The Three Things Your Website Needs to Actually Work

In this episode of the Your Digital Marketing Coach podcast, I’m joined by James Hipkin, author of Journey to Success: Digital Marketing for Small Business Owners. James brings decades of experience helping businesses build smarter, more effective websites — and more importantly, explains why websites are still the most important piece of your digital marketing puzzle.We talk about why your website is the only part of your digital marketing you truly own, how to stop treating it like just another design project, and how to start using it as a tool for real connection and trust. Whether you’re trying to improve conversions, make better use of your marketing budget, or understand where AI fits in the mix, this episode will give you the foundation you need. If you’re serious about using digital marketing to grow your business, it all starts with your website — and this episode tells you how.Guest LinksConnect with James on LinkedInJames' agency inn8lyLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

In this episode of the Your Digital Marketing Coach podcast, I’m diving into one of the biggest changes to how we show up in Google search results—the AI overview box. If you’ve noticed a drop in your traffic, you’re not alone. These new AI summaries are changing how people click, what links they trust, and which brands get noticed. I went deep into the data—10 studies from the past year—to find the real patterns that help content get featured. From building stronger topic clusters to writing short, clear answers and updating your posts more often, I’ll show you what works right now. This matters because showing up in these AI results can bring the most valuable visitors to your site—people ready to learn and take action.Links to Data Sources Usedhttps://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/google-ai-overviews-sge/https://www.conductor.com/academy/search-generative-experience/https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/how-to-takle-google-ai-overviews-search-generative-experiencehttps://www.resultfirst.com/blog/ai-seo/ai-overviews-explained-the-ultimate-guide-to-googles-search-generative-experience-sge/https://exposureninja.com/blog/how-to-rank-ai-overview/https://seowind.io/how-to-optimize-for-google-ai-overview/https://seranking.com/blog/how-to-optimize-for-ai-overviews/https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/143199/how-to-optimize-a-website-for-google-search-generative-experience-sgehttps://www.rocktherankings.com/how-to-rank-google-ai-overview/https://hawksem.com/blog/google-ai-overviews/Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a fresh way to look at AI—one that goes beyond writing content or summarizing documents. My guest, Stephen Lewis, a seasoned journalist and copywriter with decades of experience, shares how businesses can use AI not just as a helper, but as a full-blown strategic partner. We explore how to create synthetic personas—AI-powered customer models that give honest, detailed feedback. This isn’t just about tech. It’s about using smart tools to better understand your audience, improve your message, and grow your brand. If you’ve ever wondered how to get ahead in digital marketing with AI, this episode will show you how.Guest Links:Connect with Steven on LInkedInSteven's Copywriting Agency TaleistLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Monetizing your personal brand isn't just about brand deals anymore. With AI, content creators, entrepreneurs, and influencers now have powerful tools to uncover fresh income streams and build deeper connections with their audience. In this episode, I share advanced strategies pulled straight from my UCLA Extension class, showing how to use AI to grow your influence, better understand your audience, and create new digital products and services. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a growing following, these tips will help you turn your personal brand into a full-on business. It’s all part of building a smarter, more profitable digital presence—and it’s something every marketer should know.Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

In this episode I talk with David Sidoni, the founder of HowToBuyAHome.com. David took his passion for educating first-time homebuyers and turned it into a digital-first brand and thriving business, built almost entirely from a podcast. This episode is full of lessons on niche marketing, the power of organic content, and how to build trust through education. If you're trying to grow your brand, connect with your audience, or use content to drive your business forward, David’s story will inspire and guide you.Guest LinksHowToBuyAHome.comHow to Buy a Home PodcastConnect with David on LinkedInLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Are you spending time on the right things in your marketing? Or just doing more for the sake of it? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the simple but powerful quarterly audit I use to double down on what’s working and ditch what’s not. It’s helped me grow faster and save time—and it can do the same for you. Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

In today's digital world, where AI can write a blog post in seconds and content is everywhere, the one thing that still sets you apart is your ability to tell a great story. And not just any story—a strategic one. That’s why I’m excited to introduce Cathy Goodwin, a true expert in the field of strategic storytelling. Cathy has built her brand around helping entrepreneurs and small business owners tell stories that connect, convert, and grow their business. In this episode, we’ll dig into why storytelling is more than just a buzzword, how it can shape your brand, and why it's so important that your customer—not you—is the hero of the story. If you’re ready to stop telling stories that fall flat and start sharing ones that truly move your audience, this episode is for you.Guest LinksCathy Goodwin's WebsiteConnect with Cathy on InstagramBuy Your Mess is Not Your Message: Branding Strategies for Solopreneurs on AmazonLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

In this episode of the Your Digital Marketing Coach podcast, I dive into a surprisingly powerful but underused tool: LinkedIn newsletters. As more people focus on short-form content, newsletters offer a way to go deep and truly connect with your audience. I’ll explain how newsletters not only get more views and engagement than normal posts, but also help you grow your leads and even improve your SEO. Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your current strategy, this episode will give you clear and simple ways to use LinkedIn newsletters to grow your business.Also check out LinkedIn Newsletters: Why They are Worth Your Time and 6 Best Practices on How to Create Them for further information on the topic.Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Digital marketing is constantly changing, but one thing remains the same: success requires more than just chasing the latest trends. In this episode, I’m joined by Corey Morris, agency owner and author of The Digital Marketing Success Plan, to talk about how businesses can build a strategic, data-driven approach to their marketing efforts. Corey shares his journey from SEO expert to agency owner, his five-step START framework for creating a winning marketing plan, and his insights on the biggest shifts shaping digital marketing today, including AI, SEO, and diversified traffic sources. Whether you're running a marketing agency, leading a team, or managing your own business, this episode will help you refine your strategy, optimize your efforts, and drive real results.Guest LinksConnect with Corey on LinkedInBuy The Digital Marketing Success Plan on AmazonCheck out Corey's Agency VoltageLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Influencer marketing is no longer about just finding someone with a big following and paying them to promote your brand. It’s about building trust, leveraging content creators, and creating meaningful relationships that drive long-term brand awareness and conversions.In this episode, I speak with Yash Chavan, founder and CEO of the influencer marketing platform Saral, about how brands can navigate the Age of Influence. We discuss the evolution of influencer marketing, the shift from follower-based influence to content-driven influence, and how businesses can harness user-generated content, affiliate partnerships, and even brand ambassador programs to scale their digital presence.If you’re wondering how to adapt your influencer marketing strategy for 2025 and beyond, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com