Digital marketing is a field defined by constant change, but a single realization can fundamentally reshape how we think, act, and lead from time to time. In this series, I’ll share the pivotal moments and epiphanies that have transformed my approach to strategy, execution, and leadership. Here, an epiphany isn’t just a fleeting insight; it’s a sudden, striking realization that reframes a challenge or opportunity, allowing you to see patterns and solutions that were previously hidden. These moments of clarity have helped me navigate complex business landscapes and become the foundation for new frameworks and mental models that drive real, measurable impact.
I recorded these insights as a free course at International Webmastery, aptly titled “Epiphanies in Search,” which I have now renamed “Epiphanies at the Edge of Strategy.” It began with a voice-over to address questions about certain statements for a few individuals who came across an old keynote I gave at SES Atlanta in 2015. 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 showing clients love, these posts will cover the frameworks and mental models that have had the most impact. I’ll also delve 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.
The following is a list of articles on various epiphanies and insights. At the bottom of each article, you will find a link to the lesson, which includes more information and visuals.
- Epiphany 1 – Leverage Force Multipliers
- Epiphany 2 – Leverage Corporate Judo
- Epiphany 3 – Over-Communicate
- Epiphany 4 – Understand Searcher Intent
- Epiphany 5 – Employee Contribution Value
- Epiphany 6 – Demonstrate Economic Value
- Epiphany 7 – Fundamentals and Root Causes
- Epiphany 8 – Showing the Love
- Epiphany 9 – Don’t be afraid to be different
- Epiphany 10 – The Search Maturity Cycle
- Epiphany 11 – The Winning Agency Strategy
- Epiphany 12 – Building the Dream Team
- Epiphany 13 – Embrace the Founder’s SuperPowers
- Epiphany 14 – Enable and Encourage Innovation
- Epiphany 15 – Respecting the Real World Power Triangle
- Epiphany 16 – Business Fundamentals
- Epiphany 17 – Thinking Two Moves Ahead
- Epiphany 18 – The Compounding Power of Consistency
- Epiphany 19 – Don’t Be Afraid to Eat Your Own
- Epiphany 20 – Build a Culture of Adaptability – Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
- Epiphany 21 – Educate to Spark Epiphany – Not to Pitch a Product
- Epiphany 22 – Fewer Words, More Data
- Epiphany 23 – Contribution Value Beats Contract Value
- Epiphany 24 – Business Cases Aren’t Just for Approvals
- Epiphany 25 – Don’t Lose Before You Enter the Room
- Epiphany 26 – The Soft Power Advantage
- Epiphany 27 – Commander’s Intent: Leading with Clarity, Letting Go of Control
Please choose your method of learning, you can read the articles or you can go through the free program Epiphanies of Search we developed at International Webmastery.
