In this episode, Dan connects with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Mark Kahan to discuss his latest book, High-Velocity Digital Marketing. An all-around digital marketing legend, during his career as CMO of several Silicon Valley startups, Steve helped engineer seven successful exits that generated an astounding $5 billion in shareholder value. He and Dan talk about how he managed to make it all happen - and it turns out, it’s all about having the right plan.  Of course, the right plan is very, very thorough. Luckily, Steve (and his book) deliver exactly that. Over the course of their discussion, Dan and Steve take a deep dive into the elements of marketing, the importance of content, and just how critical it is to identify your audience correctly and speak to them in a way that resonates.  Listen in and... Discover powerful digital marketing techniques to skyrocket your online presence. Uncover the significance of grasping buyer personas for targeted campaigns. Explore the crucial role of consistent content creation in engaging customers. Learn the importance of data-driven marketing and evaluating success. Gain insights on choosing the best partners and agencies to boost your marketing efforts. Notable Quotes: “I found that the traditional path from school to climbing the corporate ladder at least for me, could not only be high-risk for my career, it could almost feel like a death trap.” – (2:59) - Steve “I asked myself a really important question and that question was, how can I earn a great living doing what I love?” – (4:14) – Steve “I’ve learned how to spot a startup that has a good chance for success versus one that doesn’t.” – (6:47) – Steve ”I’m never concerned when I see that there’s big competition in the market. I’m always concerned when I see that there’s next to no competition in the market.” – (9:26) – Steve “You want to go to work everyday with a passion for the products the company creates as well as your role in creating it.” – (9:56) – Steve “I wouldn’t want to take a job if I didn’t align with the values of the company.” – (11:33) – Dan “You don’t often lose business to a competitor as much as you lose it to the status quo.” – (25:33) - Steve “Never assume that the benefits a customer expresses, equates to impact.” – (31:28) – Steve “So many organizations don’t train their sales or their partners on every single piece of content that they have.” - (42:54) – Steve “You need to turn your website into a lead magnet.” – (54:40) – Steve “If you get that content right and that is a big chunk of the battle.” – (1:11:00) – Steve  Key Moments: 00:00:00 - Introduction, 00:05:05 - Choosing a Startup, 00:12:33 - Importance of Stock Options, 00:17:23 - Digital Marketing Strategies, 00:28:50 - Importance of Agility, 00:15:57 - Lessons from a Failed Startup, 00:18:05 - Evaluating Startup Concepts, 00:22:30 - Understanding the Customer,  00:25:43 - Building Strong Value Propositions, 00:29:24 - Understanding Benefits vs. Impacts, 00:33:22 - Cybersecurity and Content Creation, 00:35:55 - Sincerity and Content Value, 00:45:03 - Content Stories and Sales Velocity, 00:48:12 - Managing Multifunctional Disarray, 00:51:37 - Importance of Metrics, 00:52:09 - The Martech Stack and Metrics, 00:54:08 - Practical Tips for Improving Lead Conversion Rates, 00:57:53 - The Importance of SEO and Google, 01:04:24 - Agency Selection and Scoring, 01:08:38 - Building Great Content, 01:10:56 - The Importance of Getting Content Right, 01:11:29 - The Future of Marketing, 01:14:16 - Recommendation for High-Velocity Digital Marketing,  About Steve Kahan Bestselling author Steven Mark Kahan has a formidable track record, successfully navigating seven startups to acquisition or IPO, amassing a total value exceeding $5 billion. A powerhouse in the world of startups, Steve is revered for his innovative digital marketing strategies that resulted in rapid revenue growth, market expansion, and robust returns for shareholders. In his mos