We break down the biggest small business marketing trends for 2026 and the practical ways we can use AI, automation, local SEO, and short form video without hiring a big team. We also explain how Metro Trading Association lets us test modern marketing with trade dollars instead of draining cash.
• AI-driven personalization that increases engagement and repeat business
• using trade dollars to get AI consulting, automation setup, and content creation
• why 2026 Google searches are more problem-based and local
• local SEO that targets real questions with proof like reviews and case studies
• turning summer search trends into experience-based offers and promos
• a four-step playbook: research trends, pick three tests, find providers on the exchange, run one 30-day experiment
Send me a quick message with AI Maxing, Marketing26, or SummerMaxing, and I'll connect you with real members and vendors on the exchange who can help you implement this stuff.
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Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
📧 durracellmusic@gmail.com
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

I’m trying to stop the endless cycle of hiring, training, and turnover by leaning into AI-driven outreach instead of adding another sales rep. I walk through what I’m testing with Apollo.io, what went wrong on my first run, and how I’m rebuilding my lead list and email sequence to reach real local decision makers.
• why staffing flakiness makes owners do every job at once
• choosing automation over hiring for trade and barter education-heavy sales
• what Apollo.io does well and where it fails for hyperlocal businesses
• pulling local leads with ReferenceUSA and filtering for the right companies
• uploading CSVs, running enrichment, and avoiding wasted credits
• building a three-email sequence that boosts legitimacy with a local ad and podcast
• early results after fixing the setup and targeting decision makers
Hit me up if you’d like some tickets here soon when they when they open up.
You can just apply yourself online if you want to.

Send us Fan Mail

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
📧 durracellmusic@gmail.com
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We share a real-world update on shifting from trying to hire sales reps to testing an AI agent for cold outreach and sales prospecting. We walk through what we have set up so far, what is already working, and what still feels messy as we try to scale follow-up without sounding like a robot.
• why hiring sales reps stalls when applicants ghost interviews
• using Apollo AI to run consistent cold email sequences
• early outreach results, replies, and open-rate expectations
• integrating automated outreach with our proprietary CRM
• finding warm leads outside Metro Detroit using online signals
• staying under spam thresholds with sensible daily volume
• adding phone calls, LinkedIn touches, and the “six to seven touches” idea
• risks and cautions around cold texting and compliance
• spotting AI-script “voice” and keeping messages human
Feel free to reach out and I’ll give you my, you know, two cents on it or whatever how I feel

Send us Fan Mail

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
📧 durracellmusic@gmail.com
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.