

The SDM Show
Rob Cairns
The SDM Show discusses all things Business, Marketing and WordPress. This show was formerly known as The SDM Business, Marketing and WordPress Show.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 23, 2025 • 36min
Episode 586 Order Entry and Customer Experience in E-commerce With Hamish McKay
The SDM Show, hosted by Rob Cairns, focuses on business, life, and digital marketing, with a particular emphasis on WordPress. This episode features an interview with Hamish McKay, co-founder of Ordered Editing.com, a software solution for Shopify e-commerce brands. McKay discusses how his experience in a chaotic internship led him to identify a critical customer service gap: the inability for customers to easily edit orders post-purchase. His company's product addresses this by allowing self-service modifications, significantly reducing support tickets and enhancing customer satisfaction. The conversation also explores the product's features, pricing, development, and marketing strategies, highlighting the value of empowering customers and streamlining operations in the e-commerce landscape.

Aug 22, 2025 • 36min
Episode 585 Amazon Product Videos: Enhancing Visuals for Online Sales With SG
This source presents a podcast interview with SG, the founder of Dobby Ads, an agency specializing in creating images and videos for Amazon product listings. SG explains how his background at Amazon and an early client's need for creative content led to the formation of his company. The discussion highlights the increasing importance of high-quality visual content for Amazon sellers, especially post-COVID, to differentiate products and enhance the customer experience. SG also shares insights into Dobby Ads' operations, including their remote team in India, their competitive pricing, and the impact of AI on their creative processes. The conversation concludes with advice for Amazon sellers on optimizing their listings through A/B testing, good storefronts, effective PPC campaigns, and crucial lighting for product photography.

Aug 21, 2025 • 33min
Episode 584 Show Me The Money With Bud Kraus
This text originates from a podcast episode of "The SDM Show" hosted by Rob Cairns, featuring Bud Kraus. The discussion centers on the practicalities and benefits of podcasting, particularly regarding obtaining sponsorships and generating revenue. Both hosts share their experiences with podcasting, emphasizing the importance of building connections within their communities and how these relationships can lead to financial opportunities through sponsorships, client referrals, and content creation. They also touch upon the repurposing of content through various mediums like newsletters and e-books, and the transformative impact of AI tools in streamlining podcast production and content generation.

Aug 18, 2025 • 20min
Episode 583 SEO With Warren Laine-Naida All About Backlinks
This podcast episode, hosted by Rob Cairns from Stunning Digital Marketing, features SEO expert Warren Laine-Naida discussing the enduring relevance of link building in digital marketing. Laine-Naida emphasizes that while the methods have evolved from simply accumulating numerous links to focusing on quality and purpose, link building remains a crucial ranking factor for search engines like Google and AI search. He advises building meaningful connections and creating valuable content that naturally attracts links, recommending strategies tailored to different business types, from competitive industries to local small businesses. Ultimately, the discussion stresses that visibility is key in SEO, and strategic link building, prioritizing helpfulness and relationships, is vital for achieving it.

Aug 14, 2025 • 15min
Episode 582 Agency Chat With Ryan Waterbury Why You Need To Take a Vacation
In "Episode 582 Agency Chat With Ryan Waterbury - Why You Need To Take a Vacation," hosts Rob Cairns and Ryan Waterbury emphasize the critical importance of solo agency owners and business professionals taking time off for their mental and physical well-being. They argue that despite client pressures and the ease of working from home, regular breaks, whether a full vacation or short daily unplugging moments, are essential to prevent burnout and maintain productivity. The discussion also touches on client expectations, prioritizing tasks, and planning for time off by delegating responsibilities and ensuring business continuity. Ultimately, the episode advocates for viewing personal time as a valuable commodity, arguing that self-care is foundational to long-term business and client success.

Aug 13, 2025 • 31min
Episode 581 Marketing With Bridget Willard Why a Website Care Plan is Part of your Marketing
In this podcast transcript, Rob Cairns, CEO of Stunning Digital Marketing, hosts Bridget Willard to discuss the crucial role of website care plans in a business's marketing strategy. They emphasize that a website is a 24/7 employee and a vital part of a company's infrastructure, requiring continuous updates, security, and maintenance. The discussion highlights the dangers of neglecting website care, such as security breaches, reputational damage, and loss of potential sales, advocating for websites to be viewed as a source of truth for sales and marketing efforts. Both Cairns and Willard stress the importance of investing in professional website management, reliable hosting, and distinct domain registration to ensure a business's online presence is effective and secure, urging business owners to prioritize core business activities over DIY website management. They conclude by discussing how websites should be optimized for user experience and conversion, especially for mobile users, rather than solely focusing on elaborate design.

Aug 11, 2025 • 37min
Episode 580 WordCamp Canada with Dan Knauss and Troy Chaplin
In this particular episode, Rob Cairns interviews Dan Knauss and Troy Chaplin about the upcoming WordCamp Canada event, also known as WordCamp A. The conversation covers various aspects of the event, including its new three-day format with an added contributor day, the keynote speakers Dave Winer and Evan Prodromou, and the diverse range of topics and workshops planned. The hosts also emphasize the community aspect of WordCamps, share travel tips for attendees, and discuss the future of WordCamp Canada.

Aug 8, 2025 • 46min
Episode 579 Flow vs. Force: Entrepreneurial Growth & Mindset Jason Friedman
This podcast episode features Rob Cairns and Jason Friedman discussing growth strategies for entrepreneurs. They highlight the common misconception that growth solely equates to revenue, advocating instead for a holistic approach encompassing team development, client base expansion, increased impact, and profitability. Friedman shares his personal journey and the concept of "flow vs. force," urging entrepreneurs to adopt a more receptive and less forceful approach to achieving success and avoiding burnout. They also emphasize the critical role of personal growth, mindset, and effective time management in an entrepreneur's journey, suggesting techniques like journaling and focusing on a few high-impact tasks.

Aug 7, 2025 • 57min
Episode 578 Team Collaboration, AI, and WordPress Business Evolution With Andrew Palmer
This podcast features an interview with Andrew Palmer, who discusses the new AI-powered "teammates" being integrated into Atarim, a WordPress website feedback and project management platform. These AI teammates, such as Lexi (proofreader), Index (SEO master), Nav'i (accessibility expert), Pixel (UI/UX expert), Glitch (link checker), and Claro (client clarity), aim to streamline web development by automating various checks and providing actionable insights. Palmer also shares his personal journey, including a severe back injury that led him to sell his previous business and ultimately join Atarim, highlighting the importance of mental health and work-life balance for entrepreneurs. The discussion further touches upon the "Do It For Me" (DIFM) service offered by Atarim for hosts and the philosophy of using preferred tools in WordPress development.

Aug 6, 2025 • 48min
Episode 577 Mind Shifting Wiith Mitch Weisburgh
This podcast episode, from The SDM Show hosted by Rob Cairns, features an interview with Mitch Weisburgh, an expert in "mind shifting." The discussion centers on Weisburgh's framework of mind shifting, which encompasses resourcefulness, resilience, and collaboration/conflict resolution. They explore the importance of mental well-being, setting boundaries, and how individuals can reframe their thinking to navigate challenges and foster healthier relationships. The conversation also highlights the applicability of mind-shifting principles across various ages and professional settings, with Weisburgh's book on resourcefulness and upcoming book on conflict serving as key resources.