I Lost $70,000 and a $45K/Month Client... Here’s What I Learned

Why Your Leads Are Dropping Even If You Rank #1

Your website may still rank on page one, your Google Business Profile may still get impressions, and your SEO may look “fine” on paper—but your leads could still be collapsing. In this episode of the eForge Podcast, Corey Long breaks down why businesses are seeing 30%, 50%, and even 75% drops in lead flow as Google shifts from a search engine into an AI-powered recommendation engine. This is not a future trend. AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Grok, Claude, voice search, and answer engines are already changing how customers discover local businesses, contractors, medical clinics, law firms, realtors, agencies, restaurants, and service companies. Instead of clicking through websites, people are getting answers directly from AI. That means your business is no longer just competing for rankings. You are competing to become the trusted recommendation. Corey explains why old SEO strategies built around keywords, backlinks, rankings, and website traffic are no longer enough. You’ll learn why authority, reviews, brand mentions, YouTube videos, podcasts, LinkedIn, social proof, structured answers, Google Business Profiles, and cross-platform trust signals now matter more than ever for AI search visibility and lead generation. In this episode, you’ll learn how Google AI search is reducing website clicks even when impressions stay high, why businesses with strong SEO are still losing leads, how AI decides which companies to trust and recommend, and what marketers and business owners need to do now to build authority before their lead flow dries up. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:15 Businesses Are Losing Leads Without Knowing Why 03:00 Google Is Becoming an AI Recommendation Engine 05:10 Why Impressions Are Up but Clicks Are Dropping 07:25 SEO Is Not Dead, But Old SEO Thinking Is 10:05 Why Authority Matters More Than Rankings 12:45 Reviews, Mentions, YouTube, and Trust Signals 16:30 Why Your Website Alone Is No Longer Enough 19:00 The Rise of Authority Ecosystems 22:15 The Opportunity for Marketers in AI SEO 25:30 What AI Authority Engine Is Testing 29:00 Why Businesses Must Become the Answer 33:15 How to Search Your Business in AI Tools 36:40 The 4 Questions AI Asks About Your Business 39:00 Final Warning for Business Owners and Marketers Want to learn more about Cory Long? Check out the links below. Ai Authority Engine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/ [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] Disclaimer -  This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific situation.

The AI Skill Gap No One Is Warning Students About

The world changed faster than college classrooms could keep up. Students are graduating with marketing, communications, PR, and business degrees, but many still have not been taught how to use AI tools, AI search, AI workflows, AI content systems, or AI visibility strategies. Meanwhile, business owners are already looking for people who understand ChatGPT, Claude, AI agents, AI SEO, content automation, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping hiring, marketing, and online visibility. In this episode of The E-Forge Podcast, Cory Long breaks down the massive AI skill gap forming between traditional education and the real-world job market. This is not an anti-college conversation. It is a wake-up call for students, marketers, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to stay relevant as AI changes how companies hire, create content, generate leads, rank online, and compete. If you are a college student, marketing major, business owner, entrepreneur, realtor, agency owner, content creator, or someone wondering how AI will affect your future, this episode gives you a clear look at what is happening right now and why learning AI may be one of the biggest opportunities of this era. You’ll learn:  → Why many college students are graduating without the AI skills that businesses are already demanding, especially in marketing, communications, public relations, advertising, and business roles. → Cory explains how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini, Perplexity, AI agents, and AI workflows are changing what one person can accomplish inside a company. → Why AI SEO, AI visibility, GEO, AEO, and AI search are becoming critical for business owners who want to keep showing up online as Google and search behavior continue to shift. → Why students and professionals who learn AI now can separate themselves quickly, create more opportunity, and become more valuable in a rapidly changing economy. Want to learn more about Cory Long? Check out the links below. Ai Authority Engine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/ [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] Disclaimer -  This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific situation.

Brain Fog, Weight Gain, Low Energy? Your Body Is Warning You

Are you dealing with brain fog, low energy, stubborn weight gain, poor recovery, hormone changes, or feeling like you just don’t feel like yourself anymore? In this episode of the E Forge Podcast, Cory Long sits down with Annetta from Amava Regenerative Medicine in Peoria, Arizona, to talk about what may really be happening inside your body. This conversation dives into functional medicine, hormone replacement therapy, peptide therapy, GLP-1 medications, insulin resistance, thyroid health, testosterone, inflammation, metabolic health, and why “normal” labs do not always tell the full story. If you have been told everything looks fine but you still feel exhausted, stuck, inflamed, or unable to lose weight, this episode will help you understand why deeper blood work and a personalized treatment plan can matter. Annetta explains how regenerative medicine looks beyond symptoms and focuses on root-cause health, lifestyle changes, full lab panels, body composition, hormone balance, and safe medical guidance. Whether you are curious about peptides, GLP-1 weight loss medications, thyroid problems, low testosterone, perimenopause, menopause, or functional lab testing, this episode gives you a clear starting point for asking better questions and advocating for your health. You’ll learn why:  → Basic blood work can miss important health markers → How insulin resistance can affect energy and weight loss → Why peptides and GLP-1s should be monitored by a professional and how hormone therapy can impact mood, muscle, sleep, recovery, and long-term wellness  → Why personalized care matters  → How body composition testing can protect muscle during weight loss  → Why patients need more than a one-size-fits-all approach Want to learn more about Cory Long? Check out the links below. Ai Authority Engine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/ [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] Disclaimer -  This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific situation.

Did You Build a Business… or Just Buy Yourself a Job?

Most business owners want to grow, scale, and eventually have more freedom, but what if the business you built can’t run without you? In this episode of the E-Forts Podcast, Cory Long sits down with Kellen Ketcho of STAG Business Coaching to talk about how to build a business that has real value, not just revenue. If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, founder, or local service business leader who wants to create systems, build a stronger team, improve operations, prepare for an exit, or simply stop feeling trapped inside your own company, this conversation is for you.  Kellen shares how owners can move from operator to true owner, why systems and documented processes increase business valuation, how to de-risk a sale, and why your team may be the most important asset in your company. You’ll also hear practical insight on exit planning, mastermind groups, profitability audits, AI-powered operations tools, team assessments, business coaching, faith-driven leadership, and the question every entrepreneur eventually has to ask: when is enough enough? You’ll learn: → How to identify whether your business depends too much on you → Why buyers care about systems and transferable value → How business owners can use coaching and masterminds to make better decisions → Why building with purpose, faith, family, and long-term freedom in mind changes the way you lead Want to learn more about Cory Long? Check out the links below. Ai Authority Engine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/ [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] Disclaimer -  This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific situation.

I Lost $70,000 and a $45K/Month Client... Here’s What I Learned

Building a business is not just about winning. It is about what you do when the client leaves, the marketing fails, the money disappears, and you still have to lead anyway. In this episode, Cory Long breaks down the real pressure of entrepreneurship, from losing a $45,000 per month client to wasting $70,000 on marketing that did not produce results, to facing the stress of making payroll when everything feels uncertain.  This is for entrepreneurs, business owners, Christian entrepreneurs, agency owners, and leaders who feel the weight of hard business decisions, financial pressure, team responsibility, and the fear of making the wrong move. If you are trying to grow your business, recover from setbacks, rebuild your confidence, generate more leads, increase sales, and lead your company through uncertainty, this episode will hit home.  Cory shares what business losses really feel like, why most entrepreneurs freeze when action is required, and how to move forward with conviction, clarity, and faith when business gets hard. You’ll learn: → Why business losses hurt more than just your bank account → How bad decisions can destroy confidence if you let them stack up → Why real business growth still comes through conversations and relationship → How one clear offer plus daily reach-outs can restart momentum in your business  → The difference between learning and executing → Why many entrepreneurs bury opportunity under fear and overthinking → How to become the kind of leader who multiplies what they have been given Want to learn more about Cory Long? Check out the links below. Ai Authority Engine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine [https://invisibletoinvinciblechallenge.com/aiengine] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong [https://www.youtube.com/@therealcorylong] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e-forge-with-cory-long/id1823417933] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4aZD9YaIr5OttNLce5iGOm?si=7149ceb9ed9c4819] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealcorylong/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/ [https://www.facebook.com/therealcorylongEforge/] Disclaimer -  This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific situation.