Inside Marketing with MarketSurge

Ready to grow smarter, faster, and louder?In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Rick Elmore, founder and CEO of Simply Noted, the world’s leading automated handwritten mail platform.Rick’s story is anything but conventional.After playing in the NFL, Rick transitioned into corporate sales before launching a company that combines robotics, software, and direct mail to automate handwritten outreach at scale.Today Simply Noted has:• 9 patents• 220+ custom-built robots• $10M+ in bootstrapped revenue• Clients across industries using handwritten mail for customer experience, retention, and sales.In this conversation, Rick shares the entrepreneurial journey from athlete to founder, how handwritten outreach still dominates in a digital-first world, and how businesses can cut through the noise of AI-driven marketing.💡 What You’ll Learn:• Why handwritten outreach still outperforms digital in many cases• How Rick built a robotics-powered marketing company with no technical background• The power of persistence, problem-solving, and bootstrapping a business• How handwritten direct mail can drive higher response rates and customer relationships👉 Key Highlights:✅ From NFL to Founder – Rick’s journey from professional football to SaaS and robotics✅ Automating Handwritten Mail – How Simply Noted built robots that write real pen-to-paper notes✅ 99% Open Rates – Why handwritten envelopes dramatically outperform traditional direct mail✅ Marketing in the AI Era – Why personal, tangible communication is becoming even more valuableRick also shares practical insights for entrepreneurs on how to overcome technical hurdles, find the right people to solve problems, and build something entirely new from scratch.📈 At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee🔗 Useful LinksMarketSurge Websitehttps://marketsurge.ioRick Elmore / Simply Notedhttps://simplynoted.comFacebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeioX / Twitterhttps://x.com/marketsurgingPodcasthttps://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with venture capitalist and entrepreneur Jonathan Aberman, founder of Hupside, to explore a provocative question:Is AI making marketing better… or just making everyone the same?With more than 25 years launching over 40 technology companies, Jonathan brings a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, marketing strategy, and the role of human creativity.They dive into the paradox of AI:While AI dramatically increases efficiency and productivity, it may also be driving strategic sameness across industries.If everyone has access to the same tools, prompts, and models… Where does real differentiation come from?Jonathan argues the answer lies in something he calls Original Intelligence (OIQ) — the uniquely human ability to create novelty and strategic differentiation in an AI-saturated world.💡 What You’ll Learn• Why AI is amplifying sameness across marketing and business strategy • The difference between AI efficiency vs human originality • Why large language models struggle to generate true novelty • How organizations can measure human creativity and originality • Why original intelligence may become the most valuable skill in the AI era🔥 Key Highlights from the Episode✅ AI Is a Tool — Not a Substitute Why treating AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement unlocks better outcomes.✅ The Problem of Strategic Sameness How AI trained on past data can reinforce similarity instead of differentiation.✅ Original Intelligence (OIQ) A new way to measure human creativity and originality inside organizations.✅ AI Narcissism Why training AI models on AI-generated content could amplify sameness even further.👤 About Jonathan AbermanJonathan Aberman is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and technology leader with more than 25 years of experience launching and scaling technology companies.He is the founder of Hupside, a platform focused on measuring Original Intelligence (OIQ) — helping organizations understand how human creativity and originality work alongside artificial intelligence.His work explores the intersection of AI, human creativity, and economic differentiation in the modern marketplace.📩 Contact Jonathan Email: jonathan@hupside.com🌐 Website https://hupside.com🎙️ About the PodcastInside Marketing with MarketSurge is hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, where he helps businesses grow using data-driven marketing strategies and digital innovation. Each episode explores the boldest marketing ideas, emerging technologies, and real-world strategies shaping the future of growth.📈 Want Marketing That Actually Works?At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn marketing chaos into systems that attract, convert, and retain customers automatically.🧠 Want to talk strategy?🎯 Book your demo: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw🔗 MarketSurge Links🌐 Website https://marketsurge.io📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter https://x.com/marketsurging📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/🎙️ Podcast https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/🎯 Suggested YouTube Titles1️⃣ AI Is Making Marketing the Same — Here’s How to Stay Different2️⃣ The Hidden Problem With AI Marketing (Nobody Is Talking About This)3️⃣ Why AI Is Creating Strategic Sameness — And What Smart Companies Do Instead✅ If you'd like, I can also generate:A high-CTR YouTube thumbnail hookYouTube chapters for retentionA LinkedIn promo post for this episodeShorts clips ideas (this episode has several viral moments).

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Sheldon Poon, CEO of Drive Marketing, to break down the real relationship between AI, data quality, and PPC performance.While everyone is talking about AI in marketing, Sheldon reveals the truth most marketers miss: AI is only as good as the data you feed it.They dive deep into:• Why bad data destroys AI performance • The real difference between predictive AI vs generative AI • Why Meta and Google’s AI tools sometimes go rogue with your ad spend • How clean tracking and smart bidding produced a 60x ROAS campaignIf you run ads, manage marketing teams, or rely on AI tools to drive performance, this episode will change how you think about data, automation, and accountability in marketing.💡 What You’ll Learn• Why AI fails with bad data – The hidden tracking issues sabotaging PPC performance • Predictive vs Generative AI – Why most marketers misunderstand how AI actually works in ads • Meta & Google automation pitfalls – When AI starts spending your budget on the wrong things • Data-driven bidding strategies – How disciplined optimization can produce massive ROAS gains🔥 Key Highlights from the Episode✅ 60x ROAS Campaign Breakdown How clean data, strong timing, and smart bidding created a record-breaking PPC performance✅ Why GA4 Data Often Fails Marketers The most common attribution and tracking mistakes agencies still make✅ The AI Problem Nobody Talks About How generative AI inside ad platforms can misrepresent brands and waste budget✅ The Future of AI Advertising Why predictive AI is still the most powerful tool in performance marketing today👤 About Sheldon PoonSheldon Poon is the CEO of Drive Marketing, a performance marketing agency specializing in PPC optimization, advanced analytics, and AI-powered ad strategy.With over 20 years in emerging technologies and AI, Sheldon helps in-house marketing teams transform messy analytics into clean data pipelines that power smarter advertising decisions.🔗 Connect with Sheldon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldon-poon/ Website: https://drivemarketing.ca/en/🎙️ About the PodcastInside Marketing with MarketSurge is hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, and explores the boldest ideas, smartest marketing strategies, and real-world insights shaping modern business growth.Reed is a seasoned digital marketing executive known for helping companies—from startups to Fortune 500 brands—scale using innovative digital strategies and data-driven marketing systems. Each episode features unfiltered conversations with marketers, founders, and growth leaders who are actually moving the needle.📈 Want Marketing That Actually Performs?At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn marketing chaos into predictable growth systems.💻 Website https://marketsurge.io🎯 Book a Strategy Call https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw🔗 Follow MarketSurge📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter https://x.com/marketsurging📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/🎙️ Podcast https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Ray Jang, Founder & CEO of Atria — the world’s first AI creative strategist platform.AI isn’t coming for marketing.It’s already in the brainstorm.Ray is building something radically different: an AI system designed not just to generate content, but to think strategically about it. Atria analyzes Meta, TikTok, and YouTube ad performance, processes billions in ad spend data, and provides real-time creative strategy recommendations through its AI agent, Raya.The big question:Is AI replacing creative strategy — or redefining it?If you’re a founder, CMO, creative director, performance marketer, or trying to survive the AI wave, this episode is required listening.💡 What You’ll Learn:• Why AI is shifting marketers from dashboard managers to strategic thinkers • How Atria processes $5.3B+ in ad spend to predict winning creative • Why originality now matters more than ever in paid media • How AI evaluates hooks, CTAs, and video performance frame-by-frame • Why the best brands operate with scientific rigor + artistic intuition • Whether AI will replace creative teams (or amplify them) • What marketing looks like in the next 3–5 years🔥 Key Highlights:✅ AI as a Co-Strategist – Moving beyond content generation into strategic recommendation ✅ Radar Scoring System – Grading hooks and creative elements A–D based on performance likelihood ✅ Agentic Marketing – Replacing dashboard fatigue with AI-driven insight ✅ Creative Velocity – Why winning ads fatigue faster in today’s algorithm-driven ecosystem ✅ The Median Problem – Why AI tends to return average ideas — and how top marketers stay ahead🧠 Ray’s Perspective on the FutureAI doesn’t eliminate creativity.It eliminates busywork.The best marketers won’t be replaced — they’ll be amplified.But only if they evolve.As Ray references from The Matrix:“Do not try to bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead, realize the truth — there is no spoon.”Marketing is entering a world where perception and reality are merging — and AI is accelerating that shift.🌐 Connect with Ray Jang & Atria:👉 Atria Website: https://tryatria.com 👉 Connect with Ray on LinkedIn (Ray Jang)Atria has processed over $5.3B in ad spend and is building the future of AI-powered creative strategy.📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.🧠 Want to talk strategy or see how AI integrates into your marketing stack?🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee🔗 Useful Links🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io 📊 CRM Platform: https://marketsurge.io/crm 📲 Texting & Automation: https://marketsurge.io/texting 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio 🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging 🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/🎙️ About Inside Marketing with MarketSurgeHosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this podcast breaks down bold business ideas, real marketing systems, and what’s actually moving the needle today.No fluff. No guru theory. Just strategy that scales.Subscribe and let’s build something legendary.

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Charles Craggett, founder of Become the Authority and creator of the Job Flow Framework — a system built specifically to help home service businesses stop wasting leads and start compounding revenue.Here’s the uncomfortable truth:Most contractors don’t have a marketing problem.They have a systems problem.While everyone else is selling more ads and more leads, Charles focuses on the internal structure that actually converts those leads into:✔ Booked jobs✔ 5-star reviews✔ Referrals✔ Repeat business✔ Lower acquisition costsIf you’re in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, flooring, or any home services trade — this conversation could completely change how you look at growth.💡 What You’ll Learn:• Why most home service businesses are losing money before marketing even starts• The real reason response time kills conversions• How to use AI without removing the human touch• Why your email & SMS list may be your most valuable asset• How Google Reviews lower your paid ad costs• The Job Flow Framework explained step-by-step• Why “more leads” is often the wrong answer🔥 Key Takeaways✅ Marketing without internal systems = wasted ad spend✅ Fast response time dramatically increases booked jobs✅ Authority is built through visibility across multiple channels✅ Reviews + SEO + paid ads compound together✅ Your existing customer list is a hidden revenue machine🌐 Connect with Charles Craggett:Website:👉 https://getjobflowsystem.comFind him on Facebook (look for the tiger 🐅 profile photo)Instagram: @charles.nwm📈 At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn scattered tools into scalable growth machines.Whether you're in home services or any service-based business, systems beat tactics — every time.If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.🧠 Want to talk strategy or see how your marketing systems stack up?🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee🔗 Useful Links🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io📊 CRM Platform: https://marketsurge.io/crm📲 Texting & Automation: https://marketsurge.io/texting📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/🎙️ About Inside Marketing with MarketSurgeHosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this show breaks down marketing myths, systems thinking, and the strategies that actually drive revenue.No fluff. No guru nonsense. Just real growth.Subscribe and let’s scale something legendary. 🚀

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Paul DiMuzio, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Locklab, the telehealth brand helping thousands of men stop hair loss and regrow hair with a once-daily prescription pill.This isn’t just a conversation about hair.It’s about identity.It’s about confidence.It’s about selling something deeply emotional — in a market flooded with snake oil.Paul breaks down how Locklab built a fast-scaling DTC telehealth brand by leaning into authenticity, real patient testimonials (not actors), and social-first marketing strategies that convert skeptics into believers.💡 If you’ve ever wondered:Is hair loss really about vanity — or identity?How do you market in a scam-filled industry?What actually works in direct-to-consumer telehealth?How do you scale paid social without losing authenticity?This episode delivers.💡 What You’ll Learn:• The Psychology of Selling Confidence – Why hair restoration is emotional first, logical second• Marketing in a Skeptical Industry – How Locklab wins trust using real patients in every ad• Telehealth at Scale – How to sell prescription products online without killing the user experience• Competing with Hims, Keeps & Transplants – Where Locklab differentiates• Authenticity as a Growth Lever – Why community-driven comments outperform TV ads👉 Key Highlights:✅ Why most hair loss solutions don’t work — and how misinformation fuels the industry✅ The strategic advantage of social-first DTC telehealth✅ Why Locklab only uses real patients in their advertising✅ The surprising relationship between hair transplants and medication✅ The cultural debate: looksmaxing vs. embracing the bald🌐 Learn more about Locklab:👉 https://locklab.co🎙️ About Inside Marketing with MarketSurgeHosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this podcast breaks down what’s actually working in marketing today — minus the fluff.If you’re a founder, marketer, or operator who wants real growth strategies (not recycled LinkedIn advice), you’re in the right place.📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee🔗 Useful Links🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/🎧 Podcast Guest Placement (SurgeCast): https://marketsurge.io/surgecastIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a founder who still thinks shampoo is the solution.

Most entrepreneurs say they want freedom…Then they build a job.In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Chris Kille — founder, operator, and successful multi-seven-figure exit — to unpack what actually separates founders who scale from those who stay stuck.Chris didn’t just “hire a VA.”He rebuilt his entire business around systems.After spending years buried in admin, stuck doing $10/hour tasks, and slowly starting to resent the business he built, Chris discovered something powerful:👉 Hiring help isn’t the solution.👉 Systems are.By installing operational structure, delegating intentionally, and leveraging global talent the right way, he built one of the leanest businesses his acquirer had ever seen — and walked away with a life-changing exit.Now, he helps founders stop being the bottleneck and start operating like real CEOs.This episode is packed with tactical insights on delegation, global talent, micro-niching, and building a company that doesn’t depend on you to survive.💡 What You’ll Learn:Why hiring a VA without systems will fail (almost every time)The 7-day time study that exposes where founders waste hoursThe difference between an Operator and a CEOWhy “80% done by someone else” beats 100% done by youHow Chris built the leanest business his buyer had ever acquiredWhy micro-niching changed everything in his exit strategyRealistic expectations about global talent (and what most founders get wrong)The books that reshaped how he builds and delegates📚 Books Mentioned:Who Not HowBuy Back Your Time – Dan MartellSurrounded by Idiots🔗 Connect with Chris Kille:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamchriskille/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.kille.9/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskille📩 DM him the word “REED” on Instagram for his free Ultimate Guide to Virtual Assistants.🚀 About Your Host – Reed HansenReed Hansen is Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge and a seasoned digital marketing executive who has helped scale startups to Fortune 500 companies through innovative, data-driven strategies .At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn scattered tools into scalable growth systems:👉 A Customer Relationship Management platform built for service and product businesses focused on growth.👉 Never miss a customer message.👉 Manage all communications and contacts in one place.Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess.🧠 Want to grow smarter, faster, and louder?🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/

🚀 What does flying Apache helicopters have to do with building the digital backbone of the U.S. cannabis industry?More than you think.In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Socrates Rosenfeld, CEO & Co-Founder of Jane Technologies (iHeartJane) — the platform quietly powering the majority of legal cannabis transactions in the United States.From Army combat veteran to MIT MBA to cannabis tech pioneer, Socrates shares how discipline, mission clarity, and human-centered leadership helped Jane scale across 39+ states with 13 software patents and millions of SKUs.This isn’t just a cannabis conversation.It’s about:Building infrastructure in highly regulated industriesCreating moats with clean dataAI-powered personalization at scaleAnd why complexity is often the opportunity💡 What You’ll Learn:The leadership frameworks Socrates brought from the military into startupsWhy cannabis may be the most complex retail environment in the worldHow Jane built a master catalog of millions of SKUs (and why that matters for AI)The “Spotify Effect” of commerce personalizationWhy infrastructure > middleman in regulated industriesWhat the future of digital + brick-and-mortar retail looks like🧠 Big Takeaways for Founders & Marketers✅ If it’s hard, lean into it — that’s where your moat lives ✅ AI is only as powerful as your dataset ✅ Shared “why” beats top-down execution ✅ Clean attribution > spray-and-pray marketing ✅ Regulated industries are innovation incubators🔗 Connect with Socrates Rosenfeld & Jane Technologies🌐 Website: https://www.iheartjane.com 📩 Email: info@iheartjane.com 🔎 LinkedIn: Search “Socrates Rosenfeld” 📱 Social: @iheartjane on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram📈 Want to Grow Smarter, Faster, and Louder?At MarketSurge, we help businesses build scalable marketing systems that actually convert — using automation, AI, and CRM tools that work together.🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio 🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging 🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/ 📅 Book a Strategy Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw🎧 Subscribe to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge for unfiltered conversations with the entrepreneurs, technologists, and operators shaping the future of business.

In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with John Gumas, President of Commit Agency and the marketing strategist who literally trademarked the term Challenger Brand Marketing.With over 40 years of experience, John has helped brands competing against much larger, better-funded “gorilla” competitors discover and defend positions no one else can own. From financial institutions to highly regulated industries, his methodology is built on one principle:👉 You don’t win by being slightly better. 👉 You win by being meaningfully different.🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What “Challenger Brand Marketing” really meansWhy most marketing campaigns fail before they startThe 5-step challenger brand frameworkWhy discovery is the most important (and skipped) step in marketingHow to compete against brands with 10x your budgetWhy niche positioning beats trying to be everything to everyoneA real-world credit union case study that transformed growthHow to turn customers into loyal brand advocates🧠 Key TakeawayMost companies start marketing at step 3 or 4 (creative or media spend).John explains why real growth starts with deep discovery — uncovering the true emotional reason customers choose you over competitors.When you know that?Your strategy becomes obvious. Your messaging becomes clear. Your growth becomes predictable.📖 About John GumasJohn Gumas is the President of Commit Agency, formerly founder of Gumas Advertising (est. 1984), and the author of two books on Challenger Brand Marketing.He has advised brands across financial services, regulated industries, and competitive markets — helping them shift from commoditized players to meaningful, differentiated brands.Learn more about Challenger Brand Marketing: 👉 https://commitagency.com/challenger-brand-marketing/Connect with John on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gumas-08046/🎙️ About the ShowInside Marketing with MarketSurge is your front row seat to bold business insights, marketing breakthroughs, and entrepreneurial real talk.Hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this podcast dives deep into what’s actually moving the needle in today’s marketing world.🔥 Want to Grow Smarter, Faster, and Louder?Head over to: 👉 https://marketsurge.ioSee how MarketSurge helps businesses scale with:SEO & Organic GrowthCRM ImplementationPaid Ads ManagementMarketing AutomationFull-Funnel StrategyBecause your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess.

Inside Marketing with MarketSurge | Featuring Jordan Dean GordonEmail has been declared “dead” for years — yet it continues to outperform almost every other marketing channel when done right.In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Jordan Dean Gordon, a 25-year veteran of ecommerce, email CRM, and customer retention. Jordan has held leadership roles across startups, successful exits, Amazon, and Realtor.com, and today leads teams at PilotHouse while hosting the World’s Best Email and Retention Podcast.This conversation dives deep into why email remains one of the most powerful drivers of profitability, how it improves paid advertising ROI, and what most brands get wrong about funnels, metrics, and customer experience.If you care about retention, scalability, and building an audience you actually own, this episode is for you.What You’ll Learn:Why email and SMS are more relevant today than ever beforeHow email directly improves paid media ROI and lowers acquisition costsWhy most brands chase the wrong metrics in email and CROThe role of abandonment, lifecycle flows, and long-term follow-upThe 120-second psychological journey every website visitor goes throughWhich metrics matter at each stage of the funnel and which are overratedWhy investing in the bottom of the funnel creates compounding growthKey Takeaways:Email touches every stage of the customer lifecycle at a lower cost than adsRetention channels unlock revenue without increasing ad spendConversion rate optimization can double revenue without more trafficFunnels fail when clarity, speed, and intent are ignoredBrands that invest in email and CX scale faster and more profitablyGuest Links:Jordan Dean Gordon on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangordon/PilotHousehttps://www.pilothouse.coAt MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.Want to talk strategy or see it in action?Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffeeUseful MarketSurge LinksWebsite: https://marketsurge.ioFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeioX / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurgingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess.

Inside Marketing with MarketSurge | Featuring Jeff ColemanGoogle Ads should be printing leads — so why does it feel like a money pit for so many businesses?In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Jeff Coleman, founder of Factor Four Marketing, to break down what’s actually broken in Google Ads today — and what still works incredibly well when done right.Jeff has been managing Google Ads since 2004 (back when it was simple, cheap, and didn’t require a 40-page dashboard) and now oversees more than $4 million in annual ad spend for businesses ranging from local service providers to Fortune 500 companies.If you’ve ever been told to “trust the process” while your ad budget quietly burns, this episode is for you.What You’ll Learn:Why most Google Ads campaigns underperform, even when managed by agenciesThe number one conversion-tracking mistake that kills ROIWhy “trust the process” is bad advice and what to trust insteadVanity metrics versus metrics that actually grow your businessHow to turn Google Ads into a predictable lead engineWhen Google Ads isn’t a good fit and when it’s a goldmineKey Takeaways:Focus on the right conversions, not cheap distractionsSeparate branded and non-branded traffic to see real growthKnow your numbers or Google will gladly spend your moneyDifferentiation wins — “great customer service” doesn’tResults beat dashboards every timeGuest Links:Factor Four Marketing: http://factorfour.com/Jeff Coleman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcoleman21/At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.If you want automation that feels per

🚀 Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurgeYour front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game.In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Alan Kopelman, CEO and Co-Founder of Nationwide Payment Systems and the creator of the B2B Vault Podcast.Alan’s entrepreneurial journey started early, working behind the cash registers in his family’s clothing stores in Miami. From there, his path took several unexpected turns — culinary school, becoming an executive chef, running food and beverage operations for major hotels, opening his own restaurant and catering company, and eventually finding his way into merchant services in 2001.Alan co-founded Nationwide Payment Systems with a simple but powerful mission: deliver concierge-level service in an industry known for being confusing, transactional, and impersonal. Today, Nationwide Payment Systems serves over 1,000 clients nationwide across payments, fintech, SaaS, and regulated industries.In this conversation, we dive into entrepreneurship, scaling service-based businesses, customer retention, payments risk, compliance, AI, fraud, and what Alan has learned after decades of building companies the hard way.🎙️ Topics Covered in This Episode• Growing up in a family business and learning the value of money early• How hospitality and restaurant experience translate into better customer service• Why most payment processors fail business owners• Scaling a service business through referrals and long-term relationships• The shift from traditional merchant services to fintech and SaaS• How AI is impacting payments, fraud, and identity theft• Understanding compliance in regulated and high-risk industries• Why customer retention matters more than customer acquisition• Using podcasts to build authority, trust, and relationships• Lessons learned from 25+ years in entrepreneurship👤 About the GuestAlan Kopelman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Nationwide Payment Systems, a full-service payments and fintech company focused on transparency, compliance, and real human support.He is also the host of the B2B Vault Podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs and business owners about scaling, compliance, leadership, marketing, and real-world business challenges.🔗 Connect with Alan KopelmanWebsite: https://nationwidepaymentservices.comPodcast: B2B Vault (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube)LinkedIn: Search “Alan Kopelman”📈 About MarketSurgeMarketSurge is a customer relationship management platform built for service and product-based businesses focused on growth. Manage all your contacts, conversations, and automation in one place without losing the personal touch.Website: https://marketsurge.ioPricing: https://marketsurge.io/pricingPhotography Solutions: https://marketsurge.io/photography🎯 Book a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffeecg1hf1🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast:https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/📺 YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@surgingwithmarketsurge📘 Facebook Business Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654👥 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter:https://x.com/marketsurging📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you want smarter, faster, louder marketing strategies without the fluff.

Welcome to Inside Marketing With MarketSurge — your front row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game.In this episode, host Reed Hansen sits down with Skip Wilson, CEO of Draft Media Partners, to break down what actually works in advertising when budgets, expectations, and reality collide.Skip shares his unconventional start in advertising at age 16, how a job meant to impress a girl turned into a lifelong career, and what he learned working at scale with brands like CNN, Clear Channel, and iHeartMedia. This conversation cuts through bad ads, bad assumptions, and bad marketing advice to get real about data, paid media, branding, AI, and why advertising is always a draft, never a final.What you’ll learn in this episode:• Why small businesses should think differently about branding versus direct response• The real differences between six-figure and seven-figure ad budgets• How to diagnose a “broken” ad campaign using data the right way• Why AI is making organic marketing harder and paid advertising more important• What needs to be in place before you should spend a dollar on ads• The draft mentality and why great advertising is always a work in progress• A hard truth about advertising most business owners don’t want to hearGuest information:Skip WilsonCEO, Draft Media PartnersWebsite:[https://www.draftadvertising.com](https://www.draftadvertising.com)LinkedIn:[https://www.linkedin.com/in/skipwilson/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/skipwilson/)About the show:Inside Marketing With MarketSurge is hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge. Each episode dives into what’s really working in marketing today, with unfiltered conversations, real-world insights, and strategies you can actually use.MarketSurge links:Website: [https://marketsurge.io](https://marketsurge.io)Pricing: [https://marketsurge.io/pricing](https://marketsurge.io/pricing)Book a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:[https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee](https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee)Podcast:[https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/](https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/)YouTube:[https://www.youtube.com/@surgingwithmarketsurge](https://www.youtube.com/@surgingwithmarketsurge)Facebook Page:[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654)Facebook Group:[https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/)LinkedIn:[https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio](https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio)X / Twitter:[https://x.com/marketsurging](https://x.com/marketsurging)Instagram:[https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/](https://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/)Want to grow smarter, faster, and louder?Visit [https://marketsurge.io](https://marketsurge.io) and see how MarketSurge helps businesses turn marketing into a system that actually works.

Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in modern marketing.In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Henry DeVries, bestselling author of Persuade with a Story, Forbes columnist, and one of the most influential behind-the-scenes voices in business publishing and storytelling.Henry has helped publish and ghostwrite more than 300 business books, doubled agency revenues, increased brand awareness for billion-dollar companies, and taught leaders, marketers, and sales teams how to stop making themselves the hero — and start persuading audiences through story.This conversation dives deep into why most marketing fails, not because the product is bad, but because the story is boring, self-centered, or emotionally empty.What we cover in this episode:• Why humans are hardwired for stories and how that impacts buying decisions• The eight story frameworks that show up in great books, movies, and marketing• Why marketers make a critical mistake by making themselves the hero• How to position your customer as the hero and your brand as the mentor• The neuroscience behind emotion, persuasion, and decision-making• How to uncover your defining problem-solution stories• Why AI can’t replace human storytelling (and where it falls short)• The role of humor in persuasion and credibility• Real-world examples of storytelling driving massive business growthHenry also shares powerful case studies, practical frameworks, and actionable advice that will permanently change how you think about marketing, sales, and communication.Learn more about Henry DeVries and book him as a speaker:https://persuadewithastory.com/speaker/Visit Henry’s website for articles, videos, and storytelling resources:https://persuadewithastory.comTo stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing today, visit MarketSurge:https://marketsurge.ioBook a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee strategy call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffeeFollow MarketSurge:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeiohttps://x.com/marketsurginghttps://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/Listen to the podcast:https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/Inside Marketing with MarketSurge is hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, where we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.Subscribe for more conversations on marketing, growth, storytelling, and what it really takes to persuade and scale.

Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in modern marketing.In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with David A. Pratter, co-founder of Dot Fun, a creative and growth-focused agency helping brands not just look good, but grow with intention.David leads visual storytelling and brand execution at Dot Fun, bringing ideas to life through websites, video, and creative systems designed to convert — not just impress. Having lived both sides of the equation, from freelance web design to leading multidisciplinary agency teams, David offers a rare perspective on how creativity, performance, and growth truly work together.In this conversation, we dive into:• The difference between branding that looks good and branding that actually drives growth• How Dot Fun structures services around Look Good, Feel Good, and Run Good• Where brands get stuck between design and demand• Why project management is an underrated growth lever for creatives and agencies• The balance between artistic creativity and data-driven performance• Why human-first design becomes more valuable as AI accelerates• Lessons learned from building an agency and navigating early-stage tradeoffs• How AI can support operations without replacing creative thinking• Upcoming AI tools from Dot Fun, including an AI receptionist and AI-powered project managementDavid also shares insights on working across B2B and B2C clients, how different industries approach creativity, and why soulful, human-driven design will continue to stand out in an AI-saturated world.Learn more about David A. Pratter and Dot Fun:https://dotfun.coTo stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing today, visit MarketSurge:https://marketsurge.ioBook a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee strategy call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffeeFollow MarketSurge:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeiohttps://x.com/marketsurginghttps://www.instagram.com/marketsurging/Listen to the podcast:https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/Inside Marketing with MarketSurge is hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, where we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.Subscribe for more conversations on marketing, growth, technology, and what it really takes to scale.

Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game. Your host is Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge.In this episode, Reed sits down with Mark Regan, co-founder of Poop Away, a pet waste management company that took one of the least glamorous services imaginable and turned it into a scalable, franchise-ready growth business.Launched in 2018 with a single truck, Poop Away focused on one simple promise: make pet owners’ lives easier through reliability, personality, and systems that actually work. Since then, Mark and his team have built repeatable processes around route optimization, customer experience training, automation, and local marketing — and are now preparing for national franchising.This conversation is proof that with the right brand voice and marketing systems, even the most “unsexy” service businesses can become serious growth engines.In this episode, we cover:How Poop Away turned an uncomfortable, overlooked problem into a scalable business Why leaning into humor helped break the ice and drive word-of-mouth growth How the company found and hired great technicians for a dirty but essential job The local marketing tactics that actually worked for route density and growth Why yard signs, wrapped vehicles, and referrals beat expensive ads early on What made franchising more attractive than company-owned expansion How population density impacts service business profitability The automation systems that keep operations efficient at scale Real-world lessons service businesses can apply to landscaping, pool cleaning, and home services Why reputation, trust, and consistency matter more than ad spend in service businessesIf you’re a founder, operator, or service business owner wondering how to scale a local service — even one people don’t like to talk about — this episode is for you.CONNECT WITH MARK REGAN AND POOP AWAYWebsite: https://callpoopaway.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/callpoopawayMARKETSURGE LINKSWebsite: https://marketsurge.io Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging Book a Strategy or Demo Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

Getting fired on Day 1 doesn’t mean you failed — sometimes it means you’re just getting started.In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Apoorv Sharman — a marketer, founder, and AI discovery strategist who’s helping brands get found inside ChatGPT, AI search, and LLM-powered recommendations instead of getting buried on page 10 of Google.Apoorv’s journey is anything but conventional:Fired as an Amazon delivery driver on Day 1 Freelancing nights while grinding a 9–5 Building and selling a startup pre-COVID Climbing from intern to marketing manager Now running Derivate X, helping brands win the next discovery land grabWhile most marketers are still arguing about SEO tweaks, Apoorv is focused on a much bigger shift: how people actually discover products when they stop “searching” and start asking AI.In this conversation, we cover:Why search behavior is fundamentally changing and where it’s going How ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and LLMs are reshaping discovery Why top-of-funnel SEO is dying and what’s replacing it The “librarian” metaphor that explains AI search perfectly What still matters from traditional SEO and what doesn’t Why small businesses now have a real shot at outranking giants How brands can influence AI recommendations without massive backlink budgets What an AI discovery engagement actually looks like in practiceIf you’re a founder, marketer, agency owner, or business leader asking:How do I show up when someone asks ChatGPT for the best solution?This episode is for you.CONNECT WITH APOORV SHARMANWebsite: https://apoorvshrm.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorvshrm/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@apoorvshrm X / Twitter: https://x.com/apoorvshrm Agency: https://derivatex.agencyMARKETSURGE LINKSWebsite: https://marketsurge.io Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging Book a Strategy or Demo Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxwWant to stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing right now? Head to MarketSurge.io and see how we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess.

Welcome back to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies shaping modern marketing.In today’s episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, dives into a topic most businesses know they should care about… but often don’t until it’s too late:AI, data privacy, and consumer trust — and how those three forces are colliding right now.Reed is joined by Andy Sambandam, a proven entrepreneur, technologist, and privacy innovator. Andy is the Founder & CEO of Clarip, where he’s leading the charge in redefining how brands manage consumer data across digital channels. Under Andy’s leadership, Clarip has built a patent-pending, AI-driven platform that helps enterprises turn big data into smart, compliant, and trustworthy data.Together, Reed and Andy unpack:Why data privacy is no longer optional — for businesses of any sizeThe biggest misconceptions brands have about consumer privacyHow AI introduces new privacy risks most companies aren’t prepared forWhy transparency is the key to earning (and keeping) consumer trustHow consent management can actually improve marketing performance, not limit itWhich industries are most at risk — and why every business should careWhat the future of AI governance and privacy technology looks likeAndy also shares why he believes “privacy is freedom,” how modern data ecosystems quietly share information across hundreds of vendors, and how AI can be both a risk and a solution when implemented responsibly.If you’re a marketer, founder, operator, or privacy-conscious leader trying to navigate AI without putting your brand (or customers) at risk, this is a must-listen episode.🔗 Connect & Learn More🎯 MarketSurge🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging📅 Book a Strategy or Demo Call:👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw🧠 Clarip — AI-Driven Data Privacy & Consent Management🌐 Website: https://clarip.com📅 Book a Personalized Demo: https://clarip.com/demoWant to stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing right now?Head to MarketSurge.io and see how we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

🚀 Who Owns Your Content When AI Gets Involved?Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies shaping the future of marketing, publishing, and business.In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Julie Trelstad, Head of U.S. Publishing at Alet.ai and a publishing industry veteran with over 30 years of experience.Julie has seen every major shift in publishing — from CD-ROM eBooks to Amazon’s rise — and today she’s helping creators navigate the next massive disruption: AI, content ownership, and creator rights.If you’re a creator, author, marketer, coach, consultant, or business owner, this conversation will completely change how you think about ownership, ethics, and opportunity in an AI-powered world.🎧 What We Cover in This Episode• How AI training models actually use books, podcasts, and written content• The truth about content ownership when AI is involved• Why many creators don’t own the rights they think they do• The difference between AI “training” vs AI “output” — and why it matters• What recent lawsuits reveal about the future of creator compensation• How AI creates new monetization opportunities (not just threats)• Why transparency and machine-readable copyright are becoming essential• How creators can protect and future-proof their work today🧠 Key TakeawayAI can’t exist without high-quality human content — and the creators who understand this shift early will be the ones who win long-term.👤 About Our Guest: Julie TrelstadJulie Trelstad is the Head of U.S. Publishing at Alet.ai and a longtime leader in global publishing and digital distribution. She helps authors and creators protect, license, and monetize their work in an AI-driven economy.🔗 Julie’s Website: https://paperbacksandpixels.com🔗 Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietrelstad/📈 About MarketSurgeAt MarketSurge, we help businesses turn tools into systems — and systems into growth. From CRM and automation to SEO, AI, and full-funnel marketing, we build growth engines that don’t rely on guesswork.🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/🧠 Want to see how MarketSurge works in real life?🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee👍 If you found this episode valuable, like, subscribe, and share it with a creator who needs to hear this conversation.Your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to bold ideas, real-world strategies, and unfiltered conversations shaping modern marketing and business growth.In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Stacey Hylen, a globally recognized business growth strategist, international keynote speaker, and author of Hidden Profits and More Clients & Cash.Stacey has coached entrepreneurs from early-stage startups to eight-figure companies and previously served as VP of Consulting for Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery Program. Together, Reed and Stacey unpack how business owners can scale smarter by uncovering revenue already hiding inside their business — without sacrificing lifestyle, health, or family.What you’ll learn in this episode:• What scaling really means and why most businesses get it wrong• How to design your business around your life, not the other way around• Where hidden profits live inside most companies• Why reactivating past clients can unlock massive growth• The most common profit leaks Stacey sees across industries• Pricing mistakes entrepreneurs make and how to fix them confidently• How to use AI as a strategic advantage without losing authenticity• Simple AI workflows every entrepreneur should start with• Lessons from working alongside Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes• Why resourcefulness matters more than resources• Leadership, communication, and leading with heartKey takeaways:• Scaling should enhance your life, not consume it• You don’t always need more leads — you need better leverage• Past clients are often your most profitable growth opportunity• AI works best when it supports your strategy and sounds like you• Big growth comes from focusing on the biggest levers, not busy workAbout Stacey Hylen:Stacey helps entrepreneurs add a zero without the hustle using ethical sales, smart marketing, and cutting-edge AI strategies. Her work has been featured on CNN, Fox Business, Inc., and more.Learn more about Stacey:staceyhylen.comAbout Inside Marketing with MarketSurge:Inside Marketing with MarketSurge breaks down what’s actually working in marketing, sales, AI, and entrepreneurship — minus the fluff.Connect with MarketSurge:Website: marketsurge.ioPodcast: marketsurge.transistor.fmFacebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeioX / Twitter: x.com/marketsurgingInstagram: instagram.com/marketsurgingWant to see how MarketSurge helps turn tools into systems and systems into growth?Book a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffeeSubscribe for weekly conversations on marketing, AI, and scalable growth.