Most founders don’t have a marketing problem, they have a clarity + economics problem.In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Alisha Conlin Hurd, co-founder of Persuasion Experience, a lead-gen and funnel agency working with 7–8 figure service businesses (finance, property, and investment niches). She breaks down what actually works in 2026, and why most business owners get stuck because they abdicate marketing instead of understanding the basics. You’ll learn the simple difference between a website (your digital “front desk”) and a funnel (your digital salesperson), why you should diversify acquisition channels (inbound + outbound), and the key numbers every founder must know so agencies can’t waffle you with dashboards that don’t convert. Then it gets future-facing: Alisha explains AI agents / “Claude bots”, how they’ll reshape execution roles, and the hiring process she uses (paid test projects + real-world simulations) to avoid hiring people who interview well but can’t perform. Timestamps:0:00 – Coming Up 0:36 – Alisha + Persuasion Experience2:07 – The future of cold calling vs inbound marketing4:03 – Funnels vs websites (the simple difference)6:48 – Competing messages for high-net-worth clients7:56 – What business owners MUST know about marketing (so agencies can’t BS you)10:36 – Rising paid ad costs: fix margin + economics14:16 – AI agents + “Claude bots”17:51 – Hiring process: paid test projects (why interviews lie)19:20 – Hiring AI-first: “show me your workflow”20:24 – Essential AI marketing tools (Whisper Flow + Atria)22:35 – Final thoughtsFollow Alisha:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alishaconlinhurdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alishaconlinhurd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisha_conlin_hurd/========================Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedi...