Latest Episodes of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks

If you're a digital marketing professional, agency leader, affiliate marketer, or entrepreneur looking to scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights: Affiliate Marketing Essentials in 2026: Learn what it takes to start and scale a successful affiliate business—how to vet advertisers, select profitable offers, and avoid common payment pitfalls. Building a Sustainable Agency: Stas shares his blueprint for transitioning from solo affiliate marketer to leading a 20-p...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories Jim Banks sits down with Ivan Janku for an honest chat about running an agency, surviving in the ever-changing marketing world, and the real challenges behind the scenes. If you want a peek into what it truly takes to make it in digital marketing, you don’t want to miss this episode. YouTube - No BS Ads LinkedIn Instagram - No BS Ads Digital Rocket - Full-Stack Growth Marketing Agency I have one small favour to ask. Would you please follo...

Are you ready to elevate your digital marketing in 2025? In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, Perry Sheraw email marketing expert and automation strategist joins host Jim Banks to dive deep into the latest trends, game-changing tools, and proven strategies for turning your email list into a revenue powerhouse. From leveraging AI for advanced personalization to practical segmentation tactics and platform recommendations (HubSpot, Klaviyo, Shopify), get actionable tips straight from a seasoned pro. Whether you're a marketing manager at a growing e-commerce brand, a B2B leader, or a digital marketing enthusiast, this episode delivers the strategies you need to succeed in the evolving digital landscape.

From conference travels in London, Berlin, and Bologna, to candid discussions about how the world of Pay Per Click advertising has shifted, Kirk and Jim peel back the curtain on everything from early Google Ads hacks to today's AI-driven campaigns. Dive into topics including: PPC Evolution: How the landscape has dramatically changed in the past two years and what digital marketers MUST know to stay ahead. Brand Bidding Masterclass: Should you bid on your own brand or not? Discover the ...

In today’s episode, Jim welcomes John Dwyer (JD), founder of the Institute of Wow, for a dynamic and entertaining conversation packed with real-world marketing wisdom and a few cheeky stories along the way. Jim and John dive deep into the world of direct response marketing, sharing how classic principles from marketing legends like Claude Hopkins are still at the heart of successful campaigns, even as platforms and technologies evolve. With stories of behind-the-scenes secrets of incentive...

Welcome to another episode of Digital Marketing Stories. Today, our host Jim Banks sits down with Young Han, a fractional COO and CFO, entrepreneur, and proud “girl dad.” In this engaging conversation, Young shares his journey from leading venture-backed startups to building service businesses from scratch—including his rapidly growing pool cleaning company. Together, Jim and Young dive into the changing landscape of operations, finance, and marketing in the age of AI, the importance of clean data, and how collaboration between departments is key to business success. Young also offers his perspective on work-life balance (or integration), the realities of acquiring versus building businesses, and how operational systems can help scale companies with minimal owner involvement. Whether you’re a marketing pro, a startup founder, or simply interested in the intersection of business strategy and personal growth, this episode is packed with candid insights, practical advi…

Looking for actionable strategies in digital marketing, event promotion, and social media audience growth? Want the inside story on the power of authenticity and resilience in business? This episode is your go-to guide. Key Takeaways: Event Marketing Secrets: How Benjamin leverages micro-influencers, geographic social media targeting, and eye-catching guerrilla campaigns to fill venues and drive ticket sales. Social Media for Local Brands: Strategic tips for building a hyperlocal au...

Welcome to another episode of Digital Marketing Stories. This week, Jim talks to Joel Bondorowsky, a seasoned digital marketer and founder of PPC Designs, a boutique agency specializing in helping startups and e-commerce brands grow through paid media. Introduced by a previous guest, Anton Shulke, Joel shares his journey from the early days of dial-up internet, when concepts like click-through rates and conversion rates were brand new, to building successful campaigns for well-known brands...

Are you a digital marketer, woman entrepreneur, or aspiring business owner aiming to make a real impact in the online world? This episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss. Michelle Thames shares her inspiring journey from being fired to becoming a self-taught marketing powerhouse, all while building a thriving online community for women over the age of 42. Discover why carving out your own lane and leveraging your existing skills is the key to sustainable busine...

We are back with the start of Season 3 of Digital Marketing Stories After a much-needed sabbatical, host Jim Banks returns with a fresh perspective and an exciting guest to kick things off. Kirsten Graham, is the co-owner of Six Figure Business Coaching. In this episode Kirsten shares her 15+ years of entrepreneurial experience, diving into the world of outsourcing, automation, and the power of video marketing for small businesses. Kirsten reveals why she believes YouTube is just as cru...

In this podcast episode, Jim Banks welcomes Joe Rare, a serial entrepreneur and digital marketing expert from Montana. Joe discusses the influx of people moving to Montana due to its portrayal on the TV show Yellowstone, despite real estate being as expensive as California's. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his admiration for a successful business owner in his youth and reading 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' at 18. Joe emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship, his experiences with highs and lows, and his transition into real estate investment and digital businesses. He also delves into the significance of effective communication with virtual assistants, the impact of AI on business, and strategies for growth and maximizing efficiency. The episode concludes with Joe's insights on the cyclical nature of business and the value of learning from failure.

In this podcast episode, Jim interviews Ben Jones, CEO of Titan Marketer, a YouTube advertising agency based in Perth, Australia. They discuss the transformation and strategy behind successful YouTube ad campaigns. Ben delves into his agency's specialization in YouTube ads, explaining how they transitioned from consulting to offering full-fledged ad management. He highlights the effectiveness of YouTube ads for service-based businesses with high client lifetime values, listing various industries they've worked with. The conversation also touches on the pitfalls and challenges of Performance Max campaigns versus YouTube, emphasising quality over quantity in lead generation. Ben shares targeting strategies that have proven successful, such as warm audiences and custom URL domains. He discusses the importance of high-quality video creative in YouTube ads and offers practical tips for businesses hesitant to create their own video content. The episode concludes …

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, Jim interviews Peter Murphy Lewis, also known as Strategic Pete. Pete discusses his background growing up in Kansas, working in Boston, and living in Chile. He explains his work as a fractional CMO, including his transition back to the U.S. and how he helps companies scale, rebrand, and increase revenue within a six to 18 month window before disengaging. They discuss common mistakes businesses make, such as hiring agencies without a strategy and struggling with attribution in B2B marketing. Pete also shares insights on the importance of organic social media, using data-driven techniques, and the value of CEOs hosting podcasts. The episode highlights Pete's approach to solving problems, working with a dedicated team, and pushing marketing efforts to new limits. Listen in wherever you get your podcasts, search for Digital Marketing Stories.

Mike Vannelli, the creative director of Think Envy, shares his evolution in the creative industry in this podcast episode He started his career in the competitive music video sector, working with significant artists like Wiz Khalifa and Three 6 Mafia before shifting to advertising and commercial production. Mike discusses how his business adapted to COVID-19 by leveraging backlog and quick adjustments that allowed them to return to filming smoothly in Los Angeles. The conversation also touches upon the impact and future of AI in video production, particularly in scriptwriting and ideation, and the increasing demand for high-quality advertisement content over UGC (User-Generated Content). Mike shares insights on managing a production studio, including monetizing unused studio space by renting it out for podcasts and other content creation. He explains the importance of diversification and flexibility in client offerings and their method of transparent pricing and se…

Angela and Travis, cousins with a deep background in marketing, discuss their journey into the business together, specializing in biotech and agricultural technology (agtech). Angela, based in Oregon, focuses on biotech, while Travis, from Idaho, brings his farming experience to agtech. The conversation covers their business strategies, client engagements, and the balance of old and new technologies in their industries. They also touch upon the rapid evolution of AI, its applications in marketing and efficiency, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use. The discussion extends to broader topics such as climate change, mental health, and the responsibility of marketing professionals to ensure ethical practices. A comprehensive overview of the challenges and innovations within the biotech and agtech marketing.

In this conversational podcast episode, Jim talks to Chris Smith from Podtastic Audio. Chris is a podcaster as well as a truck driver from San Diego. They discuss Chris's podcasting journey with his wife, the origin and success of his podcast 'Podtastic Audio,' and his experience balancing work life and podcasting. Chris shares insights on effective podcast hosting and guesting, including the importance of delivering value, having a clear message, and the benefits of a good story. The episod...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, host Jim Banks interviews Naresh Vissa, the founder of Krish Media & Marketing and Krish Capital. Naresh shares his journey from Wall Street to becoming a digital marketing and real estate entrepreneur. He details his service offerings, emphasizing his approach to providing 'almost' full-service digital marketing by outsourcing. Naresh also discusses his podcasting experience, advice on monetising podcasts, and insights on leveraging AI and outsou...

Melissa Snow is the founder of the Powerful Women Rising Community. In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories Melissa shares her journey from being a high school English teacher and personal injury paralegal to becoming an entrepreneur by accident. She discusses her initial venture into life coaching and the realization of the importance of networking and relationships in business growth. Melissa highlights the benefits of her community, which includes coworking, mastermind calls, and netw...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, Jim talks with John McDougall, a veteran in the digital marketing field. John recounts his early experiences starting from 1995 when he was tasked with selling websites at his father's agency. He describes how he learned about it in 1996 and utilized tools like WebPosition Gold. John and Jim exchange stories from the late '90s and early 2000s, covering keyword stuffing, link-building strategies, and the evolution of SEO tactics. They discuss the ...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, host Jim Banks chats with Corey Morris, a seasoned digital marketing professional with over 20 years of experience. Corey shares insights from his career journey, which began in 2005, and explains his progression from project management to becoming the owner of Voltage, a full-service digital marketing agency. They delve into the importance of niche specialization, consistent strategy implementation, and the pivotal role AI tools play in modern mar...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, host Jim Banks chats with Grace Clemens, a digital marketing expert hailing from the United States, but currently based in Barcelona, Spain. We delve into Grace's career journey, focusing on her e-commerce expertise and the significance and value of digital marketing audits for e-commerce brands, nonprofits, and B2B companies. Grace explains in detail her audit process, stressing the importance of branding consistency, purposeful content across mul...

The discussion today touches on topics including the complex business strategies needed to succeed today to the rapid evolution of AI. Ben Hoehn is a fractional CMO whose personal brand is Mojo Mogul. Ben explains his passion for working with early-stage startups and his unique approach to 'strategic-cution.' The conversation dives deep into the AI landscape, discussing its impact on jobs, workforce, and business operations. Key discussion points include the role of business webinars (along ...

In this episode, Jim talks to Jesse Ringer, founder and CEO of Method & Metric, an SEO agency based in Vancouver. Jesse discusses his journey from freelancing in a post-financial 2008 crisis to establishing his agency in 2017. They talk about the evolution of digital marketing, the importance of human connection in business, and the impact of AI on SEO. Jesse shares insights into finding and retaining clients, managing and recruiting staff, and the challenges and rewards of running a business...

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, Jim talks to Ryan Jones, who shares his journey at Razorfish as well as innovative and new SEO tool SERPrecon. Ryan discusses the transition from traditional SEO metrics to modern approaches using machine learning and vectors. Additionally, they explore the impact of AI on search and digital marketing strategies. Apart from professional insights, Ryan opens up about personal health challenges, including weight loss and knee surgeries, and the posi...