What happens when someone who grew up programming an Atari at eight years old sees AI coming for entire industries?

In this episode of Unveiling Journeys, Tiffany Alexander sits down with Matt Rouse—founder of Hooked Digital Marketing, creator of SMB Autopilot, and author of AI Took My Job… 2. Matt shares his decades-long journey from early computing in a coal-mining town in Canada to building AI-assisted marketing systems that help small businesses show up first when it matters most.

Matt breaks down why local search is completely different from traditional SEO, why AI currently gives terrible advice on local marketing, and how small businesses can still win—even as AI accelerates faster than most people realize.

Bio:
Matt Rouse is the co-founder of Hooked Digital Marketing in the U.S. and Canada and creator of SMB Autopilot, an AI-powered local marketing platform designed to help small businesses show up where it matters most—local search. With roots in early computing and decades of experience spanning web development, enterprise tech, and marketing for global brands like Intel and Nike, Matt brings a rare blend of technical insight and real-world application to digital marketing. An author of eight books, including AI Took My Job 2, he focuses on helping small business owners adapt to rapid AI disruption by solving for outcomes AI can’t easily replace, believing technology should create leverage, stability, and better lives for the people behind the business.

We dive into:
✅ Why local search rankings are different from organic SEO
✅ How AI actually pulls and re-ranks local results
✅ What small businesses don’t know (but need to) about AI
✅ Why disruption comes from companies—not individuals—using AI
✅ How to future-proof your business in an AI-driven world

If you’re a small business owner, marketer, or founder trying to navigate AI without getting left behind, this episode is essential listening.

Connect with Matt Rouse:
🌐 Website: https://matthewrouse.com/
                       https://smbautopilot.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmrouse/
📧 Email: [email protected]


#ArtificialIntelligence #SmallBusinessMarketing #LocalSEO #AIforBusiness #UnveilingJourneys #EntrepreneurJourney #DigitalMarketing #FutureOfWork #AIInnovation #SmallBusinessGrowth

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