Sean Ellis on the Evolution of Growth, PMF, and Testing in the AI Era

In this Kitchen Side episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex, Allie, and David are joined by Mark Lindquist to discuss the transformation of SEO and content marketing. They delve into the decline of traffic-based metrics, the rise of user-first strategies, and how AI-driven changes are forcing marketers to rethink content creation. Mark emphasizes treating content as a product, getting closer to the audience, and building strategies rooted in customer pain points. With actionable insights and reflections, this episode offers a roadmap for creating high-utility content in an evolving landscape.Key TakeawaysContent as a Product: High-performing content solves unmet user needs and aligns closely with customer pain points, moving beyond the old playbooks of keyword stuffing and traffic chasing.Shift from Traffic Metrics to Business Value: Traffic alone is no longer sufficient. Marketers must connect content efforts to measurable outcomes, such as leads, conversions, and revenue.AI and Generative Content’s Role: AI is reshaping SEO by targeting top-of-funnel content, compelling marketers to focus on higher-value, utility-driven pieces.Operational Changes in Content Creation: Marketers must build closer relationships with customers and integrate cross-functional insights into their strategies to future-proof content efforts.Reframing Leadership Conversations: Present data that ties content performance to business outcomes, while acknowledging and adapting to the evolving search landscape.Show LinksConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett speaks with Sean Ellis, the creator of the term "growth hacking" and a pioneer in startup growth strategies. Sean shares his insights on product-market fit, the fundamentals of sustainable growth, and how AI is reshaping the startup landscape. From his groundbreaking work at Dropbox and Eventbrite to the evolving nature of customer acquisition, Sean offers practical advice for founders and marketers. This episode explores balancing foundational principles with emerging technologies and strategies to achieve growth in an ever-changing environment.Key TakeawaysThe Sean Ellis Test for Product-Market Fit: A simple yet effective question: "How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?" A response rate of 40% or higher for "very disappointed" indicates strong product-market fit.AI Accelerates Growth but Doesn't Replace Fundamentals: While AI tools streamline processes, the foundational elements—solving real problems and aligning with customer needs—remain paramount.Retention and Word-of-Mouth as Growth Signals: Organic word-of-mouth and customer retention are better indicators of growth potential than surface-level tactics like referral programs.Tailoring Customer Onboarding: Match onboarding experiences to the specific use case that brought a customer to the product, enhancing retention and satisfaction.Erosion of Product-Market Fit: Competition and commoditization, especially in an AI-driven market, can weaken a product’s position, necessitating continuous evolution.Practical Growth Strategies: Focus on high-value use cases for your most passionate customers, refine messaging to align with core benefits, and build a growth engine that scales sustainably.Show LinksVisit GoPractice or book a consultationConnect with Sean Ellis on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this special Fireside Chat edition of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett shares insights about building SEO strategies for startups with the Founders Common community. He discusses foundational steps, the evolution of SEO in the era of AI, and innovative approaches like product-led SEO and programmatic strategies. Alex emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations for SEO's nonlinear growth and highlights the value of intertwining branding, fast feedback channels, and data-driven content strategies to gain a competitive edge.Key TakeawaysStart with First Principles: Focus on creating valuable content that solves real problems for your target audience instead of over-optimizing for algorithms.Product-Led SEO Strategies: Examples like Zapier’s integration pages demonstrate how to use product capabilities to create SEO-friendly content that directly serves customer needs.Evolving Beyond Old Playbooks: Traditional SEO tactics like broad, top-of-funnel guides are becoming less effective due to AI, featured snippets, and increased competition.Branding and SEO Interplay: Personal branding and LinkedIn activity help amplify SEO efforts and build trust signals in a competitive digital landscape.The Nonlinear Nature of SEO: SEO requires patience, with growth often compounding over the years rather than showing immediate returns. Founders should manage expectations accordingly.Scaling and Adapting Over Time: Begin with foundational content and backlinks. Over time, expand into programmatic SEO, personalized clusters, and long-tail permutations as resources grow.Show LinksConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this episode of The Long Game, Alex Birkett talks with Katie Arena, the global marketing and communications leader at Clinch, an omni-channel advertising platform. Katie explains the differences between multi-channel and omni-channel advertising, emphasizing the importance of streamlining ad campaigns, personalizing creative content, and analyzing performance data in a unified way. The conversation touches on the complexities of modern advertising, including audience targeting, decision logic, and optimizing ad spend across platforms. Katie also discusses her views on subtle, well-executed ads, like Nike’s marathon campaigns, and highlights how technology enables efficiency in managing large-scale ad campaigns.Key TakeawaysOmni-Channel vs. Multi-Channel Advertising: Multi-channel means operating across platforms, but omni-channel focuses on creating a connected, streamlined experience across all touchpoints with data-driven personalization.Streamlining Creative Development: Clinch's ad-builder helps advertisers efficiently version, optimize, and repurpose ad creatives across multiple channels, saving time and resources.Personalization Drives Results: Effective campaigns use dynamic decision logic to tailor ads to the audience, considering contexts like weather, time of day, or events (e.g., Olympics medal count updates).Combining KPIs and Optimization: While each channel may have unique KPIs, centralizing the analysis helps advertisers identify what resonates most and optimize accordingly.Complex Campaign Management: The fragmented nature of teams (strategy, creative, and media) can cause inefficiencies. Unified platforms bring visibility, better communication, and data-driven decisions.Bold Advertising in a Crowded Space: Successful ads balance subtlety and creativity, resonating with target audiences while occasionally taking risks to stand out, as seen with Nike or Jaguar campaigns.Show LinksVisit ClinchConnect with Katie Arena on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett and the team discuss critical shifts in SEO and content marketing strategy. They emphasize the importance of moving beyond vanity metrics like traffic and focusing on meaningful business outcomes. Key topics include the concept of North Star KPIs, the dangers of the "traffic trap," and the importance of aligning incentives across teams to achieve shared goals. The conversation highlights how the industry is evolving towards more impactful strategies, offering insights for marketers aiming to drive long-term growth.Key TakeawaysThe "Traffic Trap" in SEO: Focusing solely on traffic growth can lead to misaligned strategies that fail to deliver meaningful business outcomes like leads or revenue.North Star KPIs and Guardrails: Using a North Star metric that aligns with business goals ensures focus on value-driven outcomes. Guardrail metrics prevent gaming the system at the expense of user experience or quality.Aligning Incentives Across Teams: Misaligned goals within marketing teams, such as prioritizing traffic over conversions, can hinder overall success. Collaboration and shared KPIs can drive better outcomes.Vanity Metrics and Industry Evolution: The shift away from vanity metrics like page views is forcing marketers to prioritize strategies that genuinely impact business performance.The "Burpees" Analogy for Inefficient Marketing: Ineffective strategies are compared to burpees—exhausting but ultimately unproductive. The focus should be on intentional, impactful actions that contribute to long-term goals.A New Era for SEO: The current paradigm shift in SEO provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build scalable customer acquisition channels based on meaningful strategies.Show LinksConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this insightful episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett speaks with Chris Walker, CEO of Passetto and host of the B2B Revenue Vitals podcast. Chris shares his bold perspectives on the evolution of B2B marketing, highlighting the need for customer-centric strategies and challenging conventional practices like attribution modeling and demand generation. He explores the role of CMOs in bridging business outcomes with marketing execution and discusses how marketing must adapt to meet the demands of modern go-to-market structures. From innovative mental models to actionable strategies, Chris delivers thought-provoking insights for marketers and executives looking to drive growth and build sustainable systems.Key TakeawaysCustomer-Centric Marketing is Essential: Chris emphasizes listening to customers to extract patterns and validate insights, making marketing strategies more aligned with real-world needs.Demand Creation vs. Brand Awareness: Demand creation goes beyond awareness, focusing on making customers understand their problems and prioritize solutions—a step critical for B2B success.Flaws in Attribution Models: Attribution should not be a political tool for assigning credit but a resource for answering critical business questions and improving outcomes.The Evolving Role of CMOs: CMOs should focus on business KPIs rather than departmental silos. Splitting brand-building and pipeline creation functions could lead to better alignment and results.Balancing Art and Science in Marketing: Marketing strategies should integrate creative approaches with data-driven processes to adapt to different stages of business growth.The Power of Process and Scale: Early-stage businesses thrive on creativity and agility, but as companies grow, systems, data, and processes become critical to sustain and scale operations.Show LinksVisit PassettoConnect with Chris Walker on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this lively episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex, Allie, and David explore a range of topics, including the evolving capabilities of ChatGPT search and its implications for SEO. They share insights on building and leveraging custom GPTs for personalized workflows and content creation. The conversation also covers year-end planning, productivity hacks, and the balance between personal and professional priorities. With a mix of humor, rants, and strategic takeaways, the episode provides practical ideas for marketers and creators navigating the changing digital landscape.Key TakeawaysChatGPT Search and SEO Implications: ChatGPT’s search capabilities are a game-changer for refining search results, summarizing content, and providing better context than traditional search engines.Custom GPTs for Personalization: Training GPT models with personalized data and style guides can greatly enhance content creation, from LinkedIn posts to complex projects.Year-End Planning: Writing down goals, prioritizing tasks, and clustering similar ideas help maintain focus and avoid feeling overwhelmed by long to-do lists.Balancing Productivity and Reflection: Personal and business goal-setting requires a mix of introspection, strategic planning, and prioritization to optimize time and energy.AI Content Creation Myths: With proper training, AI can produce highly nuanced and valuable content, debunking the myth that AI-generated content is inherently generic or low-quality.Show LinksConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this Kitchen Side episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex, Allie, and David dive into the intricacies of agency operations with guest Gray MacKenzie, CEO of ZenPilot. The conversation explores how agencies can build scalable systems while balancing efficiency and innovation. Gray shares strategies for defining processes, the importance of integrating operations with delivery, and the cultural aspects of driving accountability. The discussion offers actionable insights for agencies looking to streamline workflows, improve profitability, and foster sustainable growth.Key TakeawaysOperations as the Foundation of Growth and Delivery: Operations should support marketing, sales, and client delivery through robust systems, but it requires collaboration between departments.Balancing Efficiency and Innovation: Agencies must find a middle ground between systematizing processes for scalability and allowing room for creativity and innovation.The Role of Culture in Process Adoption: The success of any system depends on creating a culture where employees understand its benefits and actively engage with it.Challenges in Scaling Operations: Gray highlights the pitfalls of pushing for rapid adoption of tools and processes without considering team capacity and readiness.Integrating Top-down and Bottom-up Resourcing: Combining long-term planning with day-to-day task management ensures efficient resource allocation and prevents burnout.The Inefficiency Principle: Innovation often comes at the cost of efficiency. Agencies must decide when to prioritize one over the other depending on their goals.Show LinksVisit the ZenPilot Resources page for our free guides and templatesVisit the ZenPilot for more informationConnect with Gray MacKenzie on LinkedInConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett interviews Katie Kelly, founder of Antiquoted, a platform that promotes diverse and underrepresented voices in media. Katie shares her journey from CRO roles to establishing her own venture, highlighting the challenges and benefits of featuring experts in content. They discuss the importance of authenticity, the pitfalls of AI-generated responses, and the often-overlooked value of unique perspectives. Katie also dives into her website NoWankyBollocks.com, where industry professionals share candid insights and rants about marketing. This conversation sheds light on creating meaningful content in a world saturated with generic information.Key TakeawaysEmbracing Diverse Voices in Content: Antiquoted aims to bring fresh perspectives into content by connecting content creators with diverse voices, steering away from the same repeated experts seen in mainstream media.Expert-driven Content Adds Value: Featuring knowledgeable professionals enriches content, especially in technical fields like CRO, where real-world insights clarify complex topics.AI and Authenticity in Content: Katie discusses how the rise of AI has led to an influx of low-quality, generic content. Authentic expert quotes offer a counterbalance by adding credibility and genuine engagement.NoWankyBollocks.com as a Platform for Truth: Through her site, Katie provides a space for marketing professionals to share unfiltered stories, rants, and lessons, shedding light on industry practices.Challenges in Sourcing New Experts: The process of finding less-visible experts is often labor-intensive, yet it’s necessary for avoiding repetitive narratives and making content relatable to a broader audience.Distribution Through Expert Engagement: Including experts in content encourages them to share it within their networks, broadening the reach and impact of the publication.Show LinksVisit AntiquotedConnect with Katie Kelly on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

In this Kitchen Side podcast episode, David, Alex, and Ali, co-founders of Omniscient Digital, discuss the nuances of working in vs. on a business and how both are essential for growth. They explore the concept of "founder mode," reflecting on both the benefits and risks of hands-on leadership. The team introduces the "traffic trap," a phenomenon where businesses prioritize traffic over meaningful conversions, and the importance of aligning organic growth efforts with broader marketing strategies. Through personal anecdotes and insights from client work, the discussion highlights how businesses can bridge the gap between goals, strategy, and execution for sustainable growth.Key TakeawaysWorking In vs. On a Business: The conversation explores the tension between performing day-to-day operations and strategizing for future growth. Both are essential, and success lies in balancing these roles rather than separating them entirely.Founder Mode and Leadership Nuances: Founder mode, popularized by Paul Graham and Brian Chesky, emphasizes a hands-on approach. However, the hosts warn that it can justify both good and bad behavior if not applied thoughtfully.The Traffic Trap: A common issue where businesses focus excessively on increasing traffic without aligning it with lead generation and conversions. The episode discusses the importance of optimizing content and organic programs to drive meaningful business outcomes beyond just page views.Creating Systems Without Losing Flexibility: SOPs and processes can streamline operations but require continuous iteration. The team emphasizes the need to stay close to the work to ensure systems evolve with market changes.Multi-Channel Alignment for Organic Growth: Organic traffic should not be managed in isolation. Effective programs require alignment with paid campaigns, email nurturing, and retargeting strategies to maximize results.Show LinksConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/