Meet Your AI Marketing General

I got burned by the big guys. Maybe you did too.

My marketing journey began in 2008, not behind a desk, but as a cleaning franchise owner. I saw my competitors spend money on Yellow Pages ads. Meanwhile, Google was making phone books old news.

So, I did what many business owners didn’t do. I learned about it. I got certified in Google SEO. I studied search marketing and tested strategies with the local Chamber of Commerce. By 2011, my efforts paid off. I became the top local marketing consultant for franchisees in my system.

My experience as a business owner, not as a marketing academic, shapes my work today.

Then I saw the pattern nobody was talking about.

When I began working with small businesses, I heard the same story. They had been with Vivial, Thryv, or Hibu. Their websites were cookie-cutter. A conga-line of different account reps. Dashboards that made no sense. Billing continued long after results faded.

Here’s what many don’t realize: those companies are the old Yellow Pages. Same playbook, new logo. When Google ended the phone book era, they rebranded as digital marketing experts. They still treat small businesses like directory listings. It’s just account #47,892 to them, not real companies with real stories.

I founded Mader Marketing to offer a true alternative. You get a dedicated partner who understands your business before you spend money on tools or ads. This is the same model that top Madison Avenue agencies used in the 1950s and 60s. It’s one agency of record that knows your brand inside and out. Small businesses deserve that too.

Today, our agency has grown into a team of experts. We specialize in SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LSA ads, and CRM. Everyone works together under one roof, sharing one strategy and one point of contact. As of 2026, we have 31 active clients, most of whom came to us after getting burned.

The Exciting AI Chapter That’s Changing the Game

In 2022, while many marketing agencies used old methods, I was exploring large language models. I wanted to see how they affect local search. I approached this not as a trend but as a hands-on practitioner. I read frameworks, tested strategies, and applied what worked for my clients.

The results were positive! SunPro Corporate is a national home improvement brand. The AI search results I made for Central Florida Awnings impressed them. Now, they often invite me to their training center in Bradenton, Florida. I share tips on digital marketing. I also discuss AI search strategies with new dealers.

This journey led to the creation of The AI General. It’s not a rebrand; it’s a natural evolution. I’m excited to use what I learned in nearly ten years of small business marketing. This change in search behavior is the biggest since Google took the place of the phone book.

What you can expect when you work with me.

You’ll have a partner who understands the challenges of running a small business. I know how tough it can be to let go of a vendor who isn’t meeting your needs and to figure out the next steps. I’ve created a team to meet your marketing needs. We bring in specialists, so we don’t depend on just one person to do it all.

I’m dedicated to following up. I’ll keep the project on track and ensure I handle every detail. Together, we’ll achieve our goals and I’ll herd every last cat.