Mike Forgie, Local Marketing Specialist

Digital Marketing Specialist

Next Step Connect

Next Step Connect has a sole purpose: connect you to your audience. 
We use paid and organic Ad Strategies to deliver you qualified prospects for easier sales.

Owner

Hey! If you need a marketing strategy for better search engine results or social media exposure, it is time we talk.

Need help getting your business exposure online? I can help you with SEO, Google/Facebook/Instagram ads, and more!

My main clients include:
Agencies that need SEO and social media strategies developed and performed.
Experiential markets such as yacht rentals, supercar/exotic auto drives, helicopter tours, and more. For many of these markets, I can provide photo and video services.
Any company that needs local clients such a wedding equipment (tent, chair, table, etc) rental, contractors, construction equipment rental, medical practices, and more.

Marketing Strategist

M studio Design & Marketing

M studio is an amazing branding, marketing, design and communications agency. Their assets such a Public Relatiosn assists perfectly in the target marketing needed for effective off-page SEO. As for on-page SEO, I work with designers and developers to create websites that will perform on both search engines and as lead generating vehicles

SEO Specialist

PCG Digital Marketing

I started as a Content Writer and quickly moved my way up the ranks at PCG resulting in a Digital Marketing Specialist position. 
One of my main duties at PCG was to create a user journey throughout our new website in order to capture leads. Each page on the site was optimized for specific keywords, whether general or long-tail.

Evolution

I managed the Public Relations/Marketing team of four to reach target markets, developed promotional campaigns to increase search engine optimization and social media awareness, and organized the creation of copyright materials such as press releases, blog posts, and print/online advertisements.

Public Relations/Marketing Manager

Artist Arena

My duties as a freelance apprentice were to administer fan club websites for top pop bands (e.g. Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Green Day), organize and disperse promotional material, and promote the fan clubs.

Freelance

EMI Music Publishing

For college credit I interned for EMI Group, mainly Virgin and Capitol Records, in New York. Here I learned how to read Nielson Soundscan reports, develop and analyze press packets for musicians like Katy Perry, and analyze albums to match with products and/or organizations.

Intern

Excess dB Entertainment

As a member of the street team I handed out promotion materials, performed stagehand work, was the liaison for guests and artists, catered to artists, and attended events at least once a week.

Street Team

Helping Local Service Businesses Get Found and Get Sales — Not Just Clicks. | Google Maps, SEO, & High-Intent Ads

“Why isn’t our business the top result when people search for what we do?”
If that’s something you’ve asked recently, I built this for you.

I’m Mike Forgie, founder of Next Step Connect, and I help service-based businesses stop guessing at what’s working—and finally show up where it counts.

In the last decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of teams across real estate, healthcare, legal, construction, and automotive to install one thing:

A predictable system that drives qualified local leads from search.

Whether your business is getting buried in Google Maps, wasting ad spend on low-quality traffic, or just not seeing ROI from your current marketing…
You don’t need another agency.
You need a system built on buyer intent, trackable results, and total clarity.

What We Deliver:
✅ Google Maps + Organic Search Rankings – for the exact terms your buyers are already searching
✅ High-Intent Google Ads – tracked to real calls, form fills, and appointments
✅ Clarity – with real-time dashboards and reporting you don’t need to decode

Our clients don’t wonder where their leads are coming from. They know.
And they don’t lie awake at night hoping the phone rings. It already is.

📩 DM me or email mike@nextstepconnect.com
📊 Or grab your Free Local Growth Audit at nextstepconnect.com

I analyzed 3 popular n8n workflows for SEO blogging.
Only ONE of these will help you rank.
Let's break them down.

Workflow 1: The Full Stack
Starts with layout blueprint (search intent, internal links, CTAs)
AI drafts, but pulls context from your existing site content
SEO validation (keywords, readability, schema)
Auto-generates images
Publishes to CMS

Workflow 2: The Automation Machine
Fetches topic from Google Sheets
AI generates article + title
Creates and uploads featured image
Adds SEO meta tags
Publishes to WordPress
Logs everything back to Sheets

Workflow 3: The Weekly Publisher
CRON scheduled (every Monday 6am)
Researches trending topics with Perplexity
GPT writes 1000-1500 word article
Leonardo AI creates cinematic image
Publishes to WordPress with tracking

So which one actually helps you rank long term?
Only Workflow 1.

Here's why:
Workflow 1 is the only one that checks your existing site content before writing.
That one step changes everything.

Google's algorithm loves "information gain."
Translation: Did you add something NEW to the internet that didn't exist before?

If your AI workflow doesn't check what you've already published, it will:
Create duplicate content (you vs. you)
Repeat what competitors already said
Miss opportunities to add unique insights

Workflows 2 and 3 are impressive automation.
But they're generating content in a vacuum.

No context about:
What you've already covered
Your brand voice and existing content style
Internal linking opportunities
Topic gaps worth filling

They're optimized for speed, not rankings.

Here's what "context-aware" content does differently:
✓ Checks existing articles to avoid duplication 
✓ Identifies internal linking opportunities 
✓ Matches your established tone and depth 
✓ Fills actual content gaps in your site architecture

This is the difference between: "Generate an article about SEO"
vs.
"Generate an article about SEO that adds new information our site doesn't cover, links to our existing pillar content, and matches the depth of our top-performing posts."

One creates generic content. One creates strategic content.

Most people are automating content creation.
Smart ones are automating strategic content creation.

AI can write fast.
But it needs context to write intelligently.
Workflow 1 builds that context into the process.
Workflows 2 and 3 skip it entirely.
That's why one will help you rank and two will, but not long term.

If you're building content automation:
Speed is easy. Strategy requires context.

Make sure your workflow checks what already exists before creating what's next.

What content automation are you using? Does it check your existing content first?

Mike Forgie

I Help Local Businesses Get Found and Get Sales — Not Just Clicks. Google Maps/Search Engine/AI Optimization & High-Intent Ads

Generate & Publish SEO Articles with Claude AI, Webflow & Image Generation

Auto-Generate SEO Blog Posts with Perplexity, GPT, Leonardo & WordPress



Automate SEO-Optimized WordPress Posts with AI & Google Sheets

Asking ChatGPT to write blog posts? Easy.
Building an entire tool with AI? That's where the fear kicked in.

I wasn't scared of AI, but I had this frightening vision:
A system that...
✔️ tracks all my content
✔️converts blogs into social posts and infographics
✔️generates YouTube videos podcast audio
....then uses those assets for link building.

Simple idea on paper.

But actually building it with Claude Code?
I stared at the blank screen (admittedly a little sweaty).
"Where do I even start?" 
"What if I build it wrong?" 
"What if I waste weeks going in circles?"

The fear adn stress wasn't about AI capabilities.
It was about not having a plan.

Then I discovered PRDs.
Product Requirements Documents.

Developers use them to map out projects before writing code.

And here's the game-changer:
AI can write the PRD for you.

I told Claude:
"I need a content automation system that does (all of what I wrote above)"

It gave me:
✔️Complete feature breakdown
✔️Step-by-step build order
✔️How each piece connects
✔️Which tools to integrate
✔️Where to start (and what comes next)

Suddenly, the overwhelming project became a clear checklist.
I wasn't staring at a blank screen anymore.
I had a roadmap.

Once you have the PRD, Claude Code can execute it.

It took my plan and built:
Content tracking systems
Format conversion automation
Asset generation workflows
Link building processes

I'm not a developer.
I'm an idealist with a PRD and an AI that can code.

The scary part wasn't AI.
It was starting without a blueprint.

▶️ Here's how to do this yourself ◀️ 

1. Describe your system clearly 
"I want to build X that does Y and Z for my business."

2. Ask AI to create a PRD "Write a Product Requirements Document for this system."

3. Review and refine it 
Adjust features, add details, clarify your priorities.

4. Use Claude Code to build 
Feed it the PRD and let it start automating.


Most people never build their ideas because they don't know where to start.
The PRD eliminates that paralysis.

AI writes your blueprint. 
Then AI helps you build from it.

You don't need to be technical.
You need to be clear about what you want.

What system have you been putting off building because you didn't know where to start?

📸 You can sit in your car in a parking lot and create your dream!

Bing just released a guide on AI search optimization.
And it basically confirms what I've been telling clients for months...

AI search isn't replacing SEO.
It's just SEO with better reading comprehension.

Here's what Bing said matters for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization):
- Content chunking
- Clear headings 
- Structured data 
- Q&A formatting 
- Semantic clarity

Sound familiar?
That's because it's literally just good SEO fundamentals.
The same stuff that worked in 2020 still works in 2025.
AI didn't change the game. It just raised the bar.

Here's the pattern I'm seeing:

Most businesses panic when new technology emerges.
"Should we optimize for ChatGPT?" 
"Do we need a whole new strategy for AI search?" 
"Is traditional SEO dead?"

No. No. And hell no!

AI search engines are just better at understanding what you already should have been doing.

The businesses winning right now aren't doing anything revolutionary.
They're just doing the fundamentals better than everyone else.

Here's what I do for every client article (and it takes 10 minutes):
1. Clickable Table of Contents - So AI knows the structure 
2. Key Takeaways section - So AI can pull quick answers 
3. FAQ section - So AI understands common questions 
4. TLDR at the top - So AI gets the summary immediately

This helps AI get its chunks.
But it also helps humans navigate to exactly what they want.

You know what that is?
Good UX. Which has always been good SEO.

AI didn't invent this. It just rewards it more aggressively.

Most agencies are selling "AI optimization" as if it's some new magic.

I'm telling you: it's the same fundamentals, done with more care.

The only thing that changed is AI punishes lazy content faster than Google did.

What "new strategy" have you been told you need that's really just the fundamentals done better?

Every business owner I talk to is overwhelmed by AI.
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, SearchGPT...

Which one do I use?
What prompts work?
How do I integrate this into my business?

They're drowning in options.

Here's what I tell them:
Reduce variables.

This is my mantra for everything...from buying coffee mugs to running my agency.

And it works for AI adoption too.

The Problem:
When you have infinite options, you make zero decisions.
Analysis paralysis.
FOMO.
Buyer's remorse.
You waste mental energy justifying choices instead of making progress.

The Solution:
Create guidelines that eliminate 90% of your options.

For AI, I reduced variables like this:
One AI tool for one job
- Claude for writing and strategy
- ChatGPT for quick research
That's it. No more shopping around.

One automation framework
- I use Claude Code for SEO automation
- I don't test every new tool that launches
- I master one system deeply

One decision filter...
...Does this save me time or make clients money?

If no → ignore it
If yes → test it once, keep or kill

Here's what reducing variables gives you:
Faster decisions 
Less doubt 
More momentum 
Reduced burnout

I became an Apple person not because I love Apple, but because I was wasting too much time researching alternatives.

Now my computer, phone, watch, and AirPods work perfectly together.
I never waste time troubleshooting or shopping.

Same with AI.
Pick your tool. Learn it deeply. Stop shopping.

What decision are you overthinking right now that you could simplify by reducing variables?

📸  The ultimate hack - let your fiance dress you sometimes or just match them. Sometimes I don't even have the mental capacity to choose an outfit. Outsource the unnecessary.

Helping Local Businesses Get Found and Get Sales — Not Just Clicks. Google Maps/Search Engine/AI Optimization & High-Intent Ads

ChatGPT has 2 types of searches.
Most local businesses only optimize for one.

Here's what I mean:

Search 1: "What to look for in a landscaper?" 
ChatGPT gives you educational content. Tips, advice, considerations.

Search 2: "Who are the 10 best landscapers in Monmouth County, NJ?"
ChatGPT gives you a list. With links. With recommendations.

These are completely different search intents.
And they require completely different optimization strategies.

Here's the problem:
Most businesses optimize for Search 1.

They write blog posts like: 
"5 Things To Consider When Hiring A Landscaper" 
"How To Choose The Right Service Provider" 
"What Makes A Good Contractor"

In AI search, that's top-of-funnel educational content.
You're helping people learn.
You're not getting them to choose YOU.

Search 2 is where the money is.
That's the decision stage. Buyer intent.

Someone searching 
"Who are the 10 best [service] in [area]" is ready to call someone.
And if you're not on that list, you don't exist.

Here's what most businesses don't know:
You can reverse engineer why ChatGPT chose those businesses.
Literally just ask it.

Search: "Who are the top 10 landscapers in Monmouth County, NJ?"
Then ask: "Why did you choose these businesses?"

ChatGPT will tell you EXACTLY what factors it used:
Number and quality of reviews
Website authority signals
Local citations
Media mentions
Industry recognition
Content depth

It's like having the algorithm explain itself to you.

Most businesses are guessing at SEO.
AI search literally tells you how to win.

Here's the process:
Step 1: Search ChatGPT for "Who are the top 10 [your service] in [your area]?"
Step 2: Check if you're on the list
Step 3: If not, ask "Why did you choose these businesses?"
Step 4: Build those exact signals into your online presence
Step 5: Search again in 30 days and see if you moved up

This is the most transparent ranking system we've ever had.
Google never told you why you ranked #5 instead of #1.
ChatGPT will explain its entire decision-making process if you ask.

Most businesses are still optimizing for informational content.
The smart ones are optimizing for transactional lists.
Because that's where buyers are making decisions.

Search ChatGPT right now: "Who are the top 10 [your service] in [your area]?"
Are you on the list?
If not, ask why.
Then fix it.

ChatGPT has 2 types of searches (how to optimize...

I used to grab coffee in a disposable cup every single day.
It always ended up in the trash.
Cold coffee. A little guilt. A wasteful routine.

Then the "ugh" moment hit.
I switched to an insulated mug.
Hotter coffee. Less waste. A better ritual.

Small shift. Big upgrade.

That's conscious sustainability.
And it's not just about coffee cups.

It's about preserving your energy so you don't burn out.

Most people hear "sustainability" and think recycling.

I think about it differently:
Can I keep doing this without destroying myself?

Here's what's unsustainable in business:
- Running ads that drain your budget with no ROI
- Chasing every marketing trend because "everyone's doing it"
- Hiring agencies that lock you into 12-month contracts with no flexibility
- Grinding 60-hour weeks to "scale"

This is overconsumption applied to business.
You're consuming tactics, tools, and advice that drain you.

And just like fast fashion and disposable cups, it's making you unconscious. Unaware.

Conscious marketing asks different questions:
- Does this align with my actual business goals? 
- Can I sustain this effort long-term? 
- Am I doing this because it works or because I'm afraid of missing out?

Yvon Chouinard said: "The more you know, the less you need."
That's the antidote to marketing overwhelm.

Here's how I practice conscious sustainability in my agency:
I only offer services I can deliver without burning out
I automate repetitive SEO tasks so I'm not grinding manually
I draft off existing momentum instead of building from scratch
I reduce variables so I'm not constantly decision-fatigued

Sustainability isn't just environmental.
It's protecting your own damn energy.

What marketing tactic are you doing that's draining you, and why are you still doing it?

Sustainability starts with a reusable cup.

It continues with not hating your business.

If you're new to a market or just opened your business, I recommend this one powerful strategy immediately.

Not later. Not when you're "more established." Now.

Here's why:
Being new is your biggest SEO/AI advantage.
And most businesses waste it.

When you're new to an area: 
Opening a new location...
Launching a new business...
Moving into a new market...
Breaking ground on a new building...

...You have a story local media actually wants to cover.

"New [Business Type] Opens in [Area]" is newsworthy.

The strategy? 
The optimized press release.

Here's what happens:
- Local news sites pick it up. 
- Industry blogs link to it. 
- Local directories cite it. 
- Chamber of Commerce mentions it.

Each creates a high-authority backlink to your website.

This is the foundation of: 
- Brand building 
- Reputation management 
- Organic link building 
- AI search visibility

And you only get this ONE chance!!!

Six months from now, nobody cares that you opened.
But right now? You're news.

Most businesses wait.
They think: "Let's get settled first."

By the time they're ready, the news angle is gone.

But if you publish a press release in your first 30 days:
Local media is hungry for community news.

One press release can generate: 
- 5-10 local news backlinks 
- Social media shares from publications 
- Embedded links in "new businesses" roundups 
- Citations in local directories 
- Content for your website and social media

This isn't just PR.
It's strategic marketing.

Google sees: 
"New business. Already cited by 10 local sources. Must be legitimate."

AI search sees: 
"Multiple trusted sources mention this business. Worth recommending."

Your competitors who've been around for years?
They may have missed this opportunity.

You can capitalize RIGHT NOW!

The strategy...

Week 1: 
Write the press release 
Announce your opening 
Explain what makes you unique 
Mention community impact (jobs, services, partnerships)
Ensure you have a backlink to your site

Week 2: 
Distribute it 
Submit to local news outlets 
Send to industry publications 
Post on PR distribution sites 
Share with Chamber of Commerce

Week 3: 
Amplify the coverage 
Share any news coverage on social 
Embed articles on your website 
Thank the publications publicly

Week 4: 
Measure impact 
Check backlinks in Google Search Console 
Track ranking improvements 
See if AI search now cites you

One press release when you're new.
Multiple high-authority backlinks.
Instant credibility.

Most businesses miss this window.
They're so focused on opening that they forget to announce they opened.

Three months later, you can't go back and reclaim "newness."
But if you're in your first 30 days, you still have it.

Use it!

Are you new to your market? 
Or do you know a business that just opened?
Write the press release this week, not later.

Google just revealed what actually drives clicks in AI Overviews.
Hint: it is more I and A

Liz Reid (VP of Search at Google) said it directly:
AI Overviews favor richer and deeper content with authentic human insight and expertise.

Not AI-generated fluff.
Not keyword-stuffed posts.
Not "10 tips" listicles everyone's already written.
(unique top 10 are fine...you'll see)

Human insight.
Unique perspectives.
Real experience.

Here's why this matters:
AI can write content now. Fast. Cheap. At scale.
Which means the internet is flooded with mediocre AI-generated posts.
Google knows this (you know this).

So they're rewarding the one thing AI can't fake...
....original human experience.

User behavior shapes rankings.
If people click your result and stay, you win.
If they bounce immediately, you're spam.
Simple as that.

Here's what I tell local business owners:
Stop trying to write like a corporation.
Start writing like a human with opinions and scars.

The most valuable content you can create right now:
- Client testimonials with real stories
- Your opinion on industry trends (rant it out!)
- Case studies showing what worked (and what failed)
- Video of you explaining your process

You probably already create content for social media where you're speaking to a camera, right?

Take that video.
Embed it in your blog post.
Pull a quote from it and add it to the article.
That's original content with your point of view baked in.

Google can tell the difference between:
"Here are 10 ways to improve your SEO" (written by everyone)
vs.
"I tried 10 SEO tactics on a client's site. 3 worked. 7 failed. Here's what I learned."

One is generic. One is human.
AI Overviews will cite the human one.

Most businesses are trying to compete with AI by writing MORE content.
The smart ones are competing by being MORE human.

What's one thing you know from experience that no AI could write because it hasn't lived through it?

It took a long time to get here.
Not to this building. To this moment.

This is me and my dog in the lobby of one of my favorite clients.

The path:
1. Started as an employee at an agency.
2. Then went freelance (not by choice - I got really sick with CFS and couldn't drive anymore).
3. Became a SEO whitelabeler (doing the work while other agencies took the credit).
4. Now I run my own agency, client-facing, building real relationships.

The journey brought me here.
To this apartment building.
To this client who gave me focus.

I own a rental home.
One day, I want to own a small multifamily property.

I didn't grow up with money.
I didn't have connections.
I had necessity.
And I had time to learn.

When you're sleeping 12 hours a day because your body shuts down, you get really good at focusing on what matters during the hours you're awake.

I learned SEO.

Then I learned everything else that comes with running an agency: 
Operations (figured it out) 
Client management (still learning) 
Sales (admittedly, still trying to figure this one out)

But sitting in this lobby with my dog, working with a client who owns what I'm trying to build?

It reminds me: you can make whatever you want happen...
It just takes longer than you think...
And looks messier than anyone shows on LinkedIn.

This is why I love working with local businesses.
Not e-commerce brands.
Not faceless online entities.
Local businesses.

I get to sit in their lobbies.
Walk their properties.
Meet their teams.
See and feel what I'm helping them build.

When I optimize a local apartment building's website, I know exactly who benefits.
The property manager I just spoke with.
The tenants who found this place by searching "apartments near me."
The owner who's building something real.

That connection matters to me.

Maybe because I'm trying to build the same thing.
Maybe because I didn't come from wealth, and I respect anyone grinding to create assets.

Maybe because after years of working for agencies, whitelabeling for others, and doing invisible work...

...I finally get to build relationships with the people I'm actually helping.

I don't have this all figured out.
I'm still learning sales.
Still learning how to scale without burning out.
Still navigating what it means to run an agency.

But I'm here.
In this lobby.
With my dog.
Working with a client I respect.
Building toward something I want.
And that's enough for today.

If you're in the messy middle of building something:
The path isn't linear.
The journey will look different than everyone else's.
You'll take detours you didn't plan for.
But you'll end up in places you didn't know you needed to be.

Keep going.

Local stores are already losing Black Friday traffic to corporate chains because they're not doing this one thing...And it's so simple it hurts.

I asked ChatGPT:
"best black friday deals in my area"

It gave me:
Best Buy
P.C. Richard & Son
Jersey Shore Premium Outlets

All corporate. All chains.
Zero local businesses.

Here's why:
Those stores already announced their Black Friday sales online.
ChatGPT found their sale pages, indexed them, and cited them.

Local stores waiting until Black Friday to announce deals?
Invisible.

This is the AI search gap nobody's talking about.

By the time Black Friday hits, the algorithm has already decided who to recommend.

If your deals aren't published NOW, you won't be in the conversation.

Here's what's happening:
Corporate chains publish "Early Black Friday" pages in October.

They create dedicated landing pages with:
Sale dates
Product categories
Discount ranges
Store locations
Search engines (yes that is what AI is) index this content.

When someone searches "Black Friday deals near me," AI cites what's already published.

Local businesses who wait until the day-of?
They're competing for scraps.

Here's the strategy:
If you're a local business planning Black Friday deals:
Announce them NOW Even if vague: "20-40% off select items" or "Biggest sale of the year"

Create a dedicated landing page URL: https://lnkd.in/eR-pukzv Title: "Black Friday 2025 Deals at [Your Business]"

Include key details:
Sale dates
Hours (if extended)
Product categories on sale
General discount ranges
Store location
Add structured data Schema markup for events, local business, offers (AI reads this first)
Publish it NOW so AI can index it

By the time Black Friday arrives, AI will cite you alongside the big chains.

Here's the ironic part:
Local businesses have been competing with chains on price for decades.
Now they're losing to chains on AI visibility.
Not because chains have better deals.
Because chains announced first.

This is the new SEO.
It's not about keywords.
It's about being first to publish what people will search for later.

ChatGPT doesn't favor corporate websites because they're bigger.
It favors them because their content existed when the AI went looking.

Local businesses can do the exact same thing.
You just have to publish before your competitors do.

Most local stores will announce Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving.
The smart ones are announcing now.
And when someone asks ChatGPT where to shop, they'll show up in the top 10.

Do you have Black Friday or holiday deals planned?
Publish the landing page this week.
Even if it's just a "Coming Soon - Black Friday 2025 Deals" page.

And when buyers start searching, you'll be in the conversation.

What's your Black Friday strategy? 
Are you announcing now or waiting until the last minute?

Corporate chains are ALREADY beating 
local retailers for Black Friday 

Here is how to beat the corporate giants.

I stopped spending 20 minutes on blog images.
Now I spend 30 seconds.
Same quality. Zero design skills needed.
Here's what changed...

I used to overthink it:
Stock photos (generic, everyone uses them)...
Canva designs (time-consuming, requires design sense)...
Text overlays (cluttered, hard to read on mobile)...
...And I thought every image had equal value

Then I discovered Nano Banana by Gemini.

The process:
Give it your blog title
Add: "Create an image to represent this. No words."

Done.
That's it.

Why "no words" matters:
AI-generated text on images looks terrible:
Wrong fonts
Misspellings
Awkward layouts
Doesn't scale across platforms
Clean visuals beat busy graphics every time.

What I get: 
✓ Unique images (not stock photos everyone uses) 
✓ Clean and professional 
✓ 30 seconds per image 
✓ No design skills required 
✓ Perfect for blog headers

The tool is free through Gemini.
Just navigate to "Imagen 3" or use the Nano Banana interface.

Most people overcomplicate blog images.

You don't need:
Expensive stock photo subscriptions
Canva Pro
A designer on retainer
Hours of editing

You need:
Clear blog title
AI image generator
One rule: no words
Simple. Fast. Professional.

Note: these are headers or additions to text. These are not for infographics, marketing purposes, or the main purpose of the blog. They allow you to add some visual appeal, break up content, and a place for alt texts. The better you get, the more these images will become more than just filler. 

What blog are you writing this week?
I challenge you to show me images for your next blogs.

The book that changed my life:
The ONE Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan.

The Big Problem:
We think success requires doing more.
More clients. More services. More marketing channels. More hours.
But spreading yourself thin doesn't create success. It creates burnout.

The book's perspective: 
Success is sequential, not simultaneous.

What's the ONE thing you can do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?

That question changed everything.

Top 3 Takeaways:

1. The Focusing Question

"What's the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?"

This identifies the domino that knocks down all the others.

Example:
Client had 10 service pages. All struggling.
The ONE thing: Optimize one service page completely.

Result: That page now gets more clicks than the next 3 pages combined.

Actionable step:
Write down your to-do list.

Ask: "Which ONE task makes the rest easier or unnecessary?"

Do that first.

2. Multitasking Is a Lie

Your brain switches between tasks rapidly.
Each switch costs time and mental energy.
You're busy but not productive.

Example from my life:
I have CFS. I get 4-6 focused hours per day.
If I try to do everything, I accomplish nothing.

So I ask: What's the ONE thing today?
I'm more productive in 4 focused hours than I ever was in 12 scattered ones.

Actionable step:
Time-block ONE task for 90 minutes.
Phone off. Email closed.
You'll accomplish more than an entire day of multitasking.

3. Success Is Built Sequentially

You don't build 10 things at once.
You build ONE thing. Then the next. Then the next.

Example:
Don't try to rank for all your services at once.
Pick ONE service. Dominate it. Then move to service #2.
One service optimized beats ten services half-done.

Actionable step:
List your revenue streams.
Pick the ONE with highest ROI.
Double down for 90 days before touching anything else.

Why This Book Matters to Me:
When I got sick, I couldn't grind anymore.
Every hour mattered because I didn't have many.

"The ONE Thing" gave me permission to stop trying to do everything.
Now when clients say "We need to rank for everything":
I ask: "What's the ONE service that drives the most revenue?"

When I'm stressed about my to-do list:
I ask: "What's the ONE thing that makes everything else easier?"

When I'm building my agency:
I ask: "What's the ONE client type I serve best?"

This question cuts through noise.
It eliminates decision fatigue.
It creates focus.
And focus creates results.

If you're overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck:
Read "The ONE Thing."

Then ask yourself:
What's the ONE thing I can do right now such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?

Answer that question.
Then do that thing.

What's YOUR one thing right now?

Three major AI search updates dropped this month:
1. Bing clarified AEO best practices. 
2. Google revealed what drives AI Overview clicks. 
3. New data showed brand-controlled sources dominate citations.

As a business owner, are you overwhelmed thinking:
"Do I optimize via Bing AI tips?" 
"Should I focus on Google AI Overviews?" 
"What about ChatGPT citations?"

Here's what I suggest:
Reduce variables.
This is my decision-making framework for everything.
And it works perfectly for navigating AI search chaos.

The Problem:
When you try to optimize for every AI platform, you optimize for none of them.
You waste energy chasing tactics instead of building systems.

The Solution:
Reduce variables by focusing on the fundamentals all AI platforms reward:
1. Publish on your own domain.
All AI search engines favor brand-controlled sources. 
Own your content.

2. Structure for clarity 
Table of contents, headings, FAQs, key takeaways. 
AI needs chunks.

3. Add human insight 
Testimonials, case studies, your opinion. 
AI can't fake lived experience.
Make it deep, not wide 

4. One thorough post beats ten shallow ones. 
AI rewards depth.

That's it.
You don't need separate strategies for Bing vs. Google vs. ChatGPT.

You need ONE strategy that works across all platforms:
Create authoritative, well-structured, human content on your own site.

Strat now with this:
Write one blog post per week 
Add table of contents, FAQ, TLDR 
Include client testimonial or case study 
Publish on your domain
Bonus: Add this to your Google Business Profile and social media accounts. 
Bonus bonus: create an infographic based on your content and post that. Turn your content into a newsletter for more traffic. 

This works for:
Traditional SEO
Bing AI search
Google AI Overviews
ChatGPT citations
Perplexity results

One system. Multiple outcomes.
That's what reducing variables does.

Most agencies will try to sell you:
Bing optimization packages
AI Overview strategy sessions
ChatGPT citation audits

I'm telling you: it's all the same work.

Just do the fundamentals better than everyone else.
AI didn't complicate the game. It simplified it.

The winners are the ones who stop chasing shiny tactics and build sustainable systems.

📸 I've been working very hard on my one system that will deliver you multiple outcomes. 

All of your UNIQUE content created, optimized, and delivered to the outlets that drive organic and AI rankings. 

Interested? Drop a 1 in the comments.

"I am starting to get more calls off the web! Finally! These tend to be the best calls."
Got this text from a client. 

And honestly, the site still needs work.
SEO takes time.
But we're getting results because we focused on what actually moves the needle.

Here's what we did...

Fixed the fundamentals first:
Site speed (was killing mobile experience)
Indexability issues (Google couldn't even crawl half the pages)

Then we got strategic:
Picked ONE service to dominate.
Not "all our services." Not "we do everything." 
One service. One page. Full focus.

The playbook:
1. Optimized that one service page 
- Rewrote it for buyer intent, not SEO fluff.
2.301 redirected cannibalizing pages.
- Any pages competing for the same keyword. Consolidated them.
3. Wrote supporting blog posts.
- Each one links back to the main service page.
4. Built external links through guest posts.
- Got featured on industry sites.
5.  Published a press release.
- Brand recognition + high-authority backlink.

The result:
That one page is now the top-clicked page on the entire site.
It has more clicks than the next 3 pages combined.
Including the homepage.

If I add a 4th page to that group, those 4 pages COMBINED only have 2 more clicks than our optimized service page.

One page is doing the work of their entire website used to do.

Here's what most businesses get wrong:
They try to rank for everything.
10 services. 20 location pages. 50 blog posts about random topics.
Zero focus. Zero momentum.

We did the opposite.
One service. One page. All our effort.

And now that page is:
Ranking for high-intent keywords
Driving qualified calls
Converting better than any other page

This is why I love working with local businesses.

When you optimize one service page well, you can see the impact immediately.
The phone rings.

The owner texts you: "I'm getting calls off the web!"
That's not vanity metrics.
That's revenue.

Most SEO agencies spread effort thin across every page.

We concentrated fire on one page until it dominated.
Then we'll move to the next service.
One at a time.
With intention.

Here's the lesson:
If you're trying to rank for everything, you'll rank for nothing.
Pick one service.
Optimize the hell out of it. 
Support it with blogs and backlinks. 
Watch it become your top revenue driver.
Then move to service #2.

Focus beats volume every time.

What's the ONE service page you should be focusing all your SEO effort on right now?

My jiu-jitsu gym just did the most authentic marketing.
And every local business owner should steal this playbook.

Madhouse Academy was celebrating its 4-year anniversary and moving locations.

Instead of the usual open house or discount promotion, they did this:
Free jiu-jitsu open mat. Anyone can train. Zero sales pitch.

The only "cost"?
Bring non-perishable goods for the local food pantry.

Result:
1,100 pounds of donations.
"I've never seen such a big donation drive. We are swimming in goodness today." - The food pantry director:

A local gym, not a corporation - just a small business, mobilized their community to deliver 1,100 pounds of food to neighbors in need.

Here's why this works:
They actually cared. 
They actually helped people. 
They actually made an impact.

And the marketing benefits came naturally.
Blog post ✓ 
Newsletter content ✓ 
Social buzz ✓ 
Local press ✓ 
Backlinks ✓ 
Word-of-mouth ✓

You can't fake this.

If you throw an event for press, people feel it.
If you support your community because you care, people show up.

Madhouse created a tribe of people who care for one another and will gladly support their community.

Every local business has this power.

You don't need 1,100 pounds.
You just need to ask: "How can we help our neighbors?"

Then do it. Document it. Share it.

The framework:
Before: Blog, newsletter, social, press 
During: Photos, testimonials, live impact 
After: Results post, thank everyone, cross-promote

If you partner with local organizations, split the promotion.
Social signals ✓ 
Backlinks ✓ 
Community trust ✓ 
Real impact ✓

This is organic marketing!!!
Not SEO tricks. Not paid ads. Not growth hacks.
Just showing up for your community.

Google rewards authentic content with human insight. 
AI Overviews favor brand-controlled sources with real stories? 

Most businesses optimize their way to visibility.
Madhouse filled a food pantry and became the most talked-about gym in town.

What would happen if you asked your customers:
"Instead of a discount, bring something for our local [food pantry / shelter / school / cause]"?

You might be surprised how many people show up.
Not because they want a deal.
Because they want to be part of something that matters.

What cause in your local community could your business rally around?

If you want to know how to make a simple event like this into an SEO and AI optimization resource, dm me.

SEO is a Perfect Paradox.

You chase #1 rankings.

But the moment you get there, the algorithm changes.
Your competitor optimizes.
AI rewrites the rules.
And you're back to climbing.

This is what I call the Perfect Paradox:
You can never achieve perfection because whatever you do can always get better.

I learned this from Vince Lombardi (I don't even watch sports, but this quote always stuck with me): "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."

But you aren't perfect.
Which means your SEO practice won't be perfect either.

So what do you do?
Accept that the algorithm is smarter than you.

I'm proficient at SEO. 
But Google engineers? 
Way smarter.

I can game the system, but I'm not on their level.

More importantly: the algorithm evolves. 
Even if I'm incredible at SEO today, it'll change next month.

Here's how I escaped the Perfect Paradox:
Frame the end result
- What does success look like? (Traffic? Leads? Revenue?)
Find someone achieving that result 
- Break down their process. Use them as a Makeshift Mentor.
Build systems that evolve 
- Don't chase tactics. Build frameworks that adapt.
Accept that "perfect SEO" is bullshit 
- The goal isn't perfection. It's momentum.

Most agencies sell you "perfect optimization."
I build you systems that keep working when the algorithm changes.
Because the only constant in SEO is change.

What are you chasing perfection in that's actually keeping you stuck?

Major cheat code for local SEO: Case studies.
Not a review. Full case studies.

They solve many SEO problems at once:

Unique content ✓ 
Nobody else has your client's story. AI can't replicate it.  Google rewards originality.

EEAT signals ✓ 
Experience (you did the work) 
Expertise (you know what works) 
Authoritativeness (proven results) 
Trustworthiness (real client, real outcome)

Information gain ✓ 
Google's ranking factor. Case studies add NEW information to the internet that didn't exist before.

Internal linking gold ✓ 
Reference the case study from: 
Service pages ("See how we helped [similar business]") 
Blog posts ("We used this exact strategy for...") 
Location pages ("Local business in [city] grew by...")
Social media content ✓ 
One case study becomes: 
LinkedIn post with results 
Instagram story with quote 
Twitter thread breakdown 
Facebook testimonial 
YouTube video walkthrough

Most businesses write: "We offer great service and have happy clients."
Cool. So does everyone.

Case studies show: 
Client started here → We did this → They ended here → Measurable result
That's proof, not promises.

Here's why this matters right now:
Google's algorithm updates are killing generic content.
AI-generated blog posts? Content is just spun. 
Thin service pages? Ignored. 
Copied competitor content? Buried.

But case studies?
Can't be AI-generated (they're your real clients) 
Can't be thin (they're detailed stories) 
Can't be copied (they're unique to you)

This is the content Google and AI search are begging for.
Real human experience. Documented results. Original stories.

One case study per quarter = 4 per year.
Each one: Ranks for long-tail keywords 
Gets cited by AI search 
Drives internal link equity 
Provides social content 
Builds trust with prospects

The SEO value compounds.

Each case study strengthens: 
Your expertise positioning 
Your content authority 
Your internal link structure 
Your AI search presence

Want to know the best part?
Your clients WANT you to write about them.
They're proud of their results.
Ask permission. Document the process. Publish the story. And link to each other!

If you don't have case studies yet, start now:
Pick your best client result from the last 6 months 
Interview the client (10 minutes) 
Write the story (problem → solution → result) 
Publish it on your site

One case study this month.
Then one per quarter.
In a year, you'll have content that competitors can't match.

What client win could you turn into a case study this week?

Listen, I know it is hard, and I need to take my own advice. 
Recently, I got started by asking if I could do a quick interview via Zoom/Meet. 
That is an easy way to get quotes and content.

I've been doing SEO for over a decade.
And here's what nobody tells you...

SEO was always AI.
Let me explain.

Google's algorithm is a black box.
You don't know "exactly how it works."
You can't see inside.

We must:
- Test things
- Observe patterns
- Iterate based on results
- Build systems that based on what works

That's exactly how we're supposed to optimize for AI today.

The Pattern Recognition Method:
This is how I approached SEO in 2014. 
This is how I approach AI in 2025.

Step 1: Accept you'll never fully understand it
- Google engineers are smarter than me
- AI developers are smarter than me
- That's fine. I don't need to understand how EVERYTHING works to use it.

Step 2: Test small, measure everything
- I didn't overhaul entire websites
- I changed one variable at a time
- I tracked what moved the needle

Step 3: Build systems around patterns
- Once I found what worked, I documented it
- Created SOPs so anyone could replicate it
- Automated the repetitive parts

Step 4: Evolve when the pattern breaks
- Algorithm updates killed strategies
- I adapted instead of complaining
- Built new systems around new patterns

Step 5: Find The Best
- Join communities of the best
- Follow those truly testing not clickbaiting
- test what they do for yourself


Here's what this means for AI:
You don't need to be a developer.
You don't need to understand transformer models.

You need to:
Test AI on small tasks (write one blog that shows up in results, analyze one dataset)
Observe what works (which prompts give you useful output?)
Systematize the winners (turn good prompts into templates)
Iterate when it breaks (AI changes, your system adapts)

Most people are waiting to "understand AI" before they use it.
I'm using it to find patterns.

The understanding comes from doing, not studying.
SEO taught me that 10 years ago.

Currently, I am breaking Claude Code and Cursor every damn day, doing rather than just studying.

The result = AI automated agency for SEO/GEO/AIO - whatever TF you want to call it. 

What are you diving into?

AI speaks with absolute conviction.
And that's dangerous.

It never says "I'm not sure."
It never says "maybe."
It gives you an answer...confidently, eloquently, instantly.
And, you trust it. Yes, that is dangerous!

Because conviction is not the same as correctness.
I learned this the hard way.

Years ago, I had a business partner who was an incredible salesperson.
He spoke with such conviction that I doubted my own expertise in targeted marketing.

I followed his broader, less effective strategy.

Result...
$150,000+ debt. 
Pushed my wedding indefinitely.
Couldn't buy my house. 
Life and business setbacks to the max!
 
It was a very painful lesson.

Here's what I should have asked myself:
- How confident am I in my own knowledge? 
- What evidence supports his approach vs. mine? 
- Am I making this decision emotionally or strategically?

I trusted his conviction more than my own confidence.
Big mistake.

Now we're in the AI era.
And AI is the most convincing salesperson you'll ever meet.

It speaks with (near) perfect grammar (em dash aside).
Zero hesitation.
Complete authority.

But here's the thing:
AI hallucinates. 
It makes up sources. 
It confidently presents wrong information.

And if you don't have your own baseline of confidence, you'll follow it blindly.

How to balance AI conviction with your own confidence:
- Use AI as a Makeshift Mentor, not a guru
- Get ideas, not orders
- Cross-reference everything
- Trust but verify

Build your own strategic thinking
- What do YOU know from experience?
- What patterns have YOU seen?
- What does YOUR data say?

Also, watch for hive minds and echo chambers
Just because everyone's using AI a certain way doesn't mean it's right
Popularity ≠ credibility

The businesses that win with AI won't be the ones who follow it blindly.
They'll be the ones who use it to amplify their own strategic thinking/creation.
I promise you, writing garbage blogs without using AI to implement your own experience is going to hurt you eventually. 

Confidence + AI = power.
Conviction without confidence = debt and regret.

What's one decision where you trusted someone else's conviction over your own confidence....and regretted it?

AI speaks with absolute conviction.

And, that will screw you.

Do these 10 things if you want to be invisible in AI search by 2026.

Seriously. Follow this guide and ChatGPT will never recommend your business.

Here's your step-by-step plan for failure:

1. Keep waiting to "understand AI" before doing anything.
While you research, your competitors are publishing content AI can cite.

2. Don't publish on your own domain.
Keep posting valuable insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
AI search prioritizes brand-controlled sources. Not social platforms.

3. Skip the structured content.
No table of contents. No FAQ sections. No key takeaways.
AI can't parse your content? Not your problem, right?

4. Write like everyone else.
Copy what your competitors say. Use the same industry jargon.
AI rewards information gain. You're giving it repetition.

5. Ignore your existing content.
Publish 50 blog posts with zero strategy. Let them compete with each other.
AI loves clear topical authority. You're giving it confusion.

6. Never get cited by anyone.
Don't pitch guest posts. Skip press releases. Avoid local news.
AI trusts businesses others talk about. Not businesses talking about themselves.

7. Focus on keywords, not answers.
Stuff your content with "best plumber near me" 47 times.
AI search answers questions. You're optimizing for 2015.

8. Assume your great service is enough.
You've been in business 20 years. Word-of-mouth still works.
Meanwhile, a 6-month-old competitor with proper AI optimization is stealing your calls.

9. Wait for "the perfect strategy."
Don't do anything until you understand every update.
Perfection is the enemy of progress. Your competitors know this.

10. Hire the cheapest SEO provider.
They promise first page in 30 days for $99/month.
You'll get thin content, spammy links, and an AI penalty.

That's my step-by-step guide on how to be invisible in AI search by 2026.
Follow it exactly and watch competitors dominate your market.

Here's the reality:
AI search isn't replacing SEO.
It's exposing who was doing real SEO vs. who was gaming the system.

The fundamentals still matter:
Publish valuable, original content on your domain
Structure it so AI can understand and cite it
Get mentioned by credible external sources
Build topical authority, not keyword spam
Focus on answering real questions

Most businesses are waiting.
Waiting to understand.
Waiting for clarity.
Waiting for the "right time."

While they wait, others are building the authority AI trusts.

You don't need to understand transformer models.
You don't need to be an AI expert.

You need to do the fundamentals well.
And you need to start now.

Six months from now, you'll wish you started today.

Which of these are you guilty of? (Be honest with yourself)

10 ways to be invisible in AI search by 2026


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