Advertise on podcast: Marketing with Purpose

The internet has been declaring things dead for thirty years. Websites, blogs, SEO, all supposedly on their way out. Now AI search is getting the same treatment. Here’s the deal: AI is not the apocalypse. In this episode, Monica calms the panic, and gets real about what actually deserves your attention in 2026 (hint: it's mostly stuff you should've been doing since 2017 anyway). She digs into: Why Google suddenly cares if people search your business by name The phone number mistake that quietly cost one client months of leads Why going full ostrich on your online presence is a great way to lose to a competitor  Where to focus first if your online presence needs some attention What you can leave until later (or never) Fundamentals still win. Find out what they are and why. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/online-presence-2026/

ADA website lawsuits are up 27% year over year, and most businesses never see them coming until a demand letter shows up out of nowhere. And what really sucks is: most of these don't start with someone actually trying to use a website and not being able to get what they needed. They start with a law firm, a plaintiff, and an automated scanner that flags a compliance issue, followed by a demand letter for thousands of dollars before the business even has a chance to fix the problem. The whole point of accessibility law is to create websites everyone can use. Not turn a missing alt tag into a fast settlement. On this episode of Marketing with Purpose, Monica digs into: How enforcement actually works: DOJ complaint vs. private lawsuit What Missouri is doing to protect local businesses. Why accessibility overlay widgets are quietly making things worse instead of better. The kinds of costs that show up once a private lawsuit is in motion. How to protect yourself and your business. If ADA compliance has been sitting on the back burner, this episode is the nudge to move it up. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/missouri-ada-website-lawsuits/

Every organization has a Bob. He means well, he really does. He cares about the mission, shows up to every meeting, and is FIRED UP about mailing out magnets. Or a magazine ad. Or a whole new initiative nobody asked for. This episode was a listener request - because apparently everyone has a Bob, and nobody knows quite what to say to him. Monica and Stacy walk through how to handle board members, volunteers, and employees with big ideas and bigger enthusiasm, without crushing their spirit or losing your sanity. Why this conversation feels so much harder than it should  The three reasons you might be struggling to say no with confidence A simple framework (nicknamed ASRI) for responding without guilt - or a fight Bob isn't the enemy. He's proof people care about the mission. This episode is about putting that energy somewhere it'll actually do some good. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/responding-to-board-members-good-intentions/

If your services pages are just a paragraph and a phone number, you're leaving money on the table. In this episode, Monica and Stacy break down exactly what needs to be on each of your services pages so the right people find you, trust you, and actually reach out. They cover: Why you need one page per service — and when the exception applies Whether you need a services landing page (hint: it depends on how many services you have) Why a service page is a sales page, not a placeholder Exactly what to include on each page, from trust signals and FAQs to pricing, staff photos, and calls to action When you need location pages — and when you really don't Plus they share the checklist from the companion blog post on mayecreate.com that you can drop straight into ChatGPT to audit your own pages. If you've been meaning to update your website content and keep putting it off, this episode will show you where to start. Find the full checklist and blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

If you've been watching your blog traffic drop and wondering if blogging is dead—this episode is for you. Short answer: blogging still works. But the 2015 playbook (publish 4+ posts a month, chase keywords, watch the traffic roll in) is dead. The goal changed. It's not about driving massive traffic anymore. It's about proof—proving you know what you're doing, getting cited by AI, and building credibility that compounds over time. In this episode: What blogging actually does NOW (and why traffic volume doesn't matter anymore) The new metrics that tell you if it's working When you should quit blogging entirely and do something else instead Whether you need a new strategy or permission to stop, this episode will help you figure out what blogging should actually be doing for your business in 2026. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/is-blogging-still-worth-it/

Every third question we get these days is about AI.  "Is it going to kill Google?" "Do I even need a website?" "What does this mean for my business?" So we figured it was about darn time we talk about it ourselves from the angle we do best - websites.  Yes, AI is changing how search works. Heck, AI is changing how AI works. But for most businesses, the impact is more "interesting shift" than "five-alarm fire." Websites aren't obsolete - AI Overviews pull FROM websites. They don't replace them. In this episode we break down what's actually changing, who needs to pay attention, and what a well-built website is already doing right without you lifting a finger. Plus we get into how to tell if AI is already pulling from your content - and what to do if you want it to do it more. Spoiler alert! For once, amazingly, the game of getting found online didn't actually change. The scoreboard just looks a little different now. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/ai-search-what-it-means-for-your-website/ Tutorial: How to use Google Analytics & Search Console to tell if your website is being shown in AI search →

The internet changes faster every year. And 2025 said, “hold my beer.” How people find you, whether they trust you, and if they even visit your website - all of it changed. Again. And if you’re not paying attention, you could be losing customers without even knowing why. The internet in 2026 isn’t the internet we built websites for five, ten, or fifteen years ago. Traffic is down. Tracking is harder. And a huge chunk of your “visitors” aren’t even human. We wade through these mazes daily while building websites and like to share - first, because we enjoy geeking out, and second, so you don’t have to go in blind. The short version:  Bots are everywhere. AI ate a big chunk of your traffic. And your Google Business listing is probably more important than your social media now. Fun times. We also break down what’s happening with cookies, privacy laws, and why your PHP version matters way more than you think. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/state-of-the-internet-2026/

You wake up to 47 emails about cryptocurrency, someone wants to sell you SEO services (the irony), and three bots are VERY concerned about your website's performance. You know the drill. You delete five, ten more appear. You silently cuss technology and consider just shutting down your contact form entirely and making people send carrier pigeons instead.  You, my friend, are NOT alone. AND you don't have to live like this. In this week’s episode our resident bot bouncer Rebecca joined me to share how she protects over 300 websites from spam armies. Everything from the basics you can set up in 10 minutes to advanced bot warfare (yes, that's a real thing and yes, it's as satisfying as it sounds). Rebecca explains: How to shut down comment spam (spoiler: just turn them off) The two essential tools that stop form spam before it hits your inbox automatically How reCAPTCHA actually works (it's not just about clicking a box) When to bring out the big guns: manual logic tests, IP blocking, and CDNs Why Cloudflare protects websites using lava lamps (we're not making this up) If you don’t have spam YET and haven’t done anything to your knowledge to block it don't wait until your inbox is a disaster zone. Most of these fixes take minutes to implement and will save you hours of sorting through garbage in the future. Prefer to read? We turned the whole episode into a blog post for you to reference whenever you need it. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/tricks-to-fix-and-stop-website-spam/

Ever stare at your computer thinking "there HAS to be a better way to do this"? Like that task at work that takes 3x longer than it should. The one everyone complains about but nobody fixes.You know it needs to change. You might even know HOW to fix it. But telling your boss? That feels risky. What if they think you're just complaining? What if you come across as difficult? What if they say no and then it's just...awkward?In my early 20s I was the silently suffering employee. Now I'm the boss wishing people would just TELL me when something's broken before we waste months (or years) doing it the hard way. So I pulled Stacy in for this one to get her take on both sides of this conversation. In this episode, we cover: How to decide if it's actually worth bringing up (or if you just need a Coke and a walk) The 9 questions to ask yourself before approaching your boss How to approach different types of bosses strategically What to say (and what NOT to say) to look entrepreneurial instead of difficult When to just quit instead—because sometimes that IS the answer Fair warning: This is a long one. But if you're thinking "I can't do another day of THIS"—it might be exactly what you need. Want more? Check out the full blog post with all the details at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-tell-your-boss-that-part-of-your-job-sucks/

Quick question: If someone landed on your home page right now, would they know what you do in nano seconds? Or would they have to scroll, squint, and guess? Most home pages fall into one of two traps: they're either cluttered and confusing, or they're an image desert with no actual words explaining what you do. Either way, visitors can't figure out what you offer—so they just leave. Your home page isn't a novel. And it's not a photo gallery. It's a receptionist. It should greet people, tell them what you do, and point them where they need to go. That's it. In this episode, we break down exactly what your home page needs to do (and what it definitely doesn't need to do): The billboard test—can someone understand what you do at 70mph? Why your header area matters more than you think How to prove you're awesome without just saying "we're awesome" over and over Plus, using AI as a tool (not a crutch) to evaluate and improve your page If your home page hasn't been updated in a while—or you're not totally sure it's doing its job—this one's for you. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/home-page-design-tips/

Your year-end campaign emails are probably amazing. Your social posts? On point. Your stories? Compelling. But if your website doesn’t back it up during December, none of that matters. We've seen it happen too many times. Nonprofits pour everything into their year-end campaigns only to have the donation process fall apart at the very last step. So Stacy and Monica made you a checklist.✨ This podcast/blog post combo has 15 tasks organized into three categories: 5 critical must-dos (your donation form HAS to work) 4 quick fact-checks (trust-builders that take minutes) 6 conversion boosters (tackle now or add to next year's list) Don’t let 15 tasks scare you off, it’s okay if you can’t do everything on this list before your campaign kicks off. Start with the critical stuff (testing that donation form), then tackle what you can. A working donation form on a slightly outdated site always beats a broken form on a beautiful one every single time. Your donors are ready to give. Make sure your site is ready to receive.  And even if you don’t look at the blog or listen to the podcast - GO TEST YOUR DONATION FORM ON A PHONE. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/nonprofit-year-end-giving-website-checklist/

Since the DOJ rolled out new ADA website compliance rules in March of last year, we’re busy updating sites—and answering a lot of questions about what it all means. The one big sticking point in client conversations is linked documents. PDFs, Word files, slide decks—anything you link to is now considered part of your website. That means those documents must meet ADA accessibility standards too. Everyone’s asking the same thing: “How do we make those files compliant?” So the Account Service staff tasked Monica with putting together an overview podcast + written instructions + step-by-step video tutorials. (They’re nothing if not thorough!!) These resources, starting with this overview podcast episode explain how to: Create your documents with accessibility in mind.  Export them as PDFs so they stay accessible. Check documents to be sure they’re good to go. The two additional tutorials walk you through the two most common setups—step by step, button by button: Microsoft Word users: Complete guide → Google Docs users: Google Docs + Grackle workflow → Our best advice: start with your next PDF, not your entire library. Future you will thank present you. ❤️ Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-make-an-ada-complaint-pdf-and-why/

If your website is turtling - and not in the good ninja turtle way, but in the slow-crossing-the-highway way - everyone's noticing and cringing. Here's the deal: while you're sitting there wondering why your site is loading at turtle speed, your competitors' sites are loading in milliseconds and stealing your sales. That sucks. But figuring out what’s wrong can feel like rocket science. Tyler, Rebecca and Monica just did a deep dive into the 8 most common things that slow down WordPress sites - plus how we fix them.  As you’d expect, we did get a little nerdy, but we translate the tech speak and label everything by skill level - Beginner, Intermediate, or 'Call a Professional’…and we color-coded everything in the blog post, so you're gonna be fine! What we cover: Why Monica’s week-long optimization marathon failed (spoiler: it wasn't the website) How too many plugins are secretly slowing your site down Why your cheap hosting might be the real culprit How CloudFlare uses lava lamps for security (yes, really) Identifying the "digital freeloaders" slowing down your site Tyler's love/hate relationship with caching (it's complicated) And friend, if you hit the halfway point and realize you'd rather be doing literally anything else with your time - even helping actual three-legged turtles cross actual highways - that's what we're here for. Read the fully formatted (and color coded) blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/why-is-my-wordpress-site-so-slow-and-tricks-to-fix-it

We're celebrating MayeCreate’s 20th birthday with something special - the whole team sharing their biggest lessons learned along the way. From "don't polish a turd" to "imposter syndrome is loud, but good design is louder," these hard-won insights aren't just about building websites - they're about building a life and career you actually love. Hear why getting uncomfortable is your secret weapon, how trusting your team changes everything, and why Monica had to write "I trust my team" 10 times before every management class (spoiler: she was a control freak). Plus stories about nose rings at interviews, Halloween costume cold calls, and why Tyler doesn't use a mouse. These aren't your typical business lessons - they're real talk from people who've been figuring it out together for two decades. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-20-years-in-business/