#230 – Ben Lund: Google Ads Evolution, AI Marketing & Agency Future-Proofing

Ben Lund is a former Google Ads principal who managed major brand campaigns and now runs Rise Digital. In this episode, we explore the seismic shifts happening in digital marketing for 2025, from Google's strategic pivots to AI-powered client acquisition strategies that separate winning agencies from the rest. Ben brings insider perspective from his years at Google, Yahoo, and Monster, where he managed massive advertising budgets and witnessed platform evolution firsthand. Now as an agency owner, he's applying those insights to build sustainable growth systems and future-proof strategies that help agencies thrive in an AI-first marketing landscape. 🔑 What We Cover:Inside insights from Google's advertising evolution and platform changesWhy SEO and AI integration are no longer optional for agenciesThe shift toward full-service offerings and what clients actually demandAdvanced AI prompting techniques for data analysis and strategyLinkedIn personal branding strategies that drive real business resultsHow to future-proof your agency in an AI-first marketing landscapeGoogle's scaling back of ads focus and what it means for marketersSEO strategies that get you found in ChatGPT and AI search tools 🎯 Key Frameworks:The "Runway Strategy" for sustainable client growth and retentionSEO best practices for AI tool visibility (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.)Authentic LinkedIn content systems for founder-led brandsCommunity building approaches for lead nurturing at scaleThe "People Buy From People" principle in B2B salesPortfolio approach to agency service expansion ⏰ Timestamps:00:04 – Intro: Jason Hunt & Ben from Google00:30 – Ben's Background: Google, Yahoo, Monster01:03 – Managing Major Brands at Google Ads01:58 – Leaving Google for Entrepreneurship03:29 – Growing Clients & Runway Strategy05:16 – Expanding Services: From Ads to SEO & Web06:57 – Full-Service Agency Benefits09:55 – Lead Generation & Google Ads for Rise10:59 – SEO + GPT Leads & ChatGPT Referrals12:00 – SEO Best Practices to Appear in AI Tools14:45 – Google Scaling Back Ads Focus16:09 – AI Marketing Tools Used at Rise18:05 – Using AI for Data Analysis & Significance20:00 – Prompting Right: Advanced AI Use Tips22:00 – Authentic LinkedIn Content Strategy23:30 – Founder-Led Personal Branding on LinkedIn25:00 – LinkedIn Comments Strategy for Reach26:49 – Avoiding Automation & Shadowban Risks28:10 – Personal Posts vs Business Content Impact29:46 – People Buy From People: Sales Principle33:25 – Building Community for Lead Nurturing34:03 – Future of Agencies in the AI Era36:25 – Agency Agility: Winning with Tools & AI37:00 – SEO Isn't Dead: Just Evolving38:02 – In-Person Events & Networking Strategy39:20 – Long Game of Sales Attribution40:11 – How to Contact Ben & Wrap Up 🔗 Connect with Ben Lund: Rise Digital Ben's LinkedIn 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring AI, storytelling, and the future of digital marketing.