Episodes

  • These Are the 3 First Marketing Hires You Should Make

    These Are the 3 First Marketing Hires You Should Make
    Nov 27 2025
    Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the three must-have marketing hires for 2026, why influencer marketing is shifting to micro creators, how data and analytics unlock real ROI, and why digital PR and citations matter in the AI search era. They also explore the rise of the vibe growth marketing manager, the changing expectations for modern marketers, the evolving CMO role, and the underrated power of email as a revenue engine. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Micro influencers drive massive ROI -Data clarity beats bigger budgets -Email remains the strongest profit lever CHAPTERS (0:00) Building a 2026 marketing team (01:02) Influencer hire essentials (02:24) Micro influencer ROI (04:20) Data and analytics hire (05:59) Digital PR importance (07:15) Vibe growth marketing manager (08:40) Skills modern marketers need (09:50) CMO role evolution (11:56) Email as revenue engine (14:34) Enterprise marketing strategy (15:59) Final marketing lessons 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!
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    18 mins
  • Why GEO Startups Are F**ked

    Why GEO Startups Are F**ked
    Nov 26 2025
    Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the surge of AI GEO startups, why funding far outpaces ARR, and how services still outperform SaaS. They compare Profound, AirOps, Peak AI, BrightEdge, Moz, and SEMrush while revealing why compounding, ownership, and real relationships matter more than hype. They also discuss bootstrapped billionaires, declining businesses, and the difference between real friends and transactional ones. Key takeaways: • AI GEO funding is outpacing proven revenue • Services outperform pure SaaS long term • Real relationships drive business success Chapters: (00:00) AI GEO startups funding (02:30) Services vs SaaS scaling (05:40) Bootstrapped billionaire examples (14:20) Compounding wealth mindset (17:30) Real vs transactional friends 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!
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    25 mins
  • If I Wanted Enterprise Leads From Podcasts I’d Sponsor These

    If I Wanted Enterprise Leads From Podcasts I’d Sponsor These
    Nov 25 2025
    For fast, affordable business insurance as low as $29/mo, go to http://nextinsurance.com/ms Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ever wonder which podcasts are worth sponsoring for serious business growth? Neil and Eric discuss how to get a podcast sponsor and generate enterprise leads for your business. They explore the nuances of podcast advertising and b2b lead generation, offering insights into podcast monetization and making money podcasting. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Enterprise leads from podcast sponsorships (04:47) Awards, judges, and RFP opportunities (07:16) Single Grain’s AI marketing pitch (09:05) AI stock analysis fails live (14:14) Semrush vs Ahrefs vs BrightEdge 𝗔bout the Channel Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and a Forbes Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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    19 mins
  • Why Elon, Bezos and US Generals Ban PowerPoint from Meetings

    Why Elon, Bezos and US Generals Ban PowerPoint from Meetings
    Nov 24 2025
    To get ad placements on premium websites, go to https://discover.taboola.com/ms In this episode, Neil and Eric break down why top leaders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and U.S. generals ban PowerPoint from critical meetings — and what to do instead. They unpack how six-page Amazon-style memos drive deeper thinking, when slides do make sense for all-hands or client presentations, and the hidden cost of lazy bullet-point culture. They also shift into personal branding, key-man risk, burnout, and how founders can scale beyond their own name while still using content to fuel enterprise growth. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Why leaders ban PowerPoint (01:00) Bezos memos vs slide decks (03:30) When slides actually make sense (06:30) Six-page memos and deep work (14:50) Personal brand, burnout, and scale 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and a Forbes Top 10 Marketer. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/
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    26 mins
  • Why Our Thoughts On Influencer Marketing For Ourselves Have Changed

    Why Our Thoughts On Influencer Marketing For Ourselves Have Changed
    Nov 20 2025
    Hosted by Neil Patel and Eric Siu, this Marketing School episode breaks down why their mindset on influencer marketing flipped, how they use influencer deals to fund rising content costs, and the real numbers behind their content budget. Key takeaways: -Use influencer deals strategically to offset growing content production costs -Treat your podcast like a B2B media asset and sell sponsorships directly -LLM SEO will reward real authority, not short term spammy tactics Chapters: (00:00) Why our influencer marketing stance changed (01:00) Using influencer deals to fund content (02:20) What we really spend on content teams (05:24) Turning a money losing podcast into profit (09:51) How marketers game ChatGPT and LLM rankings (12:10) Our blueprint to fix ChatGPT style algorithms (18:49) Final thoughts, lessons and next steps 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!
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    22 mins
  • Why is Organic Content So Expensive?

    Why is Organic Content So Expensive?
    Nov 19 2025
    Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the real cost of content teams, why agency work often disappoints, and how nearshore talent, data-driven charts, and intimate in-person events can drive far more B2B pipeline than vanity views. They walk through their content economics, research workflow, and event strategy for landing enterprise SEO. Key takeaways: Build lean B2B content teams that prioritize revenue, not just reach. Use data-driven charts and research workflows to attract high-LTV enterprise clients. Host intimate in-person events to unlock RFPs and multi-million dollar deals. Chapters:(00:00) Content costs explode to $250k (02:00) In-house content vs agencies (04:30) Data charts and research engine (06:10) Events outranking webinars for revenue (08:00) Intimate B2B executive hotel events (11:30) Speaking inside enterprise headquarters (16:00) Travel grind, jets and demand (18:40) Enterprise-focused content over vanity views (22:00) When paid talks don’t convert (28:30) Paying to speak at the right events (31:30) Executive programs and franchise deals (33:20) Find your best marketing channel
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    36 mins
  • Personal Brand vs Corporate Brand

    Personal Brand vs Corporate Brand
    Nov 18 2025
    Neil and Eric break down personal brand versus corporate brand. They discuss long term relationship building, when to invest during hard cycles, and why strong teams outlast founders. Packed with insights on scaling, branding, and navigating today’s AI-shaped marketing world, this episode offers real operator perspective without the fluff. Key Takeaways • Personal brand boosts early growth but limits long term scalability • Elite executive programs pay off through deep relationships • Strong teams reduce key man risk and enable real scale Chapters (00:00) Personal brand vs corporate brand (00:22) YPO and EO executive programs (01:00) MIT EO program learnings (01:43) Jason Cohen branding insight (02:30) WP Engine brand vs founder (03:13) NP Digital brand evolution (04:07) Investing during downturns (05:02) AI impact on agencies (05:31) A16Z media strategy (06:26) Founder networks and deal flow (07:21) Can A16Z thrive without founders (08:00) Building teams that outlast founders (09:01) Early careers of Andreessen and Horowitz (10:14) Netscape and Loudcloud history (10:40) Lessons from top operators (10:52) Outro
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    13 mins
  • 1 Millionaire vs Billionaire Mindset

    1 Millionaire vs Billionaire Mindset
    Nov 17 2025
    In this episode Neil and Eric dive into the “millionaire vs billionaire mindset” exploring how wealth strategies evolve as fortunes climb, and why billionaires aim for monopoly power and pricing control rather than just accumulation. Key takeaways: • Millionaires build, grow and often exit. • Deca-millionaires (tens of millions) may sell or bank for the next cycle. • Billionaires find an unfair competitive advantage, build pricing power, and scale forever. Chapters: (00:00) Millionaire vs billionaire mindset (01:00) Single-digit millionaire reactions (02:00) Deca-millionaire sell mindset (03:00) Billionaire monopoly strategy (05:00) Big tech competitive advantages (07:30) Why compounding beats selling (09:20) Purpose, identity and building (11:00) Closing thoughts
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    15 mins