Marketing with Purpose

Responding to Board Members "Good Intentions"

Every organization has a Bob. He means well, he really does. He cares about the mission, shows up to every meeting, and is FIRED UP about mailing out magnets. Or a magazine ad. Or a whole new initiative nobody asked for. This episode was a listener request - because apparently everyone has a Bob, and nobody knows quite what to say to him. Monica and Stacy walk through how to handle board members, volunteers, and employees with big ideas and bigger enthusiasm, without crushing their spirit or losing your sanity. Why this conversation feels so much harder than it should  The three reasons you might be struggling to say no with confidence A simple framework (nicknamed ASRI) for responding without guilt - or a fight Bob isn't the enemy. He's proof people care about the mission. This episode is about putting that energy somewhere it'll actually do some good. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/responding-to-board-members-good-intentions/

What to Put on Your Services Pages (So People Actually Contact You)

If your services pages are just a paragraph and a phone number, you're leaving money on the table. In this episode, Monica and Stacy break down exactly what needs to be on each of your services pages so the right people find you, trust you, and actually reach out. They cover: Why you need one page per service — and when the exception applies Whether you need a services landing page (hint: it depends on how many services you have) Why a service page is a sales page, not a placeholder Exactly what to include on each page, from trust signals and FAQs to pricing, staff photos, and calls to action When you need location pages — and when you really don't Plus they share the checklist from the companion blog post on mayecreate.com that you can drop straight into ChatGPT to audit your own pages. If you've been meaning to update your website content and keep putting it off, this episode will show you where to start. Find the full checklist and blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

Is Blogging Still Worth It? (Blogging Didn't Die, But Your Strategy Might Have)

If you've been watching your blog traffic drop and wondering if blogging is dead—this episode is for you. Short answer: blogging still works. But the 2015 playbook (publish 4+ posts a month, chase keywords, watch the traffic roll in) is dead. The goal changed. It's not about driving massive traffic anymore. It's about proof—proving you know what you're doing, getting cited by AI, and building credibility that compounds over time. In this episode: What blogging actually does NOW (and why traffic volume doesn't matter anymore) The new metrics that tell you if it's working When you should quit blogging entirely and do something else instead Whether you need a new strategy or permission to stop, this episode will help you figure out what blogging should actually be doing for your business in 2026. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/is-blogging-still-worth-it/

AI & Search: What It Actually Means for Your Website

Every third question we get these days is about AI.  "Is it going to kill Google?" "Do I even need a website?" "What does this mean for my business?" So we figured it was about darn time we talk about it ourselves from the angle we do best - websites.  Yes, AI is changing how search works. Heck, AI is changing how AI works. But for most businesses, the impact is more "interesting shift" than "five-alarm fire." Websites aren't obsolete - AI Overviews pull FROM websites. They don't replace them. In this episode we break down what's actually changing, who needs to pay attention, and what a well-built website is already doing right without you lifting a finger. Plus we get into how to tell if AI is already pulling from your content - and what to do if you want it to do it more. Spoiler alert! For once, amazingly, the game of getting found online didn't actually change. The scoreboard just looks a little different now. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/ai-search-what-it-means-for-your-website/ Tutorial: How to use Google Analytics & Search Console to tell if your website is being shown in AI search →

The Future of Online Ads with Guest RJ Hubert

State of the Internet 2026

The internet changes faster every year. And 2025 said, “hold my beer.” How people find you, whether they trust you, and if they even visit your website - all of it changed. Again. And if you’re not paying attention, you could be losing customers without even knowing why. The internet in 2026 isn’t the internet we built websites for five, ten, or fifteen years ago. Traffic is down. Tracking is harder. And a huge chunk of your “visitors” aren’t even human. We wade through these mazes daily while building websites and like to share - first, because we enjoy geeking out, and second, so you don’t have to go in blind. The short version:  Bots are everywhere.AI ate a big chunk of your traffic.And your Google Business listing is probably more important than your social media now. Fun times. We also break down what’s happening with cookies, privacy laws, and why your PHP version matters way more than you think. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/state-of-the-internet-2026/

Tricks to Fix and STOP Website Spam

You wake up to 47 emails about cryptocurrency, someone wants to sell you SEO services (the irony), and three bots are VERY concerned about your website's performance. You know the drill. You delete five, ten more appear. You silently cuss technology and consider just shutting down your contact form entirely and making people send carrier pigeons instead.  You, my friend, are NOT alone. AND you don't have to live like this. In this week’s episode our resident bot bouncer Rebecca joined me to share how she protects over 300 websites from spam armies. Everything from the basics you can set up in 10 minutes to advanced bot warfare (yes, that's a real thing and yes, it's as satisfying as it sounds). Rebecca explains: How to shut down comment spam (spoiler: just turn them off) The two essential tools that stop form spam before it hits your inbox automatically How reCAPTCHA actually works (it's not just about clicking a box) When to bring out the big guns: manual logic tests, IP blocking, and CDNs Why Cloudflare protects websites using lava lamps (we're not making this up) If you don’t have spam YET and haven’t done anything to your knowledge to block it don't wait until your inbox is a disaster zone. Most of these fixes take minutes to implement and will save you hours of sorting through garbage in the future. Prefer to read? We turned the whole episode into a blog post for you to reference whenever you need it. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/tricks-to-fix-and-stop-website-spam/

How to tell your boss that part of your job sucks.

Ever stare at your computer thinking "there HAS to be a better way to do this"? Like that task at work that takes 3x longer than it should. The one everyone complains about but nobody fixes.You know it needs to change. You might even know HOW to fix it. But telling your boss? That feels risky. What if they think you're just complaining? What if you come across as difficult? What if they say no and then it's just...awkward?In my early 20s I was the silently suffering employee. Now I'm the boss wishing people would just TELL me when something's broken before we waste months (or years) doing it the hard way. So I pulled Stacy in for this one to get her take on both sides of this conversation. In this episode, we cover: How to decide if it's actually worth bringing up (or if you just need a Coke and a walk) The 9 questions to ask yourself before approaching your boss How to approach different types of bosses strategically What to say (and what NOT to say) to look entrepreneurial instead of difficult When to just quit instead—because sometimes that IS the answer Fair warning: This is a long one. But if you're thinking "I can't do another day of THIS"—it might be exactly what you need. Want more? Check out the full blog post with all the details at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-tell-your-boss-that-part-of-your-job-sucks/

Home Page Design Tips

Quick question: If someone landed on your home page right now, would they know what you do in nano seconds? Or would they have to scroll, squint, and guess? Most home pages fall into one of two traps: they're either cluttered and confusing, or they're an image desert with no actual words explaining what you do. Either way, visitors can't figure out what you offer—so they just leave. Your home page isn't a novel. And it's not a photo gallery. It's a receptionist. It should greet people, tell them what you do, and point them where they need to go. That's it. In this episode, we break down exactly what your home page needs to do (and what it definitely doesn't need to do): The billboard test—can someone understand what you do at 70mph? Why your header area matters more than you think How to prove you're awesome without just saying "we're awesome" over and over Plus, using AI as a tool (not a crutch) to evaluate and improve your page If your home page hasn't been updated in a while—or you're not totally sure it's doing its job—this one's for you. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/home-page-design-tips/

Last-Minute Nonprofit Year-End Giving Website Checklist

Your year-end campaign emails are probably amazing. Your social posts? On point. Your stories? Compelling. But if your website doesn’t back it up during December, none of that matters. We've seen it happen too many times. Nonprofits pour everything into their year-end campaigns only to have the donation process fall apart at the very last step. So Stacy and Monica made you a checklist.✨ This podcast/blog post combo has 15 tasks organized into three categories: 5 critical must-dos (your donation form HAS to work) 4 quick fact-checks (trust-builders that take minutes) 6 conversion boosters (tackle now or add to next year's list) Don’t let 15 tasks scare you off, it’s okay if you can’t do everything on this list before your campaign kicks off. Start with the critical stuff (testing that donation form), then tackle what you can. A working donation form on a slightly outdated site always beats a broken form on a beautiful one every single time. Your donors are ready to give. Make sure your site is ready to receive.  And even if you don’t look at the blog or listen to the podcast - GO TEST YOUR DONATION FORM ON A PHONE. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/nonprofit-year-end-giving-website-checklist/