Épisodes

  • From Champion to Underdog: Wilson Golf's Quest for Relevance
    Jun 2 2025

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    The resurrection of a golf legend is underway. Wilson Golf—a brand that dominated the sport for decades and still holds the record with an astonishing 62 major championship wins—is battling to reclaim its prominence after years of declining relevance.

    What causes a pioneering brand that once equipped legends like Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead to fade from golf's spotlight? The turning point came during the 1980s and 1990s when Wilson, under PepsiCo ownership, pivoted from golf innovation to mass-market accessibility. This fundamental shift transformed the perception of Wilson from premier equipment manufacturer to a budget-friendly option found alongside basketballs and tennis rackets in sporting goods stores.

    Now Wilson is orchestrating a careful comeback with their "Play Original" campaign that smartly leverages their authentic heritage while introducing modern technology. Their new DynaPower line represents this duality perfectly—clubs designed with adjustable weighting systems and AI-optimized faces that compete directly with industry leaders like Callaway and TaylorMade at comparable premium price points around $550. Yet Wilson faces unique challenges that competitors don't: simultaneously serving beginners with $400 complete sets while trying to reestablish credibility among serious golfers.

    The marketing audit reveals both promising strategies and missed opportunities. While Wilson's product development and heritage-focused positioning show potential, their digital presence needs significant improvement. With just 166,000 Instagram followers (compared to Callaway's 1.9 million), minimal YouTube content, and advertising that emphasizes specifications over emotional benefits, Wilson is falling short in connecting with today's golf community. The brand would benefit from authentic content showcasing real results, leveraging their rich history more effectively, and creating compelling narratives around their equipment's performance advantages.

    Follow along as we explore how this century-old brand is navigating the complex journey from respected legacy to relevant competitor in today's golf market. Have you noticed Wilson's comeback efforts, or do you have memories of their equipment from their golden era? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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    47 min
  • AI Babies Take Over Podcasting
    May 30 2025

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    Have you seen those hilarious videos of your favorite podcasters and comedians transformed into babies? We dive deep into this mind-bending AI trend that's taking over social media, exploring exactly how these surreal transformations work and why they're so entertaining.

    We start by examining popular examples featuring comedy stars like Theo Vaughn, Bobby Lee, and Joe Rogan. There's something uniquely hilarious about seeing these familiar personalities as toddlers, complete with miniature mustaches and goatees, while they discuss very adult topics. The technology's ability to match mouth movements to audio creates an uncanny effect that's both impressive and amusing.

    But how exactly is this digital fountain of youth created? We investigate the potential AI technologies behind these transformations, from HeyGen and Runway to Synthesia and Leonardo AI. The process likely combines multiple tools: first generating photorealistic baby versions of the podcasters, then animating them to match the original audio clips. What makes these videos particularly effective isn't necessarily their technical perfection (the mouth movements are often slightly off), but rather how they maintain just enough resemblance to be recognizable while embracing their AI-generated quirks.

    Inspired by this trend, we're planning to figure out the exact process and create our own baby-filtered content. Follow along as we continue exploring creative applications of AI that transform familiar content into new visual experiences. Check out our website at launchingpros.com for free resources and courses designed to help you innovate and grow your business online.

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    7 min
  • Why Siri Is Getting Dumber While Other AI Gets Smarter
    May 28 2025

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    The AI revolution is reshaping our digital lives, but not all platforms are keeping pace. We dive into the frustrating reality that Google's impressive Gemini screen recording feature—which lets AI see and respond to what's on your screen—remains exclusive to Android devices. This limitation highlights a growing concern for Apple loyalists who find themselves questioning their ecosystem loyalty as AI capabilities become increasingly essential.

    We tackle the cultural phenomenon of blue versus green text bubbles and why this seemingly trivial distinction continues to irritate iPhone users when messaging Android friends. "Whenever somebody texts me and it's green instead of blue, for some reason it pisses me off," one host admits, highlighting how deeply entrenched users become in their preferred ecosystems. Yet these preferences might be shifting as AI capabilities become more important than messaging aesthetics.

    The decline of Siri's usefulness compared to advancing competitors raises serious questions about Apple's AI strategy. "I swear Siri's gotten dumber and dumber," we note, contrasting this with the improving reliability of ChatGPT and emerging tools like Perplexity—a powerful hybrid that combines traditional search results with AI-generated responses. We share a valuable hack for Xfinity Mobile customers to access premium Perplexity features for free through their rewards program, demonstrating how the AI landscape is becoming increasingly accessible yet fragmented across different services and ecosystems.

    As AI becomes more deeply integrated into our daily digital interactions, the question emerges: will your next device purchase be determined more by AI capabilities than traditional brand loyalty? Follow our podcast for more insights on navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape and how these changes impact your personal and professional life.

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    8 min
  • Logo Design Showdown: Contractors vs. DIY vs. AI Generation
    May 26 2025

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    Navigating the world of logo design can be overwhelming for entrepreneurs, especially when you need to make smart decisions about time, money, and quality. We dive deep into three distinct approaches to creating your business logo, examining the advantages and pitfalls of each method to help you make the best choice for your brand.

    Hiring contractors through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork offers professional expertise at various price points (from $50 to $250+), giving you access to diverse portfolios and styles. While this approach saves you precious time as a business owner, we discuss the potential drawbacks including inconsistent quality, limited revision rounds, and the typical week-long turnaround times that might not align with your timeline.

    For the DIY-minded entrepreneur, we explore how user-friendly tools like Canva provide creative control at minimal cost. Perfect for those with a clear vision or some design knowledge, this approach puts you in the driver's seat—though we honestly address limitations around true uniqueness and the learning curve involved in mastering these platforms.

    The emerging middle ground—AI-powered design through tools like ChatGPT—combines speed with customization in fascinating ways. From generating multiple creative concepts within minutes to making targeted edits with new highlight features, we examine how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing logo creation while still acknowledging format limitations and prompt-learning challenges. We wrap up with essential logo design best practices including originality verification, format versatility, and the importance of simplicity. Whether you're launching a new venture or refreshing your existing brand, these insights will help you create a logo that effectively represents your business across all platforms. Ready to make your brand stand out? Listen now and transform your approach to logo design!

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    15 min
  • Mastering Facebook Marketing for New Business Owners
    May 23 2025

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    Navigating the world of Facebook marketing can be daunting for new business owners, but with the right approach, it becomes an invaluable tool for reaching your target audience. This episode breaks down four essential strategies that can transform your Facebook presence from basic to brilliant.

    First, we explore the power of Facebook Stories – those 24-hour glimpses that sit at the top of everyone's feed. Learn how Stories keep your business top-of-mind, showcase your brand personality, and drive specific actions through features like polls and swipe-up links. Whether you're promoting a special event or building your email list with discount offers, Stories create immediate visibility with followers who matter most to your business.

    Setting up a Facebook store emerges as a crucial step for businesses selling products online. We discuss how this integrated shopping experience eliminates friction by allowing customers to purchase without leaving the app. By connecting your e-commerce platform to Facebook, tagging products in posts, and streamlining the buying process, you'll see higher conversion rates and more satisfied customers. Even brick-and-mortar businesses can benefit from this feature for selling merchandise or gift cards.

    The episode also reveals key differences between Facebook and Instagram content strategies. Facebook gives you more visible caption space and allows clickable links – advantages worth leveraging. We share tips for creating scroll-stopping visuals, utilizing Facebook Reels, and crafting effective calls-to-action that motivate your audience to engage and convert.

    Perhaps most valuable is our deep dive into Facebook Insights – the analytics tool that helps refine your strategy over time. By posting consistently and analyzing performance metrics, you'll uncover patterns about what content resonates, when your audience is most active, and how to optimize future posts. This data-driven approach transforms guesswork into strategy, allowing you to connect more meaningfully with potential customers.

    Whether you're launching a local pizza shop or an e-commerce store, these Facebook marketing fundamentals will help you build visibility, engagement, and ultimately, a loyal customer base. Subscribe for more weekly tips to grow your small business online!

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    19 min
  • Choosing the Perfect Domain Name
    May 21 2025

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    Choosing the right domain name might seem like a simple task, but it can make or break your online presence. We learned this lesson the hard way through personal domain regret stories – from losing a coveted .com domain and settling for a less memorable alternative, to the unexpected windfall of selling a domain for $3,000 to fund the purchase of a better one.

    Your domain is more than just a web address; it's the foundation of your digital identity. Through our conversation, we unpack five critical mistakes that businesses make when selecting domain names. Length matters – shorter domains are easier to remember and type. Avoid hyphenations and unusual spellings that create confusion when shared verbally. Don't ignore searchability – including relevant keywords helps both users and search engines understand what you offer. Consider the "radio test" – can someone spell your domain correctly after hearing it once? And finally, ensure consistency across platforms by securing matching social media handles.

    The most valuable tip might be our bonus insight: check for hidden words that might form when combining terms in your domain. What seems innocent could become embarrassing or inappropriate when words run together. The perfect time to consider all these factors is at the very beginning of your business journey, before you've registered your company name. Taking time to align your business name, domain, and social handles from the start will save you countless headaches and potential rebranding costs down the road. Whether you're launching a new venture or reconsidering your current digital presence, these practical insights will help you create a more memorable, professional, and effective online identity. Need more guidance? Visit our website for free resources designed specifically to help small businesses thrive in the digital landscape.

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    12 min
  • From Zero to Followers: The Instagram Social Media Guide
    May 19 2025

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    Ready to conquer Instagram but feeling overwhelmed by where to start? This episode delivers three powerful, actionable strategies that will transform your social media presence from invisible to influential.

    We dive deep into the daily practice of Instagram Stories—your most powerful tool for staying visible and building authentic connections with followers. Learn how to use this 24-hour feature to showcase time-sensitive promotions, available appointment slots, and behind-the-scenes content that humanizes your brand. Master the interactive elements like polls and Q&As that boost engagement while keeping your business top-of-mind for followers.

    Next, we unpack the algorithm-friendly power of Reels and carousels. Discover why Reels are the fastest path to finding new audiences, especially when you hook viewers in those crucial first seconds. For service businesses like barbershops, we reveal the simple before-and-after formula that consistently drives engagement. Meanwhile, carousels give your content multiple opportunities to appear in feeds—a little-known advantage that effectively gives you second and third chances to capture attention.

    The episode's most valuable insight might be our deep dive into analytics—the overlooked goldmine that shows exactly what's working and what's not. Learn the difference between business and creator accounts, how to identify your best-performing content types, and how to determine when your specific audience is most active. This data-driven approach eliminates guesswork and allows you to continuously refine your strategy based on real results.

    Whether you're a brick-and-mortar service business or an online brand, these three pillars—Stories, Reels/carousels, and analytics—create a foundation for sustainable growth on Instagram without requiring hours of daily content creation. Follow our practical framework and watch your engagement, followers, and ultimately your business grow.

    Check out our website at launchingpros.com for free resources and courses designed to help launch and grow your business online. Subscribe for weekly tips that cut through the noise and deliver real results.

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    20 min
  • Testing Dan Martell's Claim: Can AI Really Build Your Business Website?
    May 16 2025

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    Could AI-generated websites eliminate the need for web developers? We decided to put this bold claim to the test after spotting entrepreneur Dan Martell's viral video suggesting ChatGPT can create complete business websites from scratch.

    Taking Martell's exact prompt for an "Airbnb for dogs" platform, we asked ChatGPT to generate a name and full website code. The results were surprising – the AI created a visually decent landing page featuring property listings in Salt Lake City, Austin, and Denver, complete with fake reviews and attractive formatting. For a single prompt with minimal instructions, it exceeded our initial expectations.

    But diving deeper revealed significant limitations. The website lacked any functionality – clicking "Find a Host" did nothing, and there was no way to book stays or register as a host. The basic HTML structure provided an attractive facade but nothing more. This highlights the gap between AI promises and business reality: while these tools can generate code, they primarily benefit those who already possess technical knowledge rather than eliminating barriers for non-technical entrepreneurs.

    For most small business owners, platforms like Squarespace remain far more practical than trying to modify raw AI-generated code. The technology is evolving rapidly, but the claim that "your website's done" thanks to AI oversimplifies the challenge of creating functional business websites. AI currently optimizes the work of experienced developers rather than replacing the need for technical knowledge entirely.

    Want to actually get your business online without the false promises? Check out our comprehensive course that walks you through creating and connecting all your digital assets – from websites to social media. Follow and subscribe for weekly tips and best practices to help grow your small business, and visit launchingpros.com for free resources designed to launch your business online properly.

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    8 min