Ever wonder how someone goes from frustrated agency employee to building a trusted content empire? Derek from NapLab shares his remarkable journey of turning a terrible mattress shopping experience into a business that replaced his salary in just two months.

In this episode, you'll discover Derek's "create what you wished existed" approach to content strategy, why he started testing mattresses in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with nothing but a cell phone and lamp lighting, and how this humble beginning led to one of the most trusted review sites in the mattress industry.

Key takeaways from this conversation:

• How to identify profitable content opportunities from your own consumer frustrations
• Why starting imperfectly beats waiting for the right equipment or skills
• The simple transparency strategy that builds more trust than any sales funnel
• How to monetize content without compromising your integrity or audience trust
• Derek's approach to weathering Google algorithm updates by focusing on authenticity
• Why saying no to sponsored content actually increased his revenue
• The North Star mindset that guides every piece of content he creates

Derek's story proves that authenticity and genuine problem-solving will always win over flashy marketing tactics. Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or business owner looking to build trust with your audience, this episode offers a blueprint for turning your expertise into sustainable income while maintaining your integrity.

Connect with Derek at NapLab.com or find him on LinkedIn.

Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Tired of spending hours researching agencies only to end up more confused than when you started? In this episode, I reveal my solution to one of marketing's biggest time-wasters: finding the right agency partner.

After years of getting asked "Neal, who would you recommend?" for everything from SEO to video production, I decided to do something about it. I partnered with Clutch, the leading B2B service provider platform, to personally curate 12 specialized directories of agencies I actually recommend.

These aren't just random lists—each directory has been carefully vetted based on proven results, verified client feedback, and deep expertise. Whether you're a startup with a limited budget or an enterprise brand with complex needs, there's a trusted partner for you.

What You'll Learn:

• Why agency selection has become such a major pain point for marketers
• How my dual role as Fractional CMO shaped my approach to these directories
• The 12 specialized categories and what makes each one unique
• My personal curation process and selection criteria
• How to use these directories to save time and reduce risk in your agency partnerships
• What makes this partnership with Clutch different from typical agency lists

The 12 Curated Directories:

✅ Top Digital Marketing Agencies

✅ Best SEO Companies

✅ Leading AI Development Companies

✅ Creative Video Production Agencies

✅ Strategic Social Media Marketing Agencies

✅ Recommended Lead Generation Partners

✅ Trusted Ecommerce Development Companies

✅ Specialized WordPress Development Companies

✅ Expert Content Marketing Firms

✅ Proven Email Marketing Agencies

✅ Influential Influencer Marketing Agencies

✅ Preferred Facebook Advertising Partners

Key Takeaways:

• Great agency partnerships can be transformational, but poor fits waste time and money
• Starting with vetted lists dramatically improves your chances of finding the right partner
• These directories include global options across different price points and specialties
• The lists are living resources that I'll be updating as the industry evolves

Resources Mentioned:

• Access All 12 Directories: nealschaffer.com/clutch
• Learn More About Clutch: clutch.co/about-us

Individual Directory Links:

• My Top Digital Marketing Agencies
• My Best SEO Companies
• My Leading AI Development Companies
• My Creative Video Production Agencies
• My Strategic Social

Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Sales and marketing teams at war? You're not alone. While most companies treat these as separate functions fighting for resources, the winning businesses have cracked the code on true revenue alignment.

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with A. Lee Judge, author of "CASH" and founder of Content Monster, who reveals the uncomfortable truth about why some companies are eliminating CMO positions entirely and replacing them with Chief Revenue Officers. But it's not what you think.

Lee, who uniquely served as both a marketer managing Salesforce and a bridge between warring departments, shares the simple meeting strategy that transformed competing teams into unified revenue machines. You'll discover the specific metrics that keep marketers employed when budget cuts come, and why learning to "speak sales language" isn't just helpful—it's survival.

Key Takeaways:

• Why the traditional marketing "handoff" to sales is dead (and what replaces it)
• The sports team analogy that will change how you view sales and marketing forever
• How to reverse-engineer closed deals to discover what marketing actually works
• The meeting hack that eliminates silos and creates alignment overnight
• Specific revenue-focused KPIs that prove marketing's worth to the C-suite
• Why 80% of the customer journey happens before sales gets involved

Whether you're running a team of 2 or 200, the principles Lee shares about creating feedback loops, shared metrics, and collaborative systems will transform how you think about growing your business. Perfect for marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone tired of internal battles hurting their bottom line.

Warning: This episode challenges everything most businesses believe about sales and marketing departments. Listen only if you're ready to revolutionize your revenue approach.

Guest Resources:

• A. Lee Judge's book "CASH: The 4 Keys to Better Sales, Smarter Marketing, and a Supercharged Revenue Machine" - Available on Amazon
• Content Monster (Lee's multimedia content agency) - contentmonsta.com
• A. Lee Judge's website - aleejudge.com

Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com