Shows
The BuildersThe Builder’s Dilemma: Scale Big and Chase Growth or Be the Craftsman?In this solo episode of The Builders, Matt Levenhagen reflects on a pivotal moment in his business journey—one that many founders, creatives, and agency owners will relate to.After years of scaling a successful agency and managing a distributed team, Matt finds himself craving the simplicity and satisfaction of doing the work again—of coding, building, and being the craftsman. In a world that glorifies growth at all costs, this episode unpacks a dilemma many builders face: Do you keep scaling big, or do you get back to the craft that started it all?He s...2025-07-281h 03The BuildersMatthew White – They Built an AI Browser… Moving Toward AI Becoming the Operating SystemIn this episode of The Builders, Matt talks with Matthew White, CEO of PlatypusOS—a new kind of browser designed for the AI-powered future of work.Matthew shares how a simple frustration with too many tabs sparked the idea to build a smarter, more structured browser—one that integrates seamlessly with your tools and acts like an assistant, not just a gateway to the web.From the foundation of PlatypusOS to the rise of AI agents and cloud-based automation, Matthew outlines a bold vision: a world where AI becomes the operating system that runs your digi...2025-07-2151 minThe BuildersGerry Hayes – Venture Staking: Creating Opportunities for Everyday Investors That VCs Can’tIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt sits down with Gerry Hayes — founder of Dorio and the creator of Venture Staking, a bold new model that reimagines how people invest in startups.Gerry shares his journey from the world of law and government to entrepreneurship, and how his early frustration with the gatekeeping of traditional venture capital led him to build a more inclusive system — one designed not just for the wealthy elite, but for everyday people eager to learn and grow alongside real founders.Through the lens of education, Gerry walks us through the...2025-07-0750 minThe BuildersJames Elliman – Building Simple, Human-Centered IT: Corporate Pains to All-In-One ServiceIn this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with James Elliman — a cybersecurity-focused IT expert who’s built a thriving managed services company by eliminating complexity and frustration for small businesses. James shares how his journey began with tearing apart computers at age six, progressed through corporate IT burnout, and ultimately led to creating all-in-one tech solutions that puts the customer experience first.💡 Key Takeaways:Corporate inefficiencies sparked innovation. James left the world of meetings and semicolon debates to build something faster, leaner, and more personal.He built a business by eliminating vendor finger...2025-06-3059 minThe BuildersYaakov Sash – From Wall Street to Pixels: Building the Future of Gaming with Currency, Community & AIIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with Yaakov Sash, founder and CEO of Novospir, to explore how game currency, social interactivity, and AI are coming together to reshape the gaming landscape. With roots in Wall Street and a deep background in digital asset technology, Yaakov shares his unique journey — from building trading systems at major financial institutions to launching massively multiplayer puzzle games that foster real community engagement.Discover how Yaakov is reimagining monetization through portable game currencies, designing digital playgrounds for brands and nonprofits, and using AI to build in pu...2025-06-2359 minThe BuildersBuilding in the Age of AI: How I’m Positioning My Agency for What Comes NextIn this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen opens up about the state of his agency and how he's actively positioning for long-term success amidst a rapidly changing world.From economic pressures like tariffs to the accelerating rise of AI, Matt breaks down how these forces are impacting service businesses—and how he’s turning disruption into opportunity. Instead of reacting with fear, he shares a grounded, strategic framework for expanding offerings, introducing AI and automation, and deepening consulting capabilities—all while staying rooted in his core strengths.You’ll hear the nuts and bolt...2025-06-1658 minThe BuildersEli Tanzman – Cutting Edge Security: Catch AI, Cloud & App Risks Before They Go LiveIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Eli Tansman, CEO and co-founder of Cygnostic. With deep expertise in cybersecurity and AI security, Eli shares his journey from military cyber operations to building a global company at the forefront of protecting modern development workflows.Eli’s story is one of rapid evolution and intentional pivots—shifting from cybersecurity services to product-driven solutions that address the urgent challenges of AI, application, and cloud security. This episode digs into the shift from reactive to proactive protection, emphasizing the importance of building security directly into the development proc...2025-06-0950 minThe BuildersDan Bennett - Hot Sauce & Hard Truths: Facing Fear, Playing the Hand Dealt, & RebrandingIn this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with Dan Bennett, founder of Hot Sauce Video, to explore how creativity, calm under pressure, and strategic reinvention can carry a business through adversity. From playing in rock bands to helping entrepreneurs shine on video, Dan shares the building blocks of his journey — including how the pandemic pushed him to pivot hard and reimagine everything.Whether you're an early-stage founder, solo creator, or scaling agency, Dan’s story is packed with practical wisdom for navigating uncertainty and building something that truly sticks.🔑 Key Takeaways:Face...2025-06-0251 minThe BuildersJason Fladlien: Project Mona Lisa, AI & the Future of Webinars, Only Play Games You Can WinIn this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with legendary marketer and webinar strategist Jason Fladlien to discuss the mindset, methods, and AI-fueled magic behind his latest venture — Project Mona Lisa.From waiting years to adopt AI until it finally delivered real advantage, to architecting offers so good they sell themselves, Jason reveals the first principles behind how he builds. You’ll hear how he’s combining decades of proprietary knowledge with the power of AI to make webinar creation faster, smarter, and more accessible than ever.Whether you're building digital products, launching a SaaS...2025-05-2744 minThe BuildersBuilding a Business: Progress Through Experimentation and Action – My StoryIn this solo episode, Matt takes you behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey—from artist to affiliate marketer to agency founder. Through real stories and personal reflections, he breaks down how experimentation and taking action have shaped every phase of his growth. From launching websites in the early 2000s to dealing with modern shifts like AI replacing client work, this episode delivers a candid look at what it really takes to build and evolve over decades.Key Takeaways:Success rarely comes from a grand vision—it emerges from action, iteration, and feedback.Ever...2025-05-1258 minThe BuildersI Considered Quitting… Enter Claude AI: Reigniting the Fire to BUILD and Rediscovering My PassionIn this solo episode of The Builders, Matt gets real about a turbulent start to 2025 — including client losses, tough contracts, and moments where he seriously considered shutting everything down.But instead of walking away, he doubled down on what he truly loves: building. Fueled by a renewed passion and a surprising creative partner in Claude AI, Matt shares how he’s finding momentum again — through code, plugins, and clarity of purpose.Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode:Claude AI as a coding partner: How Matt’s integrating Claude directly into his developm...2025-05-051h 00The BuildersJoel Salomon – Built on Belief: What's Your Tell? Action Signals & Decoding MindsetIn this thought-provoking episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt welcomes back Joel Salomon, prosperity coach and mindful money expert, for his fifth appearance. Together, they dive deep into how your actions — or inactions — are often the biggest tells in your mindset story.Joel shares real client transformations, from undercharging spiritual entrepreneurs to overwhelmed yoga instructors and even a mindset coach who needed a mindset shift of her own. They unpack what it means to act as if, how affirmations actually work, and why tracking your money is less about math — and more about clarity, confidence, and courage.W...2025-04-1458 minThe BuildersGuardians of the Build: 4 Yr Contract & Counting, Our Role as a Client’s Digital Defense TeamIn this episode, Matt shares the story behind a long-term client relationship that’s become a true partnership — one forged through fires, fixes, and four years of trust. What started as a quick WordPress rescue evolved into a deeply embedded role as the client's digital defense team, managing an e-commerce ecosystem that can’t afford to go down.Matt walks through the systems, processes, and real-world challenges that come with maintaining a multi-million-dollar online store. From recovering a site after another agency's misstep to setting up access controls, staging environments, and SOPs, this episode breaks down what it rea...2025-04-071h 08The BuildersAndreas Pettersson – Corporate Exec to Scrappy Builder: Master the Mindset of Growth & ActionIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Andreas Pettersson, a former corporate executive turned scrappy entrepreneur. Andreas shares his journey from structured leadership roles to the fast-paced, ever-changing world of startups. This conversation dives deep into the mindset shifts required to transition successfully, the power of action-taking, and why building people is just as important as building a business.Key Takeaways:Mindset Shift for Growth: Moving from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship requires agility, resourcefulness, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.Action Over Perfection: The best way to learn and grow is...2025-03-171h 04The BuildersKen Cox - Building InLink: AI Employees + All-in-One Solutions = The Future of BusinessIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, Ken Cox joins Matt Levenhagen to explore how AI is transforming business. Ken shares his journey from web hosting to building InLink, an all-in-one AI-powered business solution. He dives into the concept of AI employees, how they streamline operations, and why they are the future of small business success.Key Takeaways:AI Employees are Here: Virtual agents are no longer futuristic—they’re actively performing tasks and automating workflows for businesses today.From Web Hosting to AI Innovation: Ken’s experience with hosting giants like Mastercard and AOL gave him in...2025-03-101h 02The BuildersErich Archer - Building Smarty Pants GPTs, Creating Faster, Smarter WorkflowsIn this engaging episode of the Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen explores the intersection of technology and creativity with guest Erich Archer. Erich brings a wealth of knowledge from his background in TV production and his recent focus on developing AI-driven tools. The discussion highlights how Erich transitioned from traditional media production to utilizing AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, to streamline workflows and create innovative business solutions.Throughout the episode, Erich delves into his journey of discovering AI's transformative power in video production and business analyses. He shares how he started integrating AI tools like ChatGPT and...2025-03-0344 minThe BuildersAlykhan Jetha (AJ) - Evolution of Daylite – Lessons in Cloud, Microservices & Eliminating WasteIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with Alykhan Jetha (AJ), CEO of Marketcircle, to discuss the evolution of the Daylite app and the lessons learned through major technological shifts. What started as an internal tool grew into a full-fledged product, serving small businesses in their quest for efficiency and growth.AJ shares the challenges and insights from transitioning Daylite from on-premise software to a cloud-based solution, a move that took nearly six years. The conversation also explores the pros and cons of microservices, why they initially seemed like a great fit...2025-02-2457 minThe BuildersBuilding Flexible & Adaptable Service Frameworks: Be Prepared, Win More ClientsIn this engaging episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen explores the art of building flexible and adaptable service frameworks that evolve alongside client needs. He compares these frameworks to a codebase—designed with a solid foundation but requiring continuous refinement to stay relevant. Through real-world examples, Matt shares how structured adaptability supports client growth, team scalability, and efficient cost estimation.Matt dives into the key elements of a well-structured yet flexible service model, covering pricing strategies, contract structures, and quality assurance. He highlights how businesses can create frameworks that balance consistency with customization, ensuring smooth cl...2025-02-1753 minThe BuildersDoug Katz - Consumer to Creator:The Blueprint for Innovation, Lessons Developing Nulu KnivesIn this episode, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with Doug Katz to explore the mindset and process behindturning problems into solutions and ideas into businesses. Doug shares how a simple need in his daily life led to the creation of Nulu Knives, and the steps he took to bring the idea to market.Fromfinding inspiration in unexpected places (like his jacuzzi “Think Tank”) toleveraging collaboration to refine an invention, Doug breaks down the key principles of successful innovation. This conversation dives into the importance ofavoiding invention for invention’s sake, embracingthe builder’s mindset, andstrategically growing a business...2025-02-101h 06The BuildersMallory Glessner - Building a Content Machine: Scaling Social Media with Strategy & CreativityIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen welcomes Mallory Glessner, Manager of Content and Product Marketing at Trainual, to explore the process of building and scaling a successful content machine. Mallory shares her journey from operations to marketing, revealing the key strategies that helped grow Trainual’s social media presence. They discuss how to create content that balances engagement with problem-solving, ensuring that brands remain both relevant and impactful.
The conversation highlights the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to social media strategy. Mallory emphasizes the role of repurposing high-performing content and using an...2025-02-0350 minThe BuildersJason Saltzman - Tackling the Debt Relief Problem: The Story Behind the Innovative "Relief App"In this episode of the Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes entrepreneur Jason Saltzman to explore the evolving landscape of debt management and the art of building digital platforms that meet modern consumer needs. The conversation begins with a compelling dive into the entrepreneurial mindset, as Jason shares actionable insights on managing anxiety and fostering resilience in business. Drawing from his extensive experience, Jason underscores the importance of forging meaningful connections and assembling the right team to fuel innovation and success.
Jason introduces Relief, a groundbreaking app designed to democratize debt management and alleviate financial stress for...2025-01-2755 minThe BuildersJeannette Seibly - Results via Your Brag: Building Credibility, Authority, and ConnectionIn this insightful episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with leadership results coach and author Jeannette Seibly to discuss the transformative power of bragging. Together, they explore how recognizing and articulating personal achievements can boost confidence, build credibility, and open doors to meaningful connections.
Jeannette shares strategies to overcome cultural stigmas around self-promotion, emphasizing the importance of authentic storytelling and metrics in establishing authority. From tackling imposter syndrome to leveraging bragging as a networking tool, this episode offers practical advice for professionals and entrepreneurs alike.
Key Takeaways:
Bragging is a S...2025-01-2040 minThe BuildersPeter Bonney - From Vision to Reality: Fastbreak’s AI-Powered RFP Solutions JourneyIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Peter Bonney, the CEO of Fastbreak, to explore how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are transforming enterprise solutions, specifically in the realm of Request for Proposal (RFP) processes.
The discussion leads us into understanding how Fastbreak evolved from Peter's prior venture, Vendorful, to address the complexities of seller-side engagements. Peter shares the innovative steps Fastbreak has taken to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies in enhancing collaboration and efficiency for businesses dealing with intricate RFPs.
Key Takeaways:
Vision and Persistence: Fastbreak’s journey il...2025-01-1351 minThe BuildersBuilding Products While Running a Growing Agency – Investing in Your Future Without Losing FocusIn this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen takes us behind the scenes of running a successful web design agency while simultaneously building a suite of WordPress plugins. Matt shares how he balances client demands with product development, turning internal needs into innovative tools for broader market application.
With over six years of experience leading Unified Web Design, Matt reflects on the evolution of WordPress, embracing full-site editing, and navigating industry shifts to stay competitive. Learn how strategic resource management, a growth-focused team, and a passion for building have shaped his journey with Unified...2025-01-0655 minThe BuildersDave Fano - Building Teal: Delaying the Build to Learn, Innovating with AIIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen dives into an inspiring conversation with Dave Fano, founder and CEO of Teal, an AI-driven career platform transforming the job search landscape. Dave shares his fascinating journey from architecture to tech entrepreneurship, his pivotal experiences at WeWork, and the thoughtful strategies that guided the creation of Teal.
Discover how delaying the building process allowed Dave to focus on learning, uncovering user pain points, and refining Teal’s mission to "level the playing field" for job seekers. He provides actionable insights into:
Identifying pain points and testing id...2024-12-3058 minThe BuildersNathan Warner - Building Courses: Cracking the Code to Higher Course Completion RatesIn this enlightening episode of The Builders Podcast, Nathan Warner joins Matt Levenhagen to share his journey from struggling as an online learner to becoming a pioneer in course design. Nathan breaks down the core reasons most online courses fail to engage learners and offers actionable insights to create impactful, high-completion courses.
Listeners will discover how to harness human psychology, gamification, and streamlined content delivery to build courses people actually finish. Whether you're a seasoned course creator or just considering your first project, this episode provides the tools, mindset, and strategies to ensure your efforts translate into...2024-12-2354 minThe BuildersMatt Raad – Real Estate Expert: How to Buy, Renovate, and Sell ONLINE ‘Real Estate’In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down with Matt Raad, a seasoned entrepreneur and real estate expert, to explore how his offline real estate and bricks-and-mortar business experience translated into building wealth through buying, renovating, and selling digital “real estate” — websites.
Matt shares how foundational lessons from running and systemizing physical businesses helped him master the online business landscape. From buying underperforming websites to turning them into profitable, cash-flowing assets, Matt walks us through his journey, strategies, and actionable insights.
What You’ll Learn:
How Matt applied real estate principl...2024-12-161h 00The BuildersKirsten Pedersen - Strawberry Jam to a Thriving Catering Business: Building a Culinary DreamJoin Matt Levenhagen as he uncovers the inspiring story of Kirsten Pedersen, whose life was dramatically altered by a car accident, leading her from medicine to building a successful catering business. Kirsten shares the powerful moment that ignited her passion for cooking—a jar of strawberry jam—and how she turned it into a culinary dream.
This episode dives into the nuts and bolts of building food businesses, from finding your passion to scaling with food trucks and catering. Kirsten also shares insights into the importance of mentorship, focusing on strengths, and creating flexible foodpreneur paths without trad...2024-12-0958 minThe BuildersNick Jain - Small Changes, Big Impact: Introducing New Features & Intentional InnovationIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, to discuss the intricacies of introducing new features to established products. Kicking off Season 2, the episode shifts focus to the building processes behind enduring digital products and the innovation required to seamlessly integrate new functionalities. Through engaging dialogue, the conversation highlights how small, intentional changes and iterative releases drive big impacts in software development.
Nick elaborates on IdeaScale’s strategic approach to innovation management through software solutions, showcasing their success in balancing existing feature maintenance, major project developments, and quick, impactful up...2024-12-0237 minThe BuildersCelebrating 200 Episodes: Recap & The Builders’ Refined Focus for Season 2In this milestone 200th episode of The Builders podcast, Matt Levenhagen celebrates a remarkable journey of nearly four years on air. Emphasizing a season of evolution, Matt introduces exciting shifts as the podcast gears up for its second season. This introspective episode delves into a rich history of diverse topics, highlighting Matt's passion for interviewing builders from various fields—whether tech professionals, entrepreneurs, or coaches. The podcast's previous structure is set to evolve, focusing more on the art of building—the fundamentals behind crafting products, defining services, or scaling businesses.
Matt shares insightful ideas about the refined scop...2024-11-2549 minThe BuildersEdwin Carrion - Unlocking Growth & Scaling: Thriving in a Challenging EconomyIn this episode of The Builders, Matt welcomes Edwin Carrion to discuss strategies for thriving in challenging economic climates. Edwin dives into the art of scaling businesses, creating systems, and leveraging mentorship to achieve sustainable success. Through personal anecdotes and actionable advice, Edwin explains how to view economic downturns as opportunities, the importance of robust processes, and why investing in marketing and mentorship can lead to growth—even in tough times.
Listeners will walk away inspired to build businesses that thrive without their daily involvement, while fostering a meaningful legacy.
Key Takeaways:
Scaling as a...2024-11-1841 minThe BuildersEric Burns - Firefighter to Real Estate Investor: Navigating Hard Lessons & Failing ForwardIn this engaging episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Eric Burns, founder of Flowers Capital, to dive into the journey of entrepreneurship and real estate investment. With a unique background in finance and firefighting, Eric shares his pivot toward real estate and the powerful lessons he's gathered along the way.
Central to the conversation is the concept of "failing forward," where each failure becomes a crucial lesson that fosters resilience and sharper decision-making in business. Through his insights, Eric underscores the importance of partnerships, personal accountability, and adapting to challenges, providing listeners with a blueprint...2024-11-1144 minThe BuildersNicky Ballou - The Blueprint for Making Money & Getting Results as a Podcast GuestIn this episode, host Matt welcomes back Nicky Billou to explore the transformative power of podcast guesting as a business growth strategy. With over 650 podcast guest appearances, Nicky shares his journey from business challenges to generating substantial revenue by appearing on other podcasts.
He explains the importance of aligning podcast appearances with your business goals, creating a strong profile, and establishing intentional connections with hosts. This episode is packed with actionable strategies for turning podcast airtime into tangible business results.
Key Takeaways:
The Business Power of Podcast Guesting: Nicky has generated over $400,000 in revenue...2024-11-0453 minThe BuildersGary Brode - The Real Threat to Your Bottom Line: Inflation and How to Secure Your FutureIn this episode of The Builders, financial expert Gary Brode dives into the economic challenges that are squeezing businesses and individuals alike, with a spotlight on the real threat of inflation. He traces the roots of today's financial environment back to key historical events, including the creation of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. decision to abandon the gold standard. Hosted by Matt, the conversation not only outlines the hurdles small businesses face in an inflation-driven economy but also offers a pragmatic and hopeful roadmap for securing financial resilience.
Gary shares expert insights on the flaws...2024-10-211h 08The BuildersInbox Struggles Solved: How I Transformed My Agency’s Email Management OvernightIn this episode, Matt Levenhagen shares his personal story of overcoming email chaos in his agency. This solo episode of The Builders takes listeners through Matt’s transition from managing multiple inboxes, struggling with scattered communications, and searching for a more efficient system to finally discovering Front. The episode highlights the difficulties he faced with previous tools like Zendesk and Help Scout and how his decision to adopt Front has transformed his agency’s email management.
Listeners will hear about Matt’s journey from frustration to success, as he reveals the real-world challenges of juggling emails across multip...2024-10-1443 minThe BuildersSteve & Suzy Kirch - AI Made Simple: Practical Advice to Start Implementing in Your BusinessIn this episode, Matt sits down with father-daughter duo Steve and Suzy Kirch to explore how AI can transform small businesses. Drawing from Steve’s extensive experience in business coaching and Suzy’s technical expertise in AI, they break down the practical ways artificial intelligence can revolutionize business operations, especially for knowledge workers. The conversation highlights why businesses must adopt AI to stay competitive, emphasizing the rapid rise in AI tools and their diverse applications. Suzy shares her journey from mathematics to AI expert, focusing on making AI accessible for non-technical users.
Throughout the discussion, they address comm...2024-10-071h 06The BuildersNancy Zare - Selling from the Connection: Treat Others the Way 'They' Want to be TreatedIn this episode of "The Builders," Matt sits down with Nancy Zare, the "Sales Whisperer," for an insightful discussion on the power of softer selling through understanding buyer personalities. Nancy, a psychologist turned sales expert, shares her journey and reveals why the Platinum Rule—Treat others the way they want to be treated—is the cornerstone of her Likeability System. Built on 35 years of research, this system transforms traditional sales tactics into authentic, buyer-centered conversations that foster trust and genuine connections.
Nancy introduces her framework for classifying buyers into four distinct styles—Buyers 2, 4, 6, and 8—each with its own deci...2024-09-3049 minThe BuildersBob Taylor - Why Copywriting Matters: Guiding Customers Across Their Conversion-Optimized BridgeWelcome to another enlightening episode of The Builders podcast! In this episode, host Matt engages with Bob Taylor, founder of Copybean, to delve into the nuances of copywriting versus content writing, and how businesses can optimize their websites for conversions. Bob shares his insights on creating copy that not only draws in potential customers but also guides them towards taking specific actions, such as joining an email list or making a purchase.
Throughout the episode, Bob and Matt discuss the critical differences between content writers and copywriters, emphasizing the strategic approach copywriters take to meet clients where...2024-09-231h 02The BuildersAJ Saunders - Conversions Over Traffic: The True Goal of SEO & Optimization InsightsIn this engaging episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes back AJ Saunders for a rich discussion diving deep into the nuances of SEO, content optimization, and strategic marketing. Their conversation is not just a theoretical overview but is filled with practical advice drawn from real-world experiences and case studies that make SEO a tangible and actionable practice for businesses.
AJ starts by emphasizing the common misconception that SEO is solely about traffic; instead, he asserts, it’s about conversions. This foundational idea sets the stage for discussing how different business models require tailored SEO strategies. Wh...2024-09-161h 02The BuildersWeekend Server Meltdown & Website Crashes: Real Stories, Solutions, and LessonsIn this solo episode of The Builders podcast, Matt shares the real-life story of a weekend website meltdown that turned into a lesson-packed experience. Two of his websites went down due to unexpected memory issues on the server, forcing him to dive headfirst into troubleshooting mode.
Throughout the episode, Matt walks you through the steps he took to identify the problem, solve it, and most importantly, the lessons learned from the process. He offers practical solutions for small business owners and agencies on how to prevent these issues, with a focus on the importance of reliable hosting...2024-09-0959 min
The Profit Minds Podcast w/ Steven KirchUnlocking Business Growth through Partnerships with Matt LevenhagenIn this episode of The Profit Minds Podcast, Dr. Steven Kirch speaks with Matt Levenhagen, the founder and CEO of Unified Web Design, LLC. Matt’s diverse career journey includes art, insurance, contracting, affiliate marketing, and web design. In 2019, he established Unified Web Design, a thriving agency known for its exceptional work in web development and design.
Tune in to the episode to hear about:
* Diverse Career Journey: Matt Levenhagen talks about his varied career from artist to insurance, internet marketing, and finally web design and development.
* Unified Web Design Services: Matt Levenhagen go...2024-09-0633 minThe BuildersRoger Einstoss - The Power of Nearshore: Building High-Performing Teams in Latin AmericaIn this insightful episode of "The Builders," host Matt invites Roger Einstoss , co-founder and CEO of Braintly, to discuss the nuances of the nearshore software development industry. With years of entrepreneurial experience, Roger shares his journey from a software developer to a successful business owner, highlighting the advantages of hiring software talent from Latin America.
Roger elaborates on the distinct benefits of nearshore versus offshore hiring, such as reduced time zone differences and better cultural alignment. He explains how Braintly bridges the talent gap for U.S. companies by providing dedicated software development teams that are both...2024-09-0350 minThe BuildersBob Taylor - From Sales to a Thriving Copywriting Business: A Journey of Resilience & GrowthIn this episode of "The Builders," I had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Taylor, founder of Copybean.co.uk and self-proclaimed "Persuasive Word Nerd." Bob’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience and determination it takes to carve out a successful career in an entirely new field. From his beginnings as an introverted insurance salesperson to becoming a thriving freelance copywriter, Bob's journey is filled with lessons on overcoming self-doubt, proving others wrong, and finding the intersection between passion and skill.
We explore how Bob transitioned from a toxic work environment to building a bu...2024-08-1257 minThe BuildersI Built a List of 10,000... Can I Do It Again? My 52-Week Drip Campaign Strategy & ProcessIn this engaging solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into the critical importance of list building for online success. He shares personal anecdotes and lessons from his early days in internet marketing forums, emphasizing the need to capture customer details and build lasting relationships.
Matt recounts a pivotal moment from 2005 where he realized the missed opportunities of not capturing buyer information and how it transformed his approach to online marketing.
Throughout the episode, Matt outlines his current strategies and initiatives towards effective list building. He discusses his recent experiences and the innovations he’s adopted to en...2024-08-0550 minThe BuildersNick Barrett - The Birth & Development of CordBrick: A Physical Product's JourneyIn this engaging episode of The Builders, host Matt Levenhagen interviews Nick Barrett, the founder of CordBrick. Nick candidly shares his entrepreneurial journey from humble beginnings to creating a successful cord management solution. He delves into the developmental challenges, early validation stages, and eventual market success of CordBrick. Listeners get a first-hand account of Nick's innovative thinking, his hands-on approach to creating a prototype, and how he navigated the hurdles of manufacturing and market entry.
Nick elaborates on his philosophy of building businesses, emphasizing the importance of passion, solving specific problems, and incremental validation through true customer...2024-07-2946 min
Ecommerce OptimizersFrom Art to Web Design & Development: Matt Levenhagen’s Journey to Building Unified Web DesignIn this episode of the Ecommerce Optimizers Show, host Scott Reid interviews Matt Levenhagen, the founder of Unified Web Design. Matt shares his unique journey from being a struggling artist and bartender in the early '90s to building a successful web design agency that specializes in custom solutions for Ecommerce brands. With a rich background in affiliate marketing and hands-on experience in various industries, Matt offers valuable insights into the importance of site maintenance, custom-built solutions versus out-of-the-box options, and how to optimize website performance. Throughout the conversation, Matt discusses how his artistic background influences his...2024-07-2345 minThe BuildersUmar Rana - Experimentation & Building a Successful Tech Business Focused on eCommerceIn this enlightening episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Umar Rana, a pioneering figure in the realm of e-commerce and technology solutions. Umar shares his dynamic journey from working for renowned companies to becoming a successful entrepreneur. His story is filled with strategic experiments, innovative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to solving problems, making it an inspiring listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and technology.
Umar's entrepreneurial venture began in 2014 with the founding of Alchemative, and since then, he has made significant strides in the e-commerce industry. This episode delves into Umar's methodologies for nurturing...2024-07-2250 minThe BuildersFind Your Lane: The Importance of Specialization and the Role Passion PlaysIn this enlightening solo episode, Matt Levenhagen dives deep into the topic of business specialization in business; whether that's an agency or any business. He shares his experiences in refining his agency's services, highlighting the importance of finding a niche and sticking to it to achieve greater efficiency and higher quality results. Matt provides practical insights and recounts stories from his daily business operations, underlining the real-world applications of narrowing one's focus.
Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes the benefits of specializing, particularly in web design and WordPress development, along with the significance of being clear about what...2024-07-0855 minThe BuildersOutsourcing Fit: A Blueprint for Strategic Partnerships & Building RelationshipsIn this solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into the intricacies of building strong business relationships, focusing on his new lead magnet, "Outsourcing Fit." He kicks off the discussion by sharing the inspiration and process behind creating the guide, emphasizing the importance of developing a lead magnet that aligns with your passion and business vision.
Matt transitions into a thorough exploration of the first pillar of successful outsourcing: Relationship Fit. He outlines the key elements that make a successful business partnership and stresses the significance of shared values, trust, and effective communication in fostering fruitful collaborations. Through various...2024-06-241h 06The BuildersDanny Nathan - Lean Customer Development, Innovating & Building the Right ProductsIn this engaging episode, host Matt sits down with Danny Nathan, the forward-thinking founder of Apollo 21. They delve into the world of product development, customer-centric innovation, and the significance of lean customer development. Danny shares his professional journey from the realm of traditional advertising to becoming a key player in the innovation sector, emphasizing the importance of building products that solve genuine customer problems.
Danny discusses the methodology behind Apollo 21’s success, highlighting the principle of “Crawl Walk Run” in product development. This approach emphasizes starting small, validating ideas through customer feedback, and gradually scaling to meet larger...2024-06-1750 minThe BuildersDaniel Den - Become Uncopyable: Differentiation & Messaging Strategies for Market SuccessIn this engaging episode of The Builders, host Matt Levenhagen is joined by marketing trailblazer Daniel Den to delve into the intricacies of designing impactful marketing messages. Den, a luminary in the realm of differentiation and messaging, shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial ventures to becoming a successful digital marketer. The episode is filled with insights about breaking through market noise using the novel X Factor Effect methodology, illustrated with real-world experiences and personal anecdotes.
Daniel recounts his early success in 2009 with the innovative car insurance advertorial and the subsequent challenges posed by copycat competitors. He...2024-06-1053 minThe BuildersNew MacBook Pro Review: Key Decisions, Agency Setup, and Tech InsightsIn this enlightening episode, Matt Levenhagen shares a candid behind-the-scenes look at the technology that powers his web design and development agency. Focusing on the transition from an aging MacBook Pro to a new model, Matt underscores the critical importance of performance, multitasking, and convenience in his day-to-day operations. The podcast delves into the decision-making process behind choosing the right tools to support a high-paced, global business environment.
Initially, Matt sets the scene by discussing the technical difficulties he faced with his older MacBook Pro, such as battery issues, performance degradation, and the need for a reliable...2024-06-031h 08The BuildersRon Macklin - Mastering the Art of Connection: How Our Stand Impacts Our RelationshipsIn this fascinating episode, host Matt delves into the intricacies of human connection with guest Ron Macklin. From the fluidity of personal growth to the foundational ways we can improve our relationships, this conversation unpacks Ron's journey from an engineer to an author and thought leader in communication and relationship building. Ron introduces his "Macklin Method," a framework designed to establish trustful connections both personally and professionally.
Ron elaborates on the transformative power rooted in understanding our "stand" – our core beliefs and reactions – and how acknowledging this stand affects our interactions. The discussion later shifts to Ron's writ...2024-05-2847 minThe BuildersMatt Mower - A Leaders Missing Tool & Transforming Decision-MakingIn this insightful episode, Matt Mower delves into the intricate world of leadership decision-making and the necessity for specialized tools to assist top-level executives in steering their organizations more effectively. Matt draws from his rich background in programming, technology leadership, and strategic roles to shed light on the common pitfalls of startups and the missed opportunities within enterprises that fail to grasp the changing dynamics of their business environments.
Matt reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, recounting the lessons learned from the highs and lows he experienced while navigating various startups. He discusses the significance of having a...2024-05-1354 minThe BuildersDavid Baer - The Power of Strategy: Bridging the Gap Between Tactics and SuccessIn an engaging episode of the builders podcast, host Matt welcomes David Baer, a seasoned marketing expert and creative partner. The conversation unveils David's unique trajectory from theater management to wine marketing and eventually to pioneering strategies in direct response marketing. David shares valuable insights into the evolution of his career, the pivot points that led to entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned from the peaks and valleys of his journey.
David delves into the essence of strategic marketing, discussing how tactics and strategy interplay like the precarious rungs on a bridge in an Indiana Jones film. He...2024-04-2954 minThe BuildersCross-Company Team Synergy: The Impact of Leadership Relationships on Outsourcing SuccessIn this insightful episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into the dynamics of partnerships and team collaboration across organizations. With his extensive background in team building and project management, Matt unpacks the key elements that ensure successful and harmonious relationships in the workplace.
Starting the conversation with a candid observation on the longevity and depth of working relationships, he emphasizes the importance of synergy, mutual respect, and shared business ethos for enduring and productive alliances.
Matt candidly discusses the intricacies of agency collaborations, emphasizing the necessity for goodwill, seamless communication, and cultural compatibility to drive joint ventures...2024-04-2245 minThe BuildersBen Johnson - Legacy to Leading-Edge, Tailored Tech Solutions, Modernizing BusinessesIn this dynamic episode of the builders, host Matt engages with Ben Johnson, the innovative CEO behind Particle 41, to unravel the complex interplay between technology, entrepreneurship, and business growth. The dialogue opens doors into the formulaic aspects of transforming ideas into executable and profitable business ventures, with Ben underscoring the vitality of thorough market research and entrepreneurial adaptability.
The conversation covers the nuances of business strategy, market segmentation, and the importance of addressing industry needs with a creative touch. Pondering the technological advancements since the days of the Commodore 64, Ben reminisces on his formative experiences with tech...2024-04-0849 min
Strive For 25Building a Digital Presence: Strategies for Web Success with Matt Levenhagen“It's about getting somebody to click and actually end up in the checkout. But that whole process has to be understood.” - Matt LevenhagenEpisode Summary:How do you get people to your website?In this interview, Joel hosts Matt Levenhagen, founder of Unified Web Design, a web design and development agency with over 20 years of experience. Matt shares his journey to becoming a pivotal figure in web design and affiliate marketing. He shares his passion for building custom websites for clients, including his approach to balancing beautiful design with functional conv...2024-03-2955 minThe BuildersLean & MVPs APPLIED: Testing and Iterating Product & Services Ideas to Find Winners!In this introspective episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen takes a deep dive into the philosophy of lean startups, beyond the surface of initial business launches, and applies it to internal business processes and ventures.
His refreshing take on minimizing risk and fostering innovation through rapid, iterative testing of products and services comes to life through real-life examples drawn from his decades-long experience in the trenches of entrepreneurship and internet marketing.
Matt discusses his journey from testing various special reports to hitting gold with a report on PPC advertising, which eventually morphed into a...2024-03-111h 08The BuildersAndrei Mincov - The Trademark Factory's Origin Story & a Deep Dive into Trademarks!In this engaging episode, Matt welcomes intellectual property expert Andrei Minkoff to explore the significance of trademarks for entrepreneurs. The conversation starts with Andrei's foundational story, which is rooted in his father's encounter with copyright infringement, fueling Andrei's eventual immersion into the world of intellectual property law.
Andrei shares his journey from Russia to Canada, his struggles with establishing his law career overseas, and how these experiences led him to launch Trademark Factory. With profound insights into the trademarking process, Andrei highlights the importance of protecting one's brand and the ingenuity of his business model, which guarantees...2024-03-0455 min
Inspiring BusinessBuilding Processes and Serving People with Matt LevenhagenIn this episode of Inspiring Business, Mark speaks with Matt Levenhagen, a seasoned entrepreneur and the driving force behind Unified Web Design. With over two decades of experience in generating revenue and building businesses on the web, Matt offers a wealth of knowledge in web design, agency management, team development, and process optimization.
Tune in to the episode to hear about:
How his plans to be an artist morphed into his career as a website designer
Why finding what you are passionate about is key to what you should be doing
Matt’s transition from working in...2024-02-2846 minThe BuildersJeannette Seibly - The Hiring Triangle: Assessments, Interviews, and Due DiligenceIn this engaging episode of the Builders Podcast, host Matt welcomes Jeannette Sibly, an expert in leadership coaching and talent advising. With decades of experience and a hands-on approach to driving tangible business results, Jeannette shares insights from the trenches that are particularly relevant to small and medium-sized business leaders.
Jeannette discusses the nuances of hiring, the transformative power of effective coaching, and the common pitfalls that companies face in the employment process. From the importance of knowing who you're hiring to the critical role of job fit in an employee's success, Jeannette emphasizes the high cost...2024-02-2652 minThe BuildersMark Graban - Transforming Mistakes into Positive Outcomes & Continuous ImprovementIn this enlightening episode, Matt welcomes Mark Grabin, an advocate for utilizing mistakes as opportunities for growth in business settings. With a compelling commitment to the concept of continuous improvement, Mark shares his extensive experience and insights on the positive transformation of workplaces.
From the onset, Mark delves into his diverse background, explaining the trajectory of his career that led him to focus on fostering better organizational cultures through continuous improvement and lean management principles. He reflects on his early days in manufacturing and how a move to healthcare consulting offered a broader perspective on the necessity...2024-02-1254 minThe BuildersAJ Saunders - Easing Into It: How to Successfully Transition Your Business to EcommerceIn this enlightening conversation, Matt and AJ Saunders delve into the strategies and mindsets required to harness the power of e-commerce and digital marketing to advance business goals. The episode provides a deep dive into creating a minimal viable online presence and building upon it through strategic marketing efforts.
The host and guest commence by examining the essence of starting small when venturing into e-commerce. AJ emphasizes the significance of establishing a straightforward, functional system that allows for testing and growth, urging businesses to transition from traditional methods to more automated, customer-centered online solutions. They then pivot t...2024-02-0556 minThe BuildersCarrington Crothers - Mastering the Art of Photography: Beyond Stock ImagesIn this episode of The Builders, host Matt welcomes Carrington Crothers, a remarkable photographer and entrepreneur from Prospect Street Studio. Tune in for an insightful discussion as Carrington shares her intriguing journey from a student with changing majors to becoming a founder with a successful career in photography. The conversation dives deep into the power of networking, the pivotal moments that shape a career, and the importance of building relationships beyond immediate business needs.
Carrington discusses her transition from feeling like a 'hot mess' with no clear career path to finding her passion in photography. After gaining...2024-01-2955 minThe BuildersJoel Salomon - Making Budgeting Fun? How to Transform Your Relationship with Money!In this insightful episode of "the builders," host Matt welcomes back Joel Solomon, a financial guru and self-improvement enthusiast who captivates the audience with his dynamic approach to money management and personal growth. As an advocate for continuous learning, Joel shares his unique perspective on turning financial responsibility into a fun and engaging activity. This episode not only delves into the significance of reading for professional development but also provides a deep dive into the power of budgeting and transforming one's financial landscape.
Joel Solomon prompts entrepreneurs to always prioritize 'paying themselves first' and sheds light on...2024-01-2254 minThe BuildersOur 2024 Unified Blueprint: 4 Key Pillars, Services PLUS Products StrategyIn this insightful solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into his strategic blueprint for 2024, focusing on the integration of services and products. He reflects on pivotal decisions, emphasizing the '4 Key Pillars' that are central to his vision for growth and innovation.
Matt shares his journey of transitioning from an insurance niche to a broader focus, underlining the importance of adapting and refining business strategies. He also introduces Unified Plugins, a burgeoning product arm of his business, and discusses how it fits into his comprehensive services-plus-products strategy.
The episode highlights the creation of a cohesive ecosystem...2024-01-0835 minThe BuildersAnne Laffin: Taming Startup Chaos: Messaging, Marketing, and Wrangling StrategiesSummary:Anne Laffin, a marketing consultant and fractional head of marketing, joins Matt Levenhagen on The Builders podcast to discuss how she helps early-stage startups wrangle their chaos and get organized.
Anne shares her own journey from working in market research and financial services to starting her own company and working with startups. She emphasizes the importance of being open to feedback and flexible in the ever-changing startup environment.
Anne also highlights the significance of messaging and creating a marketing plan that is adaptable and focused. She concludes by discussing the challenges of defining roles...2023-12-1142 minThe BuildersThe Art of Capturing: Client Requests, Teamwork, Access, How To's & More!Welcome to another engaging episode of The Builders. I'm your host, Matt Levenhagen, and today I'm excited to share my insights on a topic that's fundamental to the success of any agency: The Art of Capturing. In this episode, I delve into how capturing every detail, be it client requests, teamwork dynamics, access control, or the creation of comprehensive how-to guides, forms the backbone of effective agency management.
As someone who has navigated the transition from solo work to leading a team within a bustling web design and development agency, I've experienced first-hand the...2023-11-201h 00The BuildersDavid Caha - Leading the Charge in Data-Driven Marketing & Predictive AnalyticsJoin me, Matt Levenhagen, as I welcome David Caha to "The Builders" for a captivating episode where we delve deep into the realm of marketing analytics. David isn't your typical marketing guru; with a background steeped in academia and science, he brings a fresh, meticulous perspective to the digital marketing landscape. In this episode, we explore how David transitioned from the academic world to launching his own agency, focusing particularly on the health and wellness industry, where precision and care in analytics are paramount.We tackle the often-underestimated importance of analytics in marketing, discussing not only its challenges but...2023-11-061h 00The BuildersJoel Salomon - Unlocking Financial Freedom: The Power of Mindset, Process and BeliefHey everyone, it's Matt Levenhagen! In this special episode of "The Builders," I sit down with an incredible guest, Joel Salomon, who shares his remarkable journey from starting to pursue his dream job in money management in 1992 after finding a roadmap to follow to eventually launching his own hedge fund by 2012. But the didn't end up being all smooth sailing; just as he thought he had it all figured out, his initial investors pulled out, throwing a curveball his way. Learn how 'act as if' and manifestation played a role.
I was truly inspired by how he...2023-09-1848 minThe BuildersAgency Update: Our Growth Journey, Team Investments & Key MilestonesHey everyone, Matt Levenhagen here, and welcome to episode #137 of The Builders podcast. In today's episode, I'm giving you an agency update on Unified Web Design — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Over the past year, we've been scaling like never before. While growth is exciting, it's also packed with challenges that I can't wait to share with you.
We've been investing heavily in our team, our systems, and new initiatives. I'll be diving into some key operational changes we've made, how we are overcoming obstacles, and the new exciting projects we've taken on. The jo...2023-09-1159 minThe BuildersChanging the Stories We Tell Ourselves - Rethinking Team Culture & the Art of ConnectionWelcome to Episode #132 of "The Builders" podcast, hosted by me, Matt Levenhagen. In this engaging episode, I sit down with Ron, a recovering engineer turned team builder, who has set out to change the stories we tell ourselves. Our conversation isn't just about transforming team culture; it's about redefining the very art of connection and openness within teams. Join us as Ron shares lessons on building trust, nurturing relationships, fostering creativity, and embracing change. We explore questions like, "What stories shape our culture?" and "How can we free ourselves from narratives that no longer serve us?" This isn't just...2023-08-0748 minThe BuildersBuilding Authority Online: Why It Matters & How to Do ItWelcome to the 131st episode of "The Builders" where I, Matt Levenhagen, your seasoned host and founder of Unified Web Design, delve deep into the why and how of building authority online. We kick things off with a throwback to my humble beginnings, navigating the treacherous waters of early online entrepreneurship, and the stash of old products that paved the way for my business's success today.
I shine the spotlight on an old product - Niche Authority, a pivotal milestone in my journey that shaped my perspectives on online authority. As we weave through...2023-07-3139 minThe BuildersExploring New Strategies: The Intersection of Business Priorities and Content StrategyIn this episode of The Builders Podcast, I, Matt Levenhagen, delve into the process of navigating change and balancing business priorities while exploring new strategies. I share my journey of starting a new YouTube series on The Builders channel, a venture that was both exciting and challenging. This series was a departure from my usual style, featuring a completely new format and approach. However, the time and effort required to produce these videos led me to reassess their impact on my overall business operations.
I discuss the importance of understanding the full context of...2023-07-1749 minThe BuildersA Baseline for Growth: Continuous Marketing & Site Enhancements for Your BusinessHi, I'm Matt Levenhagen, and in Episode 117 of my podcast, we dive deep into the importance of ongoing marketing and website improvement efforts for any business! I'll be sharing my own experiences and examples of how my agency, Unified Web Design, LLC, has been continuously improving our websites and marketing strategies.
Throughout this episode, we'll discuss the benefits of continuous improvement, how it helps with client acquisition and retention, and its role in keeping our agency moving forward. We'll also explore our current marketing strategies, focusing on digital agency partnerships, custom design/dev work, and targeting insurance...2023-04-2443 minThe BuildersSwitching Project Management Tools: Navigating the Transition in Your AgencyIn Episode 116 of our podcast, I (Matt Levenhagen) take you on a journey through the process of considering a switch from Trello to ClickUp as the project management tool for my growing agency. With a larger team and multiple roles to manage, I discuss the importance of finding the right tool to streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.
Throughout the episode, I share the key steps I follow when evaluating and transitioning to a new project management system: identifying the problem, researching and evaluating potential solutions, involving the team in the decision-making process, and planning for a...2023-04-1744 minThe BuildersAI-Powered Q&A: Matt Answers Questions About Web Design, SEO & MoreWelcome to a special episode of The Builders Podcast! I asked my audience on social media to submit their burning questions on digital marketing, web design, SEO, and more. However, I took an interesting twist: since no one actually submitted any questions (everyone must know everything already, haha!), I turned to ChatGPT to generate 10 engaging questions from various digital marketing personas.
In this episode, I dive into a wide range of topics, including the secret to finding and retaining top talent, handling the balance between customization and scalability, managing and prioritizing client projects, and the benefits of...2023-04-031h 03The BuildersConquering Self-Doubt: Matt's Experience Harnessing Visualization for Entrepreneurial GrowthIn this solo episode, Matt shares his personal experiences with self-doubt, past failures, and the transformative power of visualization in driving business success. He opens up about his own struggles with thoughts like "things are going too well" and how he's learned to conquer those fears doing something similar to meditation and letting go of negative thoughts.
Matt discusses his journey through past business failures and the challenges of managing a growing agency. He reveals how he's overcome old negative habits and quieted the negative thoughts by embracing positive visualization. Learn the concept of counter-visualizing, a skill...2023-03-271h 02The BuildersWe’ve Built the Agency, Defined the Vertical.. Now Marketing & Sales. What We’re Doing!In this solo episode I talk more about the new vertical my agency is launching into -- insurance. Having an insurance background, this was probably always going to be a thing at some point. But the way we've positioned ourselves as an agency, the team we built, the processes etc, is optimized to meet this new challenge with true confidence.
In true 'The Builders' fashion, I break it all down from the trenches. What got us here? Why are we so confident? And why define a vertical in the first place? It's probably obvious, but it provides a lot o...2023-01-2350 minThe BuildersMatt Bailey - Educating Yourself, Big Biz Lessons for Small Business, Analytics & Data!In today’s episode I am joined by Matt Bailey. Matt Bailey teaches Digital Marketing to the world's biggest brands and prestigious universities. Microsoft, Google, Hilton, Orange, Nationwide, P&G, Disney, and HP are just a few of his training clients.
We start with his personal journey and story and what lead him to ‘education’ as a focus. Why molded him and what were those early years like? He was building and marketing websites in the late 90s.. what was that like, what traffic did he get and what lessons could he extract that is still applicable today?
...2022-10-1054 minThe Builders3 WordPress Plugins Developed.. What’s Next? Matt Shares the New Industry They’ll Be Targeting!In this solo episode, I share my own business journey. We've just completed the development of our last 2 plugins (total of 3) and the release is planned. Then I talk Unified Toolkit and how these will be added there and what else we're doing. And I reveal for the first time the new niche/vertical we are preparing to launch into.
What does this all mean in the context of Unified Web Design? Because that is our core. Our anchor. How do we continue to maintain that? I share how I define 'AGENCY FIRST'. Why that's so critical and how w...2022-09-1244 min
Build Your TeamHow To Manage An Awesome Team with Matt LevenhagenHow to manage a team?Managing a team is so much more than the people who make sure their employees get their coffee.They’re managing a team of people, and that’s no easy task. They have to be able to communicate with every single employee on a personal level, and they have to foster a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among their employees.Today, we talk about hiring, effective training, and how to keep good relationships at work with Matt Levenhagen, who has worked in both virtual and physical teams....2022-08-2233 min
The BuildersMatt Campbell - His Journey & Building a Site that Attracts 4 Million Visitors a YearIn this episode Matt’s joined by Matt Campbell. We dig deep into his journey building a wedding site that enjoys 4 million visitors a year due to use SEO & Content Efforts. It’s not by accident either. As you listen, you realize he’s doing exactly what he was cut out to do.
Matt’s love for music led him straight into a career as a DJ early in life. And like many of us, life happened, he got married and he found himself moving to Las Vegas and doing something entirely different; working for someone else.. until th...2022-05-1655 minThe BuildersMatt’s Influences.. How He Keeps Building. I Dare You & the Art of CommitmentOn this solo episode, Matt dives deep into what influences him. The key is what shaped his mindset, attitude and stick to it’ness can be found back in his early 20s (3 decades ago). In those days he was one of those young people that were lost, mad at the world, and just wanted to have fun -- and be an artist. But it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t playing out like he’d envisioned or hoped.
But he had something in him… something drove him to look for those answers to solve the problem. And it all sta...2022-05-0932 minThe BuildersDoland White (Sadie Hawkins Episode) – Interviews Matt about HIS Business!Matt is joined by.. I mean, Doland is joined by Matt Levenhagen! What? Doland had this great idea to do a Sadie Hawkins episode.. but instead of the girls asking the boys to the dance, Doland turns the tables and interviews Matt about his business. It was a lot of fun!
So we talk about how I ended up doing what I do. Why did I decide to start an agency? We talk a LOT about ‘truth’ in business. How sacred it is and how it’s shaped how I approach just about everything now. We dive into a...2022-04-2558 minThe BuildersWeek in the Life of an Agency: Unified Web Design, April 11-15, 2022Matt’s trying something brand new in this episode. He’s always been a big fan of follow alongs himself.. following along while someone or a business does ‘something’. Today you’ll listen in as he shares highlights from a week at his agency. Real calendar items, real projects.. what his team is working on.
Follow along as he shares the type of meetings he has - how many meetings does he have on a weekly basis? What is Matt working on personally.. what is one of his big focuses each week? How’s that plugin development going? What...2022-04-1845 minThe BuildersBuilding Better Websites, Solving Pain Points.. Examples from the TrenchesToday Matt talks about identifying the pain points on a website and solving them. Matt is the founder of a web design agency and their whole job is to help a client identify and solve these issues. After defining what pain points are in this context, he provides 7 examples for real world projects he’s been involved with.
Sometimes a problem stems from how a site was coded or designed. Sometimes it’s related to how something specific functions on the site. Other times it could be an issue with a form not converting enough leads or a si...2022-04-1149 minThe BuildersOur Agency’s Website Design Process with Clients, Overall Design Considerations & ExamplesIn this solo episode Matt takes you through his design process. Besides doing web development, website maintenance and custom coding work, they design websites! And wouldn’t it be amazing to pull back the curtain a bit and see how they take a clients vision, how they work with a client and translate that to a design mockup? Which in turn can be translated to code?
It all starts with receiving the requirements, talking with the client, discovery and research. You will see what influences his design decisions. Matt highlights some of the key elements that he pays at...2022-04-0441 minThe BuildersMatt’s Agency Update - Super Busy! How We Find Time to Build & Launch a New ProductIn this episode Matt updates the builders crew about his own business. Besides this podcast, his primary business is running a web design agency and is on a track to launch a new product later this year. A lot of what Matt does revolves around WordPress. He’s been building sites since ~2004 with WordPress and has specialized in WordPress development since 2012.
While discussing the state of Unified Web Design, Unified Toolkit and The Builders, he could hear some of the questions out there. If you’re running a busy agency (or any successful business), how on earth do y...2022-03-2149 minThe BuildersIlisa Millermoon - An Artist's Journey, Building Her Brand, Story Telling & Networking AdviceIn this episode, Matt’s joined by Ilisa Millermoon. Ilisa is an “Intuitive Energy Artist” working in Acrylic Ink and Gouache. But through this conversation there’s so much more that she does.. the art is a means to an end – it is a ‘tool for healing’. It’s interwoven into more services and the content she creates for her ‘tribe’.
We talk about her journey to becoming an artist; from years working as a goldsmith, in management to making the leap and becoming a full-time self-employed artist. What did that transition look like? She shares some amazing advice and insight...2022-02-2856 minThe BuildersFinding Time to Learn and Implement Marketing in Your Business? Where to Start!In this episode, Matt talks about marketing for non-marketers. There are a lot of people that find themselves in business because of their passion, talents and just because they do their thing.. their craft. But at some point think, “I would really like to market this business now”.
But that sounds easier said than done. You’re busy! You don’t know much, if anything, about marketing and where to start. Matt been online for almost 20 years marketing a range of products, services and businesses. From his offline insurance agency in the early days, as an affiliate for near a dec...2022-02-2149 minThe BuildersAn Agencies Perspective on Estimating - Prequalifying Methodology, When to Charge a FeeIn this episode, Matt provides his perspective on estimating - from the trenches. Estimating is an important part of any agencies business. That’s how we win business after all. But if one is not careful, estimating can soak up a lot of time. Time that would be better spent in our areas of your business or taking care of your existing projects, clients and team.
Learn how Matt approaches estimating in his AGENCY. When it’s a ‘cost of doing business’ and when additional fees come into play. A big part of this is prequalifying before you spend the...2022-02-1440 minThe BuildersProject Management, Getting Things Done.. Capture It All & Enjoy Less StressIn this episode Matt dives into a topic near and dear to his heart: project and time management… getting things done. He starts out recapping how 2022 is going, networking and his experience so far with his new VR headset. Then we he shares his experience from THE TRENCHES as it relates to the main topic.
A big part of how he manages his day to day is having an awesome team to help him in a variety of ways. But, as he discusses, the transition to having a team didn’t mean he got less busy. It just...2022-01-241h 02The BuildersBuilding Confidence & Controlling Your Imposter SyndromeIn this solo episode with Matt, he talks about ‘building’ from a different angle.. building YOU and your confidence. You can have a perfect idea and a perfect plan to execute that idea, but if you don’t have the confidence or ability to see it through, then that’s a sad state of affairs. You deserve more in your life!
We have enough obstacles and things to overcome in life and business, we certainly don’t want to stand in our own way. You don’t want to be paralyzed and not take action because a small voice...2022-01-1751 minThe BuildersUnified Toolkit Update, WordPress Theme & Plugin Development Status, Income Streams & Tips for YOUIn this solo episode with Matt Levenhagen, he talks about what him and his team are building! In 2022 they are on a path to launch their own product called Unified Toolkit (UTK). It is currently in development. This is not his first product. He’s built, launched and sold many products over the years. So his insights will most certainly be unique.. especially around some no-hype, realistic expectations for how things will go.
UTK will provide a brand new Full-site Editing WordPress Block Theme, a suite of new plugins and resources for freelancers and agencies. It’s an ambitio...2022-01-1056 minThe BuildersVirtual Reality: How VR Will Impact Web Design, Web Dev & Businesses.. Already Is!In the first solo episode of the year, Matt talks about Virtual Reality, it’s impact on web design and businesses. We first learn about one of Matt’s pastimes to set the stage for the topic.. why is he getting into this topic now and why the interest? Then we learn about what VR is and how it relates to AR or mixed reality.
With that foundation we delve into aspects of VR that will start impacting your own websites or the websites of your clients. Where is it today? You might be surprised to know someone...2022-01-0346 minThe Builders6 BIG Takeaways Running My Web Design Agency this Year!.. What’s Next in 2022!In the last episode ( last solo episode ) this year, Matt Levenhagen shares 6 big takeaways. These are things that made a big difference, impacted sales and helped grow his agency. One of the great things about a podcast that shares stories from the trenches is that the lessons are relatable and translatable. Take one or a few of these and they could have a positive impact on your business as well! Or serve as a great reminder not to ignore these things.
Networking had a major impact as an example. It’s something everyone can learn to do or...2021-12-2736 minThe BuildersMatt’s First Solo Episode on YouTube, Productivity, Choosing Clients, Automation.. and more!In this solo episode I talk about a variety of topics.. My addition of YouTube as a place to post episodes, my experience with Riverside.fm so far. I talk about doing podcasting while try to run a very busy web design agency and business. The challenges there.. and how I'm careful not to add too much to my plate.
I chose a couple other business related topics to dig into including ‘choosing your clients', how to let a client go, using tools to improve productivity.. and I end with some news. The closing of Hexater.com's Wo...2021-09-2732 minThe BuildersWhat is Matt & Unified Web Design Up To?If you're building an agency or business, this episode is for you. Besides revealing my 5-10 year vision for my agency, I delve into how my web design business has developed. Any time we release a service or product it can end up being something we didn't anticipate.. my agency has been the same way.
But as I talk about in this episode, that doesn't mean we let go of our initial vision. You adapt, take advantage and then circle back! I also talk about my current products and my suite of products I'm releasing later this...2021-07-1918 min