Squeeze the Funnel - Digital Marketing Podcast

Flooded with Watered Down Leads | Hey Marc Listener Question

Mitch from Austin runs a successful consumer lending business, but lately, his once-solid stream of high-quality leads has taken a hit. In this episode, Marc digs into what could be causing the shift—even when the strategy seems unchanged.
You'll learn how to investigate drop-offs in lead quality by looking at both internal marketing changes and external channel shifts. From tweaking ad targeting to understanding changes in SEO traffic, this episode is your troubleshooting guide for diagnosing lead issues fast.
⏱️ Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – IntroMark sets the stage and reads Mitch’s question about declining lead quality.
01:30 – Step 1: Audit What’s Changed Internally
Review all recent changes to your marketing strategy—even tiny ones.
Key areas: ad targeting, website copy, form fields, blog updates.
Tip: Ask your team for a detailed breakdown of recent changes.
04:15 – Step 2: Trace Bad Leads to the Source
Determine which campaign, channel, or asset is producing low-quality leads.
Paid media and organic search are likely suspects.
Use analytics to connect the dots between traffic source and lead quality.
06:30 – Deep Dive: Paid Media Troubleshooting
Audit targeting settings: Are you reaching the wrong audience?
Reevaluate ad messaging: Has your positioning changed?
Ensure alignment between ads and what the landing page promises.
08:00 – Deep Dive: SEO Traffic Shifts
Have new blog posts outranked older, higher-converting content?
Are lower-quality keywords bringing in more traffic?
Use tools to analyze shifts in keyword rankings and top-performing pages.
10:15 – Final Thoughts: Diagnosis Before Prescription
The solution starts with clear, structured troubleshooting.
Track everything to isolate the real issue—and fix it fast.
✅ Key Takeaways:
Even subtle marketing changes can affect lead quality—review everything.
Always trace bad leads back to their origin (campaign, keyword, or ad).
Inconsistent messaging or new SEO traffic can attract the wrong audience.
You can’t fix what you can’t trace—analytics are your best friend.
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Google Search Console (for SEO insights)
Your paid media platform (Google Ads, Meta Ads, etc.)
Website and form analytics (GA4, Hotjar, HubSpot, etc.)
💬 Have a Question?
Send a Loom video or email Marc directly at heymarc@squeezethefunnel.com and your question may be featured on the podcast.

Coffee & Bagels Are For Closers and Content Marketers | Hey Marc Listener Question

Listener Question: Chandler from San Mateo wants to take his online investing course beyond Skillshare and grow it under his own brand. He asked for help with growth marketing—and got a full breakdown of what to do next.
Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:
Why relying on marketplace platforms might be costing you more than you think
A simple, powerful framework to unlock your ideal customer’s attention
The truth about content vs. paid growth—and how to choose the right path
One overlooked tactic that most entrepreneurs skip (and why you shouldn’t)
And yes… the reason you should just ask for the damn sale
Got a marketing question for Marc?
Send a Loom video or email Marc directly at heymarc@squeezethefunnel.com and your question may be featured on the podcast.

High School Lockers and Diversifying Your Marketing Strategy | Hey Marc Listener Question

In this episode, Marc takes us back to his high school days in Seattle, where being a 90-pound sophomore surrounded by NFL-sized seniors made full-size lockers a terrifying prospect. 😅
But it’s not just nostalgia. Marc answers a thoughtful listener question from Anne in Seattle, who’s crushing it with her digital product business but wondering if she should stick with Meta and Google ads or branch out.
Marc breaks down four killer reasons why:
Paid media only gets more expensive
One channel marketing strategies are risky
Content + SEO = cheaper, compounding growth 
Ads aren’t evergreen
Whether you're running a solo biz or scaling a startup, this is the wake-up call to stop relying on ads alone and start building a brand that lasts.
Got a marketing question for Marc?
Send a Loom video or email Marc directly at heymarc@squeezethefunnel.com and your question may be featured on the podcast.

Help! Should I Fire My Paid Media Agency? | Hey Marc Listener Question

In this episode of Squeeze the Funnel, your host Marc Bitanga (yes, with that radio voice 😅) switches things up and dives into a listener question from John, a SaaS co-founder in Los Angeles spending $3M/year on paid media. Lately, John's noticing a decline in performance—and he's wondering: Is it time to switch agencies, or bring things in-house?
Marc shares his candid take on what typically happens behind the scenes with ad agencies, how to spot the signs of complacency or "team downgrades," and most importantly, how to hold your agency accountable without jumping ship prematurely.
💡 You’ll learn:
The three common pitfalls agencies fall into over time
How to diagnose paid media performance issues (and when it’s actually your fault)
Tactical advice for protecting your account—and your results
Got a marketing question for Marc?
Send a Loom video or email Marc directly at heymarc@squeezethefunnel.com and your question may be featured on the podcast.