Popular Shows by Danny Gavin Danny Gavin
119 episodes
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Name
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Duration
1
107: ODEO Alumni Journey Series: From Music Class to Meta Tags with Shiri Silkin
107: ODEO Alumni Journey Series: From Music Class to Meta Tags with Shiri Silkin
Mar 4, 2026
19:26
Send a text Sometimes the best career opportunities come from the most unexpected places. For Shiri Silkin, that meant an arranged date that didn't work out, but led to her first SEO job without a single interview. In this episode, Danny sits down with Shiri, an ODEO Academy alum who went from teaching music and working in primary schools to becoming an SEO strategist. She shares what it's really like to learn digital marketing from scratch: the moment everything finally clicked, why she's already referred eight people to ODEO Academy, and the advice she'd give anyone considering a similar path. If you're exploring digital marketing for the first time or curious what these journeys actually look like, this conversation is worth your time. Episode Highlights: Shiri shares her story, which is grounded, specific, and unexpectedly funny, featuring a first SEO job that arrived through an arranged date and a prospective mother-in-law-to-be who instead became her boss in her first SEO gig. She shares why digital marketing appealed to someone from a teaching and music background: versatility, remote flexibility, and constant learning opportunitiesShiri explains that at first, ODEO Academy uncovered the reality of the learning curve: feeling overwhelmed at the start, then experiencing the "lightbulb moment" when foundational concepts suddenly clickShe provides insight to what an entry-level SEO role actually looks like day-to-day: competitor research, content optimization, keyword analysis, and gradual strategic ownershipShiri reveals that she's recommended eight people to ODEO Academy since completing the program as she attributes the course to her foundational understanding of SEO and digital marketing, and the reason for her newfound confidence in her new career path. Episode Links: Learn more about Odeo Academy: https://odeoacademy.com/ The Spring cohort of ODEO Academy's Digital Fundamentals Career Course launches April 26, 2026. Enroll today!Read through other ODEO Academy stories here. Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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095: AI Answers: The Future of SEO is Already Here (Office Hours)
095: AI Answers: The Future of SEO is Already Here (Office Hours)
Sep 3, 2025
9:25
Send us a text In this solo Office Hours episode, Optidge founder Danny Gavin dives into how generative AI is radically reshaping how we search, discover, and measure online visibility. From the shift away from rankings to the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Danny breaks down what marketers need to know now, and how to stay visible and relevant in a world where ChatGPT might answer before Google does. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:Danny details the timeline of AI search, sharing how the evolution of tools is transforming SEO, shifting focus from traditional rankings to being cited, summarized, and trusted in AI responses. To succeed in the AI era, Danny suggests brands focus on visibility, establishing authority through original content, and structuring websites for AI readability.He shares that traditional SEO metrics are becoming less reliable, and that the emphasis should be on inclusion rate and monitoring brand reputation Danny gives examples to explain how your website and online presence serve as signals for AI, making it crucial to audit, optimize, and build brand authority to stay relevant. Episode Links: Optidge WebsiteDanny Gavin on LinkedInFollow @Optidge on Instagram and Twitter Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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096: Leading With Love: Mohammad Anwar on Redefining Marketing and Mentorship
096: Leading With Love: Mohammad Anwar on Redefining Marketing and Mentorship
Sep 17, 2025
46:32
Send us a text Mohammad Anwar, President and CEO of Softway and Culture+, shares how embracing love, empathy, and honest, human-centric leadership transformed his approach to business and marketing. From early culture shocks in both Saudi Arabia and rural Kansas, to guiding executives through challenges today, his story highlights how trust, storytelling, and people-first communication drive organizational success and personal growth. This episode offers practical insights for leaders steering through change and technology-driven transformations, sharing conversation about themes discussed in his upcoming book, “Love as a Change Strategy,” which will be released later this month. Episode Highlights: Growing up between cultures shaped Mohammad’s empathy, perspective, and openness as a leader.A Catholic boarding school experience in his younger days taught him to advocate for change and respect diverse traditions.Near-bankruptcy forced a personal reckoning, leading him to adopt love as a business strategy.The leadership philosophy of University of Houston’s Coach Tom Herman transformed Mohammad’s approach to culture and mentorship.Love and vulnerability are not abstract ideals, but measurable, actionable tools for change management. Episode Links: Mohammad Anwar on LinkedInSoftwayCulture+Love as a Business Strategy (podcastLove as a Business Strategy (book) Love as a Change Strategy (NEW book, available this month!) Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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097: From Power Tools to Paid Media: Jack Hepp’s Blueprint for Local Ads Success
097: From Power Tools to Paid Media: Jack Hepp’s Blueprint for Local Ads Success
Sep 30, 2025
40:26
Send us a text Before he was building ad campaigns, Jack Hepp was building houses. Now he runs Industrious Marketing, helping local businesses grow through hands-on paid media advertising strategy. In this episode, Jack shares how getting fired early shaped his marketing career, discusses the mentors who sharpened his skills, and why clear pricing and clean strategy always win over smoke and mirrors, specifically in regard to local businesses and Google Local Services ads (LSAs). Episode Highlights: Jack Hepp’s background in construction and mentorship shaped his approach to marketing, emphasizing responsibility, adaptability, and long-term thinking in paid media strategies. He advocates for a “listen first” approach in client interactions, and stresses the importance of honest, constructive feedback. Jack discusses the value of Local Service Ads (LSAs) for certain industries, but warns they should be complemented with traditional campaigns for consistent lead generation. He prefers transparent, tiered pricing models based on ad spend, and emphasizes that clear scope, reporting, and communication are essential for building trust and setting expectations with clients. Episode Links: Jack Hepp on LinkedInIndustrious Marketing Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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098: Office Hours | What AI Can’t Do: Leading with Empathy in a Remote World with Sarah Cuesta
098: Office Hours | What AI Can’t Do: Leading with Empathy in a Remote World with Sarah Cuesta
Oct 15, 2025
27:46
Send us a text In this deeply human episode, Optidge’s own HR Manager, Sarah Cuesta, joins Danny Gavin to explore what AI can’t do: lead with empathy, resolve team conflict, or build psychological safety. Drawing from her unique path from clinical hypnotherapy to people operations, Sarah unpacks how trust, structure, and culture fuel successful teams, especially in remote environments. Whether you’re managing a team or just part of one, this is your blueprint for building stronger human connections in the age of tech. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode: Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Sarah, HR strategist and former clinical hypnotherapist, emphasizes the importance of trust, clear communication, and intentional leadership to foster team success, especially in remote work settings. She shares why even the smartest AI and most sophisticated tools can’t replace empathy, feedback, conflict resolutions, or human trust in teams. In her opinion, effective remote leadership requires proactive management, empathy, and regular check-ins to ensure understanding, engagement, and a strong team culture. She advocates for structured team onboarding, safe communication practices, and maintaining rhythm through consistent touchpoints to build trust and clarity. Sarah sheds light on Optidge core values in action, sharing how Optidge executes on mentorship, communication, and excellence. Episode Links: Sarah Cuesta-Dawson on LinkedInThrivetastic Business Services Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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099: She Leads Digital: Inspiring Stories of Women in Marketing (Best of Episode) - Part 2
099: She Leads Digital: Inspiring Stories of Women in Marketing (Best of Episode) - Part 2
Oct 29, 2025
1:02:16
Send us a text If you loved Part 1 of our She Leads Digital series, you’re in for another round of inspiring career journeys, bold pivots, and hard-won wisdom from incredible women shaping the future of digital marketing. In this continuation episode, we dive deeper into themes of mentorship, education, career training, and professional development; all told through personal stories that prove there’s no single path to success in digital marketing. While their journeys showcase fascinating career transitions, what stands out is their resilience in embracing change and continuous learning. Episode Highlights:Discover how non-traditional mentorship relationships can drive mutual growth and fresh perspectives in your career.Learn the leadership traits that foster calm, confident, and high-performing teams.Hear real stories of self-discovery that led these inspiring female leaders to pivot into careers they truly love.Understand how personalized coaching and regular touchpoints can help teams thrive and solve challenges collaboratively.Gain insights into balancing professional expertise with empathy and trust to create lasting, impactful connections in digital marketing. Episode Links: 🎙 Part 1: She Leads Digital – Inspiring Stories of Women in Marketing🎙 Katy Katz - 074: Blending Creativity and Data: Navigating the Children’s Toy Industry 🎙Chayale Kaufman - 037: Seminary to Selling Ad Space to Solving Problems and Sharing Her Creativity at the Jewish Content Network🎙Ameet Khabra - 080: Curiosity, Community, & Confidence: Ameet’s Journey to PPC Leadership🎙Taylor McMaster - 020: Follow Your Gut to Find Delight in Client Account Management🎙Brie Anderson - 060: Brie’s BEAST Beacon: Mentoring Marvels and Analytical Adventures🎙Allie Danzinger - 011: The Transition from Agency Owner to Next Generation Leader – A Journey of Mentorship Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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100: Office Hours | Episode 100: The Mentors Who Made Us (Best Mentorship Stories)
100: Office Hours | Episode 100: The Mentors Who Made Us (Best Mentorship Stories)
Nov 12, 2025
1:17:01
Send us a text Join the Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny Gavin, for an unforgettable 100th episode filled with warmth, wisdom, and inspiring stories from friends, mentors, and industry leaders whose guidance and support have shaped careers, lifetimes, and communities. This milestone episode shines a spotlight on the profound impact of mentorship and how encouragement, honest feedback, and selfless teaching can change lives and spark lifelong learning. Every voice in this compilation episode reveals that mentorship is not just a practice, but a legacy worth sharing and celebrating. Episode Highlights: Some of the common traits that our guests have tied to great mentors are those that: offer profound support, give honest feedback, and possess an unyielding belief in potential by showing up to guide, challenge, and empower.From classrooms and workplaces to family tables and surprising friendships, life’s best lessons come from mentors found across every stage, title, and relationship.Outstanding mentorship is a two-way street, and mentors and mentees alike discover that learning lasts a lifetime, regardless of age or position.Guests offer a few key tips to giving back as a mentor: Listening, asking insightful questions, leading by example, and providing opportunities to forge a legacy where success is measured by the growth and impact on others.Every guest proves that generous mentorship is contagious, and each story invites us to support, seek out, and become the mentors our communities and industries need most. Episode Links: Featured Guests, in the order they appear: Cory Henke; Glenn Taylor; Ashley Werhun; Yehuda Cagen; Henry Adaso; Terri Hoffman; Eric Vardon; Bo Bothe; Andrea Cruz ; Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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101: From CEO to Trusted Mentor: Peter Lang’s Journey Through Agency Acquisitions
101: From CEO to Trusted Mentor: Peter Lang’s Journey Through Agency Acquisitions
Nov 26, 2025
40:28
Send us a text Peter Lang, accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, has cracked the code on agency growth through strategic acquisitions, a skill he believes most agency owners are uniquely positioned to master but rarely tap into. As a former agency CEO who executed eight acquisitions before his successful exit in 2022, he offers listeners a refreshingly practical perspective on breaking through growth ceilings with M&A strategies. In this episode, Peter shares how mentorship has shaped his path, what it takes to prepare for a business exit or transition, and the strategies he’s used to scale companies through mergers and acquisitions. From building high-performance teams to navigating complex deals, Peter delivers insight for entrepreneurs looking to grow intentionally and sustainably. Episode Highlights: Peter Lang’s global education and a semester abroad in Paris shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and opened doors to international business opportunities.This episode highlights the role mentorship has played throughout Peter’s career, from tactical advice to aspirational guidance from legendary thinkers.Peter gives insights to why agency owners are uniquely suited for mergers and acquisitions, and how M&A can unlock growth far beyond organic scaling.Peter’s three keys to mentoring success: Radical Clarity, Accountability With Cadence, and Real-World Playbooks; and how they directly drive results.Real-world success stories from Peter’s clients, including multi-million-dollar exits and transformative acquisitions in the digital agency space, gives inspiration to entrepreneurs looking to grow intentionally and sustainably. Episode Links: Lang Acquisitions WebsitePeter’s LinkedIn Peter’s Instagram21-Day M&A Email Course for Agency Owners Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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102: Office Hours | From Journalism to SEO Strategy: Dorit Sasson on Writing, Mentorship, and the Human Side of Search
102: Office Hours | From Journalism to SEO Strategy: Dorit Sasson on Writing, Mentorship, and the Human Side of Search
Dec 10, 2025
42:03
Send us a text In this Office Hours episode, Optidge SEO Manager, Dorit Sasson, shares how her experience abroad as a lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces shaped her collaborative, team-focused approach to digital marketing and SEO strategy. Drawing from her vast experience teaching, writing, and working with Fortune 500 B2B companies, Dorit discusses how to find ranking opportunities in competitive markets through educational and multimedia-rich content. She also reflects on SEO’s evolution in the age of AI, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with proven best practices. Listeners will walk away with practical insights for managing expectations, earning stakeholder buy-in, and achieving long-term SEO success. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Dorit’s time in the military instilled a team-first mindset that shapes her approach to SEO, valuing humility, adaptability, and collective success over individual recognition. Her transition from teaching ESL to mastering SEO highlights how teaching and mentorship reinforce expertise, and how curiosity fuels long-term growth in a fast-paced field. Dorit’s attention to detail when it comes to page rankings suggests there is untapped potential using educational content, glossaries, and multimedia engagements. While AI has revolutionized SEO strategy, Dorit emphasizes that technology should amplify creativity and understanding, not replace it. Dorit stresses the importance of managing expectations, communicating value, and positioning SEO as a long-term investment in sustained business growth. Episode Links: Dorit Sasson on LinkedInOptidge’s SEO Services Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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103: Office Hours | Case Studies: Paid Media and CRM - Closing the Attribution Gap
103: Office Hours | Case Studies: Paid Media and CRM - Closing the Attribution Gap
Jan 7, 2026
9:21
Send us a text What if every dollar spent on ads could be traced to a signed contract, a booked meeting, or a new client? The disconnect between ad spend and revenue isn’t a mystery businesses have to live with. This problem, the attribution gap, can be solved through methodical thinking, technical capability, and a willingness to build the infrastructure that connects marketing activities to real business outcomes. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on two concrete case studies using two real companies who faced the maddening reality: their CRM systems and ad platforms weren’t talking to each other. Tune in to see how Optidge built the data bridges that transformed guesswork to strategic growth and implemented deliberate optimization tactics across their ad campaigns to drive further success. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode: Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, partners, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Marketing attribution requires connecting ad platforms to revenue data, not just lead counts.Building a feedback loop between CRM and advertising platforms transforms how you optimize campaigns.Data silos prevent businesses from understanding which marketing efforts drive actual revenue.Custom attribution pipelines can reveal sales cycles, funnel speed, and high-value customer sources.Fragmented tech stacks create blind spots that make it impossible to track leads to final conversions. Episode Links: OptidgeOptidge Services: Hubspot for Paid MediaPaid Search Association Webinar: Hubspot and Google Ads - Everything You Wanted to KnowThe DM Mentor on Instagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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104: No Playbook? Observation and Calculated Risk in Retail Marketing with David Gavin
104: No Playbook? Observation and Calculated Risk in Retail Marketing with David Gavin
Jan 21, 2026
45:15
Send us a text When there's no handbook for building a career, you rely on tenacity, positivity, and education. David Gavin learned retail marketing the hard way: by watching, asking questions, and looking for the white space everyone else ignored. In this episode, Danny sits down with his uncle, David Gavin, a worldwide sales and merchandising consultant who went from navigating apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a strategic force in North American jewelry retail. David shares how focusing on what competitors aren't doing beats racing to the bottom of price, how mentors who throw you in the deep end can change your career trajectory forever, and how the true mark of a salesperson isn’t the sum of a set of soft skills, it’s how you connect with people. Episode Highlights: Success comes from identifying white space, the opportunities competitors overlook, rather than fighting over what everyone else is already doing.PowerPoint presentations aren't just sales tools; they're strategic frameworks that help clients see concepts they couldn't articulate themselves.Calculated risk-taking means being willing to leave comfort behind when you see a bigger opportunity, even if the path isn't clear.Mentorship often looks like being thrown into the deep end with people who believe you'll figure out how to swim.Retail success requires understanding both the corporate and independent sides of the business, and being willing to walk into stores and observe what's actually happening. Episode Links: David Gavin on LinkedInDavid Greg WebsiteRapaport Magazine: The Rise of Desert Diamonds Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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105: Office Hours | Marketing Success in 2026: Mastering the Ebb and the Flow
105: Office Hours | Marketing Success in 2026: Mastering the Ebb and the Flow
Feb 4, 2026
9:05
Send us a text Marketing has quietly shifted to the ends of your funnel stream, are you shifting your efforts? In this Office Hours episode, Danny breaks down three structural shifts that will separate profitable growth from expensive wheel-spinning in 2026: why AI references matter more than rankings, why trust forms in communities you don't control, and why connecting paid media to your CRM is the difference between guessing and knowing. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, case studies, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, partners, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:Performance has moved upstream (discovery and trust happen before the click) and downstream (ROI is decided after the form fill), leaving most teams measuring the wrong middle.AIO (AI Optimization) means structuring your content so clearly that AI systems can confidently reference your brand as the authoritative source.Micro-communities on Slack, Discord, and Reddit are forming buying decisions before your ads ever appear, making trust earned sideways more valuable than polished campaigns.CRM integration reveals which campaigns drive actual revenue versus those that just look good on platform dashboards, turning emotional optimization into clear decisions.The full buyer journey now looks like: community exposure, AI validation, ad click-to-act (not to learn). Episode Links: Optidge The Digital Marketing MentorThe DM Mentor on InstagramOptidge Case Study Library Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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106: The Perfect Day to Start is Today: Sales Strategy that Actually Works with Menashe Friedman
106: The Perfect Day to Start is Today: Sales Strategy that Actually Works with Menashe Friedman
Feb 18, 2026
35:49
Send a text Menashe Friedman’s career didn’t follow a straight line. From failing fast in an early sales role to decades later becoming the consultant companies call when their sales teams need clarity and consistency, his journey spans industries, downturns, and hard-earned lessons. In this episode, Danny and Menashe explore why quality matters more than quantity in sales activity, how to close the gap between sales and marketing, and why trust is built through mindset, not tactics. Menashe’s experience building from scratch, navigating the 2008 market crash, and selling in every industry he entered delivers insights that resonate far beyond a textbook sales story. Episode Highlights: Quality over quantity in sales isn't just a nice idea, it's the difference between burning through thousands of garbage leads and building a pipeline that actually converts.The perfect day is today because there's never a perfect time to start, and waiting for ideal conditions means you'll never begin.Sales and marketing aren't separate teams competing for budget and credit, they're one system where marketing makes the promise and sales keeps it.Building trust isn't a tactic you deploy to close deals, it's a philosophical approach to how you show up in every conversation.The most valuable learning happens when things go wrong, not when they go right, because growth comes from what didn't work.Pipeline feeds the funnel, and you're the bus driver who decides who gets on, where they sit, and which stop they get off at. Episode Links: Menashe Friedman on LinkedInM. Friedman Consulting on LinkedInM. Friedman Consulting on Instagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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094: Sustainable Strategy & Real-World Mentorship in B2B Marketing with Michelle Miller
094: Sustainable Strategy & Real-World Mentorship in B2B Marketing with Michelle Miller
Aug 20, 2025
34:57
Send us a text Michelle Miller’s career path is anything but ordinary, which is exactly what makes it so relatable. From switching colleges to launching a strategic marketing agency, Michelle has built a career on sustainable growth, cross-functional alignment, and no-nonsense mentorship. In this episode, she joins Danny Gavin to unpack the real challenges (and surprising rewards) of marketing technical products, mentoring young professionals, and thriving in male-dominated, B2B industries. It’s a conversation grounded in experience with lessons for every level of marketer, agency leader, or business builder. Episode Highlights: Discover Michelle’s approach to mentoring with empathy, balancing encouragement with real-world advice. Michelle shares her entrepreneurial growth journey from solo consultant to scaling agency founder, as well as her experience working in traditionally male-dominated industries. Michelle defines B2B marketing as every interaction that builds toward a purchase, not just the campaigns.Hear how a 48-hour hurricane-response launch proved the power of balancing strategy and speed.Learn why Michelle prioritizes cross-functional buy-in and long-term content planning over quick hits. Episode Links: Michelle Miller on LinkedInCreativate Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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108: Office Hours | Call Tracking for SEO: Why Phone Calls Are the Missing Half of Your Conversion Data with Dorit Sasson
108: Office Hours | Call Tracking for SEO: Why Phone Calls Are the Missing Half of Your Conversion Data with Dorit Sasson
Mar 18, 2026
29:33
Phone calls can potentially represent more than 50% of a local business's total conversions, yet most SEO reporting completely misses them. In this Office Hours episode, Danny sits down with Optidge SEO Manager, Dorit Sasson, to break down call tracking for SEO and how most companies have a major attribution blind spot from one of the oldest lead sources: the phone call! They walk through how Dynamic Number Insertion works, explain the three main call scenarios that matter for organic search, and share real advice on optimizing your website and Google Business Profile to drive real outcomes. An Optidge Office Hours Episode: Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, case studies, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Dorit shares why phone calls represent 10-80% of total conversions for most local businesses, yet get completely ignored in traditional SEO reportingThe discussion details how Dynamic Number Insertion works technically and why you need one tracking number for every 20 visits to maintain attribution accuracyDorit explains the three distinct call scenarios from Google search and why separating Google Business Profile calls from pure organic website calls changes optimization strategyUsing a real-world example from Heartlinks ABA, Dorit shares the story of how a parent researching autism symptoms landed on an article, called for services, and revealed content gaps through the conversationOne key strategy Dorit and her team have been using lately is listening to call recordings as a way to transform isolated SEO work into human-centered strategy by letting you walk through actual user journeys Episode Links: • Learn more about Optidge SEO services • Listen to Dorit's previous episode (Episode 102) • Connect with Optidge on LinkedIn • Connect with Dorit on LinkedIn • Check out Optidge’s Practical Guide to Call Tracking for SEO Send a text Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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109: Career Reinvention Isn't Reckless: Tamara Gestetner on Pivots, Burnout, and Finding Your Real Calling
109: Career Reinvention Isn't Reckless: Tamara Gestetner on Pivots, Burnout, and Finding Your Real Calling
Apr 1, 2026
35:54
What happens when someone tells you you're the worst therapist in the middle of a thriving practice? For Tamara Gestetner, it was the moment she realized burnout wasn't about work, it was about identity and honesty. After nearly two decades as a marriage and family therapist, Tamara reinvented herself multiple times, from special education to furniture retail sales to life coaching. Her journey proves one thing: it's not too late, it's not reckless, and a career change isn't failure. In this episode, we explore how burnout actually shows up, why high achievers push through it, how to distinguish between a rough patch and true misalignment, and what it takes to coach someone through major life transitions. Episode Highlights:Tamara's journey proves that the hardest part isn't making the change; it's being honest about why you need to make it. Burnout rarely lives aloneShe shares that in her experience, high achievers don't address burnout because they fear failure, believe they'll hit it again anyway, and aren't honest with themselves about what's really happeningCareer dissatisfaction is often about passion and identity, not skills, most intelligent people can learn most jobs, but passion is harder to find and harder to leaveTamara believes that the difference between a temporary rough patch and true misalignment is repetition: if the same problem happens again and again across different roles, it's probably misalignmentWhen coaching someone through transition, start with their actual needs right now (bills, savings, timeline) instead of their dream job, then build backward from reality Episode Links: Website: www.tamaragestner.com Instagram: @talktotomorrow LinkedIn: Tamara Gestetner Five Towns Jewish Times: Tamara’s Contributions to the Advice ColumnPodcast: Talk to Tomorrow (Launching Soon) Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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110: Office Hours | Paid Media Budgeting, Forecasting & Goal-Setting with the Optidge Team
110: Office Hours | Paid Media Budgeting, Forecasting & Goal-Setting with the Optidge Team
Apr 15, 2026
30:02
When ad costs spike and attribution gets messy, even the best marketing budgets can start to feel unreliable. In this episode, Optidge's own Joe Wolf and Alejandro Torres cut through the noise on marketing budget planning and ad spend forecasting: what the models look like, where most plans fall apart, and how to build one that holds up when platforms shift, and results lag. This episode lights a fire under a candid, lively discussion of the most complex client-facing problems marketers will encounter, using our own experiences as fuel. An Optidge Office Hours Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, case studies, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, partners, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: The Optidge team shares that most clients arrive at budget conversations with a plan already in mind, and reveal that refining it is actually harder than building from scratch.One campaign example shared that a real estate client panicked when overall performance began to drop. Joe and Alejandro affirm that the problem isn't always the channel taking the blame and requires a broader analysis.The team shares insights into Optidge’s cohort-based reporting, noting the changes in how you measure paid media success and how to use it to prevent knee-jerk decisions.Both Joe and Alejandro touch on the halo effect using real examples: store visits, YouTube demand lift, and self-reported attribution from intake forms.The conversation emphasizes that assuming every lead is equal is the most expensive mistake in budget planning, and that building unified dashboards and planning for the whole year helps to keep the big picture top-of-mind. Episode Links: Digital Marketing Mentor Podcast: Optidge.com/podcastODEO Academy: odeoacademy.comOptidge Paid Media Services:Optidge.com/paid-mediaEpisode 050: Debunking, Diversifying, and Diving into the Data of Paid Social Ads with Joseph Wolf (Office Hours) Episode 067: The Superpowers of Effective PPC Budget Management and Pacing with Alejandro Torres (Office Hours) Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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111: From Burnout to Breakthrough: The HubSpot CRM Behind Sesh Coworking with Maggie Segrich
111: From Burnout to Breakthrough: The HubSpot CRM Behind Sesh Coworking with Maggie Segrich
Apr 29, 2026
35:59
This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what a CRM implementation actually costs and what it truly delivers, all from the client’s perspective. Maggie Segrich, founder of Sesh Coworking, was ready to walk away from HubSpot after multiple failed attempts until the right support helped her rethink how systems should work. Over six months, her team shifted from resistance to buy-in as chaotic operations became streamlined and automated. This episode is a candid conversation about how the right systems don’t replace human connection, but rather create the space for it to thrive. Episode Highlights:Systems fail because nobody helps you use them. The software isn't the bottleneck; adoption, training, and ongoing partnership are.Maggie believes that automation (like sequences and segments) doesn't replace human work; it instead frees up time for the human work that actually drives retention and growth.A CRM is the central hub where websites, email, social, phone calls, and customer data converge. Maggie’s story proves that if your CRM is broken, everything downstream is broken.Trust in agency partnerships forms through in-person connection first, transparent communication second, and proven results third.Maggie’s gym membership analogy is real: you can buy the best tools in the world, but clients have to show up and do the work. It's a partnership, not a magic solution. Episode Links: Optidge Hubspot ServicesThe Digital Marketing MentorThe DM Mentor on InstagramSESH CoworkingMaggie on LinkedIn Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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112: Office Hours | From Pause to Profit: How FamilyTreeDNA Rebuilt Paid Search & Exceeded ROAS Goals with Sara Reinhold
112: Office Hours | From Pause to Profit: How FamilyTreeDNA Rebuilt Paid Search & Exceeded ROAS Goals with Sara Reinhold
May 13, 2026
27:35
A stalled ad account. A two-year pause. Then, a rebuild that turned careful testing into a record quarter. In this episode, Optidge Paid Media Specialist Sara Reinhold walks through how we revived paid media for FamilyTreeDna by stripping back to intent, stabilizing with a feed-only Performance Max strategy, and expanding product availability to give the algorithm room to win. We chat about how we made adjustments along the way, setting a realistic ROAS floor, pausing underperforming channels, and rebuilding search around present-day demand rather than yesterday’s assumptions. The result? By choosing time over speed and prioritizing reliable conversion signals, the Optidge team was able to validate their structure and prove the value of their advice, ultimately extending the partnership and increasing loyalty. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, case studies, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, partners, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:This case study example illustrated how just because something worked in the past doesn't mean it works now, as market conditions, platform algorithms, and auction dynamics shift constantly.Patience in scaling compounds trust. By choosing six months over three, Optidge rebuilt reliable conversion signals and created the foundation for a 5.7x budget increase.Budget pacing is as important as budget size. Aggressive spending without a validated structure wastes money; sustainable scaling with clear milestones delivers results.Full-funnel thinking measures the whole system, not just the middle click. Upper-funnel awareness (YouTube, Demand Gen) feeds lower-funnel conversion (search). This case proves that long-term partnerships outperform short-term wins. The 2.59 ROAS and 100% client satisfaction came from working through highs and lows together, not from a single tactic or campaign. Episode Links: Episode 084: From NICU Nurse to PPC Pro: A Career Pivot Story with Sara Strickland (Office Hours)Sara Reinhold on LinkedInThe Digital Marketing MentorThe DM Mentor on InstagramOptidge Paid Media Services Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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113: The Executive Content Playbook: Founder-Led Marketing in the Age of AI with Purna Virji
113: The Executive Content Playbook: Founder-Led Marketing in the Age of AI with Purna Virji
May 27, 2026
31:03
Purna Virji is back on the Digital Marketing Mentor for a second round, and this time she's talking about the intersection of AI strategy and executive content, two elements of content marketing that are transforming consumer trust and loyalty. Since Episode 62, Purna has expanded her role at LinkedIn to Applied AI Strategy Lead, and she brings that lens to a conversation about why human storytelling has never been more valuable. Plus, she details how AI fits into the equation without replacing the voice behind it. Episode Highlights:Purna shares why the rise of AI has made human storytelling more valuable, not less, and what the salary data on executive content roles actually signals about where the industry is heading.This discussion uncovers specific stats behind well-executed founder-led marketing: more leads, larger deal sizes, and faster pipeline when executives show up consistently.Purna shares three executive story types that work across all stages of the buyer journey, from completely unaware to ready to buy.She gives insights into extracting high-quality content from a time-strapped executive without asking them to write a single word.Purna revisits a topic she shared in her previous episode with Danny, diving deeper into why repurposing content isn't repetitive, and why reformatting content across channels is both an instructional design principle and a practical reach strategy. Episode Links: Episode 62 with Purna Virji: The Queen of Content SolutionsPurna on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/purnavirjiHigh Impact Content Marketing: AmazonFounder-Led Sales and Marketing Never Ends (Playbook): Download on LinkedIn Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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114: Office Hours | The Mid-Year Pivot: How Optidge Keeps Teams Aligned, Motivated, and Moving All Year Long with Kelly and Lauren
114: Office Hours | The Mid-Year Pivot: How Optidge Keeps Teams Aligned, Motivated, and Moving All Year Long with Kelly and Lauren
Jun 10, 2026
46:48
A lot of teams hit January with energy and end Q2 running on fumes. In this Office Hours episode, Danny opens the doors to Optidge's internal playbook with Operations Director Kelly A. Garcia and Head of People Operations Lauren Friedman. Together, they break down how the agency prevents midyear drift, what it actually looks like to build a culture of transparency in a remote-first environment, and the frameworks Optidge uses to keep teams unified and accountable year-round. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, case studies, how-to’s,and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, partners, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:This discussion unpacks why momentum fades mid-quarter, not mid-year, and how Optidge builds intentional reset points four times a year to reignite it.Lauren details the “Share the Legos” concept: why giving away knowledge and process is the only real way to scale, and how to shift the team mindset to embrace it.Kelly shares the two key KPIs she watches every day, and what they tell her about when a mid-year pivot is actually necessary.The pair reveals how and why Optidge uses letter grades, single quarterly rocks, and clearly defined "done" criteria to keep goals from becoming noise.This episode emphasizes why context is non-negotiable in a remote agency, and what happens when leaders fill the silence instead of leaving teams to fill it themselves. Episode Links: Digital Marketing Mentor Podcast: Optidge.com/tdmmConnect with Kelly A. Garcia on LinkedIn: Kelly A. GarciaConnect with Lauren Friedman on LinkedIn: Lauren Friedman Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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115: Saying Yes Before You're Ready: Content Systems, ICPs, & Leadership with Ashley Segura
115: Saying Yes Before You're Ready: Content Systems, ICPs, & Leadership with Ashley Segura
Jun 24, 2026
37:42
One bold "yes" rerouted Ashley Segura's career from local journalism into digital marketing, eventually leading her to Search Lab after 15 years across agencies, in-house teams, and companies she built along the way. In this episode, we get practical about what actually makes marketing work, why the "one-stop shop" promise breaks agencies, how niching down improves delivery, and what real mentorship looks like beyond just inspiration. Ashley breaks down her tactical approach to ICP and persona development, using marketing audits and sales call transcripts to align stakeholders and prioritize revenue-driving channels. If you're thinking about leading a marketing team in 2026 or building a marketing department from scratch, you'll walk away with frameworks you can apply immediately. Episode Highlights:This episode tells the tale of how saying yes to an insurance agent's website request launched a 15-year career in digital marketing, and why fear is often a signal you're on the right path.Ashley shares the hard-knocks lessons from running four agencies: being a one-stop shop burns you out, and the narrower the focus, the better the results and the happier the clients.Ashley details the ICP development process she uses at SearchLab: pulling real customer language from call transcripts and letting the data replace gut-feeling arguments in stakeholder conversations.The conversation affirms that the best evergreen content serves multiple personas through an accessible, step-by-step structure, rather than trying to be everything to everyone.Ashley explains how to keep the ROI engine running while doing the invisible operational work that takes months but changes everything downstream. Episode Links: Ashley Segura on LinkedInSearchLab Digital Website Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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116: From Hours to Minutes: Google Ads SQRs on Autopilot with Claude Cowork
116: From Hours to Minutes: Google Ads SQRs on Autopilot with Claude Cowork
Jul 8, 2026
16:24
In this solo episode, Danny Gavin reveals how he automated his Google Ads Search Query Report process using Claude Cowork and Windsor.ai, eliminating the 3-4 hours per account it previously took to complete manually. The system pulls live metrics, merges them by keyword and ad group, and outputs a structured Excel file with an ad group summary, KPI-focused observations, and pre-populated negative keywords. It's a must-listen for those looking to systematize time-consuming account analyses and free up time to tackle other tasks. Episode Highlights:Search query reports are one of the highest-leverage tasks in Google Ads management, and doing this job manually can eat up three to four hours of work per account per cycle.Danny shares how he connected Claude Cowork to live Google Ads data through Windsor.ai and turned Optidge's entire SQR methodology into a repeatable automation.He shares what the six-tab Excel output actually contains, including auto-generated observations, pre-populated negatives, and an ad group summary that flags structural problems before anyone looks at individual search terms.The 80/20 split: See what Claude handles automatically versus where human judgment still makes the final call.This episode gives four practical lessons for building AI automations in an agency context, from documenting your process first to understanding why the ROI compounds over time. Episode Links: Digital Marketing Mentor PodcastDanny Gavin on LinkedInOptidgeClaude Cowork Windsor.ai Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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117: From Concert Tickets to Client Contracts: Sophie Brannon's Path to StudioHawk US
117: From Concert Tickets to Client Contracts: Sophie Brannon's Path to StudioHawk US
Jul 22, 2026
40:18
This week’s guest, Sophie Brannon, details her first big move to London at 18 to chase a career in music journalism, landing concert tickets and festival passes as pay for her reviews at Kerrang Magazine. When the economics stopped working, she moved into a copywriter role at a digital agency and never left the industry, eventually becoming co-founder and director of StudioHawk US, one of the world's most respected specialist SEO agencies. In this episode, Sophie traces that winding path from rock journalism to SEO leadership, breaks down the real signal inside the AI search noise, and makes the case for why genuine relationships remain the foundation of everything that works in this industry. Episode Highlights: Sophie shares why the fundamentals of SEO, technical health, authoritative content, and brand signals are exactly what drive performance in AI search, and why the numbers never supported the "SEO is dead" narrative.Sophie details her initial refusal to move into an SEO role at 20 years old, explaining how her managers, who insisted she could do it anyway, set the entire trajectory of her career.She makes the case for treating AI search as an additional channel rather than a replacement, and explains why the real fix is to pull SEO into a holistic brand strategy it should have been part of all along.This conversation shares why StudioHawk turned away significant revenue by being honest about client fit, and why that honesty has become one of their strongest marketing assets.This episode illustrates what adaptability looks like in practice for an SEO agency leader as the search landscape changes in real time. Episode Links:Sophie Brannon on LinkedIn: Sophie BrannonSophie on Instagram: @sophiebrannonseoStudioHawk US: studiohawk.comProduct Led SEO by Eli Schwartz:Available on Amazon Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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118: Spend It Like It's Your Own Money: Aashna Makin on the Habit That Defines Great Media Buyers
118: Spend It Like It's Your Own Money: Aashna Makin on the Habit That Defines Great Media Buyers
Aug 5, 2026
33:48
The day Aashna Makin's employer offered her a promotion, she quit, a decision that has looked more strategic with every year since. She's gone on to manage over $75 million in paid media across 150+ niches, building a full-time practice from the ground up and recently sharing a panel stage with Danny at SMX Advanced in Boston. In this episode, Aashna breaks down what separates paid ads that actually grow a business from ones that just burn budget, why lead gen is a fundamentally harder problem than e-commerce, and the one habit she wishes every junior media buyer would build from day one. Episode Highlights: Aashna and Danny discuss why paid ads that drive real growth require a predictable, documented system, not just a well-structured campaign, and what happens to accounts built on checklists instead of strategy.She gives the B2B team-building example: how a campaign performing perfectly on every platform metric was creating a lead-quality problem that had nothing to do with the ads and everything to do with calendar availability.The reveal why lead gen is fundamentally harder than e-commerce in paid media, from messaging precision to seasonality to the scarcity of quality resources for practitioners working in the space.Aashna makes the case for pinning headlines, explaining why she hasn't been convinced by Google's arguments against it, particularly for businesses where a single wrong audience segment can poison the entire pipeline.The conversation details the ownership mindset: treating every dollar of ad spend as if it's leaving your own bank account, and why she considers it the single most important habit a new media buyer can build. Episode Links:Aashna Makin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aashnamakinWebsite: reachaashna.comSell Like Crazy by Sabri Suby: Available on AmazonSMX Advanced 2026 Panel, "Agentic PPC: What's Real, What's Hype, What's Next": searchengineland.com Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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119: ODEO Alumni Journey Series: From 30 Years in Chinuch to Digital Marketing with Rachel Kugler
119: ODEO Alumni Journey Series: From 30 Years in Chinuch to Digital Marketing with Rachel Kugler
Aug 19, 2026
32:25
After nearly 30 years in education, Rachel Kugler made a leap most people at her stage of life are told not to make: she walked away from teaching, enrolled in ODEO Academy, and rebuilt a career in digital marketing and copywriting from the ground up. This conversation covers what pushed her out of the classroom, shares the internship-to-hire story behind her current role, and shares what she now tells other women in their 40s and 50s who ask her "now what?" Episode Highlights: Rachel shares why a 30-year teaching career transfers more directly into marketing than it might seem, from explaining complex ideas simply to holding a deadline no matter what else is happening.She gives the honest reality of a post-certification job search, and what got Rachel through it without a personal network to fall back on.Rachel details how a single internship platform placement turned into a full-time role in four weeks, and what her boss says actually made the difference.Her direct message to women in their 40s and 50s wondering if it's too late: it isn't, and life experience is a real advantage, not a liability.Why "ODEO is the beginning, not the end" shows up throughout her story, from a self-initiated AI webinar pitch to rewriting her own earlier work once she knew better. Episode Links: ODEO Academy Send us Fan Mail Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.comInstagram: @thedmmentorLinkedin: @thedmmentorYouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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081: Powered By Psychology: Jyll’s Guide to Google Ads, Audience Targeting & Mentorship
081: Powered By Psychology: Jyll’s Guide to Google Ads, Audience Targeting & Mentorship
Mar 5, 2025
46:02
Send us a text In this episode, Danny speaks with Jyll Saskin Gales, a Google Ads coach and former Google employee, about her journey from studying psychology to becoming a leader in digital advertising. Join us as Jyll shares insights on her time at Google, how she transitioned to consulting, and her approach to coaching and mentorship. She discusses personal branding, content creation, and the importance of audience segmentation in Google Ads. Jyll's experience offers helpful advice on optimizing ad effectiveness and business growth, applicable regardless of your level of experience with digital marketing. Episode Highlights: Jyll shares her journey from psychology to Google Ads mastery along with the importance of mentorship and strategic learning.She discusses the key differences between coaching and mentorship and how both play a role in personal and professional growth.Jyll dives into the immense value of niching down in marketing and how specificity in audience segmentation leads to stronger connections and business success.A firm belief Jyll has for businesses getting started in paid advertising, is to focus on establishing a solid organic marketing foundation to validate messaging.Her upcoming book, Inside Google Ads: Everything You Need to Know About Audience Targeting, explores the changes in audience segmentation and advertising. Episode Links: 🔗 Website: jyll.ca🔗 LinkedIn: /in/jyllsaskingales📖 Upcoming Book: Inside Google Ads: Audience Targeting Mastery Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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069: Optimizing Minds: Psychology of SEO, Cognitive Bias, & Neurodivergent Inclusion
069: Optimizing Minds: Psychology of SEO, Cognitive Bias, & Neurodivergent Inclusion
Sep 11, 2024
37:14
Send us a text The perfect blend of digital marketing and psychology, this discussion features Sarah Presch, Digital Marketing Director of Dragon Metrics, who shares her journey from studying marketing to pursuing psychology, emphasizing the critical role of understanding consumer behavior in this space. The conversation explores the rewarding nature of mentorship, emphasizing mutual learning, humility, structured success plans, and regular check-ins. In this episode, Sarah explores ethical considerations in digital marketing and SEO, including the influence of cognitive bias, the importance of psychological safety, and the challenges of ethical content creation. The discussion wraps with Sarah’s passion for music as a therapeutic tool and how it’s all tied into her achievements with Dragon Metrics. Episode Highlights: Understanding human behavior is crucial in marketing and the intersection between psychology and marketing promotes innovation and perspective.Sarah founded Neurodivergents in SEO to provide a safe space for digital marketing professionals on the spectrum to talk and learn about marketing career paths. Ethical considerations that exist in digital marketing and SEO, include the influence of cognitive bias - specifically a user’s confirmation bias, the importance of psychological safety, and the challenges of ethical content creation.She stresses the importance for marketers in understanding an audience’s culture and language. Episode Links: Sarah’s professional websiteSarah’s LinkedInSarah’s XDragon Metrics websiteDragon Metrics LinkedIn Neurodivergents in SEO Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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Episode 070 - She Leads Digital: Inspiring Stories of Women in Marketing
Episode 070 - She Leads Digital: Inspiring Stories of Women in Marketing
Sep 25, 2024
56:11
Send us a text It’s been said that the future of digital marketing is female: creative, data-driven, and unstoppable. Join us for an inspiring episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor as we explore and reflect on past conversations that follow the remarkable journeys of women who are breaking barriers and redefining the industry. From embracing unexpected or unplanned career transitions and the importance of mentorship to overcoming imposter syndrome and balancing expectations, this group of women is laying the groundwork for the next generation and leading the charge in digital transformation. Episode Highlights From journalism and physical therapy to theater and psychology, these inspiring women shed light on the non-linear career paths that can lead to success in digital marketing. The prevalence of imposter syndrome and self-doubt in the workplace is growing and it's crucial to proactively address it by finding mentors and prioritizing continuous learning.Mentorship has played a crucial role in all of these women's lives - fostering community and inclusivity in the workplace and allowing them to effectively build careers they are proud of. This episode highlights the importance of supporting the next generation of female digital marketers by creating new opportunities, bridging skill gaps, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Episode Links Sarah Presch, Purna Virji, Tracy Murray, Vicky Charleston, Sicily Dickenson, Navah Hopkins, Shelly Fagin, Adele Beiny, Emily Ryan, Batli Joselevitz, Allie Danzinger, Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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071: Scaling with Strategy: Ross's Journey from Creative Writing to Digital PR Leadership
071: Scaling with Strategy: Ross's Journey from Creative Writing to Digital PR Leadership
Oct 9, 2024
35:32
Send us a text In this episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor podcast, host Danny Gavin sits down with Ross Hudgens, the founder and CEO of Siege Media. Ross shares his journey from studying creative writing to scaling one of the leading content marketing agencies through discussion on the role of mentorship, strategies for scaling a business, and evolving SEO practices in the age of AI. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned marketer, this episode offers practical advice and insights on business growth and effective digital marketing.Episode Highlights: Mentorship has played a crucial role in Ross’s career. Influential digital marketing figures and direct competitors such as Grayson LaFrance and Wil Reynolds have provided guidance and support in his successful pursuit of scaling Siege Media. Effectively scaling his agency has meant Ross has had to learn to delegate responsibilities, particularly in sales and operations. Ross’s approach to SEO has evolved from traditional link building to “product-led digital PR.” This includes creating unique, data-driven content that stands out in a digital landscape. Episode Links: Siege Media Ross LinkedInRoss’s XRoss’s Instagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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072: Intersection of Brand and Performance Marketing: Transforming SEO at Wix with Mordy Oberstein
072: Intersection of Brand and Performance Marketing: Transforming SEO at Wix with Mordy Oberstein
Oct 23, 2024
47:35
Send us a text In this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny talks with Mordy Oberstein, Head of Brand SEO at Wix, about his unique career path from teaching to SEO expertise. Mordy discusses the importance of mentorship and education, Wix's SEO transformation, and the impact of brand identity on search rankings. He also shares insights on balancing brand building with performance marketing, along with personal stories like his love for the Yankees and ground coffee.Episode Highlights:Mordy views mentorship as a deep interpersonal relationship, where mentors guide by sharing life experiences rather than just teaching skills. Key traits of a mentor include forgiveness, effective communication, and having a clear vision.Mordy says it was community engagement, product improvements, and strategic rebranding efforts that helped propel Wix into an SEO leader in the industry. Mordy emphasized the growing importance of brand marketing in SEO, arguing that brand identity, recognition, and reputation can significantly boost search engine rankings and long-term success.Mordy explained the tension between performance marketing, which seeks immediate results, and brand marketing, which focuses on long-term relationship building. He stressed the need for businesses to balance both approaches for sustainable growth. Episode Links: Mordy’s LinkedInMordy’s XMordy’s podcast, the SEO Rant Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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073: The Risks of AI-Generated Content at Scale: How One Business’s Strategy Led to Traffic Declines (Office Hours)
073: The Risks of AI-Generated Content at Scale: How One Business’s Strategy Led to Traffic Declines (Office Hours)
Nov 6, 2024
42:49
Send us a text In this special episode, Senior SEO Strategist Mandy Politi reveals key strategies for mastering SEO in the age of AI, focusing on Google's EEAT guidelines. Through the compelling case study of a real Optidge client, Mandy and Danny highlight the risks of relying too heavily on AI-generated content for the sake of ramping up quantity, emphasizing the importance of aligning content with user intent. The conversation shares expert insights on on-page and local SEO, comprehensive content audits, addressing technical challenges, and best practices to ensure long-term success in search rankings.An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode Highlights: Mandy emphasized that AI is a valuable tool but must be used in alignment with Google’s EEAT guidelines. Content created at scale using AI can lead to a dramatic drop in traffic if it prioritizes search rankings over user experience and relevance, as seen with Client X.Taking the approach of targeting every possible keyword, even those that are irrelevant, and producing low-quality content are both harmful tactics for a website’s long-term performance. These strategies were especially detrimental for a business in the medical field, where establishing trustworthiness is essential. Unqualified traffic results in users quickly exiting the site, signaling to Google that the content is irrelevant, leading to drops in rankings and overall site performance. The conversation highlighted that duplicating content, especially using AI, dilutes SEO value and confuses Google about which pages to rank. For Client X, this led to non-indexed pages, poor rankings, and irrelevant traffic, showing the importance of targeting the right keywords and maintaining content quality.The solution lies in a thorough content and technical audit, focusing on removing irrelevant content, resolving duplication, and optimizing for qualified traffic. By following these best practices, the client could see improvements in traffic and conversions over time. Episode Links: Mandy’s LinkedInAnother TDMM episode with MandyOptidge blog on this case study Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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074: Blending Creativity and Data: Navigating the Children’s Toy Industry with Katy Katz
074: Blending Creativity and Data: Navigating the Children’s Toy Industry with Katy Katz
Nov 20, 2024
45:55
Send us a text Katy Katz, Head of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce at Basic Fun!, discusses how mentorship, including her mother's early influence, shaped her career and approach to continuous learning in marketing. She emphasizes balancing creativity with data, fostering collaboration, and setting healthy boundaries to build effective growth-driven teams.Episode Highlights: Katy says traditional and non-traditional mentorship has always been incredibly important to her, and attributes her dedication to continuous learning in digital marketing from one of her earliest mentors, her mother. She values relationships that allow for mutual growth and learning, which she applies in her role as a leader.Her unique approach to marketing blends creativity with a data-driven mindset. This balance is critical because she leverages data for e-commerce while fostering creativity in toy marketing.Katy says it’s easier to set boundaries when working at an agency than in-house because the former always has a clearly defined contract. Episode Links: Katy’s LinkedInKaty’s X Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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075: Mentorship and Representation: Mike's Journey from Music to Mastering SEO
075: Mentorship and Representation: Mike's Journey from Music to Mastering SEO
Dec 4, 2024
38:16
Send us a text In this episode, Danny speaks with Mike King, SEO pioneer and founder of iPullRank, to explore the power of authentic representation through mentorship in the field of digital marketing and SEO. They discuss Mike’s journey from computer science to SEO leadership. These mentors helped shape his path and model for diversity in the industry and emphasized the importance of visibility for aspiring professionals reflecting all forms of diversity. Listeners will gain insights into the future of SEO, the impact of AI advancements, effective brand-building strategies, and tips on navigating the world of SEO and professional mentorship. Episode Highlights: Although Mike studied computer science, he found his true calling outside the classroom, ultimately leading him to a career in SEO.Mike discusses the importance of explicit and implicit mentors, crediting individuals like Tony Effick, Rand Fishkin, and Will Reynolds for guiding his growth in SEO and helping him think strategically about the big picture in digital marketing and professional network-building. Mike advises small businesses, particularly, to focus on building genuine brand connections and targeting long-tail keywords rather than relying on SEO shortcuts, as Google increasingly favors quality and user-focused content.With the rise of AI-driven search, Mike predicts that SEO optimization will shift toward micro-optimizations within specific content segments and leveraging structured data. Episode Links: Mike’s LinkedInMike’s InstagramMike’s iPullRank Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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076: Mentorship, Metrics, and Mastering PPC: Insights from Sophie Fell
076: Mentorship, Metrics, and Mastering PPC: Insights from Sophie Fell
Dec 18, 2024
36:29
Send us a text In this episode, Sophie Fell, Head of Paid Media at Liberty Marketing Group, shares her journey in digital marketing after motherhood, discussing her transition from managing Facebook posts for a startup to overseeing multi-million-dollar ad campaigns. She emphasizes the value of mentorship, data-driven decision-making, and the challenges faced with top-of-funnel PPC strategies. She highlights the advantages for beginners of being a “t-shaped marketer,” advocating for a blend of broad knowledge of all platforms with deeper specializations. The episode also explores the impact of AI on digital marketing and the evolving role of paid media professionals. Episode Highlights: Sophie built a successful career in PPC and paid media without a formal university degree. She started by managing Facebook posts for a startup and developed her skills through hands-on experience, emphasizing that practical knowledge often outweighs formal education in the marketing industry.Sophie views mentorship as a collaborative relationship built on trust and mutual respect. She credits her mentor, Kevin Ashley, for shaping her career and now mentors others within and outside of her agency, focusing on helping mentees define and achieve their goals.Sophie and Danny share in the belief in the advantages of being a “t-shaped marketer,” possessing a broad understanding across all platforms while having deeper expertise in one or two specific areas as they begin to align with career aspirations. Sophie highlights the critical role of data analysis and optimization in PPC, especially for beginners in the industry. While learning platform UIs is straightforward, understanding metrics, making data-driven decisions, and translating those insights into actions are what set top professionals apart.Many brands fail with top-of-funnel Google Ads campaigns because they focus on the wrong metrics, like direct conversions. Sophie advocates for redefining KPIs to measure engagement and awareness, which can better justify top-of-funnel strategies. Episode Links: Sophie’s LinkedInSophie’s XSophie’s Book: Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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077: Redefining Confidence, Culture, and Connections: Bo Bothe on Mentorship in a Digital World
077: Redefining Confidence, Culture, and Connections: Bo Bothe on Mentorship in a Digital World
Jan 8, 2025
40:53
Send us a text What if the lessons of a logical classroom and a father’s breakfast table could transform your approach to leadership and life? In this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor, we talk with Bo Bothe, president and CEO of BrandExtract, a brand strategy firm in Houston, to discover insights gathered over the course of his career journey - from his education, leadership style, and the importance of mentorship. Bo highlights lessons from his father, his MBA experience, and the value of resilience, personal growth, and community. Bo also explores the challenges of hybrid work, detailing his company’s evolving approach to maintaining team connection and productivity in a remote environment. Episode Highlights: Bo highlights the complexities of hybrid work, noting the challenges it poses for team connection and productivity. His company has experimented with various models over the years and has recently moved to a four-day in-office schedule to foster stronger collaboration.He considers his father as a pivotal mentor, whose resilience, positivity, and unconventional wisdom has dramatically shaped his outlook on life. He also mentors others, from employees to young people in sports, and believes in understanding individuals’ personal visions and challenges. Bo values mentorship and takes a personalized approach, tailoring his guidance to individual needs to promote positive personal and professional growth. Episode Links: Bo’s LinkedInBo’s InstagramRecent Article on Mentorship and Hybrid Work by Bo Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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078: Office Hours | Problem-Solving in Paid Search: Best Practices & Common Red Flags with Brianna Deboever
078: Office Hours | Problem-Solving in Paid Search: Best Practices & Common Red Flags with Brianna Deboever
Jan 22, 2025
26:30
Send us a text In this Office Hours episode on The Digital Marketing Mentor Podcast, Danny sits down with Optidge’s Head of Paid Search, Brianna Deboever, to dive deep into Google Ads. As our resident expert in paid search, she shares her insights on spotting red flags, optimizing campaign settings, and avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just getting started, this episode will guide you through building stronger, more efficient paid search campaigns. Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: When it comes to Google Ads campaign setup, a few best practices include limiting ad groups to 3-7 keywords, avoiding overuse of broad match keywords, and setting location settings to “presence only.” Once your campaigns are ready to go live, Brianna recommends beginning with manual bidding and regular monitoring of conversion tracking to ensure accuracy and alignment before transitioning to automated tracking tactics. Brianna suggests incorporating negative keywords to reduce wasted ad spend and reviewing search terms frequently to refine keyword lists, assign accurate values to conversions, and enhance targeting. It’s good practice to utilize tools like Clickcease, Google Tag Manager and GA4 in paid search to block spam traffic, streamline conversion tracking, and ensure alignment with campaign goals. Episode Links: Brianna’s Linkedin Brianna’s previous The Digital Marketing Mentor podcast episode Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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079: From Microsoft to Mentorship: Jeremiah Andrick’s Journey of Lifelong Learning
079: From Microsoft to Mentorship: Jeremiah Andrick’s Journey of Lifelong Learning
Feb 5, 2025
59:21
Send us a text What happens when nearly two decades of digital marketing expertise, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for mentorship converge? In this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny Gavin sits down with Jeremiah Andrick, a seasoned digital marketing professional who has worked with powerhouse companies like Microsoft, Logitech, and SteelSeries. Jeremiah’s journey is anything but conventional, as he shares how mentorship shaped his career, lessons learned from his immigrant grandfather, and his philosophy of building teams that thrive. Dive into this insightful conversation to learn how personal values, lifelong learning, and challenging the status quo can create extraordinary results in marketing and leadership.Episode Highlights: Jeremiah shares how mentorship is a two-way street, helping both mentor and mentee grow. He highlights the importance of shared learning, testing ideas, and embracing constructive challenges to achieve meaningful progress.In today’s ever-changing digital landscape, Jeremiah emphasizes strategies like avoiding the ROAS trap, aligning marketing with financial goals, and revisiting fundamentals to create impactful, sustainable campaigns.Jeremiah shares how his immigrant grandfather and mentors like Lance Binley shaped his leadership approach, instilling values of resilience, fairness, and investing in others. He also stresses the importance of diverse teams and creating space for all voices to thrive. Episode Links: Jeremiah’s Social MediaLinkedInInstagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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080: Curiosity, Community, & Confidence: Ameet’s Journey to PPC Leadership
080: Curiosity, Community, & Confidence: Ameet’s Journey to PPC Leadership
Feb 19, 2025
49:25
Send us a text This episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor features Ameet Khabra, founder of Hopskip Media, who shares her unconventional journey from studying business administration to an unexpected stint in audio engineering, leading her to become a prominent figure in the PPC space. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship through nurturing community and personal passions, as well as dissects the role of AI and the value of asking the right questions. In this uplifting episode, Ameet’s story serves as an inspiration for aspiring digital marketers, showcasing the power of curiosity, community, and confidence in navigating the complexities of the industry. Episode Highlights:Ameet shares her transition from business administration to marketing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where her exposure to email marketing and Google Ads sparked her interest in the field and her belief in the importance of curiosity and asking questions to unlock professional opportunities. She describes mentorship as a guiding relationship that fosters critical thinking and transparency, recounting experiences with mentors like Julie Friedman, Brian Smith, and Idras Fashan, to showcase how they’ve helped to broaden her perspective. Ameet advocates for authenticity both in her personal relationships and her online presence, noting how her experience sharing personal stories and challenges has helped to position her as a reliable and relatable mentor and leader. Ameet and some of her latest research comparing human versus AI-generated copy reveals the significance of emotional context in effective marketing, advising caution regarding the implications of using AI in the advertising space. She encourages listeners to get involved in supportive online communities, crediting her early involvement in the Google Partner community for her proactive learning and networking opportunities. Episode Links: Follow Ameet on Social Media: Instagram: @adwordsgirlLinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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068: Amplifying AI: Crafting Compelling Content and Superior SEO Strategies
068: Amplifying AI: Crafting Compelling Content and Superior SEO Strategies
Aug 28, 2024
44:30
Send us a Text Message. This episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor takes us through the remarkable journey of Julia McCoy, President of Content at Scale, whose early struggles finding a passion inspired a career transition to the world of freelancing. In overcoming doubts and with the support of mentors along the way, she’s turned storytelling passion into a thriving career, pioneering several approaches to marry SEO, content creation, and AI to enhance efficiency and productivity. Julia reveals her take on the role of mentorship in shaping our professional paths - sharing stories of support through her launch into public speaking and entrepreneurial pursuits. Tune in to hear Julia’s predictions on the future of content and SEO, and how AI is powering the charge. Episode Highlights: Having transitioned to digital marketing, Julia shares her take on how mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping career paths, sharing stories of her own mentors who have encouraged her to step into entrepreneurship and embrace public speaking. Julia says content writers should embrace the arrival of AI and learn to use it to their advantage, harnessing the power of these tools for more creative content solutions. Julia has launched a feature that allows AI to replicate a writer's style and unique voice which helps maintain brand identity and integrity. Her Unified Editor tool allows anyone to create powerful content regardless of their writing experience making the writing process more accessible and efficient. AI is revolutionizing content marketing by allowing writers to focus on strategic thinking and creativity while keeping burnout at bay. Episode Links: Julia’s LinkedinJulia’s InstagramJulia’s YouTubeJulia’s booksContent at Scale Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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082: Office Hours | Paid Social Media for Beginners: Crafting Winning Ads with Grace Glass
082: Office Hours | Paid Social Media for Beginners: Crafting Winning Ads with Grace Glass
Mar 19, 2025
44:07
Send us a text In this episode, Danny dissects the intricacies of paid advertising with Grace Glass, Paid Social Media Strategist at Optidge. She shares her expertise in balancing creative and strategic elements to build high-performing campaigns, especially for beginners. Tune in to gain valuable insights on ad budget allocation, testing methodologies, campaign optimization, segmentation strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid for beginners. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Grace explains the difference between paid and organic social – emphasizing that paid social is necessary due to declining organic reach.This episode with Grace takes a closer look at why Meta is the best platform for beginners to start paid social due to its diverse audience targeting capabilities.In Grace’s opinion, creative elements are one of the most crucial factors in ad performance as platforms increasingly automate audience targeting.She urges businesses to focus on conversions and cost-efficiency rather than vanity metrics like clicks.The episode shares through discussion and examples how regularly testing and optimizing ad creatives, audience segments, and budgets is key to a successful paid social campaign. Episode Links: 🔗 Website: About Optidge 🔗 LinkedIn: /in/graceglass/ Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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083: Career Crossroads, PPC Prosperity, and Authentic Alliances with Susan Yen
083: Career Crossroads, PPC Prosperity, and Authentic Alliances with Susan Yen
Apr 2, 2025
41:58
Send us a text In this episode, Danny sits down with Susan Yen, a digital marketing expert with over seven years of experience in Pay-per-Click (PPC). Together, they discuss Susan’s journey from her communications background to a career in paid search, her views on mentorship, and how diversity plays a crucial role in marketing. Susan talks about her experiences working in agency and in-house settings, the difficulties small businesses have with PPC, and how artificial intelligence is changing the sector. Episode Highlights: Susan shares her journey from struggling with traditional schooling to discovering her passion for marketing, detailing pivotal moments that led her to specialize in PPC.She highlights the importance of mentorship, crediting Navah Hopkins and Mark Irvine for encouraging her to speak at conferences and step out of her comfort zone.Susan discusses the common challenges local businesses face with PPC, stressing the importance of investing in digital marketing and understanding its potential for business growth.With a focus on diversity, Susan explains how companies can genuinely support diverse voices, going beyond tokenism to create meaningful change.As AI evolves in PPC, Susan emphasizes the need to balance technological tools with human creativity to maintain authenticity in marketing. Episode Links: 🔗 Instagram:@theyengirl🔗 LinkedIn: /in/susanyen🔗 LinkedIn: SearchLab Digital Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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084: Office Hours | From NICU Nurse to PPC Pro: A Career Pivot Story with Sara Strickland
084: Office Hours | From NICU Nurse to PPC Pro: A Career Pivot Story with Sara Strickland
Apr 16, 2025
37:25
Send us a text In this episode, Danny welcomes Sara Strickland, a former full-time NICU nurse turned paid search coordinator at Optidge. Sara shares her powerful journey of transitioning from saving lives in hospitals to optimizing Google Ads campaigns. She discusses the transferable skills from nursing—like pattern recognition and empathy—that have made her a natural in PPC. Along the way, she’s found guidance from mentors (including her sister) and now mentors others through team training and client relationships. This conversation is packed with advice for anyone considering a leap into digital marketing from a non-traditional background. An Optidge “Office Hours” Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Sara shares her inspiring journey from NICU nursing to digital marketing and the transferable skills that helped her thrive.She emphasizes the importance of mentorship in building confidence, particularly learning from her sister and colleagues.Sara explains how teaching others has helped solidify her own PPC knowledge and build client trust.Her advice to others considering a career pivot: test the waters, find a supportive environment, and always ask questions.Listeners gain a unique perspective on how empathy and structure from healthcare can enhance marketing strategy. Episode Links: 🔗 LinkedIn: Sara Strickland 📸 Instagram: @sarahreinhold1 🔗 Meet the Optidge Team Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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085: Branding As a Solution, Not a Service with Chaya Glatt
085: Branding As a Solution, Not a Service with Chaya Glatt
Apr 30, 2025
45:29
Send us a text In this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny speaks with Chaya Glatt, a brand strategist and the founder of Brand Authority, about her journey from special education to branding and marketing. Chaya shares her thoughts on branding as a solution rather than just a service, offering insights into how businesses can use branding to solve real problems. The discussion touches on the importance of having a strong foundation in brand strategy and the dedication to gaining a deeper understanding of what branding can do for business growth. She also gives an honest take on parenting and building a successful career in digital marketing as a working mom. Episode Highlights: Chaya shares how her unexpected journey from special education to branding led to her successful career in brand strategy.The discussion makes an argument for branding as a solution to business problems, defines it as more than just logos and visuals, and highlights the importance of creating messages that resonate with customers’ true needs.Chaya shares actionable advice for startups and small businesses, placing emphasis on the importance of clear messaging and focus on client outreach before worrying about complex branding.She discusses the role of AI in branding and explains how it can assist with execution but will never replace the human-driven strategy behind strong brand development. Chaya encourages women to embrace their value and lean into the perspective and strengths that come with being a working mom. Episode Links: 🔗 LinkedIn: /in/chayaglatt🔗 Website: Chaya Glatt Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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086: Mastering LinkedIn Ads & Mentorship in B2B Marketing with AJ Wilcox
086: Mastering LinkedIn Ads & Mentorship in B2B Marketing with AJ Wilcox
May 14, 2025
44:02
Send us a text In this episode, Danny sits down with LinkedIn Ads expert AJ Wilcox to dive into his marketing journey, his views on mentorship, and his laser-sharp insights into B2B advertising on LinkedIn. AJ shares how a passion for teaching and authentic connection laid the foundation for B2Linked, an industry-leading agency for LinkedIn Ads. He discusses the power of mentorship, from hiking with his boss’s boss to mentoring rising marketers in Utah, and shares the advertising strategies that generate real ROI. Episode Highlights: AJ explains why he left SEO and Google Ads behind to become a LinkedIn Ads specialist focused on high-quality B2B leads.He shares how weekly mentorship hikes evolved into a career-boosting tradition for local digital marketers.Learn the essential elements of effective LinkedIn targeting and why deeper funnel strategies outperform surface metrics.Discover the benefits of combining mentorship with marketing expertise—AJ shares his advice for building both.AJ compares native LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms vs. landing pages, and how to pick the right tool for your campaign goals. Episode Links: 🔗 LinkedIn: AJ Wilcox 🔗 B2Linked Agency 🎙️ The LinkedIn Ads Show Podcast Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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087: The Best of SEO (Part 1): Mentorship Meets Strategy
087: The Best of SEO (Part 1): Mentorship Meets Strategy
May 21, 2025
39:16
Send us a text Mentorship and representation transforms careers - this truth echoes throughout our conversations with leading SEO professionals in the first installment of our two-part "Best of SEO" episode series. From personal journeys to strategies for tackling the various technical aspects of SEO, our expert guests reveal how adaptable and human-centered SEO truly is. As they explore how AI is revolutionizing search, these conversations emphasize the importance of trust and reliability in the field, especially at pivotal career moments. Episode Highlights: Nine SEO industry leaders share personal stories about how mentorship and representation have significantly shaped their SEO careers.Guests discuss the importance of authentic self-expression, visibility, curiosity, and the willingness to learn from mistakes can inspire others in the SEO community.These SEO experts emphasize that effective SEO strategies are highly tailored to client needs, from technical SEO for large e-commerce sites to content-driven approaches for news outlets.The conversation explores how AI is transforming search, emphasizing the ongoing importance of trust, reliability, and innovative algorithms in the evolving landscape. Episode Links: 🔗 Martha Van Berkel 🔗 Batli Joselevitz 🔗Mike King 🔗Sarah Presch 🔗Fay Friedman 🔗Mordy Oberstein 🔗Chris Long 🔗Wil Reynolds 🔗Britney Muller Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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088: The Best of SEO (Part 2): Brand Building, AI, and the Future of Search
088: The Best of SEO (Part 2): Brand Building, AI, and the Future of Search
May 28, 2025
59:13
Send us a text In this second part of the "Best of SEO" series, industry leaders share their insights on creating compelling content that boosts organic traffic and supports strong SEO strategies. The episode explores the evolving relationship between AI and content integrity, the benefits of WordPress as an enterprise platform, and the critical role of brand building in search visibility. Additionally, our lineup of guests discuss how social proof, thought leadership, and offline branding can drive digital success, while offering practical tips for staying ahead in a rapidly changing SEO landscape. Tune in to discover how to maximize your visibility through curated content and how to adapt to the future of digital marketing. Episode Highlights:Industry leaders share personal stories about how mentorship and authentic self-expression have shaped their SEO careers and industry influence. The episode explores the evolving importance of brand in SEO, emphasizing its role in building trust, authority, and long-term visibility, especially through social media and content marketing. Experts discuss how AI is transforming content creation and SEO, making processes more efficient and future-proof, despite ongoing industry turbulence. Practical insights are shared on how small businesses can leverage branding and offline momentum to compete with larger companies in search rankings. The conversation highlights the necessity of continuous learning, networking, and adapting strategies—such as embracing AI tools and focusing on quality content—to succeed in SEO landscape. Episode Links: 🔗Julia McCoy 🔗Shelly Fagin 🔗Mandi Politi 🔗Mike King 🔗Britney Muller 🔗Ross Hudgens 🔗Batli Joselevitz 🔗Sarah Presch 🔗Mordy Oberstein Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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089: Office Hours | Diagnosing Paid Social Campaigns & Nurturing Stronger Client Relationships with Joe Wolf
089: Office Hours | Diagnosing Paid Social Campaigns & Nurturing Stronger Client Relationships with Joe Wolf
Jun 11, 2025
19:17
Send us a text In this episode, Danny and Joe Wolf, Head of Paid Social at Optidge, explore how to troubleshoot struggling paid campaigns, why communication is more important than ever, and what it takes to be the kind of agency clients trust again—after they've been burned. With deep experience across paid platforms and a keen sense for client relationships, Joe and the team don’t just run ads—they build partnerships that last. From tactical frameworks like Optidge’s 5-Point Check to real-life stories of client rescue missions, this episode is packed with practical insight and refreshingly honest advice. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:Learn the Optidge 5-Point Paid Social Check and how it helps spot (and solve) campaign failure fast.Joe shares why upfront honesty with clients wins more trust than fluffy promises ever will.Hear real examples of recovering strained client relationships through transparency and strategy.Discover how UGC, offer testing, and full-funnel tracking power Optidge’s high-performing Meta ads.Find out how Optidge’s pod model blends expertise, mentorship, and client care into every campaign. Episode Links: 🔗 Joe’s LinkedIn 🔗 Optidge Paid Social Services Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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090: Building Teams and Breaking Silos: Marketing Leadership in the Dirt World with Dan Briscoe
090: Building Teams and Breaking Silos: Marketing Leadership in the Dirt World with Dan Briscoe
Jun 25, 2025
38:50
Send us a text In this episode, Danny welcomes Dan Briscoe, CMO at BuildWitt, for a candid and inspiring discussion on leadership, team dynamics, and marketing in the construction industry. Dan shares stories from the Marine Corps to managing agencies, discusses his marketing philosophy, and breaks down how mentorship from icons like Jocko Willink and Marcus Sheridan shaped his approach. His practical wisdom shines through the entire episode through inspiring stories of his experiences breaking down silos, fostering collaboration, encouraging contribution to marketing, and creating a culture of free-flowing ideas. Episode Highlights: Dan shares how one of his most influential mentors, Jocko Willink, and his concept of “Extreme Ownership” changed his leadership approach.Discover through the episode how BuildWitt uses transparency as a superpower to align teams and motivate employees.Learn the difference between coaching and mentoring, and how Dan approaches both.Dan makes the case that small, specialized teams can outperform bloated or siloed departments—if you drop the ego.Dan reflects on his shift from President back to CMO and why it reignited his marketing passion. Episode Links: 🔗 Dan’s LinkedIn 🔗 BuildWitt Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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091: Office Hours | Websites That Convert: Development, Design, and SEO Success with Santi Schamberger
091: Office Hours | Websites That Convert: Development, Design, and SEO Success with Santi Schamberger
Jul 9, 2025
34:03
Send us a text In this episode, Danny chats with Santi Schamberger, passionate and dedicated web developer at Optidge. They dive into the foundational elements of successful websites, the evolution of WordPress, and why UX matters more than flashy design. Santi opens up about his self-taught journey, agency life, and how real impact comes from aligning websites with actual business goals. This episode provides a roadmap for creating digital experiences that not only look professional but actually drive business results. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights:Santi breaks down why good, optimized websites convert — and pretty ones often don’t.He shares how learning SEO, design, and development together creates a complete skill set for developers and his tips along his self-taught journey in web development. Discover through Santi’s experience why collaboration between designers and developers is key in preventing digital disasters.Learn how WordPress, Elementor, and Hello Theme make life easier for devs and clients.A 30% lift in conversions? Santi proves data-led redesigns actually work. Episode Links: 🔗 Santi’s LinkedIn 🔗 Optidge Web Development Services Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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092: Minisode - From Mommy Bloggers to Influencers with Paula Bruno
092: Minisode - From Mommy Bloggers to Influencers with Paula Bruno
Jul 23, 2025
11:52
Send us a text What do soccer sidelines, mommy blogs, and multi-million-dollar influencer campaigns have in common? Paula Bruno. In this mini episode, Danny Gavin sits down with the founder of Intuition Media Group to explore how influencer marketing has evolved from the early blogosphere into today’s creator-first economy. With nearly 25 years in branding, Paula brings a strategic, practical, and deeply human perspective to working with creators. From why listening is more powerful than posting, to how brands should actually approach metrics, Paula breaks down the future of social-first marketing—and why you don’t DM creators unless you know their dog’s name. Episode Highlights: Paula shares how influencer marketing evolved from mom blogs to multi-platform campaigns across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. She shares why most brands focus on the wrong KPIs and what metrics actually signal influencer success.Learn how she personalizes creator outreach and builds long-term relationships, not one-time transactions.Hear why superfans outweigh scale, and how smaller creators can outperform massive influencers.Paula’s key advice is to get real about AI, authenticity, and building co-branded products that actually sell. Episode Links: Paula Bruno on LinkedInIntuition Marketing Group Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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093: You Want One Person to Do All That?! Real Talk on Marketing Jobs in 2025
093: You Want One Person to Do All That?! Real Talk on Marketing Jobs in 2025
Aug 6, 2025
41:14
Send us a text What started as a frustrated student’s question turns into two powerful interviews about the chaos of modern marketing job descriptions. Danny Gavin sits down with PPC experts Navah Hopkins and Sarah Stemen to expose the gap between what companies want and what one human can realistically do, especially at a part-time salary. From overloaded listings to mental burnout, this episode is packed with practical hiring tips, career strategies, and real talk for both marketers and employers. Whether you’re hiring, job hunting, or redefining roles within your team, these conversations offer essential clarity. Episode Highlights: Through candid conversations with PPC experts, Navah Hopkins and Sarah Stemen, this episode exposes the major flaws that exist in the marketing job market - from unrealistic expectations to compensation disparities. Navah believes overloaded job descriptions are fueled by a lack of understanding from employers on time requirements, as well as AI tools that can pad the posting with unrealistic responsibilities. Navah encourages job seekers to promote all avenues of experience, offers interview tips, and gives a few red flags to look out for during the process. Through discussion of the complexity of PPC, Sarah details the many strategic skills required that may be overlooked or misunderstood by employers.m Due to the capacity required for effective marketing efforts, Sarah suggests that businesses should consult with an agency the help set goals and define their needs. Episode Links: Navah Hopkins on LinkedInSarah Stemen on LinkedInEpisode 041: English, Ethics, Education, and Encouragement in Paid Search with Navah HopkinsEpisode 053: Effective Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurial Endeavors with Sarah Stemen Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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042: Missionaries, Mentors, Masterminds, Mediums, and Marketing w/ Alison Reeves
042: Missionaries, Mentors, Masterminds, Mediums, and Marketing w/ Alison Reeves
Nov 1, 2023
43:21
Today’s episode brings us the story of Alison Reeves, a business and mindset coach. We learn how she grew through mentors and mastermind courses to offer her coaching services today. She also gives plenty of tips and marketing tools you can use today to help improve your reach and marketing strategy! Episode HighlightsAlison Reeves is a business and mindset coach. She came to this niche via a bachelor’s degree in leadership from a small Bible College in Houston. Through her time as a mentee and a mentor, Alison has come to define a mentor as someone who can both show you the way and help you find your own way. She’s also learned that some mentorships can become toxic if they focus on high-pressure sales tactics instead of aligning with the mentee's true goals and personality. After fighting her way out of mastermind course addiction, Alison has learned so much about mindset and nervous system work and how it plays into one’s own business. She’s become a certified Somatic Coach, and even the clients who come to her for business coaching often find themselves drifting into mindset work over their time with Alison. Audience Borrowing is the most missed/under-utilized marketing tactic, according to Alison. It’s a great marketing tool and can manifest in a few different forms:Podcasts - Having guests and being a guestGuest bloggingBundles and summitsShout-outs on social mediaEmail swapping Episode Links: WebsiteEverything - All her linksSocial MediaFacebookYoutubeInstagramThe Mind Your Marketing Podcast Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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050: Office Hours | Debunking, Diversifying, and Diving into the Data of Paid Social Ads with Joseph Wolf
050: Office Hours | Debunking, Diversifying, and Diving into the Data of Paid Social Ads with Joseph Wolf
Dec 27, 2023
36:30
Explore the dynamic world of social media advertising with Joseph Wolf, Optidge’s Head of Paid Social. From diverse campaign strategies to understanding audience behaviors, uncover the importance of quality over quantity and the nuances of tracking for optimal results. Join us as we debunk common myths and gain insights into crafting effective social media campaigns.An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode HighlightsJoseph Wolf's passion for marketing ignited in high school, leading him from a marketing degree at St. Edward’s University to honing analytical skills in business intelligence. His career journey and expertise truly bloomed at Optidge.Contrary to common advice from big media buyers and Meta reps, diversification is crucial for effective advertising, especially in low-budget scenarios. Joe advocates varied campaigns, content, and audience targeting to achieve success without massive spending.Dispelling the myth of broad targeting success, Joe emphasizes diversification in demographics, regions, interests, and creative. Backup audiences play a vital role, ensuring sustained success as specific audiences may lose efficacy over time.Optidge's approach prioritizes lead quality over quantity. Joe recommends focusing on the relationship between CPL and lead quality, leveraging diverse campaigns, and testing creatively to achieve success in the evolving landscape of paid social advertising. Episode Links Joseph’s LinkedInOptidge Website For the full list of episode links, visit our main page. Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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049: Navigating Personal Branding and Demolishing Imposter Syndrome with Stacey Piefer
049: Navigating Personal Branding and Demolishing Imposter Syndrome with Stacey Piefer
Dec 20, 2023
49:09
Join us as Stacey Piefer shares her transformative career, from journalism to purposeful, personal branding. Discover the power of mentoring, authenticity, and Stacey's mission to banish imposter syndrome on the University of Houston campus. Unveil the truth in advertising and explore the evolving landscape of marketing through the lens of a perpetual student of life. Episode Highlights Stacey Piefer's journey began in broadcast journalism at Alvin Community College and led to a degree in Communications and Public Relations at the University of Houston. This shaped her impactful career in communications, personal branding, and career coaching.Stacey emphasizes kindness, influencing, and listening as key mentorship skills. At the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business, she and her colleagues adopt diverse mentoring approaches, prioritizing what's best for each student.Stacey's transition from PR to branding at Savage Brands led her to discover her purpose, evolving from "express" to proudly identifying as a "guide." Authenticity is the cornerstone of personal branding, embracing uniqueness and multi-dimensionality.Stacey challenges the term "imposter syndrome," aiming to debunk the notion that students should feel fraudulent for being in a continuous learning phase. She advocates building confidence and dispelling unrealistic expectations, fostering a culture of growth and authenticity at the University of Houston. Episode Links: LinkedInStacey PieferBauer College of Business - Rockwell Career Center Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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048: The Profound Pursuit of Problem-Solving with Pinny Gniwisch
048: The Profound Pursuit of Problem-Solving with Pinny Gniwisch
Dec 13, 2023
44:49
In today’s episode, hear Pinny's extraordinary journey from Montreal to Harvard, shaped by mentorship, global ventures, and entrepreneurship. Discover the transformative power of an unconventional Rabbi, lessons from a father who survived the Holocaust, and the innovative era of early digital marketing with Ice.com. Join us for a conversation on life's variety of experiences, business adventures, and the joy of being a "Zadie."Episode HighlightsWith an education that spans Montreal, Los Angeles, London, and New York, two master's degrees, and a current Harvard degree program, Pinny has a unique upbringing and education. Guided by a Rabbi who taught him to go against the grain, he started his career in digital marketing with confidence and creativity that took him very far. Pinny views mentors as guides, not answer-providers. His Harvard-assigned coach trades coaching for Chassidus study with Pinny. Pinny, as his mentors have for him, now emphasizes clarity without ego and letting others do the important work of arriving at their own solutions.Pinny's venture, Ice.com, was a trailblazer in the early anarchic days of digital marketing. Starting in 1999, he navigated challenges, including high website setup costs, utilizing PPC ads, and employing customer-focused rebranding strategies.Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, Pinny embraced it as a revelation. Armed with newfound understanding, he strategically surrounds himself with finishers, leveraging his creativity while learning to navigate and thrive with ADHD in both personal and professional endeavors. Episode Links: Pinny's LinkedInDelmar Jewelers Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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047: Fairly Fearless: From Film to Flourishing in Marketing with Sicily Dickenson
047: Fairly Fearless: From Film to Flourishing in Marketing with Sicily Dickenson
Dec 6, 2023
38:13
In this episode, we explore Sicily Dickenson's unique journey from film to marketing, driven by fearless challenges and mentorships. Learn how she shapes careers, empowers customers, and tackles the intricacies of national brand marketing. Discover the importance of likability and responding to challenges in the make-or-break moments of branding. Episode Highlights Sicily started her career in the film industry to satisfy her love of creativity, working with others, and storytelling. She learned she was destined for a different industry and used her familiarity with computers (thanks to learning digital editing software in college) to enter the world of digital marketing. A mentor, for Sicily, is someone with close proximity and immediate feedback. Her fearless approach led her to new roles, like VP of Marketing at NRG, mentored by Brad Fogle. Later, Karen Jones became a significant mentor, guiding Sicily's growth and even recommending her as CMO.Sicily must believe in her mentees. She relates mentoring to the Montessori principle of teaching to master a concept. At Sun & Ski, she emphasizes customer empowerment and likability in marketing, tackling challenges from revitalizing sales to managing diverse regional preferences. Episode Links: Lightning Round - BooksTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowHello BeautifulYellow FaceSun & SkiSicily’s LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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046: From University of Houston Dreamer to Houston Exponential CEO with Natara Branch
046: From University of Houston Dreamer to Houston Exponential CEO with Natara Branch
Nov 29, 2023
42:59
In today’s episode, we discover the transformative journey of Natara Branch, from her early experiences at the University of Houston through her unprecedented career at the NFL to her pivotal role in cultivating a thriving startup ecosystem, as she leads Houston Exponential in redefining the city's identity beyond its traditional industries.Episode HighlightsNatara Branch calls Houston home, even if she’s not a native Houstonian. And Houston happily welcomes Natara into its family. She attended the University of Houston after falling in love with its scrappy, underdog personality on a campus tour. After growing up in a military household, the blue sky, no guardrail type of dreaming and thinking that happened there was pivotal to her future career. She has taken the concept of mentors and meshed it with a concept from a book she read many years ago and now has a life board of advisors. These people are family, friends, professional acquaintances, and former mentees of hers who mentor her in all aspects of her life. Mentors help hone and add polish to your life. At Houston Exponential, Natara is passionate about its goal to bring startups and entrepreneurs to the Houston Region and help nurture partnerships and collaborations between new businesses and the legacy industries (petroleum and healthcare). She sees all the amazing things happening in the Houston Metro and is determined to help the city market itself and the amazing opportunities it offers. Episode LinksHouston Exponential WebsiteLinkedInInstagramX - TwitterYouTubeNatara's LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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045: Destination: Digital Marketing Data with Duane Brown
045: Destination: Digital Marketing Data with Duane Brown
Nov 22, 2023
44:12
Join us in this episode as Duane Brown, Founder & Head of Strategy at Take Some Risk Inc., shares his unique journey from college in Canada to the realm of digital marketing, unveiling the power of mentorship, strategic PPC tactics, and the often-overlooked nuances of data analysis in advertising.Episode Highlights Duane Brown first started his career in Public Relations after attending college and then university and getting two marketing certificates. His first (hard-won) digital marketing position taught him many business skills and PPC. He’s worked in the data-rich realm of paid search and paid social advertising ever since. Mentorship should be tailored to the person. A mentor is someone who will root for you to succeed but not just give you the answers. They should guide you in your journey. He finds it necessary to discover what motivates his mentees and what they want to work on. He will then try and find the points where the business can help them achieve their goals. Ultimately, PPC is about taking action. Duane and his team have a general rule that if a campaign is performing poorly for three or more days, that’s no longer an anomaly and has become a trend, and you need to make a change. People often underestimate the power of good ad copy and of delving deep into the data of a campaign. He knows how beneficial it can be to look deeper than just campaign-level metrics into the SKU, ad level, keyword, and ad group data. Episode Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duanebrown/?originalSubdomain=caWebsite: https://www.takesomerisk.com/about/Blogs: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/author/duane-brownArticles: https://www.appbind.com/agency-connect-featuring-duane-brown/Twitter: @DuaneBrown Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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044: Office Hours | From Award-Winning Dalmatian Drawing to Data in Paid Search Campaigns with Caroline Pham
044: Office Hours | From Award-Winning Dalmatian Drawing to Data in Paid Search Campaigns with Caroline Pham
Nov 15, 2023
42:55
In today’s office hours episode, we discuss all things data-driven marketing with Optidge’s Caroline Pham. She shares insights on creating and optimizing paid search campaigns, goal-type selection, and navigating budget increases. You’ll also learn how her drawing of a Dalmatian won her Best of Show at the Houston Rodeo and set her on her path to a great career in digital marketing.An Optidge Office Hours EpisodeOur Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Caroline Pham is a paid search strategist. Her journey into digital marketing started with a Rodeo award-winning drawing of a Dalmatian puppy. She then explored her creative side and realized that advertising was the path she wanted to take. While attending the University of Texas’s advertising program, she discovered her aptitude and inclination for data and statistics. When it comes to setting the best foundation for a successful paid search campaign, Caroline knows that clear, solid goals are the place to start. Once the goal is determined, all other questions can be answered. For paid search, the goal is usually sales. When choosing between Cost Per Lead and Cost Per Acquisition, she operates by the rule of thumb of 30 days. If the conversion window is longer than 30 days, CPL will be the best metric on which to optimize. Finally, if you have a campaign that is being limited by budget but is still performing well, the “budget increase” conversation can be an easy one to have. It’s essential to look at several metrics like share of voice, visibility, industry conversion rate, and more to determine what the ideal budget could be. Then you start the conversation armed with the data showing how the campaign can bring the client even more sales, and isn’t that why we’re doing all of this anyway? Episode Links: Previous Podcast Episodes ft. Blinds.comJay SteinfeldMosheh PoltorakDaniel CotlarOptidge.com - Paid Search Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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Episode 43: All Maple, Amazing Mentors, Arcane Marketing, and More with Eric Vardon
Episode 43: All Maple, Amazing Mentors, Arcane Marketing, and More with Eric Vardon
Nov 8, 2023
55:05
Today, we delve into Eric Vardon's journey from pioneering the digital marketing landscape in the 90s to co-founding and gracefully selling his first agency, Arcane. We discuss the valuable lessons in mentorship, business growth, and smooth acquisitions he’s learned along the way. Episode Highlights Eric Vardon started his career by finding one of the only colleges near him offering a website coding and development course. He then went on to co-found All Maple Apparel. While that may sound like a clothing store, which it did evolve into, it originated as more of an e-zine (like an internet magazine, a format popular before blogs took over). It started out discussing all things happening locally to them in Canada, and eventually, merchandising became a piece of their offerings, and that blossomed into a couple of brick-and-mortar All Maple Apparel stores. Eventually, they couldn’t keep up with the need for capital investment and had to close down. A mentor is someone who sees something in you that you can’t see in yourself. It’s usually a reflection of something they see in themselves. For Eric, there’s also a sort of connection or spark that happens right away when a mentorship begins. Eric has had a few impactful mentors, including his business partner, other co-founders, and an investor. They’ve all taught him many business and life skills and have done a brilliant job of keeping ego out of the way to maximize personal and business growth. Eric has gone through the mergers & acquisitions (M&A) process with his first agency, Arcane Agency. He and his co-founder came to that business with the knowledge and internal resolution to replace themselves and get out of the way of the business as soon as possible. They’ve always known what they were good at and what they weren’t. They utilized an M&A firm to manage their transition, and while expensive, it was worth it as they managed to help a process often fraught with issues go incredibly smoothly. Episode Links: Eric VardonEventConnectSocials:LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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051: A Mosaic of Mentorship - Vicky’s Valuable Life Lessons
051: A Mosaic of Mentorship - Vicky’s Valuable Life Lessons
Jan 3, 2024
43:51
Venture on Vicky Charleston's transformative journey from art student to corporate leader. Uncover the profound impact of mentors, familial wisdom, and the challenges of breaking biases in the corporate realm. Explore the multi-chromatic blend of creativity and analytics in her digital marketing odyssey, proving that artistry and strategy can coalesce seamlessly.Episode Highlights Vicky Charleston's journey from abstract art studies at the University of Houston to graphic design success is marked by academic achievements, including a selective entry into the junior block of the graphic design program. She remembers this accomplishment to this day if she ever doubts herself. Vicky's father, a strict military man with artistic insight, instilled valuable life lessons in his children throughout their whole lives. His encouragement, overcoming humble beginnings, motivated her through doubts. The mantra "never be afraid to ask" remains a guiding principle in her life. Vicky emphasizes the impact of mentors throughout her career, acknowledging those who invested in her growth. She reciprocates by mentoring others, emphasizing honesty, listening, and empathy as essential mentorship qualities.As a woman of color in leadership, Vicky gracefully navigates biases and challenges in organizations. She highlights the importance of representation for younger people of color, and her education through Optidge’s ODEO digital marketing program broadened her digital marketing knowledge, proving the value of diverse skill sets. Episode Links: Vicky’s LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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041: English, Ethics, Education, and Encouragement in Paid Search with Navah Hopkins
041: English, Ethics, Education, and Encouragement in Paid Search with Navah Hopkins
Oct 25, 2023
1:08:47
From an early dream of becoming an English teacher to her pivotal shift into the marketing world, Navah's story is a testament to following one's true calling. Discover how her mentors shaped her into a professional and compassionate leader, and explore mentorship strategies that have left a lasting impact. Navah shares invaluable insights on digital marketing trends, data privacy, and the surprising findings from Optmyzer's recent study. Whether you're an experienced marketer or a newcomer, Navah's wisdom will leave you inspired and better equipped for success in the dynamic realm of digital marketing. Episode Highlights: Navah Hopkins originally wanted to be an English teacher, so determined her 3rd-grade self. Through education and honest family guidance, that became marketing. After starting in SEO and there being an ethical mismatch with the strategy she was working within, she found herself in the world of non-profits and eventually Paid Search. She’s had mentors who helped grow her into an empowerer of colleagues, a better public speaker and marketer, and more confident in growing herself. One of her mentees (with whom she connected playing video games) went from a $500/month stipend to her paying them $10k/mo in billable hours within a year. She finds incredible joy in helping others learn how to help themselves. Optmyzer released a study reviewing the efficacy of broad match v. exact match keyword strategies. Navah discusses how she had to adopt a new approach to paid search strategy upon reviewing the results as they contradicted her previous position. She loves getting to learn new and challenging evidence. Episode Links: NavahLinkedInOptmyzerSearch Engine Journal - Ask a PPCPaid Search AssociationZina KayyaliPurna VirjiHigh Impact Content Marketing Shelly Fagin EpisodeOptmyzer Study Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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040: Office Hours | All Aboard! Amazing Client Onboarding with Jenna Meldrum
040: Office Hours | All Aboard! Amazing Client Onboarding with Jenna Meldrum
Oct 18, 2023
34:11
Two of the key responsibilities of account management are expectation management and client onboarding. In this episode, we learn from Jenna Meldrum, account manager extraordinaire at Optidge, how a successful onboarding process sets the tone for the rest of your client relationship. We also learn how to manage delicate conversations about scope and upsells and how to manage the people on both sides of the table: your team and the client. An Optidge "Office Hours" EpisodeOur Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode HighlightsClient onboarding is your first impression of a client and their first impression of the agency. It will set the tone for the rest of the relationship. It should be done for clients of any size or duration. We always need to ensure everyone has what they need for success and that expectations are appropriately set. Upselling can be a delicate balance to manage in client conversation, especially as it relates to setting (and resetting) expectations and defining scope. Oftentimes, when a client asks if something is in scope, it’s innocent. If they want something out of scope, this is a great time to discuss an upsell. When bringing an upsell idea to a client, they can get upset because they might not want to spend more money. It’s important to steer the conversation back to the notion that we simply want to support the client and saw this opportunity for growth and shared it. There’s no pressure. Quick tips on client communication for Account ManagersRead the room. If you have a client you can’t joke around with, then don’t. If they’re a more serious person and don’t turn on the cameras in meetings, mirror that. Whatever they do, you do. That said, don’t dull your sparkle. There will be clients you can be bubbly and bright with. When it comes to communication - there’s no such thing as too much. Stay on top of it. Get ahead of it. If you know something is going to or even MIGHT happen, go ahead and communicate. Overcommunication is never discouraged or unappreciated. Guest + Episode LinksJenna MeldrumLinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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039: Masters Degrees in Media Management, Mentoring, and Masterful Social Media Marketing with Mike Metzler
039: Masters Degrees in Media Management, Mentoring, and Masterful Social Media Marketing with Mike Metzler
Oct 11, 2023
35:48
Mike Metzler has long had a home on social media: beginning on Facebook in 2005 as a college student to interviewing celebrities octagon-side for UFC Instagram to becoming a social media consultant and strategist. In this episode, you’ll learn the many steps it took to get to this point and how his first boss/mentor and doodling his corgi as an astronaut helped him along his path. Get ready for a great cliff’s notes version of Social Media Marketing 101 with Mike Metzler. Episode HighlightsMike Metzler got his undergraduate and graduate degrees back-to-back from St. Edwards University. He then went on to have a great mentor in his first boss, who taught him many career skills. These days, Mike believes those he mentors would simply call him ‘friend.’ As he works in the social media industry, he tries to help guide the younger generation, who often find themselves thrust into the limelight as influencers. They often know how to perform on social media, but they don’t necessarily know “business,” so he helps them avoid being taken advantage of in their career.When it comes to the keys to great mentorship, Mike has fairly solid pillars:First, and most importantly, be available, more available than just what’s convenient for you. It is a big commitment that you can’t make for everyone. Next, a mentor should encourage responsible risk-taking. It’s your job to push your mentee to help them grow but know the risk so they don’t gamble with their career.Finally, a mentor must hold their mentee accountable. If they say they’re going to tackle a particular challenge, you should follow up with them and make sure they actually took action. Mike has done plenty of work in the social media space over nearly two decades (hey, Facebook circa 2007, we’re talking about you). Throughout his time in the digital world, he’s seen many social platforms come and go and grow. He’s a big proponent of being on every social platform as early as you can. He’s found that the early adopters and those who take “responsible risks” are those who often find success on social media. Episode Links LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter/XSnapchat Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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038: Self-Taught, SEO Speaker, and Strategist Extraordinaire, Shelly Fagin
038: Self-Taught, SEO Speaker, and Strategist Extraordinaire, Shelly Fagin
Oct 4, 2023
40:41
Shelly Fagin has been in the digital world since she was a young girl playing on her green screen Apple IIGS. After figuring out how to connect to the internet, it was all gas, no breaks to agency work, over 12 years of consulting, SEMRush speaking, managing a team at CreditKarma, to now being the Director of SEO at DigitalOcean. Listen to this episode to learn how her mentors helped teach her confidence, and her curiosity helped her teach herself the skills. Episode HighlightsLike many of our guests on The Digital Marketing Mentor, Shelly Fagin’s path to digital marketing was not a straightforward one. She’s a lifelong computer geek who taught herself how to code from books when she began working online while pregnant with her first child. This thirst for knowledge of all things digital led her to an agency job that led her to open her own consulting business, Highly Searched, where she helped her clients for over twelve years. She then found herself at SEMRush as a brand ambassador, and most recently made her mark in the world of leadership with her former role as Director of SEO at Credit Karma and current role as Director of SEO at DigitalOcean.Shelly’s mentors, Rae and Melissa, helped instill a sense of confidence in her that inspired her to start speaking at professional events, a piece of her career that has blossomed ever since. As she recently started managing a team, she’s fallen in love with mentoring others. She tends to take a hands-off approach and encourages learning by doing. WordPress Evangelist - That’s Shelly Fagin in a nutshell. She will long tout the strength and flexibility of the platform, especially as it pertains to enterprise-level websites. She has a tendency to go light with plugins and strongly encourages those looking to select a dependable hosting provider, like Kinsta or WPHosting. Episode Links LinkedInTwitter/XShellyFagin.comThreadsInstagramTikTok Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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037: Seminary to Selling Ad Space to Solving Problems and Sharing Her Creativity with Chayale Kaufman
037: Seminary to Selling Ad Space to Solving Problems and Sharing Her Creativity with Chayale Kaufman
Sep 27, 2023
36:38
Chayale Kaufman started her career in sales, as many entrepreneurs do. Her intuition, hard work, and dedication led her to found two businesses and integrate the world of print and digital advertising amidst the Jewish business community. In this episode, we hear all about the devotion and challenges that brought her to her current position as founder of The Jewish Content Network. Episode Highlights: After attending seminary for a degree, Chayale went into sales for a major publication. She began selling ad space, and that was when she became hooked on the advertising industry and grew to love it so much more than she anticipated. Living through the shift to digital at a nationwide publisher, Chayale saw the ever-present nature of print for the Jewish community in particular. She also saw the power instant advertising and the world of digital held. So, she created The Jewish Content Network.For Chayale, she tries to find a mentor in every person she meets. She is very adept at reading people and uses that skill to draw upon the traits she admires in others. She believes a mentor should have a certain level of calmness about them. They should also feel somewhat “aspirational” to the mentee. She recalls one of her past bosses who was very good at keeping the worries of the higher offices away from those whom he managed. Chayale has built a phenomenal team for herself, full of go-getters and hard workers. She has a skill of seeing that drive and energy in a person. It takes a particular personality to work in the advertising industry, and she is very good at identifying those people. She lost herself in her work for a while, but with the help of her husband and plenty of internal work, she now does her work for the joy of it, not because it defines her. Episode Links: LinkedIn | Chayale KaufmanThe Jewish Content Network Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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036: Office Hours | Chaos to Coordination to COO – Building Digital Dream Teams in Remote Marketing Agencies with Leah Leaves
036: Office Hours | Chaos to Coordination to COO – Building Digital Dream Teams in Remote Marketing Agencies with Leah Leaves
Sep 20, 2023
51:32
In this Office Hours episode, Optidge’s COO and resident expert in operations shares three secrets to building high-performing remote teams in digital marketing agencies. From removing the stigma that surrounds independent contractors and the fear of process standardization, Leah shares how to create a cohesive culture of drive, efficiency, and top-notch client service. This episode is packed with practical strategies & guidance to help your teams feel supported and successful.An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and specific marketing advice. Join Optidge team members, or experience 1:1 teachings from Danny, in these shorter, focused episodes. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights: Leah Leaves, Optidge’s COO shares her career journey, from journalism to SEO for agencies, and ultimately to operational organization for remote teams in digital marketing agencies.Leah’s 3 secrets to high-performing teams in remote digital marketing agencies:1 - Streamlined Onboarding - a comprehensive & detailed onboarding process is paramount in setting new team members up for success.2 - Transparent Communication - whether through documentation, collaboration tools, or project management platforms, communication is key to fostering a collaborative environment, especially in remote work. 3 - Organization & Standardization - Meticulous organization of tools & platforms enhances overall productivity. Links: ClubhouseColorado State UniversityLeah LeavesAlderaan EnterpriseLinkedInBooksTraction, Gino WickmanProfit First, Mike MichalowiczMultipliers, Liz WisemanThe Science of Success podcast Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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035: Pirouetting Her Way to Tech Founder with Mentorly’s Ashley Werhun
035: Pirouetting Her Way to Tech Founder with Mentorly’s Ashley Werhun
Sep 13, 2023
47:12
Ashley Werhun is the co-founder of Mentorly. Her first career was as a professional dancer. Today, we discuss how she learned how important mentorship was through her performing career and how she used those lessons to build Mentorly. We also discuss some of the most important traits a mentor should have and more!Episode Highlights: Ashley Werhun is the co-founder of Mentorly, an enterprise software solution to help promote, manage, and optimize inter-company mentorship systems. She felt drawn to create mentorly after a long, successful career as a professional dancer. Through touring the world with performance companies, she met many people from many backgrounds and cultures and learned life lessons from all of them. She’s now turned those lessons into Mentorly in the hopes that everyone can have the same support she had. Startup companies are hard, and they seem impossible. They take nothing and turn it into something they use to help their customers. Mentorly had its struggles but found its way with the help of angel investors who have helped not only with business funding but also by mentoring, guiding, and helping Ashley and the Mentorly team along the way. Episode Links: MentorlyBlack Business and Professionals Association (BPPA)Ashley’s LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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058: Office Hours | Bringing Heart into Building Hubspot with Berlin Heart
058: Office Hours | Bringing Heart into Building Hubspot with Berlin Heart
Apr 25, 2024
17:11
In this episode, learn how Optidge teamed up with Berlin Heart to customize HubSpot, revolutionizing their data management. Explore the challenges Berlin Heart faced with spreadsheets and discover how Optidge customized HubSpot to streamline workflows and enable remote accessibility. Hear about the benefits of tailored CRM solutions and join us as we uncover the transformative power of this partnership with Berlin Heart. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode Highlights Berlin Heart came to Optidge to help set up Hubspot, a customer relationship management system (CRM), for their unique needs. As a medical device company that develops, produces, and markets innovative devices for mechanically supporting the heart, Berlin Heart needed the CRM to do more, and be more of a database management system. They needed to transition from a system of data management that existed in 12-20 spreadsheets, only accessible in the office, with multiple redundancies - to a cloud-based, interconnected database of data. They needed to track hospitals, staff, patients, devices, training logs, status updates, maintenance records, and more. And they needed to know their information was up-to-date and accurate.Optidge utilized Hubspot’s custom objects to build out an expansive, interconnected database system for Berlin Heart. Through the creation and customization of custom objects, they could oversee a variety of data points configured in different ways. They could see all the device pump changes and their next needed timing. They could view all the patient status updates for a given week in one table. They could also look at a specific device and see which hospital, patient, staff, and crate it was currently connected to. Episode Links Berlin Heart Berlin Heart LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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067: Office Hours | The Superpowers of Effective PPC Budget Management and Pacing with Alejandro Torres
067: Office Hours | The Superpowers of Effective PPC Budget Management and Pacing with Alejandro Torres
Aug 14, 2024
37:56
Send us a Text Message. In this ‘Office Hours’ episode, we examine PPC budget management closely. We speak with paid search analyst, Alejandro Torres, whose frustration with unpredictability of Google Ads’ spend tracking led to a revolutionary solution. With the assistance of his team, they built a robust tool designed to help them with pacing the spending schedule and optimizing the budgets of PPC campaigns for their clients. Tune into an episode packed full of tips on the technical aspects, team collaboration, and unique challenges faced in managing PPC campaigns. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode Highlights: Despite Alejandro’s initial disinterest in digital marketing in college, his path led him back, allowing him to apply his practical knowledge in finance and management to his current role on the Optidge PPC team. Alejandro initially heard about an innovative, data-tracking PPC tool, Dataslayer, from another department at Optidge and began testing the tool to see how its capabilities might help handle the headache of tracking PPC campaign spending. Dataslayer and the custom solution put together by Alejandro and the team can now accurately monitor the spending habits of multiple campaigns at once and notify the PPC team when they’re under or overspending (with special thanks to color coding). Episode Links:Alejandro’s LinkedInDataslayer Optidge PPC Services Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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066: Politics to PR to Philanthropy: The Path to Creating a Cause-Driven Marketing Agency
066: Politics to PR to Philanthropy: The Path to Creating a Cause-Driven Marketing Agency
Jul 31, 2024
52:13
Send us a Text Message. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of mentorship and cause-driven marketing with Aimee Woodall, founder of The Black Sheep Agency. Amy unpacks her public relations experience for political initiatives and the pivotal role that her academic journey played in shaping her passion for politics and communication. She fondly recalls some of her most influential mentorship experiences and highlights the evolution of mentorship in business. Finally, we journey through Aimee’s establishment of a cause-driven agency, discussing the challenges and rewards of prioritizing social responsibility in marketing. Episode HighlightsAimee defines the relationship between a mentor and a mentee as a two-way street where both parties learn from the experience with each other.One of Aimee’s mentors showed her that there could be meaning behind her work, and that propelled her into cause-driven marketing.One of the greatest gifts Aimee received from her work is learning about all the different social challenges in our society and how to weave social responsibility into marketing strategies. Episode Links Black Sheep AgencyAimee’s LinkedinAimee’s InstagramAimee’s X Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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065: High School Side Hustle Turned Thriving Tik Tok Agency
065: High School Side Hustle Turned Thriving Tik Tok Agency
Jul 17, 2024
41:56
Send us a Text Message. This episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor takes us back to the classroom as we talk with Noah Frydberg, full-time university student at the University of Texas and founder of the multi-million dollar social media marketing agency, Maverick Creative. We discuss with this young entrepreneur about his greatest mentor, what led him to take the leap into starting his own company, and why he feels TikTok is a social media marketing goldmine that’s being underutilized by businesses looking to scale.Episode Highlights TikTok offers an incredible opportunity to grow your company or brand. Noah highly recommends taking the time to completely understand this social media platform’s potential for creators of all types.As a member of Gen Z, Noah has used his age to his advantage. He often pursues clients looking to access that specific market. Noah is in a unique position as an entrepreneur in his generation that can make the most from his tremendous knowledge of TikTok.Noah’s greatest mentor has been his father. He’s shown him the art of cold-calling, managing client demands, and making the sale and Noah has carried those attributes to his company when mentoring his own employees. Episode LinksNoah’s TikTokNoah’s LinkedInMaverick Creative Website Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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064: Self-Taught SEO: Using Professional Setbacks to Inspire a Future in Freelance
064: Self-Taught SEO: Using Professional Setbacks to Inspire a Future in Freelance
Jul 3, 2024
48:53
Send us a Text Message. Pack your bags and join us as we head to Minnesota to speak with Nick LeRoy, freelance SEO consultant and owner of SEOjobs.com. In today’s episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor Podcast, we’ll explore how Nick hit the ground running by learning SEO in his first job out of college. Having experienced several professional setbacks, he shares how he used this experience and leaned into mentors to propel him into entrepreneurship and a freelance career in SEO. We’ll hear about his passion project, SEOJobs.com, and his vision to revolutionize the SEO job market. Episode Highlights:Nick’s love of SEO began after learning the necessary skills on the job straight out of university. He credits reading ‘how to’ books at the local Barnes and Noble with helping him to understand the subject.According to Nick, a mentor challenges another’s thinking and provides necessary guidance.After losing his job twice, Nick has learned that he prefers working as a freelance SEO consultant instead of within an agency. Being his own boss allows him to be brutally honest with his clients, and he feels he produces better work.The keys to success in the SEO industry include strong communication, genuine curiosity for SEO, and understanding the industry’s ‘hard skills.’Nick enjoys mentoring uniquely by offering advisory services and actively seeking out employment opportunities for SEO professionals through his passion project, SEOjobs.com. Episode Links: Nick’s Leroy’s Company: Nick Leroy Consulting Nick's X account Nick's LinkedIn SEO job board seojobs.com Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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063: Wil’s Wisdom: Weaving Value, Vision, and Virtue in Digital Marketing
063: Wil’s Wisdom: Weaving Value, Vision, and Virtue in Digital Marketing
Jun 19, 2024
49:52
Buckle up for today’s episode as the Digital Marketing Mentor takes you on an exciting journey with Wil Reynolds, the founder, and VP of Innovation at SEER Interactive. As one of the most esteemed digital marketing agencies in the U.S., we’ll talk to this former economics teacher about his life-long passion for learning, creating value, and giving back to others and what led to his creation of SEER Interactive. Wil also discusses the power of mentorship and the importance of the human connection with customers through SEO in the face of growing AI influence. Episode Highlights Wil’s passion for giving back, creating change, and making an impact was born from his early professional years as an economics teacher. His passion was put into overdrive after being denied the opportunity to volunteer, which became a significant value he instilled in the creation of SEER Interactive. Wil has been grateful for his mentors throughout his career and says they have taught him some of his most valuable life lessons. The truest indication that a mentor has done a good job is when the mentee has outgrown them, which has happened to Wil several times. Will is not anti-SEO. Instead, he supports the most ‘frictionless’ way for users to access their desired information, which seems to be through AI. The invention of AI has undoubtedly helped with SEO and content creation. However, Wil says it’s important not to lose the human connection, including using your ideas instead of those from a bot and connecting with your viewers through organic social media traffic. Episode LinksWil Reynolds LinkedInWil Reynolds YouTubeWil Reynolds InstagramSeer Interactive Website Seer Interactive LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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062: Queen of Content Solutions: Empowerment Through Mentorship
062: Queen of Content Solutions: Empowerment Through Mentorship
Jun 5, 2024
44:42
This episode features Purna Virji, principal consultant of Content Solutions at LinkedIn, and explores her holistic view of content marketing. She dives into what has shaped her perspective through her 20-year career in marketing as a content creator, program manager, SEO public, instructional designer, and brand evangelist. Tune in to learn more about mentorship's role in Purna’s journey in content marketing and hear some of the best engagement tips from one of the industry’s social media marketing gurus. Episode Highlights Purna says her life purpose is to ‘lift others’ through education and empowerment. She’s an active mentor to many professionals and feels the responsibility of the job includes shining the light on their strengths and talents while providing constructive criticism. Purna herself has several high-profile mentors she calls her ‘board of directors’. They are a fabulous sounding board when she has questions.The foundation of successful marketing content rests in knowing your audience. Purna stresses the importance of ‘studying your customers’ to learn what they want, their motivations, and their problems. When you understand your audience, the content will write itself. Additionally, a company must identify its core values, brand purpose, and the ‘connective tissue’ that links its audience to its product or service. Purna compares a brand’s message to water; it can take the shape of any container. So often, content that hasn’t been working is tossed. Purna argues that instead of wasting time creating new content, well-researched and ideated material can be reused or repurposed on a different platform; it still has value. Episode Links Purna’s LinkedInPurna’s X Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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061: The Ins and Outs of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising - The Best of PPC
061: The Ins and Outs of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising - The Best of PPC
May 22, 2024
1:09:29
Join us for this special episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor as we reflect on our conversations with various guests about their experiences with PPC advertising. We cover everything from why our guests entered this industry to bid management, control metrics, conversion tracking, and GA4. Whether you’re new to PPC or a seasoned pro, this Best of PPC episode will offer advice and anecdotes regarding this rapidly evolving industry. Episode Highlights The many experts we’ve interviewed about PPC advertisingI seem to share a few understandings: A detailed PPC audit is an excellent way to ensure a new or revamped campaign will move in the right direction and best utilize company budgets.Manual vs. automatic bidding tends to be a popular topic in the PPC community and our guests believe that the intent and goals behind the campaign should drive the bidding strategy. Digital marketers must pay more attention to the power of good ad copy as even small changes can steer a PPC campaign in the right direction.In a lead generation campaign, some key indicators to evaluate and frame the budget include the length of the campaign (how long it has been running), CPL to acquisition, visibility, and conversion rate. PPC experts emphasize the value of attribution since the cost-per-lead data often drives the connection between campaign results and company growth.Google's elimination of third-party cookies will most impact companies that don’t conduct online transactions or have an e-commerce presence as it will make accessing customer data more difficult. Episode Links Susan Wenograd - Mastering Google Ads: Secrets to Success in Search, Speaking, and StrategyNavah Hopkins - English, Ethics, Education, and Encouragement in Paid SearchSarah Stemen - Effective Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurial EndeavorsDuane Brown - Destination: Digital Marketing Data Kirk Williams - Speaking, Sparking Connections, Star Wars, and (Google) Shopping Brianna Deboever - Office Hours | Making Alphabet Soup for Lead Quality: PPC, UTM, CRM, and MoreRachel Howle - Office Hours | Manu Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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060: Brie’s BEAST Beacon: Mentoring Marvels and Analytical Adventures
060: Brie’s BEAST Beacon: Mentoring Marvels and Analytical Adventures
May 8, 2024
43:27
Join us for an inspiring episode as we explore Brie Anderson's journey from soccer scholarship to digital marketing expertise, discovering the power of saying “YES!” to opportunities and effective mentorship. Gain valuable insights into navigating digital landscapes, leveraging data, and empowering yourself in today's ever-evolving world. Don't miss this enriching discussion filled with actionable analytics advice.Episode Highlights Brie Anderson's journey from scholarship soccer student athlete to digital marketing showcases the importance of embracing opportunities. Transitioning from communications to digital marketing, she learned and grew by saying "Yes" to new experiences. Mentors like her first boss and industry leaders guided her journey.For Brie, mentorship is about open communication and taking initiative. She shares her experiences and insights to support others facing similar challenges. Despite initially not seeing herself as a mentor, her wife helped her see that her openness with her mental health struggles and readiness to share her technical skills and knowledge certainly qualifies her as a mentor to others. As the founder of BEAST Analytics, she helps clients understand and use data effectively, navigating changes like the shift to Google Analytics 4. Brie empowers clients to adapt to evolving digital trends while addressing privacy concerns. Through education and practical advice, she ensures their digital strategies remain effective and responsive. Episode Links Brie’s LinkedInBEAST Analytics website Brie’s email Instagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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034: Authenticity, Autonomy, and AI in Social Media and Marketing with Adele Beiny
034: Authenticity, Autonomy, and AI in Social Media and Marketing with Adele Beiny
Sep 6, 2023
42:56
Adele Beiny is the founder and CEO of Life’s Looking Good, a lifestyle blog and social media presence, as well as a marketing consultancy. She wants to help people design and curate a life they love and brands they love to be. She’s traveled across the country through many tough industries and different occupations to find herself here today. We talk about being your authentic self on social media and how mentorship can look different to different people.Episode Highlights: Adele Beiny grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family and community on the East Coast. At her mother’s advice, she did not attend college and instead played to her strengths of networking and real-life work. She’s worked in sales in luxury real estate and the beauty industry, and even a bit as a floral designer, but eventually found her way to lifestyle design and branding consultation at Life’s Looking Good. Maybe they’re born with it. Maybe it’s Mentoring! Adele believes most mentors come by it naturally. A mentor is someone with a natural or self-developed passion for guiding and teaching others. She’s found many mentors in the social media space and is definitely drawn to those who share organically, fully, and authentically. She cautions, despite the experts and algorithms pushing for it, don’t niche yourself down out of your humanity. We’re malleable beings and don’t exist just within one hyper-niche space. Adele hasn’t been heavily impacted by AI in the marketing world yet. She’s played around with it some but knows, right now, it’s all based on the unique inputs we give it. AI can’t be imaginative and creative yet. But she knows we’re just scratching the surface of this tool and is curious to see what becomes of it. Episode Links:LifesLookinGood.comInstagramRecommendation: Tezza Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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058: Multilingual Maestro: Andrea Cruz’s Guide to Mentorship and B2B Marketing Excellence
058: Multilingual Maestro: Andrea Cruz’s Guide to Mentorship and B2B Marketing Excellence
Apr 10, 2024
38:27
Discover Andrea Cruz's journey from Venezuela to Boston, mastering business administration and international marketing. Learn about the power of mentorship and the intricacies of B2B marketing in this insightful episode.Episode Highlights Andrea Cruz's journey from Venezuela to Boston shaped her into a versatile business professional. Her degrees in Business Administration and International Business equipped her with digital marketing skills ahead of their time. Mentors like Jeremy Krantz, AJ Wilcox, and JD Prater played pivotal roles, guiding her through career transitions and public speaking fears.Embracing diversity in Massachusetts, Andrea thrived among various cultures, fostering a deep understanding of global perspectives. Fluent in multiple languages, she embodies a polyglot identity, enhancing her ability to empathize and connect across diverse communities. Andrea's dedication to mentorship reflects her belief in holistic growth, emphasizing emotional openness and strategic planning.As a B2B marketing enthusiast, Andrea challenges misconceptions and advocates for personalized strategies. Her managerial role allows her to empathize with team members and champion inclusive, hands-on leadership. With a passion for niche verticals and brand differentiation, she navigates the complexities of B2B marketing with creativity and purpose, emphasizing customer-centric approaches for sustainable growth. Episode Links TinuitiLinkedInX/Twitter Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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057: Mastering Google Ads: Secrets to Success in Search, Speaking, and Strategy
057: Mastering Google Ads: Secrets to Success in Search, Speaking, and Strategy
Mar 27, 2024
53:16
Join Susan Wenograd as she shares her journey in digital marketing, blending creativity with practicality. Explore mentorship insights and the evolving landscape of Google Ads and new strategies to optimize in a post-cookie world! Episode Highlights Susan Wenograd, characterized by her unique blend of practicality and creativity, recounts her transformative journey from initially considering film studies to ultimately carving out a successful career in the realm of digital marketing. Through her experiences, she embodies the ethos of adaptability and perseverance, demonstrating how embracing both sides of her personality has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of the industry.Susan has seen a profound impact from mentors like Mike King and Jeremy Bloom, whose guidance transcends conventional boundaries, offering Susan holistic insights that extend far beyond their apparent roles. Their mentorship serves as a testament to the power of genuine connections and the invaluable lessons that emerge from meaningful relationships within one's professional journey.Susan dives into the deep, ever-evolving world of Google Ads. She provides valuable insights into strategic shifts in bidding tactics, optimizations, and the differences in strategies over the past decade (and more). She offers a glimpse into her entrepreneurial venture with Can’tdles, a candle-making business that beautifully intertwines her creative flair with astute business acumen. Through her multifaceted experiences, Susan offers a compelling narrative that underscores the importance of adaptability, mentorship, and embracing one's unique blend of skills and passions in navigating the complexities of the modern business world. Episode Links SusanWenograd.com Susan’s LinkedInTwitter Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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056: Leveraging LLMs: Britney Muller's Insights on AI, Advocacy, and ASL
056: Leveraging LLMs: Britney Muller's Insights on AI, Advocacy, and ASL
Mar 13, 2024
50:58
Join us for a captivating conversation with Britney Muller, where she delves into the realms of mentorship, AI innovations, and her enchanting ASL escapades. Explore the intersection of expertise and experience in this digital marketing adventure! Episode HighlightsBritney Muller shares her journey from pre-med to journalism to internet marketing, emphasizing learning beyond the classroom through diverse experiences like waitressing and mentorship from industry giants like Rand Fishkin. She reflects on the pivotal role of informal mentorship, highlighting relationships that blur the line between guidance and friendship.In the realm of AI, Muller warns against overreliance on LLMs for deterministic tasks like keyword research. She predicts a surge in industry-specific LLMs and advocates for thoughtful integration to maximize their potential. She discusses the importance of diversity in AI and shares a paper about the affinity group talks she saw poorly attended at NeurIPS. Additionally, she sheds light on biases in AI models and the importance of transparency in mitigating them.Beyond AI, Muller discusses her passion for American Sign Language, recounting inventive experiences like introducing ASL interpretation on ski slopes. She emphasizes the value of quality content over quantity in marketing and PR strategies. Through her diverse interests and expertise, Muller offers valuable insights into navigating the ever-evolving landscape of technology and communication. Episode Links Website - Data Sci 101Website - Britney MullerArticle/Paper re: Indigenous NAI researchersBlack in AIMuslim in AIIndigenous in AILatinX in AI Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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055: The King of Paid Social's Path from Harmony to High-Performance Marketing
055: The King of Paid Social's Path from Harmony to High-Performance Marketing
Feb 28, 2024
57:49
Join us on this episode as Andrew Foxwell shares his journey from St. Olaf University through Capitol Hill to California, revealing how mentorship played a pivotal role in his career. Discover the inception of Foxwell Founders, a thriving community connecting marketers and mentors. Andrew reflects on the power of mentorship, the challenges of parenting during a pandemic, and the evolution of digital advertising and paid social on platforms like TikTok.Episode HighlightsAt St. Olaf University, Andrew Foxwell delved into political science and business, finding solace in the college's renowned music program. As a choir member, he embraced singing as a unique form of worship, considering choir practice a meditative escape from the complexities of daily life. Andrew's journey into the political arena began in rural Minnesota, fueled by a fascination with government and a desire to be 'in the room where it happens.' His active involvement in political campaigns, including volunteering in the 2008 presidential campaign, eventually led him to a life-changing role in Washington, D.C. Working for a congressional representative.The pivotal moment for Andrew in the realm of digital advertising occurred when Congress allowed social media ads. This opened the door for Andrew to run ads on platforms like Facebook and Google, eventually leading him to specialize in Facebook Ads. His journey into the advertising world involved working with a diverse range of politicians and agencies, fostering a bipartisan approach to his work. This experience laid the foundation for his later endeavors in mentoring and community building within the digital marketing space.Foxwell Founders (FF) is a community founded by Andrew Foxwell, focusing on digital marketing mentorship and collaboration. Initially created to facilitate discussions on social media advertising challenges, FF has grown into a substantial online community of marketers. The community aims to provide a platform for members to seek guidance, learn, and connect with mentors. They've expanded their topics of discussion and launched specific communities, like the PPC community. Foxwell Founders is dedicated to building self-sustaining programs, fostering mentorship, and helping members learn and grow in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing. Episode Links FoxwellDigital.comEmail – [email protected]’s LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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054: Mentorship Musings: Advertising and the Art of Tailored Guidance with Raphael Gavin
054: Mentorship Musings: Advertising and the Art of Tailored Guidance with Raphael Gavin
Feb 14, 2024
33:58
In this episode, Raphael Gavin, the media-production master, spills the beans on navigating the advertising industry, humorous entry to his career, and the transformative power of mentorship. From his accidental title upgrade to the importance of tailored guidance, dive into the world of advertising with wit and wisdom.Episode HighlightsRaphael Gavin, son of advertising legend Louis Gavin, found his own path in advertising after a chance meeting during his time at his father's agency. He believes no degree can match the power of learning from experience.Raphael emphasizes three key elements of mentorship: clear communication, mutual trust, and tailored guidance. His mentors include his wife and agency co-founder Sean Dawson, who shaped his business acumen and taught him how to always show up better the next time. As a mentor, Raphael prioritizes support, sharing experiences, and acknowledging that mentees may surpass their mentors. Flexibility, highlighted by COVID-19, is crucial in adapting to unpredictable situations in the advertising industry.Raphael's advertising journey, starting as an account executive, led him to appreciate production. Despite challenges, working with family accelerated his career growth, providing constant strategic discussions at work and home. Episode Links LevergyInstagramXLinkedInRaphael’s LinkedInJay Steinfeld Episode Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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053: Effective Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurial Endeavors with Sarah Stemen
053: Effective Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurial Endeavors with Sarah Stemen
Jan 31, 2024
47:36
Join us in this episode as we hear about Sarah Stemen’s journey from programming through in-house marketing to starting her own business. From unexpected mentorship lessons to the art of being an accessible mentor, Sarah spills the beans on agency struggles, the power of conversation in consulting, and her unique approach to Google Ads. Episode HighlightsSarah Stemen began her digital marketing journey before the field fully existed, transitioning from a tech-focused background with an MBA pivot into marketing. Sarah's genuine care for doing good is reflected in her mentoring style. Accessible at any hour, she emphasizes nonjudgmental advice and building trust with mentees.Like many agencies, Sarah faces challenges marketing her own business. Limited budgets and the common struggle with being objective about one’s own business guide her choices, emphasizing outsourcing for content and SEO.With the guidance of other agency professionals, Sarah challenges the notion that agency success correlates with size, limiting her clients to four. Her focused, strategic approach echoes the value of staying small and niche. Like a video game player who is a “button-masher,” Sarah goes into a new client’s Google Ad account and pushes every button. She will find the settings and patterns to optimize an account through her own discovery. Episode Links: Kirk Williams EpisodeKirk Williams Book - Stop the ScaleAkvile’s recommendation: Jasper AISarah Stemen LLC Sarah’s SocialsLinkedInX/TwitterInstagramTikTok Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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052: Office Hours | Tracy’s Tale of Transition from Corporate to Creative Marketing
052: Office Hours | Tracy’s Tale of Transition from Corporate to Creative Marketing
Jan 17, 2024
40:41
On this special Office Hours episode, we are talking with Tracy about making a grand career change. After nearly a decade of working, after achieving a doctorate in physical therapy, Tracy transitioned to freelance work in marketing. Listen in to hear how she faced the questions, both from others and herself, the imposter syndrome, and the challenges of starting a new career. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing! Episode Highlights Tracy, a physical therapy director, felt unfulfilled and anxious in her 9-5 healthcare job. Pandemic uncertainties pushed her to transition to digital marketing, finding solace in ODEO's tailored support for career shifts. Leaving her secure job, Tracy navigated through a grieving process for her previous profession. And despite missing in-office friendships, she found new camaraderie in the dynamic world of digital marketing.Tracy challenges the notion of university degrees as essential for marketing. ODEO, with its tailored support, exemplifies how knowledge and training are more accessible today. Soft skills from diverse backgrounds seamlessly translate into digital marketing.Tracy's transition from a corporate salary to freelancing involved careful financial planning. She embraced a mindset shift, starting a few rungs lower on the career ladder, valuing service and adding value. Imposter syndrome is tackled through accountability and recognizing growth. Episode Links: Tracy’s LinkedInOptidge Website Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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009: Mandela's '94 Campaign, Smart TV's, and BMW - A Top Creative Director's Journey with Louis Gavin
009: Mandela's '94 Campaign, Smart TV's, and BMW - A Top Creative Director's Journey with Louis Gavin
Mar 15, 2023
39:04
Louis Gavin has cultivated a respect for creativity and unique approaches to advertising over his illustrious career. Hear how he was an essential element of Nelson Mandela’s presidential campaign in 1994, worked through the transition to digital advertising in the auto industry, and his thoughts on the best way to be a creative director, leader, and mentor on this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor. Episode Highlights[13:27] Being a good creative director means being able to overcome your fear of your employees being better than you and being able to shape and influence their approaches, strategies, and styles rather than forcing your own. Creating a culture of learning and mentorship is the best, but it requires a strong, confident leader.[20:05] Louis Gavin was a vital element of the advertising campaign for Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to be elected to the South African presidency in 1994. Their campaign focused on educating many of the people of South Africa about the reality lived by many others and garnering sympathy while also building the image that Mandela was the voice of reason, democracy, and human rights. [32:05] Through his work with Wurl, Louis has seen a new approach to advertising, even within the digital age. This new approach can near-immediately aggregate advertising to a given audience who it tracks is watching a streaming program at that moment. This could lead to the lessening importance of creativity, but Louis hopes not because creativity is still where you find the magic in advertising. Episode LinksGuestLinkedInFacebookWits School of ArtTBWA/Chiat/DayAfrican National CongressWurl Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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017: A Tale of Two Languages, Two Master’s Degrees, and Two Homes with Aurora Losada
017: A Tale of Two Languages, Two Master’s Degrees, and Two Homes with Aurora Losada
May 10, 2023
46:15
Aurora Losada came to Houston, by way of Columbia University in New York, from Madrid, Spain. She worked many years in journalism and is now Microsoft’s Global Communications Manager for Latin America. With the guidance and support from some fantastic mentors along the way, Aurora has learned much about how to lead and utilize tools like generative AI and ChatGPT. In this episode, you’ll learn so much about how mentorship can drive a brilliant, hard worker like Aurora. Episode Highlights:Aurora Losada was born and raised in Spain. Her father was the CEO of one of the largest publishing companies in Europe and helped instill an amazing work ethic in her. He encouraged her to follow her vision of going into journalism. After attending college in the United States, she loved it so much that she made it permanent and became a US Citizen. Aurora has had many amazing mentors over the years, including our very own Danny Gavin, The Digital Marketing Mentor. All of her mentors have guided, advised, and supported her with no expectation of personal gain. They were always there to answer questions and open doors for her, as a good mentor should. When it comes to AI and content generation, Aurora has many thoughts. She believes generative AI specifically is being created to be an amazing tool that supports humans rather than the inverse. She’s used it herself with help on projects in the past, but it doesn’t do her job for her. It’s an administrative assistant that is useless without human prompts and input. As far as content generation and AI are concerned, Aurora believes it is a very useful tool for summaries, drafts, and brainstorming, but you must always double-check the output and review the sources and add the human mind back into the content. Episode Links:Aurora LosadaLinkedInTwitter Columbia School of JournalismColumbia School of International and Public AffairsNews Literacy Project of HoustonPodcasts The Hard Fork by the New York TimesOn with Kara SwisherAppleSpotifyDare to Lead with Brene Brown Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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016: Investing in Startups and Mentoring with Daniel Cotlar
016: Investing in Startups and Mentoring with Daniel Cotlar
May 3, 2023
39:01
Daniel Cotlar learned early on that he enjoyed the creative, risky, high-energy startup world, and after learning much over his years working at them, now invests and mentors startups. He is passionate about helping others and learning from them. In this episode, he discusses his steps to a successful startup business and mentoring relationships, and some of the stumbling blocks he’s found along the way. Episode Highlights:Daniel Cotlar learned early in his life that he preferred working in smaller, more risk-taking, creative environments. This ultimately led him to work with Jay Steinfeld at Blinds.com. Jay has been a pivotal influence and mentor for Daniel and taught him about his core values, structure, and more. Daniel believes a mentor must want what’s best for their mentee. There should be some flexible structure, and they should focus more on asking questions than simply dumping solutions. Through his work as an investor and board member, Daniel does a lot of mentoring these days. He believes it’s essential for new businesses to just go for it: get the product out of the idea stage and into the customer’s hands as quickly as possible, with as little cost as possible. Then you can observe, learn, and improve. It is also imperative for a new business to have product-market fit. If you can prove this, you will find investors. The experience of attending a yeshiva, a traditional Jewish college, and learning to study the Talmud taught Daniel how to distill complicated logic, find patterns, debate, and reason. These elements have served him very well over his marketing career.Daniel believes Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is a valuable statistic, but it's true power lies not in itself as a solitary number. Instead, it lies in finding trends and differentiating between customer sets, campaigns, and time periods. For new businesses, you will have to start with a gap-filled estimate. But over time, you will fill those gaps and refine that number. Remember, though, that achieving and expanding CLV will get more difficult over the life of a company. Episode Links: Daniel Cotlar - LinkedInTwitterLead from the Core - Jay Steinfeld Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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015: Finding a Match in Technical SEO with Chris Long
015: Finding a Match in Technical SEO with Chris Long
Apr 26, 2023
45:37
Chris Long is the VP of Marketing at Go Fish Digital and has found himself there through a curvy road that began in finance in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He’s learned a lot about key traits in a mentor, content strategy, and technical SEO along the way. Be sure to listen to this episode to hear how he customizes his strategy in all things mentorship, technical SEO, and more! Episode Highlights:Chris Long came from a background in finance and discovered the world of digital marketing. He’s learned it welcomes people from all backgrounds and experiences. At his first job, he worked closely with the small business owner and got an inside look at how a business operated and how marketing folded into the larger landscape.A mentor should be different things for different people; there is no one-size-fits-all approach. A mentor should guide you and help you perform at peak capacity. Chris has drawn certain traits from past mentors and uses those in his life now and tries to pass them on to his mentees. An innate curiosity for problem-solving, self-sufficiency, and empathy are key to a good mentor relationship. Chris is a frequent content creator, whether that is written content shared on various publications and LinkedIn, or through his talks at many conferences on digital marketing. He is influenced by those topics both from external inspiration, seeing someone else discussing a topic, and internal curiosity. The stories he is most drawn to tend to be experimental, where someone has a hypothesis and tries it to see how it would play out. Episode Links: State of Search ConferenceChris's Social Media LinkedInTwitterThe Splash Newsletter by Go Fish DigitalBooksHigh Output Management by Andrew S. GroveHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieOutliers by Malcolm GladwellHow to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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014: Founding Startups, Fractional CMOs, and Facing ChatGPT with Mosheh Poltorak
014: Founding Startups, Fractional CMOs, and Facing ChatGPT with Mosheh Poltorak
Apr 19, 2023
55:39
Mosheh has done marketing for many startup businesses over the years and has learned a lot from those experiences. He now runs a fractional CMO firm (don’t worry, we define what that means) and is pushing the use of ChatGPT and AI as powerful tools in the marketing world. In this episode, he also tells us his key tactic for a successful mentor relationship. Episode Highlights:Mosheh has worked for many startup companies over the years, from a virtual currency startup to a software and medical device company. He always envisioned himself in that working environment, the entrepreneurial one. After passing on neuropsychology and legal as potential career paths, he landed on marketing. He appreciates how it blends together left and right-brained thought work. For him, a mentor is someone who has experience in the career you are in and can help guide you in your path. Scheduling, planning, and adhering to a one-on-one meeting with your mentee is imperative to a successful relationship. A mentor should also diplomatically give honest feedback in a way that is direct and truly helpful. Finally, mentors should be open to feedback from their mentees and truly implement change based on that information. Mosheh believes ChatGPT and AI are powerful tools at our disposal. They will be abused like all tools before them, but they can be used responsibly to improve efficiency and performance for almost every business. We need to focus on being human and learning to work with AI because we are humans, and it never will be. Episode Links Mosheh - LinkedInMosheh - TwitterGrwth.coProduct Market Fit PodcastAppleSpotify Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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013: Office Hours | Making Alphabet Soup for Lead Quality: PPC, UTM, CRM, and More with Brianna Deboever
013: Office Hours | Making Alphabet Soup for Lead Quality: PPC, UTM, CRM, and More with Brianna Deboever
Apr 11, 2023
38:15
Brianna Deboever discusses how marketing can be a great blending of worlds when it comes to being creatively and analytically minded. She and Danny chat about how important it is to track, understand, organize, and share lead quality rather than just quantity when optimizing paid campaigns. Finally, they review how CRMs and UTMs come in very handy to do just those things to bring about a successful, high-quality lead-generating campaign. An Optidge "Office Hours" EpisodeOur Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode HighlightsLead quality is a key element often overlooked by agencies. Customer Relationship Management is a platform or program that stores and organizes data relating to leads to better inform the marketing team to optimize the campaigns and conversion process. UTMs are specific parameters appended to a URL when a user visits your website that denotes the source, medium, campaigns, and more that brought them to your website. It’s essential to track the quality of a lead to ensure you’re not optimizing on flawed data. This means connecting UTMs to one’s CRM so you can track the sources and more, bringing in truly viable and high-quality leads. One must also ensure they track all types of conversions, including phone calls. CRMs can be incredibly helpful for marketing a business, but utilizing them must be a priority. Optidge recommends assigning one or two team members the goal and focus of updating, grading, and disseminating the information in the CRM. This is imperative to ensure up-to-date, useful data is used to optimize PPC campaigns and marketing efforts. Guest + Episode LinksBrianna DeboeverLinkedInInstagram Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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012: Bringing Out the Sparkle and Shine in Others and Diamonds with Brian Gavin
012: Bringing Out the Sparkle and Shine in Others and Diamonds with Brian Gavin
Apr 5, 2023
39:44
Brian Gavin is a mentor, renowned jeweler, innovative businessman, and father to The Digital Marketing Mentor. In this episode, you’ll hear about how he grew up in South Africa, took the leap to America with his family and started selling diamonds online, in a time when that was practically unheard of. Be sure to listen in to learn his tips for mentorship and marketing for truly drawing out the sparkle within.Episode HighlightsBrian grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father and grandfather were both key mentors to him growing up. They instilled an unwavering dedication to perfection and presentation. They also taught him that if he had to the drive to do something, he could do it. This helped give him the courage to move from South Africa to the United States with a wife and young child, where he would launch his own diamond brand and be one of the first to sell diamonds online. He’s long been a mentor figure to many in his orbit. He believes encouragement and the passing of knowledge are key in a mentoring relationship. Additionally, you need to find someone who is open, a good listener, and empathetic. Brian has created numerous new diamond cuts and different brand lines under the Brian Gavin Diamonds umbrella. He was never one to turn away from something originally shunned by society, like blue fluorescence in diamonds. Instead, he found how to highlight the uniqueness and true sparkle of each individual piece. Episode Links BrianGavinDiamonds.comSocial MediaInstagramTikTokTwitterLinkedInBrian Gavin Blue Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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011: The Transition from Agency Owner to Next Generation Leader: A Journey of Mentorship with Allie Danziger
011: The Transition from Agency Owner to Next Generation Leader: A Journey of Mentorship with Allie Danziger
Mar 29, 2023
43:49
Allie Danziger joins Danny on the Digital Marketing Mentor to discuss her many mentors, such as her parents, her first boss, and some of her many employees. She also discusses how she transitioned from running one of Texas' most successful pr and social media agencies to training and teaching young professionals the tricks to being effective in the workplace. Be sure to listen in to hear her fantastic book recommendations as well! Episode Highlights[5:41] To Allie Danziger, a mentor can be anyone higher or lower than you in a company, regardless of experience or age. A mentor is someone who can and will spend time on the relationship and be transparent. They should also know something you don’t know that you would like to know, and they can’t be focused on their own ego. [8:00] Over the years, Allie’s mentors have been her parents, a boss, friends, and employees. She’s learned many different life and career skills from all of them. It is essential to her that you have an open mind and growth mindset so you can take in and learn from those around you. [27:50] After many years running Integrate, a digital marketing and PR agency, Allie now runs Ampersand. Ampersand trains young professionals and those new to the professional landscape with all of the “behind-the-scenes” knowledge about being effective in a workplace. They also help managers better retain their talent by sharing information and data on the interns they hire from her so they can better manage and encourage them. Episode LinksAllie DanzigerLinkedInAmpersandBooksRocket Fuel by Gino Wickman, Mark C. WintersThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronWorkquake by Steve CadiganThe Happiness Project by Gretchen RubinUniversity of Texas - Public Relations Program Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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010: Music, Mentorship, and Making Content with Glenn Taylor of Skybound Coaching
010: Music, Mentorship, and Making Content with Glenn Taylor of Skybound Coaching
Mar 22, 2023
45:31
Dive into the world of music and professional coaching with Glenn Taylor. Learn how he went from being CMO of the Houston Symphony to coaching individuals and teams on how to be great leaders and foster a culture of feedback. You’ll also hear how impactful and fun organic content creation has been for Glenn and Skybound Coaching, not to mention the many mentors that guided Glenn on his journey. Episode Highlights[1:32] Glenn came to the world of mentorship and marketing via music. He got his degree in music business and then, after some years of work there, became the CMO of the Houston Symphony. He then transitioned to his own coaching business, though the path was not straight and simple and required he take some risks. [12:23] To Glenn, the definitions of coach and mentor are distinct, though the lines will be blurred at times as a mentor needs to don his coaching hat and vice versa. A coach is meant to guide you and, rather than giving you the answers, help draw them out of you. A mentor is more advice-based and shares their experiences and strategies that have worked for them over the years. [15:00] Glenn’s mentors over the years have been many. First was Susan Lieberman, a professor of a leadership course. Then, Matthew VanBesien, the GM, and CEO of the Houston Symphony, taught him a lot about trust and risk. Pat Flynn, whom Glenn has never met, has inspired him as a master content creator. And finally, Chris Kenny, hired initially as a sales coach by Glenn became a mentor and friend. [29:45] Constructive criticism can be difficult for many, and Glenn notes how important it is to develop a mindset of welcoming feedback. He helps to create cultures of feedback with his clients and highlights the terminology of “developmental” or “improvement-based feedback” might be easier to digest. [35:55] Glenn has bought into the strategy of organic content creation since the inception of his business. He began writing and enjoying the creation of all forms of content when he first launched his website. It has resulted in an amazing website with a vast library of content showcasing his knowledge and expertise. Episode Links Glenn TaylorGoSkybound.com Social MediaInstagramTwitterFacebookSkybound leadership podcastSkybound Coaching on YoutubeLoyola University Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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018: The ABC’s of Mentoring and SEO Marketing: Always Be Creative with Batli Joselevitz
018: The ABC’s of Mentoring and SEO Marketing: Always Be Creative with Batli Joselevitz
May 17, 2023
25:54
Creative Director, SEO lover, photography enthusiast, and creative wanderer, Batli, is here to discuss how her journey through a journalism degree in college and living on both coasts of the United States led her to the technical SEO realm. Through joining university organizations, mentoring younger students, and learning about internet marketing, Batli’s creativity has always been a driving force. Her focus on the leadership traits of her chosen mentors has helped her learn about how she thrives at being a student of life. We promise you’ll learn plenty from her story on The Digital Marketing Mentor.Episode Highlights:Batli’s path to the world of SEO wasn’t a straight and easy one. She got her education in photography and journalism from the University of Texas. She eventually found her way to Optidge where she learned, through trying, that SEO and SEO content were the niche in which she wanted to be. The Google Helpful Content Update was being rolled out at the time of our chat with Batli. Google was trying to direct SEO-ers to focus on making content with a people-first mindset, as opposed to an algorithm-first approach. We don’t yet know what the impact will be, but it will likely be good for users and harder for good marketers to be seen as everyone starts making better content. Mentorship and being mentored, for Batli, are really more about the personality of the mentor, rather than the technical skills within a given industry or platform. A mentor must lead with empathy and for the mentee to feel like they’re heard. Batli has taken these traits and now uses them as she mentors others. Episode Links: University of Texas Journalism DegreeThe Daily TexanUT Fashion GroupGoogle Helpful Content Update: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update https://searchengineland.com/google-helpful-content-update-is-now-done-rolling-out-387832https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-helpful-content-update-rolls-out-7-things-to-know/462610/ Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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008: Barbershop Quartets, Blinds.com, and Being True to Your Core Values with Jay Steinfeld
008: Barbershop Quartets, Blinds.com, and Being True to Your Core Values with Jay Steinfeld
Mar 8, 2023
51:55
Jay Steinfeld launched Blinds.com, an e-commerce store, in 1996, eventually selling it to Home Depot in 2014. This bold but measured decision would characterize many of his subsequent career decisions. Listen in to hear Jay discuss how he is always learning, being mentored, and mentoring others, every day of his life - and how you should too! Episode Highlights [6:00] Jay shares how being a part of a barbershop quartet for 50 years has taught him many life and business skills, especially how to be on stage despite being an introvert.[8:03] If your employees need more skill at something, you should let them learn about it. Allow them to sit in on meetings from other departments, even if it isn’t their job. [9:37] If you want to move up in a company, do not view the path as a ladder. Instead, view yourself as a sponge. [11:38] Jay shares his definition of a mentor: anyone who systematically helps someone figure out NOT what they should DO but how they should THINK. Everyone who has someone working for them is a mentor. [17:54] Jay’s shares his keys to success in mentoring others.[28:57] Learn the difference between mentoring students vs mentoring a direct report.[33:35] Jay took the risk of breaking into the e-Commerce world in the very early days to sell blinds online.[44:19] Jay shares the journey of discovering his personal core values. Episode Links VistageBlinds.comThe University of Texas, BBA in Accounting ProgramGuest LinksLinkedInWebsiteTwitterPodcastsCafe InsiderAll In Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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007: Rebounds in Basketball and Business with Marketing Refresh's Terri Hoffman
007: Rebounds in Basketball and Business with Marketing Refresh's Terri Hoffman
Mar 1, 2023
44:40
Terri Hoffman is the CEO of Marketing Refresh, a digital agency that specializes in the construction and industrial industries. Follow along and learn about the many ways basketball, leadership, construction, and data audits have all come together to bring Terri through her career in digital marketing today! Episode Highlights[1:22] Being a member and captain of her college basketball team taught Terri about teamwork and accountability, skills she now uses daily when running her own agency.[6:50] To Terri, mentorship is about someone with more knowledge and experience, which you can go to for advice and counseling. They need to be someone with whom you can feel vulnerable and can be transparent without the worry of feeling judged. [8:27] Terri shares how her mentors helped her embody her leadership style, and how “rough and tough” doesn't really work in today’s business world. [15:26] Terri shares about an early mistake in her career with her first clients and how she rebounded.[20:47] Now, Terri mentors each of her employees. She has weekly one-on-one coaching calls where they discuss practical work matters and where they feel challenged and need extra support. [25:23] Terri shares why she loves small business consulting.[29:39] Ready. Aim. Aim. Aim. Aim. Aim. Aim. Fire. [32:35] How Terri helps clients used to 'traditional' marketing adapt to and learn the online world. Episode Links Michigan Tech - Marketing ProgramGoldman Sachs 10K Small Business ProgramGuest LinksMarketing Refresh LinkedIn - Terri Hoffman Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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006: Mentorship, Media Buying, and Motivation with Cory Henke
006: Mentorship, Media Buying, and Motivation with Cory Henke
Feb 22, 2023
57:24
Cory Henke’s path to his current stop, leading his media buying and analytics agency, is anything but a straight line. From convincing his college basketball coach to let him walk on as a novice to being taken into investor meetings by his last boss and CEO, Cory’s learned a lot of things by being unafraid to ask questions, take risks, and be the best at whatever role is needed, especially if that role is ‘Dad.’ Episode Highlights[1:27] Cory shares how being an unlikely member of the basketball team at California Lutheran University taught him how to mold yourself to the a role and the importance of experience.[6:38] A mentor is someone willing to tell you the truth. They don't need anything from you, and are willing to spend the time to help mold you.[7:28] Cory's first mentor and boss, Cat, was ruthless, but helped instill a sense of urgency and the importance of being a team member. [13:19] Cory shares how he found himself loving the combination of disruption and innovation that digital marketing brings when working with a particular client - Mormon.org.[18:05] A position at Molio brought Cory to Utah and spurred the launch of his own agency.[23:55] Now, Cory is the mentor, and focuses on doing it all with transparency and love, allowing his employees the space and freedom to grow.[29:00] Cory shares his keys to mentoring success[30:00] Learn why Cory lists the role of 'Dad' first in his LinkedIn bio.[32:29] Cory's favorite element of digital marketing is data - he believes it's the gold to success in this field, and wants to be the best at mining it.[34:40] Why does YouTube hold such a place of focus for Cory?[38:32] Beginning in 2020 and into 2021, scaling a business required a talented media buyer. In the last year, successful scaling has come from those focusing on product innovation.[44:54] Cory shares is top 3 tips for getting into media buying[47:31] Cory shares why Variable Media's website uses Notion Episode Links California Lutheran UniversityYouTube ChannelsPaid Media ProsLex FridmanAndrew HubermanCory HenkeVariable MediaTwitterLinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.
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005: Office Hours | Applying Linguistics to SEO Content Strategy with Mandy Politi
005: Office Hours | Applying Linguistics to SEO Content Strategy with Mandy Politi
Feb 15, 2023
41:45
We discuss the purpose, benefits, and process of a solid SEO content writing strategy with Mandy Politi, a Senior SEO Strategist at Optidge. Her career journey began as a child in the Greek education system with a strong focus on written content, continued with a degree in linguistics, and has led to a passionate approach to creating ever-evolving content briefs for writers and valuable content for consumers. Get ready for SEO Content Writing 101 in this episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor. An Optidge "Office Hours" EpisodeOur Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!Episode Highlights[1:28] Mandy is Optidge’s Senior SEO Strategist. She grew up in Greece, moved to Scotland to get her Master's degree in Applied Linguistics, and now lives in Mexico City. Her primary education in Greece certainly influenced her decision to go into the field of Search Engine Optimization with a focus on written content. [6:52] What does it mean to “write for SEO?”[8:00] Why is SEO content important and what's the goal of optimizing content?[11:50] Consider a hypothetical scenario. An orthodontist only supplies Invisalign and does not offer traditional braces. Is it okay for them to write content to try and rank for “braces?” [14:40] Mandy shares her process for writing for SEO[23:45] For true optimization, you must go back and review the content you’ve published after a month or two. Has the content been indexed? Does it rank for what was originally intended? [26:18] Mandy isn’t always writing the content herself. She shares how she works with other writers by providing them with content briefs.[34:36] The Greek education system was probably Mandy’s biggest mentor for SEO content. In Greece, every single year of formal education teaches you how to write, why you’ll write a certain way, different structures, what makes content good, and the skill of summarizing content and ideas. Guest + Episode Links The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert IgerAtomic Habits by James ClearDon’t Shoot the Dog by Karen PryorMandy Politi | LinkedIn Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor: Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com Instagram: @thedmmentor Linkedin: @thedmmentor YouTube: @thedmmentor Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family: Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations. ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.