Send us a text If you loved Part 1 of our She Leads Digital series, you’re in for another round of inspiring career journeys, bold pivots, and hard-won wisdom from incredible women shaping the future of digital marketing. In this continuation episode, we dive deeper into themes of mentorship, education, career training, and professional development; all told through personal stories that prove there’s no single path to success in digital marketing. While their journeys showcase fascinat...
Send us a text In this deeply human episode, Optidge’s own HR Manager, Sarah Cuesta, joins Danny Gavin to explore what AI can’t do: lead with empathy, resolve team conflict, or build psychological safety. Drawing from her unique path from clinical hypnotherapy to people operations, Sarah unpacks how trust, structure, and culture fuel successful teams, especially in remote environments. Whether you’re managing a team or just part of one, this is your blueprint for building stronger...
Send us a text Before he was building ad campaigns, Jack Hepp was building houses. Now he runs Industrious Marketing, helping local businesses grow through hands-on paid media advertising strategy. In this episode, Jack shares how getting fired early shaped his marketing career, discusses the mentors who sharpened his skills, and why clear pricing and clean strategy always win over smoke and mirrors, specifically in regard to local businesses and Google Local Services ads (LSAs). ...
Send us a text Mohammad Anwar, President and CEO of Softway and Culture+, shares how embracing love, empathy, and honest, human-centric leadership transformed his approach to business and marketing. From early culture shocks in both Saudi Arabia and rural Kansas, to guiding executives through challenges today, his story highlights how trust, storytelling, and people-first communication drive organizational success and personal growth. This episode offers practical insights for lea...
Send us a text In this solo Office Hours episode, Optidge founder Danny Gavin dives into how generative AI is radically reshaping how we search, discover, and measure online visibility. From the shift away from rankings to the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Danny breaks down what marketers need to know now, and how to stay visible and relevant in a world where ChatGPT might answer before Google does. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Office Hours episodes are your go-...
Send us a text Michelle Miller’s career path is anything but ordinary, which is exactly what makes it so relatable. From switching colleges to launching a strategic marketing agency, Michelle has built a career on sustainable growth, cross-functional alignment, and no-nonsense mentorship. In this episode, she joins Danny Gavin to unpack the real challenges (and surprising rewards) of marketing technical products, mentoring young professionals, and thriving in male-dominated, B2B industries. I...
Send us a text What started as a frustrated student’s question turns into two powerful interviews about the chaos of modern marketing job descriptions. Danny Gavin sits down with PPC experts Navah Hopkins and Sarah Stemen to expose the gap between what companies want and what one human can realistically do, especially at a part-time salary. From overloaded listings to mental burnout, this episode is packed with practical hiring tips, career strategies, and real talk for both marketers and emp...
Send us a text What do soccer sidelines, mommy blogs, and multi-million-dollar influencer campaigns have in common? Paula Bruno. In this mini episode, Danny Gavin sits down with the founder of Intuition Media Group to explore how influencer marketing has evolved from the early blogosphere into today’s creator-first economy. With nearly 25 years in branding, Paula brings a strategic, practical, and deeply human perspective to working with creators. From why listening is more powerful than post...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny chats with Santi Schamberger, passionate and dedicated web developer at Optidge. They dive into the foundational elements of successful websites, the evolution of WordPress, and why UX matters more than flashy design. Santi opens up about his self-taught journey, agency life, and how real impact comes from aligning websites with actual business goals. This episode provides a roadmap for creating digital experiences that not only look professio...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny welcomes Dan Briscoe, CMO at BuildWitt, for a candid and inspiring discussion on leadership, team dynamics, and marketing in the construction industry. Dan shares stories from the Marine Corps to managing agencies, discusses his marketing philosophy, and breaks down how mentorship from icons like Jocko Willink and Marcus Sheridan shaped his approach. His practical wisdom shines through the entire episode through inspiring stories of his experi...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny and Joe Wolf, Head of Paid Social at Optidge, explore how to troubleshoot struggling paid campaigns, why communication is more important than ever, and what it takes to be the kind of agency clients trust again—after they've been burned. With deep experience across paid platforms and a keen sense for client relationships, Joe and the team don’t just run ads—they build partnerships that last. From tactical frameworks like Optidge’s 5-Point Check to r...
Send us a text In this second part of the "Best of SEO" series, industry leaders share their insights on creating compelling content that boosts organic traffic and supports strong SEO strategies. The episode explores the evolving relationship between AI and content integrity, the benefits of WordPress as an enterprise platform, and the critical role of brand building in search visibility. Additionally, our lineup of guests discuss how social proof, thought leadership, and offline...
Send us a text Mentorship and representation transforms careers - this truth echoes throughout our conversations with leading SEO professionals in the first installment of our two-part "Best of SEO" episode series. From personal journeys to strategies for tackling the various technical aspects of SEO, our expert guests reveal how adaptable and human-centered SEO truly is. As they explore how AI is revolutionizing search, these conversations emphasize the importance of trust and re...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny sits down with LinkedIn Ads expert AJ Wilcox to dive into his marketing journey, his views on mentorship, and his laser-sharp insights into B2B advertising on LinkedIn. AJ shares how a passion for teaching and authentic connection laid the foundation for B2Linked, an industry-leading agency for LinkedIn Ads. He discusses the power of mentorship, from hiking with his boss’s boss to mentoring rising marketers in Utah, and shares the advertising strate...
Send us a text In this episode of The Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny speaks with Chaya Glatt, a brand strategist and the founder of Brand Authority, about her journey from special education to branding and marketing. Chaya shares her thoughts on branding as a solution rather than just a service, offering insights into how businesses can use branding to solve real problems. The discussion touches on the importance of having a strong foundation in brand strategy and the dedication ...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny welcomes Sara Strickland, a former full-time NICU nurse turned paid search coordinator at Optidge. Sara shares her powerful journey of transitioning from saving lives in hospitals to optimizing Google Ads campaigns. She discusses the transferable skills from nursing—like pattern recognition and empathy—that have made her a natural in PPC. Along the way, she’s found guidance from mentors (including her sister) and now mentors others through team training a...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny sits down with Susan Yen, a digital marketing expert with over seven years of experience in Pay-per-Click (PPC). Together, they discuss Susan’s journey from her communications background to a career in paid search, her views on mentorship, and how diversity plays a crucial role in marketing. Susan talks about her experiences working in agency and in-house settings, the difficulties small businesses have with PPC, and how artificial intelligenc...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny dissects the intricacies of paid advertising with Grace Glass, Paid Social Media Strategist at Optidge. She shares her expertise in balancing creative and strategic elements to build high-performing campaigns, especially for beginners. Tune in to gain valuable insights on ad budget allocation, testing methodologies, campaign optimization, segmentation strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid for beginners. An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode Our Offic...
Send us a text In this episode, Danny speaks with Jyll Saskin Gales, a Google Ads coach and former Google employee, about her journey from studying psychology to becoming a leader in digital advertising. Join us as Jyll shares insights on her time at Google, how she transitioned to consulting, and her approach to coaching and mentorship. She discusses personal branding, content creation, and the importance of audience segmentation in Google Ads. Jyll's experience offers helpful ad...
Send us a text This episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor features Ameet Khabra, founder of Hopskip Media, who shares her unconventional journey from studying business administration to an unexpected stint in audio engineering, leading her to become a prominent figure in the PPC space. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship through nurturing community and personal passions, as well as dissects the role of AI and the value of asking the right questions. In this uplifting epis...