Mean Business

Discussion about how ChatGPT recommendations drive real traffic and what it means for local service businesses trying to stay visible in the AI era. Read the full blog post: https://go.speedmobi.com/chatgpt-recommendations-drive-traffic-pod

The first real ChatGPT ad conversion benchmarks just dropped across 19 industries. HVAC converts at 2.2% on ChatGPT vs 1.9% on Google Ads. Construction matches at 3.4%. Legal beats Google at 2.8% vs 2.3%. Kathy & Keith break down what these numbers mean for service businesses and gives you a 4-step plan to test ChatGPT ads without risking your Google budget. Full blog post: https://go.speedmob...

Walmart's new AI assistant Sparky just increased online orders by thirty five percent. In this discussion we unpack what agentic commerce is, how AI agents are changing the way customers buy, and why small businesses actually have an advantage over big corporations when it comes to using this technology. Read the full breakdown at https://go.speedmobi.com/walmart-sparky-ai-pod

Google is cracking down on fake reviews harder than ever - and now they're putting public warning banners right on business profiles for everyone to see. In this discussion we break down the new four-step enforcement process, which common review practices are now banned, and what local businesses need to do right now to protect their online reputation. Read more at https://www.speedmobi.com/g...

Google just removed pagination from Local Finder results. If your business is not in the top 20, customers will never see you. The change is live now. In this episode, we cover what changed, who gets hurt the most, how Google decides the top 20, and exactly what you should do this week to protect your local ranking.  Full blog post: https://go.speedmobi.com/google-local-finder-drops-pagination-top...

Walmart just rolled out an AI assistant called Sparky that boosted online orders by thirty five percent. But here is the thing. The same technology that powers Sparky is available to small businesses right now. In this episode I break down what agentic commerce actually means, why it matters for service businesses, and three steps you can take this week to put AI to work in your business. Read the...

Google just changed the rules on reviews - and the punishment is way worse than it used to be. If your business gets caught with fake or paid-for reviews, Google now puts a public warning banner right on your listing. Every customer sees it. In this episode I break down what changed, what practices are now banned (some will surprise you), and exactly how to get reviews the right way so this never...

New 2026 data shows AI phone agents cut no-shows by 35-40% and recover $15,000 to $45,000 per year for service businesses. Plus they save 8 hours per week on scheduling. In this episode, we dig into the numbers, explain why voice beats text for reminders, and walk through exactly what AI phone agents do for service businesses.  Full blog post: https://go.speedmobi.com/ai-phone-agents-cut-no-shows-...

A new Zapier survey found that 92% of sales teams lose qualified leads every single month. But it's not because the leads are bad. It's because the follow-up is broken. In this episode: - 68% of reps waste 3-10 hours/week on CRM busywork - 42% never follow up after first contact - 37% of leads get stuck between tools Full blog: https://go.speedmobi.com/92-percent-leads-pod

Google is rejecting business review replies without telling anyone. A Sterling Sky study found that owners think their replies are live, but customers never see them. We break down what triggers rejections, how to check your replies, and the new review rewards crackdown. Plus, simple rules for writing replies that actually stick. Read the full post: https://go.speedmobi.com/review-replies-pod

OpenAI just opened self-serve advertising to every U.S. business with zero minimum spend. No agency needed. No massive budget required. Just you, your business, and a brand-new way to reach customers at the exact moment they're asking AI for help. In this episode, we break down: - How ChatGPT Ads actually work (it's nothing like Google or Facebook) - Why ads inside AI conversations have...

In this episode, we break down exactly what's happening, why it matters if you run a local service business, and the simple fixes that can turn this around fast. A 5% bump in retention can boost your profits up to 95%. We'll show you how. 📖 Read the full breakdown with action steps: https://speedmobi.com/blog/marketing-budget-mistake-acquisition-retention?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_m...

New data shows that a plumber with 40 reviews who gets 3 new ones every week will now outrank the plumber with 400 reviews who hasn't gotten one in months. Google's algorithm now evaluates reviews on rolling 30-day and 90-day windows instead of lifetime totals. In this episode, we break down: - The freshness decay curve — a review from this week carries 100% weight, but one from last yea...