Latest Episodes of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks

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In this episode of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks, we sit down with Fred Vallaeys, CEO of Optmyzr to explore the evolution of the advertising industry and the role of AI in shaping the future. Join us as we delve into Fred's fascinating journey and insights. Topics discussed include - The importance of continuous experimentation in Google Ads. - Transitioning from in-person conferences to online PPC town halls. - The potential of AI to preserve industry knowledge for future generati...

In this episode of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks, Boris Beceric, a PPC consultant specialising in Google Ads, joins Jim to discuss the challenges and insights of Google Ads advertising strategies. We discuss the : - Subjectivity of "cheap" in marketing - The impact of AI in Google Ads - The challenges in data tracking and understanding the value of conversions - The role Google reps play in managing Google Ads accounts - The importance of aligning strategies with client objectiv...

Today, we have an incredible story that traverses continents, careers, and the evolving digital age. Joining me is Ash Nallawalla, an SEO consultant with an extraordinary journey. From his humble beginnings in Bombay, India, to his unexpected career shifts in Australia and New Zealand, Ash has navigated the turbulent waters of technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of competing with AI in the publishing industry, the highs and lows of SEO consu...

Today's guest, Emanuel Cinca, also known as Manu, joins us to share his unique journey from a struggling university student to a professional poker player, and finally to a successful digital marketing publisher. Manu pioneered Stacked Marketer, a newsletter that now commands an impressive audience of over 100,000 subscribers. We dive deep into the acquisition of complementary newsletters, the challenges of digital advertising, and how maintaining a reader-engaging tone has been pivotal in...

Anton Shulke is an inspiration. He is from Ukraine and when the war started everyone in the search community rushed to Facebook looking for the video that Anton posted of himself drinking a coffee. Since then he has moved on to many countries. He is also fantastic at creating influencer communities. So enjoy this discussion with Anton on Bad Decisions with Jim Banks Discussed during the episode SEO for Paws Announcement Ukrainian Cats & Dogs Initiative Duda - eCommerce Website Bu...

Today, we're in for a special treat as we're joined by Purna Virji, a renowned PPC expert, author, consultant, and all-around guru in digital marketing. In today's episode, we're diving deep into the labyrinth of explaining digital marketing to the uninitiated, tackling the misconceptions and complexities with Purna's incisive clarity. We'll get a glimpse into her world – from university days in Cardiff to her big move to the US, navigating through her auspicious career trajectory that led...

In this episode we dive into conversation with my guest, the PPC evangelist from Optmyzr, Navah Hopkins. Navah shares her wisdom on the industry’s pressing need for diversity, her own challenges on the speaking circuit, and the pivotal role brands have in creating an ecosystem that embraces underrepresented voices, especially women. We unpack the importance of providing a platform and opportunities to speak at industry conferences. Navah's insights on navigating the complexities of SEO ...

A soul searching episode with a back story to the early 90's, some really bad decisions and how tossing a coin can help you arrive at the right decision. Short episode with some profound and personal content for you to listen to, hop you enjoy it and learn. One small ask - would you please subscribe to the show and leave me a rating - it goes a long way as I get the show off the ground

This week's guest is Ashley Segura, the co-founder of Content Yum. We take a deep dive into content marketing, SEO, and the evolving role AI is playing today. Listen as we explore Ashley's new venture, Content Yum, and its human-centric approach to content creation. We discuss the competition posed by AI-generated content and its impact on SEO and content marketing. Ashley shares personal stories about the negative effects of spam content and the importance of authenticity in user-ge...

It's been a tough few months since I launched the podcast. Partly because I was travelling and hadn't worked out how to keep the cadence of publishing going and also because just having podcast guests puts pressure on schedules. Solo episodes, like this one, are much easier to make. I can talk directly to you and share my thoughts and feelings, as well as tips, tricks and things that are aha moments. My digital marketing guests so far have been amazing. I've loved the conversations a...

In episode 10 Jim delves into the twists and turns of agency life, working in-house with 20 year digital marketing veteran Dave Roth and his bumpy journey as a digital marketer. Discover the high-stakes world of managing campaigns with an insider's perspective from his time at Yahoo and realtor.com Learn about Dave's early involvement in "that search engine thing" which led to a decade at Yahoo managing substantial search engine marketing budgets for their internal paid media channels and ...

Thought I would jazz things up a bit and add in an extra "episode" with a short aha moment or tip while we work on pulling together the guest interviews for Wednesdays. This particular aha moment is about the Amazon Associates program and how members of the program can stop leaving money on the table when they post their content on YouTube, Instagram or anywhere else for that matter where the geographic location of your visitors can mean the difference between a big fat commission or a big fa...

Today we're diving into the intersection of bad decisions, digital marketing, and the power of connections with the CEO of Be Found Online, Steve Krull. Steve's journey from exploiting a business's website weaknesses to becoming an SEO expert unfolds a tale of liberation and the birth of his agency Be Found Online (or BFO as it is better known). We explore the raw reality of running a digital agency, touching on the importance of trust in client relationships and why sometimes, smaller is ...

So, having interviewed 6 people and being away from my studio I thought I would try something different for this weeks episode of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks. I thought it would be good to walk and talk, so listen to me walk around the 5.5 kilometer (3 miles) of the Yas Marina Abu Dhabi Grand Prix track and share with you my thoughts on setting up the podcast, how being a podcaster has been, what I've enjoyed, what I've learned, how I create the podcast, what the plans for the future are and...

This is episode number 6, and joining me today is my old friend and insightful thinker, Tim Ash. Tim is well-known for his pioneering work in digital marketing, particularly in conversion rate optimization. But lately, he's turned his expertise towards a broader horizon, focusing his energy on the intersections of leadership, public speaking, and the primal aspects of human behavior. Today, we'll unravel the complex layers behind making impactful decisions, the blend of luck and hard wo...

Welcome back to another episode of "Bad Decisions with Jim Banks" – the podcast where we delve into the minds of digital marketing leaders making waves and learn from their experiences and, occasionally, their bad decisions. Today, in Episode 5, we're joined by Alita Harvey-Rodriguez, founder and managing director of MI Academy. Alita is a powerhouse in digital marketing and innovation, with a decade-long career transforming organizations from the inside out. This episode covers the uni...

In this episode, we have a lively discussion with Nathan Huppatz, an experienced professional in the digital marketing and e-commerce space. Join us as we delve into Nathan's journey, from his early fascination with the Internet in the 90s to his ventures in e-commerce, including creating a successful costume business. Stay tuned to hear about the challenges and successes, and how the impact of COVID-19 transformed the landscape. Timestamp Overview 00:00 - Fascination with the int...

Today, we're going to unpack a whole spectrum of topics with Vin. Brace yourselves for insights on new ventures, chat about the weighty role of high-quality content in marketing, and touch upon the use of AI tools, like ContentX powered by Chat GPT, to generate SEO-friendly content. We'll also dip into the story of our near-miss trip to Boston right as COVID-19 turned the world upside down, leading not only to a lost business opportunity but also a hiatus in our friendship—a bond that has tha...

Welcome back to another episode of "Bad Decisions with Jim Banks". Today, in episode two, we have an exceptional guest, Jason Barnard, also known as the Brand SERPs Guy and easily recognizable in his signature red shirt. I'm your host, Jim Banks, and together we'll dive into the intricacies of written processes, the crucial balance of freedom and support in teams, and the evolution of Google’s role in personal and business branding. In this episode, Jason shares his journey from musicia...

Welcome to the first episode of "Bad Decisions with Jim Banks," where we dive into the serendipitous journeys of brilliant minds in business and marketing, and learn from the good, the bad, and the sometimes lucky twists of fate that propel us forward. Today, I'm joined by the one and only Jon Loomer, the man who turned an accidental detour into a thriving marketing powerhouse. From coaching little league to becoming a meta ads genius, Jon's story is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose. ...