Marketing

Two unrelated client projects landed in Susan Finch's lap the same week — a document hub for Dan Pflugshaupt (Gallery of Homes, CSSE, NRBA) and FAQ content built for AI answer engines for Michele Scherger on Florida's Treasure Coast. Different clients, different states, same underlying problem: ads and content that dump people on a homepage instead of giving them a real answer.
Susan walks through what changes when every page has to stand completely on its own, why Corey Frank and Chris Beall's "earn the next conversation, not the close" philosophy from Market Dominance Guys applies far beyond sales calls, and how a resource hub organized by real-world sequence beats a folder full of files every time.
Includes a practical homework list anyone can run on their own site this week.
 
00:00 — Cold open: two different client projects, same underlying problem
01:15 — The wasted click: ads that dump people on a homepage
02:00 — The test: would this page help someone who never buys from you?
02:51 — Corey Frank and Chris Beall: earn the next conversation, not the close
03:37 — Dan Pflugshaupt's document hub as the working example
04:28 — Why it's a landing page with a request-it CTA, not a shared drive
05:09 — Organizing by situation and transaction sequence, not alphabetically
07:44 — Don't gate everything behind a form too early
08:00 — The naming convention nobody wants to talk about
08:49 — Pivot to Michele Scherger's FAQ project and the answer engine angle
09:18 — Why AI answer engines reward clear, complete answers
10:29 — Dan's six-category hub structure, sequenced by real transaction flow
11:09 — Walk beside your site visitors, don't rush the close
12:02 — Homework: audit your last three ad campaigns
13:18 — What analytics can't tell you — ask your team
13:42 — The Binky Patrol example: people couldn't find what was obvious to Susan
14:49 — Teach your team how to use the hub you already built
15:33 — The offer: ask for an independent review, Austin tells you the truth
16:17 — Close: earning the next conversation, credit to Corey and Chris

Most podcasts don't die because the host runs out of things to say. They die because nobody wrote anything down. In this solo episode, Susan Finch walks through the operational framework Funnel Media Group uses to keep shows running — even when teams shift, guests go quiet, or life gets in the way.
She covers the non-negotiables: documented SOPs for every step from guest outreach to post-production, numbered episode folders, a shared master tracking spreadsheet, templates for audio, video, and clips, a link to your branding guide, and a boost package strategy that actually gets your guests to share the episode.
Short, practical, worth bookmarking. If your show has started and stalled, or you want to set it up right from the beginning, this is where to start.

We're drowning in content glut. Empty posts churned out to keep up with everyone else. There's no joy, no depth, no controversy. You can FEEL the difference between obligated content versus real engagement.
What are we losing? The skill of conversation. The skill of listening. Those spontaneous "hey, come look at this" moments. Pulling each other into offices to analyze something together. These aren't scheduled Q&A sessions. These are the messy, real exchanges where magic happens.
Here's what's fascinating: I was editing Deborah Fell's episode when she mentioned a CEO who told her he NEVER takes meetings, that his schedule is impossible, and that she shouldn't even try. But when she said, "Would you like to be on my podcast?" His response? "Oh, I'm glad to do that."
Professionals at all levels don't want more meetings, sales pitches, or brain-picking sessions. They want real conversations with pushback. They want to share their stories. The best ones are willing to go eyeball to eyeball on important topics.
Stop trying to feed the algorithm with volume. Stop the sycophant responses and empty praise. Stop formatting everything with bullets just because you think you're supposed to.
Start having conversations worth recording. Start capturing spontaneity. Start admitting when we don't have the answer and need to think together. Start going back to people and saying, "Remember when we talked about this? What happened?" Consider getting the "monument" update - the current state of a conversation or event of the past.
That's what this conversation with Deborah is about. Getting back to real conversations. 

You earned that certification. Now what?
If you're like most professionals, you invested time and money into leveling up your expertise... only to let that shiny new credential sit quietly in your inbox, in your bank statement, rather than on your LinkedIn profile. Sound familiar?
In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, I'm sharing the exact 14-day launch plan I use with clients to transform professional certifications into credibility, conversations, and clients.
What you'll learn:
Why the first 48 hours after certification are critical (and what to update first)
The "badge reality check" that could be killing your credibility
How one announcement postcard generated 10 quality conversations
The LinkedIn "position hack" that notifies your entire network
A complete checklist to implement in just 2 hours
Whether you just completed training, earned a designation, or achieved any professional milestone, this episode gives you the roadmap to maximize your ROI.
Episode highlights:
[2:00] The trust signal you're not using effectively
[5:00] Why print marketing still works in 2025
[8:00] Your 14-day certification launch plan
[10:00] The part-time position trick for LinkedIn visibility
Stop letting your credentials collect dust. It's time to make them work as hard as you did to earn them.

Join Susan Finch in this solo episode of Rooted in Revenue as she shares actionable strategies for maximizing your conference investment through smart pre-event marketing.
Instead of relying on generic conference-provided graphics, Susan explains how to create your own branded announcements that showcase your attendance and build anticipation. Learn how to develop a comprehensive branding package, prepare custom graphics, update your digital presence, and create specialized landing pages that convert conference connections into lasting business relationships.
From perfecting your business cards to optimizing your Google Business Profile, this episode covers everything you need to stand out at your next conference. Plus, get Susan's recommended tools for accessibility checking, scheduling, and analytics to ensure your marketing efforts deliver real ROI.
Episode Highlights:
Creating custom pre-conference announcement graphics
Building a complete branding package for consistency
Updating your digital footprint before events
Designing conference-specific landing pages
Essential free tools for marketing effectiveness
Connect with Susan at [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn.

Local SEO just got a reality check. Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, joins Rooted in Revenue to debunk some widely held myths while sharing what actually drives results for small businesses trying to dominate local search. If you're a real estate agent sharing office space with ten competitors, a service provider working from home, or any brick-and-mortar business wondering why your Google rankings aren't improving despite "doing everything right," this conversation will change how you approach local SEO forever.
Shaw breaks down the local filter that's silently crushing businesses sharing addresses, reveals why citation consistency isn't the ranking factor everyone thinks it is, and explains why your Google Business Profile needs constant attention, not a "set it and forget it" approach. Plus, he tackles the age-old question about Yelp's practices and shares the one ranking factor that trumps almost everything else.
About Darren Shaw
Darren founded Whitespark in 2005 as a web design and development company; however, his passion and curiosity for all things local search led to a shift in focus in 2010, and ultimately to what the company is today. These days, Whitespark specializes in local search software and services and is one of the most respected and cited in the industry.
Darren has been working on the web for over 19 years and loves everything about local SEO. He leads research initiatives such as the Local Search Ranking Factors survey and the Local Search Ecosystem. He is a regular contributor to search marketing publications, and speaks at conferences around the globe.
When Darren isn’t speaking at conferences, researching the latest in local search or designing the next best local SEO tool, he is spending time with his wife and daughter in their hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. In his spare time he’s traveling, sporting fancy socks, and drinking too much coffee.
Social Links:
https://whitespark.ca/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/
https://www.instagram.com/darrenshawseo/ 
https://www.facebook.com/darrenshawseo  

In this episode, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan revisit a topic we can’t stress enough: branded email addresses. Using Gmail, Yahoo, or even AOL for business? You’re losing trust before the conversation starts. We dig into real examples, onboarding requirements, offboarding protocols, and the risk of letting your team operate with inconsistent or unprotected emails. Your email isn’t just a communication tool—it’s your brand's handshake.
Related Reading:
Domain, Email & Website Evaluation for Your Brand
Why Branded Email Matters – Quick Reminder
Listen, nod, then take action.

Imagine Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Now, imagine Miley Cyrus singing it. It's the same song and the same lyrics—but they feel completely different, right? That’s exactly how typefaces work.
A typeface sets the tone before a single word is read. It tells your audience who you are—before they even realize it. And whether your brand feels classic and trustworthy like Dolly’s Jolene or bold and modern like Miley’s version depends on the choices you make in your typography.”
Today, we’re diving into the world of fonts, branding, and first impressions. We’ll break down:
The difference between a typeface and a font (spoiler: Jolene analogy included 🎶).
Serif vs. sans serif and why your logo doesn’t need to match your website font—but should still make sense together.
Why your brand’s typography needs to be readable, tiny, embroidered, or even on a highway sign (because, trust me, it matters).
And, most importantly, what your font choices say about your brand—before your audience reads a single word.
💡 And hey, if you’re near a logo, a sign, or a package right now, take a look—what does its typeface say to you?

Are your social posts starting to feel stale? Are you spending hours creating fresh content when you already have a goldmine of valuable material gathering digital dust? Stop the endless content creation cycle. Strategic content management isn't about constantly generating new material—it's about maximizing the value of your existing expertise and insights.
In this episode, we cover building and maintaining an effective content bank that transforms your valuable insights into a reusable asset library. Learn why random posts about office pets and foodie highlights aren't part of your content strategy - unless you are in that industry, and discover how to create a systematic approach to content that directly ties to your business goals and mission.
For those frustrated with the constant demand for "fresh" content, we reveal why the same valuable message can and should be shared multiple times, reaching different audiences simultaneously. Plus, get practical insights on tracking engagement, managing client testimonials, and turning client transformations into compelling case studies demonstrating your expertise.
Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting to build your business's digital presence, this episode offers actionable strategies to work smarter, not harder, with your content management. Say goodbye to content chaos and hello to strategic repurposing that drives real business results.

Your business runs on digital - but when was the last time you gave it a proper checkup? This week on Rooted in Revenue, we're getting real about the nuts and bolts of your digital foundation. Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan share their hands-on experience managing domains (including those late-night wine-inspired purchases we've all made), keeping backups current, and yes - discovering that even storage facilities need retention policies. No fluff, just practical advice on protecting your digital assets and organizing them in a way that actually makes sense. Whether you're a tech pro or still figuring out what DNS means, we've got you covered with straightforward talk and simple solutions for keeping your business's digital world running smoothly.
Here are the key points from the episode:
Domain Management Essentials:
Consolidate all domains to one account/provider
Document registration and renewal dates
Verify owner, admin, and tech contacts are current
Have a clear purpose for each domain
Make every domain work for you - forward unused ones to active properties
Never respond to mail-based domain renewal solicitations (they're scams)
Export and document DNS settings as a backup
Website Security:
Ensure SSL certificates are current and test your site in incognito
Verify site works securely with and without 'www'
Keep security protocols updated
Documentation & Organization:
Create an "Asset Depot" to store all digital asset information
Include backend links, affiliate info, products/services details
Keep all access credentials organized and updated
Document all processes and systems
Backup Systems:
Implement regular backups not stored on the same host
Verify backups are actually working
Test restoration process periodically
Organize files for efficient backup
Retention Policies:
Understand your industry's specific retention requirements
Only retain what's legally required
Create organized folders with destruction dates
Set calendar reminders for data destruction
Be careful with development/test data retention
Regular Auditing:
Make this a yearly review process
Get an outside perspective on systems and processes
Test all systems and access points
Verify all contact information is current