Forget what you thought you knew about lead generation
The game is changing. Here’s how to stay ahead in lead gen, AI search, and content.
If you’ve ever felt like lead gen is more complicated than it needs to be, you’re not alone.
Between outdated tactics, AI shake-ups, and new platforms emerging, it’s tough to know what’s worth your time.
This week, I’m tackling the biggest myths in lead gen, how AI search is shifting the game, and why YouTube might be the podcast platform you’re missing out on.
Today’s agenda:
📖 The biggest lead gen myths
🤖 Is AI-powered search your startup’s competitive edge?
🎙️ The podcast platform you’re overlooking
💼 Briefly: Google’s new AI mode, content planning software, & “tiny offers”
⏱️ Up & coming: The next SEO evolution
🌎 Lead gen truths in an evolving world
There’s a lot going on with lead generation in 2025—and, along with that, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about what really is worth your time and effort.
🦾 I got to sit down recently with Pesach Lattin with the ADOTAT Show to break through the nonsense bogging down lead gen and discuss what’s required to move ahead, including:
Avoiding budget drains from inexperienced marketers
Focusing on consumer intent rather than just collecting leads
How AI is revolutionizing marketing strategies
Moving beyond outdated sales tactics for better results
▶️ Click the video to watch:
💡 Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more insights that have helped me achieve wealth while maintaining a strong work-life balance.
⛹️ How AI search levels the playing field for startups
AI-powered search is a somewhat controversial topic—depending on who you talk to—but here’s a promising message from founder/CEO Océane Li: Less-established brands have a greater opportunity to compete in this space.
🔎 A Forrester study found that 90% of B2B buyers are using generative AI tools to research and make product decisions. And these buyers are spending the majority of their time (83%) researching on their own rather than talking to sales reps.
One leader in this space is ChatGPT Search, which is helping B2B buyers cut through the noise with citation-backed answers from reputable sources. It’s making the buying journey more efficient.
🤖 What this means for founders
Brands that are appearing in AI-powered searches have a competitive edge. This is good news for startups—you can find your footing in this space right out of the gate.
🤔 Put your focus into these efforts:
Evaluate how your brand appears in AI-driven search results
Create informative, high-quality content that supports buyers at all stages of the journey—and make sure your content is on AI-prioritized platforms like Reddit
Use intent data providers to target buyers who are actively researching solutions
💡 Keep your finger on the pulse of this space—it’s going to become increasingly important as AI search dominates.
🎤 Start that podcast—and stream it here
Global spending on podcast advertisements is projected to exceed $5 billion in 2025, according to WARC.
The bottom line—podcasts are a big deal.
A podcast can give your startup a boost by positioning you as an expert in your field, and helping you quickly build trust and credibility.
Apple and Spotify are known to be the leading podcast platforms, but there’s one ultra-overlooked podcast platform that’s even more important: YouTube.
Over 1 billion people watch or listen to podcasts on YouTube every month
You can tag your content as a podcast
If you don’t already, start filming your podcasts so you can upload them to your YouTube channel. Check out the video earlier to watch the podcast I was on recently and get an idea of how this format can work.
Briefly
🤖 Google’s experimental AI Mode is set to transform internet search as we know it with a “conversational dialogue” in place of the traditional list of website links. Sure, it’s convenient—but how accurate will it be?
🗓️ On the hunt for more sophisticated content planning software than your current method? Check out this list of the six best, including the top features and what to look for in your ideal software.
💰 Is Google Ads still a good value for low-budget accounts? It depends on your lead volume, objectives, and capacity for investing in video. Read a breakdown of a PPC’s full answer here.
🎁 If you tired of giving away free content, you can take a step up to “tiny offers”—a small digital product that offers a solution to a single, specific problem. Find out how to build a tiny offer that converts.
✉️ Don’t over-rely on email in 2025: Check out this “crawl, walk, run” approach to help you diversify beyond email and into popups, SMS, and targeted social platforms (the article is free to read if you sign up with an email).
Up & Coming
AI is transforming the way search engines interpret content—moving from basic keywords to understanding the context and relationships behind words.
Staying ahead in search rankings now requires adapting to these advancements. Read marketing consultant Ann Robison’s in-depth look at how these new technologies are paving the way for the next SEO evolution.