Shownotes

In this episode of Scope Shift, Brian Saemann sits down with Riley Farabaugh, founder of Monte Verde Media, a data-driven performance marketing agency dedicated to helping e-commerce brands and local businesses thrive through strategic search engine marketing.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

✅ How Monte Verde Media evolved its focus to serve e-commerce and local businesses

✅ The distinct approaches to SEO, Google Ads, and web builds for these two segments

✅ A pivotal moment that shifted Riley's perspective on the role of SEM in business growth

✅ Effective lead generation and client acquisition strategies for agencies

✅ Key changes and new tactics in e-commerce search marketing over the past 12-18 months

✅ How to go "beyond delivering the ads" and genuinely influence client growth

✅ Strategies for maintaining profitability and focus in performance campaigns

✅ Lessons learned from scope creep and setting clearer boundaries

✅ Essential boundaries for protecting your team, sanity, and profit margins

✅ Upcoming trends and strategic bets in search marketing for the next 6-12 months

🧠 Guest Spotlight:

Riley Farabaugh – Founder of Monte Verde Media

Riley combines sharp technical execution with a deep understanding of what truly moves the needle for growing businesses. His agency, Monte Verde Media, specializes in data-driven search engine marketing, helping e-commerce brands and local service businesses achieve significant growth.

🔗 Connect with Riley:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileyfara

• Website: https://monteverdemedia.com/

🔍 Topics Covered:

✅ The current focus and evolution of Monte Verde Media

✅ The strategic decision to specialize in e-commerce and local service businesses

✅ Real-world examples of how SEM can drive business transformation

✅ Lead generation tactics that blend performance chops with UX thinking

✅ Emerging trends and platform shifts impacting e-commerce search marketing

✅ Strategies for value-added client engagement that avoids commoditization

✅ Practical tips for staying lean, focused, and profitable in performance marketing

✅ Navigating and learning from project expansion (scope creep)

✅ Implementing effective boundaries with clients, timelines, and internal processes

✅ Riley's future outlook and strategic predictions for the industry

• GoBeyond SEO Digital Marketing: https://gobeyondseo.com/

• Transform your revenue generation with GoBeyond Data: https://gobeyondseo.com/daas/

• Get a free Google Maps Audit with Archer: https://audit.archer.gobeyondseo.com/

• Connect with Brian here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-saemann-seo-and-cro-05214230

📌 Resources & Links:

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert insights on digital marketing, paid media, and growth strategy.

#SearchEngineMarketing #ECommerceMarketing #LocalSEO #GoogleAds #DigitalMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #MonteVerdeMedia #RileyFarabaugh #BrianSaemann #ScopeShift #ClientAcquisition #MarketingStrategy