With over two decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, John dives solo into this episode to explore how AI is revolutionizing the buyer's journey. He breaks down the stages of his signature “Marketing Hourglass” framework and shares how businesses must adapt their strategies in an AI-driven world. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your marketing by aligning with evolving customer behavior, embracing self-service tools, and doubling down on authenticity and trust. Today we discussed:

00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett

00:09 The evolved buyer journey

02:29 Reintroducing the Marketing Hourglass as a flexible customer journey mode

03:43 How AI interrupts and reshapes journey stages like know, like, and trust

04:55 Recommendation engines and the rise of self-service experiences

06:12 The need to rethink SEO: focus on questions, not keywords

06:50 Combining digital efficiency with emotional, human-centered marketing

08:33 The journey is already changing—are you adapting?

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In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we explore how small businesses can use AI to convert more leads while reclaiming precious time. John Jantsch talks with Rainmaker CEO Joe Gagnon about AI-native sales workflows, 24/7 phone agents, and why automation doesn’t have to feel inauthentic. Together they break down how AI can improve inbound conversations, overcome objections, and deliver more predictable growth. Learn how AI tools that help small business owners save time can also create better customer experiences and streamline every step of the sales journey.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
00:33 Welcome Joe Gagnon
00:57 Reinventing Small Biz Sales
02:41 AI-Native Sales Platform
04:23 Pricing & Access
07:16 Support Challenges
08:34 Sales Meets Support
10:09 Personalization Power
13:26 Customer Use Cases
15:09 Ethics & Constitution
18:06 Getting Started
20:21 Future Outlook

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In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we uncover how to magnetize the right clients by escaping the “obscurity tax” and building true market eminence. Guest David Newman breaks down the power of contrarian thinking, bold positioning, and sharing real expertise—not watered-down content. Learn why polarizing your message attracts perfect-fit clients while repelling the wrong ones, and how generosity, insight, and future-focused thinking fuel unstoppable growth. If you're ready to stand out in a noisy marketplace, this conversation gives you the long-tail strategies you need.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
01:33 The Obscurity Tax
04:47 Stakeholder Influence
05:42 Visibility in AI Era
08:29 Attracting Right Clients
11:34 Core Strategies Revealed
15:37 AI as Thought Partner
17:11 Finding Your Niche

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Choosing the right marketing agency can make or break your business — and in this episode, John Jantsch shares the 10 essential questions every business owner must ask before hiring a marketing partner. Using real-world examples and industry red flags, he breaks down how to protect your data, evaluate reporting, connect tactics to strategy, and spot agencies that overcharge while underdelivering. If you’ve ever worried about getting ripped off or want to make smarter marketing decisions, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence you need. Discover how to avoid costly mistakes and choose a partner that truly drives results.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
01:48 Who Owns Your Data?
03:16 Defining Success
04:08 Strategy Alignment
04:52 Exit Strategies
05:39 Daily Work Breakdown
06:20 Ask For A Sample Report
06:41 AI & Human Oversight
07:43 Collaboration Process
08:14 Strategy Before Execution
09:18 Knowledge Transfer

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John Jantsch sits down with LinkedIn expert Lorenzo Johnson to break down the four pillars of social selling that drive real results. Lorenzo explains how to improve your LinkedIn SSI score, build trusted relationships, and create value-driven content that stands out in a sea of generic AI posts. You’ll learn why video, carousel posts, and authentic engagement outperform automation—and how to optimize your professional brand for 2026. If you’re looking for best practices for social selling on LinkedIn, this episode delivers a clear blueprint you can put into action today.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
00:33 Meet Lorenzo Johnson
01:10 LinkedIn in 2026
01:24 The New Landscape
03:47 AI's Impact on LinkedIn
04:53 Social Selling Index
08:11 Profile Optimization Tips
10:24 Long-Term Selling Strategy
12:46 Best Outreach Tools
16:24 Tool Compliance Rules
19:03 Measuring Your Success

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Sara breaks down the 10 essential questions every small business should ask before hiring a marketing agency, consultant, or fractional CMO. From who owns your marketing assets to how results are measured, Sara shares hard-won lessons from 16+ years helping businesses avoid costly mistakes. Learn how to spot red flags, demand transparency, and build a partnership based on strategy—not secrecy. Perfect for anyone ready to own their marketing and stop getting trapped in bad contracts.

Today we discussed:

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:50 Why Marketing Is Hard
00:04:26 10 Questions Overview
00:05:14 Question 1: Asset Ownership
00:07:20 Question 2: Measuring Success
00:09:11 Question 3: Strategy Alignment
00:11:09 Question 4: Contract Terms
00:12:11 Question 6: Reporting Standards
00:12:23 Question 5: Team Interaction
00:13:04 Question 7: AI Integration
00:15:12 Question 8: Keep Your Team Involved
00:17:48 Question 10: What You'll Learn

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*This is a rerun of a previous DTM episode.

Keith Lauver is a serial entrepreneur, seasoned marketing strategist, and founder of Atomic Elevator, the company behind Ella—an AI-powered marketing platform transforming how brands approach strategy and execution. He has launched six companies and raised over $34 million through product-driven growth. In this episode, Keith shares how High Definition Marketing and AI tools like Ella are redefining marketing for small businesses and agencies alike. Discover how to align your marketing strategy with execution, break through brand stagnation, and drive real business growth with smarter, not louder, tactics.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction

00:41 What is High Definition Marketing?

01:59 How Has Marketing Strategy Changed?

08:17 ELLA and DTM Partnership

12:52 ELLA Elevates Your Marketing Team

16:46 How are AI Tools Evolving?

More About Keith Lauver:

Check out Keith Lauver's Website: https://www.atomicelevator.com

Connect with Keith Lauver's on LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/keithdlauver/⁠

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*This is a rerun of a previous DTM episode.

Manick Bhan is the founder and CTO of Search Atlas, a cutting-edge SEO and content marketing platform powering over 20,000 websites and 5,000 agencies. A serial entrepreneur and respected thought leader in the SEO industry, Manick previously founded RankPay and has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of search technology. In this episode, he joins John Jantsch to break down the future of SEO, the disruptive impact of AI and LLMs like ChatGPT, and how marketers can evolve beyond outdated strategies. Listeners will gain actionable insights into building high-converting content, mastering SEO automation, and future-proofing their digital marketing efforts.

00:00 Opening
01:03 Introducing Manick Bhan
01:32 Why Was Search Atlas Created?
03:53 Is SEO Dead?
06:12 Why is Conversion Higher From AI Search Than Google?:07:32 RIsk vs Opportunity with AI Search
09:12 Optimizing Content for Competitive Search
42 How Should Marketers Think about AI Today?
14:28 Quality vs Quanity
17:42 Rented vs Owned Spaces
20:09 Lessons Learned from a Founder

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