Conquer Local Podcast

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 AI automation isn’t about doing everything faster. It’s about deciding what shouldn’t require a human at all. 🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Ashley, AI operator and founder of AI workforce Alliance, who cut her workweek from an unsustainable 80 hours to 25 hours, by systematizing the exact workflows that quietly drain most modern businesses. It’s a real breakdown of the 5 workflows Ashley automated first, and the 11 AI-agent “workforce” she built next. If your team is: • Drowning in inbox + follow-ups • Spending hours repurposing content • Doing the same research before every call • Losing deals after hours (and weekends) • Struggling to define what “sales-ready” actually means This episode will give you a clear playbook for what to automate first and what to protect as human-only work. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • The 5 workflows Ashley automated. • 11 agents that act as 80% of her operational muscle • How to build a content engine that only costs $75 • How to automate your inbox without automating relationships • How to build an after-hours AI agent that qualifies, enriches, and books meetings • How to use an AI CFO persona to stress-test pitch, offer, and closing hook • A simple 3-question filter for deciding what to automate first • Why 2026 will be messy and how to build foundations before you build agents KEY CONCEPTS COVERED IN THIS VIDEO AI workflow automation Content repurposing systems Inbox triage + drafted responses Lead qualification + CRM enrichment After-hours AI agents (chat + voice) SOPs, SLAs, and knowledge bases Renewal prep + relationship intelligence Client sentiment tracking (“happiness meter”) AI CFO roleplay for sales enablement The automation-to-agents autonomy spectrum 2026 readiness: foundations → automations → agents CONNECT WITH ASHLEY GROSS: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/theashleygross/ 🌐 aiworkforcealliance.com/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn ABOUT VENDASTA: Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 AI search isn’t broken. It just doesn’t work the way most people think it does. 🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Chris Long — AI search researcher, co-founder of Nectiv, and one of the leading analysts studying how LLMs actually read, search, and cite the web — to unpack why traditional SEO playbooks are quietly failing in the age of AI. This isn’t about better keywords. It’s not about ranking higher. And it’s definitely not about writing longer content. If your team is: • Ranking well in Google but not getting mentioned by AI • Watching traffic decline while visibility feels unpredictable • Confused by contradictory SEO advice around AI search • Still treating AI like “Google with a chatbot interface” This conversation will finally make AI search make sense. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why AI engines don’t read pages top-to-bottom like Google • How AI uses context windows and “chunking” to extract answers • Why most of your web page may be invisible to AI • How one search can fan out into dozens of unseen queries • Why keyword lists collapse in AI-driven search • What AI engines actually look for when choosing sources • Why tables, bullets, and structure outperform “great writing” • How citations influence ChatGPT and AI Overviews • Why traffic is becoming a vanity metric in a zero-click world • What KPIs actually matter as we move toward 2026 • How to rethink SEO strategy for a world where AI is the reader Key concepts in this episode: AI search Behavior Context windows and content chunking Fan-out queries and query expansion AI vs Google search mechanics Zero-click search and declining CTR Brand mentions vs traffic AI citations and third-party influence Content structure for LLMs Search visibility in 2026 The future of SEO and GEO CONNECT WITH CHRIS LONG 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-long-marketing/ 🌐 https://nectivdigital.com/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn ABOUT VENDASTA Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 Most agencies have a client alignment and retention problem 🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Robert Patin — agency advisor and growth strategist who’s helped firms scale by 800%+ — to unpack where real agency growth actually comes from (and why chasing new logos is usually the slowest, riskiest path). Robert has helped agencies fire up to $2M worth of misaligned clients, not because they weren’t big enough, but because they were quietly killing profitability, morale, and momentum. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • The early warning signs that a client is misaligned • Why clients who nickel-and-dime upfront are the most expensive later • How to calculate effective bill rate per client (and why it’s eye-opening) • Why your lowest-paying clients often drain the most energy • How one agency discovered they were losing $4 per hour on a “top” client • When firing a client is the most profitable decision you can make • How to set and communicate boundaries without damaging relationships • Why retention — not acquisition — drives 70%+ of agency growth • How a 5% increase in retention can unlock massive revenue upside • The simple framework for quarterly business reviews that surface expansion • How to turn one-off projects into 3–4 year retainers • Why agencies already have the clients they need to hit their next revenue milestone • How a single outreach email uncovered $1–2M in revenue in 90 days • Why value articulation — not more work — keeps clients longer If you’re an agency owner, founder, or operator who feels stuck on the growth treadmill — selling more just to stand still — this episode shows you how to stabilize revenue, increase profitability, and grow without burning out. 👉 Hit play to learn how the fastest way to grow your agency might be doing less — with the right clients. CONNECT WITH ROBERT PATIN 💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/creative-agency-success/ CONNECT WITH US LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn About Vendasta Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯Your AI rollout didn’t fail because of the tools. It failed because no one wanted to use them.🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Dajana Achelpohl — former Google and PayPal leader, founder of AI Changemaker, and one of the most trusted voices in human-first AI adoption — to unpack the real reasons AI initiatives stall inside organizations. If your company has: • Rolled out AI tools that barely get touched • A small group of power users and a large group of skeptics • Teams quietly using their own AI tools behind the scenes • Leaders saying “we need to do AI” without a clear outcome This conversation will fundamentally change how you think about AI adoption. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why most AI rollouts fail after launch — not before • The hidden danger of “silent non-use” and fake adoption metrics • Why fear of job loss leads teams to actively sabotage AI • What “Shadow AI” is — and why it’s already inside your organization • How to align non-technical teams around AI without overwhelming them • Dajana’s AI Building Blocks Framework for practical adoption • Why small, boring wins beat ambitious AI moonshots • How to create guardrails that enable innovation instead of blocking it • What an AI Team Charter is — and why it works better than policy docs • Why AI adoption only succeeds when teams co-create the rules • How agencies and service-based businesses are uniquely positioned to win with AI Key concepts in this episode: AI adoption barriers Silent non-use of AI tools Shadow AI risks Human-first AI strategy AI change management AI literacy for non-technical teams AI guardrails and governance AI ethics and data security AI team charters Bottom-up vs top-down AI adoption AI in agencies and service businesses Agentic AI and workflows AI implementation frameworks Practical AI use cases AI culture and trust From AI hype to real value If you’re a CMO, agency leader, founder, or operator who’s frustrated by low AI adoption, unclear strategy, or teams that feel anxious instead of empowered — this episode gives you a practical, human-centered path forward. 👉 Hit play to learn how to turn AI from a mandate into momentum. CONNECT WITH DAJANA ACHELPOHL 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dajana-achelpohl/ 🌐 https://www.aichangemaker.com/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn ABOUT VENDASTA Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯Your Martech stack isn’t broken — your mental model is.🎯 Your Martech stack isn’t broken — your mental model is. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Brinker, Godfather of Martech, editor of Chief Marketing Technologist and VP of Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot, to unpack a reality most marketers miss: The Martech explosion isn’t chaos — it’s the early stage of an AI-orchestrated system that’s about to collapse thousands of tools into workflows. If you’re feeling crushed by: An exploding Martech landscape, AI tools launching daily, integration hell, unused software, and pressure to “simplify”… this episode flips the narrative and shows why the winners won’t have fewer tools, they’ll have better orchestration. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the Martech Landscape Keeps Growing (and Why That’s Not the Real Problem) The Shift From Tool Accumulation to Stack Orchestration How AI Is Changing the Role of Marketers — Not Replacing Them Why Integration Matters More Than Ever in an AI-Driven World The Hidden Cost of Unused Software and Fragmented Data How Smart Teams Are Simplifying Without Losing Capability Where Agencies Can Create Massive Value as AI Integrators What “Composable Martech” Really Means (Without the Buzzwords) Key concepts in this episode: Martech landscape explained AI in marketing operations Marketing automation vs. orchestration Composable Martech stacks Platform ecosystems and integrations AI agents and copilots in marketing Tool sprawl and software waste Operational efficiency in marketing teams Future of Martech and AI Marketing technology strategy for agencies Data fragmentation and system silos Human-in-the-loop AI workflows How agencies can monetize AI implementation The evolving role of the CMO From execution to orchestration in marketing If you’re a CMO, agency leader, or marketing operator struggling with an overcomplicated stack, unclear AI strategy, and tools that promise everything but deliver little — this episode will help you rethink Martech as a system, not a shopping list. 👉 Hit play to learn how to simplify your stack, use AI intelligently, and turn Martech complexity into a competitive advantage. CONNECT WITH SCOTT BRINKER 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjbrinker/ 🌐 https://chiefmartec.com/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast ... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn ... ABOUT VENDASTA Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯Are your Google Analytics dashboards lying to you and killing your best marketing?🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and co-founder of Provolytics, to rethink how we measure marketing in a world where clicks, last-touch, and GA4 can’t see the full picture. If you’re tired of: Google saying one thing, Meta saying another, numbers that never add up, and CFOs who don’t believe in branding or CTV... this episode will show you a new, impression-first, AI-powered way to measure what actually works. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Your Clicks and Dashboards Don’t Add Up Impression-Based Measurement: The Metric That Actually Matches Reality Why marketing doesn’t buy clicks How AI Finally Solves Multi-Touch Attribution (Without Tracking Every User) Finding the “Hidden Experiments” in Your Media Plan Exactly Where to Scale—and Where to Cut Spend How to use impression-level data and AI A DIY Framework If You Don’t Have an Enterprise Measurement Stack Key concepts in this episode: AI marketing measurement Marketing attribution without cookies Impression-based attribution vs. click-based attribution Multi-touch attribution is broken Incrementality & lift measurement CTV advertising measurement (Connected TV) Digital out-of-home & podcast ad measurement Upper-funnel vs. lower-funnel budgeting Branding ROI and financial impact How to prove marketing to your CFO Google Analytics 4 (GA4) limitations Full-funnel marketing mix optimization Micro-experiments in your media plan AI for media mix modeling & budget allocation How to measure brand campaigns and awareness Performance marketing vs. brand marketing Future of marketing analytics in a privacy-first world If you’re a CMO, performance marketer, or agency leader who’s drowning in conflicting dashboards, over-spending on bottom-of-funnel clicks, and struggling to prove the value of brand and CTV, this episode will show you a practical, AI-powered path out of the chaos. 👉 Hit play to learn how to move beyond clicks, unify your metrics, and get more revenue from the same marketing budget. CONNECT WITH JEFF GREENFIELD (Provolytics) 💼 linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield 🌐 provalytics.com CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast ... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn ... About Vendasta Vendasta is an AI-powered customer acquisition and engagement platform that helps businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our platform unifies fragmented tools across marketing, sales, and operations, and uses AI assistants plus proprietary SMB data to automate busywork, streamline workflows, and amplify the humans on your team. We help digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs scale profitably, deliver better outcomes for local businesses, and grow long-term revenue with less manual effort. 👉 Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Book a Demo https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯Go from 20% to 80% Agency margins, without hiring a single new person🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Frans Riemersma, Martech legend, co-author of the Martech Landscape, and one of the sharpest thinkers on AI, composability, and the future of services to break down the new AI Agency Model that is quietly redefining how agencies build, deliver, and scale their work. Frans explains why we’re entering the golden age for agencies, not because of more tools, but because AI is turning services into software, unlocking product-level margins for businesses that previously sold labor. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Agencies Are Entering a Golden Age How AI shifts work from human execution → human orchestration, and why agencies with standardized knowledge stand to benefit the most. Service-as-a-Software: The Model Behind 80% Margins Why AI is unleashing a new category next to SaaS and how agencies can package expertise into repeatable, scalable, automatable outcomes. Where a 10-Person Agency Should Start How to find your highest-value, most-repeatable outcomes, follow the money, and turn them into automations and AI-powered products. The Biggest Pitfall: Building Tools Before Testing Why most agencies create tech they never use and Frans’ “Hack → Pack → Stack” method for validating before investing. Composability, Atomization & The New Martech Stack Why the future isn’t mega-suites or tool sprawl, it’s small, composable “Lego block” tools that integrate cleanly and keep your stack lean. The 12% Rule How top performers identify the tiny percentage of features and tools that drive 80% of customer value and cut everything else. The Skills That Matter in the AI Era Why the differentiator isn’t technical mastery anymore, it’s customer obsession, storytelling, distribution, and discovering viable ideas. Key concepts in this episode: AI Agency Model Service-as-a-Software 80% Margin Framework AI-Powered Delivery Systems Standardizing Agency Knowledge Hack → Pack → Stack Method Composability & Martech Architecture Atomization of Tools & Labor AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows Productized Services for Agencies Lead Mining & Lead Intelligence Automation Customer-Centric Innovation Feature Bloat & Decommissioning Strategy Future-Proof Agency Skills AI + Services Convergence Distribution & Community Moats If you want your agency to escape the 20% margin trap, and build AI-powered services that scale like software, hit play. CONNECT WITH Frans Riemersma 🌐 https://www.martechtribe.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/fransriemersma/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCooW1kDrMUb1EORhDbmciOw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vendasta/ X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendasta/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn... Vendasta Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our AI-powered platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows, eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. Powered by proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI assistants that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Our solutions empower digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth. Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Demo Available https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯What if your business is losing 60% of your deals after the first call?🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Jason Kramer, founder of Cultivize and one of the leading voices on CRM-powered sales systems, to break down why most agencies and businesses bleed pipeline revenue and how AI + CRM automation can rescue lost deals you didn’t even know you had. If your team is still manually taking notes, chasing cold leads, or keeping the pipeline in the owner’s head, you’re leaving massive revenue on the table. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Most businesses Lose Deals After the Discovery Call: The #1 place where good prospects disappear and why speed-to-lead still wins deals. The Follow-Up Math That Changes Everything: Why 60%+ of prospects aren’t ready today but will buy and how 7–10 personalized steps increase conversions by 30%+ How to Use AI to Rescue “Dead” Leads: Using AI signals to see who’s re-engaging, and how Jason closed deals from year-old prospects. The exact “good news or bad news?” email that gets same-day replies. Why your CRM Is Your Sales Brain: The data you must track, how to automate discovery-to-close workflows and why follow-up without a CRM is basically impossible today. Event & Trade Show Follow-Up (Done Right): How one business generated $1M from an event using his follow-up automation. Key concepts in this episode: AI-Powered Follow-Up Systems CRM Automation for Agencies Pipeline Leakage & Lost Deals Follow-Up Email Templates That Convert Lead Nurturing & Intent Signals Speed to Lead (and Why It Matters) Personalized Multi-Step Sequences LinkedIn Automation for Sales Event Follow-Up Strategy Sales Process Playbooks Data-Driven Sales Prioritization AI + CRM Integration How to Keep Leads Warm for 12+ Months Agency Sales Operations & Systems If your business is tired of losing deals that should have closed… hit play. CONNECT WITH Jason Kramer: 🌐 https://cultivize.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleighkramer/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 💬 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn... Vendasta Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers—and keep them. Our AI-powered platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows, eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. Powered by proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI assistants that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Our solutions empower digital agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth. Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Demo Available https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/ Transcript

🎯What if AI started deciding which businesses get discovered?🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Holland, Director of SEO and one of the world’s leading voices on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), to unpack why traditional SEO is collapsing and how local agencies are uniquely positioned to win in the age of AI search. Learn why keywords are dead, why AI is becoming the real “reader” of your website, and how agencies can rebuild their SEO services around revenue, positioning, and problem-space optimization instead of traffic and blog posts. In this episode, you'll learn: The Collapse of Traditional SEO Keywords Are Dead. Problem Spaces Are the Future. Why Local Agencies Will Win in AI Search How to Identify Problem Spaces for Local Businesses Prompt-Ready Content vs. SEO Content The New Rules of Authority: Brand, Mentions & Mutual Information How AI Reads Your Website (and What It Looks For) Category Entry Points (CEPs) Key concepts in this episode: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Future of SEO in AI search Problem-Space Optimization Category Entry Points (CEPs) AI Search Behaviour Local SEO & Revenue-Driven SEO Brand Positioning for AI Search Authority Building (mentions, citations, PR) Search Without Keywords AI-First Organic Strategy Mutual Information Signals Content Strategy for Agencies User Intent in AI Search Collapse of Top-of-Funnel SEO If you want your agency to survive (and thrive) as AI takes over search… hit play. ----------------- CONNECT WITH Andrew Holland 🌐 https://www. zoogly.co.uk 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-holland-seo/ ----------------- CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast... 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn... Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers. And keep them. Our AI-powered platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows—eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. With proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI assistants that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Our solutions empower partners like digital marketing agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations seamlessly, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth. Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Demo Available https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 Turn social media comments into revenue reports?🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Brooke B. Sellas, founder of B-Squad Social and a recognized expert in conversation-first marketing, to show how agencies can move from content-first to conversation-first, leverage AI to quantify social ROI, and orchestrate social strategies that actually drive revenue. In this episode, you'll learn: 🚀 Why your engagement metrics lie: How social media ROI hides in the comments, not the content — and the one shift that makes executives stop asking “What’s the value of social?” 💬 The CARE Framework: How to transform chaos in your inbox into conversion clarity using Brooke’s four-part framework: Conversation, Acquisition, Retention, Engagement. 🔥 Conversation Mining with AI: How AI social listening tools detect hidden “buying” and “churn” conversations across platforms (even Reddit!), so your team never misses a lead again. 📈 Return on Conversation Report: The step-by-step system to tag, track, and tie DMs and comments directly to pipeline — so social finally earns its seat at the revenue table. 🏗️ Dark Mentions & Sentiment Shifts: How AI uncovers untagged brand mentions and warns you when customer sentiment dips — before it becomes a PR problem. 🔥 Human + AI Workflow: How to blend empathy and automation so AI does the heavy lifting while your team delivers the human connection that converts. Key concepts in this episode: Social Media ROI AI Social Listening CARE Framework (Conversation, Acquisition, Retention, Engagement) Conversational Marketing Voice of Customer Tagging Return on Conversation Report Human-AI Collaboration in Social Media Dark Mentions & Sentiment Analysis Social Pipeline Attribution Customer Retention through AI Conversation-First Strategy vs. Content-First 📈 If you want your agency to measure and monetize social conversations — instead of just posting content and hoping — hit play. ----------------- CONNECT WITH Brooke Sellas: 🌐 https://bsquared.media/ 💼 / brookebsellas 📩 brooke@bsquared.media ----------------- CONNECT WITH Vendasta: YouTube: / @vendasta LinkedIn: / vendasta X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: / vendasta Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast… 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn... Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers. And keep them. Our AI-powered platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows—eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. With proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI assistants that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Our solutions empower partners like digital marketing agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations seamlessly, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth. Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Demo Available https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

​​​​▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 Are CEOs ready for the 2026 acceleration🎯 2026 is the year AI stops being optional. It’s the year your competitors’ AI advantage becomes your business problem. In this episode, AI adoption strategist Brett Schklar reveals the new CEO playbook for AI transformation, showing exactly how leaders can set the tone, accelerate efficiency, and prepare their organizations for what’s coming next. In this episode, you'll learn: 🚀 AI-ifying the Pain: How to identify the daily tasks that waste your time and automate them with real AI tools you can deploy today. 📈 Return on AI (ROAI): The six lenses to measure AI’s real impact 🏗️ Creating a Safe AI Sandbox: How to set up a private AI playground for your team to experiment, fail safely, and innovate faster before going live. 🧠 Prompting as the New Leadership Skill: How the best leaders are moving beyond “prompt engineering” to “AI conversation design” and training their teams to do the same. 📞 Voice AI and ChatGPT for Business: Why customer-facing AI assistants are the new front line for customer experience and revenue. 💬 The Trust-But-Verify Rule: Why CEOs should never delegate AI blindly and how to build systems that draft, learn, and improve alongside your team. 🔥 Culture Before Code: The #1 mistake CEOs make when adopting AI, and how to unlock innovation across the company. Key concepts in this episode: AI transformation strategy for CEOs AI readiness audit Return on AI (ROAI) metrics AI adoption roadmap 2026 ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot integration AI sandbox for business leaders AI change management Voice AI and customer experience AI automation in daily operations Leadership in the age of AI How to build trust and safety in AI systems How CEOs can lead AI innovation Generative AI in business strategy AI productivity and automation tools If you’re a CEO preparing for 2026, this episode is your wake-up call. The leaders who win next year will be the ones who make AI a cultural movement, not just a technical upgrade. ----------------- CONNECT WITH BRETT SCHKLAR: 🌐 https://www.growpowered.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bschklar/ 📩 brett@aifirstleadership.com ----------------- CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta ​​Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast... 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Leave a rating on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0KWXAOn... Vendasta is the leading AI software company for customer acquisition and engagement, helping businesses get more customers. And keep them. Our AI-powered platform unifies marketing, sales, and operational workflows—eliminating the need for fragmented tools and streamlining every stage of the customer journey. With proprietary SMB data, intelligent automation, and AI assistants that handle repetitive tasks, Vendasta helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers with unmatched efficiency. Our solutions empower partners like digital marketing agencies, franchisors, and MSPs to scale operations seamlessly, optimize campaigns, and drive long-term growth. Transform Your Agency with Vendasta – Demo Available https://www.vendasta.com/request-demo/

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯Do businesses know how they are being represented by LLMs? 🎯 If LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) are where buyers now begin, your job isn’t to just “rank in Google”. It is to be the #1 brand AI recommends. In this episode, SEO expert Steve Toth from the Notebook Agency, shows exactly how to win with AEO and make AI engines accurately represent and recommend your business, using his unique Framework and a practical playbook you can implement this week. In this episode, you'll learn: 👉 Why LLMs are lying about your brand: Why AI Gets Your Business Wrong, why it misrepresents you, and what you can do about it. 👉 The truth Pack: How to compare what LLMs say about you vs. your sales-grade answers, then close the gaps so AI gives the right recommendation. 👉 Reverse-Interrogation Audit: The exact prompts to ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Google AI overview, to reveal your pricing, feature, fit, proof, and support gaps—and how to fix them. 👉 Deal-Breaker Coverage: Use “Deal Breaker Detector” style prompts to surface ICP-critical questions (budget, team size, integrations, timelines) and ensure LLMs can cite accurate answers. 👉 Create “Recommendation-Ready” Content: Build hyper-specific AI content fuels so AI can confidently match you to buyer constraints and get a canonical, up-to-date source. 👉 Narrative Cleanup: Identify and retire outdated content sources that keep AI stuck in the past; consolidate and redirect to your current offer. 👉 Off-page Reality Check: Monitor and update off-site assets to correct misinformation LLMs may retrieve. 👉 From Volume to Velocity: Why smaller but highly qualified AI-assisted traffic converts better and how to message that shift to clients and stakeholders. Key Concepts covered: ChatGPT AEO strategy Gemini AI and Google AI Overviews Perplexity search and buyer decision-making Truth Alignment Framework by Notebook Agency LLM brand representation audit HACK: The "LLM Info" Page to Feed AI Correct Information AI SEO vs. traditional SEO Deal Breaker Detector (AI Notebook) Hyper-specific comparison content for LLMs How to fix outdated reviews and Reddit narratives High-quality traffic vs. high-volume traffic 📈 If you want your brand to be confidently recommended by AI — not casually mentioned — this episode is your roadmap. CONNECT WITH Steve Toth: 🌐 https://notebook.agency/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetothjr/ 📩 steve@seonotebook.com CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: YouTube: / @vendasta LinkedIn: / vendasta X: https://x.com/vendasta Instagram: / vendasta ​​ Thanks for listening!

​​​​▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 The $10M agency shortcut no one talks about 🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Corey Quinn, former CMO of Scorpion and author of Anyone, Not Everyone, to uncover the exact strategies that helped scale Scorpion from $20M to $200M. Corey has advised 100+ agencies on breaking free from the generalist trap and shows how vertical specialization creates a flywheel of growth, retention, and profitability. If you’re an agency owner aiming for $10M+, this conversation is your shortcut. In this episode, you'll learn: 👉 Why generalist agencies stall out and how to avoid the “iceberg problem” 👉 The 3 filters every agency must apply before choosing a niche 👉 How to find hidden vertical opportunities inside your current client list 👉 The 3% Rule that shows why you only need a tiny slice of your market to build an 8-figure business 👉 How deep specialization unlocks operational scale, higher retainers, and repeatable systems 👉 The role of AI in verticalized agencies—and why niche focus makes AI even more powerful 🔥 Soundbites you’ll hear in this episode: “If you are everything to everyone, you’re nothing to the market.” “1% of your vertical equals an 8-figure business.” “More deliverables don’t mean more revenue. We cut from 40+ to 5—and doubled client spend.” 📢 If you’re tired of custom projects, shrinking margins, and constant churn, this episode will show you how to build a scalable, specialized agency that wins bigger deals and grows faster. ----------------- CONNECT WITH COREY QUINN: 🌐 https://www.agencygrowthscore.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyquinn/ 📩 corey@coreyquinn.com ----------------- CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 The Biggest barrier to getting paid more REVEALED! In this insightful episode, we sit down with Casey Brown, founder of Boost Pricing, who has helped companies generate over $1 billion in profits by mastering pricing strategies. Casey shares actionable tips on how agency owners can: 👉 Break free from fear-based pricing 👉 Handle pricing objections with confidence 👉 Use psychology to make clients want to pay more 👉 Apply the 65% rule to determine if it’s time to raise your rates 📢 Discover how to stop leaving money on the table, master your pricing conversations, and confidently charge what your services are worth. 👉 If you’ve ever felt undervalued or underpaid, this episode will change how you approach pricing forever. 🚀Transform Your Agency with Vendasta🚀 – Demo Available https://bit.ly/3X1WGbl 🌐Or checkout our website: https://www.vendasta.com/ CONNECT WITH CASEY BROWN: 🌐https://www.caseybrown.com/ 🌐https://boostpricing.com/ 💼https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseybrownboost/ CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta

​​​​▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 The 6-Week Work Cycle is Revolutionizing Agency Productivity 🎯 What if you could boost productivity, cut burnout, and give your team more time off—all while improving results? Joe Martin, author of Six-Week Cycles, has helped agencies escape the daily grind and build a work schedule that fuels performance and happiness. His six-week work cycle is turning the traditional nine-to-five model on its head, and today, he’s sharing exactly how you can make it work for your agency. In this episode, you'll learn: 👉 Why working harder isn’t the answer to burnout—and what to do instead 👉 How a six-week cycle can supercharge productivity without sacrificing quality 👉 The biggest mistake agencies make when trying to improve efficiency 👉 How to get your team on board with a work model that prioritizes results and well-being 📢 Ready to transform the way your agency works? Hit play now and discover why top agencies are embracing the six-week cycle! ----------------- CONNECT WITH JOE MARTIN 🌐 hijoemartin.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/hijoemartin/ 📩 me@hijoemartin.com ----------------- CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta

​​​​▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube 🎯 Discover the Secret to Winning More Clients for Your Small Agency 🎯 In this episode, we sit down with Jody Sutter, author of The Small Agency's Guide to Winning New Business, to uncover the secrets behind her proven approach to sales and business development for agencies. Jody has helped agency owners double their revenue and boost profits in less than a year — and she’s sharing exactly how she does it. In this episode, you'll learn: 👉 Why your role in the sales process is more important than you think 👉 The biggest mistake agency owners make when trying to scale their sales 👉 When to step back from sales—and how to do it without risking revenue 👉 Expert tips for winning new business consistently 📢 Ready to unlock your agency’s growth potential? Hit play now and discover how to win more business without burning out. ----------------- CONNECT WITH JODY SUTTER: 🌐 https://www.thesuttercompany.com/ 💼 linkedin.com/in/jodysutter 📩 jody@thesuttercompany.com ----------------- CONNECT WITH VENDASTA: 📹 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@Vendasta 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vendasta 🐦 Connect on X: x.com/vendasta 📸 Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/vendasta

Join us for a deep dive into the world of sales management with Alan Versteeg, a former engineer turned sales expert and Global Chief Revenue Officer at Growth Matters. Alan shares his unique insights on the importance of mindset, pipeline management, and coaching for sales success. In this episode, you’ll learn how a growth mindset can transform your sales team’s performance, the essential factors for a healthy sales pipeline, and how to effectively coach your sales team for optimal results. Tune in to discover how Alan’s unique blend of engineering and sales expertise can help you elevate your sales team to new heights! Conquer Local is presented by Vendasta. We have proudly served 5.5+ million local businesses through 60,000+ channel partners, agencies, and enterprise-level organizations. Learn more about Vendasta, and we can help your organization or learn more about Vendasta’s Affiliate Program and how our listeners (like yourself) make up to $10,000 off referrals. Are you an entrepreneur, salesperson, or marketer? Then, keep the learning going in the Conquer Local Academy.

What's the future of creativity in advertising—can AI replace the human touch in building memorable brands? In this episode of the Conquer Local Podcast, we’re joined by James Hurman, a leading figure in advertising and brand strategy. Throughout his career, James has won more than 50 awards for advertising effectiveness and was named the world’s number-one strategic planning director in 2013. He’s co-founded and scaled global brands like Tracksuit and AF Drinks, and founded the venture studio Previously Unavailable, helping startups create innovative products and scale successfully. James is also an accomplished author, with his latest book, Future Demand, offering insights into how startups can move beyond early adopters. He’s the mastermind behind multiple marketing effectiveness studies, including The Effectiveness Code and The B2B Effectiveness Code. Tune in as James shares his wealth of experience and wisdom on brand building, creative strategy, and how to succeed in today’s competitive market! Conquer Local is presented by Vendasta. We have proudly served 5.5+ million local businesses through 60,000+ channel partners, agencies, and enterprise-level organizations. Learn more about Vendasta, and we can help your organization or learn more about Vendasta’s Affiliate Program and how our listeners (like yourself) make up to $10,000 off referrals. Are you an entrepreneur, salesperson, or marketer? Then, keep the learning going in the Conquer Local Academy.

Tired of outdated sales tactics that just don't work anymore? The sales landscape has drastically changed, leaving sellers frustrated and buyers annoyed. Join us on this episode of the Conquer Local Podcast as we welcome David Priemer, Sales Scientist, Founder of Cerebral Selling and author of the bestselling book Sell the Way You Buy. David's unique background blends research science with real-world sales expertise, making him a highly sought-after consultant and author. In this episode, David discusses the evolving landscape of sales leadership, sharing his journey from a research scientist to a top-performing sales leader. Learn the essential strategies for building trust and strong relationships within your team, coaching effectively, and navigating the challenges of modern sales. David also reveals data-driven approaches crucial for success in today's market. Packed with practical tips and actionable strategies, this episode will equip you to conquer the ever-changing sales landscape and transform your team's performance! Conquer Local is presented by Vendasta. We have proudly served 5.5+ million local businesses through 60,000+ channel partners, agencies, and enterprise-level organizations. Learn more about Vendasta, and we can help your organization or learn more about Vendasta’s Affiliate Program and how our listeners (like yourself) make up to $10,000 off referrals. Are you an entrepreneur, salesperson, or marketer? Then, keep the learning going in the Conquer Local Academy.

​​What’s the secret to thriving in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing? On this episode of the Conquer Local Podcast, we’re joined by Tim Butler, a marketing expert with over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and consulting. As the founder and CEO of Innovation Visual, a leading UK digital marketing agency, Tim has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for clients in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and more since 2014. From founding his first online business in 1998 to leading a dynamic team at Innovation Visual, Tim’s expertise spans digital marketing, e-commerce, and revenue generation. Tune in to discover how Tim’s deep industry knowledge and hands-on approach are shaping the future of digital marketing! Conquer Local is presented by Vendasta. We have proudly served 5.5+ million local businesses through 60,000+ channel partners, agencies, and enterprise-level organizations. Learn more about Vendasta, and we can help your organization or learn more about Vendasta’s Affiliate Program and how our listeners (like yourself) make up to $10,000 off referrals. Are you an entrepreneur, salesperson, or marketer? Then, keep the learning going in the Conquer Local Academy.