Alexa Tips Archives -

Is the “0-click world” making websites obsolete? 🌐 In this episode, I sit down with Roger Williams from Kinsta to debunk the myths about Wesbites, AI and WordPress. We dive deep into why your website is actually the “fuel” for AI answers, the importance of web accessibility, and how managed hosting can save your business […] The post HMBT #305: SEO is Dead, Long Live GEO! appeared first on .

Peter Cholnoky, CEO of E-Hawk, joins me for a conversation about a topic that might not sound flashy but is absolutely critical for any online business: lead risk and data integrity. While most marketers focus on the quantity of leads, Peter explains why the quality of those leads, and the metadata behind them, determines your […] The post HMBT #304: Bouncer at the Door appeared first on .

Joshua Harrell, Chief Revenue Officer at WorldVia Travel Network, joins me for a conversation that starts with travel—but quickly becomes a masterclass in modern marketing strategy. The episode explores how travel has shifted from a luxury to a priority for many families, why experiences now matter more than possessions, and how travel advisors are making […] The post HMBT #303: From CMO to CRO appeared first on .

In this lively and insightful episode, I sat down with Victor Julio Coupe, Head of Business Development at Kensho Media and host of The Squared Table podcast. We talked about how email outreach and sales strategies are evolving in 2026—especially in the world of iGaming—and how personal branding and authenticity are now more critical than ever. From cringe-worthy cold calls to […] The post HMBT #302: One Kiss Only appeared first on .

📬 In this episode, I speak with email deliverability expert Matthew Vernhout of Email Industries to break down what really determines whether your emails reach the inbox—or land in the spam folder. The conversation kicks off with the most critical factor: your data quality. 🧹 If you’re using clean, first-party, permission-based email lists, you’re already ahead. But if […] The post HMBT #301: Your List Needs Therapy appeared first on .

For episode 300, I am joined by email marketing legend Dela Quist for a no-holds-barred conversation about the misconceptions surrounding email frequency, deliverability, and value. Dela, known for challenging conventional wisdom, makes a compelling case for why email is a branding tool, not just a sales mechanism, and how marketers often misunderstand frequency and engagement. From comparing the […] The post HMBT #300: The Netflix Effect appeared first on .

Former “Kickboxer” Jack Wrigley joined me on this episode to talk about staying focused and developing real relationships. I’ve always admired Jack’s blend of sharp business insight and genuine relationship-building skills. He’s currently the President of Omnivery, a secure, high-deliverability transactional email platform, and in this episode, we tackled something a lot of people are […] The post HMBT #299: Just Jack appeared first on .

In this episode, I sat down with Tricia Babischkin, a true expert in email strategy, to talk about how to stop wasting time with broad, generic email campaigns and start getting serious about segmentation, deliverability, and using data that actually means something. We cut through the fluff and got real about what makes email marketing work today, treating people like people, not just entries on a list. We talked about how most businesses are still too focused on vanity metrics and not nearly focused enough on behavior, engagement, and actual value. It’s not just about sending more email. It’s about sending better email to the right people. ✅ Top 5 Takeaways Stop Sending to EveryoneTreating your entire list the same is lazy. Segment by behavior, lifecycle stage, or value. If someone hasn’t opened in a year, stop pretending they’re engaged. Use Real Data, Not What People SayForget preference centers. What people do (clicks, purchases, site behavior) is far more reliable than what they saythey want. Build profiles from real actions. Deliverability Isn’t Just a Tech ProblemIt’s not just about SPF or DKIM. If your content sucks or you’re blasting disengaged users, your inbox placement suffers. Good strategy = better inboxing. Personalization Is AnticipationIt’s not “Hi, [First Name]”, it’s knowing what I need before I realize it. Use behavior and purchase patterns to anticipate what someone wants next. Respect Your Non-Email PeopleSome subscribers just don’t want emails. That’s fine. Reach them through SMS, paid ads, or DMs. Email isn’t the only channel, and for some, it’s not even the best one. Final Thoughts If you want better results, you need better strategy. That starts with listening to your data and building campaigns that respect your audience. And if you want a real strategy session, Tricia’s offering an hour of free consulting. Seriously, take her up on it. Get a FREE hour of consulting here Connect with Tricia on Linkedin. Get 5,000 free Kickbox credits with the code HMBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKnSJIb_Jc Audio:

In this episode of the HMBT podcast, I sit down with strategy and marketing consultant Henk Wolff for a no-fluff, high-value conversation that bridges the worlds of iGaming and email marketing. We dive into Henk’s background in turning around struggling online casinos and scaling growth using smart retention and acquisition strategies. He brings a sharp, operator-first mindset that’s not just valuable for gaming companies, it’s relevant for any business trying to build loyal customers and optimize marketing channels. We covered a lot, from retention tactics and lifecycle marketing to some of the wild creative strategies Henk uses interesting strategies to revive dead email lists (yes, a fake password reset email that actually works). It was refreshing to swap email marketing strategies with someone who’s seen the front lines of an industry where attention spans are short and margins are thin. We even joked our way into a new business idea: the Henk & Hank toothpaste, powered by bluetooth chips and behavioral data. Whether you’re in gaming, retail, SaaS, or running your own ecommerce site, you’ll walk away from this episode with fresh perspective on how to think differently about retention, lifecycle campaigns, and segmentation. ✅ Key Takeaways: 🧲 Retention is everything. In high-churn industries like iGaming, Hank looks at 30-day cohort data to spot leaks in customer retention. Smart segmentation and onboarding automation make or break performance. 📩 Creative reactivation campaigns work. Hank’s “Did you forget your password?” email trick sounds simple but drives real logins and engagement. Especially useful for aging or dormant lists. 🧠 Segmentation isn’t optional. You can’t send the same email to a VIP player and a casual user. Tailor content based on behavior, balance, and lifecycle stage. Lazy email blasts are a waste. 🔁 Marketers forget the middle of the funnel. Everyone obsesses over top-of-funnel growth, but neglecting the middle leads to leaks and lost revenue. Onboarding and lifecycle content need more love. 🤖 Use AI and voice like a tool, not a toy. We talked about the rise of voice interaction and local LLMs for research, productivity, and daily insights. Ignore these tools at your own risk. Connect with Henk on Linkedin. Get 5,000 free Kickbox credits with the code HMBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ARR60Smww Audio:

I sat down with Dan Nottingham—founder and CEO of Plan C, and the brains behind Am I Credible, an AI platform that evaluates the credibility of content in real time. We had a great conversation about what credibility really means in today’s digital world, especially for those of us in marketing, content creation, and business leadership. With so much information (and misinformation) flying around online, how can we make sure our content is trustworthy? Dan shared why credibility isn’t just about fact-checking, it’s about context, perception, and responsibility. Right out of the gate, Dan and I got into why credibility matters more now than ever. With so many people relying on social media and AI tools to consume, and create, content, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s actually true. We talked about how Am I Credible helps solve this problem by giving content a score from 1 to 10 based on a variety of factors like factual accuracy, context, and delivery. It’s like a spellcheck, but for your reputation. One thing Dan said that stuck with me: just being technically right isn’t enough. If your content is misleading or overhyped, even unintentionally, it chips away at trust. That’s a big deal for marketers, especially when we’re using AI to create blog posts, emails, or video scripts. You don’t want to hit “publish” on something that sounds great but is factually off, or worse, feels like a bluff. What made this episode really fun was how practical it got. Dan’s tool can give instant feedback before you publish a post or hit send on that campaign. It even helped him revise one of his own blog posts from a 3 out of 10 to a 9 out of 10 just by changing a single sentence. Little things like that make a big difference in how your audience perceives you—and whether they trust you enough to engage or buy. ✅ Key Takeaways: Credibility isn’t just about accuracy—it’s about how your content feels to your audience. Overstatements and missing context can tank your trust factor. AI is a great tool, but it still needs oversight. Don’t assume everything ChatGPT spits out is ready to go. Check it. Verify it. Then publish. Trust drives engagement. Whether you’re sending emails, posting on social, or writing blog content, people are more likely to stick with you if they trust what you’re saying. Consider making credibility part of your marketing metrics. You can actually track credibility scores over time and see how it correlates with growth in things like email open rates, website traffic, or conversions. Try it for yourself. Dan built Am I Credible with both casual users and businesses in mind. You can use it as a guest or go deeper with pro features, APIs, and integrations. Check out Am I Credible here Connect with Dan on Linkedin. Get 5,000 free Kickbox credits with the code HMBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpWt9WWHF_o Audio:

I was luck enough to speak with Lucky Kannon, the engineering lead behind Zoho’s deliverability tools—including their custom MTA (Mail Transfer Agent), email validation, and inbox placement systems. Together, we pulled back the curtain on the technical side of email marketing and explore how these unseen systems keep campaigns running smoothly and landing in inboxes. Lucky breaks down what an MTA really is and why it’s critical to email marketing success, comparing it to a digital postal system that routes and delivers millions of messages efficiently and securely. From IP throttling to adaptive delivery tactics, he shares how Zoho’s tools manage large-scale email operations with precision. Later on, we discussed the future of AI in email marketing. Lucky envisions a world where marketers no longer have to log into dashboards—simply prompt an AI assistant to craft and send campaigns automatically. But with opportunity comes risk, we discuss how bad actors could misuse automation, underscoring the need for ethical AI use and emerging security standards. Finally, Lucky highlights data as his favorite part of email marketing—the foundation for smart strategy, personalization, and performance optimization. Remember that even imperfect data (like open rates) still offers insight and should guide marketing decisions. Key Takeaways: The Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) is the backbone of bulk email delivery—think of it as the post office for digital mail. AI is rapidly changing how marketers create, send, and analyze campaigns—but responsible use is essential. Data is the most valuable resource in email marketing; use it to understand behavior, drive conversions, and refine strategy. Continuous learning is key—email marketing evolves constantly, and staying informed keeps your campaigns effective. Tools like Zoho’s suite make it easier than ever to run an entire business efficiently, from marketing to finance. Connect with Lucky on LinkedIn! Get 5,000 free Kickbox credits with the code HMBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fjv6ybiCaY Audio:

This was a great discussion with Scott Cohen from Inbox Army about the state of email marketing, the pitfalls businesses fall into, and where the channel is headed. Scott stresses that many brands are addicted to constant promotions—the “promotional drug”—but real success comes from balancing offers with automation, education, and customer experience. Scott highlights the “big three” automation flows every brand should have in place: abandoned cart, welcome series, and post-purchase communications. He also emphasizes the importance of storytelling, brand values, and customer trust in a crowded marketplace. We also discuss the future of email, where it will integrate more deeply with SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications, and direct mail. Despite competition from other channels, Scott believes email will remain the backbone of digital communication thanks to its low cost, flexibility, and role as a digital paper trail. And I agree! 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Break Free from the “Promotional Drug” – Too many brands rely solely on discounts and daily offers. Promotions drive revenue, but over-reliance reduces long-term engagement. 2. Automations Drive Real Results Top three automations: Abandoned cart recovery Welcome/onboarding series Post-purchase updates (shipping, usage tips, follow-ups) These flows build trust, reduce buyer anxiety, and recover lost sales. 3. Email Should Educate, Entertain, and Build Value Every message should provide more than a discount: share stories, reviews, product features, and company values. Consumers want to buy from brands that align with their beliefs. 4. Email is Still Powerful (and Misunderstood) Marketers underestimate its role as the “backstop” for other channels. Data proves email often drives or amplifies conversions even when attribution looks weak. 5. The Future: Multi-Channel Ownership Email marketers should also own SMS, WhatsApp, push, and other opt-in channels. Together, these build a unified customer experience with email still at the core. 6. If Email Vanished Tomorrow? Scott would shift to SMS and WhatsApp because they’re permission-based, direct, and not dependent on algorithms. Direct mail is also resurging as a way to stand out in a digital-heavy world. 7. Why Scott Loves Email The instant feedback loop: opens, clicks, and conversions show what’s working. It balances creativity with measurable results. Plus, the email industry has a strong, passionate community. Check out Inbox Army Connect with Scott on Linkedin Get 5,000 free Kickbox credits with the code HMBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Z9Ux5BCws Audio: