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Social media isn’t “dead” in 2026, but the way it works has changed and the questions business owners are asking prove it. We’re pulling back the curtain on the top 10 digital marketing questions people are asking ChatGPT and other AI tools right now, then giving you clear, usable answers you can apply this week.

We talk about whether social media is still worth the time, how often to post without burning out, and why your engagement may be dropping even if your marketing is doing fine. I share what I want you tracking instead of likes, plus what to post if your real goal is customers not applause. We also get honest about AI in marketing: yes, it can create content and even schedule it, but if you let it run the whole show you risk sounding like everyone else. The goal is to use AI for speed and support while you keep control of your message, voice, and strategy.

Then we zoom out to search visibility and modern SEO. You’ll learn how to show up across search engines, why a Google Business Profile and updated listings still matter, and how to get recommended in AI search by positioning yourself as an authority. We also cover why a website is still the first asset you should build, how to think about paid ads based on ROI, and the simplest way to know if your marketing is working: ask better questions, track the answers, and turn what you learn into content.

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In this episode we get practical about what ROI in marketing really looks like when you’re running social media marketing, ads, email campaigns, and search. I walk through the hard truth nobody can control: you can drive clicks, build a funnel, and set up a CRM with workflows, but you cannot physically make someone buy, book, or fill out a form. That gap between attention and action is where most “guarantees” fall apart, especially when customers need repeated touchpoints across platforms before they trust you.

You’ll also hear the simple math I want you to do before you spend 5,000 to 6,000 dollars on any marketing agency or program. Can your pricing support the promised return? How many clients or sales would it take, and is that realistic in your timeframe? If you want a smarter way to judge offers and measure what’s working, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review with the biggest marketing promise you’ve ever been pitched.

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One bad email can wreck your whole day, your mood, and your next sales call, unless you learn how to pause. Guest host Jason Fakouri sits down with Shelby McFarland, “The Marketing Broker,” for a candid conversation about confidence, boundaries, and the mindset shifts that quietly drive better marketing results.

Shelby shares how her “boss persona” started as pure survival, being the youngest person in the room and learning to carry herself like she belonged. Then motherhood, postpartum depression, and the chaos of COVID forced a deeper reset. We talk about how personal seasons shape business seasons, why “balance” is a myth, and how sustainable small business marketing starts with knowing what you can actually execute consistently.

We also dig into real numbers and real lessons: slow sales, losing clients, building an offboarding process to learn why people leave, and why cutting marketing budgets during uncertainty can backfire. Shelby explains how she went from more clients to fewer clients while doubling monthly revenue by tightening service, increasing pricing, and focusing her energy where it matters. Along the way, we swap practical tools like daily affirmations, the stoic pause for tough messages, and content repurposing strategies that turn one video podcast into blog posts and social media clips.

If you’re rebuilding your confidence, refining your brand, or trying to market through a hard season, this one will hit home. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find the show.

Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com

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Referrals feel like magic when they show up and like frustration when they don’t, so we get practical about what actually creates them. Shelby McFarland sits down with Hannah McDonald, a professional business developer in the insurance world, to talk through the real work behind relationship marketing: coffees, lunches, drop-ins, follow-ups, and the consistency it takes to become the name people trust. Hannah shares her path from radio sales to promotional products to remote corporate sales leadership, and how burnout pushed her back toward people-first growth.

We break down the business development ROI question every business owner asks: “How do I justify paying for relationships?” Hannah lays out a clear accountability system that starts with measurable activity goals (meetings and follow-ups), then graduates to referrals, then closed business once the pipeline has time to mature. We also get blunt about a common mistake: hiring one person to do both business development and social media marketing. Content creation is a full-time job, and mixing roles usually hurts both outcomes.

Then we zoom out to growth and purpose. Hannah talks about expanding into Northwest Arkansas without a traditional staffed office, what she looks for when hiring someone far from headquarters, and how a repeatable timeline can guide expectations. She also introduces her strategic mindset coaching, a personalized program focused on mindset, goals, and real accountability for professionals and business owners who feel stuck.

If you want better referrals, clearer KPIs, and a smarter way to hire for growth, hit subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the one metric you wish you could track to prove your marketing is working?

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You can eat “pretty healthy,” work out, and still feel like your body is failing you. That’s what made this conversation with Megan Green hit so hard, because her turning point wasn’t a trendy plan, it was finally getting the right lab testing after years of being brushed off as “just a busy mom.” Megan is a registered dietitian with 20 plus years of experience, and she shares how an autoimmune disease was misdiagnosed for eight years, leaving her depleted, inflamed, exhausted, and desperate for real answers.

We get into what functional nutrition actually looks like when it’s done with integrity: comprehensive labs, symptom patterns, lifestyle reality, and a plan built around the person in front of you. Megan explains common deficiencies she sees (magnesium, vitamin D, B12, iron), why food alone doesn’t always fix them, and how stress, sleep, movement, gut health, and hormone pathways all connect. We also talk through her personal shift, including the hard truth that going gluten-free made a difference, even when she didn’t want it to.

Then we pivot into the business side: how she built a thriving integrative and functional nutrition practice with organic marketing, referrals, and social media consistency, plus what to do when the economy slows down and leads dry up. We share why “talking to the void” still works, how engagement compounds over time, and how to stay credible when wellness fads and MLM noise are everywhere.

Follow Megan at Meg Green RD, and if you liked this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave us a review so more women can find the support they’ve been missing.

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You can start from scratch in a brand-new industry and still build something real, as long as you stay coachable and keep showing up. Shelby McFarland sits down with Chelsea Todd from Revolution Financial Management, who openly shares how she went from having zero finance background to becoming a trusted resource for families, without cold calling or door knocking. The thread running through everything is simple: bet on yourself, learn fast, and let your integrity do the marketing.

We get practical about how referral marketing actually works when you are new. Chelsea explains why your first clients often come from the people who already trust you, and what to do when friends and family do not support your business. Shelby adds her perspective from 14 years in marketing, including why reputation matters more than ads, why disappearing during your slow season hurts, and how consistency can be as simple as a few solid posts a week.

The conversation also hits deeper with the phrase “people don’t know what they don’t know,” especially around financial literacy, protection planning, and the way shame keeps people from asking basic questions. We connect that directly to small business marketing and social media strategy, where many owners assume it is “just posting” until they see the real work behind analytics, planning, and execution. If you want encouragement that feels honest, plus actionable advice on networking, personal branding, and staying consistent when it is hard, this one delivers.

Subscribe for more conversations with business owners, share this with a friend who is starting over, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can build the next topic around what you need most.

You've been building the business. Now let's talk about what it really takes to build the boss behind it.

My new book, Hustle Like a Boss, is officially available for preorder!

And trust me, this isn't another business book filled with fluffy advice and motivational quotes.

We're talking about the real side of entrepreneurship. The wins, the failures, the burnout, the sacrifices, the lessons, and everything nobody tells you about chasi

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Marketing can be a punch in the gut when the numbers refuse to move, even when you know you’re doing the work the right way. I’m sharing a story that was hard for me to admit out loud: I landed an exciting out-of-state client, built a full digital marketing plan, and still watched the results fall flat.

You’ll hear what it’s like to market a software product in a competitive niche where the big players have investors and huge monthly budgets for Google ads. I walk through what we tried across SEO, backlink building, social media marketing, content shoots, and paid ads like Meta and geofencing. The analytics looked great on the surface with lots of clicks, but the conversion rate told the real story. When traffic doesn’t turn into subscriptions, it forces you to ask better questions about the offer, the funnel, the website experience, and whether you’re battling a market that’s already dominated.

I also talk about the mindset side: pricing your services with confidence, not racing to the bottom, and how it feels when a client has to pause because the budget runs out. Then we zoom out to the lessons I’m keeping: do deeper competitor analysis and market research early, know what you’re up against, and make smart shifts for a season when the industry demands it. If you’re a marketer who feels responsible for everything, I want you to hear this clearly: we can’t carry product-market fit and execution alone.

Listen now, share this with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a review if it hits home. What’s a time you felt like you did everything right but the outcome still didn’t follow?

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A customer tells you they won’t pay a deposit, they’ll pay “when they see it and like it.” Another tries to cancel a project halfway through. Somewhere in the middle, you’re answering emails, keeping clients happy, and wondering why it feels like a full moon every day. We’re getting honest about what that pressure does to your brain, and how you can respond like a seasoned business owner instead of spiraling like the old version of you.

We dig into the mindset shifts that come with experience: letting stress exist without letting it run your life, tightening your processes, and building the confidence to enforce your policies. We talk payment terms, why deposits protect your labor and materials, and how chasing money for 60 to 90 days can become the worst part of the job. You’ll also hear why solid contracts matter, what to do when someone tries to terminate early, and how documentation can protect you when people threaten lawsuits, harassment, or damaging reviews.

Then we zoom out to the bigger issue: customer entitlement and the trust gap hitting small business owners and service providers. We share a more human way to handle mistakes, fixes, and feedback without going nuclear, while still expecting respect and fair pay. If you’ve been tempted to bend your rules out of fear, this conversation helps you reset, stand up straighter, and remember your value.

If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs a backbone boost, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find us.

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