Throughout my career in digital marketing, I’ve had moments of clarity—epiphanies that reshaped how I approach strategy, execution, and leadership. These weren’t just fleeting insights; they were game-changing realizations that helped me pivot and navigate the complexities of search, organizational dynamics, and business growth.
I recorded over a dozen as a free course at International Webmastery, aptly named Epiphanies in Search. It started with a voice-over to answer questions about some statements for a few people who came across an old keynote I gave at SES Atlanta in 2015 on the web. They and a few others suggested I do them justice by expanding them beyond the hour-long keynote. Most people don’t have the time or attention span to listen to me pontificate on these insights so I am trying to capture some of the highlights in a series of posts.
In the coming weeks, I’ll share a series of posts detailing these epiphanies—lessons that have shaped my approach to digital marketing and can hopefully help you refine yours. From leveraging force multipliers to amplify results, to corporate judo tactics for navigating internal roadblocks, to understanding searcher intent at a deeper level, these posts will cover the frameworks and mental models that have been most impactful. I’ll also dive into demonstrating economic value, calculating employee contribution, and strategies for winning as an agency—all while staying grounded in fundamentals and root causes.
If you’ve ever struggled with getting buy-in, standing out, or proving the value of search, I think you’ll find these insights helpful. Stay tuned for the first post in the series, and let’s explore the strategic shifts that can make a real difference.