Jared Bauman didn’t expect to compete for his own name online.

But when a state representative with the exact same name started appearing everywhere in search results, it forced him to confront something bigger: search engines — and now AI tools — don’t guess who you are. They connect dots.

And if your digital presence isn’t clearly connected, someone else may become the “expert” instead.

In this episode, we take a calm, strategic look at how search is evolving from traditional SEO into what Jared calls “GEO” — Generative Engine Optimization — and what that means for solopreneurs and small business owners who want to remain visible in an AI-first world.

No panic. No hype. Just clarity.

Jared Bauman is the founder of 201 Creative, a marketing agency specializing in SEO and emerging AI search optimization strategies. He’s also the host of the Niche Pursuits podcast and has been an entrepreneur for more than 25 years, building and selling multiple businesses. As AI began reshaping search behavior, Jared studied the data, adapted his agency, and developed practical frameworks to help businesses stay visible and credible.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why SEO isn’t dead — it’s evolving.
• What “Generative Engine Optimization” (GEO) actually means.
• The shift from focusing on keywords to focusing on entities.
• Why AI tools care deeply about accuracy, consistency, and freshness.
• How inconsistent business information erodes trust with AI systems.
• What schema (structured data) is — explained in plain English.
• Why third-party mentions and citations matter more than ever.
• The danger of “set it and forget it” websites.
• What a GEO Snapshot Audit reveals about your visibility gaps.

CALL TO ACTION

If you want your business to be recommended — not overlooked — in an AI-driven search landscape, this episode is essential listening.

Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations that help you grow the online side of your business strategically and sustainably.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• 201 Creative Website - https://201creative.com/
• GEO Snapshot Audit (free audit discussed in the episode) - https://201creative.com/geo-snapshot/
• Niche Pursuits Podcast - https://www.nichepursuits.com/category/podcasts/
• Jared Bauman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbauman/

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.:
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If I really want to make wealth for myself, I need to bet on myself.”

That’s how Juzbi Walia explains the moment she stopped playing the corporate game and started building her own. And that same energy runs through this whole episode: sell with integrity, don’t slime people into a ‘yes’, and stop guessing what your audience is thinking. If you’ve ever read bro-marketing copy and felt like you needed to wash your eyeballs afterward, you’ll love Juzbi’s approach to persuasion that’s effective and ethical.

Juzbi Walia has spent over a decade in persuasion and influence, working in corporate communications with major global agencies and a wide range of organisations across sectors. Now she brings that same influence skillset into the online business world as a conversion copywriter and email strategist, helping course creators launch with messaging that converts without crossing into manipulation.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why most course creators don’t actually know their real objections (and keep answering outdated ones).
• The hidden cost of over-persuasion — even if it “works” in the short term.
• Why “copy is assembled, not written” (and how customer research is the real work).
• How to find your sales argument (the unique point of view that makes your offer stand out).
• The power of message hierarchy: primary promise first, then secondary angles in the right order.
• Using a custom GPT to pressure-test messaging angles (without randomly “testing everything”).
• Why copywriters who step into the strategist role will thrive (and “selling words as a service” won’t).
• A very real take on business growth: “spaghetti on the wall” is sometimes the job description early on.

If you’re building a course (or launching anything online) and you want to sell without sounding like a late-night infomercial, you’re going to get a ton from this one.

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Juzbi on Instagram: @juzbi.copy
• To get Juzbi’s free resource - “How to Write Non Manipulative Emails That Sell” (a checklist of persuasion triggers for launch emails), send her a DM on Instagram.

Suggested Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro + why “non-sleazy persuasion” matters
• 00:01–00:04 – Juzbi’s background in persuasion + corporate comms
• 00:05–00:08 – Why she left corporate: “bet on myself” + designing work around life
• 00:13–00:17 – Objections, customer research, and the danger of over-persuasion
• 00:19–00:25 – Messaging hierarchy + sales argument example (Instagram course)
• 00:25–00:26 – GPT bot + Danny Page
• 00:32–00:34 – Copywriter vs strategist (and why strategy is the moat)
• 00:35–00:38 – Lead gen experiments + “spaghetti on the wall” phase
• 00:40 – Where to find Juzbi + free checklist

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families.: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I was working 18-hour days, seven days a week, and my mum said, 'You're making good money, but we have something you don't—free time.'"

Sara Vezensek had the kind of job most people fantasize about—flying on private jets, managing superyachts, and earning big. But it came at a cost. In this episode, she shares how she walked away from the dream lifestyle to build a business on her terms—one with time, financial, and location freedom.

Sara Vezensek is an online business coach who specializes in helping women build businesses that give them “ultimate freedom.” After leaving a high-flying career managing multimillion-dollar projects, she went all in on organic marketing and intentional strategy to grow her own thriving business—all while working just 15 hours a week.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• Why success on paper doesn’t always mean happiness
• How to prepare for a business pivot before burning out
• Strategies for building a business on 2 hours a day (or less!)
• Why content strategy beats going viral
• The glass ceiling of “200 views” and how to break through it
• Using EFT tapping and mindset work to stop sabotaging success
• How to rewire your relationship with money and self-worth
• The unexpected power of speaking to just one person in your audience

Tune in for a grounded conversation about building a business that supports the life you actually want.

👉 Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Free Masterclass: Your Million Dollar Course Idea – Sara’s step-by-step guide to turning your current knowledge into a course
• Money Breakthrough Masterclass – Learn the exact strategy Sara used to hit $100K in 30 days
• Sara’s Instagram: @saravezcoach

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.