Digital Marketing Stories

Hosted by Jim Banks

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May 2026

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About the show

Want to know the characteristic ALL digital marketers share? They have ALL made bad decisions at some point in their digital marketing career. In every podcast episode you'll hear from digital marketing experts who have made bad decisions and the lessons they learned in the process. Digital marketers, entrepreneurs, business owners or people who just like to listen to cringeworthy stories, prepare to be entertained and educated. Candid discussions, guaranteed with the odd bit of profanity here and there. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

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56 recent

May 15, 202641 min

The Real Reason Industry Giants Win at Affiliate Marketing

If you're a digital marketing professional, agency leader, affiliate marketer, or entrepreneur looking to scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights:Affiliate Marketing Essentials in 2026: Learn what it takes to start and scale a successful affiliate business—how to vet advertisers, select profitable offers, and avoid common payment pitfalls.Building a Sustainable Agency: Stas shares his blueprint for transitioning from solo affiliate marketer to leading a 20-person agency, including hiring, outsourcing, and keeping your team motivated for the long haul.Mastering Industry Networking: Discover why attending affiliate summits, conferences, and in-person events is non-negotiable for career growth, industry insights, exclusive deals, and forming lasting business relationships.The Rise of AI in Digital Marketing: Explore practical applications of AI—from content generation to campaign optimization—and learn the right way to automate agency tasks without risking ad account bans.Native Advertising Deep Dive: Why platforms like Taboola, Outbrain, and MGID are gaining traction, the budgets needed to succeed, and which verticals benefit most from native ads as a premium traffic source.Team Engagement & Retention: Understand the importance of motivation beyond money, career development paths, and how to support rising talent within your organization to reduce churn and foster innovation.Stas Slota | LinkedInLeaderPrivate | Media Buying AgencyI have one small favour to ask.Can you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts.Your support helps inspire me to get the very best guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories

April 8, 202635 min

The Website Mistakes Killing Your ROAS (And How To Fix Them)

In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories Jim Banks sits down with Ivan Janku for an honest chat about running an agency, surviving in the ever-changing marketing world, and the real challenges behind the scenes.If you want a peek into what it truly takes to make it in digital marketing, you don’t want to miss this episode.YouTube - No BS AdsLinkedInInstagram - No BS AdsDigital Rocket - Full-Stack Growth Marketing AgencyI have one small favour to ask.Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts.Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories

December 24, 202535 min

From Inbox to Sales - Proven Automation Tricks You Need Now

Are you ready to elevate your digital marketing in 2025? In this episode of Digital Marketing Stories, Perry Sheraw—email marketing expert and automation strategist—joins host Jim Banks to dive deep into the latest trends, game-changing tools, and proven strategies for turning your email list into a revenue powerhouse.From leveraging AI for advanced personalization to practical segmentation tactics and platform recommendations (HubSpot, Klaviyo, Shopify), get actionable tips straight from a seasoned pro. Whether you're a marketing manager at a growing e-commerce brand, a B2B leader, or a digital marketing enthusiast, this episode delivers the strategies you need to succeed in the evolving digital landscape.

November 11, 20251 hr 6 min

The Art of Surviving Google’s AI Takeover in Paid Search

From conference travels in London, Berlin, and Bologna, to candid discussions about how the world of Pay Per Click advertising has shifted, Kirk and Jim peel back the curtain on everything from early Google Ads hacks to today's AI-driven campaigns. Dive into topics including:PPC Evolution: How the landscape has dramatically changed in the past two years and what digital marketers MUST know to stay ahead.Brand Bidding Masterclass: Should you bid on your own brand or not? Discover the nuanced strategies that separate high-performing campaigns from wasted ad spend.Performance Max & Automation: The real impact of Google's automation on small and large advertisers—and what agency owners need to watch out for.Efficiency vs Growth: Why modern PPC is increasingly about efficiency, and how managers can strategically support broader business goals.Data, Privacy & Attribution: Learn how data limitations, privacy (GDPR), and evolving attribution models impact campaign performance and reporting.Expert Advice for Agencies & Brands: Hear industry-tested tactics for campaign structure, budgeting, and leveraging automation without sacrificing control.Whether you're a seasoned digital marketing pro or just getting started in PPC, this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh perspectives that will help you boost ROI, streamline your strategies, and adapt with confidence in a competitive market.Ponderings of a PPC Professional🎙 Introducing the PPC Ponderings Podcast 🎙 | ZATO PPC MarketingX - PPC KirkYouTube - Merchant Center MasteryTikTok - Make Your DayKirk Williams - ZATO | LinkedInZATO Marketing | PPC Management, Paid Ad ManagementI have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

October 21, 20251 hr 28 min

The Marketing Mistake You’re Making That’s Killing Your Business

In today’s episode, Jim welcomes John Dwyer (JD), founder of the Institute of Wow, for a dynamic and entertaining conversation packed with real-world marketing wisdom and a few cheeky stories along the way.Jim and John dive deep into the world of direct response marketing, sharing how classic principles from marketing legends like Claude Hopkins are still at the heart of successful campaigns, even as platforms and technologies evolve. With stories of behind-the-scenes secrets of incentive-based promotions, you’ll hear how the best marketers have relied on hooks, storytelling, and creativity for decades.John brings his flair, offering actionable insights for small business owners, sharing real-life examples of sales promotions, database-building strategies, and the power of “Happy Meal toy” incentives. Plus, hear how he’s adapted big-brand tactics for local businesses—and why collecting customer data remains a game-changer in today’s hyper-digital economy.Whether you’re a digital marketer, entrepreneur, or just marketing-curious, this episode is full of laughter, candid life lessons, and loads of practical tips you can use to “wow” your customers and scale your business.Grab your notepad, and get ready for a candid, story-filled episode that’ll challenge your assumptions and spark your next big idea.YouTube - The Institute of WowFacebook - The Institute of WowJD as a Podcast GuestInstitute of WowI have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

October 14, 202546 min

What Every Marketer Gets Wrong About Data and Media Buying

In this high-impact episode of Digital Marketing Stories, host Jim Banks sits down with Young Han, a serial entrepreneur, fractional COO/CFO, and founder of multiple service businesses.They tackle one of today's biggest digital challenges: data-driven decision-making in an AI-powered, rapidly evolving marketing world.Key Takeaways:The Power of Accurate Data: Young and Jim break down why drowning in data can be worse than having none at all. Learn how to distinguish good data from bad data, and avoid costly mistakes amplified by AI hallucinations.Future-Proofing Your Digital Marketing Operations: Discover why the lines between marketing, operations, and finance are fast disappearing—and how modern roles require strategic partnerships and collaboration.Secrets to Scaling Boring Businesses: Young shares real-world lessons from building a pool cleaning business from scratch to $4M ARR—revealing operational hacks and marketing tweaks that drive exponential growth.Fractional Leadership Explained: Unpack what a fractional COO or CFO really does, the value for startups and established companies, and how this model can drive rapid, cost-effective improvements in marketing and business processes.Attribution and UTM Tracking Masterclass: Find out how simple changes to ad creatives, UTM parameters, and SOPs can transform your campaign results, giving you clarity on ROI and channel effectiveness.Entrepreneurial Mindset & Work-Life Integration: Young’s candid take on ditching "work-life balance" in favor of an integrated, self-aware approach that actually works for busy leaders—and the systems to make it sustainable.Whether you’re a marketing manager at an SMB, a tech-savvy founder scaling service brands, or a data-driven digital strategist, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Learn how to leverage data, optimize operations, and drive your business forward in the age of AI.Podcast - The Girl Dad ShowTikTok - Make Your DayYoung Han - Thesis | LinkedInYoung Han - Instagramhttps://www.alwayshan.com/I have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

September 2, 20251 hr 2 min

You’ll Never Believe How He Sold Out Events Using Only Instagram

Looking for actionable strategies in digital marketing, event promotion, and social media audience growth? Want the inside story on the power of authenticity and resilience in business? This episode is your go-to guide.Key Takeaways:Event Marketing Secrets: How Benjamin leverages micro-influencers, geographic social media targeting, and eye-catching guerrilla campaigns to fill venues and drive ticket sales.Social Media for Local Brands: Strategic tips for building a hyperlocal audience, identifying authentic small-scale influencers, and creating content that gets people talking.Entrepreneurship with Adversity: Learn how overcoming dyslexia and health challenges shaped Benjamin’s fortitude, communication skills, and business approach—valuable lessons for anyone facing obstacles.Leveraging Technology: Discover the newest AI and assistive tools for learning differences and how they can level the playing field in business and education.Leadership & Team Management: Insightful discussion on building a team, delegating, setting code of conduct for event staff, and the importance of personal reputation in a service-driven business.Resources discussed on the episodeFree Text to Speech & AI Voice Generator - ElevenLabsI have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

August 26, 20251 hr 3 min

The PPC Agency Tactics That Turn Failing Campaigns Into Gold

Welcome to another episode of Digital Marketing Stories. This week, Jim talks to Joel Bondorowsky, a seasoned digital marketer and founder of PPC Designs, a boutique agency specializing in helping startups and e-commerce brands grow through paid media. Introduced by a previous guest, Anton Shulke, Joel shares his journey from the early days of dial-up internet, when concepts like click-through rates and conversion rates were brand new, to building successful campaigns for well-known brands like Wix and similarweb.Jim and Joel delve into the evolution of PPC advertising, navigating the shift from manual controls to AI-driven platforms like Google and Meta. They discuss what’s gained and lost as algorithms take over, the impact on small businesses, and the critical importance of data-driven decision-making and signal quality. Joel also opens up about his experiences as a speaker and educator, highlighting the value of sharing knowledge through events and training programs, and why real-world experience is still the best teacher in digital marketing.Whether you're a marketing veteran or just dipping your toes into paid media, this episode is packed with insights on adapting to industry changes, managing client relationships, and using data to drive meaningful results. Get ready for some practical advice, a touch of nostalgia, and a whole lot of digital marketing wisdom.Resources discussed on this episodeRegister Now and Start Your FREE Trial Immediately of SimilarwebSemrush - SEO, keyword researchI have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

August 19, 202535 min

The Visibility Secrets Every Female Entrepreneur NEEDS to Hear

Are you a digital marketer, woman entrepreneur, or aspiring business owner aiming to make a real impact in the online world? This episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.Michelle Thames shares her inspiring journey from being fired to becoming a self-taught marketing powerhouse, all while building a thriving online community for women over the age of 42. Discover why carving out your own lane and leveraging your existing skills is the key to sustainable business success - especially in male-dominated industries.Learn how Michelle:Helps women monetize their expertise using social media, email marketing, and non-cookie-cutter strategiesBuilds tight-knit, supportive communities—through weekly coaching calls, exclusive webinars, mastermind events, and luxury retreatsUtilizes short, fuss-free podcast episodes (more than 500 of them) to deliver value and practical tips you can implement right awayMaintains authenticity and demonstrates her credibility by “being in the trenches” and leading by exampleNavigates challenges, pivots through economic changes, and finds fulfillment by pursuing passion over profitExperiments with new platforms like Substack to enhance audience engagement and monetizationKey Takeaways for Marketers & Entrepreneurs:The importance of visibility - how to get noticed, attract clients, and build your authority onlineHow community-driven support accelerates learning, resilience, and business growthWhy batching content, systematising networking, and taking care of your mindset are crucial for long-term successThe vital need to build client relationships that are genuine, not just transactionalStrategies for leveraging new digital platforms to boost reach and revenueIt's a great episode you don't want to miss it.Tools Used To Help Make The ShowSpotter Studio - The all-in-one YouTube Ideation SuiteCastmagicDescript - Video editing, filler word removalOpus Clips - Create short video clips using AII have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 

August 12, 202557 min

How Video Became Our #1 Client Magnet - And How You Can Copy It

We are back with the start of Season 3 of Digital Marketing StoriesAfter a much-needed sabbatical, host Jim Banks returns with a fresh perspective and an exciting guest to kick things off.Kirsten Graham, is the co-owner of Six Figure Business Coaching. In this episode Kirsten shares her 15+ years of entrepreneurial experience, diving into the world of outsourcing, automation, and the power of video marketing for small businesses.Kirsten reveals why she believes YouTube is just as crucial for business owners today as a website was back in the early 2000s, and how genuine video content can forge meaningful client connections—even before a handshake. Jim and Kirsten get honest about the realities of solopreneurship, overcoming the fear of being on camera, building authentic communities (online and off), and using evergreen content to consistently attract the right clients.They also chat about the importance of staying hands-on with your finances, how to embrace support through outsourcing, adapting to the rise of AI, and the untapped value of maintaining an active email list. Plus, the conversation touches on finding your voice as a content creator, market research secrets, the unexpected magic of podcasting, and why sometimes your best clients find you—not the other way around.Whether you’re ready to scale to six figures or just getting started in your business journey, this episode is packed with stories, practical insights, and a few laughs to inspire your next chapter. If you are an aspiring female business owner this is an episode not to be missed.Spotter Studio - The all-in-one YouTube Ideation SuiteYouTube - Six Figure BusinessInstagram - Six Figure BusinessSix Figure Business CoachingDescript - Video editing, filler word removalI have one small favour to ask. Would you please follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps inspire me to get more guests to come and share their stories.Just search for Digital Marketing Stories 