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In this deeply human episode, Optidge’s own HR Manager, Sarah Cuesta, joins Danny Gavin to explore what AI can’t do: lead with empathy, resolve team conflict, or build psychological safety.

Drawing from her unique path from clinical hypnotherapy to people operations, Sarah unpacks how trust, structure, and culture fuel successful teams, especially in remote environments.

Whether you’re managing a team or just part of one, this is your blueprint for building stronger human connections in the age of tech.

An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode:

Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!

Episode Highlights:

• Sarah, HR strategist and former clinical hypnotherapist, emphasizes the importance of trust, clear communication, and intentional leadership to foster team success, especially in remote work settings.
• She shares why even the smartest AI and most sophisticated tools can’t replace empathy, feedback, conflict resolutions, or human trust in teams.
• In her opinion, effective remote leadership requires proactive management, empathy, and regular check-ins to ensure understanding, engagement, and a strong team culture.
• She advocates for structured team onboarding, safe communication practices, and maintaining rhythm through consistent touchpoints to build trust and clarity.
• Sarah sheds light on Optidge core values in action, sharing how Optidge executes on mentorship, communication, and excellence.

Episode Links:

• Sarah Cuesta-Dawson on LinkedIn
• Thrivetastic Business Services

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

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Before he was building ad campaigns, Jack Hepp was building houses. Now he runs Industrious Marketing, helping local businesses grow through hands-on paid media advertising strategy.

In this episode, Jack shares how getting fired early shaped his marketing career, discusses the mentors who sharpened his skills, and why clear pricing and clean strategy always win over smoke and mirrors, specifically in regard to local businesses and Google Local Services ads (LSAs).

Episode Highlights:

• Jack Hepp’s background in construction and mentorship shaped his approach to marketing, emphasizing responsibility, adaptability, and long-term thinking in paid media strategies.
• He advocates for a “listen first” approach in client interactions, and stresses the importance of honest, constructive feedback.
• Jack discusses the value of Local Service Ads (LSAs) for certain industries, but warns they should be complemented with traditional campaigns for consistent lead generation.
• He prefers transparent, tiered pricing models based on ad spend, and emphasizes that clear scope, reporting, and communication are essential for building trust and setting expectations with clients.

Episode Links:

• Jack Hepp on LinkedIn
• Industrious Marketing

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

Mohammad Anwar, President and CEO of Softway and Culture+, shares how embracing love, empathy, and honest, human-centric leadership transformed his approach to business and marketing.

From early culture shocks in both Saudi Arabia and rural Kansas, to guiding executives through challenges today, his story highlights how trust, storytelling, and people-first communication drive organizational success and personal growth.

This episode offers practical insights for leaders steering through change and technology-driven transformations, sharing conversation about themes discussed in his upcoming book, “Love as a Change Strategy,” which will be released later this month.

Episode Highlights:

• Growing up between cultures shaped Mohammad’s empathy, perspective, and openness as a leader.
• A Catholic boarding school experience in his younger days taught him to advocate for change and respect diverse traditions.
• Near-bankruptcy forced a personal reckoning, leading him to adopt love as a business strategy.
• The leadership philosophy of University of Houston’s Coach Tom Herman transformed Mohammad’s approach to culture and mentorship.
• Love and vulnerability are not abstract ideals, but measurable, actionable tools for change management.

Episode Links:

• Mohammad Anwar on LinkedIn
• Softway
  Culture+
  Love as a Business Strategy (podcast
• Love as a Business Strategy (book)
• Love as a Change Strategy (NEW book, available this month!)

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

In this solo Office Hours episode, Optidge founder Danny Gavin dives into how generative AI is radically reshaping how we search, discover, and measure online visibility.

From the shift away from rankings to the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Danny breaks down what marketers need to know now, and how to stay visible and relevant in a world where ChatGPT might answer before Google does.

An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode

Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!

Episode Highlights:

• Danny details the timeline of AI search, sharing how the evolution of tools is transforming SEO, shifting focus from traditional rankings to being cited, summarized, and trusted in AI responses.
• To succeed in the AI era, Danny suggests brands focus on visibility, establishing authority through original content, and structuring websites for AI readability.
• He shares that traditional SEO metrics are becoming less reliable, and that the emphasis should be on inclusion rate and monitoring brand reputation
• Danny gives examples to explain how your website and online presence serve as signals for AI, making it crucial to audit, optimize, and build brand authority to stay relevant.

Episode Links:

• Optidge Website
• Danny Gavin on LinkedIn
• Follow @Optidge on Instagram and Twitter

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

Michelle Miller’s career path is anything but ordinary, which is exactly what makes it so relatable.

From switching colleges to launching a strategic marketing agency, Michelle has built a career on sustainable growth, cross-functional alignment, and no-nonsense mentorship.

In this episode, she joins Danny Gavin to unpack the real challenges (and surprising rewards) of marketing technical products, mentoring young professionals, and thriving in male-dominated, B2B industries. It’s a conversation grounded in experience with lessons for every level of marketer, agency leader, or business builder.

Episode Highlights:

• Discover Michelle’s approach to mentoring with empathy, balancing encouragement with real-world advice.
• Michelle shares her entrepreneurial growth journey from solo consultant to scaling agency founder, as well as her experience working in traditionally male-dominated industries.
• Michelle defines B2B marketing as every interaction that builds toward a purchase, not just the campaigns.
• Hear how a 48-hour hurricane-response launch proved the power of balancing strategy and speed.
• Learn why Michelle prioritizes cross-functional buy-in and long-term content planning over quick hits.

Episode Links:

• Michelle Miller on LinkedIn
• Creativate

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

What started as a frustrated student’s question turns into two powerful interviews about the chaos of modern marketing job descriptions.

Danny Gavin sits down with PPC experts Navah Hopkins and Sarah Stemen to expose the gap between what companies want and what one human can realistically do, especially at a part-time salary.

From overloaded listings to mental burnout, this episode is packed with practical hiring tips, career strategies, and real talk for both marketers and employers. Whether you’re hiring, job hunting, or redefining roles within your team, these conversations offer essential clarity.

Episode Highlights:

• Through candid conversations with PPC experts, Navah Hopkins and Sarah Stemen, this episode exposes the major flaws that exist in the marketing job market - from unrealistic expectations to compensation disparities.
• Navah believes overloaded job descriptions are fueled by a lack of understanding from employers on time requirements, as well as AI tools that can pad the posting with unrealistic responsibilities.
• Navah encourages job seekers to promote all avenues of experience, offers interview tips, and gives a few red flags to look out for during the process.
• Through discussion of the complexity of PPC, Sarah details the many strategic skills required that may be overlooked or misunderstood by employers.m
• Due to the capacity required for effective marketing efforts, Sarah suggests that businesses should consult with an agency the help set goals and define their needs.

Episode Links:

• Navah Hopkins on LinkedIn
• Sarah Stemen on LinkedIn
• Episode 041: English, Ethics, Education, and Encouragement in Paid Search with Navah Hopkins
• Episode 053: Effective Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurial Endeavors with Sarah Stemen

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

What do soccer sidelines, mommy blogs, and multi-million-dollar influencer campaigns have in common? Paula Bruno. In this mini episode, Danny Gavin sits down with the founder of Intuition Media Group to explore how influencer marketing has evolved from the early blogosphere into today’s creator-first economy.

With nearly 25 years in branding, Paula brings a strategic, practical, and deeply human perspective to working with creators. From why listening is more powerful than posting, to how brands should actually approach metrics, Paula breaks down the future of social-first marketing—and why you don’t DM creators unless you know their dog’s name.

Episode Highlights:

• Paula shares how influencer marketing evolved from mom blogs to multi-platform campaigns across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
• She shares why most brands focus on the wrong KPIs and what metrics actually signal influencer success.
• Learn how she personalizes creator outreach and builds long-term relationships, not one-time transactions.
• Hear why superfans outweigh scale, and how smaller creators can outperform massive influencers.
• Paula’s key advice is to get real about AI, authenticity, and building co-branded products that actually sell.

Episode Links:

• Paula Bruno on LinkedIn
• Intuition Marketing Group

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.

Send us a text

In this episode, Danny chats with Santi Schamberger, passionate and dedicated web developer at Optidge.

They dive into the foundational elements of successful websites, the evolution of WordPress, and why UX matters more than flashy design.

Santi opens up about his self-taught journey, agency life, and how real impact comes from aligning websites with actual business goals. This episode provides a roadmap for creating digital experiences that not only look professional but actually drive business results.

An Optidge "Office Hours" Episode

Our Office Hours episodes are your go-to for details, how-to’s, and advice on specific marketing topics. Join our fellow Optidge team members, and sometimes even 1:1 teachings from Danny himself, in these shorter, marketing-focused episodes every few weeks. Get ready to get marketing!

Episode Highlights:

• Santi breaks down why good, optimized websites convert — and pretty ones often don’t.
• He shares how learning SEO, design, and development together creates a complete skill set for developers and his tips along his self-taught journey in web development.
• Discover through Santi’s experience why collaboration between designers and developers is key in preventing digital disasters.
• Learn how WordPress, Elementor, and Hello Theme make life easier for devs and clients.
• A 30% lift in conversions? Santi proves data-led redesigns actually work.

Episode Links:

🔗 Santi’s LinkedIn
🔗 Optidge Web Development Services

Follow The Digital Marketing Mentor:

• Website and Blog: thedmmentor.com
• Instagram: @thedmmentor
• Linkedin: @thedmmentor
• YouTube: @thedmmentor

Interested in Digital Marketing Services, Careers, or Courses? Check out more from the TDMM Family:

• Optidge.com - Full Service Digital Marketing Agency specializing in SEO, PPC, Paid Social, and Lead Generation efforts for established B2C and B2B businesses and organizations.
• ODEOacademy.com - Digital Marketing online education and course platform. ODEO gives you solid digital marketing knowledge to launch/boost your career or understand your business’s digital marketing strategy.