In Episode 10 of this season’s Digital and Dirt podcast, Ian welcomes Frank Sanchez, co-founder and CEO of Elk Marketing, to discuss his journey from commercial real estate to building a forward-thinking digital agency. 

Key topics discussed include:

• Frank’s Journey and Agency Growth: Frank shares how he transitioned from commercial real estate to founding Elk Marketing. His agency found early success by modernizing industries slow to adopt digital marketing, leading to major wins — including helping a company achieve a $1.4 billion acquisition.
  

• The Evolution of Digital Marketing and Search: They explore how SEO, paid media, and digital marketing are rapidly evolving, particularly with iOS privacy changes, Google's AI Overviews, and the shift toward Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Frank highlights the growing importance of brand strength and creative storytelling.
  

• The Risks and Strategy Around Amazon: Frank outlines the pros and cons of selling on Amazon, emphasizing how brands must balance the platform’s reach with the risks of losing customer relationships, margins, and control — and the importance of having a strong direct-to-consumer strategy.
  

• Cultural Shifts in Consumer Behavior: They discuss how today's consumers, especially younger generations, increasingly prioritize experiences over products — even financing experiences like Coachella. Social validation through events, influencer culture, and brand discovery across digital platforms are reshaping purchasing behavior.
  

• Continuous Evolution and Future Readiness: Frank stresses the need for constant learning and agility. Elk Marketing remains committed to monitoring new platforms, trends, and technologies to help their clients stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.
  

To learn more about Frank’s journey and insights, tune in now on all podcast platforms.