Marketing Speak

Most businesses expect AI to cut content costs in half and triple output. That fantasy rarely survives contact with reality. In this episode of Marketing Speak, I sat down with Eric Enge—founder of Pilot Holding, my co-author on all four editions of The Art of SEO, and author of Using Generative AI for SEO—to discuss what actually works with AI in marketing. Eric has built and sold four companies, including the award-winning Stone Temple Consulting. His latest insights cut through the AI hype to reveal sustainable strategies: ✅ Why 25-30% efficiency gains (not 4x productivity) is the realistic target  ✅ What large language models do exceptionally well vs. where they consistently fall short  ✅ Why link building isn't dead and multi-channel presence matters more than ever  ✅ How covering low search volume topics demonstrates true expertise  ✅ The real truth about Google's "just create great content" advice If you're tired of empty AI promises and want strategies that deliver real results, this conversation will recalibrate your approach. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/525.

Todd Herman, author of The Alter Ego Effect and high-performance coach, shares groundbreaking strategies for entrepreneurs to boost productivity. He argues that focusing on one 90-day goal, rather than spreading efforts thin across multiple projects, can lead to better achievements. Todd discusses the importance of clarity in calendars and how theme days can create momentum. He emphasizes the need for fully finishing tasks before starting new ones, fixing meeting inefficiencies, and utilizing meditation to enhance focus and flow.

📉 Losing profit to unclear processes or ghosting clients? In this Marketing Speak episode, Melissa Morris reveals why most agencies leak profit—and how to fix it with better onboarding, clearer deliverables, and data-backed pricing. Whether you're drowning in Slack messages or tired of clients ghosting your team, this episode gives you the tools to fix it—fast. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/523.

🚨Podcasters: If you're ignoring YouTube, you're flushing growth down the algorithmic toilet. In this episode of Marketing Speak, I break down why YouTube is non-negotiable—even if your download numbers are laughably low. 🎯 Inside the episode: • The lazy podcaster's guide to turning transcripts into SEO machines • How to clone your content with the "Evil Twin" strategy • Why your client interviews should be stealth case studies • The 3 SEO pillars every podcaster must master (yes, even you) 700 downloads? 70,000? Doesn't matter. If you're podcasting without a strategy, you're podcasting blind. ▶️ Listen now. Your podcast deserves better than page 9 of Google. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/522.

While everyone's panicking about AI killing website traffic, one client scaled from 2M to 13M monthly visits. In the latest episode of Marketing Speak, design expert Greg Merrilees reveals how WhatIsMyIPAddress.com achieved explosive growth by building authority—not just pretty websites. Learn the exact architecture that beats AI Overviews and Google's traffic death spiral. This episode is a blueprint for future-proofing your brand. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/521.

The marketing game has fundamentally changed. While most businesses still chase website clicks, AI is forming opinions about your brand before anyone visits your site. In my latest Marketing Speak episode, Dixon Jones (CEO of InLinks and former Global Brand Ambassador for Majestic) reveals why traditional SEO metrics are becoming obsolete. Dixon, who's earned the Queen's Award for Enterprise and UK Search Personality of the Year, shares how large language models make purchasing recommendations based on entity knowledge, not keyword rankings. Here's the reality: When someone asks ChatGPT or Claude for business recommendations, the decision happens in the AI response - not after clicking your website. Dixon's new tool audits what AI actually knows about your business versus competitors, revealing critical gaps that could cost you customers. Tune in! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/520.

What if putting yourself first actually grew your business instead of hurting it? Sagi Shrieber, first designer at Fiverr and SimilarWeb, scaled his design agency to seven figures while working LESS hours. His secret? The "Nine to Twelve Rule" - blocking 9 AM to 12 PM daily for personal time before any client meetings. The counterintuitive result: Higher productivity, better client relationships, and sustainable growth without burnout. In our latest Marketing Speak episode, Sagi reveals why most entrepreneurs have it backwards and shares his exact framework for setting boundaries that actually increase revenue. 🎧 Listen now! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/519.

Danny Iny, founder of Mirasee and a Harvard Business Review contributor, shares insights on leveraging AI for business growth. He argues that many entrepreneurs misuse AI, missing huge opportunities. By treating AI as a strategic partner rather than just a tool, you can amplify your unique perspective. He also emphasizes the importance of adaptability in uncertain times and how a positive mindset amid technology can foster innovation. Iny advocates for thoughtful AI use to enhance communication, especially during challenging interactions.

AI is reshaping how content gets discovered, and many publishers are watching their traffic disappear. But here's what most don't realize: Google Discover now accounts for 65% of publisher traffic with CTRs 4x higher than traditional search. John Shehata, founder of NewzDash and former global audience growth leader at Condé Nast (60+ brands), reveals the survival strategies publishers need right now. From query fan-out optimization to AI summarization buttons that actually increase engagement, John breaks down what's working in this new landscape. Sites blaming AI for traffic decline often had deeper content and branding issues long before AI arrived. Smart publishers are pivoting to owned audience channels and passage-based optimization. Listen to episode 517 of Marketing Speak to discover the frameworks that help content creators thrive as AI reshapes discovery and consumption. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/517.

🚀 Most authors waste thousands chasing vanity metrics like Amazon "Best Seller" tags. In this Marketing Speak episode, Alex Strathdee takes a different approach—helping authors get their books into the right hands to generate leads, build authority, and drive real business growth. With 1,000+ nonfiction books marketed, Alex shares why giving away free copies can sometimes be your smartest move—and how to use Amazon & Meta ads strategically to scale. 🎧 Listen now to learn how to turn your book into a lead-gen engine! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/516.