Built By Me Podcast

Showing Up in AI: Why Google Isn’t Enough Anymore

Google searches are declining, and AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming the go-to source for answers. In this Built By Me Short, Taina and Mo dive into the future of search, how AI is changing the way people find businesses, and why optimizing for AI is no longer optional. We break down: * Why Google traffic is dropping 📉 * How AI tools pull business data 📊 * What business owners must do to stay visible 👀 * The importance of reviews, content, and accurate online info ⭐ If you run a business, this is a wake-up call: the way customers find you is changing. Are you ready? 👉 Subscribe for more episodes  👉 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Danny Kerr from Breakthrough Academy: The #1 Hiring Mistake Contractors Make (and How to Fix It) | Built By Me Podcast

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, Taina sits down with Danny Kerr, co-founder of Breakthrough Academy and host of Contractor Evolution. With over a decade of experience helping hundreds of trades businesses scale, Danny shares why most contractors fail at hiring, how to attract and keep A-players in a competitive market, and why your online reputation matters just as much for employees as it does for customers. Whether you’re building your first team or looking to level up your leadership, this conversation is full of practical hiring strategies, branding tips, and active recruiting tactics you can start using today. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * Why recruitment deserves as much investment as sales and marketing * How to build a brand that attracts top talent * The power of your team’s network in finding great hires * Why Glassdoor reviews are the new customer reviews * How to balance character vs. skill when hiring About Our Guest: Danny Kerr is the co-founder of Breakthrough Academy (BTA) and host of Contractor Evolution. For the past 10 years, BTA has helped contractors build systems, teams, and strategies to scale their businesses sustainably. Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by NiceJob, the reputation marketing platform that helps you get more reviews, referrals, and sales. Links & Resources: * Breakthrough Academy: btacademy.com * Contractor Evolution Podcast: Listen here * Sponsor: NiceJob [https://get.nicejob.com]

Why Founders Must Show Up Online: Authenticity > Ads | Built By Me Shorts

In this short yet packed episode of Built By Me, Taina and Mo sit down, just the two of them, to discuss something every modern entrepreneur needs to hear: why founders need to show up for their team and on social media. Gone are the days where your intern handles all the social content while leadership hides behind the scenes. Your audience wants to know who's behind the brand — not just what you’re selling, but why you started and what you’re building. Taina and Mo break down: * Why authenticity matters more than ever in the age of AI * The power of showing the human side of your business * How even small business owners can start simple * Examples from big brands like Gymshark and Red Lobster doing it right Whether you’re a roofer, restaurateur, or retail owner, your audience wants you. Not polished ads. Not stock photos. Just you, being real. 🎧 Listen in and get inspired to hit record.

The Future of Restaurant Tech: AI, POS & Profitability Tips from a 20-Year Expert

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, Taina and Mo sit down with David Lafleur, SVP at Cluster POS and a true veteran in the restaurant POS space with over two decades of experience. David shares insights from his journey from building and exiting his first POS business, Volos, to joining Cluster POS and how he's solving real-world restaurant problems with modern, customizable technology. David discusses the significant evolution in restaurant technology over the past 20 years, highlighting how the newer generation of restaurant owners approach technology differently – they're more tech-savvy, research-oriented, and have higher expectations for their POS systems. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on ROI rather than just monthly costs when investing in restaurant technology, noting that many restaurant owners overlook the potential savings and efficiency gains. The conversation explores how restaurant technology needs differ between fine dining and fast-casual establishments, with David explaining the challenges of implementing new systems in traditional restaurant environments versus more adaptable quick-service operations. He shares insights on the restaurant industry's remarkable resilience through COVID and economic challenges, noting how restaurants continually adapt and find new solutions. Looking to the future, David provides fascinating perspectives on how AI is transforming restaurant technology – from predictive sales and inventory management to customer service and staff training. While enthusiastic about AI's potential, he emphasizes that it will enhance rather than replace human elements in the restaurant experience. Whether you're a restaurant owner looking to optimize operations, a tech enthusiast interested in industry innovations, or an entrepreneur seeking insights on business resilience, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the evolving relationship between restaurants and technology. Key Topics Discussed: David's journey from building and exiting Volos POS to joining Cluster POS (00:01:30) How restaurant tech needs differ between fine dining and fast casual (00:03:30) The evolution of restaurant owner technology expectations (00:06:00) Why restaurants should focus on ROI rather than just monthly costs (00:08:30) The restaurant industry's remarkable resilience through COVID and beyond (00:14:00) How AI is transforming restaurant operations and POS systems (00:19:30) The integration vs. building debate in restaurant technology (00:24:00) David's rapid-fire takes on restaurant tech trends (00:29:00) Guest Information: David Lafleur, SVP at Cluster POS Over 20 years of experience in restaurant POS systems Previously founded and exited Volos POS in 2020 Connect With Us: Follow the Built By Me Podcast on social media @BuiltByMePodcast Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel Share your thoughts in the comments below Until next time, keep building!

How Loyalty Programs Really Drive Business Growth | The Truth Behind Points & Rewards

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, Taina and Mo sit down with Andreanne Rondeau, founder of StratLX and a leading expert in loyalty marketing with over 20 years of experience designing and launching successful loyalty programs across retail, hospitality, telecom, and more. Andreanne shares her insights on the significant shifts in loyalty marketing over the past two decades, from technological advancements making loyalty programs more accessible to smaller brands, to the elevation of loyalty from a marketing initiative to a business strategy discussed at the C-suite level. The conversation explores how AI is transforming loyalty programs, with surprising research showing that over 30% of consumers (and 55% of younger generations) are more likely to join a loyalty program if it uses AI to help them maximize their benefits. Andreanne emphasizes the importance of transparency in how brands use AI and customer data. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the challenges of omnichannel integration and personalization. Andreanne explains that true personalization can't exist without seamless integration across all customer touchpoints, highlighting the frustration customers feel when recognized in one channel but treated as a stranger in another. The episode also covers subscription-based loyalty models, with Andreanne providing insights on when they make sense and how to ensure the value provided exceeds the subscription cost. She shares Nike as an example of a brand excelling at loyalty through community building and providing tools that support customers in their product usage, rather than just focusing on transactions. Whether you're a business owner looking to improve customer retention or a marketer interested in the latest loyalty trends, this episode offers valuable insights into creating meaningful, lasting customer relationships in today's digital landscape. Key Topics Discussed: The evolution of loyalty from marketing initiative to business strategy (00:04:00) How AI is transforming loyalty programs and consumer perceptions (00:07:00) The challenges of omnichannel integration for personalization (00:11:00) The data trade-off: customer expectations when sharing information (00:13:00) Subscription-based loyalty models: when they make sense (00:16:00) Nike's approach to loyalty through community and tools (00:20:00) The importance of transparency and trust in loyalty programs (00:25:00) The future of loyalty as an enterprise-wide strategy (00:35:00) Guest Information: Andreanne Rondeau, Founder of StratLX Website: StratLX.com [https://stratlx.com] Connect with Andreanne on LinkedIn Connect With Us: Follow the Built By Me Podcast on social media @BuiltByMePodcast Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel Share your thoughts in the comments below Until next time, keep building!