Drop The Mic with Jason Hunt – Details, episodes & analysis

Everyone's automating their LinkedIn outreach. Everyone's using AI to personalize at scale. And almost everyone is getting ignored. Zivko Dodovski, CEO of DoneMaker, has built a thriving B2B lead generation firm by doing the exact opposite; zero automations, zero AI messages, and a manual outreach process that consistently books 8-10 qualified calls per month for his clients.

Zivko started in radio broadcasting before pivoting into B2B sales, where he discovered that genuine human connection on LinkedIn outperformed every tool, shortcut, and automation he tested. He now runs DoneMaker, a LinkedIn organic outreach firm that has helped clients like J Baker Media land 5 clients in 2 months and Jones & Lamb LLC generate $14K in a single month — all without spending a dollar on ads.

He explains:

◼️ Why "over-personalization" is the new spam — and how savvy buyers spot it in seconds

◼️ The exact connection message framework Zivko uses to start real conversations without pitch-slapping

◼️ Why LinkedIn's API suppresses automation tools and what that means for your outreach results

◼️ How to use Sales Navigator to build targeting so precise it turns outreach into a near 50/50 yes-or-no conversation

◼️ The profile optimization mistake most small businesses make — and why the "billboard approach" backfires

◼️ Why commenting on viral posts can generate more impressions than posting on your own feed

◼️ The dot-space LinkedIn trick that instantly reveals who's using automation to reach you

◼️ When LinkedIn simply won't work for your business — and what to do instead

Timestamps:

02:00 – From radio broadcasting to B2B sales and founding DoneMaker

05:00 – Is radio advertising still relevant in 2026?

08:00 – How Zivko personally uses LinkedIn to grow his business

09:20 – The hot take: no AI, no automations — everything manual and why

12:00 – "Over-personalization" — the new red flag buyers can smell a mile away

15:00 – The exact connection message framework that starts real conversations

18:00 – Why Sales Navigator is the most underutilized LinkedIn tool

21:30 – From connection request to booked call — the full outreach sequence
24:00 – Profile optimization: what to do (and what to ditch) depending on your company size

26:00 – Where posting fits into the outreach strategy

29:00 – The commenting strategy that beats posting your own content

32:00 – Cadence, blog strategy, and the top/middle/bottom of funnel approach

36:00 – LinkedIn articles and newsletters — worth it or not?

38:00 – LinkedIn ads vs. Meta ads — why you should never test creative on LinkedIn

40:00 – The dot-space automation detection trick and when LinkedIn won't work for you

Connect with Zivko:

Website: donemaker.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zivkododovski

Connect with Jason: Website: https://jayhunt.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/

Meet Jivan Sanghera, the Broker of Record and President of Circle Mortgage Group in Burlington, ON. 

Circle is a small but mighty brokerage, no stranger to managing high volume, and dedicated to helping families in their area find a mortgage that will provide security and help them grow. They are an award-winning BBB accredited brokerage and have had the honour of serving over 2000 families in the GTA.

Circle Mortgage was born out of a desire to serve clients directly. Jivan brings with him 15+ years of financial services experience, most recently 8+ with Dominion Lending Centres where he won annual awards for sales volume.

In this special bonus episode of the Merged Marketing Podcast, in the wake of the current pandemic in the world right now- Jay and David sit down and talk about the state of the marketing industry and how people should be allocating their time and resources in their business. 

Do you want to know whether or not you should be devoting said time and resources towards marketing during all of this? Keep on watching.

Our guest today is Joe Teo, the CEO at HeyOrca, a social media approval and publishing platform that’s built for Marketing Agencies. Since raising a combined total of $2.65 Million, HeyOrca has gained rapid traction and helped power the social media production of over 400 agencies in the world. Joe and the team at HeyOrca are on a mission to help marketing agencies take back their day!

Welcome to episode 7 of the Merged Marketing Podcast. Today we are discussing on-page SEO with Michal Suski. Michal is an SEO Specialist, on-page enthusiast and the Co-Founder of Surfer SEO, a content optimization tool for experts. We’ve had a couple different SEO experts on the show, but it is one of those things that if done correctly will take your business and online presence to the next level! Today’s episode focuses specifically on on-page optimization. 

Nick Musica was running a CBD publisher when Google's May 2019 algorithm update wiped his traffic overnight—dropping from page 1 to oblivion. With four weeks until he'd need to fire his entire team, he made a decision that would never make it into a Harvard Business Review case study: quit with zero contracts lined up and figure it out as he went.

AEO vs SEO: The Numbers Don't LieWhen answer engines drive 1% of traffic and traditional search drives 16%, where should your budget actually go? Nick dismantles the AEO hype with real traffic data and marketing mix strategy.

The "Zero Contracts" Launch StrategyHow quitting his job with literally no clients lined up led to 60 billable hours per week within two weeks. His entire business plan: "I'm going to make this work."

When SEO Becomes Your Business Model (The Risk)Why affiliate sites and publishers live and die by algorithm updates, and how to build a more resilient business that uses SEO as a channel, not a crutch.

AI Content's Fatal FlawThe "vanilla problem" with AI-generated content and why it's creating a race to mediocrity in search results. Spoiler: Google can detect patterns.

From SEO Consultant to Executive CoachThe Harrison Assessment revelation that changed everything, and why most "SEO problems" are actually organizational dysfunction in disguise.

• Nick's Website: https://nickmusica.com

• Website: https://jayhunt.social
• Amplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/ayb
• Instagram: @jayhuntofficial
• LinkedIn: /socialmediaspeaker
• TikTok: @jayhuntofficial

💬 Drop your truth: What percentage of your marketing budget is going to AI hype versus proven channels like SEO? Be honest in the comments.

🎙️ Subscribe for unfiltered conversations with marketers who've survived algorithm apocalypses and lived to tell the tale.

00:00 — Intro: Google algorithm wipes CBD publisher overnight02:15 — The "I'm going to make it work" business plan (zero clients to 60 hours/week)03:35 — Digital marketing background since 2003, SEO agency journey04:22 — $6K/month SEO firm disaster & pivot to training06:28 — SEO career evolution & learning from Shari Thurow mentorship08:15 — Google algorithm changes & position sensitivity explained10:12 — Why using SEO as your business model is dangerous (affiliates/publishers)11:35 — AI overviews as billboard advertising vs click-generating funnels13:42 — Answer engines are just SERP extensions, not replacements15:15 — "Shitty SEO" reality check — the basics still haven't changed18:28 — The AEO vs SEO debate: structure for readers, not algorithms20:45 — Marketing mix truth bomb: 16% SEO traffic vs 1% ChatGPT traffic23:28 — AI-generated content's "vanilla problem" & detection patterns26:15 — Local SEO simplification: focus on Google Business Profile fundamentals29:42 — Marketing mix strategy: balancing short-term wins vs long-term growth32:15 — Direct response crisis mode for lawyers & real estate agents35:08 — SEO timeline expectations: process vs performance metrics38:22 — Coaching transition story via Harrison Assessment behavioral tool41:35 — Organizational dysfunction masking itself as "SEO problems"44:08 — Identity shift: from "SEO guy who coaches" to "coach who runs SEO"

Ryan Davis, founder of People First, joins Drop The Mic to unpack how AI is transforming not just marketing, but leadership, influence, and trust. From political campaigns to brand building, Ryan shares how artificial intelligence is changing how we communicate, connect, and convert in a world of digital overload.

Jason and Ryan dive into how micro-influencers are outpacing mass followings, how AI is reshaping customer targeting and content creation, and why authenticity—not automation—will define the next era of digital strategy. This is a real look at what marketers, consultants, and creators need to do now to future-proof their brand in 2025.

We dive into:
🤖 AI-driven influencer strategy and what’s coming next
🎯 Why micro-influencers are winning the attention game
🧠 Human creativity vs. AI copy — what still matters most
📢 How to balance authenticity, automation, and speed
🔍 What a political campaign would look like if it launched today using AI

Whether you're a brand leader, consultant, or creator, this episode will help you rethink how you show up and lead in an AI-first world.

[00:00] – Intro: Drop the Mic with Jason Hunt
[00:05] – Living in Guadalajara as a digital nomad
[02:31] – From theater director to digital strategist
[06:47] – Early political marketing + Howard Dean campaign
[09:12] – The birth of internet influencers in politics
[10:49] – What a 2025 AI-powered campaign would look like
[12:05] – AI-generated ICPs and smarter targeting
[13:42] – Why real content still beats AI output
[16:01] – Emotion, storytelling, and human copywriting
[18:00] – Reporting, measurement, and creative testing with AI
[22:21] – Hyper-personalized marketing and influencer strategy
[24:45] – Red flags in AI-generated engagement
[27:40] – Micro-influencers: why authenticity scales
[32:30] – How to avoid over-optimization
[35:11] – Full-funnel influencer planning + creative
[38:57] – Funnel-stage content and scalable creator assets
[40:04] – Behind the scenes of the People First newsletter
[41:26] – Ryan’s favorite digital trends & wrap-up

🌐 Website: https://jayhunt.social
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayhuntofficial

Darryl is the Managing Lead for Digital Main Street, a non-profit organization that supports small businesses with digital transformation. To date, they’ve served over 50,000 businesses without charging them a single dollar!

Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Legends League - Toronto boutique
• John Kiru - founder of Digital Main Street
• ShopHERE powered by Google
• Partnered with the CIRA
• Email - info@digitalmainstreet.ca

What You Will Learn:

• Darryl’s journey (2:05)
• What is Digital Main Street (4:11)
• A non-profit help system
• Serving main street and more (11:39)
• Going through the process (15:29)
• Getting the help you need
• Advantages of using Digital Main Street (19:56)
• Helping you understand the digital space
• Get in touch with Darryl (25:48)

Darryl Mentality - Quotes From the Show:

“It’s not what we do, it’s how we do it”

“We’re just trying to help out as many businesses as possible”

“It’s about providing a safe space”

Kenneth Jackson is an award-winning crime reporter and television producer in Ottawa, Ont. with nearly two decades in the business. He got his start in community newspapers before joining the Ottawa Sun in 2007. In 2011, Jackson joined APTN to break the Bruce Carson scandal. The former senior aide to Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried using his contacts in the federal government to sign water deals with First Nations. 

The RCMP would charge Carson with influence peddling based on APTN’s reporting. The case would make it all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which upheld his conviction in 2018. 

Kenneth recently received the 2020 Michener Award, the top journalism award in Canada, for his reporting on child welfare.

Professional photographer Sheldon Isaac reveals the brutal truth about AI's threat to photography, why headshots and Christmas photos are already endangered, and the ONE thing that might save photographers from complete obsolescence.

He explains:

◼️ Why headshots are in serious trouble: AI tools can now generate professional-looking headshots in seconds, and most people don't want to pay $1,000+ for what AI does for free

◼️ The Christmas photo crisis nobody's talking about: how one viral AI prompt showed families they can skip the photographer, save money, and avoid packing up screaming kids

◼️ The photographer backlash that went viral: when a major photo editing software company tried to release free AI headshot tools, photographers came for them so hard they had to pull the entire product

◼️ The experience economy vs. transactional photography: why wedding photographers are safe but headshot photographers are cooked (and the psychology behind it)

◼️ How AI is already saving photographers hours: the culling and editing tools that cut through 1,000+ event photos in minutes instead of days

◼️ The prompt engineering problem: why most people still won't use AI for photos (yet), and how long that protection might last

◼️ The guerrilla content strategy that wins clients: why Sheldon brings his camera to every trade show and records podcast episodes at vendor booths (instead of just exchanging business cards)

◼️ The secret to delivering 450 event photos in 24 hours: his exact workflow for organizing galleries by category so clients can actually USE the content immediately

◼️ Why LinkedIn loves authentic event photography: and how professional photos outperform stock images 10:1 on social media algorithms

◼️ The personality fit most photographers miss: you need the same extroverted, bubbly energy as a talk show host or you'll get ghosted by nervous clients

◼️ How he built a photography business using Facebook in 2007: posting consistently before anyone understood social media marketing

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro: Building a business on Facebook in 2007
01:00 – The guerrilla podcast strategy at trade shows
05:00 – Sheldon's origin story: From film camera to full-time photographer
10:00 – Getting mentored by industry legends in your 20s
15:00 – How AI is already revolutionizing photo editing and culling
20:00 – The planning process: Why pre-production meetings save shoots
25:00 – The personality equation: Why photographers need talk show energy
30:00 – Distribution strategy: Delivering 450 photos in 24 hours
34:00 – The AI threat: Why headshots and Christmas photos are dead
37:00 – Experience vs. transaction: Which photos AI will never replace
39:00 – Why humans still crave in-person connection (and what that means for photographers)
41:00 – Where to connect with Sheldon + the "Sheldon AI" moment

Connect with Sheldon Isaac:
📸 LinkedIn: Sheldon A. Isaac
📸 Instagram: @sheldonisaacimages

Subscribe to Drop The Mic for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs navigating AI, marketing, and business growth in 2026.

@jayhuntofficial - IG

https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/