Guest episode of Slow & Steady — A Podcast by ARTILLERY.

In this episode, Jake sits down with Dr. Rachel Huston Traynor, the founder of The Body Lab in Lincoln, Nebraska, to talk about what "slow and steady" actually looks like in a healthcare practice.

Rachel opened The Body Lab in 2020 — a year out of Palmer, business loan signed, lease signed, pandemic breaking out. She opened anyway because she didn't have a choice. Five years later, she's grown it into a multidisciplinary wellness collective with chiropractic, physical therapy, personal training, nutrition, and a 24-hour self-service recovery studio — and her patient book is full.

She also runs a cash-pay, flat-rate model with all pricing posted on the website, has 340+ five-star Google reviews, and gets roughly 90% of her new patients through word-of-mouth referral. None of that happened by accident.

In this conversation, Rachel walks through the early chaos of opening during COVID, the concept of "medical purgatory" and why conservative care is often the better first stop, the case for cash-pay pricing, how she built her team (including the Instagram DM that landed her first PT hire), and the personal review ask system that compounded over five years into 340+ five-star reviews.

This episode is for anyone building a service-based business — healthcare, wellness, consulting, agencies — and trying to grow the right way instead of the fast way.

In this episode:

• Opening a physical-touch business in 2020 and the marketing pivot that forced her onto digital
• Medical purgatory — the broken loop most back-pain patients get stuck in
• The case for cash-pay, flat-rate pricing (for the patient *and* the provider)
• Why 90% word-of-mouth is a feature, not a problem to diversify away from
• Building a team from a cellular-burnout year-and-a-half of doing everything solo
• The personal review ask system that got The Body Lab to 340+ five-star reviews
• How StoryBrand copy on the website turns visitors into booked appointments

About Dr. Rachel Huston Traynor

Rachel is the founder of The Body Lab, a multidisciplinary wellness collective in Lincoln, NE that brings together chiropractic care, physical therapy, personal training, nutrition services, and recovery amenities like infrared sauna and cold plunge — all under one roof. She's passionate about creating a transparent, collaborative, and whole-person approach to healthcare that empowers people to feel and function their best.

Her mantra: "Doing the foundational, often boring things in your business that work, doing them well and often, and being really patient."

The Body Lab LinksThe Body Lab: https://thebodylablnk.com The Body Lab on Instagram: @thebodylab_lincoln The Body Lab Recovery on Instagram: @thebodylab_recovery

Artillery Links Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

Guest episode of Slow & Steady — A Podcast by ARTILLERY.

In this episode, Jake sits down with Hunter Boe, the founding vocal music director at Standing Bear High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, to talk about what it actually looks like to build something from nothing.

Standing Bear opened in August 2023. No traditions, no alumni, no existing program. Hunter was hand-picked to build the entire music department from scratch — choir, show choir, musical, unified music. His show choir, the Renegades, started with 52 students. 49 of them had never done show choir before. By the end of year one, they were making finals and hosting their own invitational.

Hunter shares the early chaos, the decisions that set the tone for everything that followed, and why he believes community has to come before competition. He also talks about what "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" looks like in practice — and why frantic effort rarely compounds the way steady, intentional work does.

This episode is for anyone building something new — a program, a business, a team, a brand — and trying to make decisions today that still hold up in five years.

In this episode:

• What "day one" actually looked like at a brand-new school with unfinished walls and no traditions
• The STAND framework — Supportive, Tenacious, Ambitious, Novel, Disciplined — and how it became the department's ethos
• Why Hunter waited a full year before starting show choir
• What happens when competition results become the goal (and relationships get transactional)
• How grizzlypaw.org serves as the program's hub for recruiting, fundraising, and storytelling
• The challenge of scaling from 25 students to 120 while keeping culture intact
• Unified music and why it's the most joyful part of Hunter's day

About Hunter Boe

Hunter Boe is the founding vocal music director at Standing Bear High School. He built the school's entire music program from zero — choir, show choir, musical theater, and unified music — starting with students who had never performed in an ensemble. Previously directed programs at Norris and Wahoo.

His mantra: "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."

Standing Bear Vocal Music on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Website: https://www.grizzlypaw.org/

Artillery Links Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

Part 9 of the "Perfect Website" Series.

In this episode, Jake sits down with marketing coach and copywriter Brittany Downey to walk through a real SEO audit of artillerymedia.com — paid for, delivered by outside specialist Michelle Bourbonniere, PhD from Words on the Rise, and opened live on the podcast.

The results are honest and a little humbling. Artillery ranks #1 for web design in Lincoln, Nebraska. But 76% of their organic traffic comes from searches with nothing to do with websites or branding — including a 2017 post about how to sign a PDF on a Mac that's still one of the top-performing pages on the site.

This is a practical, no-fluff conversation for any service business owner who's wondered what their website is actually doing on Google — and what to focus on next.

In this episode:

• What an SEO audit actually tells you — and what it doesn't
• Branded vs. unbranded search, and why the distinction matters
• Why your Google Business Profile is more important than your homepage
• The "one page, one keyword" rule for building searchable service pages
• How to think about backlinks as PR (not a technical game)
• Why business strategy should drive SEO — not the other way around
• Entity-optimized about pages: what they are and why they matter for service businesses
• What Artillery is actually changing on their new website as a result

About Brittany Downey

Brittany Downey is a marketing coach, writer, and host of the Do Less Marketing podcast. She works with small businesses and nonprofits to get clear on their positioning, show up with intention, and build real pathways to connect with the right people. She's also collaborated on 150+ website projects with ARTILLERY.

Brittany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-downey Do Less Marketing podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-less-marketing/id1806109083 Downey Strategy: https://downeystrategy.com/

Artillery Links Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

Third guest episode of Slow & Steady — A Podcast by ARTILLERY.

In this episode, Jake and John sit down with Brittany Downey — marketing coach, copywriter, and host of the Do Less Marketing podcast — to talk about why most small businesses are doing too much marketing, not too little, and what to do about it.

Brittany has worked with small businesses, nonprofits, and lean marketing teams for years, helping them cut through the noise and focus on what actually fits. She's also been part of over 150 website projects with the ARTILLERY team, so this conversation is personal.

She walks through her "Three Ps of Minimalist Marketing" framework, explains the marketing wobble that traps so many businesses, and makes a case for treating your marketing strategy like a closet that needs a good cleanout.

This episode is for any business owner or marketing lead who feels overwhelmed by all the things they think they should be doing — and is ready to figure out what actually deserves their time.

In this episode: * Why every organization — small nonprofits to large companies — hits the same marketing wall * The Three Ps of Minimalist Marketing: Positioning, Presence, and Pathways * What causes the "marketing wobble" and how to find your base pace * Why your website needs to feel as human as your storefront * How to use AI to sharpen your thinking without outsourcing it * The marketing closet cleanout: getting everything out on the table to see what actually fits * Why having someone else interview your clients reveals things you'd never hear yourself * Marketing should be fun — and what happens when you find the version that fits you

About Brittany

Brittany Downey is a marketing coach, writer, and host of the Do Less Marketing podcast. She helps small businesses and nonprofits focus on what works for them — not what everyone else says they should be doing. Her background spans nonprofit marketing, agency work, and hands-on consulting with lean teams.

Brittany's website: https://downeystrategy.com/ Do Less Marketing podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-less-marketing/id1806109083 Brittany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-downey

Artillery Links Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

Second guest episode of Slow & Steady — A Podcast by ARTILLERY

In this episode, Jake and John sit down with Nick Small, a SaaS marketing leader and co-founder of Driive, to talk about what real, sustainable growth looks like when you zoom out and play the long game.

Nick shares his journey through building and managing websites, leading marketing at Nonprofit Hub, and scaling CompanyCam from under $1M in ARR to a nine-figure valuation. Along the way, he reflects on what he's learned about consistency, learning through failure, and why "slow and steady" is less about moving slowly and more about moving intentionally.

We talk about how websites function as far more than marketing assets, acting instead as storefronts, concierges, and often the hardest-working salesperson in the business. Nick also opens up about returning to founder mode with Driive, building in public, and being honest about what's still under construction.

This episode is for founders, marketers, and business owners who care about building something that lasts, not just chasing short-term wins.

• What "slow and steady" actually means in high-growth SaaS

• Lessons learned scaling a company from early ARR to nine figures

• Why consistent action beats "all at once" effort

• How your website serves as your storefront, concierge, and salesperson

• The role of humility and curiosity in long-term growth

• Why being a student matters more than being an expert

• Building while things are still unfinished (product and website included)

Nick Small is a SaaS leader with over a decade of experience building mutual value for employees, customers, and shareholders (in that order). He describes himself as "never the expert, always the student."

Nick has built and managed websites across agencies and freelance work, served as Marketing Director at Nonprofit Hub, and was VP of Marketing at CompanyCam during a period of massive growth. Today, he's a co-founder at Driive, a booking and scheduling platform for field sales teams, where both the product and the website are still very much under construction.

Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nixmall/ Driive: https://getdriive.com CompanyCam: https://companycam.com

Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

First guest episode of Slow & Steady — A Podcast by ARTILLERY

In this episode, Jake and John sit down with Jennifer Clark, a professional voice actor, podcast host, and Artillery Client of the Month, to talk about what real, sustainable growth actually looks like.

Jennifer shares her journey into voice acting, the realities of building a creative business, and why "overnight success" is usually just consistency, grit, and grace in disguise. She walks through how she intentionally uses her website as a business tool, not just a portfolio, sending prospective clients and agents to genre-specific pages that answer their questions quickly and clearly.

Since launching her new website, Jennifer has seen a 200% increase in revenue, and while many factors contributed, she explains why having a site that matches the level of service she provides has played a major role.

Jennifer is also the host of the Humankindness at Work podcast, where she shares stories of people making a difference through service, creativity, and genuine human connection. That same philosophy shows up in how she does business, how she serves clients, and how she thinks about growth.

In this episode:

• Why "overnight success" is usually slow, steady work behind the scenes

• What it really takes to build a sustainable creative business

• How genre-specific website pages save time and build trust

• Using your website to attract better clients and new agents

• Why clarity beats flash when it comes to conversion

• The human side of business: service, consistency, and connection

• How focusing on the right audience leads to meaningful growth

Jennifer Clark is an empathetic, inquisitive, dream-chasing woman. She's a wife to her college crush, mom to three driven and compassionate kids, and a professional voice actor who brings the sound of humankindness to everything she voices.

She is a multi-award nominated voice actor specializing in TV, radio, and digital commercials, web videos, corporate training, eLearning, and documentaries. Her voice has been trusted by brands like Walmart, Pinterest, PBS, Sam's Club, Hilton, LEGO, and Starbucks.

She finds joy in a good cup of chai, long walks with her dog, skipping small talk in favor of deep conversation, and using her voice to contribute to the world in meaningful ways.

• Jennifer's website: https://jennifersvoice.com

• Jennifer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jennifersvoice

• Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-clark-vo/

• Jennifer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifers.voice/

• Jennifer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifers.voiceVO

Humankindness at Work Podcast

• Podcast home: https://jennifersvoice.com/podcast-home

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humankindnessatwork_podcast

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumankindnessAtWorkPodcast

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HumankindnessatWorkPodcast

Artillery Links

• Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/

• Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en

• Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia

Part 8 of the "Perfect Website" Series

Launch is not the finish line. It's the starting gun.

In this episode, Jake and John talk about what it actually takes to keep a website healthy after it goes live: updates, backups, security layers, performance checks, and the ongoing habits that prevent "random" site problems down the road.

They break down why maintenance is not just a forever fee. It's the practical, boring, essential work that keeps your site fast, secure, and reliable, especially on WordPress, where plugins, themes, and core software are constantly evolving. They also cover the difference between hosting and maintenance, why your hosting company can't fully handle this for you, and how small check-ins over time beat massive rebuilds later.

If you're a business owner who wants your site to last (and not quietly decay), this episode is your maintenance mindset shift.

In this episode:

• Why "if it's not broken, don't fix it" is a dangerous website strategy
• The 4-phase longevity plan: Protect, Update, Optimize, Evolve
• How backups, hosting quality, and maintenance all stack together
• Why updates matter: security patches, plugin risk, and the hacker playbook
• Our maintenance toolbox: SiteGround, InfiniteWP, Wordfence, Analytics, Search Console
• What to monitor post-launch: speed, broken links, SEO signals, and conversions
• Why "just install a plugin" can be the beginning of a mess (and what to check first)
• Hosting vs. maintenance: keeping the lights on vs. keeping the house from collapsing

Links: Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/

Part 7 of the "Perfect Website" Series

Launch day feels like a big red button. In reality, it's a checklist, a few switches, and a whole lot of systems talking to each other.

In this episode, Jake and John walk you through what actually happens when a website goes live. From last-pass QA and "is it working on mobile?" to DNS changes, SSL certificates, caching, and the weird in-between moment where some people see the new site and others still see the old one.

They also break down the tools ARTILLERY uses to keep launches low-drama: dnswatch.info, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Yoast sitemaps, and why PageSpeed scores can be helpful… but also wildly misleading if you don't understand what you're measuring.

If you're a business owner preparing for a new website launch, or a web pro who wants a clean, repeatable process, this episode is your playbook.

In this episode:

• The 3 phases of a smooth launch: final checks, DNS switch, and post-launch polish

• Why "propagation, not teleportation" explains 90% of launch confusion

• The technical basics: A records, servers, SSL, caching, and why old sites sometimes linger

• Tools we use on launch day: dnswatch.info, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Yoast

• PageSpeed reality check: why even Apple and the New York Times don't score 100

• Common pitfalls: broken forms, missed webhooks, old links, and what to do when something breaks

• The truth about Google indexing: launch is the start, not the finish

Next up (Part 8): What happens after launch, how to keep your site healthy, secure, and growing over time.

Links: Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/

Part 6 of the "Perfect Website" Series

Welcome to the build. In this episode, Jake and John take you behind the curtain of what really happens when your mockup becomes a functioning website. From Divi vs. Elementor to Webflow and WordPress, they dig into why versatility beats flash, why "pixel perfect" isn't perfectionism—it's professionalism—and why sticking with one page builder keeps your team fast, consistent, and scalable.

The guys get into the weeds on WordPress strategy, why ARTILLERY has gone all-in on Divi, and how "dedicating to a builder" creates efficiency that clients never see but always feel. Then, the conversation zooms out into the philosophy of modern web design—how to balance creativity with usability, and why chasing the most "unique" idea often kills results.

From pop-ups and carousels to the eternal "make my logo bigger" debate, this is an honest, funny, and insight-packed look at the messy, magical stage where art meets reality.

In this episode:

• Divi, Elementor, Webflow, and why ARTILLERY still loves WordPress

• Why consistency beats constant reinvention

• The difference between unique and usable design

• Client pitfalls: "make it pop," "it looks boxy," and "I've seen this before"

• How to add "eye candy" without ruining functionality

• The importance of taste (and why not everyone has it)

• Why great design should feel invisible

Next up (Part 7): Launch — the final polish, going live, and how to keep momentum after your site hits the world.

Links:

• Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en
• Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia
• Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/

Part 5 of the "Perfect Website" Series

Now that your wireframes are mapped out, it's time to bring them to life. In Episode 5, Jake and John unpack one of the most exciting phases of building a website — the mockup. This is where strategy meets creativity and your website finally starts to look real.

You'll hear how mockups act as the bridge between blueprint and build, why skipping this step can cost you in the long run, and how tools like Figma have revolutionized the design process. John dives into the story behind the Eclipse Auctions project, revealing how one small design change—highlighting "$995 Flat Fee"—transformed the entire message.

The team also talks about client feedback, design consistency, and the fine line between "enough design" and "over-designed." If you've ever wondered what happens between the wireframe and the live site, this is your behind-the-scenes tour.

In this episode:

• The purpose of mockups (and why they matter)

• Why constraint breeds creativity

• Real-world story: Eclipse Auctions' $995 headline breakthrough

• Photoshop → Figma: how design tools evolved

• The right way to give (and receive) design feedback

• When to skip mockups and go straight to build

• How mockups protect both the designer and the client

Next up (Part 6): Development — where mockups turn into fully functional websites, and the real build begins.

Links:

• Podcast page: https://artillerymedia.com/podcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artillery_media/?hl=en
• Jake on X: https://x.com/jakekramer15?lang=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artillerymedia
• Contact us: https://artillerymedia.com/contact/