🚀 Is SEO really dead — or just misunderstood in the age of AI?

In this episode of **Inside Marketing With MarketSurge**, host **Reed Hansen**, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with **Jan Watermann** — SEO and content marketing expert, growth strategist, and co-founder of **Pragmatic Business**.

Jan has been behind **millions in organic growth** for marketers, consultants, and agencies, and is known for blending time-tested SEO fundamentals with a modern, AI-powered lens. In this conversation, we break down what SEO actually looks like in 2025 and beyond — factoring in Google’s evolving algorithms, AI-driven search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and the growing importance of trust, relevance, and systems over shortcuts.

Jan also shares his unconventional journey — from leaving school early and moving across the world with almost nothing, to building scalable growth systems that help businesses escape referral-only growth and short-term gigs.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why SEO is not dead — and why it’s more important than ever
• How AI is changing how people search and consume information
• What modern SEO prioritizes instead of keyword stuffing
• Why trust, authority, and digital PR matter in AI-powered search
• How freelancers can transition into scalable, productized businesses
• The psychology behind content that ranks *and* converts
• Why systems beat hacks for long-term organic growth

If you’re a founder, marketer, consultant, or agency owner navigating SEO in an AI-driven world, this episode delivers clarity and practical insight you can actually apply.

👇 Connect with Jan & Pragmatic Business:
🔗 Pragmatic Business: [https://pragmaticbusiness.com](https://pragmaticbusiness.com)

📍 About the Show
Welcome to **Inside Marketing With MarketSurge** — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas, real-world strategies, and unfiltered conversations shaping modern marketing.

Hosted by **Reed Hansen**, a digital marketing veteran who’s helped scale startups to Fortune 500 brands, this podcast breaks down what’s *actually working* in marketing today — without the fluff.

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see MarketSurge in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
[https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee](https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee)

🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: [https://marketsurge.io](https://marketsurge.io)
📘 Facebook Page: [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654)
💼 LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio](https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio)
🐦 X / Twitter: [https://x.com/marketsurging](https://x.com/marketsurging)
🎙️ Podcast: [https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/](https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/)

Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

🚀 Ready to see how AI is actually transforming performance marketing?

In this episode of Inside Marketing With MarketSurge, host Reed Hansen sits down with Hikari Senju, Founder & CEO of Omneky, an AI-powered creative platform helping brands generate, analyze, and optimize ad creative at scale.

Hikari is a trained computer scientist turned entrepreneur with a mission to bridge the gap between generative AI and measurable marketing performance. Under his leadership, Omneky has helped brands unlock higher ROAS by turning machine creativity into real business results — without sacrificing brand safety or strategy.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:
• Why traditional creative workflows are broken
• How AI-powered creative pipelines outperform “gut-feel” marketing
• The real truth about AI replacing designers (and why it won’t)
• How performance data should guide creative — not the other way around
• Why creative volume is now the #1 driver of ad performance
• The AI “creative feedback loop” every modern marketing team needs
• How generative AI adapts across cultures, platforms, and industries

If you’re a marketer, founder, or growth leader trying to scale paid media without burning budget — this episode is a must-watch.

👇 Connect with Hikari & Omneky:
🔗 Omneky Website: http://www.omneky.com
🔗 Hikari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikari-senju-63780199/

📍 About the Show
Welcome to Inside Marketing With MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game.

Hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this podcast breaks down what’s actually working in marketing today — from AI and automation to performance strategy and growth systems.

🌐 Learn more about MarketSurge: https://marketsurge.io
🎯 Want to see how MarketSurge helps businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder?
👉 Book a strategy demo: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Ed Jarecki, a seasoned business growth coach, leadership advisor, and COO, to unpack what it really takes to scale a business without burning out your team—or yourself.

This isn’t fluffy “feel-good” leadership talk. Ed brings real-world experience from the operator’s seat, sharing how founders and executives can:

Build teams that actually execute

Lead with clarity during growth and chaos

Create systems that support scale instead of slowing it down

Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or growth-minded leader, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The biggest leadership mistakes that quietly stall growth
• How operators think differently than founders (and why you need both)
• Systems, structure, and decision-making frameworks that scale
• Why clarity beats hustle every single time

👤 About the Guest:

Ed Jarecki is a business growth coach, leadership advisor, and COO who works closely with founders and executive teams to align strategy, execution, and leadership.

📧 Connect with Ed:
Email: ed@jarecki.com

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation and strategy that performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see what MarketSurge can do for your business?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

How Top Leaders Land Roles Without Job Boards | Strategic Networking with Penny Pearl

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Penny Pearl, Founder & CEO of 2Actify, executive career strategist, and trusted advisor to technology leaders and PhD scientists navigating high-stakes career transitions.

With over a decade of experience guiding high performers into roles that truly fit, Penny breaks down why traditional job searching is broken — and what actually works instead.

This conversation goes deep on strategic networking, personal branding, and value proposition clarity, with practical frameworks you can use immediately — whether you’re an executive, emerging leader, or highly specialized professional.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why 85% of your job search should be networking, not applying online
• How to articulate your value proposition so others can advocate for you
• The role of behavioral science, nudge theory, and social proof in career growth
• How to uncover hidden job opportunities that never hit job boards
• Why AI shouldn’t replace human connection — and how to use it wisely
• How Penny helps clients land multiple offers in as little as 90 days
• How to measure ROI on yourself during a career transition

👉 Key Highlights:

✅ Strategic Networking – How to lead conversations that create outcomes
✅ Value Proposition Frameworks – Turn your experience into a repeatable story
✅ Hidden Job Market – Reach decision-makers before roles are posted
✅ Career ROI – Track progress, milestones, and confidence growth
✅ Executive Confidence – Learn how to “lead yourself” through transition

🧠 About Penny Pearl

Penny Pearl is the Founder & CEO of 2Actify and an executive career strategist who helps technology leaders and PhD scientists clarify their value, unlock hidden opportunities, and land roles that light them up. Her work blends behavioral science, strategic networking, and personal branding into a repeatable system clients use for the rest of their careers.

🔗 Connect with Penny:

📧 Email: penny@2actify.com

🌐 Website: https://2actify.com

📞 Free Discovery Call: Available via email (no pressure, real strategy)

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn strategy into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want smarter marketing, better positioning, and results that compound, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see what’s working right now?
🎯 Book your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

#strategicnetworking #leadershipcareers #executivejobs
#careergrowth #networkingtips #hiddenjobmarket #leadershipdevelopment #careersuccess #jobsearchstrategy #professionalnetworking #personalbranding #businessleadership #careerpodcast #thoughtleadership #careeradvice

Today’s guest is someone who’s rewriting the rules for brand growth in one of the most misunderstood — and overlooked — corners of the internet: Reddit.

Meet Danny Kirk, founder of ReddiReach, the bootstrapped agency that’s helped 500+ brands grow organically on Reddit while also future-proofing their visibility across AI search platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.

Danny isn’t just “doing Reddit.”
He’s engineering how brands show up in the age of AI — through what he calls Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — and turning niche community discussions into real-world business results.

If you've ever wondered:

🔥 Why Reddit is one of the most powerful — yet ignored — channels in digital marketing
🔥 How AI search is reshaping visibility and what brands must do now
🔥 Why deep niche engagement beats “reach everyone” marketing
🔥 How Danny quietly built multiple 7-figure companies with zero outside funding

…this conversation is going to hit you like discovering your competitor has been dominating subreddits for years.

Let’s dive in.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Reddit as a Marketing Weapon — Why brands fear it… and why that fear is costing them growth
• The Rise of AI Search — How AI scrapes Reddit and why GEO matters more than SEO ever has
• Comment-Level Influence — The hidden layer of human interaction that AI ranks first
• Ethical Reddit Marketing — Why honesty, rules, and community ethos are the real growth hacks
• Finding Your Thousand True Fans — Deep vs. broad marketing and what actually scales
• Building High-Focus Companies — Danny’s lessons from multiple successful exits
• The Future of Community-Led Visibility — And why being early to AI search matters today
• Tools That Matter — Including Danny’s favorite new edge: Peekaboo for AI search rankings

🔗 Connect With Danny

🌐 ReddiReach: https://reddireach.com

🔗 Danny’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpkirk/

🎯 Want MarketSurge-Style Growth?

If you’re ready to scale smarter, louder, and with actual leverage — let’s talk.
👉 Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q

🎯 Book Your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

📢 SurgeCast Guest Placement: https://marketsurge.io/surgecast

In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Nisha Trivedi, one of the top-ranked MBA admissions consultants at MBA Mission, a LinkedIn Learning author, and a leading voice in business etiquette and professional communication.

In a world dominated by hustle, automation, and speed, this conversation zooms in on what many businesses overlook — the art of communication, etiquette, and authentic storytelling — and how mastering these skills can elevate your career, personal brand, and leadership presence.

Nisha has been featured in Poets & Quants, Bloomberg, and the Los Angeles Times, and she helps professionals and organizations communicate with clarity, civility, and confidence. Together, Reed and Nisha explore how strong brands and strong leaders earn trust — not through hype, but through intentional communication.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What a personal brand really is (and what it’s not)
• How authenticity plays a critical role in storytelling and leadership
• Why vulnerability makes stories more persuasive — not weaker
• How professionals can balance credibility with relatability
• The role storytelling plays in MBA admissions and career growth
• How business etiquette impacts trust, collaboration, and culture
• Common communication mistakes professionals make (and how to fix them)
• Why channel choice (email vs. phone vs. meeting) matters more than you think
• How etiquette and clarity reduce conflict and improve workplace dynamics

🎯 Key Topics Covered

✅ Personal Branding — Defining the essence of who you are (and who you’re not)
✅ Storytelling Frameworks — Turning experiences into authentic narratives
✅ Vulnerability & Trust — Why perfect stories don’t persuade
✅ MBA Admissions Insights — What decision-makers really look for
✅ Business Etiquette — Practical rules for modern professional interactions
✅ Leadership Communication — How clarity and civility elevate influence

👤 About Our Guest: Nisha Trivedi

Nisha Trivedi is a Senior Consultant at MBA Mission, where she helps applicants craft compelling, authentic stories for top MBA and graduate programs. She is also a business etiquette trainer, LinkedIn Learning author, and thought leader focused on helping professionals navigate modern workplace interactions with confidence and grace.

Her LinkedIn Learning courses include:
• Business Etiquette for the Modern Workplace
• Business Etiquette for Gen Z
• Social Cues No One Teaches You

🔗 Connect with Nisha Trivedi

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishatrivedi/
🌐 MBA Mission: https://www.mbamission.com
🎓 LinkedIn Learning: Search “Nisha Trivedi” on LinkedIn Learning
🧠 Business Etiquette Training: https://ntbusetiquette.com

🚀 About MarketSurge

At MarketSurge, we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder by turning marketing tools into systems — and systems into predictable growth.

If you’re tired of guessing and want automation that performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

🎯 Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share — and drop a comment below with your biggest takeaway.

#InsideMarketing #BusinessEtiquette #Storytelling #PersonalBrand #LeadershipDevelopment #MarketingStrategy #MarketSurge

In today’s episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed sits down with Paul Leon — the powerhouse sales enablement trainer who’s transformed 500+ companies, influenced $100M+ in revenue, and built one of Apple’s Top 50 Management Podcasts, The Manager’s Mic.

Paul went from self-described college dropout who never saw himself in corporate to MBA candidate, elite sales trainer, podcaster, and communication strategist. With a 4.9/5 workshop satisfaction score and a teaching style that blends psychology, sales science, and comedy, Paul shows teams how to communicate clearly, lead confidently, and close more business.

This episode gets into why most companies have a broken sales process, how marketing and sales value props drift out of alignment, and how teams can fix all of it through clarity, structure, and volume.

If you sell, lead, or market anything — this one is a masterclass.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why most sales teams struggle with communication
• The real reason your sales and marketing value props don’t match
• How to craft a punchline-level value proposition buyers instantly “get”
• The psychology behind how vs. why loops in sales & marketing
• Why objections and obstacles are NOT the same thing
• How to rewrite your scripts for clarity and confidence
• Why volume + momentum matter more than “perfecting” your pitch
• How Paul built a Top 50 podcast through grit, repetition, and consistency

🎯 Key Highlights:

✅ Value Proposition Mastery — Why your entire sales process breaks without a clear, shared value prop
✅ How/Why Loops — The simplest explanation you’ve ever heard on marketing vs. sales psychology
✅ Obstacles vs. Objections — And why confusing the two kills deals
✅ Volume Creates Confidence — Why most salespeople don’t do enough reps to improve
✅ Paul’s Story — From toxic corporate experiences to becoming a premier sales trainer

🔗 Connect With Paul Leon

🌐 Website: https://www.themanagersmic.com

📧 Email: paul@themanagersmic.com

🎙 Podcast: The Manager’s Mic (Apple Top 50)
🔗 LinkedIn: (add link if you’d like me to include it)

🧠 Want to level up your marketing + sales systems?

At MarketSurge, we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.
If you're tired of guessing and want automation that performs like a team of 10…

🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Useful Links

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

Inside Marketing with MarketSurge welcomes Jeff Greenfield — a 3x founder, analytics pioneer, and CEO/co-founder of Prova (getprova.com). If you’ve ever wondered why your marketing data says one thing while your financials scream something else, this episode is your intervention.

Jeff has been fixing attribution chaos for decades — building companies that pioneered multi-touch attribution, created viewability standards, and cracked privacy-safe measurement long before the industry caught up.

Today, he's on a mission to solve the biggest existential crisis in marketing:

👉 There is no single source of truth — and it's costing brands millions.

We unpack:

Why Google, Meta, Amazon, Hulu all claim credit for the same sale

What probabilistic, AI-powered attribution actually looks like

How consumer behavior has shifted into apps + marketplaces

Why the future of search may live inside ChatGPT

What marketers MUST do now to keep up with the next data revolution

👉 Learn more about Prova: https://getprova.com

👉 Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/

📌 Episode Highlights

00:00 — Why marketing data rarely matches financial reality
04:32 — The “six vendors, one sale” problem
09:10 — Multi-touch attribution explained in simple language
13:55 — Why GA4, Meta, and Google all disagree
17:40 — How Prova uses AI without relying on LLMs
25:10 — Walled gardens, clean rooms, and the new fragmented internet
34:20 — The rise of ChatGPT-based shopping
40:00 — How marketers should prepare for the next 3–5 years
45:55 — Where to find Jeff + free attribution certification

🚀 STAY CONNECTED WITH MARKETSURGE

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 Twitter (X): https://x.com/marketsurging

📅 Book Your Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw