146. Mastering Direct Response Marketing: What Every Founder Should Know with Mike Shu

You know those conversations where you're like, “Wait—why isn’t everyone talking about this?” That’s exactly how I felt talking to Mike Shu.Mike is the founder of a super successful SEO agency, a digital nomad, and someone who’s mastered the art of direct response marketing (aka what actually moves the needle in business). And get this—he doesn’t even think most businesses under $1M/year should be doing SEO. In this episode, we talk about:How Mike went from burnout and cold calls to building an agency he lovesThe difference between brand marketing vs. direct response (and when to use each)The secret to making SEO actually work in today’s AI-driven worldWhy your offer matters way more than your Instagram contentThe rookie mistakes most entrepreneurs make (he made them too)  Action Steps:Study the psychology behind buying decisions (start with Dan Kennedy).Don’t obsess over going viral—focus on messaging that speaks to your ideal client’s pain points.Build a product so good your clients do the marketing for you.   If you’re building your brand, selling online, or wondering how to scale smarter—this episode is for you. Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠ Website: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/ Music: John Kiernan. www.johnkiernanmusic.com Produced by Espresso Podcast Production:  https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts and key takeaways with me on social media using the hashtag #EmployeeToBoss. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network.