The AI Marketing Coach

Most AI marketing projects don’t fail because of the model. They fail because no one designed what comes before it.In this foundational episode of The AI Marketing Coach, Carmela Fortin introduces a new concept to the market: Pre-AI Layers, the human, organizational, and decision frameworks that determine whether AI becomes a growth engine or quietly scales the wrong outcomes.Drawing from over a decade growing AI SaaS companies, leading go-to-market strategy, and formal training in organizational change management, Carmela breaks down why AI doesn’t create clarity, reveals whether clarity already exists and what is critical to know for the market ahead.If you’ve invested in AI tools but still feel misalignment, low adoption, confusing insights, or stalled ROI, this episode explains why, and where marketing is usually the first place those cracks appear.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat a Pre-AI Layer actually is, in human terms and system termsWhy teams skip this step (and why that’s costing them real money)How missing pre-AI decisions show up as:AI content that doesn’t convertFunnels that automate confusionDashboards no one trusts enough to act onWhy marketing absorbs AI failure before product or salesThe difference between collaboration and durable alignment that AI can respectWhy AI doesn’t replace leaders, it reveals leadership gapsHow pre-AI layers future-proof teams, roles, and careers in a volatile marketKey Ideas from This EpisodeA Pre-AI Layer is the set of decisions, definitions, boundaries, and ownership that exist before intelligence is applied.It’s where teams decide:What actually mattersWhat should not be automated yetWhere human judgment lives when things go wrongWhat “good” looks like, explicitlyWithout this layer, AI doesn’t act intelligently. It guesses, efficiently.SaaS founders building with AI (or feeling pressure to)Marketing leaders navigating automation, layoffs, and tool sprawlGTM teams struggling with alignment across product, sales, and marketingAI practitioners who sense something is “off” but can’t name it yetIf you’ve ever thought:“We have the tools… so why isn’t this working?” or "Why won't people buy and adopt this amazing tool I created?"This episode is for you.This is Part 1 of a two-part series.In the next episode, Carmela slows this down and that matter.About the Podcast HostCarmela Fortin is an AI marketing strategist and advisor, certified organizational change management and executive coach, and founder of Seattle Startup Coaches. She has spent over a decade helping AI-driven companies scale through funding rounds, hypergrowth, and market shifts, and now focuses on the human systems that make AI actually work.If you’re building with AI and something feels off, it’s probably not the tools. At Seattle Startup Coaches, we help founders and marketing leaders design the pre-AI layer, the decisions, ownership, and alignment AI depends on to actually work. What's more, we then setup and scale the tools and campaigns for your company on top of that well laid foundation to scale against your goals.Learn more at www.seattlestartupcoaches.comDon't forget to like, follow or share this episode if you felt it was helpful. To subscribe to The AI Marketing Coach Podcast newsletter visit www.theaimarketingcoach.com

In this episode of The AI Marketing Coach, Carmela Fortin sits down with Venus Ranieri, VP of Marketing at Singularity University, to unpack what’s really happening inside organizations as AI adoption accelerates. This conversation goes beyond tools and trends and into the human middle, the hesitation, resistance, blind spots, and leadership gaps that determine whether AI becomes a growth accelerator or a trust-breaking liability.Together, Carmela and Venus explore why many AI initiatives fail before they even begin, how leaders can strengthen their pre-AI layer, and what marketing leaders must understand now to stay relevant in 2026 and beyond.If you’re a founder, marketing leader, or executive navigating AI pressure without wanting to lose credibility, culture, or customer trust—this episode is for you. Why AI resistance isn’t about fear of technology, it’s about trust, buy-in, and clarityWhat the pre-AI layer is and why skipping it leads to costly failuresHow Singularity University helps leaders build AI readiness without replacing human judgmentThe difference between using AI and actually understanding how it worksWhy top-down AI mandates often fail inside organizationsWhere marketers are overusing AI—and where they should pull backThe real risks of inauthentic, fully AI-generated marketing contentHow leaders should think about copyright, IP, disclosure, and ethics in an AI-first worldWhat skills marketing leaders need now to avoid becoming irrelevant, or replaceableWhy “just because you can use AI doesn’t mean you should”The backlash to AI-generated brand campaigns (and what it signals)How smaller AI startups are outperforming big players by listening to real user feedbackWhy AI should be treated as a capability amplifier, not a replacement for humansWhat today’s leaders can learn from the early days of social and digital marketingVenus Ranieri is the Vice President of Marketing at Singularity University, where she leads global marketing initiatives for executive education and enterprise programs focused on exponential technologies, AI, and future-ready leadership.At Singularity, Venus works closely with organizations and executives navigating uncertainty, helping them reimagine strategy, innovation, and growth in an AI-accelerated world—without losing the human core.You can find Venus on LinkedIn or learn more about Singularity University at su.org. Carmela Fortin is the founder of Seattle Startup Coaches and host of The AI Marketing Coach podcast. She works with founders and marketing leaders who are under pressure to “use AI” but want to do it without breaking trust, confusing their teams, or shipping strategy they can’t stand behind.Her work focuses on AI readiness, go-to-market strategy, organizational change, and human-centered marketing, the work that needs to happen before tools matter. Then creating a solid foundation for growth acceleration and learning from the best.If this episode resonated, here’s your next step:👉 Visit seattlestartupcoaches.comSign up for the newsletter to get insights on AI readiness, marketing leadership, and how to build a strong pre-AI layer—before AI becomes a liability instead of a lever.You’ll get:Practical guidance for founders and marketing leadersHonest conversations about AI, trust, and credibilityEarly access to workshops, podcasts, and resourcesAnd if you’re navigating AI pressure inside your company right now, Seattle Startup Coaches offers hands-on support to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.www.theaimarketingcoach.com

Cold email hasn’t disappeared, but the way we approach it has to the age of AI Marketing. In this conversation, Carmela sits down with James Milsom, Head of Marketing at Hunter.io, to explore what it looks like to practice outbound with discipline, intention, and respect for the person on the other side of the inbox.They discuss how AI can help us research more thoughtfully, how to maintain personalization without manufacturing familiarity, and why ownership matters more in outbound than tactics alone.This episode is for leaders who want to bring craft and intelligence back to the channels that have lost their way.Cold email is not dead, careless outreach is.Intentional personalization matters more than personalization at scale.AI can support research and context-building, but it should not replace human judgment.Technical foundations (authentication, deliverability, reputation) matter as much as messaging.Outbound effectiveness improves when one person / team has clear strategic ownership.The best campaigns come from curiosity and context, not templates.Most inbox noise is self-inflicted. Rushed outreach signals disregard.67% of decision makers still prefer cold email as an initial contact method, but only when it feels intentional.A/B testing is not time-consuming, it is a mindset.AI is best used as a thinking partner, not a voice generator.Deliverability and domain hygiene are non-negotiable for long-term outbound.Ownership in outbound strategy prevents fragmentation and inconsistency.Data-driven outbound is about learning patterns, not automating them.Hunter.io is an all in one email platform to find and connect with the people that matter most to your business. www.theaimarketingcoach.com

Are you waiting for the marketing to understand your brand? Or are you leading differently with AI?AI marketing doesn’t fail because the technology is complex, it fails when leadership hesitates. The real bottleneck in modern marketing and go-to-market strategy isn’t adoption, workflows, or tools. It’s trust: organizational trust, market trust, and self-trust.In this episode, we break down trust as the operating system for AI-driven growth,; the invisible architecture that determines whether your positioning, messaging, brand narrative, and product strategy accelerate or stall. We explore how identity impacts AI adoption, how market direction shapes brand perception, and why alignment inside your team matters more than any new tactic, tool, or trend.This episode is for founders, CMOs, growth leads, marketing strategists, product marketers, revenue leaders, and startup operators building or selling AI-powered products, shaping category direction, or leading teams through AI transformation.We cover:Why identity is the real bottleneck in AI marketing and GTM executionHow to create direction the market will trustHow to build internal alignment without performance or consensus theatreHow to develop self-trust that lets you lead ahead of the curveHow to simplify your AI stack so your tools serve your strategy, not the other way aroundIf you're marketing AI, selling AI, buying AI, or leading teams expected to adapt to AI, this episode gives you the leadership altitude required to become inevitable in your space.Follow now for future episodes, they'll be dropping quickly!Connect: @seattlestartupcoachwww.theaimarketingcoach.com

In this episode of The AI Marketing Coach, Carmela Fortin breaks down the new reality: your audience isn’t meeting your message first—AI is.Today’s buyers want answers fast. They use tools that don’t read your site—they summarize it. They compress your value, reinterpret your tone, and decide what gets shown before a human ever clicks.If your content isn’t structured for that layer, it gets ignored—or worse, misrepresented.This episode covers:​Why your content must be designed for language model interpretation​The exact signals AI systems look for (and how to control them)​How to structure your pages so you’re quoted accurately—not lost in compression​The technical shift from keyword SEO to clarity-driven visibility​A real-world example of how simple structural changes led to 10X more AI mentions📊 62% of B2B buyers use AI during research🔍 47% of search queries now trigger AI-generated responses💡 If your messaging isn’t built for AI visibility, it’s invisibleThis episode is a strategic reset for anyone serious about getting seen and staying relevant in an AI-first internet.🎁 Check out the free AI Visibility Audit:https://seattlestartupcoaches.com/blog/f/the-ai-visibility-messaging-self-audit-are-you-ready🔗 Subscribe, share, and tag someone who still thinks “posting more” is the answer.Like - Follow - Share

Are you drowning in tasks but still struggling to grow your business? The problem might not be which AI tool to use—it’s how you’re spending your time.In this episode of The AI Marketing Coach Podcast, we’re flipping the script on AI adoption. Instead of searching for the perfect tool, we’re diving into how productivity and prioritization lead you to the right AI solutions—naturally.✅ Learn the $10, $100, and $10,000 task framework (and why most business owners are stuck doing the wrong ones).✅ Discover how AI “thinks” and how you can apply that mindset to work smarter, not harder.✅ Do a live productivity exercise with me to uncover hidden inefficiencies in your day.✅ Hear real-world examples from startups, small businesses, farmers market vendors, and service providers on how they broke free from busywork.🚀 Whether you’re a founder, a small business owner, or a service provider, this episode will help you clear the clutter, focus on growth, and find the AI tools that actually fit your business.🔊 Listen now and take back control of your time!#AIForBusiness #ProductivityHacks #WorkSmarter #SmallBusinessTips #EntrepreneurMindset

Micro-Automations: The Game-Changing Future of AI Marketing🎙️ The AI Marketing Coach PodcastJoin host Carmela Fortin as she dives into the world of micro-automations and how they’re revolutionizing AI marketing. In this episode, you’ll discover how these small, laser-focused automations can create massive impact, driving growth, efficiency, and smarter marketing strategies.Carmela shares insights on:✨ Predictive models that keep customers coming back✨ Real-time content adaptation to meet your audience where they are✨ The power of unsupervised AI in uncovering game-changing customer insightsBut that’s not all—she also explores what’s next in the evolving AI marketing ecosystem, including the role of quantum AI and how to navigate the challenges of change management when adopting cutting-edge tech.If you’re ready to stay ahead of the curve and turn bold ideas into real-world results, this episode is for you. Hit play and learn how to harness the transformative power of micro-automations to redefine your marketing game.Be ready for Future Forward takeaways for you and your team:- Microautomations can focus on specific high-impact actions. - The future of marketing is about creating ecosystems. - Retention revenue is crucial for sustainable growth. - Real-time content adaptation enhances customer engagement. - Unsupervised AI reveals hidden patterns in customer behavior. - Quantum AI is redefining marketing possibilities. - Leaders must prepare their teams for AI integration. - Small, tactical changes can lead to exponential growth. - AI identity marketing tailors content to evolving user interactions. - Embracing change management is essential for success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Micro Automations in AI Marketing07:26 The Importance of Smart Automation12:49 Real-Time Content Adaptation18:34 The Future of AI Marketing Ecosystems24:40 Quantum AI and Hyper-Personalization29:59 Micro Automations in Action36:10 Conclusion and Call to Action🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcastshttps://www.instagram.com/seattlestartupcoach/https://www.seattlestartupcoaches.com

The AI Marketing Coach: Building Stronger Foundations for the Future of MarketingHost: Carmela Fortin, CEO of The AI Marketing Coach & Seattle Startup CoachesVisit ⁠SeattleStartupCoaches.com⁠ for more resources.Instagram: ⁠@SeattleStartupCoach⁠Episode SummaryIn the inaugural episode of the AI Marketing Coach podcast, host Carmela Fortin dives into the transformative impact of AI marketing on businesses of all sizes. This episode emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to AI, focusing on actionable metrics like Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) and how AI can drive automation and collaboration. Listeners will learn about building effective go-to-market frameworks, leveraging AI-powered tools, and embracing a future of marketing shaped by smarter, more human-centered technology.Carmela also provides practical affirmations and insights to empower marketers to thrive in the evolving world of AI integration.​AI marketing is about empowering users and teams, not just relying on tools.​Strategy is as crucial as technology for successful marketing campaigns.​Understanding Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is essential for long-term business growth.​Metrics should inform decisions, not just generate data.​AI enhances customer relationships through personalized experiences.​A well-built go-to-market framework aligns teams and drives success.​AI is accessible and valuable for small businesses, not just enterprises.​Collaboration across teams improves the effectiveness of marketing efforts.​Adopting AI requires a mindset shift and focus on outcomes.​Daily affirmations help marketers stay focused on impactful work.00:00- Introduction to AI Marketing Coaching07:40- The Importance of Metrics in AI Marketing16:11 - Building a Collaborative Team with AI22:00- Go-to-Market Framework: Navigating AI Marketing27:48- AI for All: Accessibility Beyond Big Companies33:58- Closing Thoughts and Affirmations for Success​"The right roadmap can turn fear into focus."​"Your CLV is the heartbeat of your business."​"Marketing is to make money. Say it with me."​Unlocking the Power of AI in Marketing​Navigating the AI Marketing Landscape​The Future of Marketing: Metrics, Tools, and TeamworkSubscribe to the AI Marketing Coach podcast to stay ahead of the curve in AI integration. Share this episode with your team and start building your roadmap to smarter, more strategic marketing today! AI marketing, customer lifetime value, marketing strategy, automation, metrics, go-to-market framework, marketing tools, team collaboration, future of marketing, AI integration