Every marketer’s path into AI is a unique story—mine included. I’ve been sharing bits and pieces of this journey on my podcast, but I realized I haven’t been telling you the whole story. And honestly, some of the most valuable insights often come from those behind-the-scenes moments that rarely get airtime. So today, I want to pull back the curtain and share more about my journey into AI marketing and podcasting, including some practical lessons you can use in your own marketing efforts.
Why Stories Matter
If you’re anything like me, you probably love diving into biographies of business leaders. Why? Because stories stick. They’re memorable. They teach you lessons in a way that straightforward advice often can’t. And let’s be honest—marketing can be pretty dull without a good story to anchor it.
That’s exactly why I recently shared my journey on a friend’s podcast—The AI Marketing Case Studies Podcast—hosted by Fernando. Fernando did a brilliant job extracting insights and tactics I hadn’t openly discussed yet. So let’s dive into a few key lessons from that conversation.
Stumbling into Marketing
Like most marketers, I didn’t start out dreaming of being one. I stumbled into marketing through design and web development, eventually finding myself fascinated by the creativity and analytics involved. But my real turning point came at a conference featuring a competition called “The Ultimate Marketer.”
Seeing marketers combine creativity, automation, and strategy sparked a fire in me. I decided then and there: I wanted to master all things marketing. Over time, I systematically tackled every marketing channel—SEO, paid ads, automation, inbound, direct marketing—you name it. Ironically, podcasting and social media were the last two channels I tackled. And that’s where my friend James Carberry stepped in.
The Sweetfish Media Influence
When James Carberry from Sweetfish Media approached me, he showed me something crucial: Most marketers specialize. He pointed out something I hadn’t realized: being good across multiple channels was uncommon. James pushed me to start sharing my expertise on platforms like LinkedIn and podcasting.
This turned out to be pivotal—I quickly discovered the power of building a public persona through content, something I’d neglected while mastering other channels.
Seeing the AI Wave Coming
When ChatGPT exploded onto the scene in late 2022, it was like seeing the early days of WordPress or marketing automation all over again. I recognized the signs immediately. AI was about to change everything, just like WordPress reshaped website design and TikTok transformed social media.
I had felt that ‘this is big’ feeling several times before:
- With WordPress in 2008 (now powering over 40% of the web).
- With Infusionsoft’s marketing automation in 2012.
- Even with TikTok early on (though admittedly, I didn’t capitalize on it).
AI had that same unmistakable energy, and I knew I couldn’t miss this train.
The Power of the 30-30-30 Rule
As I dove headfirst into AI marketing, I developed a system I call the 30-30-30 Rule:
- Read 30 books on the subject (trust me, this is easier than it sounds).
- Conduct 30 interviews with experts (this deepens your understanding dramatically).
- Write 30 authoritative blog posts or content pieces answering key questions about the topic.
This formula became my go-to playbook for quickly building expertise—and credibility—in any niche.
Automation: How AI Helps My Workflow
One of the biggest frustrations marketers face is content distribution, especially podcast content. Podcasts have almost zero built-in discoverability, making repurposing critical. To tackle this, I’ve built a fully automated workflow leveraging AI and tools like Zencastr and a lesser-known platform, N8N.io (terrible name, incredible tool).
Here’s how it works:
- Record and publish episodes via Zencastr (automatic transcription and editing).
- Automate post-production with N8N.io:
- Pull episodes from the RSS feed.
- Upload directly to YouTube.
- Generate optimized thumbnails using MidJourney and Photoshop.
- Auto-generate and post to my blog (complete with embedded YouTube videos).
This automation even generates social posts tailored specifically for each platform (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok), drastically reducing the manual work involved.
Why Invest in Episode Graphics?
You might wonder, “Dan, why obsess over podcast thumbnails?”
Here’s the thing: Your thumbnail is the gateway to your content. Great thumbnails drive higher click-through rates, pulling people to your headline, which then convinces them to click play. It’s classic Joe Sugarman’s “slippery slope” principle in action:
- Thumbnail image → Headline
- Headline → First line
- First line → second line, and so on.
A captivating thumbnail can multiply your reach without spending an extra dime on ads.
Co-writing a Book with AI
Right now, I’m also co-writing a book using ChatGPT, treating it just like a ghostwriter. I outline, dictate thoughts, and ChatGPT asks insightful questions—often surfacing stories or insights I hadn’t even realized were impactful.
This process:
- Streamlines drafting chapters.
- Clarifies my thinking through AI-driven questioning.
- Accelerates writing while preserving my unique voice.
(Stay tuned—this book will dive deep into “The Five Types of AI Marketing.”)
What’s Next in AI Marketing?
AI marketing is still in its infancy. Even if innovation froze tomorrow, we’d still have years of breakthroughs ahead.
In other words, it’s an exciting time to be a marketer. I’m seeing creativity unleashed everywhere—from automation workflows and AI-generated documentaries to custom GPTs transforming content creation.
The next big AI success story might just be yours.
