The Friedman Group, LLC

Ep 237: 80% Of Healthcare Marketing Budgets Get Wasted: What Smart Practices Do

Brad Friedman — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:00:03 +0000

80% Of Healthcare Marketing Budgets Get Wasted: What Smart Practices Do

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

80% of healthcare marketing budgets are burning money. Here's what actually works — and it's not billboards.

Join Brad Friedman and Rob Odell as they discuss why so many healthcare marketing dollars get wasted, how educational videos build trust, and what better lead follow-up looks like so you can create a more effective patient acquisition system for your practice.

Rob Odell is the owner of wpDuo and a revenue infrastructure specialist who helps medical practices, particularly in ophthalmology and dental, transform their marketing into scalable patient acquisition engines.

At wpDuo, Rob focuses on performance marketing, backend automation, and lead management for medical and elective medical practices. In this conversation, he explains why sustainable growth depends on choosing the right channel, building trust with educational content, and following up with leads the right way.

In this Episode:

Rob challenges the idea that more marketing spend automatically leads to more patients.
Rob explains why billboards and radio often underperform compared to more trackable channels.
Rob shares how educational video helps doctors build trust before a patient ever books an appointment.
Rob discusses why providers should answer real patient FAQs instead of chasing generic social content trends.
Rob argues that a practitioner’s personality and social presence can become a durable business moat.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:05:43] “Talk about what you do. Like you do it every day with patients, just spend five minutes, 30 minutes, maybe longer once a month and answer frequently asked questions, keep notes about 'em and go through that and start to build trust.” – Rob Odell
[00:11:35] “Your social media presence, if you stop thinking about it as an afterthought and start thinking about it as the new website or the new brand moat.” – Rob Odell
[00:16:20] “The offer is a big part of it.” – Rob Odell
[00:18:05] “At some point we're all in the content business, we're just selling services on the back end.” – Rob Odell
[00:21:29] “You've spent money to acquire these leads, so now work them across all possible ways.” – Rob Odell

Today's Guest:

Rob Odell:

Company: https://wpduo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmodell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nottodayrob/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

This podcast is brought to you by Magai. The tool we use for our AI needs. Magai is over 30 AI apps in one. There's just one subscription to access all the best AI models. Get Magai right here, https://friedmansocialmedia.com/magai. And, if it’s your first time purchasing, use BRAD30 at checkout to get 30% off your first 3 months.

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Libsyn is the Host of The Digital Slice Podcast. Just use our Libsyn code SLICE at https://friedmansocialmedia.com/libsyn to get up to 2 months of free podcasting service with Libsyn! Get your show on Apple Podcasts, get critical show-building stats—Libsyn even does video!

Streamyard is the tool we use to stream to all major platforms simultaneously directly from a browser. We also use Streamyard to record The Digital Slice Podcast because of its ability to provide us with crystal clear audio and 1080p video. Sign up today for free at https://friedmansocialmedia.com/streamyard

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Are you looking for a CRM for your business? We suggest taking a look at a few different ones before making your decision. Be sure to look at Nimble, one of our favorite CRMs, and take advantage of a 14-day free trial.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Launch your video Membership course or subscription website community with Uscreen. Uscreen helps creators like you build and grow their online video business with membership sites. See what you can do with Uscreen! https://friedmansocialmedia.com/uscreen

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Thank you for trusting me with my honest opinion on future purchases you may make after listening to this podcast. I am always completely transparent with you. As a friend of The Friedman Group, LLC you allow me to be able to use affiliate/referral links when suggesting items for purchase. Please know I am a customer myself or have done sufficient research to feel comfortable sharing these links with you. When you click on a link and purchase the item I may receive a small “commission.” This allows me to continue to provide you with quality content and doesn't affect you in any way at checkout.

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 237: 80% Of Healthcare Marketing Budgets Get Wasted: What Smart Practices Do appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 236: Small Businesses Must Start Using AI Today

Brad Friedman — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:27 +0000

Small Businesses Must Start Using AI Today

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

As AI moves faster than most businesses can adapt, the real challenge is using it to gain an edge without losing the human thinking and judgment that make us valuable. To do this, we've got to start using AI today.

Join Brad Friedman and Bruce Randall as they explore how businesses can start using AI, what AI is already changing in the workplace, and why human awareness, ethics, and critical thinking matter more than ever, so you can adopt AI strategically without losing your competitive edge or your humanity.

Bruce Randall bridges advanced technology and human awareness. With 25+ years in leadership roles at startups, Oracle Cloud, and AT&T, he has guided organizations through AI-driven transformation, cloud strategy, and large-scale innovation.

Alongside his tech career, Bruce is a Reiki Master and lifelong meditation practitioner, bringing a unique lens to how human consciousness intersects with emerging technologies.

He is the author of The AI Human Paradox, which explores the convergence of AI, brain-computer interfaces, and identity, and he advises on cybersecurity solutions designed for a quantum future.

In this Episode:

Bruce explains why small and midsize businesses should start AI adoption with an easy win and build from there.
Bruce shares a real-world example of AI voice automation that shows how low the barrier to entry has become.
Bruce discusses how AI is already reshaping HR, sales, reporting, training, and customer response workflows.
Bruce warns that companies delaying AI adoption risk losing their competitive and comparative advantage.
Bruce explores why people need to keep doing their own critical thinking even as AI gets better at gathering information.
Bruce unpacks how quantum computing and artificial super intelligence could break today’s assumptions about what machines can do.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:01:00] “You have to look at where AI fits your business, where you can get an easy win, show some return, and get a feel for it, and grow from there.” – Bruce Randall
[00:02:20] “You need to start and do something just to be able to stay up.” – Bruce Randall
[00:04:40] “AI's moving faster than the cloud ever did.” – Bruce Randall
[00:07:00] “You've gotta do your critical thinking yourself and use AI to gather the information.” – Bruce Randall
[00:10:00] “When you have quantum and artificial super intelligence, then every single paradigm we have is broken” – Bruce Randall
[00:13:20] “It's kinda like the Wild West of AI right now.” – Bruce Randall

Today's Guest:

Bruce Randall:

Website: https://theaihumanparadox.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucedrandallusa/
Book: The AI Human Paradox

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link, and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 236: Small Businesses Must Start Using AI Today appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 235: The Reputation Strategy That Turns Reviews Into Real Growth

Brad Friedman — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:21 +0000

The Reputation Strategy That Turns Reviews Into Real Growth

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

If your business is collecting reviews without a clear strategy, you could be leaving visibility, trust, and revenue on the table.

Join Brad Friedman and George Swetlitz as they discuss how reviews, responses, sentiment analysis, and AI can strengthen your reputation management strategy so you can improve visibility, win more customers, and keep them coming back.

George Swetlitz is the Co-Founder of RightResponse AI, a reputation management platform designed to help location-based businesses drive customer growth. RightResponse AI uses advanced AI to help businesses grow through better review management, deeper review insights, and a stronger understanding of the competitive environment—all focused on driving customer acquisition and retention.

George’s approach to AI is grounded in operational experience, with a focus on creating practical solutions that deliver measurable results. Before launching RightResponse AI, he was the CEO of a consolidation of audiology clinics with about 220 locations, where managing reputation to drive organic growth was one of the most important parts of the business.

In this Episode:

George explains why reviews are critical to customer acquisition and retention.
George defines the review ecosystem and why it extends far beyond simply collecting Google reviews.
George breaks down how visibility in Google Business Profile affects whether prospective customers ever find your business.
George shares why personalized review requests outperform generic templates and create a stronger emotional connection.
George shows how AI can turn hundreds of reviews into structured sentiment data that business owners can actually use.
George details how competitor review analysis can uncover trends, weaknesses, and opportunities in your market.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:01:07] “If you do this properly, you can drive growth dramatically through reputation management.” – George Swetlitz
[00:01:41] “I call it the review ecosystem, and that’s often also called reputation management.” – George Swetlitz
[00:06:00] “AI is really terrific at creating these highly targeted, highly emotional, highly connecting messages.” – George Swetlitz
[00:06:33] “We have customers that use photos that have upwards of 75% conversion rates in these kind of group settings because of that connection.” – George Swetlitz
[00:10:42] “AI allows you to take this massive amount of unstructured text and turn it in to highly structured data.” – George Swetlitz
[00:22:00] “It can be an engine for growth as opposed to a task that needs to get done every week.” – George Swetlitz

Today's Guest:

George Swetlitz:

RightResponse AI: https://www.rightresponseai.com/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 235: The Reputation Strategy That Turns Reviews Into Real Growth appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 234: Your Paid Ads Aren’t Working Even If You’re Getting Clicks

Brad Friedman — Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:37 +0000

Your Paid Ads Aren’t Working Even If You’re Getting Clicks

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

Paid ads can waste money fast when your tracking is broken, your goals are fuzzy, and your data never makes it back to the platforms.

Join Brad Friedman and Andy Janaitis as they break down how to build smarter Google and Meta ad campaigns with better measurement, stronger attribution, and more realistic strategies for small businesses so you can spend more confidently and grow profitably.

Andy is the founder and chief strategist of PPC Pitbulls, a boutique digital marketing agency that helps small businesses grow past 7 figures using Google and Meta Ads.

He partners with founder-led brands and e-commerce teams to simplify paid ad strategies, ensuring campaigns are built on solid tracking, clean execution, and profitability—not noise or guesswork.

With over 10 years of agency and analytics experience, Andy’s background spans engineering, web development, and digital strategy. He’s known for his practical, down-to-earth approach that cuts through marketing overwhelm and empowers business owners to take confident action. Whether he’s helping a brand understand attribution or demystify Performance Max, Andy brings clarity, integrity, and a deep respect for the entrepreneurial journey.

In this Episode:

Andy explains why measurement and conversion tracking need to be in place before launching any paid campaign.
Andy shares how to define the right conversion goal instead of optimizing only for clicks or views.
Andy discusses how CRMs like HubSpot can connect lead data and offline conversions back to Google and Meta.
Andy breaks down why ad platforms perform better when they receive deeper funnel data instead of just top-level lead signals.
Andy clarifies how AI-driven ad delivery uses conversion signals to find more of the right prospects.
Andy warns that attribution can get messy when multiple platforms claim credit for the same customer journey.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:00:47] “It's not really worth wasting your money on the ads and you're not gonna get anything out of it.” – Andy Janaitis
[00:01:31] “Is it somebody to book a call? Is it somebody to come on and sign up for your newsletter or download your lead magnet?” – Andy Janaitis
[00:04:00] “Google or Meta is gonna say, Hey, every click is as good as any other click.” – Andy Janaitis
[00:06:40] “This person clicked on the ad, filled out the form, and ultimately became a real client. Let's put the ad in front of more people like that.” – Andy Janaitis
[00:14:40] “Every single dollar that you put into ads has to yield something.” – Andy Janaitis

Today's Guest:

Andy Janaitis:

PPC Pitbulls: https://www.ppcpitbulls.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyjanaitis/
LinkedIn (PPC Pitbulls): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ppc-pitbulls/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNAmAY0uHbCvhmtw5wvIBWQ/
Special Listener Link: https://ppcpitbulls.com/digitalslice/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link, and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 234: Your Paid Ads Aren’t Working Even If You’re Getting Clicks appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 233: Stop Chasing Leads And Start Measuring What Actually Makes Money

Brad Friedman — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:43 +0000

Stop Chasing Leads And Start Measuring What Actually Makes Money

What if your marketing failed because you tested too much at once?

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

Too many marketers test too many variables, chase the wrong metrics, and end up with data they can’t actually use to make better decisions.

Join Brad Friedman and Kenny Ridgell as they discuss how to apply the scientific method to marketing, simplify reporting, connect marketing to sales, and adapt to AI-driven search so you can make smarter decisions with cleaner data and better outcomes.

Kenny Ridgell is a data-driven marketing entrepreneur who has spent the better part of a decade merging art, science, and innovation into measurable growth strategies for his clients.

He is the Founder & CEO of Ridge Media, a firm that stands apart by applying the scientific method to the marketing landscape.

What sets Kenny apart is his ability to translate complex marketing analytics into actionable insights that resonate with founders, CEOs, and business owners alike. He’s dedicated to simplifying the marketing process—focusing on what works, discarding the fluff, and ensuring every decision drives measurable results.

In this Episode:

Kenny explains why the scientific method gives marketers a better framework for running cleaner, more useful experiments.
Kenny shares why testing too many variables at once makes it harder to understand what is actually working.
Kenny argues that too many businesses obsess over lead volume instead of measuring the channels that actually produce sales.
Kenny breaks down why cost per close can be more meaningful than cost per lead when evaluating marketing performance.
And, Kenny reveals how to simplify reporting for CEOs by focusing on a small set of KPIs instead of overwhelming dashboards.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:00:40] “I would say the best way to think of it is like the scientific method being the foundation of how all experiments run.” – Kenny Ridgell
[00:01:34] “I think it's just a lack of scientific methodology in terms of the way that marketing experiments can be done as you're not really actually setting up individual controlled environments for these experiments.” – Kenny Ridgell
[00:03:09] “That's exactly what I'm talking about in terms of just like lack of discipline in the marketing space.” – Kenny Ridgell
[00:08:22] “I think too many businesses focus on leads and they don't focus on sales.” – Kenny Ridgell
[00:10:23] “The confused man always says no.” – Kenny Ridgell
[00:20:40] “Simplify. Simplify. Don't think of everything as being so dense and so complicated.” – Kenny Ridgell

Today's Guest:

Kenny Ridgell:

Company: Ridge Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-ridgell/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Are you looking for a CRM for your business? We suggest taking a look at a few different ones before making your decision. Be sure to look at Nimble, the CRM we use, and take advantage of a 14-day free trial.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 233: Stop Chasing Leads And Start Measuring What Actually Makes Money appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 232: Your Ad Dashboard Is Lying To You! Here’s Why

Brad Friedman — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:40 +0000

Your Ad Dashboard Is Lying To You!

What if the numbers you trust most are sending you in the wrong direction?

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

If you trust platform-reported results without testing them, you may optimize spend around the wrong metrics and miss what actually drives customers.

Join Brad Friedman and Justin Rashidi as they explore data-driven marketing, digital ads, and Justin’s uniquely scientific approach to marketing so you can make better measurement decisions, allocate budget more intelligently, and improve results. If you have ever made marketing decisions based on surface-level metrics, this conversation will challenge how you measure success and help you focus on what really matters.

Justin Rashidi is the founder of SeedX, a consultancy that helps medium to mid-market companies improve performance across data, sales, and marketing. In this episode, he explains how scientific thinking and hypothesis-driven testing can help marketers validate what is really happening inside the business.

With a background rooted in science and engineering, Justin brings a rigorous, data-first mindset to modern marketing. He focuses on helping companies separate platform claims from actual business impact so teams can make smarter decisions about attribution, budget allocation, and growth.

In this Episode:

Justin explains how scientific thinking helps marketers test hypotheses and validate ideas.
Justin reveals why ad platforms often try to claim the maximum amount of credit possible.
Justin breaks down holdout tests and causal impact tests for measuring true marketing impact.
Justin shows why B2B companies should track campaigns all the way to SQLs and customers, not just leads.
Justin discusses why offline relationship-building can still outperform online channels for some B2B companies.
Justin argues that brands should tailor experiences by channel instead of forcing one identical customer journey everywhere.
Justin explores how AI workflows can help smaller teams execute more consistently and efficiently.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:00:25] “I think that scientific thinking is just the idea of testing hypotheses and like building hypotheses.” – Justin Rashidi
[00:01:26] “The biggest problem that exists in the online marketing world is that everyone is trying to trick you or claim the maximum amount of credit possible.” – Justin Rashidi
[00:05:10] “The number one thing that we see in the B2B world is that people actually don't track the campaigns on what is actually driving SQL, like MQLs, SQLs and then like deals, and then they never go back and update the campaigns.” – Justin Rashidi
[00:08:00] “Sometimes these channels just don't produce leads for certain companies.” – Justin Rashidi
[00:10:00] “People get so crazy about numbers and metrics that they forget that like we're interacting with people, like that number is a person” – Justin Rashidi

Today's Guest:

Justin Rashidi:

SeedX: https://seedx.us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rashidi/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X Brad: https://x.com/BradFriedman
X The Friedman Group: https://x.com/FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn The Friedman Group, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 232: Your Ad Dashboard Is Lying To You! Here’s Why appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 231: Is Your Website Shutting Out Customers With Disabilities?

Brad Friedman — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:25 +0000

Is Your Website Shutting Out Customers With Disabilities?

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

What if accessibility is the growth lever your business has been ignoring? One in four people in the U.S. have a disability. Is your website ready?

If your website or app is not accessible, potential customers may be standing at your digital door unable to engage with your business.

Join Brad Friedman and Mike Barton as they explore why digital accessibility matters, where most businesses fall short, and how to build more inclusive digital experiences from the start so you can improve usability, reduce friction, and better serve people with disabilities.

Mike is a marketing and communications leader dedicated to making the internet more accessible for all. As Vice President of Corporate Communication & Content Marketing at AudioEye, Mike leads marketing strategy, driving awareness and demand through blogs, social media, PR, video, and digital storytelling.

Previously, at Adobe, he shaped content and executive messaging across Experience Cloud, Creative Cloud enterprise, and Document Cloud. With deep expertise in customer engagement and industry-specific storytelling, Mike excels at aligning business objectives with audience needs—crafting compelling narratives that resonate with C-suite leaders, end users, and decision-makers across industries.

In this Episode:

Mike explains what digital accessibility means and why it matters in everyday online life.
Mike highlights how people with disabilities experience websites, apps, and digital content differently.
Mike outlines common accessibility problems, including weak alt text, poorly labeled form fields, and generic links.
Mike shares what effective alt text should include so users can understand images in context.
Mike urges businesses to build accessibility into design and development early instead of treating it like a final checkbox.
Mike reframes accessibility as a growth opportunity tied to usability, SEO, and customer loyalty.

Quotes from this Episode:

[00:00:44] “Digital accessibility is really, as it sounds, making the digital world accessible to everybody.” – Mike Barton
[00:01:00] “One in four people in the US have a disability of some sort.” – Mike Barton
[00:03:40] “If you have a presence online, if you have an app, all these things apply to you as well” – Mike Barton
[00:11:40] “Our best practices that we found don't just benefit people with disabilities. They generally also benefit the rest of the population” – Mike Barton
[00:15:03] “It's not a new audience. It's an audience who's been standing at your digital door waiting for you to open it.” – Mike Barton

Today's Guest:

Mike Barton:

AudioEye: https://www.audioeye.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omnibarton/

Connect with Brad

Brad Friedman

X: @BradFriedman and @FriedmanGrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup
LinkedIn (Brad): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/
LinkedIn (The Friedman Group, LLC): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia
Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

You can also call the office at 720.248.8185 or email brad@friedmansocialmedia.com.

Books

“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Sponsors and Tools

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use.

Here is some of the podcasting and video gear we use and recommend. These are often affiliate links.

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone – http://amzn.to/2hWshL8
Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount – http://amzn.to/2hUMVen
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom – http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1
RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution – https://amzn.to/4r8SenH
RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone – https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD
Logitech C920 Webcam – http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk
Neewer 6×9 Foot Green Screen – https://amzn.to/35G4K6u
Elgato Key Light – https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg
LED Lighting Kit – https://amzn.to/35GBPiW
Desk Mounting Stand – https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game! TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Affiliate Links & Transparency

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 231: Is Your Website Shutting Out Customers With Disabilities? appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 230: Why Most B2B Content Fails (And Storytelling Fixes It)

Brad Friedman — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:58 +0000

Why Most B2B Content Fails (And Storytelling Fixes It)

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

If your marketing feels polished but forgettable, brand storytelling may be the difference between blending in and building trust that converts.

Join Brad Friedman and David J. Ebner as they explore story-first content, authenticity, video, AI, sales messaging, and SEO so you can create marketing that resonates with the right audience and supports real business growth.

David is the President and Founder of Content Workshop, a story-first content marketing agency. While in graduate school, he assembled a collective of storytellers whose sole purpose was to use their storytelling skills to help brands create and convert an audience. That idea became Content Workshop in 2013. After graduating from the University of Tampa with an MFA in Creative Writing, he authored the Amazon Best Seller: “Kingmakers: A Content Marketing Story.”

In 2025, Content Workshop acquired Lush Concepts, a web and technology studio, to heighten storytelling through every aspect of a brand's digital and physical footprint. Today, David runs Content Workshop and Lush Concepts from their headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. He also serves as the treasurer for a national non-profit and roasts his own coffee.

In this Episode:

David defines what story-first content means and why narrative matters as much as information.
David explains why effective B2B storytelling should feel closer to Netflix than a textbook.
David clarifies why the customer, not the CEO, should be the hero of the brand story.
David shares why product-market fit is the starting point for building a strong brand story.
David also discusses how storytelling can improve sales decks, websites, email marketing, and social media.

Quotes from this Episode:
“Story-first means that we’re focusing on a narrative thread.” – David Ebner
“So it’s the difference between reading a textbook, and binging Netflix.” – David Ebner
“It’s just the question is whether your brand is brave enough to adopt it.” – David Ebner
“The brand story is not about the CEO or founder, it is about the customer.” – David Ebner
“If you don’t have good storytelling in your sales deck you’re probably losing sales today.” – David Ebner

Resources:

David Ebner:
LinkedIn: David J. Ebner
Website: Content Workshop

This podcast is brought to you by Magai. The tool we use for our AI needs. Magai is 12 AI apps in one. There's just one subscription to access all the best AI models. Get Magai right here, https://friedmansocialmedia.com/magai. And, if it’s your first time purchasing, use BRAD30 at checkout to get 30% off your first 3 months.

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Libsyn is the Host of The Digital Slice Podcast. Just use our Libsyn code SLICE at https://friedmansocialmedia.com/libsyn to get up to 2 months of free podcasting service with Libsyn! Get your show on Apple Podcasts, get critical show-building stats—Libsyn even does video!

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use. Constant Contact

And, here's the link to my calendar for the two slots I have open to give you a sample coaching session: Coaching Session With Brad

Brad Friedman

@BradFriedman

@FriedmanGrp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia

Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

Books
“Brad Friedman on Digital Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“The Small Business Owner's Guide To Inbound Marketing,” by Brad Friedman
“100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions,” by Ross Brand with a chapter by Brad Friedman

Here's the equipment we use and recommend:

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone http://amzn.to/2hWshL8

Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount http://amzn.to/2hUMVen

Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1

RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution https://amzn.to/4r8SenH

RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD

Logitech C920 Webcam http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk

Neewer 6×9 foot Green Screen https://amzn.to/35G4K6u

Elgato Key Light https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg

LED Lighting Kit https://amzn.to/35GBPiW

Desk Mounting Stand https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Store Front
https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game!
TubeBuddy https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

AFFILIATE LINKS
Thank you for trusting me with my honest opinion on future purchases you may make after listening to this podcast. I am always completely transparent with you. As a friend of The Friedman Group, LLC you allow me to be able to use affiliate/referral links when suggesting items for purchase. Please know I am a customer myself or have done sufficient research to feel comfortable sharing these links with you. When you click on a link and purchase the item I may receive a small “commission.” This allows me to continue to provide you with quality content and doesn't affect you in any way at checkout.

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 230: Why Most B2B Content Fails (And Storytelling Fixes It) appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 229: Replacing Your Team With AI? Here’s Why That Will Backfire

Brad Friedman — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:00:19 +0000

Replacing Your Team With AI? Here's Why That Will Backfire

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

Are you thinking about replacing your team with AI? Join Brad Friedman and Sam Malikarjunan to see why this could be the worst move ever.

Sam Mallikarjunan [mall eh CAR jew non], is the Growth Lead at agent.ai, where he helps drive the development and adoption of AI-driven solutions to enhance customer service and sales. With a deep background in growth strategy, Sam previously led innovative initiatives at companies like HubSpot Labs and Flock.com.

He’s also a former professor at Harvard University and co-author of Inbound Commerce - How to Sell Better than Amazon. Sam shares his insights on how AI is shaping the future of business.

In this Episode:

Sam explains that an AI agent is simply AI you allow to act on its own without checking every part of its work.
Sam cautions listeners against becoming too comfortable with unreviewed AI outputs.
Sam compares AI to a highly educated intern that is useful but still needs guidance and oversight.
Sam explores how organizations need both AI experimentation and AI safety as part of their culture.
Sam argues that clear workflow thinking is more important than prompt engineering.

Quotes from this Episode:
“So if you let it do stuff on its own, it's an agent.” – Sam Mallikarjunan
“The metaphor I've always liked to use, is it is a very well educated intern.” – Sam Mallikarjunan
“Never in my life have I seen technology change strategy this fast.” – Sam Mallikarjunan
“But instead of being louder, how do you be heard more effectively?” – Sam Mallikarjunan
“Let another nerd worry about prompt engineering.” – Sam Mallikarjunan

Resources:

Sam Mallikarjunan:
LinkedIn: Agent.ai
LinkedIn: Sam Mallikarjunan
X: Agent.ai
X: Sam Mallikarjunan
Website: Agent.ai
Website: Sam Mallikarjunan

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use. Constant Contact

And, here's the link to my calendar for the two slots I have open to give you a sample coaching session: Coaching Session With Brad

Brad Friedman

@BradFriedman

@FriedmanGrp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia

Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

Here's the equipment we use and recommend:

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone http://amzn.to/2hWshL8

Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount http://amzn.to/2hUMVen

Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1

RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution https://amzn.to/4r8SenH

RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD

Logitech C920 Webcam http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk

Neewer 6×9 foot Green Screen https://amzn.to/35G4K6u

Elgato Key Light https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg

LED Lighting Kit https://amzn.to/35GBPiW

Desk Mounting Stand https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Store Front
https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game!
TubeBuddy https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 229: Replacing Your Team With AI? Here’s Why That Will Backfire appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.

Ep 228: The Trust Recession: Why Prospects Don’t Buy Even When They Need You

Brad Friedman — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:14 +0000

The Trust Recession: Why Prospects Don’t Buy Even When They Need You

The Digital Slice Podcast is brought to you by The Friedman Group, LLC

Your prospects don't care about your solution. They're asking themselves one question—and you're missing it. Listen to learn about the Trust Recession.

Join Brad Friedman and Ari Galper as they unpack trust-based selling, the idea of a “trust recession,” and how business owners can replace pressure-based sales tactics with a more human, trust-building approach so you can improve conversions without chasing prospects.

Ari Galper is a leading voice in trust-based selling and the founder of AriAI, a trust-based AI sales and business growth platform. In this conversation, he explains why traditional selling has become commoditized and why prospects are often deciding whether they trust you as a person before they ever evaluate your solution.

He also shares his “doctor, not pharmacist” mindset, breaks down how to use trust-based language in sales conversations, and explains why many business owners should focus on fixing conversion problems before trying to generate more leads.

Ari’s work is especially relevant for low-volume, high-margin businesses with longer sales cycles, including advisors, attorneys, consultants, and software sales professionals who need stronger conversations, not just more activity.

In this Episode:

Ari explains what he means by a “trust recession” and why buyers now approach sales conversations already skeptical.
Ari shares why prospects are not first asking whether your solution works, but whether they can trust you as a human being.
Ari describes the mindset shift from being a salesperson to acting more like a doctor who diagnoses before prescribing.
Ari breaks down how “Cost Of Inaction” questions help prospects understand the seriousness of their problem.
Ari argues that most businesses should solve their conversion problem before spending more energy on lead generation.

Quotes from this Episode:
“We think they wanna learn about our solution. But the reality is the first question they wanna know is, can I trust you as a human being?” – Ari Galper
“You gotta shift your mindset to more of a doctor patient construct. You're the doctor and they're the patient. You are not there to sell 'em anything.” – Ari Galper
“Selling as we know it is dead. It has to change to trust building instead.” – Ari Galper
“Rather than delivering value, which is commoditized by the way, you deliver clarity on the totality of their problem in a way no one ever has done before.” – Ari Galper
“Number one, be the doctor. Stop being the pharmacist.” – Ari Galper

Resources:

Ari Galper:
LinkedIn: Ari Galper
Facebook: Ari Galper
YouTube: Ari Galper
Website: Ari Galper
Book: Trust In A Split Second!<
Podcast: Stump the Guru

Our favorite Social Media Management Tool is AgoraPulse. Please contact me to learn more about Agorapulse and allow me to connect you with my contact at the company.

Are you looking for an email service provider that has stood the test of time? Be sure to look at Constant Contact, the provider we use. Constant Contact

And, here's the link to my calendar for the two slots I have open to give you a sample coaching session: Coaching Session With Brad

Brad Friedman

@BradFriedman

@FriedmanGrp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefriedmangroup

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfriedman/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-friedman-group-llc

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/friedmansocialmedia

Website: https://friedmansocialmedia.com

Here's the equipment we use and recommend:

Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone http://amzn.to/2hWshL8

Heil Sound PRSM Champagne Shockmount http://amzn.to/2hUMVen

Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom http://amzn.to/2hXTvB1

RODE RODECaster PRO II All-in-One Production Solution https://amzn.to/4r8SenH

RODE Videomic Shotgun Microphone https://amzn.to/3cZp2fD

Logitech C920 Webcam http://amzn.to/2hNhiQk

Neewer 6×9 foot Green Screen https://amzn.to/35G4K6u

Elgato Key Light https://amzn.to/3ial9Fg

LED Lighting Kit https://amzn.to/35GBPiW

Desk Mounting Stand https://amzn.to/3qanNxM

These products and more can be found at our Amazon Store Front
https://www.amazon.com/shop/bradfriedman

We highly recommend you use TubeBuddy to up your YouTube game!
TubeBuddy https://www.tubebuddy.com/TheFriedmanGroup

Not every link is a referral link and some appear here because my guest spoke about them and I want to make it easy for you to check 'em out. Thank you!

The post Ep 228: The Trust Recession: Why Prospects Don’t Buy Even When They Need You appeared first on The Friedman Group, LLC.