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Mentorship and representation transforms careers - this truth echoes throughout our conversations with leading SEO professionals in the first installment of our two-part "Best of SEO" episode series.

From personal journeys to strategies for tackling the various technical aspects of SEO, our expert guests reveal how adaptable and human-centered SEO truly is.

As they explore how AI is revolutionizing search, these conversations emphasize the importance of trust and reliability in the field, especially at pivotal career moments.

Episode Highlights:

• Nine SEO industry leaders share personal stories about how mentorship and representation have significantly shaped their SEO careers.
• Guests discuss the importance of authentic self-expression, visibility, curiosity, and the willingness to learn from mistakes can inspire others in the SEO community.
• These SEO experts emphasize that effective SEO strategies are highly tailored to client needs, from technical SEO for large e-commerce sites to content-driven approaches for news outlets.
• The conversation explores how AI is transforming search, emphasizing the ongoing importance of trust, reliability, and innovative algorithms in the evolving landscape.

Episode Links:

🔗 Martha Van Berkel

🔗 Batli Joselevitz

🔗Mike King

🔗Sarah Presch

🔗Fay Friedman

🔗Mordy Oberstein

🔗Chris Long

🔗Wil Reynolds

🔗Britney Muller

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 sits down with LinkedIn Ads expert AJ Wilcox to dive into his marketing journey, his views on mentorship, and his laser-sharp insights into B2B advertising on LinkedIn.

AJ shares how a passion for teaching and authentic connection laid the foundation for B2Linked, an industry-leading agency for LinkedIn Ads.

He discusses the power of mentorship, from hiking with his boss’s boss to mentoring rising marketers in Utah, and shares the advertising strategies that generate real ROI.

Episode Highlights:

• AJ explains why he left SEO and Google Ads behind to become a LinkedIn Ads specialist focused on high-quality B2B leads.
• He shares how weekly mentorship hikes evolved into a career-boosting tradition for local digital marketers.
• Learn the essential elements of effective LinkedIn targeting and why deeper funnel strategies outperform surface metrics.
• Discover the benefits of combining mentorship with marketing expertise—AJ shares his advice for building both.
• AJ compares native LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms vs. landing pages, and how to pick the right tool for your campaign goals.

Episode Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: AJ Wilcox
🔗 B2Linked Agency
🎙️ The LinkedIn Ads Show Podcast

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 of The Digital Marketing Mentor, Danny speaks with Chaya Glatt, a brand strategist and the founder of Brand Authority, about her journey from special education to branding and marketing.

Chaya shares her thoughts on branding as a solution rather than just a service, offering insights into how businesses can use branding to solve real problems.

The discussion touches on the importance of having a strong foundation in brand strategy and the dedication to gaining a deeper understanding of what branding can do for business growth.

She also gives an honest take on parenting and building a successful career in digital marketing as a working mom.

Episode Highlights:

• Chaya shares how her unexpected journey from special education to branding led to her successful career in brand strategy.
• The discussion makes an argument for branding as a solution to business problems, defines it as more than just logos and visuals, and highlights the importance of creating messages that resonate with customers’ true needs.
• Chaya shares actionable advice for startups and small businesses, placing emphasis on the importance of clear messaging and focus on client outreach before worrying about complex branding.
• She discusses the role of AI in branding and explains how it can assist with execution but will never replace the human-driven strategy behind strong brand development.
• Chaya encourages women to embrace their value and lean into the perspective and strengths that come with being a working mom.

Episode Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: /in/chayaglatt
🔗 Website: Chaya Glatt

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 welcomes Sara Strickland, a former full-time NICU nurse turned paid search coordinator at Optidge. Sara shares her powerful journey of transitioning from saving lives in hospitals to optimizing Google Ads campaigns.

She discusses the transferable skills from nursing—like pattern recognition and empathy—that have made her a natural in PPC. Along the way, she’s found guidance from mentors (including her sister) and now mentors others through team training and client relationships.

This conversation is packed with advice for anyone considering a leap into digital marketing from a non-traditional background.

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:

• Sara shares her inspiring journey from NICU nursing to digital marketing and the transferable skills that helped her thrive.
• She emphasizes the importance of mentorship in building confidence, particularly learning from her sister and colleagues.
• Sara explains how teaching others has helped solidify her own PPC knowledge and build client trust.
• Her advice to others considering a career pivot: test the waters, find a supportive environment, and always ask questions.
• Listeners gain a unique perspective on how empathy and structure from healthcare can enhance marketing strategy.

Episode Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: Sara Strickland
📸 Instagram: @sarahreinhold1
🔗 Meet the Optidge Team

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 sits down with Susan Yen, a digital marketing expert with over seven years of experience in Pay-per-Click (PPC).

Together, they discuss Susan’s journey from her communications background to a career in paid search, her views on mentorship, and how diversity plays a crucial role in marketing.

Susan talks about her experiences working in agency and in-house settings, the difficulties small businesses have with PPC, and how artificial intelligence is changing the sector.

Episode Highlights:

• Susan shares her journey from struggling with traditional schooling to discovering her passion for marketing, detailing pivotal moments that led her to specialize in PPC.
• She highlights the importance of mentorship, crediting Navah Hopkins and Mark Irvine for encouraging her to speak at conferences and step out of her comfort zone.
• Susan discusses the common challenges local businesses face with PPC, stressing the importance of investing in digital marketing and understanding its potential for business growth.
• With a focus on diversity, Susan explains how companies can genuinely support diverse voices, going beyond tokenism to create meaningful change.
• As AI evolves in PPC, Susan emphasizes the need to balance technological tools with human creativity to maintain authenticity in marketing.

Episode Links:

🔗 Instagram: @theyengirl
🔗 LinkedIn: /in/susanyen
🔗 LinkedIn: SearchLab Digital

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 dissects the intricacies of paid advertising with Grace Glass, Paid Social Media Strategist at Optidge. She shares her expertise in balancing creative and strategic elements to build high-performing campaigns, especially for beginners. Tune in to gain valuable insights on ad budget allocation, testing methodologies, campaign optimization, segmentation strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid for beginners.

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:

• Grace explains the difference between paid and organic social – emphasizing that paid social is necessary due to declining organic reach.
• This episode with Grace takes a closer look at why Meta is the best platform for beginners to start paid social due to its diverse audience targeting capabilities.
• In Grace’s opinion, creative elements are one of the most crucial factors in ad performance as platforms increasingly automate audience targeting.
• She urges businesses to focus on conversions and cost-efficiency rather than vanity metrics like clicks.
• The episode shares through discussion and examples how regularly testing and optimizing ad creatives, audience segments, and budgets is key to a successful paid social campaign.

Episode Links:

🔗 Website: About Optidge
🔗 LinkedIn: /in/graceglass/

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 speaks with Jyll Saskin Gales, a Google Ads coach and former Google employee, about her journey from studying psychology to becoming a leader in digital advertising.

Join us as Jyll shares insights on her time at Google, how she transitioned to consulting, and her approach to coaching and mentorship. She discusses personal branding, content creation, and the importance of audience segmentation in Google Ads.

Jyll's experience offers helpful advice on optimizing ad effectiveness and business growth, applicable regardless of your level of experience with digital marketing.

Episode Highlights:

• Jyll shares her journey from psychology to Google Ads mastery along with the importance of mentorship and strategic learning.
• She discusses the key differences between coaching and mentorship and how both play a role in personal and professional growth.
• Jyll dives into the immense value of niching down in marketing and how specificity in audience segmentation leads to stronger connections and business success.
• A firm belief Jyll has for businesses getting started in paid advertising, is to focus on establishing a solid organic marketing foundation to validate messaging.
• Her upcoming book, Inside Google Ads: Everything You Need to Know About Audience Targeting, explores the changes in audience segmentation and advertising.

Episode Links:

🔗 Website: jyll.ca
🔗 LinkedIn: /in/jyllsaskingales
📖 Upcoming Book: Inside Google Ads: Audience Targeting Mastery

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

This episode of the Digital Marketing Mentor features Ameet Khabra, founder of Hopskip Media, who shares her unconventional journey from studying business administration to an unexpected stint in audio engineering, leading her to become a prominent figure in the PPC space. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship through nurturing community and personal passions, as well as dissects the role of AI and the value of asking the right questions. In this uplifting episode, Ameet’s story serves as an inspiration for aspiring digital marketers, showcasing the power of curiosity, community, and confidence in navigating the complexities of the industry.

Episode Highlights:

• Ameet shares her transition from business administration to marketing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where her exposure to email marketing and Google Ads sparked her interest in the field and her belief in the importance of curiosity and asking questions to unlock professional opportunities.
• She describes mentorship as a guiding relationship that fosters critical thinking and transparency, recounting experiences with mentors like Julie Friedman, Brian Smith, and Idras Fashan, to showcase how they’ve helped to broaden her perspective.
• Ameet advocates for authenticity both in her personal relationships and her online presence, noting how her experience sharing personal stories and challenges has helped to position her as a reliable and relatable mentor and leader.
• Ameet and some of her latest research comparing human versus AI-generated copy reveals the significance of emotional context in effective marketing, advising caution regarding the implications of using AI in the advertising space.
• She encourages listeners to get involved in supportive online communities, crediting her early involvement in the Google Partner community for her proactive learning and networking opportunities.

Episode Links:

• Follow Ameet on Social Media:
  • Instagram: @adwordsgirl
  • LinkedIn

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.