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Lauren Harris says even MrBeast probably watches his own videos and thinks, “I should’ve gotten more views.” It’s a small, funny moment in our conversation, but it points at something bigger: most of us are chasing the wrong numbers in our marketing, and it’s keeping us stuck. Lauren is a marketing strategist and co-founder of Reliable PR and Marketing, and in this episode she walks through what separates a business that’s simply “doing” marketing from one that’s actually strategic about it. Lauren co-founded Reliable PR and Marketing after building it from a fake business she dreamed up for her master’s degree in marketing at Northeastern. Since then, she’s grown it into a full-service agency handling launches, PR, and marketing strategy for businesses across a range of industries. Her focus is helping business owners move past random tactics and build a strategy — target audiences, content pillars, and the analytics to match — that actually compounds. We Also Talked About How Lauren went from a graduate school class project to co-founding a full-service PR and marketing agency. The difference between “doing” marketing tasks and marketing with real strategic intention. Why copying a competitor’s tactics can backfire when your audience isn’t the same as theirs. How Reliable PR builds a marketing strategy from the ground up: business basics, competitor analysis, target audience psychographics, and content pillars. Why each of your five content pillars should tie back to a specific audience and a specific goal. How to get past the fear of analytics by matching the right metric to the right goal, instead of only watching likes and followers. The real difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan. How to think more strategically by stepping out of your own preferences and into your audience’s. Lauren’s “60/40 rule” for balancing what your audience wants to see with staying true to your brand. Why the generations aren’t as different as you’d think when it comes to doing their due diligence before they buy. How to start making short-form video even if you never want to be on camera. Why PR matters for small businesses, and how to pitch your own story to journalists and local media. Want this kind of practical, expert help every week — before your competitors do? Get tips and strategies for growing your business delivered straight to your inbox: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter Resources Mentioned Reliable PR and Marketing — https://reliablepr.net/ (free guides and checklists for business owners) Reliable PR and Marketing on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/reliable.pr/ My newsletter is for people who want to build a real income from home — practical, doable ideas each week for creating a better life for you and your family, without the overwhelm: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chosen episode title: AI Is a Toddler With Crayons: How to Rein It In and Put It to Work You don't expect a digital marketer to say this out loud: "Let's call cold email what it is. It's spam. It's B2B spam." But Dan Kurtz has spent twenty years learning exactly where the line sits between marketing that works and marketing that gets you deleted — and these days he's building AI systems that let one person do the work of ten, without crossing it. Dan started out getting mom-and-pop shops found online, scaled his skills across a 300-location national fitness franchise, and did stints inside Nielsen and Microsoft Bing before founding Miss Pepper AI, where he builds marketing automation and AI-driven sales systems for businesses. We Also Talked About Why your Google Business Profile only ranks if your website mirrors it, with pages for every service and area you claim. How a modest press release can land a local business in Google's AI answer boxes. What "black hat" actually means, and the irony Dan spotted at a major SEO conference. The permission gates that keep automated outreach on the right side of spam — and the law. Using AI as an "assembly line worker" instead of a creative that veers off the path. Why Dan starts every automation project with the most overworked employee in the building, stopwatch in hand. How to bring managers on board by showing them productivity, not problems. Who gets replaced and who gets promoted when AI arrives — the line-worker-to-plant-manager shift. Dan's advice for employees: use AI to optimise your own work first, and become the use case. Want this kind of practical, expert help every week — before your competitors do? Get tips and strategies for growing your business delivered straight to your inbox: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter Resources Mentioned Miss Pepper AI — https://misspepper.ai/ Dan Kurtz on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtzdan/ Linchpin by Seth Godin (affiliate link)  Pipedream (secure integration platform) — https://pipedream.com/ My newsletter is for people who want to build a real income from home — practical, doable ideas each week for creating a better life for you and your family, without the overwhelm: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re feeling stuck, maybe it’s not because you’re doing something wrong, but because you’re using the wrong business model. That’s exactly what happened to Stefanie Carlstedt. She’d built a business that looked successful on the outside.  But it felt completely off on the inside … and she was burning out. Then came a moment that changed everything: “I thought it was fluff—just another personality test. But then I read my Human Design chart and started crying. For the first time, I felt seen.” If you’ve ever felt like your business isn’t quite working for you, you’re not alone. In a world of burnout and one-size-fits-all strategies, Human Design might offer something surprisingly useful.  Especially if the usual advice hasn’t gotten you where you want to go. Stefanie has 13 years of experience, multiple businesses under her belt, and hundreds of clients behind her. Today, she helps entrepreneurs design businesses that align with how they’re actually wired—using Human Design as a tool to unlock clarity, confidence, and momentum. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT The pivotal moment Stefanie walked away from the corporate world after a personal crisis How she built a “successful” business that still left her feeling empty What Human Design is (and why she was initially sceptical too) The link between your energy type and your ideal marketing strategy How your personal design might reveal fears holding you back with money Why people-pleasers may need to unlearn business “rules” that don’t fit Using Human Design to rebuild a business that feels good to run Whether AI tools can support authenticity, or risk replacing it Tune in to this episode for a fresh perspective on finding the right-fit business approach for you.Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/ RESOURCES MENTIONED Stefanie’s free Human Design Business Report & Audio Series: https://stefcarlstedt.com/hdreport  Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (re: how birth timing can affect success) My emails are for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Most people think SEO is dead. But it’s not. It’s just evolving into something far more interesting.” John Horn doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of digital advertising in 2025. In this episode, we take a look at how businesses can stop wasting money on paid ads and how to prepare for the next wave of AI-driven advertising platforms like ChatGPT. Whether you’re running ads now or scared to even try, John brings clarity, strategy, and a calm ‘don’t-panic’ tone to a space full of noise. John Horn is the CEO of Stub Group, a digital advertising agency that has helped clients generate over $500 million in revenue through profitable ad strategies. With over a decade of hands-on experience, John is known for helping businesses navigate complexity in a constantly shifting digital landscape. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT Why AI platforms like ChatGPT are reshaping how ads will work What small businesses need to know about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) How to prepare your business for AI-powered ad platforms, even before they’re fully launched Why traditional SEO is actually more important than ever How to stand out in AI search results with PR, data, and real human input Common mistakes that lead to wasted ad spend (and how to avoid them) A smart tracking tip that helped one B2B company cut out low-quality leads How to use photos, stats, and content to get picked up by LLMs like ChatGPT What kind of original content makes you rank in AI-generated search results Tune in now to get practical, non-hype strategies for growing your business with paid ads and future-proofing your marketing. And get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/ RESOURCES MENTIONED Stub Group website Stub Group YouTube channel Blog article on the state of Google ads suspensions in 2025 My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It feels like we’re standing on the side of the interstate naked, holding a sign that says ‘Look at me!’”That’s how visibility expert Tracy Beavers describes what it’s like to show up online when you’re building a business. If that sounds uncomfortably familiar, this episode is a must-listen. Tracy breaks down how to grow your audience and email list authentically—without the ick. Tracy Beavers is a visibility and list-building strategist with over 25 years in corporate sales and marketing. She helps entrepreneurs cut through overwhelm and fear so they can grow an online business that actually supports their life, not the other way around. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT Why being everywhere online is a fast track to burnout—and what to do instead How Tracy used podcast management to help her son start his own freelance gig Practical visibility tactics that don’t require dancing on TikTok How to repurpose a single piece of content into an entire week’s worth of posts The importance of building your email list—and why social media alone won’t cut it Ways to start DM conversations that aren’t spammy, salesy, or awkward Why vanity metrics don’t equal sales—and how to track what actually matters The power of treating your business like a real CEO—even before it’s profitable Ready to stop hiding and start growing? Tune in now and discover how to show up consistently, build trust, and grow your email list the smart way. Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter RESOURCES MENTIONED Tracy’s free guide: Social Media Made Easy – https://tracybeavers.com/social Free guide: DM Conversations That Feel Good – https://tracybeavers.com/dm Tracy’s podcast: Create Online Business Success - https://www.tracybeavers.com/podcast Her Facebook Group: Be a Confident Entrepreneur - https://www.facebook.com/groups/beaconfidententrepreneur  Descript (affiliate link) – Audio/video editing software Tracy and her son use for podcast production. CapCut – Easy-to-learn video editing app used for social media content. Canva (affiliate link) – Graphic design tool for creating social posts, visuals, and more. YouTube – Used as a free learning resource for Descript, CapCut, and Canva tutorials. Facebook – Tracy’s main platform for visibility and client attraction. Instagram – Secondary platform, auto-posted via Facebook Business Page integration. LinkedIn – Recommended for B2B or corporate-facing entrepreneurs. TikTok – Mentioned as optional, but not required; Tracy replaced it with automation tools. Opus Clip – AI tool for repurposing long-form videos into short-form clips for Reels, YouTube Shorts, etc. Buzzsprout – Podcast hosting platform Tracy’s son uses to manage and publish her episodes. Metricool (affiliate link) – Social media scheduling tool that posts to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest. Affiliate Disclaimer: If you click on links on this page and then make a purchase, I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you).  I am a proud affiliate of these resources because I use them in my own life and business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sometimes being an outsider is actually your best kept secret." Gloria Chou knows a thing or two about being an outsider—and turning that into a superpower. In this episode, she shares how she went from cold-calling journalists with no connections to getting clients featured in major outlets like Forbes and Vogue. If the idea of PR feels overwhelming or off-limits, you’ll want to listen to this. AUTHORITY Gloria Chou is a former U.S. diplomat who transitioned into the world of PR without any agency experience—and built a thriving business doing just that. She’s helped thousands of underrepresented founders get media coverage by teaching them to cold pitch with confidence, authenticity, and purpose. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT Why you don’t need a big following or fat budget to land media features The surprising difference between PR and marketing (and why PR might suit you better) Gloria’s sweaty-palmed journey into cold pitching and how she cracked the code The mindset shift needed to show up and share your story Why authority alone isn’t enough—you need psychological resonance The power of niching down and getting specific in your messaging How to create pitches that are timely, relevant, and irresistible to journalists Gloria’s thoughts on building inclusive communities and leading with values CALL TO ACTION Tune in and get ready to rethink your approach to visibility. Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/ RESOURCES MENTIONED Gloria’s free PR masterclass: gloriachoupr.com/masterclass DM “Trudy” to @gloriachoupr on Instagram for a bonus PR pitching freebie My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Hafner got the grandaddy of all sticker shocks when he saw the quote to develop an app. That moment of sticker shock was all it took for him to go from app dreamer to no-code doer. In this episode, we explore how Dan turned a DIY project into a successful business—and how you can use no-code tools and AI agents to do the same. Dan Hafner is a no-code expert, app agency founder, and host of the Tech Bytes podcast. With a background in software testing and a passion for solving problems through automation, Dan helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into functional, money-making apps—without hiring developers. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT How Dan transitioned from software tester to no-code entrepreneur Why learning to code didn’t work—and what he did instead The 3-step framework Dan uses to bring ideas to life How AI agents and ChatGPT Operators are changing the game Why user experience (UX) still makes or breaks your tech How to use AI-powered tools as lead magnets or sales closers The mindset shift needed to build simple but powerful tools Why “done is better than perfect” when building MVPs Timeframes: what you can build in 30 minutes vs. 90 days The rare but valuable skill of digital architecture (and how to develop it) Tune in to hear Dan’s insights and real-world examples of no-code success. Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: 👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter RESOURCES MENTIONED Dan's site: DapperNoCode.com Tech Bytes Podcast:  https://dappernocode.com/podcast Miro:  mind mapping tool (affiliate link) Lucidchart:  https://www.lucidchart.com/pages No-code Tools:  Zapier, Make, Bubble, Adalo, Flutterflow My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: 👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.