Podcasts about Content marketing

What happens when explosive success turns your ADHD business strategy upside down? Dani Donovan returns to reveal the hidden reality of scaling a tool for neurodivergent communities and keeping up with sudden demand.For every ADHD entrepreneur, founder, or business owner with ADHD navigating rapid growth, delegation struggles, and high cognitive load, this conversation offers actionable clarity. Discover practical insights on ADHD business operations, accountability, and real-time decision-making when your business evolves faster than expected.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - How Viral Products Create Explosive Demand06:00 - ADHD Product-Market Fit and Underserved Audiences12:00 - Building and Launching a Viral Product19:00 - Content Marketing, TikTok Virality and Storytelling26:00 - Scaling Too Fast and Business Operations33:00 - Perfectionism, Burnout and Entrepreneurial Growth40:00 - Email Lists, Algorithms and Sustainable Business Growth47:00 - Entrepreneurship, Autonomy and What Comes Next3 Key Takeaways:Find—and serve—the underserved audience. When you truly solve a need for people who've been overlooked, you can create explosive demand. Building something specifically for the ADHD community, with real-life empathy and nuance, was the game-changerPrepare to adapt at warp speed. Virality can supercharge your business, but also breaks systems you thought could scale. Managing inventory, support, and planning for unpredictable spikes is a different beastDon't skip the foundations—even if you're “too busy.” Invest in core systems you own—like email lists—not just social media channels. Otherwise, you're at the mercy of algorithms or outside platforms.About today's guest, Dani Donovan:Dani Donovan is an award-winning designer and creator of the viral hit product, "The Anti-Planner: How to Get Sh*t Done When You Don't Feel Like It." Known for her relatable ADHD comics, tweets, and TikToks, she's been helping shape the online neurodiversity community since 2018, and her work has helped thousands of people seek an ADHD diagnosis and treatment.Connect with Dani: Website - Instagram - TikTok - XDani's viral tweet: "Finding out you have ADHD as an adult feels like being told you suck at Mario Kart your entire life and then finding out your game generates 40 times more banana peels than it's supposed to"About the Anti-Planner:Tapping into her own frustrations and the lived experiences of ADHD peers, Dani Donovan spent over 3,000 hours creating The Anti-Planner, calling it a “productivity spellbook.”It is a lovingly designed, non-linear, highly personalized compendium of over 100 strategies for overcoming procrastination and building emotional resistance.Dani obsessed over every detail: the comforting size, playful illustrations, durable faux-leather binding, gold foil, thick paper, pen loop, and rounded corners. It is gorgeous, practical, and nothing like all the planners you've bought and abandoned two weeks later.Buy your copy of the Original Anti-Planner here. (Dani also has a Clean version if you are not so sweary…)P.S. If you missed my previous interview with Dani Donovan episode (and The Anti-Planner's original “theft” story!), it's a must-listen! Ep #318_ Somebody Stole My Sh*t: Copycats, Counterfeiters and How to Protect What You've BuiltYour ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct and strategic, with a dash of humor, and filled with the insights of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship. She is the creator of the ADHD-ish™ Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish™ podcast.Want to grow your business AND survive your own success while doing so? Book a free consultation with me and let's talk about how I can help.© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Are you struggling to keep up with content creation? Think you need a fancy studio, expensive professional photos, or a full day to batch your content? Think again.In this episode, I'm sharing 6 powerful shifts that will help you create more content, faster—without it taking over your life. From shifting your mindset to leveraging AI, I'll show you how I produce daily content while running a business (and without endless expensive, timeconsuming photoshoots!).Ready to make content creation effortless?Get my free AI-powered content repurposing prompt & tutorial here that turns one piece of content into 11 pieces: https://fastforwardamy.com/contentbuddyOr find out what you are spending too much time on as CEO today and what's holding back your growth: use my free 7-Figure Founder Scan at fastforwardamy.com/founderscan.This episode was originally published in February 2025 so references of dates and seasons might be outdated, but the content and strategies are not.If you're already doing multi-six figures and ready to scale with high-level coaching, this is for you. Apply via  forwardamy.com/applicationformeng and let's see if we're the right fit to grow your business to the next level. You want to grow on Instagram but don't know what to post to get more reach and followers. The Audience Challenge gives you 20 ready-to-use reels and carousel templates and the SHARE-framework so you know exactly what to post for 20 days straight. Start immediately at fastforwardamy.com/audiencechallengeFollow me on Instagram for more business and mindset tips: instagram.com/fastforwardamyDiscover my free trainings and ebooks: fastforwardamy.com/freeresources

Ready to see what's possible? Visit GymSupps.com to learn more and schedule a free discovery call to see if a custom supplement program is right for your business. Ready to Grow Your Gym? If you're a gym owner with 30+ clients looking to add $5k-$10k/month in the next 90 days, book your FREE Brainstorm Call HERE. About Business for Unicorns Business for Unicorns helps gym owners and fitness studio operators build profitable, sustainable businesses without burning out. Founded by Mark Fisher and Michael Keeler —who built and sold the $34-million Mark Fisher Fitness —BFU provides coaching, mentorship, courses, and events for gym owners ready to grow revenue, systemize operations, and create more freedom in their lives. To learn more, check out businessforunicorns.com. Get More BFU In Your Life: Claim your FREE copy of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE Follow BFU on Instagram HERE Subscribe to MF's YouTube Channel HERE

This episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle features Alex Quin and Gina Ulmos, media personality, journalist, podcast host, and author of Mis 200 Citas. Gina reflects on her decades-long career across television, Univision, and radio, and how an unexpected career transition gave her the opportunity to reinvent herself as an author. She shares how nearly 200 real dating experiences after a 16-year marriage, combined with lessons from therapists, psychologists, love coaches, and her own interviews, ultimately inspired her book.Alex and Gina dive into modern dating, Bumble, first-date expectations, red flags, personal safety, scams, self-worth, and how social media has changed the way relationships begin. They also discuss Gina's experiences interviewing major figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, how her journalism background helps her read and vet people, and why cultural compatibility and life experience matter in relationships. Ultimately, the conversation goes beyond dating to explore reinvention, embracing uncomfortable change, and why it's never too late to start a new chapter in your career or personal life.Episode Outline:[00:00] Meet Gina Ulmos and the story behind Mis 200 Citas[04:25] Leaving radio and turning life experiences into a book[09:00] 200 dates, Bumble, rejection, and finding love online[13:30] First-date expectations, money, boundaries, and red flags[18:20] Dating safety and protecting yourself when meeting strangers[23:30] How Alex met his wife and Instagram vs. dating apps[28:25] Self-worth, childhood patterns, and choosing better partners[35:05] Interviewing Cristiano Ronaldo and using journalism skills in dating[39:00] Vetting dates, background checks, scams, and trusting your instincts[41:05] Cultural compatibility, travel, relationships, and Mexico[46:05] Career reinvention, losing your safety net, and embracing change[49:00] Why it's never too late to find love[50:52] Closing thoughts and outroWisdom Nuggets:Don't Ignore the Red Flags Because You Like the Person: Attraction can make people justify behavior they would immediately recognize as problematic in someone else. Pay attention to inconsistencies, pressure, dishonesty, and actions that don't match someone's words.Treat Dating Like an Interview: Gina learned from a love coach to think about dating similarly to filling an important position. Would you keep interviewing someone who consistently shows up late, lies, acts inconsistently, or doesn't share your values? Chemistry shouldn't eliminate standards.Self-Worth Changes Who You Choose: The relationships we pursue can reflect how we see ourselves. Understanding childhood experiences, emotional patterns, boundaries, and what you're actually searching for can help prevent repeating the same relationships with different people.Losing Your Safety Net Can Create Your Next Chapter: Leaving a stable media career was uncomfortable for Gina, but it also created the time and urgency that helped her finally write her book. Sometimes the change you didn't ask for becomes the push you needed.You Either Win or You Learn: Not every relationship, career move, or chapter will work out the way you expected. That doesn't automatically make it wasted time. Experiences can become lessons that prepare you to make better decisions moving forward.It's Never Too Late to Find Love: Gina's own family gives her a unique perspective on modern dating across generations. Her mother encouraged her to date, Gina found her favorite person through Bumble, and her daughter also found a relationship through the platform.Power Quotes“You're not gonna land a good job, a good relationship if you don't have self-worth.” - Alex Quin“Changes are good. You either win or you learn.” — Gina UlmosConnect with Gina Ulmos:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginaulmosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-ulmos-90b18657/Website: https://ginaulmos.com/Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexquinTwitter: https://twitter.com/mralexquinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquinWebsite: https://alexquin.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquinBooks Mentioned:Mis 200 Citas — Gina Ulmos [https://amzn.to/4hYgaZx]How to Market Your Restaurant Online — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/4gA6GRU]Digital Marketing Dictionary — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/46xv7dP]Polo's Day at the Park — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/46vUpcg]Resources Mentioned:BumbleSpokeoGina Ulmos' La Fórmula Luego de Mis 200 CitasSOS NewsOur CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustleTwitter: https://twitter.com/HustleInspiresLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustleWebsite: https://hustleinspireshustle.comThis page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Key Insights:  “A fan base is not a customer base in B2B.”“It's not about who's going to 'like' me, but who's going to pay me?”Episode DescriptionGetting more views feels like marketing success. But if you're selling a specialized B2B product or service, reaching more people may not get you any closer to a sale.The marketing playbook that works for consumer brands doesn't necessarily work for B2B.Consumer products such as food, toothpaste or detergent have enormous potential audiences. For these companies, reaching more people can increase the pool of potential customers.Most B2B companies face a very different situation.If you're selling industrial equipment, supply chain technology, materials, professional services or another specialized B2B product, your total addressable market may be relatively small. That changes how you should think about marketing.Instead of optimizing for more views, you need to optimize for better views.In this episode of A Seat at the Table, Jane Singer explains why B2B marketers need to stop treating marketing like a popularity contest—and why “fewer but better” can be a much more effective strategy for building brand authority and ultimately generating sales.What You'll LearnIn this episode, you'll discover:Why B2B companies shouldn't judge marketing success by the same metrics used by consumer brands and influencers.Why thousands of views from the wrong audience can be less valuable than 20 views from potential customers.How optimizing content for reach can actually dilute its value to the niche audience you're trying to attract.Why a large following or email list isn't necessarily a valuable customer base.The difference between building a fan base and building a customer base.Why targeted marketing often works even when traditional metrics don't make its impact immediately obvious.How consistency and frequency help B2B companies build authority over a longer sales cycle.Why marketers need to ask “Who is likely to pay me?” rather than simply “Who is likely to like me?”The B2B Marketing Metric That MattersOne of the biggest traps in B2B marketing is assuming that bigger numbers automatically mean better results.A LinkedIn post might attract thousands of views and dozens of likes. But how many of those people actually work for companies that could buy your product?For B2B marketers, audience quality matters more than audience size.A post seen by 19 relevant decision-makers could potentially be more valuable than one seen by 10,000 people who have no need for what you sell.That means B2B marketers need to rethink what successful marketing looks like.Instead of asking:“How do we reach more people?”Ask:“How do we repeatedly reach the right people?”That shift affects everything from the channels you use to the content you create and the metrics you use to evaluate marketing performance.Why B2B Marketing Takes TimeEffective B2B marketing is rarely about one viral post, one email or one campaign.It's about repeatedly providing useful, relevant information to a narrowly defined audience.That can make B2B marketing frustrating because its impact isn't always immediately visible in a dashboard. Someone may read your newsletter or see your content for months—or even years—before becoming a customer.That's why consistency matters.The goal isn't to win the attention game this week. It's to become known and trusted by the relatively small group of people who could eventually buy from you.Fewer people. Better people. Reached consistently.That's a very different marketing strategy from chasing views.Build a B2B Marketing System You Can Actually MaintainIf you know your company needs to market more consistently but marketing keeps getting pushed down the to-do list, the Consistent Marketing System is designed to help.It's a one-to-one program for B2B companies that want to turn sporadic marketing into a practical, repeatable system—so marketing gets done consistently without requiring an enterprise-sized marketing department.Learn more about the Consistent Marketing SystemQuestions This Episode AnswersWhy am I getting views on LinkedIn but no B2B sales?High engagement doesn't necessarily mean you're reaching potential customers. If the people viewing or liking your content aren't part of your addressable market, those numbers may have very little connection to sales.Should B2B marketers focus on reach or audience quality?For specialized B2B companies, audience quality usually matters more. Your potential customer base may be relatively small, so the goal isn't necessarily to reach as many people as possible. It's to repeatedly reach the people most likely to need—and buy—what you sell.Are views and likes good metrics for B2B marketing?They can tell you whether content is attracting attention, but they don't necessarily tell you whether your marketing is reaching potential buyers. A smaller audience made up of relevant decision-makers can be far more valuable than a large audience with little purchasing potential.Why doesn't social media engagement translate into B2B sales?Social media platforms are designed to generate engagement across broad audiences. B2B companies often need to reach a much narrower group of buyers. That's why a post can generate considerable engagement without generating meaningful sales opportunities.Can a B2B company be successful without going viral?Absolutely. B2B marketing doesn't need to go viral to work. Consistently delivering useful, relevant content to a narrowly defined group of potential customers can build authority and trust over time.Why is consistency so important in B2B marketing?B2B buying decisions often happen over long periods of time. Consistent marketing keeps your company visible and gives potential customers repeated opportunities to become familiar with your expertise and value.Quotable Ideas From This Episode (from Jane Singer, host, A Seat at The Table podcast and media founder)“You want to think of it from the point of view of fewer but better.”“Not who's going to like me, but who's going to pay me?”“A fan base is not a customer base in B2B.”“When you're optimizing to get more views, more clicks, more likes, you dilute the value of what you're providing people.”“This post only got 19 views. Is that a failure? No, not necessarily if it were 19 people who actually would buy your product.”“You have to be able to plant seeds and keep watering and then finally get a harvest.”Learn more about the Consistent Marketing SystemSEND US A MESSAGEVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Album 8 Track 19: How Authentic Positioning Drives Success w/Krista PattersonIn this episode of Brands, Beats & Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman welcome positioning expert Krista Patterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Positioning Collective.Drawing from her executive tenure at tech giants like Cisco, ServiceNow, and VMware, Krista reveals why systemic business problems almost always trace back to murky positioning.Krista breaks down the distinction between targeting demographics versus targeting mindset, shares deeply personal stories about overcoming career missteps, and discusses managing high-profile partnerships like F1 McLaren. The conversation tackles modern industry shifts, from why communications leaders must question the ecological footprint of AI infrastructure to how Burger King reclaimed its market share through core positioning. Tune in for a masterclass on brand strategy, authentic leadership, and career growth.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

→ Wanna use SEO to generate revenue? Book a call here https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call Episode #498 - This week, Sam gives you the exact 3-page AI SEO framework to flip your SaaS into a demo-generating machine! Sam shares the actual strategy behind a real client win that went from cold outbound, to 26+ inbound demos a month. Plus, Sam shows exactly how to get your brand actually recommended by ChatGPT. So, if you're planning to build or market a SaaS product in the future (or have one ready right now) this is the blueprint for you! Here we go, get ready for:

This "Flodesk Studio & Email Copywriting: Email Marketing Strategies (Serious Conversations)" episode delivers a masterclass in email marketing strategy, copywriting best practices, and leveraging AI-powered tools like Flodesk Studio for audience growth and engagement.Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS tells listeners to learn critical details such as: Effective subject lines, preview text, and body structureThe impact of timing on open ratesSegmentation, cleaning, and list healthPersonalization and branding through design and font choicesHow to use Flodesk Studio to streamline campaign creation with AISpecial attention is paid to A/B testing, the difference between click and click-through rates, and practical features like polls and analytics for persistent improvement.Who is This For?This episode is for entrepreneurs, marketers, real estate professionals, coaches, consultants, and anyone seeking actionable advice on email marketing, copywriting, AI-powered content creation, and using Flodesk Studio. The content is tailored for those wanting to grow their business, improve engagement, and optimize digital communications.Key Moments & TimestampsIntro & Topic Breakdown — 00:00:03Why Email Marketing Still Matters — 00:02:18Email Copywriting Tips (PS, emojis, numbers, preview text) — 00:04:07Intro to Flodesk Studio & AI Features — 00:07:12Real estate applications & audience segmentation — 00:08:43Email List Cleaning, Segmentation, and Engagement — 00:38:40Choosing the Best Time to Send Emails — 00:51:075 Essential Elements of Email Copy — 01:01:44Email Design, Fonts, and Branding Insights — 01:17:24Testing & Optimization Emphasis — 01:24:13Actionable Takeaways from Guests — 01:22:26FAQs1. Who benefits most from using Flodesk Studio?Anyone who wants a seamless, AI-assisted way to design and send beautiful, brand-consistent emails, especially business owners, marketers, and real estate professionals.2. How do you improve open and click-through rates?Use strong subject lines (with emojis, odd numbers, brackets), compelling preview text, personalization, and clear CTAs. Incorporate A/B testing for continual improvement.3. What is the best time to send email campaigns?It varies. Analyze your own audience data (via tools like Flodesk reporting) to find your optimal window: weekday mornings often outperform, but testing is essential 00:53:19.4. Why is list cleaning important?Regularly removing unengaged contacts preserves deliverability, yields accurate analytics, and improves campaign performance 00:38:40.5. How can you personalize emails effectively?Use segmentation, address recipients by name, and tailor content/offers by user behavior and preferences 01:04:00.6. What are key elements of a high-performing email?Subject line, preview text, concise and well-formatted body, clear call to action, optimized images—each tested before broad send-off 01:01:44.Action Steps for youPromote the episode using engaging snippets and “clips” across LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram for wider reach 00:23:00.Share Flodesk Studio link and personal testimonials; encourage audience to experiment with AI-powered email design 00:07:12.Encourage listeners to A/B test subject lines and preview text for their own audiences.Build and nurture a peer community for ongoing discussions on marketing, copywriting, and tech tools 00:58:37.Offer private consulting or group workshops on best practices in email marketing, segmentation, branding, and testing.Continue to spotlight client and listener wins secured through these tactics for future episodes and social proof.Gather feedback/analytics from podcast listeners on their favorite actionable tip, using surveys or Flodesk polls.Remain updated with new Flodesk and Clubhouse features, suggesting product improvements where valuable (as discussed re: heat maps 00:48:19).For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Every business is now competing for attention and I believe the fastest-growing businesses are learning to think like media companies.In this episode of The $100M Entrepreneur Podcast, I break down how I use content to build attention, trust, authority, and ultimately more customers. I'll show you how podcasts, videos, newsletters, books, and social media can become business assets that keep working long after you create them.I also share how to build a content flywheel, repurpose one idea across multiple platforms, and use AI to make content creation more efficient.Because the goal isn't simply to create more content. It's to build trust, own attention, and turn that attention into business growth.Subscribe for more strategies on scaling your business, building demand, and creating long-term growth.About Brad SugarsInternationally known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs, Brad Sugars is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. Over the course of his 30-year career as an entrepreneur, Brad has become the CEO of 9+ companies and is the owner of the multimillion-dollar franchise ActionCOACH®. As a husband and father of five, Brad is equally as passionate about his family as he is about business. That's why, Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you – so you can spend more time doing what really matters to you. Over the years of starting, scaling and selling many businesses, Brad has earned his fair share of scars. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road. But if you can learn from those who have gone before you, it becomes a lot easier than going at it alone.Please click here to learn more about Brad Sugars: https://bradsugars.com/Build a Business That Gives You More Time, Money & Life: Get The $100M Playbook: https://go.bradsugars.com/100m-playbook-ebook

Are you posting every single day and still feeling invisible? In this episode, Crissy breaks down why being a one-platform wonder is quietly costing you visibility, leads and sales. The feed creates speed and the long game builds your name, and you need both.Doors to Visible and In Demand open in September. Details https://thevisibleceo.com/visibleindemandOMNI - Become Known, In Demand, and Confidently VisibleWith a visibility strategy that works harder than you do.OMNI is your group coaching experience where you learn how to create visibility that works harder than you do. A strategic blueprint to become discoverable on the feed, search and AI. https://thevisibleceo.com/omni Website: thevisibilityimpactshow.comBrand: thevisibleceo.com Instagram: instagram.com/itscrissyconner TikTok: tiktok.com/@crissyconner Facebook: facebook.com/crissyconner YouTube: youtube.com/@CrissyConner LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/crissyconner 

Are you posting every single day and still feeling invisible? In this episode, Crissy breaks down why being a one-platform wonder is quietly costing you visibility, leads and sales. The feed creates speed and the long game builds your name, and you need both.Doors to Visible and In Demand open in September. Details https://thevisibleceo.com/visibleindemandOMNI - Become Known, In Demand, and Confidently VisibleWith a visibility strategy that works harder than you do.OMNI is your group coaching experience where you learn how to create visibility that works harder than you do. A strategic blueprint to become discoverable on the feed, search and AI. https://thevisibleceo.com/omni Website: thevisibilityimpactshow.comBrand: thevisibleceo.com Instagram: instagram.com/itscrissyconner TikTok: tiktok.com/@crissyconner Facebook: facebook.com/crissyconner YouTube: youtube.com/@CrissyConner LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/crissyconner 

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS discussion explored transactional keywords as the key to converting online searches into business results. Several points were raised, including keyword modifiers, intent-driven content creation, analysis of competition (including CPC and search volume), and the ongoing challenge of understanding actual customer journeys through data analysis and attribution. The conversation stressed the importance of consistent SEO practice and the need for business owners to act on this knowledge to truly benefit from organic search.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on entrepreneurs, business owners, marketers, and content creators seeking to grow their businesses online through effective SEO strategies, particularly around the use of transactional keywords. A key theme that emerged was helping those who want to boost sales, improve website discoverability, and understand user intent by mastering keyword research and practical website tweaks.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction to Transactional Keywords: what they are and why they matter 00:00:03The importance of website pages and matching content to keyword searches 00:06:14Examples of transactional keywords and practical modifiers (buy, order, cheap, sign up, hire, near me, company, services) 00:25:03The power of intent and understanding the buyer journey 00:17:12Insights on last-touch attribution and multi-touch user journeys 01:23:25The importance of CPC (cost-per-click) and identifying valuable keywords 01:15:14Actionable advice on keyword research, consistency, and implementation 01:41:15Final takeaways and action steps from experts 01:42:53 and 01:44:02FAQsQ: What are transactional keywords?A: Transactional keywords are search terms used when someone is ready to make a purchase or complete a specific action online—like “buy,” “order,” “subscribe,” “hire,” or “near me” 00:04:09.Q: Why are modifiers important for keywords?A: Modifiers (e.g., “best,” “cheap,” “discount,” “download,” “local”) clarify intent, match your content to customer actions, and help attract high-intent customers 00:25:03.Q: How do I find the best keywords for my business?A: Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or meetglimpse.com to analyze search volume, competition, and cost per click (CPC). Look for high CPC or low competition keywords for better ROI 01:15:14.Q: What's more important, search volume or keyword competition?A: Both matter, but targeting lower-competition keywords with reasonable search volume often yields quicker, cost-effective wins 01:17:11.Q: How can I track the effectiveness of my keywords?A: Use analytics platforms and Search Console data, not just customer surveys, to understand which keywords drive traffic and conversions to your site 01:23:25.Action Steps for Favour Obasi-ike's AudienceAudit your website: Ensure each page targets a specific, high-intent keyword or keyword phrase.Research modifiers: Add transactional and relevant modifiers to existing content and URLs.Analyze CPC and competition: Use keyword analysis tools (e.g., meetglimpse.com) to identify lucrative opportunities.Update and expand FAQs: Build trust and answer buyer questions directly on your site.Track attribution scientifically: Rely on Search Console and analytics for accurate insights instead of only customer self-report.Stay consistent: SEO is a long game—regularly update content and refine your keyword strategies.Implement, don't just learn: Turn insights into action—schedule regular SEO check-ins or book expert consultations.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

In dieser Folge des Onlineshop Geflüster Podcasts geht es um einen Margenkiller, den die meisten Shopbetreiber komplett übersehen: Rabatte und Discounts. Die Marge im E-Commerce ist ohnehin schmal. 10 bis 20 Prozent Profit sind für einen soliden, wachsenden Shop schon gut, viele liegen dauerhaft bei 5 Prozent. Das heißt, jeder einzelne Prozentpunkt, den du irgendwo rausholst, hat einen riesigen Impact auf den Profit. Und genau da versteckt sich das Problem: die Discountquote. Die meisten Shops wissen gar nicht, wie viel Prozent ihres Umsatzes durch Rabatte verloren geht. 15 bis 20 Prozent sind keine Seltenheit, und das geht direkt von der Top Line runter. Wer stattdessen auf 5 bis 10 Prozent kommt, holt am Ende zweistellige Profitmarge raus. Ich hab genug Shops gesehen, die auf plusminus null liefen und nach dem Rabatt-Stopp plötzlich 10 bis 15 Prozent profitabel waren, ohne dass die Kunden deswegen weniger gekauft haben. Auch nicht, obwohl die Konkurrenz weiter Rabatte gab und die Kunden jahrelang darauf trainiert waren. Du erfährst, warum du deine Discountquote überhaupt erst mal kennen musst, bevor du irgendwas optimierst, warum ein paar Prozentpunkte Rabatt am Ende die Hälfte deines Profits kosten können, und warum die typischen Ausreden (unsere Kunden sind daran gewöhnt, die anderen machen das doch auch) in der Praxis oft nicht stimmen. Viel Spaß beim Anhören! Dein Berend. __________ Mache den ersten Schritt und buche dir eine kostenlose SHOPANALYSE: https://www.berend-heins.de/termin __________

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS discussion explored the evolving relationship between SEO and artificial intelligence, stressing that while AI revolutionizes content generation and search, SEO's foundational importance endures. One concept discussed was the need for website structure (schema, sitemaps, quality content) to ensure both human users and AI agents can discover, trust, and transact with a site.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on entrepreneurs, website owners, business leaders (including C-suite/Fortune 500), marketers, and anyone seeking to improve their business's online presence and growth using SEO and commercial keyword strategies. A key theme that emerged was bridging the knowledge gap for those new to digital marketing, whether launching a site from scratch, rescuing one, or scaling brand visibility.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction, Part 2 Justification & Audience Engagement: Highlights the need for deeper commercial keyword discussion; encourages live participation 00:00:13.AI vs. SEO: Relationship & Current Landscape: Explores whether AI will replace SEO; demonstrates synergy and need for structure 00:02:42–00:12:24.Website Structure & Longevity: Analogies for domain authority and building strong foundations 00:13:11.Ads vs. SEO Investment: Explains why investing in SEO creates lasting value versus short-term ad spend 00:17:11.WordPress vs. Vibe Coding: Evaluates traditional site-building vs. new AI/code-heavy approaches 00:22:56.Learning & Mastering SEO: Recommendations for ongoing strategies, resources, and communities 00:28:47.User Search Patterns & Keyword Strategy: Examines how users shop online, with a focus on long-tail and local keywords 00:32:22.Sitemaps & Robust Web Presence: How site architecture and multiple pages boost authority 00:40:10.Live Tools & Practical Auditing: Use of isitagentready.com for real-time AI/SEO readiness checks 00:43:28.Commerce, Payments, & Security: Significance of payment protocols and HTTPS for trust 00:44:29.Color, Calls to Action & Conversion Psychology: How interface details impact buying behaviors 00:54:03.Types of Commercial Intent Keywords: Differentiates high vs. low commercial intent; relevance for product, service, and pricing pages 00:59:19.Action-Oriented Keyword Construction: Guidance for structuring keyword phrases to increase conversions 01:04:23.Takeaways & Final Thoughts: Recap and encouragement to test, research, and take control of digital outcomes 01:07:42.Several points were raised, including:Investing in SEO produces compounding, evergreen visibility, unlike fleeting paid ads.Commercial keywords (e.g., “buy now,” “pricing,” “best [product],” “alternatives to”) are essential for conversion-focused pages.Local and long-tail strategies help users “find you” for specific contexts and regions.Security (HTTPS), trust signals, and payment protocols are non-negotiable for commercial viability.Testing and optimizing details—color, CTAs, copy—directly impact sales.FAQsQ: Will AI make SEO obsolete?A: No. AI depends on well-structured SEO content to deliver relevant results. They're complementary, not mutually exclusive 00:04:31.Q: What are commercial keywords?A: Specific search phrases indicating purchase intent (e.g., “buy,” “pricing,” “deal,” “best,” “compare”). Essential for pages targeting buyers 00:52:04.Q: Should I invest in SEO or ads?A: SEO offers sustainable, long-term visibility; ads work immediately but disappear when you stop paying 00:17:11.Q: Are modern coding approaches like vibe coding a good idea?A: New site builders offer fast results, but lack the proven, authority-strengthening foundation of established platforms like WordPress 00:22:56.Q: How do I start learning SEO?A: Combine online courses (Google, podcasts, masterminds) with community interaction and direct experimentation 00:28:47.Action StepsAudit your website with tools like isitagentready.com to gauge AI/SEO readiness 00:43:28.Review your site's structure—ensure schema markup, sitemaps, and multiple relevant pages exist 00:36:01.Identify and implement high-intent commercial keywords on key pages: homepage, product/service, pricing, and demo 00:52:04.Ensure your site is HTTPS-secured and supports modern payment integrations 00:46:07.Test calls-to-action and site colors to optimize conversion rates 00:54:03.Regularly engage in industry communities, podcasts, and training to stay current.Track and measure progress; iterate based on results and user feedback.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

How can businesses use SEO to get found online, attract customers and build sustainable growth? In this episode of Everything Is Personal, Len May sits down with Stewart Vickers, also known as SEO Jesus, to explore SEO strategy, Google search, AI, content marketing, business growth and building a successful digital agency. Stuart shares lessons from his journey from early online projects to building a multi-seven-figure SEO business. He explains why many websites struggle to rank, how businesses can identify the right search terms, why focused website content matters, how backlinks and authority influence search visibility, and how AI is changing the way businesses approach SEO. EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient Care EndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Season 14 with Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS!The discussion explored the importance of understanding the four main keyword types: informational, commercial, navigational, and transactional, highlighting that commercial keywords account for a crucial 22% of search demand. Emphasis was placed on commercial keywords being the bridge between window shopping and purchase intent.A key theme that emerged was the necessity of data-driven keyword selection using tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and Ubersuggest. The discussion highlighted that even highly niche or seemingly unconventional businesses can yield significant results when leveraging strategic keyword research.Several points were raised, including the technical significance of URL slugs, content quality over quantity, proper keyword placement, and the increasing value of integrating social media channels for SEO purposes (e.g., linking Instagram/LinkedIn pages for higher authority).Personal success stories from participants illustrated rapid ranking improvements and revenue growth, underscoring the long-term value of SEO over paid ads for sustainable traffic and leads.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on business owners, entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone interested in leveraging SEO and commercial keywords to drive meaningful growth—especially those with websites or digital services looking to increase traffic and conversions through organic search.Key Moments With TimestampsIntroduction to Keyword Types and SEO Fundamentals 00:00:04Explanation of Informational, Commercial, Navigational, and Transactional Keywords 00:01:21Real-World Case Studies on SEO Transformations 00:10:00Deep Dive Into Commercial Intent and Keyword Research Tools 00:14:14Strategic Use of URL Slugs and Their Impact 00:32:43Using Social Media Integrations in SEO 00:19:03Success Stories: Ranking Improvements and Data-Driven Tactics 00:49:56The Importance of Niche and Low-Competition Keywords 00:46:33How to Turn SEO Traffic Into Leads 00:58:04FAQsQ: What's the difference between informational and commercial keywords?A key concept discussed was that informational keywords answer questions, while commercial keywords indicate buying intent, such as “best software for…” or “top alternatives to…”.Q: How do I choose the right commercial keywords?The discussion explored using data from keyword research tools rather than guessing, emphasizing specificity, intent, and competition metrics.Q: Why are URL slugs important for SEO?One concept discussed was that your URL slug directly impacts your site's discoverability—matching it to target keywords can boost rankings.Q: Can small businesses compete for high-value keywords?A key theme was targeting long-tail, niche, or region-specific variants to outmaneuver larger competitors—sometimes ranking quickly.Q: How often should I update SEO content?The conversation focused on improving and refining content over time, especially as ranking and analytics reveal what's working.Action Steps for Favour Obasi-ikeEducate Your Audience: Continue breaking down SEO concepts such as keyword types, intent, and technical fundamentals in digestible formats, using case studies and real-world examples.Promote Data-Driven Decisions: Encourage the use of keyword research tools, and stress the importance of not guessing terms but validating them with competition and search data.Advise on Technical SEO: Remind clients to optimize URL slugs, interlink content, and leverage Google Search Console and social integrations for enhanced visibility.Showcase Success Stories: Regularly share tangible case studies demonstrating before/after results from commercial keyword deployments.Foster Community Engagement: Invite listeners to submit their own results, questions, or niche discoveries for review in future episodes or on social media.Create Step-by-Step Resources: Develop checklists or templates for commercial keyword research, URL optimization, and data tracking.Offer Consultations: Direct listeners to book a strategy call for personalized SEO roadmaps and deeper dives into their analytics and keyword gaps.Plan for Follow-Ups: Organize part 2 sessions to address advanced or transactional keyword strategies and continue the learning journey.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

What happens when better technology is no longer a competitive advantage? Host Kortney Harmon is joined by Donnie Gupton, Founder of Ora Marketing and creator of the Uncopyable Recruiter Method, to examine why trust—not tools, speed, or access—is becoming the real differentiator for recruiting firms.Donnie breaks down how AI and automation are creating greater parity between agencies and internal talent teams—and why the bigger challenge for recruiters isn't competition, but comparability. He shares a four-part framework for becoming the standard in your niche through clear positioning, an intentional market ecosystem, authority-building content, and consistent follow-up.Key Takeaways• Why trust becomes the differentiator when technology is table stakes• How clear positioning helps recruiters escape the comparability trap• Why the 97% of buyers not hiring today deserve your attention• How content and consistent follow-up turn authority into demandDiscover how to build the trust and authority that make your firm the first call when hiring needs arise.________________Follow Donnie Gupton on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | DonnieFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

Wie lange willst du noch hoffen, dass Reichweite allein dir Aufträge bringt? Doris Praher und ich sind uns einig: Der einzige Wettbewerbsvorteil, der bleibt, ist deine Persönlichkeit. Die blauen Haken, die Klick-Junkies, die Content-PDF-Maschine – alles hübsches Theater. Aber das Fundament entscheidet, ob etwas wirklich funktioniert oder du wieder im Content-Hamsterrad landest. Ich hab mir Doris Praher (https://doris-praher.com/) zum fachsimpeln eingeladen.Die Wahrheit ist: Der größte Fehler ist dein Glaube, du müsstest lauter, auffälliger, beliebiger werden. Dabei liegt der ROI im leisen Nein zur Vergleichs-Show und im Mut, trotzdem auf die Bühne zu gehen – mit Ecken, Kanten und Substanz.Doris ist Kommunikationsprofi, Medienfrau und PR-Beraterin – und weiß aus erster Hand, dass Sichtbarkeit für Experten, Unternehmer und Mittelstand heute kein TikTok-Tanz ist, sondern das Resultat systemischer Arbeit am eigenen Fundament. Dieses Gespräch ist kein Soft-Skill-Gewurschtel, sondern ein Schlag ins Gesicht für alle, die den Markenblödsinn nachbeten.KLARTEXT-NUGGETSWarum Selbstvergleich mit lauten Marktgeschreien dich garantiert ins Aus befördert – und wie du stattdessen filterst, wer dich wirklich kennt und bucht. Wieso automatisierte Marketing-Standardware (15 PDFs? Ernsthaft?) deine Basis ruiniert und dich jedes Mal von ganz vorne starten lässt. Wie persönliche Geschichten und professionelle Haltung Vertrauen schaffen – und warum das nicht heißt, dass du dich zu Drama bekennen musst.WINSMehr Resonanz durch persönliche Posts. Ein scheinbar belangloses Selfie schlägt jede Politur – direkte Reaktionen, Dialoge, echtes Interesse. Klarheit durch Werte- und Resonanzarbeit: Wer sich nicht als seelenlose Kopie verkauft, zieht die Kunden an, die wirklich bleiben. Eigene Initiative: Einfach mal nach einer Ehrung fragen und plötzlich bekommt man Sichtbarkeit UND Vorbildwirkung im eigenen Netzwerk.RISIKENWer weiter im „Gießkanne“-Modus bleibt, postet sich den Algorithmus schön – aber zahlt mit Zeit und Frust, ohne echten Deal. Vergleich mit „Rolemodels“, denen niemand wirklich glaubt, schafft Unsicherheit und lähmt – statt Ergebnisse zu liefern. Der Fokus auf Reichweite statt Wirkung: Zehntausende Follower, null daraus gewonnene Kunden. Das ist messbarer Burnout für Einzelunternehmer und Teams.TYPISCHE FEHLERPersönliches Erleben zu unterschätzen, weil „das doch keinen interessiert“ – dabei ist genau das die Eintrittskarte ins Gespräch mit echten Wunschkunden. Kommunikationsmaßnahmen als Einmal-Aktion zu sehen, anstatt den Nährboden stetig zu pflegen und Beziehungen wie eine Pflanze wachsen zu lassen. Die Bühne mit Selbstinszenierung zu verwechseln – statt gezielt Mehrwert und Haltung für die gewünschte Zielgruppe zu zeigen.Fazit: Fundament schlägt Bühne. Sichtbarkeit ist nichts, wenn sie nicht zahlbar macht, woran du glaubst und was du kannst. Was du daraus machst, entscheidet über Markt oder Marktplatz. Substanz will gepflegt werden, nicht beklatscht.Mehr Klartext und systemische (und gern unbequeme) Orientierung gibt's hier: https://theangryteddy.coms _____Dein nächster Schritt: Vom Zuhören zum Handeln. Du spürst, dass ein Podcast der richtige Hebel für dein Business ist — aber noch fehlt das Fundament? Nicht das Mikrofon. Die Haltung. Als strategischer Podcast-Coach und diplomierter systemischer Coach verbinde ich 20 Jahre Marketing-Erfahrung mit der Tiefe, die den Unterschied macht — zwischen einem Podcast, der Vertrauen aufbaut, und einem, der im Podfade-Friedhof landet. Wir finden deine Botschaft, bevor wir über Technik reden.Schritt 1: PodSignal — dein erster Schritt zur Strategie Nicht sicher, ob und wie ein Podcast für dein Business funktioniert? Hier bekommst du Klarheit — ohne Weichspüler. ➡️ podsignal.theangryteddy.comSchritt 2: Strategie-Gespräch 15 Minuten. Kein Pitch. Wir klären, ob eine Zusammenarbeit Sinn macht — für dich und für mich. ➡️ termin.theangryteddy.atBleib in Kontakt: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/friesenecker_________________________________________________Gute Arbeit, die niemand kennt, gewinnt keinen Markt.Die meisten Unternehmen, mit denen ich arbeite, haben kein Qualitätsproblem. Sie sind besser als ihr Ruf. Nur weiß das draußen niemand.Alle zwei Wochen schreibe ich einen Gedanken darüber, wie sich das ändern lässt. Ein Thema, kein Sammelbrief.→ teddy.click/newsletterWie sichtbar ist dein Unternehmen wirklich? Der Potenzial-Check dauert vier Minuten. Danach hast du einen Report mit einer Zahl und fünf Bereichen — und siehst, wo bei euch draußen nichts ankommt. Kein Verkaufsgespräch.→ teddy.click/podsignalWenn du lieber direkt redest: fünfzehn Minuten, kein Pitch. teddy.click/terminDaniel Friesenecker baut Unternehmern ihr eigenes Medium. Podcast, Video, Strategie. Studio: TeddyLab, Linz. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frieseneckerFolge abonnieren: Apple · Spotify · YouTube · alle Plattformen und RSS

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 12: Win the Room - Accelerate Your Career w/Bernard BellHow do you go from "Step Zero" to a Senior VP role at a major cable network? Bernard Bell, known as "The Confidence Professor," joins the podcast to explain why Executive Presence is the ultimate career accelerator.In this candid conversation, Bernard breaks down the difference between networking and "engaging," the importance of leading like a "shepherd who smells like his sheep," and why culture will always trump strategy. He also shares the high-stakes story of a $55 million programming misstep and the valuable lesson in humility and due diligence it taught him. Tune in to learn how to curate your personal brand and win the room before you ever open your mouth.In this episode, you'll learn:The F.O.R.M. Framework: A tactical guide to engaging anyone, anywhere.The 8-Slice Pizza of Success: Why your degree is only one slice of your professional value.Ego Management: Why Bernard keeps his ego in his back pocket to lead effectively.The $55 Million Mistake: A vulnerable look at what happens when instinct replaces market research.Whether you're a junior marketer looking for your first break or a Director aiming for the CMO chair, this episode is your blueprint for career acceleration.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

→ Wanna use SEO to generate revenue?  Book a call here  https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call   Episode #497 -  In this episode, Sam maps out his own founder's journey - from grinding out B2B SaaS cold calls solo, to building a compounding content and SEO engine that now drives $300k/month in bootstrapped revenue. Sam details how & why cold calling can't scale as a standalone strategy anymore and lays out the specific inbound system he has used to get to where BB2B is today!    Here's what you get with this one:

I work with 6, 7, 8, and even 9 figure companies on marketing and advertising, and over the last year I've watched five major shifts start to reshape how businesses need to approach content creation, AI, and personal branding. In this video, I break down exactly what's changing and how I'm advising my own clients to get ahead of it before everyone else catches on.Here's what I cover:1. Why ChatGPT is pulling ahead of every other image model for brand consistent content creation2. Why Connected TV advertising (not traditional TV) is becoming the most underrated channel for service based and B2B businesses3. Why video editing is becoming more valuable than video production, and how iPhone content is outperforming expensive camera setups4. Why already credible, accomplished people are finally starting to build personal brands, and what that means for who gets attention going forward5. Why creative, not targeting or ad placement, is still the single biggest lever in every marketing strategyIf you run a business and you're trying to figure out where to put your time, money, and attention when it comes to marketing in 2026, this video will save you a lot of trial and error.Want to talk through how any of this applies to your business? Shoot me a text at 404-966-9363. I read and respond to these myself.#MarketingStrategy #ContentCreation #AIMarketing #PersonalBranding #ConnectedTV #BusinessGrowth

This episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle features Alex Quin and Richard Wang, the 25-year-old entrepreneur behind Northern Dumpling Kitchen, as they unpack what it really means to step into a family business, carry forward your parents' legacy, and build something bigger than yourself.Richard grew up in the restaurant industry after his parents immigrated to Canada and spent decades working their way up from difficult beginnings. Although Richard studied finance, his long-term plan was always to return to the family business. Today, he's helping operate the restaurant while working toward one of his biggest goals: helping his father work less and eventually retire.The conversation dives into Richard's decision to document the journey publicly, including the renovations, cooking, long hours, language barriers, frustrations, and behind-the-scenes realities of running a restaurant. After roughly 200 days of consistent posting, his content began reaching audiences far outside his local community, with his Instagram following jumping from around 8,000 to 50,000 in approximately two weeks.Alex breaks down why Richard's content works so well and how founder-led storytelling can create an emotional connection that traditional advertising often struggles to replicate. They also get tactical about restaurant growth, discussing OpenTable, Google Business, Toast, email and SMS marketing, customer retention, experiences, and the systems restaurants can use to generate more revenue without massive advertising budgets.Beyond marketing, Alex and Richard discuss money, mentorship, real estate, investing, learning from older entrepreneurs, documenting family recipes, improving communication across generations, and staying grounded while building a business. Ultimately, the episode is about family, entrepreneurship, and what happens when a new generation decides not only to preserve what their parents built, but to take it further.Episode Outline:[00:00] Intro and how Alex discovered Richard's story[03:00] Growing up in the restaurant industry and choosing the family business[06:30] Taking over responsibilities, leadership, and language barriers[10:30] Why Richard's vulnerable storytelling connected with people[14:00] His parents' immigrant story and building a life in Canada[17:30] Family legacy, helping his dad retire, and financial goals[21:00] Money, investing, mentorship, and lessons for young entrepreneurs[23:30] Restaurant growth strategies: OpenTable and Experiences[27:00] Google Business, Toast, email, SMS, and customer retention[30:00] Cooking, communication, and improving his Mandarin[32:00] Going from 8K to 50K followers and founder-led content[34:15] Preserving family recipes and building for the next generation[35:30] Richard's message to immigrants and young entrepreneurs[37:05] Closing thoughts and outroWisdom Nuggets:Your Story Can Be More Powerful Than Your Product: Richard's audience didn't grow because he pretended the restaurant was perfect. People became invested because they watched him struggle, learn, improve, and fight to build something meaningful for his family.Consistency Doesn't Always Pay Off Immediately: Richard spent roughly 200 days building his audience before experiencing a major breakout. His growth from around 8,000 to 50,000 followers happened rapidly, but it was built on months of consistent work.Founder-Led Content Creates Emotional Investment: When customers understand who is behind a business and why they're building it, the relationship becomes deeper than a transaction. People begin rooting for the person as much as the company.Small Systems Can Create Big Revenue: Restaurants don't always need massive advertising budgets. Reservation platforms, Google Business, customer data, email, SMS, and better retention systems can create meaningful incremental revenue.Learn the Business From the Inside Out: Richard isn't only trying to market the restaurant. He's learning to cook, communicate with staff, improve operations, understand the finances, and master the details that make the business work.Protect the Knowledge Your Family Built: Recipes, techniques, processes, and lessons that exist only inside someone's head can disappear. Documenting them turns years of experience into something the next generation can preserve and improve.Diversification Creates Stability: Business, real estate, and stocks can perform differently at different times. Building across multiple areas can create more stability than relying entirely on one source of income.Legacy Is Bigger Than Money: Helping your parents doesn't necessarily mean forcing them to stop working. It's about building a situation where they work because they want to, not because they have to.Power Quotes“Founder-led content drives people, and it plugs at the heartstrings.”— Alex Quin“I'm doing some big things right now, but this is really only the beginning.”— Richard WangConnect with Richard Wang:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northern_dumplingkitchenTikTok: https://www.instagram.com/@thedumplingprinceConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexquinTwitter: https://twitter.com/mralexquinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquinWebsite: https://alexquin.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquinBooks Mentioned:How to Market Your Restaurant Online — Alex QuinProfit First — Mike MichalowiczOur CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustleTwitter: https://twitter.com/HustleInspiresLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustleWebsite: https://hustleinspireshustle.comThis page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A robot answered the phone when I called a local shop, and it instantly reminded me how fragile trust is in small business marketing. That very first “hello” is not a throwaway moment, it's a brand promise. When we automate the front door of our business, we might save time, but we can also teach our best customers that they don't matter enough to reach a real person.I walk through the question that matters more than “Should I use AI?” which is: am I handing the right work to AI? You'll hear the four areas where AI actually shines for marketing and operations: finding patterns in customer feedback, crunching messy marketing data, creating outlines and first drafts, and repurposing one piece of content into many. I also share how to prompt smarter so you don't end up with generic AI output and how tools like Claude and ChatGPT can sound more like you when you give them the right inputs.Then we get into the guardrails: what AI should never touch. I explain why you cannot outsource judgment, why real customer conversations are the raw material you must protect, and why AI can't be the final “does it sound like me” check if you want your brand voice to stay distinct. I wrap with practical, creative uses like having AI challenge your sales page, role-play objections, simplify muddy messaging, and spot gaps in your content plan.Send us Fan MailSupport the showShow Notes  

What happens when the career you built changes, disappears, or no longer feels right? I talk with content marketing leader Nicole Pytel about career change, burnout prevention, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, professional identity, and the growing role of AI in content marketing. Nicole shares how she moved from sports journalism into business, built her own agency, learned to shut work off, and later chose employment over entrepreneurship without seeing it as a step backward. We also explore what layoffs can teach us about identity, why confidence can exist beside fear, and how AI can support human skill instead of replacing it. Her story is a strong reminder to trust what you know, keep learning, and ask yourself one powerful question: Why not you? Highlights: 21:44 - The turning point that pushed Nicole to leave television. 28:50 - Why never shutting off from work led to burnout. 39:34 - How confidence can exist alongside fear and imposter syndrome. 45:35 - What a layoff can reveal about professional identity and self-worth. 50:24 - Why AI still needs human judgment, strategy, and creativity. 1:00:24 - Why trusting your gut can make career change worth the risk. About the Guest: Nicole Pytel is a content marketing leader who's spent her career translating complicated things into stories people actually want to hear — first from a newsroom, now from the executive table. Her career started in TV news as a sports reporter, where she covered the legendary Friday night lights of high school football and spent her Saturdays on the sidelines of Texas A&M's Kyle Field. She was eventually promoted to news anchor, and those days of turning complex topics into compelling stories still shape how she approaches content strategy today. Nicole then spent nearly a decade as the founder of Premier Content Source, a content marketing agency she grew to serve over 1,000 clients across multiple industries. She later worked as an embedded content marketing expert inside teams at Google Cloud, Chrome Enterprise, and YouTube. Most recently, Nicole served as Vice President of Content Marketing at Firebrand Communications, where she built the agency's content marketing line of business from zero and held a seat on the executive leadership team. Today, Nicole is focused on how AI is changing content marketing, building a four-chapter framework for how content teams should operate now that AI has fundamentally changed how buyers search, discover, and evaluate the companies they work with. Whether it's a thirty-second news segment or a company's entire content strategy, Nicole's guiding belief hasn't changed: if you can't make the audience care, you're just making noise. Ways to connect with Nicole**:** LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolepytelmarketing/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Well, hi again, everyone, and once again, it is time for another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. We are having a lot of fun doing these podcast recordings, and I really appreciate all of you being out there. Love to hear from you if any of you have any comments on any of the things that we talk about, or even if you don't comment anyway. We'd love to hear from you, but I really appreciate you all being here and and and interacting with us today. We get to chat with Nicole Pytel. My screen reader pronounces it Pytel, but you know we were just besmirching technology, and it deserves it because it should pronounce it right. But anyway, that's okay. But no help. Nicole has been very much involved in a lot of content marketing and in a variety of things. I think we're going to have a lot of fun chatting and talking about different business things, and who knows what else will come up in the course of the conversation. That's what makes it fun because it is truly and always is intended to be a conversation. And who the heck knows where things may go as we follow along? But we'll make it work. So Nicole, welcome to Unstoppable Mindset. We're glad you're here. Nicole Pytel  02:08 Thank you for having me. I'm thrilled to be here. I'm so excited, and yeah, I can't wait to see where the conversation goes. Michael Hingson  02:14 I can't either. It'll we'll have a lot of fun with it. Well, I love to start this way. Tell us about the early Nicole, growing up and and all that. Let's get people to have a chance to get to know you a little bit. Nicole Pytel  02:28 Yeah, well, the the early Nicole is a a Florida native. I know people are always a little baffled by that. Not everybody in this state is from a transplant from New York or Philly or Boston or any of those places. Some of us are born here. And have you made Michael Hingson  02:43 and have you made friends with all the gators? Nicole Pytel  02:46 Ah, no, no. I stay away from the gators. Antisocial, Michael Hingson  02:50 aren't Nicole Pytel  02:51 they? They're yeah, they're they're a bit unfriendly. Yeah, I've I've never seen one in the wild, and I I'd like to keep it that way. Yeah, I hear you for sure. Yeah, yeah. Well, yeah, born in Miami, grew up in Fort Lauderdale. the The only daughter of two former Miami Dade police officers. So, yes, yes. My mom was actually an undercover narc in the days of the cocaine cowboys. So, she is incapable of being intimidated. And personally, I think she's amazing and also a little crazy for doing that. But yeah, grew up as an only child, had you know four-legged brothers. You know, just had a great childhood. You know, just really like as great as it could be. You know, dad worked from home, had his own business. Mom worked with dad a lot of the time and was in the PTA and running the Girl Scouts and the young astronauts and all all the things. So, you know, really great childhood and a lot of lessons that really kind of you know still stick with me today and kind of gave me that foundation to go and do all the really cool things I've done as a grown-up. A lot of lessons learned. So you know, it was a good childhood. Michael Hingson  04:06 What did your dad do, and what does he do? Nicole Pytel  04:09 He well, he was after he left the police force. He started his own business. He reconstructed traffic accidents. So he was an expert witness. His clients were personal injury attorneys in South Florida, which is probably the worst client you could have on the planet. Those are some demanding folks. He handled it really, really well. He had his own business for gosh, 30 years. So yeah, he was he was amazing. Michael Hingson  04:38 Did he ever consult for CSI Miami. Nicole Pytel  04:43 No, he did not. Just checking. Did not. The one that was the one cool thing he didn't do. No. Michael Hingson  04:48 Yeah. Well, talk about the potential for pressure, but that's okay. Sounded like he had a a good time and enjoyed what he did, and and it does sound very fascinating. It is. It is Nicole Pytel  05:02 indeed. Although you know, when you're learning to drive as a teenager and your father does that for a living, you know, you've you've seen all the terrifying accident photos and heard all the stories, and so it's a it's a little stressful learning to drive from somebody who sees the worst of the worst every single day, but you know, we made it. Michael Hingson  05:23 And did Dad work as a backseat driver for you every so often? Nicole Pytel  05:27 Oh, 100% 100% literally. I mean, till the day he died, he was the world's worst backseat driver. I, you know, I'm in my 30s, and he's like, "What are you doing? You know, so yeah, absolutely, 100% Michael Hingson  05:42 How about mom? Nicole Pytel  05:44 Oh, mom, mom is amazing, and yes, she's a backseat driver as well. Okay, I am as well. So, but you know, mom, mom is tough and and also amazing, and you know, such a a great mom to her fur kids and a good grandma to my fur kids, and you know, just just amazing the life that she's had. You know, just grew up as a State Department brat, lived all over the world, was cop, like just wild, just wild. So I I have I have some very cool parents. Michael Hingson  06:15 Do you have any kids of the two legged variety? Nicole Pytel  06:18 Not the two legged variety. I've got two of the four-legged kind. Yeah, Michael Hingson  06:22 that works. Yeah, they're they're demanding enough. Nicole Pytel  06:26 Oh, mine are little little tiny divas. Absolutely, and I'm proud of it. They were raised to be little spoiled divas. Michael Hingson  06:33 Well, I have my guide dog Alamo, and we have a cat who's now 16 and a half years old, named Stitch. She's the real demanding one, she she likes to be petted while she eats, and the only way to keep her from disturbing a podcast to get fed is to keep the door closed, which I do. But the the thing is that if if the door opened, she'd probably be in here, and she would be insisting pretty loudly if I didn't respond, that she needs me to go pet her while she eats. She loves it, and it's fine. There are just a few times that she doesn't get to do it, and mostly she's pretty quiet about it since the door's closed. But when we're done, I'll open the door, and I will hear from her pretty quickly that time for more food. Nicole Pytel  07:21 She's got you well trained. Very good. Have you well Michael Hingson  07:24 trained? Yeah. Now Alamo, Alamo, my guide dog, is a clock watcher, so he's going to get his his afternoon treat a half hour late, and and he's pretty quiet about that sort of stuff. He's pretty pretty nonplussed about it. He won't come over and bug me, even though he's here in the room during the podcast because he knows what's going on, but by the same token, as soon as we're done, he's going to be out there going, "It's after 130, Buster. Nicole Pytel  07:51 I hear you. Minnie, Minnie and Megs will be the same way. Don't you worry; it'll be time for their dinner when we're done here. So, yeah, they'll they'll be ready. Michael Hingson  08:00 Yeah, well, and Stitch also gets some treats in the evening. She gets them around 630 at night, but at five she starts demanding them, and she doesn't want to eat anything that's left over in her food bowl. She wants her treats, and she knows she's not going to get them until after 630, but she pushes anyway. Ah, it's fun. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. Nicole Pytel  08:23 No, absolutely not. They are just little rays of sunshine. Michael Hingson  08:27 They are. So you went to college, I gather. Nicole Pytel  08:30 I did. I went to the University of Miami. Both my parents did as well. Dad actually played football there back in the day. Yeah, actually, I mean, honestly, growing up, I pretty much lived at the Orange Bowl on Saturdays. We had season tickets to the Hurricanes, and you know, learned about football very, very early on. I was actually, I think I was like five, and I was sitting there on a Saturday playing with my Barbies, and Dad came in and was like, "All right, come on, put the Barbie dolls down. We're gonna go watch football. You're gonna learn about football, and I was I was hooked ever ever since. So you know, who needs copies? Michael Hingson  09:10 I got hooked more on on baseball. Of course, I still am of the opinion that for the longest time, we had the best announcers in baseball here in California. We had Vince Scully, we had Dick Enberg, and so many people. And I learned baseball from Vin Scully. I learned all about the rules and so on, because he could announce the game, and he could include stories, but never missed announcing what was going on on the field. So you you got both, and I don't think there are many announcers today who can do that. And they've got buddies, and they they kind of talk together, but they're yammering a lot and not announcing the game, which is all the more no fun. So yeah, what do you do? Nicole Pytel  09:54 Yeah, there's something special about those guys that can just do it solo for nine innings, especially with all the break. In between pitches and things like that, I mean that's it's a lot of air to fill. So yeah, I mean Vince Gully. There's there's nobody better to learn from. Michael Hingson  10:09 No, nobody better than Vinny ever ever in baseball. And and as I said, Dick Enberg was out here, and and then in basketball we had Chick Hearn who could talk faster than anybody in the world, which was pretty cool, and there were some other announcers. They weren't necessarily just announcers like Vinny. I mean, Harry Carey, who did the Cubs, and but he was well loved and had a great personality, and it was a lot of fun. But Vinny was definitely the best, and then Dick Enberg, who also did football, and I learned a lot about football from from him, which was kind of fun. But I've always been a baseball fan. Nicole Pytel  10:46 Same, I love baseball as well. There's just something so quintessentially like wholesome and American about baseball. It's just like the hot dog, and you know, there's just something about baseball where you just feel like just a pure good old fashioned American kind of thing, you know. It's just got this feeling Michael Hingson  11:08 to it. Yeah. Well, so you went and got. Did you do advanced degrees or just a bachelor's? Nicole Pytel  11:14 I did my bachelor's. Yeah. I I went into broadcasting. Actually, majored in in broadcast journalism and psychology. Ah, wow, that's a Michael Hingson  11:23 combination. Nicole Pytel  11:24 It is, you know, I the psychology part. You know, I've always been fascinated of like why people do what they do, and I wanted to be a sports journalist. You know, ever since I can remember, and I was like, well, what a great way to really understand people if you're going to interview them and talk to them all the time, and and tell them stories, you know, through the TV. Like, what a great way to understand them. Take take psychology, learn all about that. And and now that I'm in marketing, it's it's the same thing. Trying to figure out, you know, why'd they click on that ad and not this one? Why'd they open this email and not that one? Why'd they, you know, read this case study and not that one. So it's it that that major was kind of the gift that keeps on giving. Michael Hingson  12:07 Now you, so you got your bachelor's and then you went into broadcast journalism. Nicole Pytel  12:13 I did. I did. I I took off to College Station, Texas, to be a great reporter. Yeah, really no better place. I mean, you know, you start in broadcasting, and you're going to start in a small market. And there's all kinds of cities in in the country that I'm sure are lovely, but you've never heard of them before. Your God only knows what you're going to cover. But I was very, very blessed. I got to go to College Station, Texas, so that is the home of Texas A and M, and of course Friday Night Football, the local high schools. You know that the that was my job to cover that stuff. So you can't really ask for anything better than that for a first job out of school. Michael Hingson  12:55 So did you did you announce the games or what did you do? Nicole Pytel  12:58 I didn't. I was a I was a sports reporter for one of the local affiliates in town. So, and I was a one-man band. So I shot everything, edited everything, reported everything. I did, I did all the things, all the things. No photog following me around. No, no, nothing. It was all me. So I was the one, you know, on the sidelines shooting the games or standing behind home plate, and you know it was it was fun. It was it was definitely an adventure. We could probably do an entire podcast just on crazy stories about that. Well, Michael Hingson  13:29 how long ago was that? Nicole Pytel  13:30 Oh gosh, more years ago than I I'd like to think. My goodness, I went out there in 2006. So Michael Hingson  13:39 digital cameras had started to come into play. Nicole Pytel  13:44 Yeah, sort of. Although when you're working in a small market, they don't have the newest equipment, so the cameras were still big and heavy. You had this big bag of stuff to lug around. You had the big heavy tripod. You know, you're kind of going like carrying your weight in stuff. Yeah, you know, and and I'm doing it, you know, depending on where I'm going, you know, in in like dress clothes and and heels and and trying not to fall over, you know. So, but um, yeah, no, it's that was still the big and bulky stuff back then. Michael Hingson  14:14 Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm not surprised, and at the same time, you did it. What's what's the most memorable, if you have one, memorable event or thing that you can think of that you did while you were out there in Texas doing football and baseball and all that? Nicole Pytel  14:30 Oh man, there's there's so many, there's so many. But I think one of the coolest things I got to do was, you know, Kyle Field, which is Texas A&M's home stadium. It is it is enormous. It seats you know 100,000 plus people, and you know being there on a Saturday is is unreal. It's loud. Those are probably some of the most devoted fans on the planet. They never sit down. They they. Practice all their cheers the night before. I mean, it's just wild. But you know, I used to do obviously during the season. I'd go to the weekly press conferences during the week, and I'd I'd do stories. And you know, I never. I don't know if I ever told anybody this publicly, but they used to leave a chain link gate open at Kyle Field on Tuesday afternoons. It was just unlocked, and so I would I would go in there, and the stadium would be totally empty except for me, not a soul. And I'd go in there, and I was you know shooting my own stuff. So I had it all figured out where exactly where I had to put the camera and exactly how I had the angle of the tripod and exactly where I had to stand, so that I could get there. Home of the 12th man sign like right over my shoulder, the perfect shot for you know my stand up and my story. And so every every Tuesday I'd go in there. I'd kind of sneak in. I don't know to this day if they ever knew I was in there, but but being in there, you know, on the 50-yard line of this enormous stadium, all by yourself-it's totally silent. You know what it's like at at peak velocity volume, and being in there all by yourself, you're just like, this is the coolest thing I know ever. Like this is amazing. It's wild. It's just wild. Michael Hingson  16:19 Well, I won't tell anyone. I mean, it's sort of like Vin Scully, who always said, "This is between me and you, nobody else. Nicole Pytel  16:24 Exactly, exactly. Michael Hingson  16:26 Nobody will hear it. It's okay. That's that's cool. The only thing I would say about that is, and I experience this. If you talk about crazy fans, Kentucky and football is just as challenging, I went to do a speech somewhere, and the speech was on Monday night. It was the NCAA championship in football, and the and the Kentucky Wildcats were one of the teams. And I was told that my speech had to end at 630. It could not go any later because if it went later, I'd be speaking to an empty gym. Nicole Pytel  17:04 Yes, you would absolutely no pressure, no pressure. No, no Michael Hingson  17:07 pressure at all. Well, I kept an eye on the time and and ended it right at 630, and by 631, the place was empty. It was crazy. Nicole Pytel  17:14 Cleared out, cleared out. Well, hey, that speaks well for you that they were all there before the game. They weren't tailgating or anything, you you were bigger than the tailgate. Michael Hingson  17:22 I guess so, but it was it was fun, and and then you've got North Carolina for basketball, so oh yeah, it's again it's it's pretty amazing. Well, how long did you do your your stint dealing with sports and and being in the news media? Nicole Pytel  17:41 Yeah, so I was a sports reporter for two years, and then my contract was up in the summer of 2008 when the the economy was not so great. Yeah, and I I didn't want to stay in my job not because I didn't love it. I just wasn't really making any money. You don't make any money in TV. That's the big secret. It looks so glamorous, and and you're broke. But it was so it was basically impossible to get another sports job at at that time, you know. And I got a really good opportunity at the station I was at. They were like, you know what? Like everybody in town knows you. They see you on the sidelines. They see you behind home plate. Like they see you at all the things. And so why don't you be the main news anchor? Because they were rebranding the station, and I said, you know what? Okay, cool. I'll do that. You know that that'll be something new and different. And you know it kind of hurt to leave sports, but it was a challenge. You know to be the main anchor and the producer. So it was it was my show to run. So I did that for two years as well. No pressure, no pressure at all. No, it's fine. Michael Hingson  18:51 Yeah, Nicole Pytel  18:51 pressure. Michael Hingson  18:53 So you did that for two years, and then, Nicole Pytel  18:56 and then I left, and I totally did something different. I left TV and I started my own content marketing agency. Just me, myself, and I, and my little my little built-in desk in my kitchen in my apartment. So couldn't be more different. Michael Hingson  19:12 Did you do now? Was that in Texas? It Nicole Pytel  19:15 was in Texas. It was you know it was it was you know time to leave TV, and it was just like, okay, well, what am I good at? Like, what can I do? And I said, well, shoot, I can write anything, you know. So I'll do content marketing, and and there's so many journalists that go into PR. That's kind of like the the thing they all do. And I was like, I don't want to do that. Like, I don't know. It's just like being on the journalism side, you know, all the PR people. It's like, oh, come on, guys, stop! So I went into content marketing, started my own agency, just just me, myself, and I. And you know, was it was scary, but it was fun. It was you know throwing yourself into the deep end of the pool and and seeing if you could swim. If Speaker 1  20:02 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson  20:35 So now, tell me something about what content marketing Nicole Pytel  20:40 is. Yeah, so you know content marketing, and and I I've always been on on the B 2b side, the business to business. So and usually, and most of my career has been in in tech. So you know, selling very expensive things to people who are very skeptical of whether or not it works and don't want to make the wrong decision on you know a six figure platform or something like that, and it's really the content marketer's job to really kind of give them almost like a buffet of things that that they need to really figure out. Okay, what problem do I have? What solutions are there for this problem? Like, who are the different vendors? What what are the different ways to solve this problem? What makes all these vendors different? How do I know which vendor you know will actually give me ROI? Like, do they understand my business? Do they understand people like me, and then you know, getting them all the way through until they're ready for a sales conversation. And as you might imagine, people don't like to talk to salespeople. They're you know at this point probably probably 80% of the way through. You know they they probably are pretty set on on which vendor they're going to go with before they talk to sales, but you know there's all kinds of different marketing. But content's the one that really runs the whole gamut of everything. You know, you everything ties back to content because you've got to bring them to something. Like you know, ads have got to drive to something. The website's got to say something. You know, like PR has got to plug something. So, you know, content's kind of that that through line for the entire process of them making these, you know, huge expensive decisions. Michael Hingson  22:33 Well, still going into content marketing, since you were in TV, is a pretty major, pretty major switch all the way around. And what makes me curious is how did you discover you really knew and understood content marketing? And more important, even than I guess, would be since you loved TV so much, when did you decide that it was worth staying in TV than it was to switch careers? That had to be a pretty scary thing, or maybe it wasn't. You may be just used to doing that sort of thing. Nicole Pytel  23:05 Yeah, no. Leaving TV, there was a there was a day, you know, when I knew I was done with TV, and and I was kind of frustrated with it. You know, you're not making much money, and and at that time it was so tough. The economy was was still tough, even even a couple years after that, and and it was just was tough. And news is a totally different kettle of fish than sports. Sports is is fun, and the fun stories and the feature stories and news is just it can be depressing. It can you know, it like you know. If it bleeds, it leads. That's you know where we're at, and that just started to get to me. And there, there was one day where things were just really, really slow, and and I was just like, oh my god, we don't have a lead story, and time is a ticking, and 10 o'clock is coming, whether I'm ready or not, and it's not like you can get on TV and go. Well, hey, good evening. Nothing happened today. Shut off your TV and go to sleep. And that's a story. That's a story in and of itself. Nothing happened, and I was really struggling. Like, oh my God, what's the lead story? What's the lead story? Am I going to have to take something and just kind of you know make make chicken salad out of chicken you know what and try to pass this off as important, and then we heard over the scanner there had been this this fatal car accident and this teenage girl had died in a car accident you know and for a split second I thought, "Oh, thank God, I have a lead story. And then, in the next second, I went, "Oh my God! Like, how is that your reaction to this story? Like, this girl is gone; her family is destroyed forever. Like, how did your brain even get to oh my god?" Thank God, I have a lead story, and and it was then that I was like, I don't want to do this anymore. You know, I was one foot out the door, and then I was like, uh, I don't like this. And to this day, I don't remember the girl's name. I don't remember any of the details, but I still think about it because it was really this turning point of like, I just don't want to do this anymore. Like I want to go do something else. That you know, maybe if I had stayed in sports, it would have been totally different. But the news side is just-it's tough. It's tough to see all that bad stuff day after day after day and kind of capitalize on it. Yeah, Michael Hingson  25:34 I-I'm amazed at some of the reporters that that I watch and and just listen to how they report the news, and now there's always it seems in our country a lead story of some sort. But how they do it and how they're able to do it day after day without registering too much emotion is pretty amazing. And I and I hope that their characters just don't become so hardened that they don't feel sympathy, and I and I think they don't. The reporters that I tend to watch, I think, are very human oriented, but and and they they behave appropriately, but at the same time, I'm amazed that they're able to do what they do, and it's got to be so tough. Nicole Pytel  26:24 It is tough. It is tough because sadly, you're kind of seeing the worst of the worst. I mean, you know, that's that's the stuff that that makes the news. And and today, you know, I don't watch local news really at all anymore. But it seems like now it's just kind of the police blotter, and it's like when I hear about all these bad things, you know. It's just, you know, the the storytelling has has kind of fallen out of it quite a bit. Michael Hingson  26:49 I collect old radio shows as a hobby, and I'm very fascinated to listen to the all the old news broadcasts from the 20s, well, the 30s, 40s, and into the 50s mainly. And I've heard some interviews with people who did news back in those days, and and who are somewhat still well, they're still alive or they used to be, and they talk about how news broadcasting has changed over the years, and they don't they don't do the same kind of news that they they used to do where they would report on things. Now they've got different people sort of chattering back and forth, and and they're they sometimes make light of stories and they just do a lot of different things, but they're not reporting the news the way the old reporters used to do. Nicole Pytel  27:36 Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, back in the day, you had you know Walter Cronkite kind of ripping the paper off, you know, or you know they're sitting there smoking a cigarette, giving the news. I mean, you know, stuff like that, and you know, yeah, it's just it's totally different. I think it's become so sensationalized, and everybody's obsessed with being first. I think, I mean, you always want to be first, but I I think people are obsessed with being first, even if they don't always get it right. Yeah, and that's Michael Hingson  28:08 happened a lot. It Nicole Pytel  28:09 happens a lot, and and also it's like who can be the most sensational, who can make the biggest splash, and you know it just I don't know. It's it has it's changed so much. Yeah. Michael Hingson  28:25 Well, so now, but but again, well, not now. But then you went into contact mark content marketing. Do you feel that you knew that business as you were going into it, or or did you have a lot to learn? And how did you do it? Because for a while, it was just you doing everything? Nicole Pytel  28:41 Yeah, it was it was me doing literally everything. And did I know about content marketing? No, I didn't. I knew how to write, so I knew I could do copywriting. And I said, okay, well, I'll I'll figure out the marketing part. And it took a lot of courses. I learned about SEO. I learned about email marketing. I learned about inbound marketing. You know, I just took every course that I could and kind of just built the plane as I flew it. And you know, because yeah, when you start your own business and you're all by yourself, there's no there's no senior person to go ask. You're the person, and you've got to figure it out, and you know, I like to say the money train doesn't doesn't just magically show up every two weeks. You know, you've got to you've got to work and you've got to earn it. And so, when you've got your own business, you know, that's just it's a lot of pressure. And so, yeah, I just I just went and and learned as I went and learned a lot quickly. And you know, would would I tell everybody to go do that? No, but for me it was like, well, if I can do that, I can I can probably do anything. I mean, shoot, I kept a a roof over my head and food food on the table for for eight years with my. Business, so that's that's something that a lot of people can't say. Michael Hingson  30:03 Did you make any kind of mistake at the beginning, or as you were starting and running this business, that you're very grateful today that you made? Nicole Pytel  30:11 Oh, I I made plenty of mistakes. Oh my goodness! And of course, you're going to make mistakes. You're you're just learning. You're just drinking from the fire hose and just hanging onto the bowl, you know, and I think there was a there was a couple of mistakes I made. I think probably the biggest was not shutting off, you know. And I had come from news where at 10 o'clock the news started, at 1030 the show was over. You were done for the day. Nothing carried over to the next day. You came into work the next day. You started over, and it was really hard to have work that dragged on for days or weeks at a time. And you know, it was hard to shut off, especially when it's your own business. It's like, oh, let me just reply to this one email, or let me check this one thing, or let me go do this one thing over here. And and when I started my own business, you know, I was working, I was working out of the kitchen. So you know, you go to sit down and relax on the couch at night, and and your computer's you know four feet away in the kitchen. So oh, I'll I'll just go check this one thing, and I never was shutting off, and you burn out that way. You really, you really do. And I'm glad I learned that lesson. And I'm not saying I've never repeated that lesson because I've definitely, you know, it's it's a very acquired skill to be able to just turn your brain off and and go focus on something else. But I'm glad I made that mistake because it really showed me, like, you don't have to be on 24/7 even to run your own business, you know, like, and you have to stop. And so, what I've done ever since then, ever since I was able to afford, you know, a two-bedroom apartment or whatever, even my house now. I've always had an office so that you know I go, I do my work, and then at the end of the day, I shut off the computer and I leave that room, and I don't come back until the next day. Where it's like you know, like if you go to a traditional office, you get up at 5o'clock, you walk out, you're back at 9o'clock the next morning, like I've worked really hard to do that at home to really avoid that whole always on kind of mentality because you've just got to kind of stop, you know. Michael Hingson  32:34 Yeah, I my wife passed away in November of 2022, and she was more of a late riser, and I was more of a morning person, but we compromise pretty well. But since she has passed, I tend to get up pretty early because I can eat breakfast and then come in and spend time before anything else happens, going through emails and doing some things. But I don't have to rush doing it, and that helps. But then, then then the the other things happen in the course of the day. But I I know what you're saying, and I work pretty hard at shutting things down by around 5o'clock. Of course, I also have to do that because I have two creatures who say it's five here, not somewhere else, and we better get our food. Yeah. Yep. So they help, but I hear what you're saying, and it and it is a it is a discipline. Working at home and working for yourself is a is a discipline that a lot of people Nicole Pytel  33:33 oh yeah Michael Hingson  33:34 could learn and don't or just don't have the skills to do. But it is, I think, a very doable thing, and I enjoy it. And I usually have I usually have television as well. I have television or something on in the background, although I don't listen to much of it. It's just background noise, but it's there and it helps. Nicole Pytel  33:53 Yeah, yeah. There's something about silence. I've always got to have you know some music on or something. It's like the silence gets a little deafening when you're at home working, it's it's it's funny that way. Michael Hingson  34:03 I do some stuff on the weekends, and when I when I do catching up on letters and things like that on the weekends, I typically don't turn anything on. I just focus and get it done, and then I go off and read and do other things. So it works out. But I but I hear what you're saying, and I think it's an important lesson to learn that you've got to learn. You've got to find a way to recognize that that it is important to turn off. And if you don't, you're going to drive yourself crazy. Nicole Pytel  34:30 You will. And and you know now that we've got you know email on our phones and Slack on our phones and LinkedIn on our phones, it's really easy to sit on the couch at night after dinner and just let me check my email this one more time, or or let me reply to this Slack message, and you just gotta stop because you will burn out, and and then you know you're you're of no use to anybody, most of all yourself, you know. And I think that Michael Hingson  34:57 oh, go ahead. Nicole Pytel  34:58 I was just gonna say I think it. I think it's a lesson that a lot of people struggle with, you know, because everything is just this on-demand one tap of your phone. You can just be back at work 24 hours a day, and I think you have to learn that I don't have to be on 24-seven to be successful. Think that's the thing you've got to learn. Michael Hingson  35:20 Do you think you've experienced burnout along the way? Nicole Pytel  35:23 Oh yeah, absolutely, absolutely. You know, I, I, you know, one of my bad habits is, you know, I'll kind of like put myself last, and I've learned that, you know, oh, it's really easy to, you know, oh, I won't go for a run this morning because I've got you know this work thing that I've got to do, and you know you've got to kind of treat yourself as a non-negotiable as well. You know, not that you get to do the run every morning. There's some mornings when you really can't, but if you look at the run as you know something of that's you taking care of yourself, and something that that is pretty non-negotiable, and it needs to be part of the schedule. You're you're more likely to to stick with it and not push it off to the side. Because yeah, I'm guilty of that. You know, you you push things off to the side. You're eating at your desk. You're passing up on this, or oh, I'm not going to go out to dinner tonight because I'm going to sit here and catch up on stuff, and and you burn out, you know, and it's exhausting. Michael Hingson  36:28 Yeah, yeah, you gotta gotta learn to keep things in perspective, and you're right. Yeah, yourself is is an important part of of what you do, and you have to be able to take care of yourself along the way as well, Speaker 1  36:42 yeah. Michael Hingson  36:42 Well, you had your own company for almost 10 years, and then you decided to go back to work for someone else. What what caused that to happen? Nicole Pytel  36:50 Yeah, so it was a couple of things. You know, one was you know when you own your own business, and and Michael, you understand this. You're you're the everything. You're you're the you're the president. You're the head of marketing. You're the head of sales. You're the head of operations. You're doing the taxes. You're you're doing all the things, and you're not necessarily good at all the things, and you don't necessarily enjoy all the things. You know, and so there was kind of two reasons. So I wanted to really focus on what I was good at, which was the content marketing part. You know, I didn't want to have to fill out quarterly reports for the state or you know things like that. All the admin work that goes in into running your own business, and so I said, okay, I want to be able to do what I do best, and I want to be able to work with clients that are bigger than I can get myself. And so I was really, really lucky to land at an agency. I worked remotely, but the agency was was based in Silicon Valley, and you know our our biggest client was Google, and you know for clients it doesn't get any bigger than that so you know I got to just focus on the content marketing part and work with with companies and and people that I never would have been exposed to if I had stuck with my own business you know no matter what I was never going to break into Silicon Valley from from my apartment in Florida, so you know it was the right decision. It really was, and and in job interviews, people asked me, "Well, you're giving up being your own boss? And it's like I've got very specific reasons for doing that. It was just time, you know. Michael Hingson  38:35 Do you feel like in any way it was a step backwards going to work for somebody rather than being the boss? Nicole Pytel  38:42 No, I don't think so. You know, because I've that eight years that I had in my own business, I got I I've got that under my belt, and you know, no one can take that experience away. You know, it is it is what it is. I learned a lot of lessons. I learned a lot of lessons the hard way too, and it was a great springboard. But I like being able to focus on what I'm best at, and you know the stuff that I've been able to do since then. I wouldn't have had those opportunities if I had just kind of kept with my own business. So I didn't see it as a step back at all because I had very specific reasons for making the move. Michael Hingson  39:20 Yeah, and you know I respect that, and and went through the same sort of thing. I owned my own company for four years back in the mid 1980s because I wasn't able to find a job at the time. People just wouldn't hire blind people, so I started my own company, and then eventually decided to go back into the workforce. And my wife and I worked out a a plan for that, and I created a cover letter that actually impressed some people, and I got a job out of it. But by the same token, I wasn't at all regretful about having to stop doing what I was doing and go back to work for someone else, partly because some of those very pressures that. We're talking about went away, and partly because, as you said, it was time, and I knew it, so we did. Nicole Pytel  40:07 Yeah, yeah. You've got to you've got to go with your gut and stuff like that. You know, like if if your gut is telling you something, or if you're like, I think I'd be a little bit happier doing something else, or if I didn't have to do this part of it, you know, go for Michael Hingson  40:24 it. Well, so there were times that, as you describe it, you would go into a role with no map. You were the only and the first content marketing hire, and you did a lot of stuff with Google Cloud marketing and and so on. What's the difference? I guess the best way to put it. What's the difference between, well, yeah, what's the difference between confidence and just hiding fear? That's probably the good basic question. Nicole Pytel  40:51 Yeah, yeah, they're probably kind of on the same plane, but they project Michael Hingson  41:00 differently. Nicole Pytel  41:01 They project very differently. They they project very differently. So so yes, you know, I created my own business, and then two of the agencies I've worked at, I was the first you know full time content hire. Built the content marketing practice. It was like building a business within a business, and and all the things that go along with that, I just didn't have to do the taxes, and which is a good thing. Yeah, it's a great thing. And then at the same time, yeah, I was I was embedded with with Google Cloud's marketing organization, and and so I think confidence is you know you can do it. Like deep down, you're like I know my stuff, I can do the work, I can do this, and then of course there's the fear of, oh my god! Like Google, like I'm gonna have a Google email address. I'm gonna have you know a title at Google and a supervisor at Google. Like, oh my god! Like, and then of course you know the the fear comes in. The imposter syndrome kind of comes in. Like me, me, really? And I think it's kind of like jumping into a really cold pool. You're scared, but you just gotta do it and kind of not fake it till you make it, but just dive in and trust in the confidence side. You know, there's like it's like the devil and the angel on your shoulder. One is your confidence. That's the angel, and the devil is the fear. And just listen to that confident part, and eventually, I feel like the fear gets drowned out. Now, does the imposter system ever imposter syndrome ever totally go away? Of course not. Of course not. We all have days where you're like, why am I here? Why is anybody listening to me? Why does anybody think I'm smart? We all have those days, but you know, eventually, you know, if you've got that confidence in yourself, it will win out. Michael Hingson  42:52 Yeah, and and it is something that we all have to deal with. But I think we can. I think if we truly understand ourselves and we listen to our inner voice. We'll get the guidance and the confidence that we need. I think so many people tend not to be introspective and tend not to go back and listen to the lessons that they could learn from their own inner subconscious, their own inner voice. And the result of that is that they they end up being very clueless, but the fact of the matter is, there's a part of you that monitors every single solitary thing that you do, and it's ready to give you the information that you need if you'll but take the time to learn to listen to it. And most people just don't do that. But the fact is, we should take that time because we'll get better results than we would ever get any other way. Nicole Pytel  43:45 It's funny because we'll say things to ourselves that we would never say to somebody else. Like you'd never say it to a friend, but you say it to yourself. It's like, why do we do that? And you know, sometimes I think one of the most important questions I've ever asked myself is why not you? You know, you want to go be a sports journalist in Texas? Why not you? Why can't you do that? You want to own your own business? Why not you? People do that all the time. Why? Why can't you do it? And I think if you if you're really honest with yourself, and you say, "Well, why not you? And you force yourself to kind of have this conversation with yourself and give an answer. A lot of times, you can't think of Michael Hingson  44:33 one, and you create excuses. Nicole Pytel  44:37 You do, which Michael Hingson  44:38 really are are not helping, and they're not healthy, but you do it anyway. And I understand the concept of imposter syndrome, but you ultimately have control over that. Nicole Pytel  44:50 You do, and I think that's the thing. It's you know I think anxiety gets the best of us a lot of the time, and and you've got to be like, okay, well, what can I control? What is totally out of my control? I actually heard somebody say today, you know, when anxiety creeps in and you have a thought, "Oh my God, what if X Y Z happens? You say to yourself, "So what if it does? Like, so what? Like, can you control it? Can you fix it? And if not, then then you shouldn't just give it airtime in your brain, you know. We Michael Hingson  45:23 spend so much time worrying about everything over which we don't have control, and we don't really learn the about the things over which we truly have control and should focus our time on, which is which is such an issue because the reality is over 95% of the things that we worry about and what if about all the time are things over which we have no control. I hear a lot of people say I don't watch the news because I just get angry at all that. Well, I like to watch the news because I love information, but I can do that generally without getting angry. Now, sometimes I will, I will yell at somebody on the the TV because they say dumb things. There are people who have learned how to do that, but I also don't spend a lot of time at it, and I also know that I'm not going to hurt them, even if they hear me. So the Michael Hingson  46:16 the bottom line is that I I work at not doing that, but I still want to get the information as to what's going on, so I do. Nicole Pytel  46:24 Yeah, and that's you. I want to know, and what can I control my reaction to it? I'm not going to get angry unless somebody says something really, really stupid, and and then you know it comes out. But yeah, it's it. That's a great example. I want to know what's happening, and I'm going to control my reaction to it, and a lot of times that's all we can control is our reaction to things. Michael Hingson  46:45 But we don't, which is really and we don't. We don't, and we should. Nicole Pytel  46:49 Yep. Michael Hingson  46:50 Well, speaking of reactions, earlier this year you got laid off from your VP role. I'm I'm curious, what did that do to how you see your own professional identity and and and so on, or did you know it was coming, or anything like that? Nicole Pytel  47:05 There, there were some rumblings right before it happened that it was coming, and you know I'm one of sadly very very many people, you know, 1000s, 10s of 1000s, maybe even hundreds of 1000s of people in this position, and and it's it's tough because you're not your job, but when you do something 40 hours a week and and you get up every day and that's what you do, it becomes part of who you are. It's like that's what I do, and then when that's gone, it's just like, well, now like am I still am I still useful? Like, am I still smart? You know, and and all these things go go through your mind, and you learn a lot about yourself when that happens. You know, talking about hey, all I can control is how I react to it. You know, Lord knows. You know, when you get laid off, like there's a a million what ifs running through your brain, and and all you can do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and and controlling how you react to it. But it absolutely, you know, it definitely shakes your confidence, and you know, it's it's it's a very weird feeling, you know that first Monday when you don't go to work. It's like, oh my God, the rest of the world went back to work, and and I didn't, and it's very jarring. You know, especially when you're when you're as old a fossil as me and you've been working for so long, it's like now you're not. You know, I've been I've been very very lucky to take on you know some freelance work and stuff like that, and and you know it's given me an opportunity to really catch up on a lot of the things that I wanted to learn and try and do when I was working full time and didn't really have the time. So from that perspective, it's been really good. But it it it'll knock you down for a minute, and it's up to you to kind of pick yourself back up, and that's where you kind of learn a lot about yourself as to how how you react to that. Michael Hingson  49:08 Yeah, and you have to again. It's a matter of choice, and you have to decide what what you want to do. Well, so you got laid off. Did you sleep late that first Monday? Nicole Pytel  49:19 I didn't. You know what I did. You know what I did. I I knew I had to give myself something to do, so I got up early on that first Monday and I went and got the oil changed in my car. I was like, I'm gonna go out and be productive. You know, could I have laid in bed all day and just kind of wallowed in self. Yeah, that doesn't help. Yeah, but that's not helpful. So I was like, "I'm going to go get that oil change I've been putting off for like two months. And you got to go Michael Hingson  49:49 in earlier than you otherwise would have, and probably got it done sooner. Nicole Pytel  49:53 There you go. There you go. Sometimes it just works out. Michael Hingson  49:57 And you probably had two little fur creatures who. We're very glad to see you continuing to support their habits. Nicole Pytel  50:04 Yes, yes, they my little fur divas. Yes, they're kind of like you know now you know Minnie Minnie's worked with me her whole life. She just turned 14. I've had her since she was 11 months old, and and I've I've worked at home her whole life, and so she she comes to the office with me every single day with her little memory foam, and and and and she gets her decompression time too. You know, she knows at 5o'clock when I take her memory foam bed back into the bedroom. Like, all right, I'm done working for the day. I'm good. But you know, at first she was like, "Why aren't we working, mom? And then you know, we got some freelance work and got back in the office, and I could tell she was like, "Okay, we're getting back to normal. Because at first they were both like, "What are we doing? Aren't you supposed to be working? Like, what's happening? But as long as they've got all their treats and all their toys and and and you know all their things, they're good. Michael Hingson  50:58 Didn't you tell them that was time for them to go get a job? Nicole Pytel  51:01 Oh yeah, absolutely. Michael Hingson  51:03 And how'd that work for you? Absolutely. Nicole Pytel  51:04 No, it didn't work out. They were like, "We don't do that. Like, I don't think you understand, Mom. Yeah, this is not how this works. Yeah, Michael Hingson  51:11 yeah. Well, so one of the things I think that's interesting, we're and we're all facing it to one degree or another, is the whole concept of of AI, a lot of people are afraid that AI is coming for their jobs, and I can make some comments, and I will about that. But you've chosen to face that fear and confront it. So I guess the real question is, why do you think that was the right call, and what do you think about this whole business of AI? Nicole Pytel  51:39 AI is really something, and so so I I've seen both sides of it. As a content marketer, you know we were supposed to become extinct because AI could just write everything. And my point is, is like, can AI create content? Sure, but it doesn't know what to create, and that's where the human comes in. It like the human has to come up with the strategy, and you know I remember the first time trying out ChatGPT and having it write stuff, and it wasn't very good, and and you know obviously things have gotten much much better in in the past 334 years, but you know it just became obvious that that this is a thing, and I guess you know, as a benefit, so many of of my clients were AI companies in some way, shape, or form, and it's like this is happening, and you have got to learn how to deal with it. And at least in my job, it can it can make me better at my job because it can speed things up. It can kind of eliminate some redundancies, you know. And is it ever going to replace me? No, because I'm the human with the judgment, and I understand, you know, the business goals of of what we're trying to do and how we hit the revenue goals and who the audience is and what they care about and all of those things, but I think one of the the silver linings of of getting laid off was you know I've I've had a you know a chunk of time to really dive in and get my hands dirty with AI like the things that I was like, oh, if I could have it do this, this, and this, that'd be really cool. And then go in and build it and see, hey, can I actually build this and go into Claude Code and see if if I really can do that, you know? And and it's given me a chance to really do that and go, okay, well, when I when I get another job, this is how I'm going to use AI on day one. I'm going to create, you know, this list of things, and here's why. Here's the order I'm going to do them in, and here's where I'm going to use AI to make it better. But more importantly, here's kind of the framework for how humans and AI should work together in content marketing, because there's so many people out there that are like, "Hey, ChatGPT, go write my website for me, and then they wonder why it's not very good or or why it sounds the same as as their competitors. You know, there's studies out there that say you know buyers think that these companies all sound the same, and you know AI is a big reason for that. So if you can really figure out how humans and AI work together, I think that's that's the piece, you know. And and there at the beginning there were a lot of content marketing kind of purists out there that were like, I will never use this. I'm gonna write everything myself. I'm gonna do everything from scratch, and I was just like, "That's like saying, you know, when cars came out, like I'm not, I'm not riding a horse. I'm not getting a car. I'm taking my horse and buggy to work. You know, I mean, it's the same thing. Like things evolve, and and you know, take advantage of it. Michael Hingson  54:56 Well, the reality is that AI is here. And I think you're right. What we need to do is to learn how to use it. I heard a friend comment a couple months ago that was talking to his boss about AI, and his boss said, "I will never fire you and replace you with AI. I won't do that, he said. "I might fire you if you don't learn how to use AI. Nicole Pytel  55:26 Yes, and Michael Hingson  55:26 I think that's absolutely true. I I use AI when I write because it gives me ideas, but ultimately I have to still be the one to create them, and I am not convinced that we're going to see AI in anywhere in the near future, develop the true human spirit and learn how to do the things that we do, Nicole Pytel  55:48 right? Michael Hingson  55:50 And so I think it's important that we learn how to use AI, and we I get a lot of great ideas from it, and so I go into what I write, and that's great because it's got a lot more information and experience than I do. So I don't mind doing that, and I'll be glad to take the ideas. The first time I heard anybody talking about AI was in a Christmas party with relatives, and somebody was complaining because teachers were grousing about the fact that kids were just letting AI write their papers, Nicole Pytel  56:22 yeah. Michael Hingson  56:22 And I said, why not let AI write the papers? You're missing a golden opportunity, and the golden opportunity. And I've said this before on Unstoppable Mindset, but the golden opportunity is the teacher should let students, if they want to use AI to write their papers, let them use AI to write their papers. But then, after you collect the papers, take a period, call each student to the front of the class, and say, "Now defend your position. You're going to find out who really knows what they're talking about and who doesn't. Nicole Pytel  56:50 Yep. Michael Hingson  56:51 What a great opportunity! Nicole Pytel  56:53 That's one way to do it for sure. And my guess is most of them would have no idea. Yeah. Michael Hingson  57:00 How was your view of a special of a professional career change since you started years ago, or has it? Nicole Pytel  57:08 Yeah, many, many, many moons ago. Many Michael Hingson  57:11 moons. Nicole Pytel  57:12 You know, I think when when you first start out in your career, and tell me, Michael, if you agree with this, you know, you just want to get going. It's like I'm a grown up now. I get to do all these grown up things and all the things that I learned about in school. I'm gonna run off and do them, and I want to do as much as I can, as fast as I can, and and climb the ladder and do all the things. And then, you know, that's still important, obviously. But I think it's more about, you know, am I doing something that I take? I truly, truly take pride in something that I believe in. You know, like you know, I could never go work for a company and and do marketing if if I thought the product was boring. You know, I just couldn't. I I don't really care what title you give me, or you know how much money you want to pay me. It's like if it's going to be boring, I don't, I don't want to do it. So I think part of it is, you know, are are you getting satisfaction out of what you're doing? Michael Hingson  58:13 Also, we need to recognize and understand that sometimes life gets in the way, and you start out with a great plan. This is what I'm going to do, and something happens to change it. And the reality is, again, it's of course how you approach that change. But that change might very well be for the best. I know that's happened to me several times, and I have learned that life may happen, things may happen, but I'm gonna not. I don't. I didn't have control over the change necessarily happening. So it's a question more about how I decide to deal with it and what I'm going to do. And I think that's what's really so important to be able to do. And so I find that it's so important to let life do what life is going to do, and you evaluate which way you want to go, but truly evaluate it. Don't don't just react. Sit back and think. You may decide to keep on doing what you're doing, and you're given another opportunity. And of course, for me, the most dramatic example of that is after September 11th, people started calling and saying, "Gee, would you come and talk to us and tell us what we ought to know about September 11th and talk to us about leadership and so on. We saw your name in the media and we want to hear from you and we'll pay you. And of course, you'll pay me. That was a great start. But but what happened was that so many of those happened that my wife and I at the by the beginning of 2002 realized that this was an incredible opportunity. It would take work, but it was an incredible opportunity, and that in reality, as I tell people, selling life and philosophy is a whole lot more rewarding than being a computer hardware sales manager and selling computer hardware. And so I've been doing it ever since, and I've had so many wonderful advances. And I've I've met so many people, learned so many things, and I spend the time working on learning wherever I go and wherever I speak, and so I can't complain at all about what what caused my life to change. Nicole Pytel  1:00:15 Yeah, I mean everything happens for a reason. I really do believe that, and and you may not know what that reason is right away, but yeah, I mean, look at you. I I I can't even imagine having been there on September 11th. It was it was jaw dropping enough to to watch it on TV, and and I'm sure there was a lot that went through your mind and and went through your mind during and right after. And but now look at I mean all the people that that you've gotten to inspire and and educate and motivate and and people who have really learned something and you never would have had that platform. It's it's it's really something. Michael Hingson  1:00:56 Yeah, and and it's and and if you're given a choice between two things that both really sound great, you make a choice, and then you live with the choice you made. Again, don't don't what if the things over which you don't have control, Nicole Pytel  1:01:13 right? Exactly. Michael Hingson  1:01:15 Well, if someone is in a position today where they're listening and they're standing kind of in the same place you were when you decided to go leave television, so on, and they're certain that they should be going off and doing something different, but they're terrified to admit it. What would you say is the one thing that you should tell them? Nicole Pytel  1:01:36 I would say if your gut is telling you to do something, you need to listen to it, and I would say, ask yourself why not me? Why can't I go do this now? If you want to run off and be an

What if you had to start your business all over again? No audience, no product, no followers? In this episode, I walk you through exactly what I would do if I had to build my online business from scratch today.You'll learn:The first things to do when you have no audienceHow to start building visibility and trust for freeMy go-to system to turn one piece of content into 10How to test product ideas and sell before you buildWhat to prioritize if you only have 2 hours per week⚡ Grab my Content Buddy Tutorial to turn one video into 10 content pieces with the help of ChatGPT here: https://www.fastforwardamy.com/contentbuddy

If you're spending hours every week on your content and it's not leading to any clients or sales, this one's for you. I had a record number of strategy calls last month, and I kept hearing the same frustration from people in totally different industries: they were pouring more and more energy into content that just wasn't converting, and they were burnt out and ready to throw in the towel. In this episode I walk you through how to find the gap in your strategy that's holding you back, and here's the good news right up front: usually the problem isn't your content, it's the strategy behind it, and fixing it means doing less, not more.I get into why chasing views, likes, and open rates feels productive but can quietly waste your time, how hot takes and trending reels can actually erode trust with your ideal buyers, and the three gaps I see most often.I also share a few client wins from closing these gaps and how I keep my own content light while still booking clients. If you want your own personalized plan, you can book a strategy call with me at the link below.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Get a custom a strategy that gets clients: https://www.sydneyobrien.com/strategy-call

For the past few months I have had an inner voice saying to me “Content is the key to the next season in your life. Content is your path.”Recently I have been listening to much of Gary Vaynerchuck's podcast where he has been talking about publishing content to the top 7-10 platforms centered around your passions or interests. This message has resonated deeply with me. In this episode of the podcast I discuss the why behind my return to content marketing, and a personal challenge I am engaging in over the next 30 days. Tune in today and let me know how you are using content marketing in your business and your life. Let's connect! I'd love to hear from you.Subscribe on YouTube, join my mailing list, or send me an email!

Send us Fan MailHave you ever looked up and realized it's been weeks, or even months, since you last posted?You're not alone.Many business owners don't stop marketing because they don't care. They stop because they're exhausted, overwhelmed, and trying to do everything themselves. Unfortunately, when your audience stops seeing you, they may assume your business has disappeared too.In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Kendra Corman shares a personal story about the time she unintentionally went completely dark and nearly lost business opportunities because people assumed she had closed her business. She explains why consistent visibility matters more than constant content and offers a practical framework for marketing that works in real life, especially when you're a team of one.You'll discover how to simplify your marketing, stop chasing every platform, and create a sustainable plan that keeps your business visible without leading to burnout.In this episode, you'll learn:Why disappearing from your marketing can quietly cost you businessThe hidden pressure of being a one person marketing teamHow to choose one primary marketing channel and use it effectivelyWhy batching content can save time and reduce stressHow to build a minimum viable marketing routine you can maintainSmart ways to use AI to support your marketing while keeping your authentic voiceThree simple action steps to help you stay consistently visibleIf you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to keep up with marketing, this episode will help you focus on what truly matters so you can show up consistently and confidently.Connect with Kendra CormanIf this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who could use a reminder that sustainable marketing always beats burnout.Learn more about Kendra and her marketing resources at her website, and connect with her on LinkedIn for more practical marketing strategies. Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 15: The Currency of Purpose w/Stephen GreeneWhat happens when you mix the power of world-class music, brand partnerships, and community service? You get Rockcorps—a global movement that revolutionized how brands connect with youth.In this episode of Brands, Beats, and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with Rockcorps co-founder and CEO, Stephen Greene (SG). Together, they unpack a historic "moment of truth" meeting from 2005 that launched their first national brand partnership with Boost Mobile.  SG shares invaluable insights on how the marketing landscape has shifted, why the artist is now the distribution channel, and how to build an authentic, purpose-driven brand that Gen Z and Millennials will actually rally behind. Whether you are a junior marketer finding your footing or an aspiring CMO looking to lead with values, this episode is a masterclass in creative judgment, cultural taste, and keeping humanity at the center of business.  In this episode, you'll learn:How to Trade in "The Currency of Purpose"The "Inverse Correlation" Rule of Deal-MakingThe Blueprint for the "Triple Benefit" StrategyHow to Define What is at the "Center" of a BrandDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

→ Wanna use SEO to generate revenue?  Book a call here  https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call   Episode #496 - Sam gives you the full SEO / AI-Search strategy his team are using to propel Adam Robinson's new SaaS (MoltSets), from zero to $10 million right now! You'll get access to all 3 articles from the proven plan that's already taken RB2B to Rank #1 on  Google + ChatGPT. So yes, this stuff works!   Here's what you get:

What if the best marketing plan isn't the most optimized one - but the one you can actually keep doing? After taking a step back from my business, I've had to seriously reassess how much time and energy I actually have available - and stop building plans around a version of myself who can operate at 10/10 all the time. In this episode, I'm breaking down what I call minimally viable marketing: choosing a small number of marketing activities that fit inside the time, energy, and capacity you actually have. I'm also walking you through how I'm applying this to my own business right now, from weekly forever content to Instagram Reels, and why I'm choosing consistency over doing what everyone else says is the “best” strategy. Because an A+ marketing plan you never execute isn't better than C-level work you consistently get out into the world. What You'll Learn in This Episode: What minimally viable marketing actually means - and why I'm embracing it in my own business Why your marketing plan should work when you're at 5/10 energy, not just 10/10 How unrealistic expectations around your time and capacity can make consistency almost impossible Why I'm focusing on quantity and consistency instead of trying to make every piece of content perfect How I'm using my Time Puzzle to decide what actually fits into my marketing schedule What my minimally viable marketing strategy looks like right now Why I'm sticking with podcasting even when other business owners tell me I “need” to be doing video How to create a realistic container for your marketing and decide what deserves to go inside it Links & Resources: Time Puzzle Workshop Podcast: Time Management for Entrepreneurs Who Hate Following a Schedule Blog: How I Finally Mastered Time Management as an ADHD Entrepreneur YouTube: How to Create Content That Converts Into Clients (The Anatomy of Forever Content) YouTube: The State of Content Marketing in 2026: Why “Forever Content” is the Future

Σε αυτό το νέο podcast (No 214) της στήλης Business & Marketing Tips της Athens Voice, με τίτλο «Μουντιάλ. Η εντεκάδα… του μάρκετινγκ!», φτιάχνουμε τη δική μας πρωταθλήτρια ομάδα του μάρκετινγκ, αντιστοιχίζοντας τα σημαντικότερα μέσα και εργαλεία του σε θέσεις μιας ποδοσφαιρικής ενδεκάδας. Από την τηλεόραση και το ραδιόφωνο μέχρι το SEO, το Content Marketing, το TikTok, το Instagram και το Performance Marketing, ανακαλύπτουμε τον διαφορετικό ρόλο που παίζει το καθένα στην επιτυχία μιας μάρκας. Γιατί, όπως και στο ποδόσφαιρο, το κύπελλο δεν το κερδίζουν μόνο οι εντυπωσιακοί «επιθετικοί», αλλά μια ολοκληρωμένη και ισορροπημένη ομάδα. Το ίδιο ισχύει και στο μάρκετινγκ: το σωστό marketing mix είναι αυτό που τελικά φέρνει το αποτέλεσμα.

Elizabeth Maxson has started noticing the tells. Beyond em dashes and "quotation marks," the certain phrases repeated a little too often. Leaders she's long admired, publishing content that no longer sounds like them. On this episode of Finite by Clarity, she makes the case that this matters more than most CMOs think, not because AI-assisted content is wrong, but because publishing without judgement, experience or voice quietly erodes trust.Elizabeth is Chief Marketing Officer of Contentful, a digital experience platform trusted by more than 4,800 customers. Before Contentful, she was CMO at Tableau, a Salesforce company, and led Strategic Technology Partnerships marketing at Salesforce, launching relationships with AWS, Google Cloud, Alibaba and Apple.In this episode, Jodi Norris sits down with Elizabeth to unpack how the buyer journey has changed shape, and why the instinct to produce more content is usually the wrong one. Elizabeth explains how cutting webinar output and being more selective on topics increased registrations and conversions, and how keeping personalisation deliberately simple, segmenting by audience type rather than complex micro-targeting, delivered a 195% increase in click-through rate.Inside you'll find…Why the small, repeated tells of AI-generated content are quietly costing leaders their audience's trustWhy "less is more" content strategies are outperforming high-frequency productionHow simple, broad-strokes personalisation is consistently outperforming complex micro-targeting

In this episode, Wayne Pollock (Founder of the Law Firm Editorial Service) explains how the thought leadership that many attorneys and law firms publish is “empty-calorie” thought leadership.  He suggests five elements that attorneys can incorporate into their thought leadership to keep it from becoming empty-calorie thought leadership:  1. "Here's what this means for your industry."  2. "You might want to do this now."  3. "Be cognizant of these second-order effects."  4. "According to my crystal ball."  5. "Don't listen to them, they're wrong." === Learn more about Wayne Pollock at https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynepollock Learn more about the Law Firm Editorial Service at https://www.lawfirmeditorialservice.com Learn more about Copo Strategies at https://www.copostrategies.com === Do you want to elevate your thought leadership, distinguish yourself from your competitors, and never again be your target clients' second choice? Our Legal Thought Leadership Accelerator is a FREE five-day educational email course, in which you will learn five advanced principles for conceptualizing and crafting revenue-generating legal thought leadership that positions you to be your target clients' top choice over your competitors (and the one the media regularly calls and conference organizers regularly put on stage). Learn more: www.LTLAccelerator.com

→ Wanna use SEO to generate revenue?  Book a call here  https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call Episode #495 - Sam sits down (well, stands up actually!) with Aimen Chouchane, a marketing leader who's joined 4x different B2B tech companies as their very first marketing hire. We dig into the common mistakes founders make, the trap so many fall into chasing LinkedIn's AI hype, and why a strong support network matters far more than people often think.   Here's what you get on this one:  

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 9: Accelerating Your Career: Think Two. Act One. w/Kristen FischbeckBrand Nerds, we are back in the building! Today, we are diving deep into what it takes to achieve professional growth as we sit down with Kristen Fischbeck. If you are a marketer looking to "compress the timeline" between where you are and where you want to be, this episode is your blueprint. Kristen's rise is nothing short of meteoric: she joined a boutique agency as an entry-level account coordinator and, in just seven years, navigated every level of the organization to become Managing Partner. Now, she leads strategy for an expansive and impressive portfolio including BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Land Rover. In this conversation, Kristen breaks down what we are coining the "Think Two. Act One." strategic mindset of thinking two steps ahead while acting on one to master the job you want before you even have the title. We explore the grit required to thrive in your career, the "Ruh-Roh" moments that lead to massive growth, and how AI is currently slashing production costs in half for luxury brands. Key Takeaways:The 2-1 Rule for Career AccelerationMimic the MasteryThe Space to FailHigh-Octane BrandingAI as a Production ToolDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

Podcasting is more than just a content platform—it's one of the most effective ways to build trust, establish authority, and create meaningful relationships that grow your business. In this special session from the She Believed She Could Summit, Cait Howard and Amanda Bennett explore how entrepreneurs can strategically use podcasting to increase visibility, attract ideal clients, and create long-term business growth. Cait shares why successful podcast guesting starts long before you send a pitch. From identifying your signature speaking topics and understanding your ideal audience to building genuine relationships with podcast hosts, she breaks down what actually gets guests booked—and why relevance and authenticity matter more than a perfectly polished media kit. She also explains how to identify complementary podcasts and collaborations that expand your reach while serving the same audience. Amanda introduces a fresh perspective on podcast marketing through her Leadcast Framework—a private podcast strategy designed to nurture leads, build trust, and guide listeners toward becoming paying clients. Instead of relying on traditional lead magnets like PDFs or webinars, she explains how private podcasts create a more personal experience that helps audiences connect with your expertise while moving naturally through your customer journey. Together, Cait and Amanda demonstrate why podcasting isn't simply about creating content—it's about creating conversations that foster connection, credibility, and lasting impact. Whether you're ready to launch your own podcast, become a sought-after guest, or discover innovative ways to market your business, this episode is filled with practical strategies you can begin implementing today. Inside This Episode You'll Learn: Why podcasting builds trust faster than almost any other marketing platform How to identify your signature speaking topics before pitching podcasts The key to finding podcasts that align with your audience and values What podcast hosts actually look for when reviewing guest pitches Why relationships are the foundation of successful podcast marketing How to collaborate with complementary experts to expand your reach The difference between traditional public relations and podcast outreach What private podcasts are and why they're becoming powerful marketing tools How the Leadcast Framework nurtures leads and shortens the customer journey Ways to turn podcast listeners into loyal customers and paying clients Practical strategies for using podcasting to grow your authority and business Connect with Cait Howard: https://www.instagram.com/heycaithoward/?hl=en Connect with Amanda Bennett: https://gotchamama.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/ Positioned for Partnerships™ Mini Course - Turn your platform into a revenue-generating brand opportunity—without needing a massive following. Learn how to position your brand, create a high-converting media kit, and confidently pitch partnerships so brands instantly understand your value. 

Erin Meyer, Senior Vice President of Marketing Operations; Mary Bennett, Senior Director of Content Marketing; Jason Cassel, Director of Marketing; and Alex Lewandowski, Marketing Coordinator, of EDRM Trusted Partner HaystackID, sit down with EDRM's Mary Mack and Holley Robinson. In this episode, the team returns to the Illumination Zone to share how their AI tools and workflows have evolved. They walk through their three-part design specification for working across Claude, ChatGPT, and other LLMs; how they turn competing models loose on each other to critique and quality-check their work; and where human judgment still has the final word. The conversation also distinguishes prompt writing from framework building, looks at how the team pushes AI-generated design past generic defaults, and covers how quality control now accounts for copyright and AI-assistance disclosures. We ended with each team member naming their ride-or-die LLM.

Today, Kristina is joined by her business bestie Cher, a Waterloo Region real estate agent and coach for women in real estate, to talk about how she built her business through community, relationships and consistent marketing.Cher shares how she grew beyond the traditional real estate business model by showing up consistently on Instagram, nurturing her local community and generously sharing her knowledge.Tune in to hear:• Why giving away valuable information can build trust and attract more aligned clients.• How Cher used a simple weekly Instagram series to begin growing her real estate business.• Why consistent marketing matters most when engagement is quiet or business feels slow.• How to use Cher's “capacity gap” approach to add new marketing strategies without overwhelming yourself.• Why business owners should continue investing in marketing when others are pulling back.• How supporting your local community can create stronger relationships, referrals and future opportunities.• Why experimenting with a strategy and choosing to stop does not mean you failed.• How to decide whether an opportunity supports your own definition of success.This conversation is an encouraging reminder that building a relationship-based business does not require doing everything at once. Through consistent marketing, genuine community building and a willingness to keep showing up, you can create a business that feels aligned with the way you want to work and live.Listen in to the full episode of Community to learn how relationships, local community and consistent marketing can help you build a stronger and more sustainable business.Send me a text!PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsSupport the showFor Your Information:• Host your podcast on Buzzsprout!•Join The High Vibe Women Online Community!• Join our favourite scheduling platform Later• FLODESK Affiliate Code | 25% off your first year!• Connect with Kristina  Don't forget to come say hi to us on Instagram @thesocialsnippet, join the Weekly Snippet or follow us on any social media platform! Website . Instagram . Facebook . Linkedin

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Send us Fan MailTrying to keep up with every social media platform can feel like a full-time job. The truth is, your best marketing strategy may not be posting more. It may simply be showing up in the right place.In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Kendra Corman talks with travel advisor Ali Raymer about how she rebuilt her marketing strategy after COVID by asking one simple question:Where are my best clients making buying decisions?Instead of chasing every new platform, Ali focused on understanding her ideal clients, choosing platforms that aligned with both her audience and her own strengths, and creating a marketing system she could actually sustain.Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed by social media, this conversation will help you simplify your approach and build a strategy that attracts the right customers without burning you out.In this episode, you'll learn:Why you don't need to be on every social media platformHow to determine where your ideal clients actually make purchasing decisionsThe importance of consistency over constant expansionHow to know when a platform is worth investing your time inWhy your current clients are your best source of marketing researchPractical ways to build a marketing routine that supports your business instead of taking it overAli also shares the story of how one missed client opportunity completely changed the way she approached branding and marketing, ultimately helping her attract the exact type of clients she wanted.If you've ever wondered whether you're spending time on the wrong platforms, this episode will give you a fresh perspective and actionable ideas you can put into practice immediately.Connect with Ali RaymerLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alipicturethistravelWebsite: www.peaceandpearltravel.comIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Imperfect Marketing and leave a review. It helps more business owners discover practical, honest marketing conversations that actually make a difference. Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 16: Lead with Guts, Accelerate Growth w/Bob KrautHow did a $5 million marketing stunt turn into one of the top 5 marketing ideas of the last 50 years? In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bites, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with legendary CMO Bob Kraut (former CMO of Papa John's, Arby's, Pizza Hut, and Captain D's) to pull back the curtain on his iconic career of driving explosive business growth.From orchestrating the famous Oprah Winfrey Pontiac G6 giveaway at General Motors to launching the first-ever iPhone pizza ordering application, Bob shares firsthand stories of what it takes to be an adventurous marketer.We dive deep into:The Famous Oprah Winfrey "You Get a Car!" BackstoryThe Art of the Career PivotMarketing with "Guts"The Problem with Modern AdsIf you are an aspiring CMO, brand manager, or marketing student looking to understand how to balance data-driven left-brain insights with creative right-brain ambition, this masterclass is for you.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Jessica Scarato, Registrar, Logan UniversityIn this episode, recorded LIVE from the 2026 AcOps Conference powered by CoursedogYOUR cohost is Bridget Moran, Director of Content Marketing, CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!

Thank you Jesus for publishing 700 episodes!

→ Wanna use SEO to generate revenue? : Book a call here  https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call Episode #494 and this week Sam presents the full AI SEO system he uses to rank SaaS businesses in ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity. There's a huge amount here for you and Sam really gets into the detail with this one! - Ready to learn how to get AI SEO to work for your B2B?, then hit play now!   Sam give you:   

Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with Ivoclar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emax Zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership. Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership. But this conversation goes far beyond Matt's career. His book, The Invisible Profession, explores how the dental laboratory industry arrived at a place where technicians and laboratories are often undervalued, pushed into price competition, and expected to simply keep their heads down and produce. Matt shares his thoughts on the "million little things" that shaped the industry, the danger of becoming a "busy fool," and why laboratories need to stop competing solely on price and start becoming known for the value, expertise, and partnership they bring to the dental team. Elvis, Barb, and Matt also talk about the changing landscape of digital dentistry, AI, 3D printing, speed, service, and why the labs that embrace change and remain agile will be the ones positioned for the future. It's an honest, thought-provoking, and ultimately optimistic conversation about where the dental laboratory profession has been, where it is today, and where it can go next.Special Guest: Matt Everatt.

Informational keywords plays a critical question-based role for attracting top-of-funnel website visitors, building audience trust, and establishing topical authority. Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS explored structuring keywords using the "5Ws and 1H" question format (00:04:10), maximizing keyword density and URL relevance (00:33:44), and the value of consistently publishing content that addresses common search queries (00:38:53).Several points were raised, including leveraging free and premium SEO tools (e.g., Siteliner, Semrush, Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, WooRank) for keyword research, and the importance of regularly auditing websites for technical and content improvements (00:40:39).Actionable insights included tips on creating compelling meta titles (such as using brackets and odd-numbered lists), the psychology behind pricing schemes, and the necessity of protecting intellectual property.Who is this For?The conversation focused on entrepreneurs, business owners, digital marketers, and anyone interested in leveraging SEO, keywords, and website strategies to grow their online presence and business effectiveness.A key theme that emerged was practical guidance for individuals at various stages—from startup founders to established business operators—seeking to understand how to make their websites and content more discoverable and valuable (00:03:05, 01:00:12).Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction to Keyword Types and Search Intent 00:00:18Understanding informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional keywords 00:03:19Why Informational Keywords Matter00:01:42 The "5Ws and 1H": who, what, when, where, why, how 00:04:14Website Professionalism & Trust Signals00:18:39 on why owning your domain matters 00:22:15Technical SEO Tools & Tricks00:25:22 The benefits of platforms like Flodesk, Constant Contact, and Mega VPN 00:27:00Advanced Search & Keyword Research Guidance 00:53:01Introduction to google.com/advanced_search, Siteliner, MeetGlimpse, WooRankKeyword Structure, Titles, and User Behavior 00:44:43How brackets, odd numbers, and phrasing influence click-through 01:30:13Mindset, Testing, and Value of Time 01:14:43 on valuing time over money 01:35:20 on how time is the true business assetFAQsWhat is an informational keyword?A keyword phrase used by searchers to seek knowledge rather than to make a purchase—often beginning with who, what, when, where, why, or how (00:04:10).Why does keyword density matter?It helps determine the relevance of a page for a specific keyword; correct density improves discoverability (00:08:10).Should my business have a website or just a landing page?The discussion explored that it depends on industry, audience trust, and long-term growth plans—sites confer more credibility (00:18:13).How do I choose the right keywords for my website?Use research tools like Siteliner, MeetGlimpse, Ubersuggest, and analyze the most frequently asked questions related to your field (00:42:45).What's the advantage of proprietary domains over free website builders?Ownership increases trust, eligibility for search engine indexing, and professional branding (00:22:15).Action StepsAudit your website's keyword density and update for informational queries (00:08:15).Research the most common question-based keywords in your industry using free and paid tools (00:54:05).Ensure your URL structure and meta titles closely match the user's search intent (00:33:44).Secure your brand by claiming your domain, setting up professional email, and registering relevant trademarks (00:20:13).Regularly test content titles with brackets or odd numbers for improved engagement (00:45:45, 01:30:13).Allocate more effort to saving and valuing your time over incremental cost-savings (01:15:07).For more strategies, connect directly via the podcast resources shared at the conclusion of the episode.

Navigational Keywords - Business Strategies for Websites (Best Practices)The conversation focused on the critical role of navigational keywords in business website strategies and best practices for SEO. Several points were raised, including the distinction between informational and navigational keywords, the practical implications for website structure, and how search engines and users interact with these elements.Key Themes & ConceptsWhat Are Navigational Keywords?One concept discussed was the definition of navigational keywords: these are brand-specific queries used to find specific web pages or destinations within a website, such as "Brand + login," "Brand + pricing," or "Brand + contact." Navigational keywords contrast with informational keywords, which are broad and unbranded, like "best restaurant near me" or "how to tie a tie" 09:06.Why Are Navigational Keywords Important?A key theme that emerged was the way navigational keywords indicate high search intent. Users searching with these terms already know the brand and are seeking specific information or functionality—like product pages, contact details, or policy documents 10:15.How to Implement Best PracticesThe discussion explored actionable best practices for leveraging navigational keywords on business websites:Dedicated Pages: Businesses should create clear, dedicated pages for key navigational actions—such as /contact, /about, /pricing, /reviews, /careers—so that search engines have specific, easily indexed URLs to display in search results 14:03.URL Structure & Keyword Density: URLs should reflect the navigational query and use clear, hyphenated keywords to make it easier for algorithms and users to understand (e.g., yourwebsite.com/privacy-policy). Hyphens are treated as word separators by search engines 15:12.Sitemaps & Technical SEO: XML sitemaps act as a roadmap for algorithms to crawl a website efficiently. Keeping both HTML (what users see) and XML (what bots crawl) structures organized is vital 26:31.Regular Updates: Pages should be maintained and regularly updated. The two critical dates for each page are the date published and the date last modified—these inform algorithms the content is current and relevant, improving SEO performance 45:04.Importance of Brand & Action PairingsThe conversation emphasized that effective navigational keywords pair the brand with a specific action or destination (e.g., "Sephora privacy policy," "Amazon shipping"), which allows businesses to "own" those key queries and drive high-intent traffic 12:24.Measuring & Managing SEOThe discussion also touched on website management:The number of well-structured, dedicated pages can impact investment and SEO value 18:03.Regular auditing and technical optimization of all primary and secondary web properties ensures consistency, compliance, and discoverability 22:41.Understanding audience awareness stages (unaware, problem aware, solution aware, product aware, most aware) helps align SEO content and navigational structure with user intent 35:12.TakeawaysNavigational keywords are essential for brand recognition and conversion, providing shortcuts for users seeking specific brand information.Businesses should invest in user-focused, clearly named, and regularly maintained navigational pages to capture high-intent searches 43:06.Effective technical SEO, including XML sitemaps and proper URL structures, boosts a website's usefulness to both users and search engines.By adopting these best practices, businesses ensure their websites are easily navigable for users and highly visible to search engines, setting the stage for better awareness, engagement, and growth.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on business owners, entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone looking to optimize their website's visibility and effectiveness, particularly through the strategic use of navigational keywords.It is especially relevant for those responsible for maintaining or improving the web presence of a brand, including solopreneurs and those with multiple or complex sites seeking clarity on SEO best practices and site structure (00:01:45, 00:21:48, 00:39:24).Key Moments & SEO Summary with TimestampsIntroduction to Navigational Keywords & Series Context: Outlining the focus on keywords for website business strategies (00:00:10).Website as a Core Asset: Emphasizing the necessity of a website as a brand hub for discovery and operations (00:03:00).Value of Quick Links and Site Accessibility: How having links to websites, calendars, and resources streamlines connections at events (00:04:02).Technological Tools for Networking: RFID/NFC and QR codes as ways to share multifaceted digital presences instantly (00:05:27, 00:07:00).Defining Navigational Keywords: Explained as brand-specific, high-intent search queries driving direct access to internal pages (e.g. “Brand + Contact,” “Brand + Login”) (00:08:39-00:12:24).Site Structure & Essential Pages: Importance of clear, dedicated URLs for contact, about, pricing, policies, reviews, etc. for both users and search engines (00:14:03, 00:16:17).Keyword Density, URL Structure, and Modifiers: The technical aspects affecting SEO on navigational and branded queries (00:13:33).Role of Sitemaps and Algorithm Interaction: Front- and back-end elements (HTML/XML) and the importance of current, updated content (00:26:31, 00:28:12).Awareness Stages: Moving from “unaware” to “most aware” for web users and the importance of matching their journey (00:34:42-00:36:46).Regular Updates and Maintenance: The necessity of revisiting and updating site pages to keep them “alive” in the algorithm (00:44:46, 00:45:50).Summary and Call to Action: Clarity, connection, and proactive site management—with encouragement to take the next steps (00:47:12, 00:48:28).FAQs1. What are navigational keywords and why do they matter?Navigational keywords are search queries aimed at finding specific branded pages (e.g. “Brand + Contact”). They guide users directly to the information or action they seek, playing a key role in brand visibility and customer experience (00:08:39, 00:10:15).2. What essential pages should every business website have?Contact, About, Pricing, Privacy Policy, Reviews, Careers, Locations, Return Policy, and Service pages—all clearly labeled with descriptive, hyphenated URLs (00:16:08).3. How often should I update my website pages?Regular updates signal activity and relevance to both users and algorithms. Important dates include “published” and “modified,” which should reflect recent engagement (00:45:04).4. How can I connect multiple websites or domains effectively?Centralize branding, ensure consistent linking, and consolidate scattered domains when possible so search engines understand their relationship and users can easily navigate between them (00:21:57).5. What's the role of awareness stages in website strategy?Your content and site structure should serve users at different familiarity levels—from “unaware” to “most aware”—with easy access to relevant information at every stage (00:35:12).Action Steps from Favour Obasi-ikeAudit All Active Website Pages:Ensure every required page exists, is linked clearly, and contains current information (00:16:17).Check and Update URLs:Use descriptive, hyphenated slugs for internal navigation—e.g., /about-us, /contact, /pricing (00:15:12).Establish an Update Routine:Schedule regular reviews to update modified dates—especially for high-traffic or business critical pages (00:44:46).Centralize Links Across Platforms:Use tools (link aggregators, NFC cards, QR codes) for seamless access from all touchpoints (00:05:52, 00:07:00).Monitor User Awareness:Identify which stage (unaware, problem aware, solution aware, product aware, most aware) your visitors occupy and tailor CTAs and navigation accordingly (00:35:12).Encourage Feedback and Continuous Learning:Collect responses (like the “put a 1 in the chat”) to gauge clarity and adjust future content and site structures (00:46:10).Ready to Rank? 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CLICK HERE TO GRAB MY MARKETING PLAYBOOK!In Episode 187 of the Best Coach Ever podcast, we're diving into why great content alone isn't enough anymore—and why your marketing may be getting ignored even if you're posting consistently. Lynette breaks down the biggest mistake coaches are making in 2026: relying on overused messaging that's become emotionally invisible to buyers.This episode explores why common marketing phrases like "you need accountability" and "I help women lose weight sustainably" no longer convert, and what to say instead. You'll learn how to create marketing that shifts beliefs, builds an irrefutable case for your offer, and positions your coaching as the obvious solution.If you've been wondering why your content gets engagement but not sales, or why your pitches seem to fall flat, this episode will help you transform your messaging into marketing that actually converts.If you love this episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and a quick review. It's the best way to support the podcast and help us keep bringing you real, honest conversations like this one.In this episode, we cover:1) Why Your Marketing Isn't Converting Anymore [0:00 - 4:15]-Why today's buyers ignore overused coaching language and "safe" marketing.-The difference between creating content and creating marketing that persuades.2) The Problem with "Lazy Marketing" [4:16 - 8:45]-How repeated industry messaging becomes emotionally invisible over time.-Why simply stating truths isn't enough to capture attention anymore.3) Marketing That Changes Beliefs Instead of Teaching [8:46 - 13:05]-Why great marketing builds a case instead of making generic claims.-The four beliefs every coach must communicate to earn trust and sales.4) Turning Weak Messaging into High-Converting Marketing [13:06 - 18:10]-How to replace generic claims with deeper, belief-shifting arguments.-Examples of transforming messaging around sustainability, accountability, and mindset.5) The Four Ingredients of Great Marketing [18:11 - 24:20]-Why tension and specificity grab attention and build credibility.-How emotional resonance and identity drive buying decisions.6) Building Content That Actually Converts [24:21 - 28:10]-How to stop relying on educational content alone.-Why buyers purchase the person they want to become—not just your coaching.7) The Question Every Coach Should Ask Before Posting [28:11 - End]-Shift from asking "What should I post?" to "What belief is preventing someone from buying?"-How identifying buyer objections creates stronger marketing and more effective content.Connect with Lynette:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynettemariehFitness Coaching Business Accelerator: https://fcbaprogram.comThe Wellness CEO Mastermind: https://wcmprogram.com

Have you ever felt like your business was evolving, but no one understood the vision? In this first CEO Diary episode of Social Media Decoded, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my business to share what I'm really building—and why I've shifted my focus from creating more content to building meaningful community. I talk about why relationships have become my greatest business strategy, how Coffee & Connections, my Hidden Gem series, and Connected & Paid Live all fit together, and why I believe the future belongs to entrepreneurs who create ecosystems instead of chasing algorithms. If you're a business owner, creator, or entrepreneur looking to build a brand that's rooted in connection, visibility, and long-term impact, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why I stopped chasing followers and started building community The difference between creating content and creating connection How networking events became relationship accelerators Why community is the future of business growth How partnerships and sponsorships fit into a long-term brand strategy The vision behind Connected & Paid Live Why every entrepreneur should build a visibility ecosystem instead of relying on one platform If this episode resonates with you, send me a DM on Instagram with the word EVENT to learn more about Connected & Paid Live. Resources Mentioned Connected & Paid Live Coffee, Content & Connections Connected & Paid Collective Connect with Michelle: Instagram: @michellelthames Website: https://michellethames.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.