Rocky Mountain Marketing- Digital Marketing for Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with Kelly Schuknecht , founder of Two Mile High Marketing and a personal branding strategist, to unpack what it really means to build an authentic brand in today’s AI-saturated world. Kelly shares how she accidentally built her personal brand over 15 years ago, and how that journey led her to help other professionals turn their expertise in...

What does it really take to scale your business without losing your sanity? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with my friend, business partner, and COO of Next Step Social & Podcasting, Shawn Quintero . Shawn pulls back the curtain on the systems, strategy, and mindset shifts that have helped us scale Next Step Social & Podcasting —and support clients doing the same....

I’ll be honest—most business owners and marketers I talk to think their tracking is dialed in… but they’re still flying blind. Why? Because they’re trusting platforms like Google or Meta to tell them what’s working. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sat down with Zeke Camusio , founder of Data Speaks , to talk about why your tracking pixels might be lying to you —and how to fix it. Z...

What if your website could generate leads while you sleep? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with Wes Towers , founder of Uplift 360 , to talk about what most business owners get wrong about their websites—and how to fix it. Wes shares his innovative approach to Search Everywhere Optimization , explains how to build an AI-proof content strategy , and breaks down how to make...

When crisis strikes, will your business be ready? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with Mike Swenson to uncover what every small and mid-sized business must know about crisis management. Mike shares his 30+ years of experience in public relations and walks us through a five-step framework for creating a crisis plan that actually works. From social media slip-ups to data brea...

If your business isn’t ranking on Google Maps, you might as well be invisible. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I am joined by local SEO expert Josh Thompson , founder of Bright Beam SEO. They dive deep into practical strategies that local business owners can implement today to rank higher in local search results. Josh shares his powerful OCTBR SEO framework— Optimize, Content, Target...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m joined by Bradford Carlton , an AI automation strategist helping entrepreneurs take back their time using low-code and no-code AI agents. Bradford explains how AI agents—think “digital employees”—can handle repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and even replace entire job functions… all for pennies on the dollar. We discuss what platforms to star...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I spoke with Hunter Jensen , founder and CEO of Barefoot Solutions, to explore the often-overlooked risks and opportunities in building AI strategies for business. Hunter shares expert guidance on: How companies can use AI without compromising sensitive data Why blindly plugging your proprietary info into ChatGPT is dangerous What a strong AI governanc...

Ever wonder why your marketing isn’t attracting the right audience—even when your product is great? In this episode, I sit down with Lisanne Murphy, creator of Lumina Growth Lab and a master of scaling businesses using psychology-driven strategies. We explore what “dream traffic” actually means, why not all leads are created equal, and how understanding your audience’s behavior can cut acquisition...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m joined by Mike Montague , creator of the Avenue 9 AI Tools list and a leading voice in ethical, human-first marketing with AI. We dive into the tools, mindset shifts, and ethical considerations every business owner needs to navigate the evolving AI landscape. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just testing the waters with ChatGPT, this episo...

Starting a podcast is easy—but building one that shortens your sales cycle, drives high-ticket leads, and supports your business? That’s a different game. In this episode, Katie sits down with Megan Dougherty of One Stone Creative to unpack the business strategy behind podcasting. They dive into podcast value math, why most shows fail to convert, and how to create episodes that become evergreen sa...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , host Katie Brinkley speaks with Jeff Holman, founder of Intellectual Strategies and a seasoned attorney who helps startups and growing businesses navigate the tricky legal terrain of entrepreneurship. They dive into the most common legal mistakes founders make, such as skipping trademark registration, not having the right agreements in place, and relyi...

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m joined by Sara Nay—CEO at Duct Tape Marketing—to dive into a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business with strategy-first content. We’re talking about what most business owners get wrong when it comes to content, how the Marketing Hourglass can change the way you view your sales journey, and how AI and automation can elevate—not replace—...

If you’ve been pouring money into Facebook ads with zero return or relying on Google only to end up buried on page three, it’s time for a shift. In this episode, I sit down with digital marketing veteran Marilyn Jenkins , founder of MJ Media Group, who’s been helping local businesses scale since before most people had email. She breaks down exactly how local businesses are getting 14X ROI using st...

Raise your hand if you've ever said, “I'll figure it out later.” Spoiler: later often turns into never—and as entrepreneurs, that’s a recipe for burnout. On today’s episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m joined by business operations strategist Jessica Millhiser , founder of J Mills Consulting . With nearly two decades of experience in operations, leadership, and coaching, she’s on a mission to...

Here’s a question I’ve been asking clients—and myself: What if posting less actually gets you more traction? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m peeling back the curtain on how my team at Next Step Social scaled back on content volume, leaned into intentional engagement, and won two international creative awards in the process. This is the exact strategy that’s helping our clients sp...

 You’ve been told networking is key to business growth—but if you're still relying on business cards and “just checking in” emails, you're doing it wrong. In this episode, I sit down with Devin Sizemore , business strategist and creator of the Connection Expansion System, to break down: Why your current network isn’t sending you leads How to flip the script and actually enjoy networking A fiv...

What happens if your podcast guest asks you to delete an episode after it airs? Or worse—if you get hit with a copyright notice for using a 5-second audio clip? In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , Katie sits down with renowned media and entertainment attorney Gordon Firemark—aka The Podcast Lawyer —to unpack the essential legal steps every podcaster needs to take to protect their content...

What happens when two Katies get together at Podcast Movement Evolutions? A conversation packed with practical, portable, and powerful content creation tips. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sat down with Katie Fawkes , Director of Marketing at Ecamm , live from Podcast Movement Evolutions in Chicago. Despite being on the road, we used Ecamm to record this episode—showcasing just ho...

Tired of feeling gross every time you try to “sell” your services? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to sell that way anymore. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I sit down with Aleasha Bahr , sales expert, author of The Black Sheep Sales Method , and someone who has completely transformed my approach to selling. We caught up live at Social Media Week Lima to talk about a different wa...

Sign Up with Metricool today! https://metricool.com/katie Are you only tracking sales but missing the bigger story your website is trying to tell you? This week on Rocky Mountain Marketing, we dive into the real power behind your website analytics with digital strategist and author Philippa Gamse . With 25+ years of experience and 500+ clients, Philippa knows exactly how to decode your data and tu...

Sign Up with Metricool today! https://metricool.com/katie What if everything you thought you knew about SEO was already outdated? Between AI-generated search, algorithm chaos, and rising content noise—staying visible online isn’t about doing more , it’s about doing it smarter. In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Okamoto from Boostability —a global SEO powerhouse supporting 30,000+ businesses—...

After five years, nearly 400 episodes, and so many unforgettable interviews, I’ve got a BIG update for you. In this episode, I’m sharing a major evolution in the Rocky Mountain Marketing brand—and introducing you to my brand new podcast: Marketing Trends Now . If you’ve been loving the short, tactical Thursday QuickCasts, get ready—those episodes are getting their own dedicated show! In this heart...

Sign Up with Metricool today! https://metricool.com/katie In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing , I’m joined by the brilliant Neal Schaffer—fractional CMO, author of Digital Threads , and all-around marketing strategist. If digital marketing feels like a never-ending to-do list, Neal’s practical framework will help you shift from chaos to clarity. We dive into how entrepreneurs can stop spin...

Want to try Metricool for yourself? Use code Katie30 for a 30-day trial of their premium features. Start your free trial now and see how it fits your business. https://metricool.com/katie?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=20250520_katie-brinkley_rmm-jim-mcleod_en&utm_content=audio&utm_term=q2 Let’s be honest—social media can feel like a full-time job. If you’ve...