With over two decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, John dives solo into this episode to explore how AI is revolutionizing the buyer's journey. He breaks down the stages of his signature "Marketing Hourglass" framework and shares how businesses must adapt their strategies in an AI-driven world. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your marketing by aligning with evolving customer behavior, embracing self-service tools, and doubling down on authenticity and trust. Today we discussed:

00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett

00:09 The evolved buyer journey

02:29 Reintroducing the Marketing Hourglass as a flexible customer journey mode

03:43 How AI interrupts and reshapes journey stages like know, like, and trust

04:55 Recommendation engines and the rise of self-service experiences

06:12 The need to rethink SEO: focus on questions, not keywords

06:50 Combining digital efficiency with emotional, human-centered marketing

08:33 The journey is already changing—are you adapting?

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In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we explore how small businesses can use AI to convert more leads while reclaiming precious time. John Jantsch talks with Rainmaker CEO Joe Gagnon about AI-native sales workflows, 24/7 phone agents, and why automation doesn't have to feel inauthentic. Together they break down how AI can improve inbound conversations, overcome objections, and deliver more predictable growth. Learn how AI tools that help small business owners save time can also create better customer experiences and streamline every step of the sales journey.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
00:33 Welcome Joe Gagnon
00:57 Reinventing Small Biz Sales
02:41 AI-Native Sales Platform
04:23 Pricing & Access
07:16 Support Challenges
08:34 Sales Meets Support
10:09 Personalization Power
13:26 Customer Use Cases
15:09 Ethics & Constitution
18:06 Getting Started
20:21 Future Outlook

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In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, we uncover how to magnetize the right clients by escaping the "obscurity tax" and building true market eminence. Guest David Newman breaks down the power of contrarian thinking, bold positioning, and sharing real expertise—not watered-down content. Learn why polarizing your message attracts perfect-fit clients while repelling the wrong ones, and how generosity, insight, and future-focused thinking fuel unstoppable growth. If you're ready to stand out in a noisy marketplace, this conversation gives you the long-tail strategies you need.

Today we discussed:

00:00 Introduction
01:33 The Obscurity Tax
04:47 Stakeholder Influence
05:42 Visibility in AI Era
08:29 Attracting Right Clients
11:34 Core Strategies Revealed
15:37 AI as Thought Partner
17:11 Finding Your Niche

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