In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Vislavsky, CEO & Co-Founder of Commodore Digital Marketing, who shares how he scaled his search-focused agency from a 3-person team to a 100+ team operation across multiple cities like Chicago, Miami, and Austin.
Ivan breaks down the biggest reasons why most businesses fail at digital marketing and what you can do to avoid the common traps that waste budget and stall growth.
He shares what actually works when it comes to local SEO, paid search, and link building, especially in highly competitive industries like legal and home services.
One of his biggest takeaways? You must have a 12-month marketing budget. Without it, you’re likely to miss out on real results and long-term ROI.
If you’re a founder, agency owner, CMO, or marketing strategist trying to scale sustainably and win in competitive markets, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.
Always plan your marketing budget for the long run.
Focusing on one service works better than doing everything.
Use AI as your helper, not your boss.
Be honest and do great work; clients notice.
Keep an eye on your data to know what’s working.
Don’t try to be everywhere with a small budget.
A solid team is key if you want to grow.
Happy clients and good reviews speak louder than ads.
Keep improving; every 90 days, make something better.
Great marketing doesn’t just grow businesses; it changes lives.
