Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire In this episode, Neil and Eric debate whether answer engine optimization AEO is overhyped, breaking down Ahrefs data on ChatGPT vs Google traffic, why search still drives most discovery, and how to think about AI search optimization across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more. They share real AI ROI examples from Goldman Sachs research, talk LLM use cases for marketing, sales, and ops, discuss AI's impact on jobs, and reveal their favorite AI stocks and winning marketing formula heading into 2026. Key takeaways: • AEO vs SEO, why AI search is overhyped now but essential long term. • Real-world AI ROI from JP Morgan, UPS, Target, Chipotle, and more. • How Neil and Eric use ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other LLMs to scale marketing. Chapters: 00:00 AEO vs SEO hype 01:02 ChatGPT vs Google traffic share 02:40 AEO short-term vs. long-term 05:55 LLM platform use cases 08:47 Real AI ROI case studies 11:02 AI, jobs, and 2027 outlook 12:59 Favorite AI stocks to watch 15:02 Hiring AI native marketers 17:16 2026 marketing experimentation playbook 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire In this episode, Neil and Eric break down the concept of "Rich vs King" AKA Money Vs Power, using Microsoft vs SAS Institute to explore wealth vs control, equity, and generational businesses. They talk ambition after kids, compounding, TAM, IQ, focus, and why learning beats raw talent in entrepreneurship. You’ll hear how to think about billion dollar goals, picking the right niche (like HVAC), improving your focus over decades, and why B2B marketers misuse LinkedIn account-based marketing, plus how karrot.ai helps fix it. Key takeaways: -Rich vs king: choosing control or maximum upside as your company scales. -Compounding, focus and the right niche beat raw IQ in business. -Ambition, kids and balance reshape your path to billion dollar outcomes. Chapters: (00:00) Rich vs King for founders (02:10) Microsoft vs SAS Institute example (04:20) Rich, king, and life balance (06:15) Compounding, TAM, and ambition (08:10) IQ, learning and market niches (10:30) HVAC edge and simple businesses (12:30) Learning M&A, AI and recruiting (14:20) Focus over decades as founders (16:10) Money, distraction, and side projects (18:00) Hiring experts, SEO roots, wrap 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down why patience, focus, and real value creation beat hype, why hating billionaires signals misplaced blame, and why virality and vibe coding rarely build durable companies. They explore bad actors vs success, the trap of chasing views, and why true leverage comes from solving customer problems, not dopamine hits or internal DIY tools. A sharp look at modern startup culture, attention chasing, and what actually lasts. Key takeaways: • Patience compounds faster than virality • Value creation beats attention chasing • Focus builds generational companies Chapters: (00:00) Founder patience (02:20) Learning through osmosis (04:55) Billionaires debate (07:30) Vibe coding limits (11:55) Virality misconceptions (17:40) Operating vs popularity (20:40) Generational business mindset 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

To get ad placements on premium websites, go to https://discover.taboola.com/ms Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Live events, in-person leadership, and long-term planning take center stage as Neil and Eric unpack why Elon Musk says live events are the last true luxury, how in-person time deepens team relationships, and why three-year planning beats short-term thinking. They break down accountability, B2B growth, RFP-focused marketing, and how great leaders push just hard enough to keep performance high without burning people out. Hosted by Neil and Eric, this episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, marketers, and B2B leaders looking to scale smarter. Key takeaways • Live events are the last real luxury • One metric per leader drives accountability • Great leaders push hard without burning people out Chapters (00:00) Elon Musk on live events as luxury (01:22) Why in-person events still matter (03:33) New marketing content formats with the team (05:18) Deepening relationships with in-person time (06:11) Three-year planning and 3HAG explained (08:40) Beyond EOS and quarterly planning theater (11:12) RFP growth, B2B pipeline, and key channels (13:28) Holding leaders accountable to one core metric (15:19) Pushing teams, follow-ups, and daily metrics (18:32) Healthy tension, chaos, and getting things done (20:24) Founder pressure, AI feedback, and leadership style (21:45) When people can’t handle the pace in business 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric share real-world B2B marketing strategies for 2025 and 2026, covering how to buy failing SEO tools to drive traffic, scale corporate webinars, double down on product-led growth, and use live events and paid speaking engagements to fill your pipeline. They break down AI SEO, social content hooks, enterprise sales psychology, and Peter Thiel’s “one thing” focus so you can drive more revenue and help clients hit their KPIs. Key takeaways: Scale B2B leads through events, corporate webinars, and strategic speaking engagements. Use AI SEO and content collabs to compound organic growth. Win enterprise deals by focusing on buyer KPIs and promotions. Chapters: 00:00 Buying products instead of ads 00:24 Acquiring failing SEO tools 00:44 Corporate webinars for B2B leads 01:29 In-person events and live streaming 02:35 Paid ads, PLG, and expansion 03:26 Conference luncheons and wrong events 04:00 B2B SaaS events and collabs 04:24 AI SEO, webinars, and social content 05:22 Hooks, captions, and social reach 06:11 Sponsoring events and paying to speak 08:17 Repurposing podcasts into infographics 09:23 Peter Thiel’s one-thing focus 10:27 Executive KPIs and revenue focus 11:24 Product growth without marketing 12:19 CEO vs operator responsibilities 12:56 COO profitability test in 2026 14:17 Enterprise sales hack with peer pressure 15:26 Closing by aligning with KPIs 16:25 Helping clients get promoted 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil Patel and Eric Siu break down how they’re revamping their marketing for 2026, from YouTube long-form vs shorts to webinars, lives, and AI-powered funnels. They share why riffed, story-led videos beat stiff scripts, how better packaging and thumbnails drive the right views, and why they’re prioritizing enterprise ROI over vanity metrics. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes tests with agencies, influencer hires, internal creators, and global expansion, plus how AI-driven agencies like Single Grain are rethinking content, search everywhere optimization, and work-life balance in a world of SpaceX-level grind. Key takeaways: • Riffed, conversational videos beat stiff scripts for real YouTube growth. • Let sales and client demand choose topics, not vanity views or likes. • Roundtables, lives, and webinars turn enterprise content into high-intent leads. Chapters: (00:00) SpaceX culture and work-life balance (01:34) Why are intense hours breaking families (01:45) Revamping our 2026 marketing plan (02:01) Long form YouTube, scripts vs riffing (03:36) Thumbnails, packaging, and YouTube hooks (05:55) AI-focused pitch for Single Grain (06:10) Short-form content and agency ROI (09:11) Testing roundtable video formats (13:06) Hiring influencers vs in-house talent (18:05) Global expansion, enterprise focus, and email (19:06) Going live, webinars, and community (19:40) Wrap up and subscribe CTA 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe On this episode of Marketing School, Neil and Eric break down how to hire A players while scaling, why downturns are the best time to weed out poor performers, and how founder mindset drives culture, acquisitions, and growth. They share real stories from NP Digital, top-grading their team, fixing broken agency cultures, and personally jumping into big sales deals to set the standard for hustle. Hosted by Neil and Eric, this one is all about talent, leadership, and what it really takes to grow a company that actually performs. Chapters: (00:00) Scaling, turnover, and growth milestones (00:37) Hard times reveal true performers (01:02) Vinod Khosla’s hardest-work question (01:30) Why Neil turned down CMO role (03:56) Entrepreneur vs hired gun mindset (05:45) Keeping or exiting founders after acquisitions (07:59) Fixing misaligned agency cultures (11:00) Hiring standards and A-player focus (14:53) Top grading and raising the talent bar (17:39) How Neil allocates founder time (19:34) Founder-led enterprise and franchise sales (23:45) Leading by example and final thoughts 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

To get ad placements on premium websites, go to https://discover.taboola.com/ms. Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down why Google’s Gemini 3 is a godsend for marketers, how AI Studio, Nano Banana, and VO 3.1 change marketing workflows, and what this means for SaaS founders, AI tools, and the future of marketing. They talk Google vs ChatGPT, TPUs vs NVIDIA, AI startup bubbles, and real-world AI adoption inside their own companies so you can learn how to scale teams, budgets, and output with AI while avoiding “AI slop.” Chapters: (00:00) Gemini 3 is a godsend (02:00) Founder overrides, budgets, and hiring (04:50) SaaS pricing, add-ons, product speed (07:00) Gemini AI Studio and Nexus idea (09:00) Gemini vs Lovable and AI tools (11:00) Google TPUs, NVIDIA, and AI chips (12:40) Is AI a bubble for startups (14:30) AI slop, prompting, and MCP usage (16:20) Generational AI gaps and KPIs (18:10) Hiring for metrics and strategy (20:00) Scaling teams, standards, and AI value 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the three must-have marketing hires for 2026, why influencer marketing is shifting to micro creators, how data and analytics unlock real ROI, and why digital PR and citations matter in the AI search era. They also explore the rise of the vibe growth marketing manager, the changing expectations for modern marketers, the evolving CMO role, and the underrated power of email as a revenue engine. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Micro influencers drive massive ROI -Data clarity beats bigger budgets -Email remains the strongest profit lever CHAPTERS (0:00) Building a 2026 marketing team (01:02) Influencer hire essentials (02:24) Micro influencer ROI (04:20) Data and analytics hire (05:59) Digital PR importance (07:15) Vibe growth marketing manager (08:40) Skills modern marketers need (09:50) CMO role evolution (11:56) Email as revenue engine (14:34) Enterprise marketing strategy (15:59) Final marketing lessons 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the surge of AI GEO startups, why funding far outpaces ARR, and how services still outperform SaaS. They compare Profound, AirOps, Peak AI, BrightEdge, Moz, and SEMrush while revealing why compounding, ownership, and real relationships matter more than hype. They also discuss bootstrapped billionaires, declining businesses, and the difference between real friends and transactional ones. Key takeaways: • AI GEO funding is outpacing proven revenue • Services outperform pure SaaS long term • Real relationships drive business success Chapters: (00:00) AI GEO startups funding (02:30) Services vs SaaS scaling (05:40) Bootstrapped billionaire examples (14:20) Compounding wealth mindset (17:30) Real vs transactional friends 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

For fast, affordable business insurance as low as $29/mo, go to http://nextinsurance.com/ms Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ever wonder which podcasts are worth sponsoring for serious business growth? Neil and Eric discuss how to get a podcast sponsor and generate enterprise leads for your business. They explore the nuances of podcast advertising and b2b lead generation, offering insights into podcast monetization and making money podcasting. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Enterprise leads from podcast sponsorships (04:47) Awards, judges, and RFP opportunities (07:16) Single Grain’s AI marketing pitch (09:05) AI stock analysis fails live (14:14) Semrush vs Ahrefs vs BrightEdge 𝗔bout the Channel Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and a Forbes Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/

To get ad placements on premium websites, go to https://discover.taboola.com/ms In this episode, Neil and Eric break down why top leaders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and U.S. generals ban PowerPoint from critical meetings — and what to do instead. They unpack how six-page Amazon-style memos drive deeper thinking, when slides do make sense for all-hands or client presentations, and the hidden cost of lazy bullet-point culture. They also shift into personal branding, key-man risk, burnout, and how founders can scale beyond their own name while still using content to fuel enterprise growth. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Why leaders ban PowerPoint (01:00) Bezos memos vs slide decks (03:30) When slides actually make sense (06:30) Six-page memos and deep work (14:50) Personal brand, burnout, and scale 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and a Forbes Top 10 Marketer. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/

Hosted by Neil Patel and Eric Siu, this Marketing School episode breaks down why their mindset on influencer marketing flipped, how they use influencer deals to fund rising content costs, and the real numbers behind their content budget. Key takeaways: -Use influencer deals strategically to offset growing content production costs -Treat your podcast like a B2B media asset and sell sponsorships directly -LLM SEO will reward real authority, not short term spammy tactics Chapters: (00:00) Why our influencer marketing stance changed (01:00) Using influencer deals to fund content (02:20) What we really spend on content teams (05:24) Turning a money losing podcast into profit (09:51) How marketers game ChatGPT and LLM rankings (12:10) Our blueprint to fix ChatGPT style algorithms (18:49) Final thoughts, lessons and next steps 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ ✅ Subscribe for Daily Marketing Insights!

Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.singlegrain.com/ and https://npdigital.com/ Want to recruit great marketers? Find them here: https://marketingschool.io/hire Neil and Eric break down the real cost of content teams, why agency work often disappoints, and how nearshore talent, data-driven charts, and intimate in-person events can drive far more B2B pipeline than vanity views. They walk through their content economics, research workflow, and event strategy for landing enterprise SEO. Key takeaways: Build lean B2B content teams that prioritize revenue, not just reach. Use data-driven charts and research workflows to attract high-LTV enterprise clients. Host intimate in-person events to unlock RFPs and multi-million dollar deals. Chapters:(00:00) Content costs explode to $250k (02:00) In-house content vs agencies (04:30) Data charts and research engine (06:10) Events outranking webinars for revenue (08:00) Intimate B2B executive hotel events (11:30) Speaking inside enterprise headquarters (16:00) Travel grind, jets and demand (18:40) Enterprise-focused content over vanity views (22:00) When paid talks don’t convert (28:30) Paying to speak at the right events (31:30) Executive programs and franchise deals (33:20) Find your best marketing channel

Neil and Eric break down personal brand versus corporate brand. They discuss long term relationship building, when to invest during hard cycles, and why strong teams outlast founders. Packed with insights on scaling, branding, and navigating today’s AI-shaped marketing world, this episode offers real operator perspective without the fluff. Key Takeaways • Personal brand boosts early growth but limits long term scalability • Elite executive programs pay off through deep relationships • Strong teams reduce key man risk and enable real scale Chapters (00:00) Personal brand vs corporate brand (00:22) YPO and EO executive programs (01:00) MIT EO program learnings (01:43) Jason Cohen branding insight (02:30) WP Engine brand vs founder (03:13) NP Digital brand evolution (04:07) Investing during downturns (05:02) AI impact on agencies (05:31) A16Z media strategy (06:26) Founder networks and deal flow (07:21) Can A16Z thrive without founders (08:00) Building teams that outlast founders (09:01) Early careers of Andreessen and Horowitz (10:14) Netscape and Loudcloud history (10:40) Lessons from top operators (10:52) Outro

To get ad placements on premium websites, go to https://discover.taboola.com/ms. In this episode Neil and Eric dive into the “millionaire vs billionaire mindset” exploring how wealth strategies evolve as fortunes climb, and why billionaires aim for monopoly power and pricing control rather than just accumulation. Key takeaways: • Millionaires build, grow and often exit. • Deca-millionaires (tens of millions) may sell or bank for the next cycle. • Billionaires find an unfair competitive advantage, build pricing power, and scale forever. Chapters: (00:00) Millionaire vs billionaire mindset (01:00) Single-digit millionaire reactions (02:00) Deca-millionaire sell mindset (03:00) Billionaire monopoly strategy (05:00) Big tech competitive advantages (07:30) Why compounding beats selling (09:20) Purpose, identity and building (11:00) Closing thoughts

In this episode, Eric and Neil break down how parody personas are becoming a secret growth engine for B2B brands. They analyze CompAI’s fictional character “Henrik Johansson,” how the account generated millions of impressions in days, and why entertainment-driven content can outperform traditional marketing. They also discuss the viral resurfacing of Peter Thiel’s 2020 email, how economic pressure shapes voter behavior, and what marketers can learn from shifting generational sentiment and online narratives. Key takeaways ● Parody accounts can drive real pipeline through high-engagement storytelling ● Viral narratives amplify brand awareness when aligned with product value ● Economic sentiment influences content performance and audience behavior TIMESTAMPS (00:00) How CompAI used a parody account to get 10M+ impressions (04:30) Why humor accelerates B2B brand awareness (08:10) Breaking down Peter Thiel’s resurfaced email (12:45) Generational economics and shifting voter behavior (17:20) Marketing lessons from viral political and cultural moments 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel

In this episode, Eric and Neil dive into the battle between profitability and loyalty, why leads fuel growth, and how to innovate without being first. They reveal how to stand out in an AI-saturated landscape using proprietary data, events-driven B2B strategies, and recruiting frameworks that scale revenue. Key takeaways ● Marketing + innovation compound long-term growth ● Proprietary data and human stories beat AI content ● Role-play hiring and referrals protect your pipeline TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Drucker on marketing and innovation (03:35) Profitability vs. customer loyalty (06:12) Events-driven B2B growth strategies (15:03) Proprietary data storytelling (23:32) Recruiting frameworks that drive revenue 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/

AI slop, viral posts, and why human review still matters. Neil and Eric unpack the dangers of AI-generated content that fabricates facts, the rise of “set it and forget it” marketing, and why guidelines beat hype. Timestamps (00:00) AI slop cold open (00:20) Viral post confession (01:40) Fabricated metrics risk (03:05) Unreviewed AI at work (04:55) AI stocks and valuations (06:30) AI tools vs agencies (08:10) Set clear AI guidelines (08:40) Consultants and CYA insurance (10:40) Cluey growth critique (12:20) Sticky customers over hype (13:25) Wrap up and next topics To suggest a topic, go to ⁠https://www.marketingschool.io⁠. For more content from Eric and Neil, check out Eric’s Leveling Up with Eric Siu YouTube channel and Neil’s Neil Patel YouTube channel. Connect with Us: Single Grain << Eric's ad agency NP Digital << Neil’s ad agency X @neilpatel, @ericosiu Instagram @neilpatel, @ericosiu Drop Us a Review If You Enjoyed the Episode!

In this episode Neil and Eric discuss the resurgence of live streaming, standout marketing ideas from Capital Camp, and the power of creative event branding. They unpack key takeaways on AI-driven engagement, SMS marketing innovations like Send Blue, and lessons from top creators like Epic Gardening’s Kevin Espiritu. From faith-based business surprises to remarkable marketing examples, this episode is packed with actionable insights for marketers, founders, and creators ready to level up. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Live again after years (02:00) Capital Camp and creative branding (05:00) SMS marketing innovations and engagement hacks (07:20) Event marketing ideas and buying towns for branding (10:00) Faith-based business trends and AI-generated virality 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOSTS Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel FREE RESOURCES Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel