Rocky Mountain Marketing- Digital Marketing for Entrepreneurs

Have you ever used AI to write something… and immediately thought, “This isn’t something I would actually say”? You tweak it. You rewrite parts of it. Sometimes you scrap it entirely. And at that point, it feels faster to just do it yourself. That’s not because AI isn’t capable. It’s because it doesn’t understand you yet. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, we’re continuing the AI series...

What if AI isn’t saving you time… Not because it’s not powerful enough, but because you’re using it the exact same way as everyone else? If you’ve ever opened ChatGPT, asked it to write something, and thought “this is going to make everything easier”… only to spend the next 20 minutes fixing it, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. But you are missing the bigger shift. Because right no...

Have you ever had a video get views… but nothing actually came from it? No leads. No engagement. No real traction. And you’re left wondering— is this even working? Because here’s the truth: Views can be one of the most misleading metrics on YouTube. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m breaking down how to actually read your YouTube analytics—so you can stop guessing and start making...

If you’ve been watching the rise of AI video, there’s a good chance you heard about Sora and thought, this changes everything. And in many ways, it did. But now, with OpenAI shifting away from Sora as a standalone tool, a lot of people are asking the wrong question. It’s not: Why is this tool going away? It’s: What does this tell us about where marketing—and AI—is actually going? In this episode o...

Have you noticed your social media engagement dropping lately? Maybe your posts used to spark conversations… and now they feel like they disappear. If that’s happening, you’re not alone—and more importantly, it doesn’t mean your content stopped working. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I break down what’s actually happening across today’s social media landscape—and why engagement is s...

There’s no shortage of conversations about AI right now. Everywhere you look, there’s a new tool promising to save you time, streamline your content, and simplify your marketing. But when I talk to business owners and entrepreneurs, I hear something very different. They’re using AI… but they’re not necessarily feeling more efficient. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m taking a step...

Have you ever opened your podcast dashboard, looked at your downloads, and instantly judged whether your show was successful? If you’re like most podcasters, those numbers can start telling a story in your head. Sometimes it’s encouraging. Other times it’s discouraging. But here’s the problem: most podcasters misunderstand what their statistics actually mean. In this solo episode of Rocky Mountain...

What does it really take to create content that not only ranks on Google but actually converts customers? With search algorithms constantly evolving, AI reshaping how people discover information, and attention spans shorter than ever, the traditional content marketing playbook simply doesn’t work the way it used to. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with Andy Crestodina , co...

Have you ever felt weird sliding into someone’s DMs? Let’s be honest — direct messages can feel personal. Almost intrusive. And with LinkedIn spam and automated bots everywhere, it’s easy to assume that DM outreach is sleazy. But what if I told you that the DMs are actually where the magic happens? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with Jenna Larson, co-founder of GroupTrack...

What if the algorithm disappeared tomorrow? What if Instagram shut down your account? What if LinkedIn throttled your reach? Would you still be able to reach your audience? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sat down with Tracy Beavers, CEO and founder of Tracy Beavers Coaching, to talk about one of the most overlooked (yet powerful) marketing assets entrepreneurs have: your email lis...

What if everything you thought you knew about social media marketing in 2026 was actually backwards? In this solo episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m breaking down the 2026 Social Media Content Strategy Report—and the data reveals something BIG. While 70% of marketers are prioritizing AI-generated content, consumers are asking for the exact opposite. They want real voices. Real connection. R...

If you’re feeling burned out on social media and tired of battling the algorithm, it’s time to consider building something you own—like Substack. In this episode, I’m joined by Jim Fuhs, a seasoned digital marketing strategist and Marine Corps veteran who’s gone all in on Substack. We unpack how this platform has evolved far beyond a newsletter and why it might be the most strategic move you can m...

In this special episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down once again with my business partner and COO, Shawn Quintero, to unveil something close to our hearts: our brand new podcast— Behind the Practice . We're pulling back the curtain on how we’ve evolved as an agency, and why this new podcast is more than just another show—it’s a strategic shift designed to serve the heart of our mission:...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I break down one of the most critical changes we’ve seen on TikTok in a while. With new ownership under the U.S.-based TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, retrained algorithms, and updated Terms of Service, business owners and creators are rightfully asking: Should I still be investing time here? I walk you through what these updates mean, how to respond st...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with my partner-in-purpose (and co-owner of Next Step Social), Shawn Quintero , to break down how we’re using Lunch and Learn workshops to bring business owners and their teams clarity, confidence, and actionable results—without sales pressure or shiny-object overwhelm. As we kick off 2026, we’re leaning into education-first marketing and sh...

In this episode, I sat down with Lianna Patch , a conversion copywriter and comedian, to talk about what really makes content convert in 2026— humor, voice, and human connection . With so much AI-generated content out there, the businesses that win are the ones who sound like themselves . We dive into practical ways to make your copy more engaging, where AI fits into the mix, and why the funniest...

In this solo episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m diving into something that’s been on every entrepreneur’s mind this year: do goals still matter in 2026? The world is changing fast, and with the rise of AI, shifting priorities, and burnout creeping in, it’s easy to lose sight of your direction. But here’s the truth: goals still matter—when you know how to set them right . I’ll share how to:...

As 2025 wraps up, I’m taking you behind the data to reveal the top 10 most downloaded episodes of Rocky Mountain Marketing this year—and the biggest theme that kept emerging : trust-first strategy over trends. In this year-end special, you’ll hear from brilliant guests like Gordon Firemark, Megan Dougherty, Mike Swenson, Lisanne Murphy, Sarah Nay, and more. We cover everything from building trust...

Let me guess—you didn’t start your business to spend hours copying and pasting, chasing down leads, or drowning in admin work. In this episode, I sit down with Mike Allton, Director of Partner-Led Growth at Agorapulse and founder of The AI Hat, to uncover how AI can truly give you back your most valuable resource: time. We break down how to move beyond using AI just for content creation and explor...

What makes some creators cut through the noise while others just… fade into the scroll? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Jay Acunzo , international speaker, storytelling coach, and the mastermind behind the “resonance over reach” philosophy. Jay has worked with brands like Google, HubSpot, and ESPN—and today, he shares what really helps coaches, creators, and business leaders connect with t...

Ready to stop doing it all yourself and build a high-performing team? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , Katie Brinkley sits down with Shawn Quintero , COO and co-owner of Next Step Social & Podcasting, to share exactly how they scaled a remote team that runs on clarity, collaboration, and strong company culture. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Real Challenge in Business 00:45 W...

Every time Austin Armstrong joins me on the show, he’s leveled up—and this time is no different. From billions (yes, billions ) of organic views to launching tools like Syllabi and ThreadMaster , Austin’s name is now synonymous with AI-powered content creation and repeatable virality. In this episode, we dive into the systems, frameworks, and mindset behind Virality —his new book that breaks down...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with the incredible Jenn Herman—Instagram strategist, author of Instagram for Dummies , and founder of the Profit Your Profile community. We unpack what’s actually working for organic Instagram growth in 2025 and beyond. If you’ve ever felt like your content isn’t gaining traction or that the Instagram algorithm is working against you, this...

Running a business on sticky notes, late nights, and last-minute decisions? I’ve been there. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down once again with my operational other half and COO, Shawn Quintero , to share the behind-the-scenes journey of turning Next Step Social & Podcasting from a founder-dependent business into a scalable, framework-driven company. We get real about wha...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with Matthew Rouse—author, agency owner, and AI startup founder—to talk about the real state of AI in business . Forget the hype—Matt and I dive into practical AI tools , how to build better automations , and how small businesses can scale smarter without sacrificing authenticity. We explore: What AI is actually doing for businesses right now...