Choosing the right marketing agency can make or break your business — and in this episode, John Jantsch shares the 10 essential questions every business owner must ask before hiring a marketing partner. Using real-world examples and industry red flags, he breaks down how to protect your data, evaluate reporting, connect tactics to strategy, and spot agencies that overcharge while underdelivering. If you've ever worried about getting ripped off or want to make smarter marketing decisions, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence you need. Discover how to avoid costly mistakes and choose a partner that truly drives results.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction 01:48 Who Owns Your Data? 03:16 Defining Success 04:08 Strategy Alignment 04:52 Exit Strategies 05:39 Daily Work Breakdown 06:20 Ask For A Sample Report 06:41 AI & Human Oversight 07:43 Collaboration Process 08:14 Strategy Before Execution 09:18 Knowledge Transfer

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John Jantsch sits down with LinkedIn expert Lorenzo Johnson to break down the four pillars of social selling that drive real results. Lorenzo explains how to improve your LinkedIn SSI score, build trusted relationships, and create value-driven content that stands out in a sea of generic AI posts. You'll learn why video, carousel posts, and authentic engagement outperform automation—and how to optimize your professional brand for 2026. If you're looking for best practices for social selling on LinkedIn, this episode delivers a clear blueprint you can put into action today.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet Lorenzo Johnson 01:10 LinkedIn in 2026 01:24 The New Landscape 03:47 AI's Impact on LinkedIn 04:53 Social Selling Index 08:11 Profile Optimization Tips 10:24 Long-Term Selling Strategy 12:46 Best Outreach Tools 16:24 Tool Compliance Rules 19:03 Measuring Your Success

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Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts.

Today we discussed:

00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard 00:04:26 10 Questions Overview 00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership 00:07:20 Question 2: Measuring Success 00:09:11 Question 3: Strategy Alignment 00:11:09 Question 4: Contract Terms 00:12:11 Question 6: Reporting Standards 00:12:23 Question 5: Team Interaction 00:13:04 Question 7: AI Integration 00:15:12 Question 8: Keep Your Team Involved 00:17:48 Question 10: What You'll Learn

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*This is a rerun of a previous DTM episode.

Keith Lauver is a serial entrepreneur, seasoned marketing strategist, and founder of Atomic Elevator, the company behind Ella—an AI-powered marketing platform transforming how brands approach strategy and execution. He has launched six companies and raised over $34 million through product-driven growth. In this episode, Keith shares how High Definition Marketing and AI tools like Ella are redefining marketing for small businesses and agencies alike. Discover how to align your marketing strategy with execution, break through brand stagnation, and drive real business growth with smarter, not louder, tactics.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction

00:41 What is High Definition Marketing?

01:59 How Has Marketing Strategy Changed?

08:17 ELLA and DTM Partnership

12:52 ELLA Elevates Your Marketing Team

16:46 How are AI Tools Evolving?

More About Keith Lauver:

Check out Keith Lauver's Website: https://www.atomicelevator.com

Connect with Keith Lauver's on LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/keithdlauver/⁠

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*This is a rerun of a previous DTM episode. Manick Bhan is the founder and CTO of Search Atlas, a cutting-edge SEO and content marketing platform powering over 20,000 websites and 5,000 agencies. A serial entrepreneur and respected thought leader in the SEO industry, Manick previously founded RankPay and has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of search technology. In this episode, he joins John Jantsch to break down the future of SEO, the disruptive impact of AI and LLMs like ChatGPT, and how marketers can evolve beyond outdated strategies. Listeners will gain actionable insights into building high-converting content, mastering SEO automation, and future-proofing their digital marketing efforts.

00:00 Opening 01:03 Introducing Manick Bhan 01:32 Why Was Search Atlas Created? 03:53 Is SEO Dead? 06:12 Why is Conversion Higher From AI Search Than Google?:07:32 RIsk vs Opportunity with AI Search 09:12 Optimizing Content for Competitive Search 42 How Should Marketers Think about AI Today? 14:28 Quality vs Quanity 17:42 Rented vs Owned Spaces 20:09 Lessons Learned from a Founder

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John Jantsch talks with Ernie Ross — branding strategist, founder of Ross Rethink, and creator of the Intangence Methodology. They explore how trust, storytelling, and human connection are redefining brand value in an age of AI and skepticism. Discover why authentic storytelling drives emotional connection, how meaning creates market worth, and what the future holds for purpose-driven brands built on trust.

00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet Ernie Ross 01:10 What Is Intangence? 04:27 Trust as Brand Currency 07:40 AI Can't Replace This 10:56 Storytelling That Connects 13:07 Ethics of Emotion 14:32 Where to Start 16:49 Questioning Reality 18:35 Intangibles Drive Value

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Dr. Julia Garcia is a psychologist, speaker, and author of The Five Habits of Hope: Stories and Strategies to Help You Find Your Way. In this episode, she joins John Jantsch to explore how hope isn't just a feeling—it's a leadership strategy that drives resilience, innovation, and connection. Julia reveals how emotional habits like release, repurposing, and emotional risk-taking can transform workplace culture and empower teams to thrive. Discover how leading with hope can build stronger, more human organizations.

00:00 Start 00:33 Meet Julia Garcia 01:10 Hope as a Habit 02:32 Debunking Hope Myths 04:37 Owning Your Own Story 06:07 Reframing Your Identity 07:47 Fighting Loneliness Together 10:28 Practicing Hope Daily 11:54 Hope in Business Culture 15:06 The Release Exercise 18:17 Realistic vs Unrealistic Hope 20:09 Connect with Julia

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Mark Kingsley is a renowned brand strategist, consultant, and author of Brands in the Age of AI. In this episode, he joins John Jantsch to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the foundation of branding—from trust and differentiation to the very nature of human connection. Kingsley challenges marketers to move beyond chasing algorithms and instead use AI as a tool to humanize brands, build authentic emotional connections, and create more meaningful experiences in a rapidly changing digital world.

00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:33 Meet Mark Kingsley 00:01:14 AI vs. Human Branding 00:04:45 Trust in the AI Era 00:08:48 Storytelling That Works 00:14:04 Brand OS Explained 00:16:46 AI's Hidden Limits 00:18:16 Small Business AI Strategy

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John breaks down why your Google Business Profile is now the most powerful tool for local SEO. He explains how Google's shift toward AI-driven search and zero-click results means your profile has become your new "mini website." John shares actionable steps to boost visibility, build trust, and turn your Google presence into a steady stream of local leads. Perfect for small business owners ready to thrive in the AI era.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:32 Rethinking Publishing on Rented Land
• 02:06 Google Business Profile is Prime Real Estate
• 06:30 E-E-A-T, Structured Data, and Staying Active
• 11:56 What to Post on Your GBP Every Week
• 14:45 Optimizing for AI
• 18:11 4 Week Audit and Action Plan

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Eva Gutierrez is the founder of ThinkWithAI.com and a leading educator on practical AI adoption for business leaders. With a background in behavioral science and communication, she helps organizations integrate AI into decision-making, recruiting, and daily workflows. In this episode, Eva and John explore how to build your AI team task by task, reframing AI as a hired teammate rather than a tool. Learn how to create a hybrid intelligence system that enhances productivity and empowers human potential.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:33 Meet Eva Gutierrez
• 01:21 Think Task-by-Task AI
• 06:01 AI Changes Your Org Chart
• 10:00 Hybrid Intelligence Explained
• 18:49 Let AI Recruit AI
• 22:16 Connect with Eva

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