Today for our 30th episode, we will talk with Andrea Warner, A/B Testing Evangelist and Community Architect at Big Barker.

Andrea and I met in Salt Lake City earlier this year when I talked with the local SLCSEM organization about analytics. I remember being so positively blown away by the people of Salt Lake city. So sharp, positive and really genuinely nice people.

Andrea is no exception. We started our interview like two old friends talking. Andrea shared her very interesting origin story (not to bury the lead, but she was a special ed teacher) and how she was able to break into this industry.

You won’t believe the incredible break she had to get started here. Fortunately, Andrea shared it with us in great detail now that the statute of limitations has passed.

We hear about Andrea’s progression and what she’s up to now all in today’s episode.

Quotable moments from our talk with Andrea Warner

On making your UX awesome:

On becoming an entrepreneur:

Links related to this week’s episode

* Andrea on Twitter

* Andrea on LinkedIn

* A place to pickup CRO battlefield stories

* Little something for the CRO beginners

* Micro vs Macro Conversions

* One of the places Andrea recommended as a good starting point

* Dont Make Me Think – the book

* Advice by Justin Rondeau

* The Book – Jeff’s Choice

* The Cult Of Copy – FB group for copywriters

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 29th episode, we will talk with Purna Virji, PPC trainer, evangelist, speaker and more at Microsoft, and also my new bestie.

I have followed Purna for years, but we had only met in passing to this point. But you could say we hit it off right away and I am excited that we were able to kick off a friendship based on mutual admiration and enjoyment.

And I have to say that Purna is super easy to talk to, engaging and her energy is contagious. And for that I am thankful, because I was trying something new in this episode. I’ll give you the setting. We started recording 10 PM, Copenhagen in Denmark. Earlier in the day I had taken a fjord cruise through Norway. An hour earlier my plane landed in Copenhagen and we checked into our AirBNB just in time to connect to the wifi system. Talk about threading the needle.

After an exhausting day, I was worried about keeping the energy up for our recording. But once we figured out how to get our microphones working, Purna and I started talking like old friends.

Now I don’t like to give away the story in the intro, but I must say that Purna shares many lessons that can benefit us all. The way she approached a new industry was a perfect case of diving in head first into an area of passion. Her thoughts on the differences between working for an agency and in-house are spot-on. And her first speaking gig? Epic.

But I don’t want to steal her thunder. Let’s hear it from my new bestie.

Quotable moments from our talk with Purna Virji

On future of Search:

On working for an agency vs in-house ppc/seo:

On fear of public speaking:

Links related to this week’s episode

* Are you ready for voice search?

* Globalization of local holidays

* Where is digital marketing headed to?

* @PurnaVirji on Twitter

* Purna on LinkedIn

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 28th episode, we will talk with Yehoshua Coren, the chief Ninja over at Analytics Ninja.

Yes, I just used word ninja twice to describe Yehoshua, and during this podcast you will hear how that name and brand came about.

You’ll also hear about how to break into a new industry, the importance of building a personal brand, and what it feels like when the student becomes the master.

I first met Yehoshua in Hungary at the Superweek conference. We had only interacted online up to that point. His twitter bio and online reputation had me expecting to be greeted by a rabbi from Israel.

But when he introduced himself in Hungary, he sounded a lot like a kid from Nebraska.

It turns out that both of these personas are true. He is a kid from Nebraska, a rabbi in Jerusalem and one of the smartest analytics dudes I’ve ever met.

Yehoshua and I have spent time together several times since then, and I consider him a good friend in the industry. He also knows how to show a friend a good time, and I enjoyed the guided tour he gave me of his favorite spots in Jerusalem when I visited him in June of this year.

This episode is unique in sense that you can watch the prequel of the exciting journey Yehoshua shared with us. This podcast starts where this video ends:

It’s also the first time the guest’s mouth trumpet jam was mixed into the hit song that we make as an outro for each episode.

So listen up to a conversation of friends talking about the ever-evolving landscape of web analytics. Stay for our conversations about where things will go in the future.

Quotable moments from our talk with Yehoshua

On getting new clients:

On the future of analytics:

On starting in the digital marketing (or any other) field:

Links related to this week’s episode

* The company that hired Yehoshua 20 minutes after he became available on the job market

* @AnalyticsNinja on Twitter

* Ninja trick you’ve heard about in this episode

* A blog worth leaving a comment on

* Podcast episode Jeff quoted

* The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Take Yehoshua’s Advice

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Aaron Weiche is the Chief Marketing Officer at Get Five Stars and Vice President of MnSearch.

Aaron is one of my oldest friends in the online marketing world, and we have been helping each other grow our careers for nearly a decade. So I’m honored to have a chance to share our friendship and Aaron’s great story with all of you.

What can I say about Aaron Weiche? First, he’s among the most honest and ethical people I’ve ever come across. He always has a sunny disposition, never gets too fired up and just does the work needed to succeed in life.

And succeed he has, growing two agencies exponentially and last year joining a startup that already has 20,000 customers. But even more importantly, he has a lovely family that supports him every step of the way.

Aaron is the definition of a good dude, and you might say I developed a bit of a man-crush over the years. Yes, I just confessed to a man-crush on the podcast. Hopefully that doesn’t cause me to lose any listeners.

Anyway, listen along to hear about Aaron Weiche’s journey. From selling one-page websites to chief marketing officer at Get Five Stars, working for a company with a mission of helping small businesses manage their reputation and provide a better customer experience. Even his startup is down to earth.

Quotable moments from our talk with Aaron Weiche

On personal branding:

On digital marketing mistique:

On getting customer feedback:

Links related to this week’s episode

* @AaronWeiche on Twitter

* Weiche’s personal blog

* Weiche’s company

* Mike Blumenthal rocking in a PPC world

* Dave Mihm – Local Hero

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Kirk Williams is a rising star in the PPC world and founder of Zato marketing.

I have gotten to know Kirk a bit over the past few years, having met in person at conferences in Minnesota and London. Not only that, but Kirk helped provide feedback on my PPC Course when I launched it.

So we have had mutual respect over the years, and I’m glad to see it finally culminate with an official interview on the Jumpstart podcast.

What probably made me most excited to talk with Kirk was that he is at a cool inflection point in his career and business. Just a few weeks ago, he graduated from being a “rising star” in the PPC world to being a bona-fide star, coming in at #7 on the list of the most influential PPC Experts.

To see the full list, you should definitely check out the show notes. And also make note that Jumpstart Podcast alums Larry Kim, Samantha Noble, Melissa Mackey, Elizabeth Marsten, Marty Weintraub and Ginny Marvin all feature prominently on that list.

If you’re into paid media, the Jumpstart podcast has you covered!

But today it’s all about Kirk. We learn about how he got started in the industry, his quest for knowledge and constant desire to keep on learning his craft.

If you want to boost your profile and create a never-ending flow of clients, listen up.

Quotable moments from our talk with Kirk Williams

On using Twitter for business:

On AdWords:

On big vs small AdWords accounts:

Links related to this week’s episode

* @PPCKirk on Twitter

* Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

* Q&A with one of Kirk’s favorite PPCers

* Kirk’s MOZ blogpost on Pros and Cons of Brand KWs that generated a ton of responses

* Celebird

* Team that can beat Yankees on any given day (if you are to trust Jeff)

* Kirk’s Company ZATO Marketing

* Things to consider if you are going out on your own as a PPC Marketer

* Kirk’s posts on PPC Hero blog – Attention: some genuine greats here!

* Kirk’s first conference talk slides

* Podcast episode referred to more than once – PPC Moses Melissa Mackey

Past episodes on SoundCloud

 

 

Today for our 25th episode, we will talk with Ginny Marvin, Paid Media reporter for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land.

If you have any interest in following developments in paid media, you have probably come across articles written by Ginny. I know that I have personally learned about new Google products, advertising trends and much more from her columns.

But it didn’t always start that way. As a long time reader of Ginny’s columns, I was really curious on how she found this career path, the moves she made along the way to become a voice in the world of paid search and media, and the advice she has for others looking to have their voice heard.

As fate would have it, Ginny and I were both selected to be faculty at the latest MarketingProfs University recordings. So when we completed our teaching, I reached out to see if she would like to be a podcast guest.

She said yes! Not only that, but she shared that she is a fan of the podcast.

This episode is based on mutual admiration, curiosity and a love for all things paid media. It’s also a chance to hear two of the recently voted top 25 most influential experts in PPC talk about their craft.

Before we get started, I wanted to share a sponsor message. The PPC Course by Jeffalytics is a great way to learn paid search marketing with Google AdWords from the ground up. Learn Google AdWords through HD videos that teach you how to establish your search budget, revenue models for agencies and the secret to acing the certification test. Visit ppccourse.com to learn more.

Quotable moments from our talk with Ginny Marvin

On using each bit of work experience to put the puzzle together:

On timing for a change:

On finding a professional role model:

Links related to this week’s episode

* @GinnyMarvin on Twitter

* Ginny on LinkedIn

* Awesome Library of Ginny’s posts about Paid Online Media – you can spend the rest of your career reading and it would be worth it!

* Jeff’s answer to a desperate call about being too old to start a blog (you might have to scroll a bit down to find his answer)

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 24th episode, we will talk with Anna Lewis, Google Analytics Analyst at Wiggle in the UK.

If you have been in the Google Analytics community for the past few years, you may have come across Anna’s name participating in Google+ forum discussions, blog posts and speaking at conferences about advanced analytics.

My friend Doug Hall (aka @fastbloke on Twitter) told me that Anna would be a great guest for the show. I couldn’t agree more.

Anna started her marketing career in SEO, but quickly was drawn to the accountability of measurable channels like paid search. From there, analytics seemed like a perfect path of pursuit. Learn how Anna made the decision to pursue analytics, and also stay tuned for some other news that Anna has to share in today’s episode.

This Episode is sponsored by Supermetrics

This episode is sponsored by Supermetrics. Do you want to liberate your Google Analytics data? Use the data grabber tool from Supermetrics to send data into Excel or Google Sheets and save yourself tons of time in the process. With connectors to Google Analytics, Facebook Ads and many more of your favorite platforms, you can get the data you need without the hassle. Visit jeffalytics.com/supermetrics for more info.

Quotable moments from our talk with Anna Lewis

On making use of analytics:

On finding the right balance:

On tooling in analytics:

Links related to this week’s episode

* @annatlewis on Twitter

* Anna’s professional blog

* Anna’s guest posts on @sewatch

* Measurecamp Unconference official site

* Measurecamp founder on Twitter

* Interested in making some money with MCF?

* Upcoming Hollywood Blockbuster Brighton Premiere

* One of many awesome Google Analytics blogposts by Anna

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 23rd episode, we will talk with Marty Weintraub, founder of Aimclear and as far as I know the inventor of Psychographic targeting.

What can I say about Marty Weintraub? First of all, he’s a man of energy and action. You can’t hear him speak without feeling smarter (and often confused). It’s not just his presentation style, though, but rather the information he presents. It’s like peering into the future.

Our conversation was no different. Marty gave us the super quick version of his life background filled with music and artistry. Then he talked about how he first discovered the world of Internet marketing.

I’ve heard Marty’s back-story before, but this was my first time hearing about the transition.

Things moved pretty fast for Marty once he found his true calling, and the rest you could say is history.

Quotable moments from our talk with Marty

About his team:

On using previous experience:

On making the most out of Facebook ads:

Links related to this week’s episode

* @martyweintraub on Twitter

* Did you even HAVE the attitude regarding Facebook ads in 2008?

* Legendary recording engineer Tom Tucker

* One of Marty’s favorite authors

* Friend who carried Marty when times were tough

* Example of good personal positioning

* One of literally tons of Aimclear kickass blogposts

* See Marty speak about his cancer fight as it was a walk in the park

* See why Marty doesn’t remember the 80s

* Killer Book You HAVE to read (at least a few chapters)

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 22nd episode, we will talk with Elizabeth Marsten, 2016 Search Marketing Madness winner and Director of Paid Search at Commerce Hub.

I have been following Elizabeth’s career for several years now, but we haven’t met in person to this point. That will all change at the awesome MnSearch Summit at the end of this month.

It was great to hear Elizabeth’s story first hand, and I couldn’t help but be inspired by the way she took an opportunity and ran with it. The year was 2006 and Ian Lurie from Portent was looking for an office manager.

Elizabeth didn’t get the job.

But she sure did end up with a career. I don’t want to spoil the story, so you’ll have to hear it in Elizabeth’s own words.

Our talk was a trip down memory lane for me. We started in PPC right around the same time, and came of age during the same era as well. The journey from a one-person PPC jack of all trades to a team leader for an entire interactive department takes you in many directions. Listen to how Elizabeth Marsten rolled with the changes and how she has turned it into a thriving career.

But first, a word from our sponsor. If you are listening to this podcast, you are probably interested in search marketing and analytics. If you’re like me, you probably enjoy finding insights from your data much more than reporting. Reporting is a drag and is time consuming.

How do we cope? Well, you can become a master of Excel like Elizabeth advocates. But you can can also speed up your process through automation.

One of the most loved tools by search marketers is the Supermetrics Data Grabber. Pull data from Google AdWords, Facebook, Bing and Twitter and create reports in minutes. Get days of productivity back every month. There is really no end to the possibilities.

Visit jeffalytics.com/supermetrics to check out their offerings.

Quotable moments from our talk with Elizabeth Marsten

On being ready:

On sharing knowledge:

On improving your career:

Links related to this week’s episode

* Elizabeth on LinkedIn

* Elizabeth a.k.a. @ebkendo on Twitter

* See what Kendo in ebkendo stands for

* If you are just starting in Web Marketing or maybe want to refresh basics

* How PPC skills can help you land a dream job

* Elizabeth’s previous company captained by a great mind Ian Lurie makes this awesome blog

* The company where Elizabeth currently practices her wizardry

Past episodes on SoundCloud

Today for our 21st episode, we will talk with Paul Koks, Blogger at Online Metrics and a fellow entrepreneur based out of the Netherlands.

Paul and I have interacted since we both started our blogs within a few months of each other back in 2012. We finally met in person last month, and it was really great to hear that Paul had recently went out on his own to become a full time entrepreneur.

I thought it would be a fun perspective to hear from Paul about his decision to follow his passion, and hear his prognosis for the future.

It was exciting to hear Paul’s journey from blogging as a hobby to turning it into a business. It definitely reminds me of the exciting times I had starting my businesses in the past.

Also appreciated is how Paul offers a practical framework for how he plans to monetize his blog and where he sees opportunities. Pay attention, because I see Paul being a big success if he keeps it up.

And while you’re at it, check out Paul’s blog Online Metrics. Instead of reading a sponsor ad today, I’ll just tell you to visit his site.

Now it’s time to talk with Paul Koks.

Quotable moments from our talk with Paul Koks

On taking action:

On blogging:

Links related to this week’s episode

* Online Metrics

* @OnlineMetrics on Twitter

* Paul on LinkedIn

* Paul on Google+

* Ultimate Guide to Regular Expressions in Google Analytics

* Tips to Speed Up Your Website Data Analysis & Optimization

Past episodes on SoundCloud