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Latest Episodes of Bad Decisions with Jim Banks

24
April 23, 2025

Fail Fast and Forward - Joe Rare's Entrepreneurial Journey

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.
Guests: Jim Banks , Joe Rare
23
April 16, 2025

Ben Jones on Effective YouTube Ad Strategies

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 …
Guests: Jim Banks , Ben Jones
22
April 9, 2025

Cracking the Code of Digital Marketing - Insights from Strategic Pete

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.
21
April 2, 2025

Navigating the Creative Landscape with Mike Vannelli of Think Envy

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…
20
March 26, 2025

Challenges and Triumphs in Agtech and Biotech

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.
19
March 19, 2025

Navigating the Podcasting Landscape with Podtastic Audio's Chris Smith's

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...
18
March 12, 2025

How To Manage a Full-Service Agency

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...
17
March 5, 2025

Blueprint for Effective Networking and Business Growth

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...
16
Feb. 28, 2025

Digital pioneers talk about the evolution of SEO

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 ...
15
Feb. 26, 2025

Crafting Effective Strategies in Digital Marketing with Corey Morris

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...
14
Feb. 21, 2025

Ensuring Brand Consistency in the Digital Space

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...
13
Feb. 19, 2025

Exploring the Impact of AI and Marketing Strategies with Benjamin Hoehn

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 ...
12
Feb. 17, 2025

Digital Marketing and SEO in a Changing World: A Chat with Jesse Ringer

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...
11
Feb. 14, 2025

Ryan Jones on SEO, AI, and the Evolution of Digital Marketing

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...
Guests: Jim Banks , Ryan Jones
10
Feb. 12, 2025

Navigating the Freelance Landscape in Paid Media with Sam Noble

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, host Jim Banks chats with Sam Noble about her journey and experiences in the digital marketing industry. Sam shares insights from her transitional career, starting at a travel agency and moving through various roles in marketing, financial services, and agencies, before establishing her own freelance consultancy, Biddable Moments. She discusses the pros and cons of freelancing, the importance of networking, and how she manages work-life balance. J...
9
Feb. 5, 2025

How To Thrive After Starting A Business At Completely The Worst Time

Welcome to another episode of Digital Marketing Stories. Today we're diving into a fascinating journey with Drew Donaldson, the founder of GroHaus, an innovative marketing agency. Despite launching his business just three months before the onset of COVID-19, Drew navigated the challenging landscape to build a successful agency that defies conventional marketing pitfalls. In this episode, Drew shares his incredible story of resilience and strategic thinking. We chat about the complexities of ...
8
Jan. 29, 2025

Transforming Your Side Hustle into a Cash Machine

I have one small favour to ask, as you listen to the episode would you please follow the show on whichever platform you prefer to listen to podcasts on. If you consume video podcasts then subscribe to the podcast over on YouTube Music is your best choice and you can subscribe to receive notifications of future episodes. For audio, find and follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever else you listen, just search for Bad Decisions with Jim Banks.
7
Jan. 8, 2025

Secrets to Explosive Business Growth Revealed

Join us on this engaging episode of "Digital Marketing Strategies" as host Jim Banks sits down with digital marketing expert, John Lawson. Discover how John's fascination with technology took him from selling Elton John tickets on eBay to pioneering the use of AI in business. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone eager to leverage digital marketing and technology to transform their personal and professional lives. Kick Ass Social Commerce for E-preneurs John Lawson ...
6
Jan. 1, 2025

Google Expert Reveals SEO Secrets You Need To Know Now

Join Jim Banks as he sits down with SEO expert Kaspar Szymanski to discuss how bad decisions and outdated practices can impact your site's performance. Learn how to avoid common SEO pitfalls and optimize your strategies for success. Disavow files and managing harmful links Importance and methods of regular SEO audits The role of AI in SEO and managing its recommendations SEO contingency planning and diversifying traffic sources Impact of poor website optimization on user experience Be sur...
5
Dec. 4, 2024

AVOID These DEADLY Digital Marketing Mistakes

Today, we're joined by Kevin Gibbons, the founder of Re:signal, who shares his journey through the ups and downs of the search industry, from SEO consulting to handling major brand transitions. We'll dive into Kevin's experiences with career changes, the challenges and pitfalls of the franchise model at Blueglass, and what he's learned from past failures. Jim Banks and Kevin also discuss the importance of purpose and value in their work, the evolution of remote work setups, and the significanc...
4
Nov. 20, 2024

Lessons from Digital Marketing Career Missteps

Today, we're breaking new ground with not one, but three incredible guests - Taryn Stoddard, Kali Ashford, and Sara Malo. All trailblazers in their own right, they share their unique experiences and insights from navigating the challenging waters of male-dominated industries. This episode explores the spectrum of their professional journeys. We'll touch on the importance of boundaries, the evolving dynamics of gender roles in the workplace, and how collective support has helped these women ca...
3
Nov. 13, 2024

AI, Google's Impact, and the Future of SEO Conferences

In this episode, Jim sits down with none other than Brett Tabke, the founder and CEO of Pubcon, a legendary figure in the world of SEO and digital marketing. We take a trip down memory lane, revisiting how Jim and Brett first met at Pubcon London in 2001, and the pivotal moments at the Citie of York pub that helped shape their enduring friendship. Brett shares his journey from the early days of informal gatherings discussing search engines to organizing Pubcon, a premier conference that's stay...
2
Oct. 16, 2024

Her Biggest Digital Marketing Fails

Big Click Co. - Search Engine Marketing - PPC Ads - Lisa Raehsler I have one small favour to ask, as you listen to the episode would you please follow the show on whichever platform you prefer to listen to podcasts on. If you consume video podcasts then subscribe to the podcast over on YouTube Music is your best choice and you can subscribe to receive notifications of future episodes. For audio, find and follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever else you listen, ju...
1
Sept. 25, 2024

From Stress To Flexibility - How Sarah Stemen Did It

Welcome back to another episode of "Bad Decisions with Jim Banks." After a brief summer hiatus, we’re diving right back into the thick of things with an exceptional guest, Sarah Stemen. Sarah, a seasoned marketing expert who recently transitioned into consulting, joins us to talk about the significant and impactful decisions she has made throughout her career and personal life. In this episode, Sarah reveals the lessons she learned from referring clients to larger agencies, the evolving...
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