Explore every episode of the podcast Marketing by Design

Website being lazy? Start here:

https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

The marketer's relationship with the website is changing fast, and most teams aren't ready for what's coming.

In this episode, Andy sits down with Julian Galluzzo, content creator and web ecosystem lead at Memberstack, to talk about what it actually looked like to migrate a 600-page-plus marketing site out of Webflow, where AI-powered development tools are headed, and why the smartest thing a web-focused marketer or creative can do right now is stop building digital brochures and start building web apps.

Julian has been inside the Webflow ecosystem for years, built and exited an agency at 21, and now spends his days experimenting with new tools and sharing what he finds with thousands of builders.

This one is a direct line into where the website is headed, and what that means for your marketing program.

CONNECT WITH JULIAN

🌐 Website

https://www.memberstack.com/

🌐 Ship Studio

https://www.ship.studio/

💼 LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-galluzzo-610379173/

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website

https://www.mmg.studio/

💼 LinkedIn

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

📸 Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:01 Training yourself out of public speaking fear

01:11 Speaking at Flow Ninja's conference in Serbia

02:10 Building a remote career at age 13

06:56 100 cold messages a day and the $200 website that started everything

08:21 Co-founding Vezza Digital and scaling to 40 people

09:57 Why headcount is a vanity metric (Memberstack does more with five)

11:14 How Julian became a full-time Memberstack employee

16:39 What Julian actually does day-to-day at Memberstack

17:07 Why Made in Webflow matters less now

19:00 The quantity content strategy that made Julian unavoidable in the Webflow world

21:06 The AI and Webflow intersection: where things are actually headed

26:07 Migrating a 600-page marketing site out of Webflow

27:33 Webflow's positioning problem and the honest AppGen review

29:55 Why Webflow's biggest opportunity is becoming the AI tool for professionals

32:49 How freelancers and agencies stay defensible in an AI world

33:46 Claude Code: try it once and you'll never go back

34:15 Stop building digital brochures, start building web apps

35:10 The Relume endorsement Julian has never been paid for

40:59 Buying a house at 21, leaving it urgently, and what came after

44:57 Working 32 hours a week with two kids and doing career-best work

45:56 The Vercel CEO reached out. What that actually meant to Julian

TEAM

🎙 Host — Andy Milligan

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

🎥 Production — MMG Design

https://www.mmg.studio/

🤝 Powered by — AMA Columbus

https://amacolumbus.org/ and our friends at COhatch (Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us) https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ Website Being Lazy?

Start Here: https://www.mmg.studio/website-optimization

☕ COhatch (Get 2 FREE weeks of productivity and unlimited coffee, on us)

https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

Ally Goerdt spent over seven years as a CPA before co-founding FluidMinds Consulting, a web design and development company serving nonprofits and small businesses.

In this episode, Ally breaks down the financial habits that separate thriving business owners from the ones flying blind. From creating visibility in your books to picking the one metric worth tracking for three months, this is a practical financial masterclass built for marketers, freelancers, and creatives who would rather do anything than open a spreadsheet.

CONNECT WITH ALLY

🌐 Website

www.fluidmindsconsulting.com

💼 LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-goerdt-74b209a6/

🏋️ CrossFit Bio

https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/2908106

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website

https://www.mmg.studio/

💼 LinkedIn

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

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro

00:48 – From CPA to Creative Co-Owner

01:36 – Why She Left a “Safe” Career Behind

04:36 – The Moment She Felt What Her Clients Felt

07:49 – The One Mistake Almost Every Small Business Makes

10:33 – Why Creatives Shut Down Around Money

13:15 – Step One: Build Financial Visibility

17:04 – Have Grace With Your Money Baggage

19:12 – Track One Metric for Three Months

23:34 – Looking Backwards to Project Forward

24:53 – Beginner vs. Expert Financial Habits

28:49 – People First and the FluidMinds Mission

TEAM

🎙 Host — Andy Milligan

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

🎥 Production — MMG Design

https://www.mmg.studio/

🤝 Powered by AMA Columbus

https://amacolumbus.org

…and our friends at COhatch

(Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us)

https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ Website Suck? Start Here: https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

David Newman spent 10 years in corporate consulting before going out on his own in 2002 with zero playbook. After years of bumbling through every mistake in the book, he built Do It Marketing into a platform that helps experts, consultants, and small agency owners sell their expertise without feeling pushy or salesy. In this episode, David breaks down why marketing yourself is so much harder than marketing for a brand, why most people do branding way too early, and how to identify the work that's easy for you but difficult for everyone else.

CONNECT WITH DAVID

🌐 Website: https://doitmarketing.com/

🌐 Free Resources: https://doitmarketing.com/hello

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjnewman/

💼 Do It Marketing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/do-it-marketing/

📚 Do It Marketing (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Do-Marketing-Instant-Action-Maximize-Competition/dp/0814432867

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmg.studio/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:25 - Why selling yourself feels like a totally different game

05:40 - The one-person strategic retreat you need to take

08:58 - Hot take: branding actually comes after marketing

14:33 - Why most founders still can't answer the ICP question

21:18 - From Fortune 500 consulting to $200 breakfast clubs

24:40 - The moment a $10K gig lost to a $200 one

29:40 - The summer camp sign that changed everything

35:10 - Your easiest work is your most valuable work

40:08 - Where to find David and free resources

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmg.studio/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

and our friends at COhatch (Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us) https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

David Cohen is the founder of Superposition, a data and AI strategy consultancy that uses interactive workshops and collaborative facilitation to help other consultancies sell, scope, execute, and grow their client work. In this episode, David breaks down why the consulting industry is stuck in a boring, outdated marketing model and what he's doing differently, from building a game show as a content vehicle to reverse-engineering his entire brand from the work he actually delivers. If you're starting or scaling a consulting business, this conversation is full of practical lessons on differentiation, branding, and leaning into what makes you weird.

CONNECT WITH DAVID

🌐 Website: https://www.superpositionstrat.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davcohen06/

📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Superpositionstrat

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

05:55 - The Buzzword David Wants Banned Forever

09:14 - Why "Sounding Smart" Can Backfire

13:46 - He Built a Game Show Instead of a Podcast

22:16 - The Loneliest Job in Every Company

26:02 - What Hiring Superposition Actually Looks Like

35:28 - How He Reverse-Engineered His Entire Brand

37:19 - Consulting's Biggest Marketing Problem

45:38 - From Layoff to Launch in Six Months

48:50 - The Self-Doubt Nobody Talks About

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

and our friends at COhatch (Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us) https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

Jeff Ryznar has worked at some of the biggest ad agencies in the country, ran strategic marketing for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the LeBron era (and after), launched an AI-driven tech company in San Francisco, and has spent the last 11 years building 898 Marketing into a 47-person agency. In this episode, Jeff breaks down the one principle that's connected every chapter — growth only happens when you're uncomfortable — and shares the habits, mindset shifts, and hard-earned lessons that marketers and founders can apply right now.

CONNECT WITH JEFF

🌐 Website: https://www.898marketing.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jryznar/

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmg.studio

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:11 - From Youngstown to the Biggest Ad Agencies in America

02:11 - The One Thread That Connects Every Career Move

04:17 - Discomfort Looks Different at Every Level

05:26 - LeBron Left and It Was the Best Thing That Happened

06:23 - What 47 Families Depending on You Actually Feels Like

07:00 - The Best Business Advice He Ever Got (R&D)

07:23 - Why the Inches You Need Are Already Around You

08:02 - Small Habits That Prepare You for Big Moments

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

and our friends at COhatch (Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us) https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

A. Lee Judge has spent 25+ years sitting between sales and marketing teams — and watching them break down in the same four places every time. In this episode, Lee walks through his CASH framework (Communication, Alignment, Systems, Honesty), explains why marketing creates content that sales never sees, why both teams measure the wrong things, and how to unify them into one revenue team. Whether you run a company with separate departments or you're a solo founder wearing both hats, this conversation will change how you think about the relationship between sales and marketing.

CONNECT WITH LEE

🌐 Website: https://aleejudge.com/

📕 The Book: https://aleejudge.com/cash

🏢 Content Monsta: https://contentmonsta.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleejudge/

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:47 - From DJ to Accidental Marketer

03:45 - He Didn't Know He Was Building CRMs

06:01 - Why Other People See Your Value First

07:27 - The Side Hustle Your Boss Should Encourage

10:24 - The Moment His Personal Brand Split in Two

14:00 - Finding the "Tilt" Between Two Deep Lanes

16:01 - Why Trend-Hoppers Lose Credibility

21:07 - The POD Method for Founder Productivity

25:54 - The CASH Framework Explained

29:35 - No Deal Is Won by Just Sales or Just Marketing

30:21 - How Solo Founders Apply the CASH Framework

34:12 - Knowing What Happens After the Zoom Call Ends

36:19 - Where to Find Lee and the Book

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org/

and our friends at COHATCH (Get 2 free weeks of premium coworking, on us) https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmg.studio/visualswipefile

Harley Allaby co-founded Samurai Code after helping scale Exact Medicare from a small startup to $100M+ in revenue — largely by figuring out how to deploy AI agents before most companies even had a plan. In this episode, Harley breaks down why 95% of AI implementations fail, how to identify the highest-leverage point in your business for AI deployment, and why small language models are quietly outperforming the big monolithic approaches everyone defaults to. Whether you're a founder running lean or a marketing leader trying to make the case internally, this conversation gives you a tactical roadmap for getting AI right the first time.

CONNECT WITH HARLEY

🌐 Website: https://www.samuraicode.ai/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallaby/

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmg.studio/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro

00:40 – From Pokemon cards to $100M: Harley's entrepreneurial path

03:10 – Why big companies can afford to fail at AI and you can't

05:09 – Highest leverage vs. low-hanging fruit: where to deploy AI first

08:00 – The AI use case nobody talks about: employee training

10:30 – 95% of AI implementations fail — here's why

13:49 – Your data is a mess and it's blocking everything

17:50 – Small language models vs. large: the car dealership breakdown

22:02 – AI can 5x your content output but still can't design

30:33 – Are your competitors already ahead on AI?

37:59 – $500K per employee: the new AI-era benchmark

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmg.studio/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org/

🤝 Powered by // COHatch: https://cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Josh Canale went from borderline failing engineering classes to leading AI design systems at Epic — the largest electronic health records platform in America. Now, as the founder of Float, he works with AI startups to design their user experiences from the ground up.

In this episode, Josh breaks down how the design process is fundamentally reshaping — why prototyping is now a form of ideation, how to build an AI tool stack without getting lost in the hype, and what separates the designers who will thrive from the ones who get left behind.

Whether you're a founder building an AI product or a marketer trying to understand where design is headed, this conversation is packed with frameworks you can use immediately.

CONNECT WITH JOSH

🌐 Website

https://www.buildwithfloat.com/

💼 LinkedIn

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

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website

https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn

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

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:54 - Small Town Kid to UX Designer

08:19 - The Scrap Wood Desk That Started It All

14:01 - When AI Landed on Josh's Lap at Epic

16:59 - The Article That Changed His Career Forever

22:45 - What Designers Looked Like 5 Years Ago vs. Now

32:24 - Designing Without a Mind's Eye (Aphantasia)

39:14 - The CRAFT Prompt Framework Every Designer Needs

49:28 - Cut Through the Hype: Josh's Actual Tool Stack

53:46 - Building a Diabetes App in One Hour with Vibe Coding

58:23 - How to Stay on the Leading Edge Without Burning Out

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan

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

🎥 Production // MMG Design

https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus and COHatch

https://amacolumbus.org/

https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Marcus Schaller is a Fractional B2B Strategist with 20+ years studying why some people thrive at selling while others white-knuckle their way through every conversation.

In this episode of Marketing by Design, Marcus breaks down why selling is really just problem-solving, why trust outweighs every other tactic in services, and why most founders and marketers sabotage their pipeline by spending time in the wrong rooms.

If you've ever felt weird about selling, this one will reframe everything.

CONNECT WITH MARCUS

🌐 Website: https://marcusschaller.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusschaller/

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:38 - The headphones story that explains invisible selling

03:52 - Why the best sellers are obsessed with solving problems

05:38 - The two books that changed how Marcus thinks about sales

09:42 - Does believing in your product actually matter?

13:41 - Selling for yourself vs. selling as part of a team

18:22 - You don't need to be interesting—you need to be interested

22:58 - Why trust is the only currency in services

28:44 - The daily habits of trustworthy salespeople

30:47 - Networking events: are you there for comfort or results?

38:22 - How to know if you're in the wrong room

42:40 - There are no sales mistakes—only data

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org/

🤝 Powered by // COHatch: https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Josh Hall is the founder of Web Designer Pro — a community, coaching, and course platform that's helped hundreds of web designers build real businesses. He's also the person who got Andy started in web design.

In this in-studio conversation, Josh breaks down why communication is the single most valuable skill an entrepreneur can develop, what it actually feels like when you hit a revenue goal and realize it's not what you expected, and how knowing when to pause (without calling it quitting) separates sustainable founders from burned-out ones.

CONNECT WITH JOSH

Website: https://www.joshhall.co/

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

CONNECT WITH ANDY

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Yep — for platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Webflow, adding a dash after the time makes timestamps cleaner and more scannable (and matches common formatting). Here it is fixed:

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

05:49 - The intangible Josh sees in entrepreneurs who make it

08:04 - Why having a Plan B is actually dangerous

11:47 - The one skill that determines your quality of life

17:56 - What Josh would tell his kids about entrepreneurship

24:42 - Why hitting your number can feel completely numb

33:03 - The real cost of "never quit"

35:15 - Quit, pause, rest — they're not the same thing

38:01 - Every identity shift Josh has made in 16 years

43:31 - You don't need to be the best — just the best for your client

1:01:34 - Signal vs. noise and the task inventory

1:24:28 - Should you still get into web design in 2026?

TEAM

Host — Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Production — MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Powered by — COHatch: https://cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Kyle Adams, newsletter strategist and founder of Creator Glue, breaks down exactly why most newsletters are broken and what to do instead. In this episode, Kyle shares the framework he uses to help creators turn their newsletter into a named, positioned product that drives real revenue — plus he coaches Andy live on his own newsletter strategy, giving actionable advice any marketer with a small list can steal immediately.

CONNECT WITH KYLE

Website: https://www.creatorglue.com/

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

CONNECT WITH ANDY

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

04:41 - Why your newsletter beats every social platform you're on

07:39 - The "greatest hits" email trap killing your list

09:07 - How to turn a newsletter into a weekly growth engine

12:23 - The only stats that actually tell you anything

15:22 - Reply rate: the metric nobody tracks but should

16:19 - How to become a mind reader for your subscribers

27:12 - Why naming your newsletter changes everything

37:53 - Relaunching a stale newsletter without alienating your list

44:08 - Andy's live newsletter audit (steal this advice)

50:59 - Social media's heading toward pay-to-play — now what?

54:13 - The "self-starter filter" that wins you clients

TEAM

Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

Supported by // COHatch: https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

In this episode of Marketing by Design, Andy sits down with Lee Densmer, Content Strategist and Owner of Globia Content Marketing, to talk about the hidden barriers that hold marketers back. Lee shares how money mindset and imposter syndrome quietly shape pricing, confidence, and career growth. They also unpack what it really takes to write a book, simplify B2B content programs, and build authority without burning out.

This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply reassuring for marketers who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or undercharging for their expertise.

Key Takeaways

- Why money mindset is often shaped long before your career starts

- How imposter syndrome affects pricing, confidence, and leadership

- When you’re actually ready to write a book (and when you’re not)

- Why most B2B content programs are overcomplicated

- How simplifying content leads to better results and less burnout

Timestamps

00:00 – Can we swear on the podcast?

01:22 – What “money mindset” really means

02:31 – Imposter syndrome and owning your expertise

05:45 – How early money stories shape career behavior

08:23 – Why we undercharge ourselves but not our friends

11:48 – Feeling confident later in your career

12:33 – What it really takes to write a book

16:12 – Why feedback hurts (and why you need it)

19:17 – Building a personal board of directors

26:06 – In-house vs consultant mindset

29:42 – How to become a thought leader without oversharing

35:47 – The before-and-after promise of Content Simplified

Resources Mentioned

Content Simplified (Book): https://www.leedensmer.com

Globia Content Marketing: https://globiacontent.com/

Connect with Lee

Website: https://www.leedensmer.com/

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

Email: lee@globiacontent.com

Connect with Marketing by Design

Free Newsletter: https://www.mmgdesign.net/resources-all-lead-magnets

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Helpful Resources

Highest Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Marketer’s Essential AI Toolkit: https://www.mmgdesign.net/ai

Marketer’s Essential Reading List: https://www.mmgdesign.net/books

Help Us Grow

If this episode helped you rethink confidence, pricing, or content strategy, please rate and review Marketing by Design on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. It helps us reach more marketers like you.

TEAM

Host: Andy Milligan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Production: MMG Design – https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Powered by: AMA Columbus – https://amacolumbus.org

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

In this episode of Marketing by Design Michelle Bourbonniere breaks down how AI search actually works under the hood — in plain English. We unpack the five-step process (prompt → personalization → expansion → draft → linking), why AI citations are often unreliable, and what B2B marketers should do instead of obsessing over links. If you care about being recommended by OpenAI, Google AI Mode, or Perplexity AI, this is the “stop guessing, start engineering” playbook.

Connect with Michelle

Michelle Bourbonniere

Website: https://www.wordsontherise.com/

AI Search Cheat Sheet: https://www.wordsontherise.com/ai

Newsletter: https://www.wordsontherise.com/ (subscribe on-site)

Connect with Andy

Andy Milligan

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Production by MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Key takeaways

- Why “AI search” is mostly “search + synthesis,” not magic

- The real KPI isn’t clicks from citations (yet)

- How to “optimize for the fire” (background queries), not individual prompts

- Why passages matter more than pages in AI results

- The simplest way to reverse-engineer why you’re getting recommended

Timestamps

00:00 - Creator Science, SEO influences, and what changed

01:21 - The shift: from “AI writes content” to “how do I get found?”

02:15 - Michelle’s mindset switch: AI as a new ranking game

05:10 - “Gloom to glee”: why AI used to break content marketing

06:32 - The turning point: chatbots got search indexes

07:01 - The research sprint: patents, papers, and what matters

11:11 - The 5-step AI search model (simple version)

12:38 - Personalization: location, history, and what’s coming

15:26 - Expansion: multiple background searches happening for you

18:16 - Why AI citations are stitched on last

19:35 - Don’t chase links — chase mentions + clarity

27:00 - “Optimize for the fire,” not the spark

33:00 - The timeless principle that matters more now

37:11 - The unconventional move: ask customers for their chat logs

Resources Mentioned

- Michelle’s site: https://wordsontherise.com

- AI cheat sheet: https://wordsontherise.com/ai

- Tools/platforms discussed: OpenAI, Google AI Mode, Perplexity AI

- Concepts: Google patents, AI Overviews/AI Mode, “passages not pages,” personalization, background queries

Connect with Marketing by Design

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

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

Mark Szymanski built his audience the “hard way”: consistent, high-value content with little to no selling. But once brand deals and paid requests started showing up, he ran into an uncomfortable truth—getting paid can change your relationship with the work. In this episode, we talk about how to create insane value for free, when not to monetize, and how to make a smart pivot without sacrificing authenticity, trust, or your name.

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARK

🌐 Website: https://markszymanski.co/start/

💼 Business: https://motive11.com/

📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkJSzymanski

🔗 CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Don’t create a problem until you have one

00:30 - Mark’s origin story: WordPress, agency work, and content

03:13 - The early entrepreneurship influence (family business)

06:01 - The real skill: building rapport fast

10:22 - When getting paid “ruins” the thing you love

16:05 - Tool stacks, switching costs, and what actually matters

23:13 - Why WordPress people get emotional (and why that makes sense)

30:46 - Just-in-time learning vs just-in-case learning

38:17 - Daily posting and why Mark can’t stop creating

45:12 - Brand deals: how they happen and how to do them right

51:14 - The idea: Webflow vs WordPress “sell each other” episode

🎙 TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

In this episode of Marketing by Design, Ben Wiener breaks down why fundraising is actually a marketing problem—not a deck problem. As a venture capitalist and author of Fever Pitch, Ben shares how VCs process information, where founders lose attention, and the one messaging move that neutralizes objections before investors even speak.

If you’re a startup founder or marketer responsible for positioning, storytelling, or go-to-market, this episode reframes pitching as investor marketing and shows you how to do it with clarity, confidence, and leverage.

🔗 CONNECT WITH BEN WIENER

🌐 Website: https://www.benwiener.net/

📘 Book + Free Pitch Tools: https://feverpitchbook.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwiener/

🔗 CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why pitching is really marketing

03:30 – Going 0-for-27 pitching a VC fund

06:41 – How VCs form objections in real time

09:04 – Why founders overload investors

12:10 – Passion vs pressure in startup storytelling

17:34 – What investors actually want to feel

27:01 – The HEART framework explained

36:33 – The highest-leverage move founders miss

40:26 – Branding, websites, and investor trust

45:23 – Fever Pitch + free tools

🧠 YOU’LL LEARN

How to market your startup to VCs

• Why “selling the next meeting” matters more than vision

• How to neutralize objections before the solution

• The psychology behind investor decision-making

• How to package belief, stakes, and differentiation

🎙️ TEAM

Host // Andy Milligan

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

Production // MMG Design

https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Partners // COHATCH

https://www.cohatch.com/mbd

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

Brandon Triola is building a blueprint for creatives who want to thrive — not panic — as AI reshapes the industry. In this episode, Brandon breaks down why talent alone doesn’t create career security, how to increase your value (even if you’re early), and why most creatives hit a ceiling when they tie their income to hours. We also talk confidence, humility, and the mindset shifts that separate creatives who get stuck from creatives who become the trusted voice in the room. Brandon also shares updates on his upcoming book, Save The Creatives, and how he’s thinking about the next decade of creative work.

Key takeaways:

- Why “talent is table stakes” now

- How to build a clear vision for your creative career

- The real reason creatives get cut first in downturns

- How to become more valuable (not just more skilled)

- Why confidence is a practice you can learn

CONNECT WITH BRANDON

Website: ⁠https://www.brandontriola.com/⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-triola-b4793957/⁠

Forrest Co: ⁠https://www.forrest-co.com/⁠

Book waitlist: ⁠https://brandontriola.com/book⁠

Speaking: ⁠https://brandontriola.com/speaking⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/brandontriola⁠

CONNECT WITH ANDY

Website: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/⁠

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

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/⁠

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Why Brandon started writing Save The Creatives

02:48 - Talent is now a commodity (AI reality check)

07:19 - The traits that make creatives indispensable

14:06 - Executives are just as unsure as interns

16:08 - The goal isn’t less fear — it’s being the one they call

21:27 - Vision: the cure for creative career anxiety

27:27 - Why creatives are seen as a cost center

32:09 - The dollars-for-hours ceiling (and how to escape it)

40:08 - You attract the value you believe you have

42:46 - Book launch details + endorsements + Created Con

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/⁠

🎥 Production // MMG Design: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/⁠

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

What if the fastest way to grow your marketing career isn’t another tool or certification…

but community?

In this episode of Marketing by Design, Andy sits down with Meredith Dennis, Founder of Compression Marketing and President of the AMA Phoenix Chapter, to break down how marketing communities become real career accelerators.

Meredith shares how she moved from passive participation to leadership, why simplifying marketing is critical in B2B and healthcare, and how human-centered thinking creates sustainable growth and even in regulated, complex environments.

🔗 CONNECT WITH MEREDITH

🌐 Website: https://www.compressionmarketing.co/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithdennis/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themeredithdennis/

🔗 CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro

02:22 – Why relationships beat resources

13:31 – AMA leadership ≈ running a business

22:54 – The human behind every metric

29:10 – What freedom really looks like as a founder

33:12 – Creating “aha moments” through marketing

🎙 TEAM

🎤 Host // Andy Milligan

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

🎥 Production // MMG Design

https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // American Marketing Association Columbus

https://amacolumbus.org/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

Stacy Eleczko explains how she uses LinkedIn as a real networking platform, not a content treadmill.

We talk about staying bold without losing empathy, building relationships through comments and DMs, and why writing your own website copy is so hard when you’re too close to your business.

You’ll also learn how testimonials become your best messaging research and a repeatable source of content ideas.

Key takeaways

• How to be bold without being harmful
• A simple daily LinkedIn engagement rhythm
• Turning reactions into real relationships
• Why positioning comes before copy
• How testimonials unlock stronger messaging

Timestamps

00:26 - Bold takes + empathy filter

04:08 - The “one step behind you” mindset

05:45 - Writing your own website copy is brutal

06:53 - “You edited yourself out” (the copy mistake)

09:26 - Positioning before copy

19:34 - Time limits + daily LinkedIn rhythm

21:00 - Turning reactions into relationships

24:13 - Getting better testimonials

25:20 - Competitor testimonials: secret research

33:34 - Scaling without becoming an agency

Connect with Stacy

Website: https://stacyeleczko.com/

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

Connect with Marketing by Design

Highest Converting Websites Visual Swipe File (Notion Template):

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Host: Andy Milligan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Production by MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Help us grow

If this episode helped you, please rate and review Marketing by Design on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File:

⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

Andy Crestodina (Orbit Media Studios) breaks down how he built a 53-person agency with an inbound engine that drives millions of visits a year without buying ads. We dig into the real difference between brand content and performance content, and where to start if you want content to drive revenue. Andy also shares his standards for quality, why collaboration makes content better, and how he’s testing AI to audit pages and user journeys. If you care about high-performing B2B websites, this one is a masterclass.

Key takeaways

- Why most people should start with bottom-of-funnel content

- How to keep quality high without killing cadence

- The “fix the mousetrap” rule for your website pages

- How collaborative content grows reach and improves results

- How Andy is using AI personas, page audits, and path audits

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro + why this episode matters

02:05 - How Orbit started (and what he learned first)

02:53 - 53 people, 3.5M visitors, and zero ads

03:40 - How Andy keeps quality high with consistent cadence

06:11 - “Conversations lead to content” (his real workflow)

09:51 - Brand marketing vs performance marketing

11:46 - “Fix the mousetrap, then make the cheese”

15:26 - How to do collaboration outreach (even when you’re small)

20:48 - The back button rule (write for one person)

31:10 - His rule: never teach what you haven’t tested

33:46 - New experiment: an AI “path auditor”

36:48 - Why small firms may win in the AI era

41:40 - NotebookLM as a client/project intelligence layer

44:48 - How he wants to be remembered (team, family, usefulness)

47:02 - Where to connect with Andy

Resources Mentioned

- Andy Crestodina on LinkedIn

- Orbit Media Studios

- Content Chemistry (book)

- Sample article

Connect with Marketing by Design

Host: Andy Milligan https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Production by MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: ⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

In this episode of Marketing by Design, Andy sits down with Micah Lotemo, founder of Panzi Digital, to unpack what AI automation actually looks like inside real businesses. They go beyond hype to talk about AI “employees,” why implementation matters more than tools, and how founders and marketers can start using automation without getting overwhelmed. If you’ve been unsure where AI fits into your marketing, operations, or agency workflow, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

You’ll walk away with clarity on:

• Where AI creates real ROI (and where it doesn’t)
• How automation changes marketing and operations
• Why most teams stall after buying tools
• Simple, low-risk ways to get started

🌐 Website: https://panzidigital.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-lotemo/

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

00:00 – Intro

03:18 – Why mic setup and presence matter

07:39 – Automation tools and learning curves

11:57 – What “AI employees” actually mean

18:20 – Shiny tools vs real implementation

20:13 – The biggest AI misconception

30:29 – Upselling clients without killing trust

39:02 – The first automation that changed everything

45:55 – Where founders should actually start

57:09 – The signal: platforms baking in AI

01:00:39 – Where to find Micah and Panzi Digital

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: ⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipe... In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with ‪@jay‬ to unpack one of the most misunderstood forces in marketing and business: trust. We explore why trust is declining generation by generation, why people are choosing less than ever, and what marketers can do to earn trust faster—without slipping into manipulation.Jay breaks down the research-backed four traits of trustworthiness (competency, reliability, integrity, empathy), how he had to reverse-engineer why audiences trust him, and why “leaving money on the table” is sometimes the strongest trust signal you can send. We also talk transparency vs. trust, invisible selling, and how Jay uses AI to pressure-test ideas without losing his voice.If you’re building an audience, selling services, or leading a brand in a skeptical market—this episode will recalibrate how you think about trust.---CONNECT WITH JAY CLOUSE🌐 Website: (https://www.creatorhq.com/)✍️ Newsletter: https://www.creatorscience.com💼 LinkedIn:   / jayclouse  🎙 Podcast: Creator Science---CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn:   / mmgdesign  📸 Instagram:   / mindfulmilligan   Resources Mentioned

• Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
• Rachel Botsman (trust research + frameworks)
• The 48 Laws of Power — Robert Greene
• Francis Fukuyama (high-trust vs. low-trust societies)
• Jordan Harbinger (invisible selling philosophy)

---Timestamps00:00 — Why trust is declining (and why people choose less)01:51 — Trust, loyalty, and why Jay thinks of his wife first05:39 — Humans evolved to trust beyond family lines07:11 — The trust blind spot: 75% think they’re above average08:58 — Reverse-engineering trust with an audience10:00 — The 4 traits of trustworthiness11:22 — Leaving money on the table as a trust signal13:34 — Trust vs. manipulation15:51 — Transparency as a trust substitute21:44 — Packaging ideas: books vs. content25:58 — Why Jay’s book is ~90% net new28:01 — Using AI to steelman ideas35:21 — The fox and the scorpion story39:50 — Choice overload and decision paralysis41:42 — Soft trust signals (confidence, presentation)44:00 — Vulnerability and reciprocal trust48:02 — The “before vs. after” promise of trustTEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan:   / mmgdesign  🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: ⁠⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with Alex Foulkes, founder of CoLabs, to unpack how service-based and blue-collar business owners can scale without chaos. Alex shares how joining Vistage forced him into the uncomfortable rooms that accelerated his growth, how he went from restaurants to building operational infrastructure, and why the biggest wins usually come from the actions that don’t feel productive in the moment. If you’re overwhelmed, wearing too many hats, and stuck in the day-to-day — this one will hit.

CONNECT WITH ALEX

🌐 Website: www.colabshq.com

💼 LinkedIn: (add Alex’s LinkedIn URL)

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - How I structure intros + narrative editing

00:58 - Vistage: why Alex almost said no

03:09 - “Smallest person in the room” discomfort

04:30 - The Vistage speaker that changed Alex’s AI thinking

06:24 - The real value: confidence, exposure, and perspective

10:08 - The unexpected ROI: Vistage paid for itself

17:52 - Why storytelling is the underrated skill

21:19 - From restaurant chaos to structured operator

25:34 - Buying a $600K restaurant with $10K down

31:12 - How CoLabs started (no site, no logo, just proof)

37:26 - The skill behind clarity: poker + strategy

47:06 - Tactical: how Alex finds bottlenecks with data

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile⁠

Adriana Tica built her business almost entirely through content—but not the “post every day and hope” kind. In this episode, Adriana breaks down how to design content with intention, why newsletters outperform social posts for trust and sales, and how to build a marketing system that compounds instead of burns you out.

If you’re a marketer, consultant, or founder who wants content to actually support your business goals, this conversation will reset how you think about publishing.

CONNECT WITH ADRIANA

🌐 Website: https://adrianatica.com

CONNECT WITH ANDY

🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – How Adriana built her business through content

01:00 – Strategy vs writing: where the leverage really is

02:13 – Why every piece of content needs a goal

06:00 – “Consistent garbage is still garbage”

10:31 – Why long-form content builds real trust

14:41 – Newsletter growth expectations (100 → 1,000 subs)

16:31 – Making your newsletter the center of your business

19:30 – Big ideas, content pillars, and offers

22:57 – Tool stack + AI as a thinking partner

26:11 – Collaborations as trust accelerators

33:43 – Building a business aligned with your values

TEAM

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

⚡️ High-Converting Websites Visual Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

In this episode, I down with Martin Cristaldo, the creator-focused designer behind some of the internet’s best-known sales pages. Martin shares how he went from a traditional agency background to building a lean studio serving top creators like Jay Clouse – designing sales pages that are instantly recognizable and built to convert.
You’ll hear how a single unsolicited redesign changed his career, why he refuses to act like a traditional agency, and how he uses a simple three-step process to turn messy offers into clean, high-performing pages.

TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro00:40 – From delivery job to graphic design in Uruguay02:30 – Moving from UX and visuals into conversion-focused work03:45 – The design roast series that started it all04:40 – Rebuilding Jay Clouse’s Creator Lab page in Framer06:25 – Why creators became his perfect niche10:30 – Creator-first onboarding and telling clients “no”12:00 – Martin’s questionnaire and async process explained13:40 – Why he skips wireframes and goes straight into design17:20 – Using adjectives and references to lock in style21:20 – Time spent designing vs everything else23:10 – Being tool-agnostic and building in the client’s platform27:20 – Websites vs sales pages: home vs one room

CONNECT WITH MARTINWebsite: https://martincris.com/Sales Page Crash Course: https://cristaldo.notion.site/Sales-Page-Crash-Course-Martin-Cris-10ae777603df803a8d04f0460374297aLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martincris/?originalSubdomain=uy

Host: Andy Milligan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/Production by MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️ Highest Converting Websites Swipe File (Steal The Best Designs on the Internet):

https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

In this episode, Brian Ondrako breaks down the real reason most people quit too early: the emotional plateau between “starting” and “seeing results.”

We cover Brian’s journey from years of avoiding the first episode to building a 400-episode archive, interviewing legends like Seth Godin and Jason Fried, and teaching founders how to sell with confidence, empathy, and presence.

CONNECT WITH BRIAN🌐 Website: https://brianondrako.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/📰 Newsletter: https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/

CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro02:20 — The myth of “starting is hardest”06:40 — Brian’s 3-year delay before episode one12:00 — Comparing yourself to giants online15:31 — Action creates mood20:45 — The evolution of Brian’s hosting style27:10 — Seth Godin on imposter syndrome34:10 — The mindset of asking big guests40:49 — Why founders struggle with sales47:32 — The messy middle of entrepreneurship56:30 — Where to find Brian online

TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

⚡️High-converting websites swipe file (steal the best designs on the web): ⁠ https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Chris Norton, Founder and Managing Director of Prohibition PR, shares how he went from burnt-out freelance PR consultant working 70-hour weeks to leading a 28-person agency built on focus, crisis comms, and campaigns people actually talk about. He breaks down how to use cultural insight, behavioral science, and a strong “gut check” to choose better clients, protect your energy, and design PR work that drives real behavior — not just headlines.

Listen to this episode to learn how to rethink PR, set better boundaries as a marketer or founder, and build campaigns your audience genuinely wants to share.

—

MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.

Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success, and told their stories...by design.

Newsletter: ⁠https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbd⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/

⚡️High-converting websites swipe file (steal the best designs on the web): https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefile

Chris Silvestri breaks down how he blends copywriting, UX, and psychology to help B2B teams communicate clearly and convert more customers. He walks through the research-first process behind his Conversion Alchemy framework and explains why most teams hit a message–market fit problem long before a copy problem. If you want to write clearer, understand user behavior, and build messaging that actually moves people, this episode is loaded.

Listen to this episode to learn how to write better, convert faster, and build a repeatable process for high-performing messaging.

—
MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.

Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success, and told their stories...by design.

Newsletter: https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbdWebsite: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

289 founders+marketers learn about web from my newsletter:

https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbd

Fix that homepage of yours:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/free-audit

This week I'm resharing my recent interview on the Fueled by Progress podcast with Mark Szymanski.

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

🔗 Connect with Andy Milligan:Website: https://www.mmgdesign.netFacebook:   / mindulmilligan  Instagram:   / mindfulmilligan  LinkedIn:   / mmgdesign  X: https://x.com/mmg__designYouTube:    / @mmgdesign  

269+ Marketers + Founders Learning From My Newsletter: https://mmgdesign.kit.com/mbd

Designer and creator Luks Margerie  found a completely new way to get attention: by turning his content into his portfolio.

After quitting his agency job in Germany and moving to Miami, Lukas started posting his learning process on YouTube every day. Within three months, he went from just two freelance clients to full-time work with Magic Path, collaborations with Framer, and a thriving No Code United community.In this episode, Lukas shares how building in public opened every door: from clients to career-changing opportunities.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Hook: from two clients to booked solid02:50 — Quitting the agency, hitting upload04:20 — Learning live: pause, learn, resume07:57 — 90-day pipeline shift09:29 — A creator’s daily cadence12:45 — Speed over polish (why he self-edits)16:47 — No Code United: help-to-hire loop24:38 — Ten videos = client-ready proof30:57 — The future: creator tool belts39:27 — Magic Path: design brainstorm superpower45:04 — Start messy, stay consistentCONNECT WITH LUKAS💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-margerie-99196118a/📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lukas-margerie👥 Discord (No Code United): https://discord.com/invite/vZxn6wZrDDCONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.orgTop links:Highest Converting Websites Swipe File: https://www.mmgdesign.net/visualswipefileMarketer's Essential AI ToolKit: www.mmgdesign.net/aiMarketer's Essential Reading List: https://www.mmgdesign.net/books

Watch my Monthly Recap Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlh2CSTVNn7zEbgJQp4AlbUQL5Xembsgs

In this episode, I walk you through my September 2025 business recap—real numbers, real decisions, and the actions I’m taking next. I break down recurring vs. project revenue, where expenses went (including a special studio session), and how I’m using testimonials, systems, and better habits to drive margin and momentum. If you like transparent ops and takeaways you can steal, this one delivers.

Resources I Mention

Notion • Google Sheets • Moxie • Monarch Money • Senja • Webflow • Framer • Riverside • Brick House Blue • Creator Science (The Lab) • Google Workspace • Adobe • Shutterstock • Podmatch • OpenAI

Timestamps
00:00 – Why I publish monthly, publicly01:25 – My retro format + goals03:10 – Revenue snapshot: $19,440 topline05:35 – Recurring vs. project work: where my margin lives08:05 – Expense breakdown & studio investment11:20 – Contractor hours, Moxie workflow, and margin14:45 – Reading cash-flow in Monarch Money18:00 – Spinning up a testimonial flywheel with Senja21:40 – The Jay Klaus session and why it mattered26:10 – Wins: revenue, AMA site kickoff30:55 – Losses: follow-ups, double work, procrastination36:30 – Personal notes: stress, solitude, discipline41:20 – 33 episodes in the queue—publish faster46:05 – October plan: ops, cadence, 3 launches51:10 – Closing mindset + accountability

If you found value in this episode, please rate and review Marketing by Design on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It helps us reach more high-performing marketers.

Follow Me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

In this episode, Brad Griffith, Founder of Buckeye Innovation, shares how he works with nonprofits and civic partners who aren’t always a budget fit — by reducing scope, not standards. He explains how curiosity, consistency, and creativity help him deliver impact while protecting the integrity of his team’s work.

CONNECT WITH BRAD🌐 Website: https://www.buckeyeinnovation.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradgriffith/🏢 Brick House Blue (New Albany): https://www.brickhouseblue.com/locations/new-albany-waters-edge

CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Listen to this episode to learn how to protect your craft, serve your clients well, and still say “yes” — without selling yourself short.

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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ businesses clarify their offer and design a website they’re proud to share.

Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founders built their success... by design.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Jason VanDevere—founder of Goal Crazy and author of Dream Driven—shares how to stop guessing and start validating.
He walks through his two-step process (focus groups + presell), the daily systems that make discipline automatic (scorecard day, alarm stacking, junk-drawer blocks), and his mindset shift: discomfort is what growth feels like.
You’ll learn how to design your ideal day, take real signals from your network, and build something that lasts.

📘 Dream Driven → https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CYQQZBW8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
🗓 Goal Crazy → https://goalcrazy.com

Fire&Spark founder Dale Bertrand explains zero-click search and why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) changes how we win attention. He shares the shift from SEO’s performance focus to GEO’s brand-visibility advantage, plus concrete tactics to research longer, more complex queries using niche communities and real customer language.

Listen to this episode to learn how to adapt your content strategy for AI-driven search, reset traffic expectations, and build visibility where your buyers now look.

CONNECT WITH DALE🌐 Website: https://www.fireandspark.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalebertrand/📹 Speaking: https://dalebertrand.com/

CONNECT WITH ANDY🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

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MMG Design is my web design studio that's helped 80+ Businesses clarify their offer and design a website they are proud to share.

Marketing by Design is my podcast where we learn how high-performing marketers and founder built their success, and told their stories...by design.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

TAS Bober—founder of The Scroll Lab and co-host of Notorious B2B—shares how one year in sales made her a far better marketer, why she productized landing pages, and how she designed a three-day workweek without sacrificing quality.

We cover the in-house → solo transition (insurance, runway, expectations), her comments-first LinkedIn strategy, and the “time–money–quality” triangle that guides her decisions.

Listen to this episode to learn how to use sales insights to build better marketing, structure a productized service, and ship imperfectly without imposter syndrome.

Resources Mentioned:

The Scroll Lab https://thescrolllab.com/#about Tas's Sass Playground (aka Linkedin)https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasbober/Notorious B2B (TAS & Tim)https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-notorious-b2b-shows-podcast/id1806951823Exit Five Communityhttps://www.exitfive.com/Columbus AMAhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/3736263/TAS’s “TAS” Spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QpUdJqY1jAbVJ2ojbG4Ov?pi=V-fe_DkkRc2y6&nd=1&dlsi=d170e7eff9864e8e

Host (Andy Milligan): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/

Website & Production: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

Hey Friends!

Recently I made an appearance on the "Just Get Started" Podcast with Brian Ondrako.

Brain is an amazing host and literally gave me my hall of fame interview on this show. Be sure to check out the Just Get started Podcast and all of Brian's links below:

Shownotes Page for This Episode: https://brianondrako.com/podcast/andy-milligan

Just Get Started Podcast: https://brianondrako.com/podcast

Work With Brian: https://brianondrako.com/sales-coaching

Follow Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/

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MMG Design is my Web Design Strategy Studio that has helped 80+ founders and marketing teams design a website that they are proud to share.

Marketing By Design is my podcast that interviews high performing founders and marketers and discover how they built their discuss and told their stories, by Design.

For more, go to www.mmgdesign.net

⭐️ Discount Treat: AMAPALS25

Nick Brunker (VML) and Jessica Guido (St. Elizabeth Healthcare) join us to preview AMA Cincinnati’s Ignite Conference 2025.

Together, they highlight why Cincinnati’s marketing community deserves a bigger spotlight and what makes Ignite a can’t-miss event.

Listen to this episode to learn what sets Ignite apart, how CX leaders are rethinking brand experiences, and why being in the room creates conversations you can’t get online.

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MMG Design is my studio that’s helped 80+ start-ups drive results from website strategy.

If that’s something you’re interested in, I’d love to have a conversation.

Marketing by Design is where we interview our favorite founders and marketers andlearn how they built their success and told their stories... by design.

Start a Convo on Linkedin or Book a Free Homepage Audit (Normally $500):In this episode of Marketing by Design, I sit down with Anthony Pierri, Co-Founder of Fletch PMM, to talk about why most agencies are set up to fail — and why productized consulting is the way forward. Anthony shares how doing one service over 400 times took him from 40% client satisfaction to 95%, why public pricing builds trust, and how to make your homepage work like a product page.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – The agency model is broken02:34 – Why paid can’t fix bad packaging06:51 – Good/Better/Best = three businesses10:08 – Why productized margins rise with scale13:34 – 400 reps to 95% satisfaction19:21 – Design still matters (even in wireframes)23:29 – Make your homepage a product page26:19 – Pricing in the hero (controversial experiment)31:18 – The BOM video: pre-qualify buyers34:49 – Why Fletch shares their entire playbookCONNECT WITH ANTHONY💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypierri/🌐 Website: https://www.fletchpmm.com/CONNECT WITH ANDY💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/🌐 Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

Join 211 Founders and Marketers on My Newsletter.

Maria Marchewka always heard people describe ghostwriting as “writing in the shadows.” But when she started ghostwriting on LinkedIn for busy founders and executives, she realized the truth was far more powerful — ghostwriters are building authority, credibility, and opportunity behind the scenes. In this episode, Maria shares what ghostwriting really looks like, why marketers misunderstand it, and the impact it can create when done well.

Listen to this episode to learn why ghostwriting is one of the most underrated growth levers for modern marketers.

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MMG Design is a web design studio that helps founders and marketing teams quickly explore a new design direction for their website

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Vincent Grippi, Founder & CEO of Grippi Media, shares how moving from “post daily” to campaign-first content created deeper engagement and better clients. With 16+ years of experience in healthcare and tech marketing, Vincent explains how one flagship video can expand into an article, newsletter, and carousel—without burning out your team. We also dig into why smaller audiences convert better, why community is the next marketing moat, and how to measure depth instead of likes.

Listen to this episode to learn how to design fewer, better content assets that actually drive pipeline.

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MMG Design is a web design and agency working with B2B founders and marketing teams to quickly a higher-converting design direction for their website.

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net/podcast.

Join My Newsletter To Learn More Every Week!
📚 Marketer's Essential Reading List Free Notion Database: https://www.mmgdesign.net/books

In this episode, I answer Reddit’s most popular questions about web design freelancing, lead generation, and building systems as a solo founder. I share exactly how I’ve landed clients through podcasting, how I use LinkedIn to spark real conversations, and what I do to keep my pipeline full even in slow seasons—all from my perspective running a six-figure web design studio.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro02:12 – What’s the fastest way to turn a podcast guest spot into a client?07:45 – How do I structure a podcast to lead to business?12:30 – What podcast format brings the best ROI?16:05 – What LinkedIn post types actually spark client conversations?21:22 – How do I grow my LinkedIn without spamming?25:50 – How do I follow up with LinkedIn engagers?30:18 – If I needed 3 clients this month, where would I start?36:42 – How do I qualify leads to avoid bad-fit projects?42:20 – How do I keep my pipeline full in slow seasons?49:05 – Why I prefer Webflow over other platforms54:40 – What tools make my client handoff process smooth and foolproof?01:01:10 – How I test new designers before giving big projects01:07:12 – My advice for scaling without full-time hires

CONNECT WITH ME
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net/

TEAM🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

Allison Ditmer proves you don’t need to post selfies or overshare online to build an authentic personal brand. As a brand messaging strategist, she’s helped founders, solopreneurs, and professionals clarify their positioning on LinkedIn, attract clients, and build trust without the cringe.

Listen to this episode to learn how to authentically grow your brand on LinkedIn—and join us live for Allison’s AMA Columbus event at Cohatch Polaris.

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Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers and founders to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Book a Homepage Roast:

https://www.mmgdesign.net/free-auditI’m pulling back the curtain on how I use AI to move from kickoff call to live website with agency-level quality and solo-freelancer speed.

Step by step, I’ll show you the exact tools that help me slash timelines, stay laser-aligned with clients, and keep sites evolving after launch.

🎙 Host // Andy Milligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/🎥 Production // MMG Design: https://www.mmgdesign.net/🤝 Powered by // AMA Columbus: https://amacolumbus.org

In this episode, I’m talking with Felicia Wagner of Portfolio Creative about how to navigate the 2025 job market as a marketer or creative.

We talk through my own layoff story, why most creatives undersell themselves, and how to move forward even when the job search feels overwhelming.

Listen to this episode to learn how to confidently job hunt as a creative in 2025—even if you're feeling stuck.

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MMG Design is a web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through bespoke, modern websites.

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Recently, my friend Anthony Holliday and I had one of those off-the-cuff chats that just hits different.

We weren’t planning to record it, but after he broke down how he’s using Reddit to drive real traffic and high-ticket leads, I had to share it with you. It’s weird, casual, and packed with insight.

Enjoy .

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Anthony Holliday is the founder of Sitka Design, a studio helping creatives and service businesses grow with intentional Webflow websites, content strategy, and branding.
Website: https://www.sitka.design/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-holiday/

—MMG Design is a web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through bespoke, modern websites.
Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

This week, I reached my goal of making $100k in Revenue. What does that mean for the business?

⁠⁠➡️ Follow Along

➡️ Subscribe to The Newsletter⁠

⁠➡️ Check Out The Essential Community for Marketers⁠

Hey Friends!

In this solo episode, I’m unpacking the three biggest mistakes Im seeing as I do a lot of site audits these days.

After doing dozens of homepage breakdowns lately, I started noticing a pattern: and these aren’t just design tweaks, they’re trust killers. We’ll talk through UX blind spots, the problem with building for yourself instead of your buyer, and something I call “peacocking” that’s holding a lot of people back.

Listen to this episode if you’ve ever wondered why your website isn’t landing the way it should.

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MMG Design is my web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through bespoke, modern websites.
Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.
To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Logan Lyles is the, the founder of DemandShift.

In this episode, he shares how a simple two-step webinar funnel is helping teams book 5x more sales calls while building trust with the right audience.

Listen to this episode to learn how to run smarter webinars, improve your sales messaging, and build a business around what actually works.

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MMG Design is a web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through a website they are proud to share.

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

➡️ Subscribe to The Newsletter

➡️ Check Out The Essential Community for Marketers

➡️ Follow Along

Homepage Breakdown: https://www.mmgdesign.net/free-audit

Laurie Leer shares how she transitioned from 18 years of running her own design business into leading marketing for SingerLewak, a $60M+ advisory and accounting firm with 500+ professionals. She breaks down how to keep your energy high, manage a team across 18 locations, and build internal trust through creative collaboration.

Listen to this episode to learn how Laurie keeps her team aligned, her systems organized, and her optimism contagious,while managing big goals and bigger expectations.

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MMG Design is a web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through bespoke, modern websites.

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net

Mari-Liis Vaher built a seven-figure marketing agency—then hit burnout. In this episode, she shares how she rebuilt her approach using the five pillars from her new book, The Greatest Marketer in the World: mindset, strategy, systems, communication, and leadership.

Her goal? Help marketers stop reacting and start leading with clarity, alignment, and results.

The Greatest Marketer in the World (Book)
https://thegreatestmarketer.com

Malaga Marketing Week
https://malagaweek.com

Mari-Liis on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariliisvaher/

Andy Milligan on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/

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MMG Design is my web design studio that’s helped 80+ startups clarify their offer and express it through bespoke, modern websites.

Marketing by Design is a podcast where we share the stories and strategies of high-performing marketers in every niche to learn their secrets.

To learn more, visit mmgdesign.net