The Agents of Change Digital Marketing Podcast

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by the constant changes in Facebook and Pinterest advertising, you're not alone. Between iOS updates killing our targeting superpowers and algorithms that seem to change faster than a toddler's mood, it's enough to make any marketer want to throw in the towel. But here's the thing: while the platforms have evolved, the opportunities haven't disappeared—they've just shifted. Today's guest, Karen Nelson, manages millions in Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest ad spend for her clients, and she's got some refreshing insights that might just change how you think about paid social. Instead of chasing the latest hack or trying to game the system, Karen's approach focuses on something we sometimes forget in our quest for the perfect campaign: being authentically human. Buckle up, because we're about to dive into what's actually working right now. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/599 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

Join Jay Baer, a business growth and customer experience expert, as he dives into the world of AI and what sets brands apart. He emphasizes the significance of the human touch in a marketplace saturated with technology. Discover how small, meaningful connections can enhance customer loyalty and serve as your competitive advantage. Baer discusses balancing AI efficiencies with personal interactions, the impact on workforce dynamics, and the necessity of fostering human relationships for lasting success.

Most small business owners treat their Google Business Profile like it's some afterthought—maybe they fill out the name and address and call it good. But here's the thing: your Google Business Profile is basically the homepage of your business online. It's often the first impression potential customers get, and it's your ticket to showing up in those coveted top three map pack results. My guest today, Greg Gifford from SearchLab, has been helping businesses crack the local SEO code for over two decades, and he's got some eye-opening insights about what actually moves the needle (spoiler: it's not what you think). From category selection strategies that seem counterintuitive to why your business might get suspended for something as innocent as updating your hours, Greg breaks down everything you need to know to dominate local search. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/597 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

Your customers aren't making decisions the way you think they are. They're not carefully weighing pros and cons or conducting rational cost-benefit analyses. Instead, they're relying on mental shortcuts—psychological triggers that happen so fast they don't even realize it's happening. Richard Shotton has spent over two decades studying these invisible forces, and in this episode, he reveals how small businesses can harness the same psychological principles that power billion-dollar brands. From the counterintuitive reason why listing fewer benefits can boost sales to the simple trick that makes any promotion 59% more appealing, these aren't theoretical concepts—they're proven tactics you can implement today to change how people think about your business. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/596 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

You know that feeling when you hear "link building" and immediately think of sketchy tactics that'll get your site penalized? Yeah, me too. But here's the thing—while the spammy guest posting networks got nuked by Google's helpful content updates, the smart marketers pivoted to something way more sustainable: digital PR. My guest today, Vince Nero from BuzzStream, spent years at agencies like Siege Media figuring out what actually works (spoiler: it's not buying links from "tech123.com"). Instead of chasing quick wins that blow up in your face, he's going to show you how to create content that journalists actually want to link to—because it's genuinely newsworthy, not because you paid them to care. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/595 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

Nina Clapperton went from hating her job as an estate law clerk to building a seven-figure business through SEO—and she did it by completely ignoring what most "experts" tell you to do. Instead of chasing algorithms and obsessing over backlinks, she focused on something revolutionary: actual humans. Her audience-first approach to SEO has helped her grow blogs to 50,000 sessions in six months and scale to six-figure monthly income. Today, she's sharing how to build SEO sales funnels that guide prospects from "What's SEO?" to "Take my money!" without relying on social media burnout or algorithm guessing games. If you're tired of creating content that ranks but doesn't convert, this conversation will flip your entire approach upside down. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/594 Research on comics vs. traditional text comprehension: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cogs.70081 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

Most business owners hit publish and immediately start planning their victory lap. But here's the uncomfortable truth: pressing publish isn't the finish line—it's barely the starting gun. Ross Simmonds, founder of Foundation and Distribution.ai, has built his career on what happens after you hit that button. In our conversation, he breaks down why your best content is probably gathering digital dust and shares his surprisingly simple framework for turning one piece of content into a distribution goldmine. If you've ever wondered why your brilliant blog post got crickets while someone else's mediocre LinkedIn carousel went viral, this episode will explain everything (and yes, it might sting a little). https://www.theagentsofchange.com/593 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

Email marketing isn't dead—it's just been sleeping on the couch while you've been chasing the latest social media trends. While everyone's panicking about Instagram going down or TikTok's latest algorithm changes, smart marketers know there's one channel that nobody can take away from you: your email list. Today's guest, Jessica Best, has spent over 15 years proving that email isn't just alive—it's got superpowers that make every other marketing channel jealous. She's going to show us exactly how to wake up those powers without turning into the marketer everyone hits "unsubscribe" on. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/592 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

What if the key to growing your business isn't doing more, but listening more? Georgiana Laudi, co-author of Forget the Funnel, explains how customer-led growth flips the script on traditional marketing by using real customer insight to guide strategy, improve onboarding, and uncover the moments that truly move the needle. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/591 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

In a captivating discussion, PR Maven Nancy Marshall shares her 35 years of expertise in navigating the media landscape. She emphasizes that journalists are people too, each with unique preferences. Nancy reveals effective PR strategies tailored for small businesses, highlighting the power of consistency and genuine relationships. She discusses the role of digital platforms like LinkedIn in building connections and the enduring importance of authentic communication. Tune in for insights that can transform media mentions into significant business growth!