually means.In this episode, I sit down with Suyog Deshpande, Founder and CEO of Webless AI, to dig into one of the most consequential shifts in B2B buyer behavior in a generation.Will websites die?Probably not but something big is happening.Here's what's actually happening: your buyers haven't stopped doing research. They've moved it upstream — to ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini. They're building their shortlists there, forming their preferences there, all before they ever land on your website. By the time they show up, they're not browsing. They're validating.Suyog calls this the low volume, high intent era, and it completely reframes the traffic problem.This matters enormously for health tech vendors. Healthcare buying cycles run nine months or more, and around 75% of buyers go with the first vendor they contact after that research phase. If you're not on the shortlist before the process starts, your odds of winning are close to zero. The battle is won long before sales gets involved.We also get into something I find genuinely underused: the first-party intent data sitting on your own website. The queries visitors type into your site search aren't keywords anymore — they're prompts, often 100 to 200 words long, and they tell you exactly what content to create to get cited by AI engines.Full disclosure: we use Webless at healthlaunchpad.com and it's one of the most useful things we've implemented in the past year. We've lived the traffic dip, made the pivot, and we're now seeing inbound opportunities increase even as overall volume has flattened out.If you're wrestling with declining traffic or trying to figure out what AEO actually means in practice, this episode will give you a clear framework for what your website is really for in the age of AI search.Key Topics:"(00:00:00)" Introduction"(00:05:30)" Why Websites Were Built for Google, Not Buyers"(00:07:00)" Will Websites Go Away?"(00:09:00)" AI Search Engines as the New Top of Funnel"(00:10:30)" Unpacking Low Volume, High Intent"(00:12:00)" The Shortlist Problem in Healthcare Buying"(00:15:30)" How Webless Helps Brands Surface in AI Search"(00:18:00)" Sponsor Break: Health Launchpad AIO Audit"(00:19:30)" Prompts, Not Keywords: The New Content Challenge"(00:21:00)" What Webless Actually Is on Your Website"(00:23:00)" Content Strategy vs. Measurement for AEO"(00:24:30)" Real Results: Traffic Down, Inbound Opportunities Up"(00:26:00)" Where to Find Webless AI and Closing"(00:27:00)" Four TakeawaysIf you are interested in discussing this or any other topic, let's have a chat. Reach out to me directly to schedule a no-obligation discussion. This isn't a sales call, but rather an opportunity to talk through your questions and challenges.Follow me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to The Healthtech Marketing Show on Spotify or watch us on YouTube for more insights into marketing, AI, ABM, buyer journeys, and beyond!Thank you to our presenting sponsor, HealthcareNOW, 24/7 expert shows, interviews, and podcasts, powering healthcare leaders with innovation, policy, and strategy insights.
Send us Fan MailAmazon search is changing fast. It's no longer just about keywords. AI shopping tools like Rufus and Alexa are now answering customer questions and shaping buying decisions before shoppers even open a listing.In this Amazon SEO for AI Agents walkthrough, we cover how Answer Engine Optimization, or AEO, works on Amazon, where to place clear answers in your bullet points and crawlable A+ Content, and why intent-based listing optimization matters for sellers. You'll also see how to find the questions Amazon is already surfacing in search and use them to prepare your listings for AI shopping.Get help from My Amazon Guy to grow your Amazon sales. https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonSEO #AmazonAEO #AmazonSelling #AmazonListingOptimization #amazonfba Want free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon Receiving Delay Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04cdD4c0Amazon Catalog Spring Cleaning: https://hubs.ly/Q046BVfp0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q04btghf0Amazon 2026 PPC guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXTimestamps 00:00 – Introduction to AEO (Artificial Engine Optimization)00:46 – Amazon's Phase 5 SEO approach for AI search01:52 – How to identify "Ask Alexa" questions on your listing02:30 – Two high-potential areas for AI optimization03:02 – Finding AI prompts and search bar questions04:08 – Optimizing bullet points for intent-based answers05:52 – Using crawlable text in A+ content for AI agents06:50 – The power of FAQ sections for AI shopping07:15 – Manual search methods for finding high-relevancy questions08:32 – Start tracking and optimizing for AI today-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show
Europe is accelerating its push for digital sovereignty with the launch of EuroOffice, a cloud-based alternative to Microsoft 365 backed by German hosting giant IONOS and other European technology companies. But the launch has sparked controversy, with LibreOffice accusing the project of reinforcing Microsoft's document standards while critics question its roots in a fork of OnlyOffice. Meanwhile, new data suggests Google's AI Overviews are dramatically accelerating the rise of "zero-click" searches. Nearly 69 percent of Google searches now end without users visiting another website, raising concerns for publishers, online merchants and the growing industry of search engine optimization firms now pivoting toward Answer Engine Optimization, or AEO. Meta faces renewed criticism after former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams was effectively silenced from promoting her memoir Careless People. The dispute raises questions about whistleblower protections, corporate power and the role of a company that controls a significant share of how people communicate and consume news. And finally, a German court may have delivered one of the most important AI rulings to date. Rejecting Google's defence that users understand AI can make mistakes, the judges ruled that people trust AI-generated answers precisely because they expect them to be useful. The decision could have major implications for whether AI companies can be held legally responsible when their systems generate false information. In This Episode 00:00 Europe launches EuroOffice as a Microsoft alternative 02:10 Google AI Overviews drive zero-click searches to record highs 04:15 Meta's campaign against former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams 06:20 German court delivers potentially landmark AI liability ruling Hashtag Trending is hosted by Jim Love and covers the latest developments in AI, cybersecurity, technology policy, enterprise IT and digital business. Subscribe for daily technology news and analysis.
Most rental owners are still chasing the top spot on Google. That used to be the whole game. In this episode, Krista Chapman, founder of Path & Compass, breaks down the biggest shift in local search in years, from SEO to AEO and GEO, and what independent rental operators need to do right now to make sure AI recommends their business instead of their competitor's.
What happens when borrowers stop Googling you and start asking AI who they should trust?In this heartfelt episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond welcomes back industry thought leader, recruiting expert, media partner, taco aficionado, and dear friend Dalila Ramos for a real conversation about the future of visibility, trust, AI, and human connection in mortgage and financial services.Fresh off the Insellerate Experience Summit, Michael and Dalila unpack one of the biggest shifts facing the industry today: buyers, borrowers, lenders, and referral partners are no longer just searching for links. They are asking AI for answers. And if your brand, your expertise, or your company does not show up in those answers, you may become invisible before the conversation ever starts.But this episode is not just about AI.It is about the people behind the posts.The trust behind the transaction.The laughter, faith, friendships, tacos, car rides, conference moments, and real-life connections that technology can support — but never replace.Michael and Dalila explore:How AI search is changing borrower behaviorWhy GEO and AEO matter for loan officers, lenders, and mortgage technology companiesWhy “AI slop” is damaging trust and making brands sound the sameHow to use AI as a tool without losing your voiceWhy video, authenticity, and consistency are now trust signalsHow real relationships are built in the small, unpolished momentsWhy the winners will combine AI-powered visibility with genuine human connectionDalila shares a powerful reminder that the best content often comes from simply showing up as yourself — candid, consistent, imperfect, and human. Michael reinforces why the future belongs to those who can answer real questions clearly, build authority intentionally, and still care deeply about the people they serve.This is a conversation for every loan officer, mortgage executive, fintech founder, recruiter, marketer, and industry leader asking:How do I stay visible in an AI-driven world without losing what makes me human?Watch now and rethink what it really means to be found, trusted, and remembered.###Michael Hammond, Founder & CEO of NexLevel Advisors, is the leading fractional CMO in mortgage and mortgage technology, specializing in AI-powered growth strategy and audience development.
Welcome to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.In today's episode, we dive into the “new gold rush” of health marketing: AI search. Joining us is Vincent Grippi, founder and CEO of Grippi Media, a seasoned expert with over sixteen years of experience crafting digital marketing strategies for both startups and Fortune 500 brands. Featured in AdWeek, Business Insider, Fierce Healthcare, and Marketing Dive, Vincent has become a key thinker on the future of marketing, especially as AI rapidly reshapes the landscape of how consumers find and trust information.As AI-driven search tools become more prevalent, marketers face a barrage of new acronyms, shifting priorities, and a swirl of tools promising the next competitive advantage. But is all this hype justified or is confusion clouding marketers' judgment? Sara Payne and Vincent Grippi discuss the challenges, myths, and real strategies for thriving in the world of AI search, uncovering what businesses should and shouldn't be chasing in the age of rapidly evolving algorithms.Key Takeaways:1. SEO Fundamentals Still Rule Ignore the Hype Around New AcronymsDespite the explosion in AI search tools and terminology, Vincent stresses that marketers don't need to throw out their SEO playbooks. Google has clarified that AEO and GEO are myths; strong, traditional SEO remains the foundation for ranking and discoverability in AI search results (03:02, 06:23). Chasing new acronyms or unproven tools is likely to waste time and resources.2. Chasing Hacks and Tool-Based Shortcuts is Risky (and Costly)Vincent warns against “hacks” like AI-generated spam content or gaming platforms like Reddit, which may yield short-term wins but almost always backfire, leading to plummeting rankings or even platform bans (04:09, 04:41). Many popular tools are simply wrappers built on top of existing AI like ChatGPT and charge steep fees without meaningful results. Marketers should be wary of proprietary “visibility” scores or brand metrics that vary wildly between platforms (16:05).3. Discoverability is the New Visibility: Focus on Meaningful PresenceAI search changes how users access information summaries, replacing ten blue links, and click-through rates on web content are falling fast (20:12). Marketers must go beyond surface-level “visibility” to focus on discoverability: mapping high-value, original content to the specific prompts and research needs of their ideal customer profiles. This means prioritizing non-commodity content, such as unique research, proprietary data, case studies, and expert perspectives (08:46, 12:26).4. Thought Leadership and Digital PR Are More Important Than EverAI search doesn't just reward what's published on your site it pulls in podcasts, videos, ratings, reviews, and third-party features. Sara and Vincent emphasize the necessity of digital PR, proactive reputation management, and strategic media placements to build both authority and trust (23:26, 25:26). Genuine originality and credibility whether in written articles, public speaking, or interviews set brands apart in both the algorithm's eyes and consumers' trust.5. Marketers Must Reframe Success Metrics and Build Trust, Not Just TrafficThe AI search landscape demands new thinking around measurement: instead of obsessing over conversions or clicks, marketers should triangulate traditional SEO metrics with AI visibility, share of voice, and brand sentiment. With fewer referrals from search, ultimate success is about influencing perception, discovering new audience touchpoints, and fostering trust by surfacing reliably credible, compelling information where it matters (19:01, 36:07).Thank you for joining us for this conversation on staying grounded and staying ahead amidst the noise of AI search. Be sure to subscribe for more insights, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.Learn more about Vincent and the work he does at https://www.grippimedia.com/.Mentioned in this episode:Health Marketing Collective is Powered by InprelaThe Health Marketing Collective is powered by Inprela: a communications firm built for health brands determined to lead, not follow. We partner with marketing innovators who aren't just chasing attention—they're building movements. Connect with the audiences shaping the future of care and lead the conversations that move your market. Ready to rise above the noise? Visit inprela.com. Let's create something that moves the market.Inprela Communications
Send us Fan MailIn this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd explains why earned media now drives visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and AI search.Tune in to learn more! Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why earned media is the primary driver of visibility in AI-generated search2. How ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude determine which brands to recommend3. What the 2% pitch overlap statistic means for PR and marketing teams4. Why media velocity and recency matter more than one big placement5. What to do right now: three actions to strengthen your brand's AI visibility Quotables“Earned media is what AI trusts.” — @jasonmudd9“The right earned media in the right outlets at the right frequency is the primary lever for brand visibility and AI-generated search. Not one of the levers, it's the primary lever.” — @jasonmudd9“The brands that figure this out first are going to own the narrative inside the AI tools their buyers are already using every day.” — @jasonmudd9“99% of links cited by AI come from unpaid media.” — @jasonmudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.Contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInMuck Rack: Earned media still drives 84% of AI citationsGartner: Predicts 2026: Top Predictions to Inform 2026 Comms Strategiesratethispodcast.com/ontopofpr Additional Resources:Why earned media is so powerful in the age of AI and GEOWhy AI tools now rely on earned mediaHow earned media gets AI to remember your brandAxia's AIVisibility servicesListen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcastFind out more about Axia Public RelationsIf you like this episode, you're going to love this:The PR playbook for getting recommendedEmbedded AI: The future of PR and communication workflowsHow to stay ahead of AI in communication and marketingRecorded: June 06, 2026 Support the showOn Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Godard Abel, co-founder and CEO of G2, about how AI, software reviews, and answer engines are changing the way companies evaluate CPQ and enterprise software. Godard shares G2's key priorities for 2026, including AI transformation, the integration of Gartner Digital Markets, and the growing importance of trusted software review data. With the acquisition of Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp, G2 now works with more than 6 million reviews and a significantly larger buyer audience. This creates new opportunities for software buyers, CPQ vendors, and AI-driven recommendation engines. The conversation also explores how more CPQ buyers are starting their research journey in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude instead of relying only on Google searches, analyst reports, or traditional review sites. Godard explains why Answer Engine Optimization, or AEO, is becoming increasingly important and how it relates to SEO. He also discusses how G2 is optimizing content for both human buyers and AI agents. Frank and Godard also talk about the role of AI in CPQ, including where AI can help with research, software comparison, and decision support, and why human judgment remains important for complex CPQ evaluations. Godard also shares G2's plans around AI blueprints, AI-enabled software identification, and the future of cross-system automation. Beyond technology, Godard discusses G2's PEAK values — Performance, Entrepreneurship, Authenticity, and Kindness — as well as Pledge 1%, entrepreneurship, and his personal experience completing the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. This episode is especially relevant for CPQ buyers, CPQ vendors, software evaluators, revenue leaders, and anyone interested in how AI is reshaping enterprise software selection.
Your phone is a broadcast studio and you don't need a traditional podcast to build a brand. I break down why the scheduled, RSS-dependent podcast model is legacy thinking, how I get leads from ChatGPT and Gemini without spending a dollar on ads, and why organic content is still the highest-leverage move in your business.Timestamps:(0:00) Your phone is a broadcast studio. The permission to publish has always existed — what changed is that the audience is there now.(0:43) What even is a "show" anymore? The concept of a scheduled, RSS-dependent podcast is legacy thinking.(1:16) What to ask for when you're a guest on a podcast — or paying for a spot.
AI in Branding, Part 2: How to Stand Out, Create Content, and Build a Future-Proof Brand Welcome back to Part 2 of our FAQ series! If you missed Part 1 (FAQ #1–#6), be sure to listen first — we covered where branding starts, brand DNA decoding, ROI, and more. In this episode, we tackle FAQ #7–#12. Joanne dives deeper into the most pressing questions about AI in branding and what it truly takes to build an enduring, human-centered brand in the AI Age.
Erik Huberman is a serial entrepreneur, marketing expert, and the founder and CEO of Hawk Media, one of the fastest-growing marketing consultancies in the United States. Since launching Hawk Media in 2014, Erik has helped scale more than 5,000 brands, including household names like Red Bull, Verizon, Casamigos, Funko, and Crocs. In this episode, Erik shares lessons from building and selling companies, scaling a service business without outside funding, acquiring agencies, and adapting to the rapidly changing marketing landscape in the age of AI. On this episode we talk about: How Erik landed a $25,000 consulting project that changed his perspective on value The early days of Hawk Media and the strategy behind building a scalable marketing agency Why most agencies fail and what separates great marketing partners from the rest Using acquisitions to grow a service business and lessons learned from agency M&A The rise of AI optimization (AEO) and what businesses should be doing right now to stay ahead Top 3 Takeaways The value of your work is determined by the outcome it creates, not the amount of time it takes to complete. Sustainable growth comes from mastering proven channels, building systems, and avoiding shortcuts that create unnecessary risk. AI optimization is creating one of the biggest marketing opportunities available today, and businesses that adapt early will have a significant advantage. Notable Quotes "There's a difference between how I value it and how they value it." "If I give you the outcome you need, my fees don't matter." "You have to be exceptional at something." Connect with Erik Huberman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikhuberman X: https://x.com/erikhuberman Website: https://hawkmedia.com Podcast: https://hawktalkpodcast.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here are 12 FAQs (frequently asked questions) about the process of brand building and brand marketing by 10 Plus Brand, Inc. Part 1 of 2 answers the first six questions listed below. In Part 2, the last six. To watch Pt 1 as a video To read the FAQs Please contact us for a customized assessment tailored to your unique situation, whether it is a company brand, a leadership personal brand, or a professional brand. We at 10 Plus Brand have a proprietary process for brand DNA decoding, the foundation upon which content strategy, content creation, video production, website and social media marketing with AEO, GEO, SEO, and SOM are delivered. 1). Where and how to start? 2). Do You Use AI? What can you do that AI cannot? 3). Do you specialize in business branding or personal branding? or Both? 4). What are the measurable outcomes in terms of ROI? 5). How long does brand DNA decoding take? 6). Why is decoding brand DNA necessary? Will it lead to better quality deliverables? Will it lead to cost savings later? In Pt. 2, we will continue with the remaining 6 frequently asked questions and answers: 7). How do you combine human intelligence with AI in brand building? What makes a brand stand out in the AI Age? 8). If my budget does not allow me to go the "whole 10+ yards” of branding, what are the low hanging fruits to start with? 9). How frequently do I need to produce content in order to be recognized by AI and my target audience? 10). How do I generate original, unique content that is different from AI generated slop? Do I need to share all my “secret sauce”? 11). What are the most common misconceptions about becoming a brand? 12). Is brand building for the top players only? - Watch Pt. 2 as a 9-min video - Listen to Pt. 2 as a podcast - Subscribe to our free newsletter, for more thought leadership on AI, branding, executive influence, and the future of customer experience. About Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is a global brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and founder of 10 Plus Brand, Inc. and AIXD.world. She helps founders, CEOs, executives, and organizations build influential, future-ready brands through strategic positioning, AI Experience Design, and authentic storytelling. © Joanne Z. Tan, 2026. All rights reserved.
#361 | In this episode, Matt Carnevale, Head of Community at Exit Five talks with three marketers doing impactful work in AEO. AI search is changing how buyers find products, and most B2B teams are still figuring out where to start. In this session, each marketer shares what's working and wins they've experienced — from earned media and technical audits to homepage fixes and tracking AI visibility. Whether you call it AEO, GEO, LLMO, or EIEIO – this one's for you. This session features guests Matt Dzugan, VP of Data Intelligence at Muckrack, Brett Bernath, Director of Product at Webflow, and Jess Joyce, Founder of Inbound Scope – an SEO and AI Search consultancy.Timestamps(00:00) - - - Why 80% of CMOs say AEO is a top priority — and most don't know where to start (02:48) - - - How Muckrack used original research to get cited in ChatGPT before their product launch (02:50) - - - Why top-of-funnel content is getting eaten by AI — and where to focus instead (02:53) - - - Quick win #3: authority — how to show up in Reddit and third-party platforms (02:56) - - - The sleeper tip: Bing Webmaster Tools is already giving you first-party AI data (03:07) - - - How to handle competitor comparison content without verifiable claims falling flat (03:23) - - - The four-bucket AEO maturity model: content, technical, authority, measurement (03:24) - - - Why your homepage is your worst-performing page for AI discoverability (03:27) - - - Quick win #1: technical hygiene — schema, meta descriptions, and structured data (03:28) - - - How to identify which journalists get cited most by AI in your niche (03:29) - - - Quick win #2: are you actually answering what your customers are asking? (03:34) - - - Why 1 in 3 B2B SaaS sites have technical blockers killing AI discoverability (03:36) - - - Why original research is the single best content type for earning AI citations Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterLearn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/***Brought to you by:Optimizely - A no-code AI platform where autonomous agents execute marketing work across webpages, email, SEO, and campaigns. Learn how to deploy agents on your marketing team at Agents in the Mix. Learn more at optimizely.com/exitfive. Vector - A contact-level ads platform that lets you build audiences from actual people on your site, clicking your ads, and checking out your competitors. Learn more at vector.co, and get their new MCP server by clicking here. Customer.io - An AI powered customer engagement platform that help marketers turn first-party data into engaging customer experiences across email, SMS, and push. Learn more at customer.io/exitfive.Join us in Stowe, Vermont for Drive 2026 - three days away from your desk to learn what's working in B2B marketing from the people who are actually doing it. Grab your ticket at exitfive.com/drive.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more
Wines We're Drinking: Erin: Tomaté Frío by Para Wines, a hibiscus and cinnamon-based tempranillo Jessica: 2023 Para Wines Envino Blanco What happens when a BIPOC wine writer, AI strategist, and astrology enthusiast decides to build the bridge between all three? You get Erin Ortiz, and this is one of those conversations you're going to want to come back to. Erin has been in the wine industry for nearly a decade, writing about BIPOC issues in wine and building a career in account development before founding Brand Arcadia in 2024 to help boutique winemakers and BIPOC brands leverage AI in their digital marketing strategies. She's currently collaborating with Parra Wines on AI video content and building Celestial Somm, an app that pairs wines with astrology transits to make wine more accessible and culturally relevant, prioritizing Latiné-owned and independent brands. This conversation goes deep: we talk about what it really means to use AI as a tool without losing your voice, why the wine industry is falling behind with younger drinkers, how AI is reshaping search and why now is actually the golden moment for niche brands, and the very real racial bias Erin encountered when she first started using AI-generated images. Oh, and we may have had a little debate about AI video, porque I'm not gonna lie, I had some feelings. In This Episode We Cover: [00:04] Wines We're Drinking: Para Wines Tomaté Frío and Envino Blanco [07:00] New Jersey wine shipping laws and how they're hurting independent wineries and BIPOC brands [11:00] Erin's origin story: growing up in Manhattan, the projects, and an unexpected path into wine [18:00] How Erin started writing about BIPOC wine issues and what took her from bartending to brand strategy [24:00] Why AI is a powerful tool for storytellers, and how she used it to build the Para Wines AI video content [27:00] Jessica's honest take on AI photo and video, and why transparency about what is and isn't AI matters [32:00] How AI-generated content around the Iran conflict changed skeptics' minds about visual storytelling [33:00] Why being "weird" and specific is now a competitive advantage in AI-powered search (AEO vs. SEO) [35:00] Gen Z and wine: are they actually not drinking, or are they just not drinking your product? [40:00] The biggest challenge in AI-driven brand strategy: the rules change overnight [41:00] Introducing Celestial Psalm: the app that pairs BIPOC wines with astrology transits [43:00] What a "transit" is, explained through wine terroir and a metaphor about umbrellas [47:00] How the app assigns zodiac personalities to wines instead of winemakers, and why that matters for discovery [50:00] Erin's ethical line: AI amplifies your story, it does not replace it [51:00] AI's racial bias problem in image generation, and how it's (slowly) getting better [53:00] Erin's favorite AI tools, why she left ChatGPT, and a little love for Claude [56:00] What Erin has learned about authentic storytelling from years of wine writing, including the article about ICE raids in Napa Valley she was nervous to publish [59:00] Brand Arcadia's mission: drawing out unique stories, getting BIPOC brands visible in search, and a free audit offer for the first three listeners Connect with Erin Ortiz: Instagram: @BrandArcadia Website: BrandArcadia.com LinkedIn: Erin J. Ortiz Celestial Psalm app: coming soon Connect with Wine & Chisme: Website: wineandchisme.com Instagram: @wineandchisme YouTube: Wine & Chisme Podcast Latiné Wine Brand Directory: wineandchisme.com/directory We're here turning every conversation into a celebration, one glass at a time. Salud!
Google has made a couple of big announcements recently, and they could impact your small business SEO strategy. Let's chat about what's happening, what they're changing, and what they're saying you need to do to remain visible online. First up, Google released its first official guidance on AI optimization. They've also said you don't need to say AEO or GEO; in their eyes, it's all just SEO. You can read their official guidance here - https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guideSecond, they're changing the search experience, and most queries will be answered by AI, not via a list of links on the search results page like we're used to. Finally, what does this mean for your small business? It means you need to make sure you're doing SEO, you've adjusted your content strategy to focus on what they call non-commodity content, and you're following SEO best practices to keep your business visible in this new online search experience. If you're already in Simple SEO Content or working with me 1:1, you're fine, everything we're doing is correct and is in alignment with the new guidance. If you're still trying to do this on your own, now is the time to start working together. Join me in Simple SEO Content or work with me one-on-one, and I'll guide you through what you need to do to remain visible so you can generate leads and make money. Support the showRegister now for the free SEO class - https://www.etchedmarketing.com/registration-seo-class My free resources are here- https://www.etchedmarketing.com/freebies Want to work with me 1:1? https://www.etchedmarketing.com/marketing-consulting Join me in Simple SEO Content -https://www.etchedmarketing.com/yes Join Simple Podcast SEO and learn how to grow your show quickly and easily in the self-study podcast SEO program. - https://www.etchedmarketing.com/enroll My favorite marketing tools (affiliate links) Podcast recording and editing - DescriptPodcast hosting - BuzzsproutEmail Marketing - Active CampaignMarketing Website Analytics - Clicky SEO Tool - Ubersuggest Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Ask it here - https://forms.gle/Fbrqpmss6gxUnaMj7
What if the most honest data in marketing is what people type into a search bar at 2 AM? In this episode of the Podfather Podcast, we sit down with Stephan Bajaio, a 20-year veteran of the search industry who has helped giants like FedEx, Comcast, and Siemens navigate the digital landscape. Stephan, a co-founder of a half-billion-dollar SEO company, shares his incredible journey—from surviving a WeWork acquisition to buying his company back before the implosion. We dive deep into the "alphabet soup" of modern marketing (SEO, AEO, GEO, AIO) and why the "O" for optimization is the only thing that truly matters. Stephan also reveals his secrets for LinkedIn networking, the power of genuine recommendations, and why trying to "game" the new AI search models is a fool's errand. Timestamps Timestamp Topic Description 0:00 Welcome & Introduction to Stephan Bajaio 1:16 The LinkedIn Name Pronunciation Hack: A tip for hard-to-say names 2:22 The Power of 80+ LinkedIn Reviews: Quantitative vs. Qualitative validation 4:10 How to Ask for Recommendations: The "Kind Words" script 5:34 Using Reviews as a Career Asset: The 40-page printout that landed a co-founder role 7:03 Reciprocal Reviews vs. Earned Credibility: Why your reputation is on the line 9:22 The "Other" Inbox: Dealing with the aggressive spam of podcast promoters 11:37 Burning Bridges: Why sales aggressiveness ruins potential partnerships 13:40 PodMatch and the Reality of "Mic and a Computer" Podcasts 15:04 Vibe Logic: Stephan's new mission in digital marketing and technical SEO 27:51 The Alphabet Soup of Search: SEO, AEO, GEO, and AIO explained 30:46 The "Couch vs. Sofa" Data Trap: Why your ignorance is someone else's market share 31:58 Web Presence Intelligence (WPI): Placing your bets on the digital roulette table 33:40 The Unpredictability of LLMs: Why the same prompt gives different results 35:56 Personalization in AI: How your search history shapes your future answers 38:05 The 2000 Internet Boom Parallel: Overvaluations and the "Dial-Up" phase of AI 41:32 The Gold Rush Fallacy: Why the money is in the "picks and pans," not the gaming 43:08 Needs-Based Personas: Moving beyond "Paul the Pauper" to real consumer intent 69:16 How to Connect with Stephan: Cutting through the noise in his inbox 69:40 Outro: RoyCoughlan.com and the PodFather Network
Most marketing fails before a single ad is made. Not because the execution is bad, but because teams leap straight to tactics and skip the strategy underneath. Ben Norman calls the result "busy fools": lots of activity, very little impact.Ben, Strategy Director at Principles Agency and host of Marketing Room 101, joins Chris and Will to break down what brand strategy actually is, why so many senior marketers get it wrong, and how to do it properly without drowning in 20-page decks and brand "salad bowls".What you'll learn:The simplest definition of strategy you'll hear, using Ben's "person and product" modelWhy diagnosis comes before strategy, and strategy before tactics (borrowed from the ancient Greeks)The Three Cs framework: customer, company, competition, and why every problem comes back to themThe "bow tie" method for distilling a mountain of insight down to a single wordWhy you should think in alternatives, not competitors (a Snickers competes with doing nothing, not just a KitKat)The McCafé anti-poncery campaign and what makes it a masterclass in positioningWhy "channel neutrality" matters, and why SEO, GEO and AEO are all just "search"How strategic thinking applies to everything from cleaning your house to running the countryPlus Ben serves up his now-famous Menu of Mistakes, including the £70k pitch that got away, the food shoot where he forgot to book the art director and styled it out by pretending he was one, and the Wally the Whale mascot meltdown at Wetherby Racecourse that ruined childhoods and lost punters their bets.The conversation closes with the three things Ben would banish from marketing right now: tiny microphones, people misusing the word "omnichannel", and the damage social media is doing to society.Chapters:0:00 Intro 1:15 Building a podcast with Room 101 4:35 Mini MBA and marketing basics 7:40 What strategy really means 12:35 The Three Cs and the bow tie 17:55 Listening first and field research 21:00 Knowing when insight is enough 24:55 McCafé and anti-poncery positioning 29:10 Strategy thinking in daily life 34:45 False binaries and channel neutrality 39:35 What communications means in practice 42:25 The menu of marketing mistakes 46:30 Wally the Whale mascot meltdown 51:05 The missing art director food shoot 54:40 Three things to banish now 57:35 Social media harm and regulationConnect with Ben Norman on LinkedInSend us Fan Mail Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host:
Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We're breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob examine how large language models like ChatGPT recommend vendors. They unpack why visibility in AI-generated lists doesn't always mean credibility, and what marketers can do about it. Topics covered:[01:00] "Visibility is Not Equal to Credibility: Self-Promotion Bias in LLM Generated Recommendations"[02:30] Three patterns brands use to game AI rankings[03:50] What ChatGPT admitted when pushed for sources[04:30] Can better prompts fix the problem?[04:50] Takeaways for marketers and brands[05:30] The talent show analogyTo learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast Resources: Sangra, T. (2026). Visibility is not equal to credibility: Self-promotion bias in LLM-generated recommendations. She Innovates AI Research. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6598718 Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
In this episode: Why the ten blue links era of the internet is ending The shift from search to ask, and what it means for discovery What AI is actually rewarding now (and why volume is no longer the moat) The Interpretation Gap: the silent reason smart founders are being skipped The ChatGPT client story that made this real for Monique What Google announced at I/O and the one line of news nobody is talking about Why smaller, clearer experts are now outranking bigger, vaguer brands The new definition of a brand: retrieval infrastructure, not marketing asset Who wins the next era of the internet, and who quietly disappears Quotes worth pulling: "People stopped searching. They started asking." "AI is not reading your content the way a human fan does. It is trying to categorize you." "A smaller but clearer expert can now beat a bigger but vaguer brand. That has never been true before." "Your brand is not just a marketing asset anymore. It is retrieval infrastructure." "The people who win next are not the loudest. They are the clearest." Next week on the podcast: Monique sits down with Carol Cox, founder of Speaking Your Brand, whose business is already 20 to 25 percent ChatGPT-referred. They get specific about what AI is reading, what women specifically need to protect in this shift, and what becomes more valuable as machines get smarter. Who Knows You is hosted by Monique Bryan, brand authority strategist and built for founders, operators, and experts who are doing real work and ready to be picked for it. Take the AI Visibility Audit to find out where your positioning is breaking down and what to fix: [RUN YOUR AUDIT] Connect with Monique:Before we build, let us talk. https://moniquebryan.com/book/ - Website: moniquebryan.com LinkedIn: Monique Bryan Instagram: @moniquebryan
For more thoughts, clips, and updates, follow Avetis Antaplyan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avetisantaplyanIn this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with David J. Ebner, founder of Content Workshop, a brand storytelling agency that helps companies blend human creativity with AI-driven marketing systems. David brings a unique background as a classically trained storyteller with a master's degree in creative writing, and he explains how the fundamentals of narrative, character development, dialogue, and emotional connection directly translate into modern brand building.The conversation explores why AI-generated content is creating a “sea of sameness,” how brands lose trust when they waste people's attention, and why storytelling is becoming one of the strongest competitive advantages in an AI-powered world. David breaks down the difference between founder-led content and true brand storytelling, emphasizing that the hero of the story should always be the audience, not the company.Avetis and David also dive into AI adoption, human-in-the-loop workflows, SEO, AEO, GEO, AI Overviews, bot traffic, direct traffic, and how companies can adapt as search behavior rapidly changes. David shares practical ways leaders can protect quality, build brand authority, and use AI without automating mediocrity. The episode closes with thoughtful reflections on leadership, values, emotional connection, hospitality, and making “the lighter decision” when facing difficult choices.TakeawaysAI has made content creation easier, but it has also made most brand content sound generic, predictable, and forgettable.Strong brand storytelling is not about talking more about the company; it is about creating emotional connection and trust with the audience.Founder-led thought leadership works best when it helps the audience solve problems, not when it becomes self-promotional.Leaders should not automate processes with AI until they understand how to do them manually and know what quality looks like.Brand authority still matters in AI search, and backlinks, PR mentions, guest articles, and credible third-party references remain valuable.David's leadership advice is to choose “the lighter decision,” meaning the choice you are least likely to regret long term, even if it carries a cost.Chapters00:00 Why AI Content Is Creating a Sea of Sameness00:49 Introducing David J. Ebner and Content Workshop02:00 Classical Storytelling and Modern Brand Marketing05:04 Why the Founder Should Not Be the Hero14:32 Management vs. Leadership in AI Adoption16:25 The Missing ROI Conversation Around AI22:07 The Human-AI-Human Content Sandwich26:42 Direct Traffic, AI Tools, and Attribution Challenges30:50 SEO, GEO, AEO, and AIO Explained35:31 What Brand Authority Means Now37:41 Human UX vs. Bot UX40:29 Practical Steps to Improve AI Search Visibility42:26 What Happens to Brands That Fail to Adapt44:51 Why Storytelling Still Beats Data Alone47:23 David's Early Aha Moment in Medical Marketing52:06 Book Recommendation: Unreasonable Hospitality54:03 David's Billboard Message for Founders and Leaders56:01 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with David56:58 Outro and Final ReflectionsDavid Ebner's Social Media Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjebner/David Ebner's Website Link:https://contentworkshop.com/Resources and Links:https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright
LLM search is only about 1% of the total search market. Google still controls roughly 88%. So why do so many marketer's content strategy sound like it was written by someone in a panic about AI overviews? This week we're resurfacing a conversation with Grace Sharkey of Orderful to reset what SEO actually looks like for logistics in 2026, with a new intro reacting to Google's recent guidance on what does and does not matter.Included in this conversation is a fresh take on what Google just clarified, including what they're saying about llms.txt files, FAQ pages, and schema. Then we roll into the conversation where Grace asks the questions and Blythe walks through Google Search Console, long-tail keywords, the FAQ-page rebuild, and why your recorded sales calls are the most underused content gold mine in your stack.In this episode:Why Google Search Console beats Ahrefs and SEMrush for figuring out what to fix firstHow to sort your queries for the fastest click-through-rate winsThe long-tail paragraph queries LLMs are actually answeringWhy the FAQ page is the easiest piece of SEO work you can ship this quarterWhat Google just said about llms.txt files (spoiler: you do not need one)How to turn recorded sales and onboarding calls into a content engineWhy YouTube case studies beat gated PDF whitepapers for shippersThe "how did you hear about us" form field every high-intent page should haveWatch this episode on YouTubeLinks and resources:Grace Sharkey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-sharkey-31940765/Orderful: https://www.orderful.comGoogle Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-consoleAdam Robinson's Air Cover newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/air-cover-7450924377958912000/ SEO expert Gaetanao DiNardi: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7368964829673390084/More logistics marketing and sales content over on Everything is Logistics -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.Digital Dispatch maximizes and manages your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.
Send us Fan MailIn a market where a lot of builders are pulling back, Jennifer Cooper is making the case for why that's exactly the wrong move. Jennifer is the founder and CEO of Evolution Marketing and Evolution Design Studios - a fractional marketing consultancy with seasoned teams across the country serving home builders of every size. In this episode, she and Anya Chrisanthon of Anewgo get into the real conversations happening in builder boardrooms right now.The budget conversation nobody wants to have If your growth goals are going up but your marketing budget is staying flat, you're setting yourself up to miss your numbers. Jennifer explains why spend has to match growth - and what it signals when leadership doesn't value what marketing can actually do.AI adoption in the field right now Jennifer isn't scared of AI - she's brought it to the table as a strategic partner. She breaks down what smart teams are actually doing with AI, why she keeps an "invisible chair" for it in every strategy conversation, and how builders can use it to work faster without losing their brand voice.AEO, authority, and the PR comeback AI is looking for authoritative content and third-party validation. Jennifer shares how one of her builders built a PR strategy that AI is now actively sourcing - and why blogs, content, and earned media are more important than ever in the AIO era.The CRM conversation we're still having in 2026 Having a CRM isn't enough. Jennifer explains why most builders have it but aren't using it right - and how to think about your full tech stack from OSC tools to self-touring to visualization.Shoppable model homes: the business case Evolution Design Studios brings a full shoppable model program to builders of any size. Builders save an average of $10,000 or more per model, get a revenue-generating online storefront, and create a stickier digital experience - without handling a single purchase order. Jennifer breaks down exactly how it works and who it's right for.The secret to staying ahead Wake up every day and ask why. Jennifer's advice for marketing leaders navigating one of the most challenging - and most opportunity-rich - moments in the industry.Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn or at evolutionmarketingco.com.About Anewgo Anewgo is an all-in-one new home sales and marketing platform. We equip builders with AI-ready homebuilder websites, interactive design tools, floorplans, sitemaps, AI Sales Assistants, and data analytics to create personalized buyer journeys. Learn more at anewgo.com or find every episode at anewgo.com/podcast.Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anewgo-of-new-home-sales/id1602564768
That Solo Life Episode 340: Why Right Now Is Your Moment as a Solo PR Pro Episode Summary In this episode, Karen and Michelle deliver a timely reminder that periods of disruption are not just a challenge for solo PR pros — they are an opening. As larger agencies navigate layoffs and major brands question whether their big agency retainers are actually serving them, seasoned independents are uniquely positioned to step in with what clients need most right now: senior-level expertise, direct access, speed, and no handoff. The co-hosts unpack the case for why this moment calls for a mindset upgrade — from service provider to peer executive — and share two practical, immediately actionable tips for leveling up your business development: auditing your positioning language and optimizing your digital presence for generative AI search (GEO). This is a compact, energizing episode packed with perspective and takeaways. Episode Highlights [01:24] Why the Moment Is Now for Solo PR Pros: Layoffs at larger agencies and growing scrutiny of big agency retainers are creating real openings for solos and small agencies. Karen and Michelle are quick to note this isn't about celebrating anyone's misfortune — but they are clear that cycles of disruption have always created opportunity for senior independent practitioners, and this one is no different. [02:22] The Big Agency Relationship Doesn't Have to Be Either/Or: Karen reframes the conversation: solos aren't necessarily replacing big agencies — they can be the missing piece alongside them. Large brands often benefit from a global agency plus a smaller, more nimble partner focused on different things. Karen has been that partner. If you've played that role, it's a story worth telling explicitly in your business development conversations. [04:43] What Clients Are Actually Looking For Right Now: Michelle identifies the three things decision-makers are prioritizing: consistency (the same senior person, every time), senior access (a peer-to-peer relationship, not an account manager handoff), and speed (no one pivots faster than a solo). These aren't abstract differentiators — they're the exact pain points that drive clients away from large agencies. Build your talking points around them. [06:03] The Peer-to-Business Mindset Shift: One of the most important reframes in the episode: when you go solo, you don't just change your title — you become the executive of your own company. Karen pushes back on the tendency solos have to unconsciously slip into a subservient role with clients, treating them like a boss rather than a business partner. Clients are hiring your expertise and judgment. That's a peer relationship, and you have to own it. [07:43] Business Development Starts with Your Own Positioning: Michelle's practical challenge: go look at your LinkedIn profile, your website, and your email signature right now. Does the language reflect the senior, direct-access, expert-led story you just heard? If not, that's your first business development task. Develop a few clear talking points. Sharpen your elevator pitch. The story you tell about yourself is the foundation of every new client conversation. [08:54] GEO — Generative Engine Optimization — Is Not Optional Anymore: Karen's most tactical tip of the episode: optimize your website and bio for GEO, not just SEO. When potential clients — or their colleagues — ask an AI assistant to recommend a PR firm, your content needs to be the answer. That means writing your website copy in the language of the questions your ideal clients are actually asking. Karen's example: write for the $500M company looking for on-the-ground, senior-led PR support — and put those words on your site. Resources & Additional Information Solo PR Pro membership community: soloprpro.com That Solo Life podcast website: thatsololife.com That Solo Life Episode 329: The New Alphabet of PR from AEO to PESO with Gini Dietrich PR News: Priceline's Christina Bennett on Why GEO Is PR's Moment to Shine Host & Show Info That Solo Life is a podcast created for public relations, communication, and marketing professionals who work as independent and small practitioners. Hosted by Karen Swim, APR, founder of Words For Hire and President of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane, Principal of Voice Matters, the show delivers expert insights, encouragement, and practical advice for solo PR pros navigating today's dynamic professional landscape. Listen to all episodes and catch up on previous conversations at thatsololife.com. Did this episode inspire you? If you found value in this conversation, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more solo pros just like you! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
If your SaaS product delivers genuine value fast, growth takes care of itself. That's the core thesis Sanjay Sarathy has spent 8+ years proving at Cloudinary, where he oversees a self-service business representing nearly a third of the company's revenue across 11,000+ paying customers in 150+ countries — without feet on the ground in most of them.In this episode, Sanjay breaks down what product-led growth actually looks like when it's executed well: not just free trials and clever onboarding flows, but building such a frictionless, valuable experience that developers naturally tell other developers. He shares why Cloudinary invested in technical support before marketing, how they redefined "activation" to mean real value (not just uploading a file), why discoverability is a non-negotiable pillar of their growth strategy, and how they're now rethinking the developer experience for a world where AI agents and LLMs are writing the code.This is a masterclass in developer-led PLG from someone who has lived it at scale.Key Takeaways4:07 — The Growth Levers Have Changed SEO, outbound, and paid are still valid, but word of mouth (especially in developer communities), AEO, and agentic discoverability have become powerful new growth engines — when they're earned as a byproduct of value, not engineered as a primary goal.8:28 — Why PLG Before Enterprise Cloudinary was built by developers for developers. They started with self-service because that's what their founding team would have wanted. Only after PLG proved itself did enterprise customers come knocking — and it was far easier to layer on security, SLAs, and support than to bolt on a product that developers already loved.13:46 — Great Product Isn't Enough Without Distribution Cloudinary is in 150 countries with no boots on the ground in most of them. SEO, developer relations, and a docs site that functions as a discovery engine are what made global reach possible. Distribution and product must go hand-in-hand.15:36 — Discoverability Is a Strategy, Not a Tactic "Discoverability" is a recurring internal theme at Cloudinary — constantly asking how to ensure the right people, in the right context, can find and experience the product's value.16:03 — The Cannibalization Trap Cloudinary made the mistake of launching a new product without considering its impact on existing products — and cannibalized their own business. They now use a two-track product strategy: "mature" products with full go-to-market support, and "invest" products being validated for product-market fit before scaling.19:24 — Invest in Support Before Marketing One of Cloudinary's earliest and most impactful decisions: invest heavily in technical support first. Happy, successful developers become word-of-mouth advocates. That bet paid off across an entire community.21:06 — Developer Experience in the Age of AI Tooling Developer experience today means meeting developers where they work — VS Code, Cursor, Claude, Windsurf. Cloudinary built a VS Code extension and is working to minimize hallucinations by giving LLMs accurate, context-rich instructions for using Cloudinary correctly.24:03 — Redefining Activation Uploading a file to Cloudinary is not activation. Doing something with that file — transforming it, tagging it, delivering it — is activation. Reframing their metric around genuine value changed how they prioritized onboarding.33:25 — The Seven-Day Activation Window Data shows clearly: if users don't activate within the first 7 days, a second surge doesn't come. Most activation happens in the first 4–5 days. This insight shapes everything about how Cloudinary approaches onboarding urgency.27:01 — Speak Use Cases, Not Features "We have automated image optimization" means nothing. "Your images are 40% lighter and you'll save X on bandwidth" means everything. The language of outcomes and use cases is what drives adoption and expansion.36:39 — Pricing Must Communicate Value Cloudinary's self-service pricing has remained largely flat for years while the product has added enormous capability — intentionally improving the value/price ratio over time. They also offer pay-as-you-go flexibility for seasonal businesses.44:28 — The 90-Day PLG Focus: Build Trust For founders building a PLG motion right now, Sanjay's single most important recommendation: engender trust. Do what you say. Follow up when you say you will. Make your product deliver on its promise. Trust is the flywheel.Tweetable Quotes"We never set out to get word of mouth. We set out to create value. Word of mouth was the byproduct." — Sanjay Sarathy"If your product genuinely helps people win, growth becomes a natural byproduct." — Sanjay Sarathy"Distribution is equally as important as the product itself. You can have a great product and go nowhere." — Sanjay Sarathy"Discoverability isn't a campaign. It's a strategy." — Sanjay Sarathy"Uploading a file isn't activation. Doing something valuable with it is." — Sanjay Sarathy"If a developer doesn't activate in the first seven days, don't expect another surge. It won't come." — Sanjay Sarathy"Stop talking about your features. Start talking in the language of your customer's use cases." — Sanjay Sarathy"We're okay with free users who are actively using the product. They pay us back in word of mouth." — Sanjay Sarathy"In a PLG motion, trust is the flywheel. Without it, everything else breaks down." — Sanjay Sarathy"We fell in love with our own capabilities and forgot that customers don't care. Use cases are what drive adoption." — Sanjay SarathySaaS Leadership Lessons1. Build Distribution Like You Build Product Cloudinary reaches 150+ countries without sales reps in most of them — through SEO, developer relations, documentation, and community. Great products disappear without intentional distribution. Your discoverability strategy is a growth strategy.2. Earn Word of Mouth — Don't Engineer It The moment you prioritize getting word of mouth over generating it as a byproduct of genuine value, you've lost the plot. Build something that makes people win, then step back and let them talk. The data will tell you if it's working.3. Start Narrow, Validate, Then Scale Cloudinary's "invest vs. scale" product framework exists because they once cannibalized their own product line by expanding without rigor. Validate product-market fit in a controlled way before committing the full go-to-market machine. Repeatability before scale.4. Redefine Your Activation Metrics Around Real Value Ask yourself: is the action we're measuring actually a moment of value, or just a moment of presence? Cloudinary stopped counting uploads and started counting transformations. The metric you optimize shapes the product you build.5. Invest in Customer Success Before You Think You Need To Cloudinary prioritized technical support ahead of marketing in their early days. Counter-intuitive — and it was exactly right. Successful users become advocates. That investment compounded for years through word of mouth and developer trust.6. Speak the Language Your Customer Thinks In "Automated image optimization via F-Auto" is internal language. "Your images are 40% lighter and your site is faster" is customer language. The translation layer between what your product does and what your customer achieves is where adoption lives or dies. Build that bridge deliberately.Guest Resourcessanjay@cloudinary.comwww.cloudinary.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaysarathy/https://x.com/guffnuffEpisode SponsorThe Futureproof Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfkXKUPZ5xuOqMPR7_gzGybncTtavyR1NThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite - https://championleadership.com/Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmainsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains
AI isn't just another marketing tool—it's the operating system of modern marketing. In 2026, the businesses that win aren't the ones “using AI”—they're the ones building on it. From answer engines to agentic AI and lightning-fast speed-to-lead, this episode shows you what's changed, what matters now, and how to take action—without getting lost in the hype.
Send us Fan MailTwo episodes ago, a Florida builder went from a 16% ChatGPT citation rate to 72% in a matter of months. This episode answers the question everyone kept asking: how? In this solo follow-up, Anya Chrisanthon - CCO at Anewgo - breaks down Answer Engine Optimization in plain language, no jargon, no tech degree required.SEO vs. AEO SEO gets you found in a list. AEO gets you recommended as the answer. When a buyer asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini for a builder like you, AI doesn't return ten options - it picks one or two. If your digital presence doesn't give AI enough specific, consistent, verifiable information to recommend you with confidence, it moves on to a builder whose story it can actually tell.Why most builder websites are invisible to AI right now Vague taglines, generic community descriptions, inconsistent naming across platforms, and missing pricing all create uncertainty for AI. Uncertain AI doesn't recommend you. And with ChatGPT now rolling out ads in the US, the landscape is shifting even faster.What AEO-ready actually looks like Specific community names, locations, and price points. Real buyer descriptions that go beyond demographics. Differentiators that are stated, not implied. Consistency across your website, Google Business profile, social presence, and any third-party coverage. Earned media - reviews, press, industry recognition - because AI gains confidence when your claims are reinforced by sources outside your own website.Three things to do this week (1) Search for yourself the way your ideal buyer would - in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, or Claude. (2) Read your own website like a stranger - could AI accurately describe who you are and who you build for? (3) Get an AEO assessment from Anewgo - email your website URL to beth@anewgo.com, subject line "AEO Assessment."
In this episode, Jason Cass interviews Patrick Murakami, a forward-thinking insurance agency owner, about his journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, innovative marketing strategies, and the future of AI in the insurance industry. They explore how to leverage social media, AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, and build scalable, sellable agencies. Key Topics: Patrick's decade at Progressive and pitching VoIP technology to corporate The USAA phone call that pushed Patrick to go independent Growing a $5 million agency on $260 in total ad spend through Facebook Why introducing clients to custom GPTs is still an uphill battle AEO and GEO: how AI searchability differs from traditional SEO Backlink networks and AI-searchable directories as a ranking strategy Using AI to build SOPs as the smartest entry point for most agents Why SOPs directly affect agency valuation and exit readiness Targeting the military PCS market and expanding to 25 states Patrick's book The Human Advantage and building the trust stack alongside the tech stack Reach out to: Patrick Murakami Jason Cass Visit Website: NexAgency Claude AI Obsidian Note-taking App Agency Intelligence Manual Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm