AI Marketing

Latest Episodes:

Agentic AI: The Future of Marketing Workflows Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Christian Monberg, CTO & Head of Product at Zeta Global Host: Mark Fidelman

🔑 Episode Summary

In this episode, Mark Fidelman sits down with Christian Monberg, CTO at Zeta Global, to unpack the rise of Agentic AI and what it means for the future of marketing. From redefining the marketing funnel to exploring "agents talking to agents," the conversation covers both the opportunities and risks as AI reshapes how marketers operate.

Christian explains the difference between AI agents and Agentic AI systems, why deterministic data foundations matter, and how enterprises can prepare for a world where much of the tedious marketing work is automated. Together, they explore the promise, the pitfalls, and the practical steps CMOs must take today to stay relevant tomorrow.

📌 What You'll Learn

The difference between AI agents (task-specific) and Agentic AI (orchestrated systems).
Why deterministic data is critical in a probabilistic AI world.
How Agentic AI could automate and enhance the traditional marketing funnel.
The evolving role of CMOs when agents can write, send, and close deals.
The potential "dark side" of Agentic AI—manipulation, social engineering, and AI-to-AI marketing warfare.
The future of UI on demand and "GenUI" in enterprise software.
Real-world jaw-dropping examples of what Agentic AI systems can already do.

🔥 Notable Quotes

"Agents are task-specific. Agentic AI is the orchestration of many agents with deterministic foundations." – Christian Monberg
"AI isn't going to replace you. But someone who knows how to use AI will." – Mark Fidelman
"The only way to beat manipulative AI is with better AI." – Christian Monberg

🏢 About Zeta Global

Zeta Global is the AI-powered marketing cloud that leverages proprietary AI and trillions of consumer signals to make it easier to acquire, grow, and retain customers more efficiently. Zeta Global helps enterprises unify fragmented data and drive growth with an AI-native marketing platform. Their proprietary Data Cloud covers 245M consumers, enabling brands to deliver personalized, real-time experiences across the customer lifecycle. Learn more at zetaglobal.com.

📅 Don't miss Zeta Live on October 9th a one-day event showcasing their latest Agentic AI applications.

📣 Connect with Us

Host: Mark Fidelman on LinkedIn
Guest: Christian Monberg
Podcast Website: Agentized.ai

Back to School, Back to AI: Amnesty for Students and Workers? Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Nick Cawthon Host: Mark Fidelman

Episode Summary

As kids head back to school and businesses push forward with digital transformation, one theme keeps surfacing: is using AI "cheating"? In this episode, Mark and Nick dive into how teachers, students, and professionals can move past the stigma of AI and instead embrace it as a partner in creativity and productivity. From calculators once banned in classrooms to AI now frowned upon by professors, history is repeating itself. But will the future workplace punish—or reward—those who leverage generative tools?

Nick brings deep experience leading UX and design teams where human-centered practices often clash with algorithm-driven efficiencies. Together, they explore how to build a culture of amnesty, upskilling, and authenticity in both education and the enterprise.

What You'll Learn

Why AI in classrooms is today's calculator controversy—same fears, different tools.
How to create "AI amnesty" in schools and workplaces so learning and experimentation thrive.
Why human-centered design must evolve in an age where algorithms shape interactions.
Whether generative AI kills creativity—or actually unlocks higher levels of it.
How CMOs and leaders can overcome cultural, data, and training barriers to AI adoption.
What tomorrow's workforce looks like if kids embrace AI as a partner versus fearing it as a threat.

Key Quotes

"There's no such thing as writer's block anymore—AI isn't killing creativity, it's changing what it looks like." – Nick
"It's not AI that will take your job—it's the person who knows how to use it." – Nick

Links & Resources

Take Nick's UX/Design AI Readiness Survey → retrain.gage.io
📖 Grab Mark's new book Agentized → Agentized.ai

Listen & Subscribe

👉 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSS Feed

SEO Isn't Dead, It's Wearing an AI Exoskeleton (and Still Runs Google) Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Episode 25: AI Marketing with Carl Holden (CMO, Zellus Marketing; CEO, RankBot)

If you've been doomscrolling "SEO is over" takes, take a breath. Carl Holden and I demolish the myths and lay out how search actually works in the AI era—what's changing, what's hype, and how to allocate your budget without lighting it on fire.

What we cover

AI ≠ the end of search. Today's LLM answers are largely wrappers on top of search, pulling from Bing/Google and summarizing the first page or two. Translation: rankings still matter.
Sponsored AI answers are coming. Expect the ad line between "recommended" and "paid" to blur—again. Users will need media literacy; marketers will need ethics and receipts.
What to do right now. Keep your SEO fundamentals: technical hygiene, intent-matched content, internal linking, and legit link acquisition. AI helps you produce, but quality signals and authority still gate results.
Budgeting reality check. There's no reliable, transparent funnel from LLMs yet (no query data, minimal attribution). Investing in SEO still doubles as LLM optimization because LLMs cite what already ranks.
Where you will lose traffic. "What is…/how to…" question queries will be cannibalized by AI summaries. Shift your strategy: productized answers, comparison pages, original data, tools, and local "near me" intent.
Local is durable. For "lawyer near me," "restaurants near me," classic local SEO and placements keep paying.
Ignore snake oil. There isn't a proven "LLM.txt magic switch." Test, measure, and follow credible sources—not LinkedIn gurus with 20 prompts to "rank tomorrow."

Practical plays

Ship authority content (original data, calculators, checklists) that LLMs want to summarize and humans want to bookmark.
Own your entities (brand/person/locations) with structured data and consistent citations so both search engines and LLMs can "understand" you.
Track AI referrals where possible (e.g., ChatGPT UTMs), but don't chase shadows—optimize the pages LLMs would naturally choose: clear answers, sources, and credibility signals.
Link earning > link buying. Publish assets that deserve links; use PR and partnerships to earn them.

TL;DR

SEO isn't dying; it's being distilled. If you rank in search, you're in the LLM shortlist. Keep the fundamentals, evolve content formats, and don't "optimize for ghosts" until attribution is real.

👤 Guest: Carl Holden — Contact Info

Website (personal): carlholden.ai. Carl Holden
Zellus Marketing (agency): zellusmarketing.com • Phone: (844) 493-5587. Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Yelp
RankBot (AI SEO platform): rankbot.ai • Email: marketing@rankbotai.com. RankBot | AI Backlinks and On-page SEO Yahoo Finance
Forbes Council Profile: background & speaking—see profile. Forbes Councils

The Rise of Creators and the AI Paradox Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode Overview: In this episode of AI Marketing, Mark Fidelman is joined by Jon Levesque, former Microsoft and DocuSign community leader turned founder of Seeq. Together, they dissect how discovery, influence, and technology are shifting under the weight of the creator economy and AI's explosive growth.

They explore:

Why the directory era is dead and why centralized discovery models like Yelp and Google Local are becoming obsolete.
How the creator economy is shaping consumer decisions—from travel inspiration on TikTok to Substack newsletters—and why authenticity is the new currency.
The AI paradox: how AI accelerates opportunity while simultaneously commoditizing entire industries.
The looming future of AGI and ASI, and what it means for human experience, creativity, and survival in an AI-dominated world.
Jon's startup Seeq, which turns travel content into shoppable itineraries with affiliate revenue baked in, offering creators a powerful new monetization channel.

Why Listen: This conversation cuts straight into the future of discovery, influence, and AI. It's both visionary and practical, helping you understand where the opportunities lie and how to avoid getting left behind in the AI revolution.

Guest:

Jon Levesque – Founder of Seeq, community leader, and creator economy advocate. Contact mark@fanaticsmedia.com

The Agentized Future: How AI Agents Will Reshape Business (And Why You Must Act Now) Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Imagine a company that runs 24/7, makes decisions in real time, and scales without hiring a single new employee…

That's not tomorrow. That's now.

In this solo episode, Mark Fidelman introduces "Agentized" a bold new book I co-authored with Jas Dhillon. This is not another book about ChatGPT or AI tools. It's about the transformation of work itself and how companies that fail to integrate autonomous AI agents risk becoming obsolete.

Inside this episode:

Why AI is no longer optional, it's existential
A behind-the-scenes look at the real CEO story that inspired Chapter 1
How autonomous agents are changing marketing, sales, ops, and leadership
What the "Agentized Enterprise" looks like and why it outpaces traditional firms
A glimpse at what happens when AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) arrives
Why this isn't just about tech it's about strategy and survival

📖 Read Chapter 1 now FREE. 🔁 Give us feedback and get a free copy of the audiobook or hardcover when it drops this year. 📝 Link to Chapter 1 & TOC TOC: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17mhERPQcpO3YermdCNnJGWbQJjaKDcN-5YGIyrIakqI/edit?usp=sharing Chapter 1: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A1nj2xuPBMR4X4Vzp7cfk9KBdqn0d26ZG42zQHoncaM/edit?usp=sharing Send feedback to markefidelman@gmail.com including your name and info so that I can send you the free book / audio book when released

How CMOs Need to Lead the AI Marketing Shift Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Mark Fidelman and Lee Hackett discuss the transformative potential of AI in marketing, emphasizing that CMOs must personally engage with AI tools to stay competitive and drive business value. They explore how AI will reshape marketing roles, potentially reducing team sizes while increasing productivity through advanced technologies like AI agents and large language models. The conversation highlights the critical need for CMOs to experiment, understand AI capabilities, and proactively integrate these technologies into their strategic planning to remain relevant in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Speakers were Host Mark Fidelman and Lee Hackett from Blueprint X
Discussion focused on how CMOs can leverage AI technologies

Main Podcast Highlights:

AI's Impact on Marketing

AI will transform marketing roles
Productivity gains expected
Teams will likely become smaller
CMOs must personally engage with AI tools

Critical AI Adoption Strategies

Understand data models
Create organizational willingness to experiment
Develop a clear vision for AI integration
Focus on business metrics and measurable outcomes

Future CMO Skills

Master AI tools
Demonstrate ability to deploy AI effectively
Be curious and adaptable
Learn to direct AI agents strategically

Immediate Recommendations

Start using AI tools daily
Experiment with AI agents
Stay informed about emerging technologies
Don't outsource AI learning

Recommended Action: CMOs should personally experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT and create AI agents to understand their potential.

Lee Hackett's contact information is: Website: blueprintx.com (spelled B-L-U-P-R-I-N-T-X) Email: lee.hackett@blueprintx.com

Transforming B2B AI Marketing Strategies Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Host: Mark Fidelman
Guest: Richard Savoy, Co-founder and CEO of Adiona (enterprise logistics optimization company)

Main Discussion Points:

B2B Marketing Transformation

Deals have become more complex (increased from 11 to 17 touchpoints)
Slower technology adoption in logistics and supply chain sectors
Buyers are more cautious and selective about technology solutions

AI's Role in Marketing

Top of Funnel:

* Hyper-targeted lead generation * Automated lead qualification * Identifying potential leads through organizational changes

AI Marketing Strategies

Website content optimization based on visitor's geographic location
Automated content rearrangement based on user journey
Real-time feedback loops for customer interactions

Future of B2B Marketing

Shift from in-person events to digital AI-enabled interactions
Relationship-based selling remains crucial
AI will enhance, not completely replace human interactions

Key Advice:

Professionals should become AI experts to remain relevant
Embrace AI tools to improve marketing and sales processes
Prepare for significant changes in marketing strategies

Contact: Richard Savoy's company website: https://www.adionatech.com/ Recommended Action:

Learn and integrate AI tools into marketing strategies
Stay adaptable to technological changes
Focus on relationship-building while leveraging AI capabilities

Lies, Damn Lies, and AI Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

🔑 Episode Highlights: 🤖 The Premise of the Book:

Bambenek's new book, Lies, Damn Lies, and AI, explores how AI's promise is often overstated — especially when it's portrayed as a magical black box that can solve any problem.
Title is inspired by the classic quote about misleading statistics — now updated for the AI era.

💊 AI in Healthcare – A False Narrative?

AI is valuable only when paired with human professionals, not when left on its own.
Example: AI can help doctors detect anomalies on X-rays, but only a human can make complex medical judgments.
The lie: That AI will replace doctors, when in reality it augments them.

🧠 AI as a Propaganda Engine:

Bambenek argues that AI amplifies misinformation at scale, and platforms aren't prepared to filter it properly.
AI-generated content (deepfakes, fake articles, fake studies) can erode trust faster than any disinformation campaign in history.

🧑‍💻 Cybersecurity Meets AI:

AI tools are now helping hackers, not just defenders.
Script kiddies can launch sophisticated attacks without understanding the code.
A new arms race is underway: AI vs. AI in cybersecurity.

📉 The Cost of Hype:

Venture capital and corporate hype often exaggerate what AI can do, leading to wasted money, broken products, and dangerous expectations.
The idea of "general AI taking over everything" is a misleading narrative pushed for clicks and funding.

🧩 Call for Transparency:

Bambenek advocates for "explainable AI" — if an algorithm makes a decision, we should understand why.
Black-box systems being deployed in legal, medical, or hiring decisions are a major red flag.

🧠 Notable Quotes:

"AI doesn't replace expertise. It amplifies it — or it amplifies ignorance if you're not careful." – John Bambenek "There's nothing more dangerous than trusting a machine you don't understand." – Mark Fidelman

📘 Learn More:

Book: Lies, Damn Lies, and AI by John Bambenek – Available on Amazon
Guest: John Bambenek on LinkedIn

Will AI Replace Salespeople? Jeeva.ai's CEO Reveals the Future Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Podcast Episode Notes AI Marketing with Mark Fidelman Episode Title: Revolutionizing Sales with AI: Featuring Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO of Jeeva.ai

Episode Overview: In this engaging conversation, Mark Fidelman sits down with Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO of Jeeva.ai, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming sales. They discuss practical ways marketers and salespeople can leverage AI, the potential future of AI in sales, and why the human touch will remain indispensable.

Key Discussion Points:

Introduction to Jeeva.ai
- Agentic AI platform supporting over 10,000 sales reps and 300 enterprise customers.
- Backed by notable investors including Alt Capital (Jack Altman), Sapphire Ventures, and Mark Benioff of Salesforce.
Why AI Matters for Sales
- Automates repetitive tasks such as lead generation, research, personalized outreach, and CRM updates.
- Enhances efficiency, allowing salespeople to focus on relationship building and strategic tasks.
AI Replacing Sales Calls?
- Gaurav's strong stance against AI fully replacing human sales interactions.
- Belief in AI augmenting rather than replacing high-value sales tasks.
Future of AI and Human Work
- Discussion on Universal Basic Income and the evolution of jobs in an AI-driven economy.
- Predictions on autonomous driving and entrepreneurial opportunities in AI-managed fleets.
First Steps for Salespeople New to AI
- Begin with chat-based tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity) for deep research and personalized outreach.
- Leverage AI to build credibility and trust through superior customer knowledge.
What Top Sales Performers Do Differently
- Proactively prospecting with AI tools.
- Maximizing opportunities by personally generating leads beyond inbound marketing.
Jeeva.ai's Unique Solutions for Salespeople
- Advanced AI-powered lead discovery and enrichment.
- Personalized multi-channel outreach campaigns automated and scaled effortlessly.
- Enhanced productivity, enabling sales reps to manage larger pipelines effectively.

Connect with Jeeva.ai:

Website: Jeeva.ai
Email: g@jeeva.ai
LinkedIn: Gaurav Bhattacharya (Look for Jeeva.ai affiliation)

Host Information:

Mark Fidelman AI marketing expert, podcast host, and fractional CMO specializing in AI, blockchain, and real estate tokenization.
Website: markfidelman.com
LinkedIn: Mark Fidelman
Twitter: @MarkFidelman

Subscribe and Listen:

Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join us next episode as we continue to dive deep into the transformative power of AI across marketing and sales!

Google's Veo 3: The AI Tool That Just Reinvented Video Marketing May 30, 2025

Show notes

I Marketing Podcast – Episode Show Notes

Hosted by: Mark Fidelman

Episode Summary

In this episode, Mark Fidelman explores Google's revolutionary AI video tool, Veo 3. Discover how Veo 3 turns simple text prompts into high-definition videos complete with realistic audio, dialogue, and sound effects—ushering in a new era of accessible, impactful video marketing.

Key Highlights:

What is Veo 3?
- Generative AI transforming text into realistic HD videos with audio.
- Comparable to "Pixar meets TikTok."
Why Veo 3 Matters:
- Rapid video production: Create ads and social videos in minutes, not weeks.
- Realistic characters and dialogue: No need for expensive actors or production teams.
Practical Marketing Uses:
- Creative Ideation: Quickly prototype ad concepts and iterate overnight.
- Hyper-Personalization: Generate personalized videos for higher engagement and conversions.
- Agile Real-time Content: Capitalize instantly on social media trends.
- Content Repurposing: Transform blogs, podcasts, or articles into engaging video snippets.
- Brand Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives to emotionally connect with audiences.

Real-Life Case Studies:

Klarna: Rapidly producing YouTube bumper ads and product demos, significantly cutting costs and boosting viewer engagement.
Kraft Heinz: Reduced video production cycles from eight weeks to just eight hours, enabling greater creative experimentation.
Japan Airlines: Partnered with Jellyfish to create AI-generated in-flight entertainment, achieving 50% lower production costs.
Envato: Launched an AI-powered video creation tool, quickly generating tens of thousands of user-created videos.

Viral Content & Influencer Marketing:

The Dor Brothers: Generated a viral Instagram Reel parodying influencer culture entirely with Veo 3, highlighting its potential for real-time cultural commentary.
Influencer & UGC-Style Content: Brands can effortlessly emulate authentic influencer videos and user-generated content to boost relatability and engagement.

Limitations and Considerations:

Clip Duration: Limited to 8 seconds per clip; longer content requires editing.
Audio Generation: Occasional inconsistencies in lip-syncing and audio dropouts.
Scene Complexity: Best suited to simpler scenes; complex multi-character interactions may be challenging.
User Interface: Workflow can be unintuitive, requiring frequent saves.
Ethical Concerns: The realism of generated videos necessitates transparency to avoid misleading audiences.

Best Practices:

Clearly communicate your brand values in prompts.
Continuously A/B test and optimize video content.
Prioritize transparency and ethical considerations in AI content creation.

Episode Takeaway:

Google's Veo 3 represents a monumental shift in video marketing, making high-quality, scalable video content accessible to all marketers. Understand its limitations, leverage its strengths, and ensure your marketing stays ahead of the curve.

Subscribe, Rate & Share: Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share the AI Marketing Podcast!

Stay smart, stay savvy, and stay ahead with AI! Contact Mark at mark@smartblocks.agency

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected