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“I told him not to pay a cent—and definitely not to shut his website down.”

What would you do if you got a scary letter using legal language, claiming you owed $700 for a photo on your website? In this episode, I share a true story about an old client who received one of these copyright trolling threats, and how we handled it. From sleuthing image origins to proving usage rights, this is one episode you’ll want to listen to if you’ve ever used photos online.

I'm Trudy Rankin and I am the founder of Online Business Liftoff and a seasoned digital strategist who helps people build sustainable, flexible businesses online. 

I ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• What copyright trolling is—and why it’s not quite a scam, but not ethical either.
• How to verify image licensing years after a website goes live.
• The steps to take if you receive a copyright infringement notice.
• Why immediately removing the image can neutralize most threats.
• How creating a simple image tracking spreadsheet could save hours of work later.
• The importance of demanding proof of ownership before taking any legal-sounding demand seriously.
• What to include in a response that shifts the burden back to the sender.

If you've ever published a photo on your website, you need to hear this. Tune in to protect yourself and your clients.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Wayback Machine: https://archive.org/web/

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Most people think SEO is dead. But it’s not. It’s just evolving into something far more interesting.”

John Horn doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of digital advertising in 2025. In this episode, we take a look at how businesses can stop wasting money on paid ads and how to prepare for the next wave of AI-driven advertising platforms like ChatGPT. Whether you’re running ads now or scared to even try, John brings clarity, strategy, and a calm ‘don’t-panic’ tone to a space full of noise.

John Horn is the CEO of Stub Group, a digital advertising agency that has helped clients generate over $500 million in revenue through profitable ad strategies. With over a decade of hands-on experience, John is known for helping businesses navigate complexity in a constantly shifting digital landscape.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why AI platforms like ChatGPT are reshaping how ads will work
• What small businesses need to know about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
• How to prepare your business for AI-powered ad platforms, even before they’re fully launched
• Why traditional SEO is actually more important than ever
• How to stand out in AI search results with PR, data, and real human input
• Common mistakes that lead to wasted ad spend (and how to avoid them)
• A smart tracking tip that helped one B2B company cut out low-quality leads
• How to use photos, stats, and content to get picked up by LLMs like ChatGPT
• What kind of original content makes you rank in AI-generated search results

Tune in now to get practical, non-hype strategies for growing your business with paid ads and future-proofing your marketing.

And get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Stub Group website
• Stub Group YouTube channel
• Blog article on the state of Google ads suspensions in 2025
  
  

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I asked Ron if AI was going to eat his job for lunch—he said yes and no.”

That mix of realism and optimism sets the tone for this episode. When AI started disrupting his on-camera spokesperson business, Ron Desi didn’t panic—he pivoted. And he used the same technology that threatened his income to build a completely new opportunity, including an email list of 1300 people in just 55 days using a personality-based quiz that hit all the right notes.

Ron Desi is the founder of Growth Vids and a seasoned video strategist with a background in business education. For over a decade, he's helped companies communicate with clarity and authenticity through video. Now, he's embracing change and leading the way on how to adapt—creatively and strategically—in an AI-powered world.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• The reality of AI’s impact on service-based businesses
• Why Ron is pivoting away from video production and toward video strategy
• How authenticity beats automation (especially in industries like law)
• Ron’s thoughtful use of Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude to brainstorm, write, and research
• The surprising way Dungeons & Dragons is helping autistic teens build confidence
• How he created a quiz that deeply resonated with his niche audience
• The step-by-step approach he used to design the quiz with AI input
• Ron’s long-term plan to build a business around what he loves—and why YouTube is part of it

If you're worried about how AI is changing the game, this episode is proof that you can use it to create new opportunities, not just survive disruption.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

## RESOURCES MENTIONED

• GrowthVids.com – Ron’s site for video strategy and spokesperson services
• Dungeon Noob – Ron’s D&D YouTube channel
• Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude – AI tools Ron uses to strategize and create

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families:  👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It feels like we’re standing on the side of the interstate naked, holding a sign that says ‘Look at me!’”
That’s how visibility expert Tracy Beavers describes what it’s like to show up online when you’re building a business. If that sounds uncomfortably familiar, this episode is a must-listen. Tracy breaks down how to grow your audience and email list authentically—without the ick.

Tracy Beavers is a visibility and list-building strategist with over 25 years in corporate sales and marketing. She helps entrepreneurs cut through overwhelm and fear so they can grow an online business that actually supports their life, not the other way around.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why being everywhere online is a fast track to burnout—and what to do instead
• How Tracy used podcast management to help her son start his own freelance gig
• Practical visibility tactics that don’t require dancing on TikTok
• How to repurpose a single piece of content into an entire week’s worth of posts
• The importance of building your email list—and why social media alone won’t cut it
• Ways to start DM conversations that aren’t spammy, salesy, or awkward
• Why vanity metrics don’t equal sales—and how to track what actually matters
• The power of treating your business like a real CEO—even before it’s profitable

Ready to stop hiding and start growing? Tune in now and discover how to show up consistently, build trust, and grow your email list the smart way.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Tracy’s free guide: Social Media Made Easy – https://tracybeavers.com/social
• Free guide: DM Conversations That Feel Good – https://tracybeavers.com/dm
• Tracy’s podcast: Create Online Business Success - https://www.tracybeavers.com/podcast
  
• Her Facebook Group: Be a Confident Entrepreneur - https://www.facebook.com/groups/beaconfidententrepreneur 
• Descript (affiliate link) – Audio/video editing software Tracy and her son use for podcast production.
• CapCut – Easy-to-learn video editing app used for social media content.
• Canva (affiliate link) – Graphic design tool for creating social posts, visuals, and more.
• YouTube – Used as a free learning resource for Descript, CapCut, and Canva tutorials.
• Facebook – Tracy’s main platform for visibility and client attraction.
• Instagram – Secondary platform, auto-posted via Facebook Business Page integration.
• LinkedIn – Recommended for B2B or corporate-facing entrepreneurs.
• TikTok – Mentioned as optional, but not required; Tracy replaced it with automation tools.
• Opus Clip – AI tool for repurposing long-form videos into short-form clips for Reels, YouTube Shorts, etc.
• Buzzsprout – Podcast hosting platform Tracy’s son uses to manage and publish her episodes.
• Metricool (affiliate link) – Social media scheduling tool that posts to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest.

Affiliate Disclaimer: If you click on links on this page and then make a purchase, I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you).  I am a proud affiliate of these resources because I use them in my own life and business.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sometimes it’s not about legal advice—it’s about understanding the process. And that’s something you can learn without going to law school." – Shatrasha Butler

Shatrasha Butler didn’t just go to law school—she’s on a mission to make legal knowledge actually useful for small business owners. In this episode, we unpack the legal must-knows for getting your business off the ground without drowning in jargon or draining your bank account.

Shatrasha Butler is a licensed attorney with over a decade of experience spanning government counsel, private firm litigation, and corporate contract law. She’s the founder of Label Me Legal, where she empowers solopreneurs to protect and grow their businesses with confidence—no expensive retainers required.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• The key differences between a lawyer and an attorney—and why that matters
• Why “start simple” is often the best legal advice for new business owners
• What you really need before trademarking your brand
• How to use free resources (like your country’s tax office) to register your business
• The low-cost legal protections you can DIY with AI (and when not to)
• Why a basic loan agreement can protect you—even if you’re just moving money between personal and business accounts
• Which contracts matter early on—and where to find affordable templates
• How to use the Madrid Protocol if you want international trademark protection

Listen in for practical, empowering advice that will help you protect your business and move forward with confidence.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• IRS.gov (for EIN in the U.S.)
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): https://www.uspto.gov
• Madrid Protocol info via USPTO: Madrid System
• Label Me Legal: https://labelmelegal.com
   

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sometimes being an outsider is actually your best kept secret."

Gloria Chou knows a thing or two about being an outsider—and turning that into a superpower. In this episode, she shares how she went from cold-calling journalists with no connections to getting clients featured in major outlets like Forbes and Vogue. If the idea of PR feels overwhelming or off-limits, you’ll want to listen to this.

AUTHORITY

Gloria Chou is a former U.S. diplomat who transitioned into the world of PR without any agency experience—and built a thriving business doing just that. She’s helped thousands of underrepresented founders get media coverage by teaching them to cold pitch with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why you don’t need a big following or fat budget to land media features
• The surprising difference between PR and marketing (and why PR might suit you better)
• Gloria’s sweaty-palmed journey into cold pitching and how she cracked the code
• The mindset shift needed to show up and share your story
• Why authority alone isn’t enough—you need psychological resonance
• The power of niching down and getting specific in your messaging
• How to create pitches that are timely, relevant, and irresistible to journalists
• Gloria’s thoughts on building inclusive communities and leading with values

CALL TO ACTION

Tune in and get ready to rethink your approach to visibility. Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Gloria’s free PR masterclass: gloriachoupr.com/masterclass
• DM “Trudy” to @gloriachoupr on Instagram for a bonus PR pitching freebie
• My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you look deep into nature, you'll find the blueprint for a thriving business.”

That’s the philosophy Matthieu Mehuys has cultivated—literally—from the soil up. From his beginnings on a Belgian family farm to founding a globally scalable regenerative design business, Matthieu shares how he turned a health crisis and a backpacking breakdown into a sustainable business that not only heals the planet, but educates and empowers others to do the same.

Matthieu is an award-winning landscape architect and founder of Polonia Landscape Architect. Through his masterclasses, AI-supported tools, and best-selling book The 12 Universal Laws of Nature, he’s revolutionizing how people think about land, food, and freedom—bringing sustainable garden design out of elite hands and into everyday backyards.

We Also Talked About:

• Why 95% of beginner gardeners give up—and how he solves it
• What business owners can learn from a weed-infested garden
• How a single client request led to a scalable, global model
• The reason most landscape services are designed to keep you dependent
• Why the native vs. invasive plants debate is more complex than you think
• The three-step framework for starting a regenerative garden anywhere
• How regenerative farming could reverse climate change in 7 years
• Turning crisis into clarity: what dengue fever taught him about entrepreneurship
• The surprising business power of understanding ecosystems
• How to build a profitable business that doesn’t compromise your values

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Matthieu's Book:  The 12 Universal Laws of Nature
• Matthieu’s Regenerative Design Podcast Apple Spotify
• Project Kamp (YouTube channel) - https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectKamp

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Hafner got the grandaddy of all sticker shocks when he saw the quote to develop an app.

That moment of sticker shock was all it took for him to go from app dreamer to no-code doer. In this episode, we explore how Dan turned a DIY project into a successful business—and how you can use no-code tools and AI agents to do the same.

Dan Hafner is a no-code expert, app agency founder, and host of the Tech Bytes podcast. With a background in software testing and a passion for solving problems through automation, Dan helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into functional, money-making apps—without hiring developers.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• How Dan transitioned from software tester to no-code entrepreneur
• Why learning to code didn’t work—and what he did instead
• The 3-step framework Dan uses to bring ideas to life
• How AI agents and ChatGPT Operators are changing the game
• Why user experience (UX) still makes or breaks your tech
• How to use AI-powered tools as lead magnets or sales closers
• The mindset shift needed to build simple but powerful tools
• Why “done is better than perfect” when building MVPs
• Timeframes: what you can build in 30 minutes vs. 90 days
• The rare but valuable skill of digital architecture (and how to develop it)

Tune in to hear Dan’s insights and real-world examples of no-code success.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Dan's site: DapperNoCode.com
• Tech Bytes Podcast:  https://dappernocode.com/podcast
• Miro:  mind mapping tool (affiliate link)
• Lucidchart:  https://www.lucidchart.com/pages
• No-code Tools:  Zapier, Make, Bubble, Adalo, Flutterflow
  
  

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Everyone—from the engineer to the CEO—should take part in supporting customers. It changes how we build everything.”

That insight from fractional CTO Brian Childress isn’t just memorable—it’s a blueprint for building better tech businesses. In this episode, Brian shares how embedding customer support into every role improves product development, team alignment, and long-term growth. Whether you're a SaaS founder, solopreneur, or future CTO, this episode is full of sharp, actionable advice.

Brian Childress is a seasoned software architect and fractional Chief Technology Officer. With deep experience leading software engineering teams and scaling tech infrastructure, Brian helps startups and growth-stage companies make the leap from “just launched” to “ready for real users.” His superpower? Balancing deep tech know-how with customer-first strategy.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• What a fractional CTO does (and how to become one)
• The hardest part of shifting from employee to business owner
• How to prepare your SaaS platform for real-world users
• Why every team member should experience customer support
• Creating company culture without making it a “project”
• How AI agents can act like super interns
• Protecting your intellectual property while using AI tools
• Why understanding your team’s cultural background improves collaboration
• Systems and frameworks that keep solo consultancies running smoothly

Tune in now for a candid conversation full of practical strategies and lightbulb moments.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Pretty doesn’t mean it’s going to work.”

That quote from marketing veteran James Hipkin cuts to the core of a major problem for online business owners: too much noise, too little strategy. With four decades of top-tier marketing experience across four countries, James joins us to unravel the confusion and teach you how to swap chaos for clarity, without falling for the next shiny thing.

James Hipkin has been at the helm of multimillion-dollar marketing efforts and now helps small business owners use enterprise-level strategies on a manageable scale. His superpower? Translating big-budget principles into simple, actionable tools for the rest of us.

We Also Talked About:

• Why repelling the wrong customers is just as crucial as attracting the right ones
• The marketing funnel vs. the sales funnel—and why confusing them kills results
• The "hub and spoke" model for aligning your website, channels, and content
• How UTM codes help you stop guessing and start tracking what works
• Why most business owners are shouting from rooftops no one can hear
• How to build trust through your marketing (and why it matters more than ever)
• The truth about buyer’s journeys—and why ignoring them costs you sales
• “Call to action” vs. “People Like You” pathways—what to say instead

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• VIPchatwithJames.com – Book a free strategy session with James
• UTM.io – Tool for creating UTM codes (for tracking links effectively)
• Google Analytics – Used in conjunction with UTM codes for performance tracking

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.