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What It Takes to Run a Successful Digital Marketing Agency in 2026

Learn what it takes to run a successful digital marketing agency in 2026—proven strategies, tools, and tips to scale your business.

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In this insightful show, we explore the essential strategies and skills you need to run a digital marketing agency successfully in 2026. Discover how emerging technologies, evolving consumer behaviors, and data analytics are shaping the industry. Join us as we interview industry experts and share best practices to elevate your agency.

With Special Guest Jake Hundley | CEO at Evergrow Marketing | Co-host of The Agency Growth Podcast

https://jakehundley.com

https://evergrowmarketing.com

https://www.agencygrowthpod.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-hundley

@EvergrowMktg

#1 - Is niching dead?

You and Cody have only served landscaping and lawn care companies since 2019. Some people say AI makes generalist agencies viable again. Are they wrong, or is niching down now overrated?

#2 - Is Google Ads worth it anymore?

You called this "The Worst Year for Google Ads". Be honest: is Google quietly taking the money agencies used to make, and should agencies still be building their business on it?

#3 - Why agencies undercharge:

After your talk with Jasmine Sotiropoulos about undercharging for creative work, let me ask it plainly. Are most agency owners undercharging because of the market, or because they're scared to ask for more?

#4 - Can the owner ever step away?

You've argued that quality suffers when owners step away. So is the "passive agency owner" dream a myth people should stop chasing?

#5 - The "AI slop" jab:

Someone on Reddit called you guys "AI slop" (same iHeart listing), and you've just done an episode on agency brand voice. Did that hurt? If everyone uses the same AI tools, is a "brand voice" just marketing talk now?

#6-Jake, if you could go back to the beginning of your career journey, what advice would you give yourself?

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LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

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Jonathan Denwood & Kurt von Ahnen

Jonathan Denwood

https://www.wp-tonic.com

https://manananomas.com

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▬▬ LEARN FROM US ▬▬

► Our course is" Are You Looking To Build Your Membership Website Quickly And EASILY On WordPress?"

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▬▬ ABOUT THIS CHANNEL ▬▬

We discuss everything related to building a successful membership/community website in 2024, from the right technology to up-to-date digital marketing techniques.

WordPress and Tech Stories of The Month. Get the insights you Need Now.

Discover the month's must-know WordPress and tech stories in our latest video! We explore key updates, fascinating innovations, and expert commentary vital for anyone in the digital realm. Our engaging discussion keeps you informed and inspired as you navigate your tech journey. Don’t wait—watch now to catch up on what matters most in WordPress and technology.

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This Month's Special Guest Panelist Devin Walker Leading Jetpack at Automattic |

https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-walker-619-sd/

@innerwebs

#1 - One Week After Board Crisis, Automattic Employees Say They’re Being Kept in the Dark

https://www.therepository.email/one-week-after-board-crisis-automattic-employees-say-theyre-being-kept-in-the-dark

What the hell is going on at Automattic?

#2 - Anthropic researcher believes more than 10% chance AI 'could kill all humans'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgwy1k42w4o

Evan Hubinger. | ANTHROPIC | Dario Amodei | Sam Altman | Yann LeCun former head of AI at Meta | Gary Marcus

#3 - New Proposal Targets 20+ WordPress Events Across North America in 2027 With ‘a Menu Instead of a Mandate’

https://www.therepository.email/new-proposal-targets-20-wordpress-events-across-north-america-in-2027-with-a-menu-instead-of-a-mandate

Automattic’s Karen Arnold

Last year, planning got off to a late start after Automattic’s layoffs disrupted the organizing handover, and ticket sales dropped to 1,200—down 38% from 2024—after WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s controversial WCUS 2024 keynote and the community fallout that followed.

#4 - Apple joins foldable phone race with $1,999 passport-shaped iPhone Duo

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/apple-expected-unveil-first-folding-phone-with-new-ceo-ternus-command-2026-09-09/

#5 - WordPress.org Can Now Automatically Block High-Risk Plugin Updates Before They Ship

https://www.therepository.email/wordpress-org-can-now-automatically-block-high-risk-plugin-updates-before-they-ship

#6 - The Flock backlash is coming for retail

https://www.businessinsider.com/flock-safety-license-plate-readers-retail-consumer-backlash-ulta-lowes-2026-9

#1028 - WP-Tonic Show:Your WordPress Website May Need an AI Warning

Your WordPress Website May Need an AI Warning

With Special Guest Kathy Zant Founder of Emergent Governance Group and former Director of Marketing at KadencWP

Is your WordPress website truly secure? In this informative show, we dive into the potential risks posed by AI and how it could impact your site's integrity. From unauthorized access to content generation challenges, learn the signs that your website may need an AI warning. Equip yourself with essential safety tips to protect your online presence. Don’t miss out — watch the video to safeguard your WordPress site!

Your WordPress website may need an AI warning label—here's why regulators and users are demanding transparency. Learn what to disclose now.

With Special Guest Kathy Zant Founder of Emergent Governance Group and former Director of Marketing at KadencWP

https://www.zant.com

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

@kathyzant

Stroke of the Genius

https://www.zant.com/item/stroke-of-the-genius-ebook/

#1 - What's the biggest legal blind spotd in WordPress sites right now with AI everywhere?

#2 - How is AI changing the type of attacks you're seeing on WordPress sites?

#3 - You've said 60%+ of hacks come from compromised accounts, not bad code. Still true in the AI era?

#4 - Is your "blind password" trick still your top tip for managing logins?

#5 - How has caregiving for Mark and writing "Stroke of the Genius" changed how you coach clients?

#6-Kathy, if you could go back to the beginning of your career journey, what advice would you give yourself?

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LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

---------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------

Jonathan Denwood & Kurt von Ahnen

Jonathan Denwood

https://www.wp-tonic.com

https://manananomas.com

---------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------

▬▬ LEARN FROM US ▬▬

► Our course is" Are You Looking To Build Your Membership Website Quickly And EASILY On WordPress?"

https://www.wp-tonic.com/course/

▬▬ LET'S CONNECT ▬▬

► Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/wptonic

► Podcast "The Membership Machine Show." | "The WP-Tonic Show" | "The David Quald SEO Show"

https://f0k0.short.gy/9AO3tG

https://f0k0.short.gy/oF9q9f

https://f0k0.short.gy/mLDLvv

► X (Twitter)

https://x.com/wptonic_com

▬▬ SPECIAL DEALS ON THE TOOLS WE USE TO BUILD (ONLINE COURSES) ▬▬

https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

▬▬ ABOUT THIS CHANNEL ▬▬

We discuss everything related to building a successful membership/community website in 2024, from the right technology to up-to-date digital marketing techniques.

//CONTACT:

For business inquiries ONLY, please use this email: jonathan@wp-tonic.com

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Building an AEO Strategy From Scratch That Works in 2026

Build a winning AEO strategy from scratch in 2026. A step-by-step guide to boost visibility in AI search results and stay ahead of competitors.With Special Guest Kaleigh Moore - B2B Creator + AI visibility advisor

https://www.kaleighmoore.com/

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

@kaleighf

AI search is rewriting the rules of content marketing — and this week we're talking to someone who's been in the trenches figuring out exactly how. Kaleigh Moore is a human-led AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) strategist who works with B2B SaaS companies to help their content get cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google's AI Overviews, not just ranked on page one.

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LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

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Jonathan Denwood & Kurt von Ahnen

Jonathan Denwood

https://www.wp-tonic.com

https://manananomas.com

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Kaleigh recently unveiled her "Source Signal Stack" framework for earning LLM citations, and has been tracking the explosion of dedicated AEO and GEO job postings at companies like Amazon, HubSpot, and Victoria's Secret. On this episode, we dig into what's actually changing in how content gets discovered, why editorial judgment still matters in an AI-assisted workflow, and what WordPress site owners, bloggers, and content creators need to do right now to stay visible as search shifts from links to answers.

Is AI Killing WordPress Security?

Is AI killing WordPress security or making it stronger? Discover how AI-powered threats and defenses are reshaping site protection in 2026

Patchstack's 2026 State of WordPress Security report found 11,334 new vulnerabilities across the WordPress ecosystem in 2025—a 42% jump over 2024—with 91% in plugins, not core (https://wp-umbrella.com/blog/ai-wordpress-security/). AI didn't create WordPress's plugin problem, but it may be pouring gasoline on it. Whether that's a death sentence for WordPress security or just a wake-up call is exactly what we dig into.

Aaron D Campbell, VP of Product at Monarx.

https://aarondcampbell.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-d-campbell

https://www.monarx.com

Aaron is an international speaker, open source advocate, and outgoing introvert. For the last 10 years, he has helped companies create and bring to market compelling, competitive product offerings for brands such as GoDaddy, Newfold Digital, A2Hosting, hosting.com, and now, as VP of Product at Monarx.

He’s been a regular contributor to the WordPress open source project for nearly two decades and applies his knowledge of, and passion for, open source to align companies with those projects, improving their products and offerings while providing better, more secure open source solutions to their customers.

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Ninja Forms - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

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LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

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#1 - Your first WordPress Core patch got merged the same day back in 2007 - what did that teach you about how open source opens doors?

#2 - As former lead of the WordPress Security Team, what's the biggest misconception people have about WordPress security?

#3 - Monarx sells to hosts, but malware hits their customers' sites — how do you decide what to build when your buyer isn't the person feeling the pain?

#4 - What's different about building product strategy for security tooling versus the CMS and hosting products you worked on earlier?

#5 - What's one practical security habit you'd tell overwhelmed WordPress site owners to adopt this year?

#6- Aaron, if you could go back to the beginning of your career journey, what advice would you give yourself?

---------------------- Sponsors of The Show -------------------

Jetpack - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

Ninja Forms - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

WP-Rollover - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

LifterLMS - https://f0k0.short.gy/97gIS8

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