# Dodson Management Consulting


## Posts

- [Article 5: Chairs Already Taken: Five Categories Decided Before the Market Saw Them Coming](https://dodsonmc.com/ai-category-leadership-case-studies-chairs-already-taken/): Philips, IBM, Jawbone, Millennial Media and Microsoft each bought a category claimed years early. Five case studies in how category leaders really get decided.
- [Article 4: Did I Meet Another Thomas Edison?](https://dodsonmc.com/meet-thomas-edison-led-lighting-charles-cella-color-kinetics-philips/): Edison patented the light bulb that worked. Charles Cella helped Color Kinetics do something similar for LED lighting - and Philips paid $791M for the category. Now he's doing it with AI.
- [Article 3: The Clock Is Ticking on AI Category Leadership - And Waiting Gets EXPENSIVE](https://dodsonmc.com/ai-category-leadership-clock-musical-chairs-application-layer/): AI category leaders are being decided right now. Kip Dodson on the musical chairs of the AI application layer - and why waiting turns strategy into a bill.
- [Article 2: Schneider Just Paid $22.6 Billion for the Architecture. Who Owns the Rights Underneath It?](https://dodsonmc.com/schneider-ptc-acquisition-ai-architecture-strong-force/): Schneider's $22.6B PTC acquisition raises a larger question: who owns the intellectual property and AI architecture beneath industrial innovation?
- [Review Filtering Is Banned. Your Salon Software Still Does It.](https://dodsonmc.com/google-review-gating-salon-spa-software/): Google bans review gating, yet at least 5 of 10 salon and spa platforms still ship it. A salon owner since 2004 checks their help docs so you don't have to.
- [How Do You Price Something Nobody Else Has?](https://dodsonmc.com/how-do-you-price-something-nobody-else-has/): Strong Force doesn't fit standard valuation frameworks. Richard Spitz explains why a one-of-one patent estate is a strategic risk question, not a revenue model.
- [Your Code Isn't Your Moat Anymore. Here's What Is.](https://dodsonmc.com/your-code-isnt-your-moat-anymore-heres-what-is/): AI is reducing the scarcity value of software. Richard Spitz on why competitive advantage is moving from code alone to the architecture that controls AI.
- [Whoever Controls the AI Architecture Wins. Most Businesses Don't Own Theirs.](https://dodsonmc.com/whoever-controls-the-ai-architecture-wins-most-businesses-dont-own-theirs/): Model access alone won't produce durable returns. Richard Spitz on why control of the AI architecture - and the intelligence it creates - is the central issue.
- [AI Will Commoditize Everything You've Built. Except This.](https://dodsonmc.com/ai-will-commoditize-everything-youve-built-except-this/): AI lets competitors rebuild your workflows in a fraction of the time. Richard Spitz of Strong Force on what still protects the edge you build on top of AI.
- [Article 1: I Went Looking for a Way to Protect My IP in the Age of AI. I Didn’t Expect to Find the Alpha Asset in the Room.](https://dodsonmc.com/i-went-looking-for-a-way-to-protect-my-ip-in-the-age-of-ai-i-didnt-expect-to-find-the-alpha-asset-in-the-room/): Kip Dodson explores how businesses can protect their intellectual property as AI changes software, workflows, and the value of enterprise architecture.
- [Yext Manages Your Listings. It Can't Tell You If Your Marketing Is Working.](https://dodsonmc.com/yext-manages-your-listings-it-cant-tell-you-if-your-marketing-is-working/): Yext pushes your listings to directories. Digital Basics Score tells you if your marketing is working. Why they solve different problems for a local business.
- [Why Your 5-Star Reviews Might Be Hurting You](https://dodsonmc.com/why-your-5-star-reviews-might-be-hurting-you/): For fifteen years, the advice to local businesses has been the same: get more reviews, get more 5-stars, stack the profile as high as it’ll go.
- [Your Review Request Process Is Probably Already a Violation](https://dodsonmc.com/your-review-request-process-is-probably-already-a-violation/): Most business owners think they’re in the clear on Google’s review crackdown because they’ve never bought a fake review in their life.
- [Someone Is Offering to “Remove” Your Bad Google Reviews. Here’s What They’re Actually Selling You.](https://dodsonmc.com/someone-is-offering-to-remove-your-bad-google-reviews-heres-what-theyre-actually-selling-you/): “We noticed that [a customer] left a bad review on your Google Business Profile and we believe it was unfair...
- [How Will Google Know If I'm Review Gating?](https://dodsonmc.com/how-will-google-know-if-im-review-gating/): The answer is more technical - and more immediate - than most business owners realize.
- [Review Gating Is Now Illegal.](https://dodsonmc.com/review-gating-is-now-illegal/): If your review process only invites happy customers to post publicly, you are breaking Google’s rules, the FTC’s rules, or both — and the penalties are real.
- [Why Williamson County Needs the WCS Arts & Athletics Association: Closing a $110 Million Gap Without Raising Taxes](https://dodsonmc.com/williamson-county-arts-athletics-association-110-million-facilities-gap/): Contact Me Williamson County is one of the most successful communities in America. Our schools post exceptional academic outcomes.
- [Applying the Scientific Method to Journalism: The Solution to Restoring Trust and Solving Today’s Media Crisis](https://dodsonmc.com/applying-the-scientific-method-to-journalism-the-solution-to-restoring-trust-and-solving-todays-media-crisis/): In an era of declining trust, where media often prioritizes clicks, narratives, and advocacy over evidence, journalism faces a profound crisis.
- [Why Google Still Matters in an AI World — and Why Your Digital Basics Score Is the Real Competitive Advantage](https://dodsonmc.com/digital-basics-ai/): The short answer: yes — more than ever.
- [The Four Foundations of Digital Marketing: Why They Matter to Your ROI](https://dodsonmc.com/https-dodsonmc-com-blog-four-foundations-digital-marketing-roi/): Before spending more on ads, make sure your digital marketing foundation is working. Learn how directories, website SEO, online booking, and reviews impact ROI, conversions, and local business growth.
- [Why My Name Kip Fits My Work And Mission](https://dodsonmc.com/why-my-name-kip-fits-my-work-and-mission/): I’ve never had a common name.
- [Yelp Isn’t the Authority — You Are](https://dodsonmc.com/yelp-isnt-the-authority-you-are/): I’ve never met a business owner who likes Yelp. Most feel manipulated—especially when great 5-star reviews get filtered out while negative ones stay up top.
- [Expertly Managed Google Business Profile (GBP)](https://dodsonmc.com/expertly-managed-google-business-profile-gbp/): Because Google doesn’t publish an official “top profile,” what experts do is study patterns.
- [Why Content Still Rules — Even in Meta’s Most Advanced Lead Systems](https://dodsonmc.com/why-content-still-matters-meta-lead-systems/): Recently, a Meta Business Suite buyer told me something that made me pause.
- [Stop Paying Google to Fix Problems You Can Solve for Free](https://dodsonmc.com/stop-paying-google-to-fix-problems-you-can-solve-for-free/): Google Ads exist mostly because businesses don’t manage their Google Business Profile.
- [Why Fixing Your Google Business Profile Might Save You Thousands in Ad Spend](https://dodsonmc.com/why-fixing-your-google-business-profile-might-save-you-thousands-in-ad-spend/): If you run a local business, here’s a simple truth most agencies won’t tell you: you might not need Google Ads at all if your Google Business Profile (GBP) is dialed in correctly.
- [The Secret Behind Success? A Net Promoter Score Among the Highest in the Industry](https://dodsonmc.com/net-promoter-score-salon-loyalty-leader/): The Secret Behind Success?
- [Stop Obsessing Over Client Retention — NPS is the Real Key to Salon & Spa Growth](https://dodsonmc.com/nps-vs-retention-salon-spa-growth/): In the salon and spa industry, owners often point proudly to client retention rates as the gold standard of success.
- [What is the Leading Indicator for Client Satisfaction Across All Industries?](https://dodsonmc.com/nps-is-the-leading-indicator-for-client-satisfaction-beating-online-reviews-here-is-why-difference-between-nps-and-reviews/): In the fast-paced world of modern business, client satisfaction is the engine of growth. But how do you measure it accurately, consistently, and predictively?
- [What Is the Source Formula—and Why It’s the Future of Journalism](https://dodsonmc.com/source-score/): Imagine this: you’re reading an article, and right at the top, there’s a simple badge—Source Score: .
- [Why Net Promoter Score Beats Review Prompts in Salon Success Strategy](https://dodsonmc.com/net-promoter-vs-review-chasing-salons/): In the beauty and wellness industry, reputation is everything.
- [The Science of Truth](https://dodsonmc.com/the-science-of-truth-in-journalism/): In a world where information is everywhere—but trust is scarce—DodsonMC, EmpowerLocal, and SourceLocalMedia are working to close the gap. Our mission?
- [A SOURCE in Every County: The Vision Behind EmpowerLocal & SourceLocalMedia](https://dodsonmc.com/truth-in-every-county/): Our mission is unapologetically ambitious: we want to launch a trusted source media product in every single county in America - as soon as possible.
- [AI search the change is here](https://dodsonmc.com/ai-search-replaced-seo-how-to-stay-visible-without-paying-google/): AI Search Just Replaced SEO — Declared by Google.
- [Which Marketing Channel Delivers the Best ROI? The Case for Content Marketing (and How to Compare)](https://dodsonmc.com/content-marketing-roi-comparison/): When business leaders ask us, “What marketing channel gives the best return on investment?”, the answer isn’t just one-size-fits-all—but content marketing consistently rises to the top.
- [The Gold Standard of Instagram: Why Nusr-Et Might Be the Best Business Case Study You’ve Never Taken Seriously](https://dodsonmc.com/gold-standard-instagram-marketing-nusret-case-study/): If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to turn a product into a global persona, and then into a digital empire, look no further than Nusr-Et’s Instagram.
- [Nashville is NASHVILLE Because of the 100 Live Music Stages near Ryman Auditorium](https://dodsonmc.com/nashville-is-nashville-because-of-the-100-live-music-stages-near-ryman-auditorium/): Nashville’s Unique Draw: 100 Live Music Stages Within a Mile of the Ryman Auditorium – all generally without a cover charge.
- [The Expanding Hyper-Local Publisher Market and the Overall Mission - How Big Can This Get?](https://dodsonmc.com/the-expanding-hyper-local-publisher-market-and-the-overall-mission-how-big-can-this-get/): EmpowerLocal’s technology platform already powers 1,300+ local publishers across the United States—but that’s just scratching the surface.
- [EmpowerLocal Announces America’s First Local Media Marketplace with Strategic Acquisition of SponsorBooker](https://dodsonmc.com/empowerlocal-com-empowerlocal-acquires-sponsorbooker/): 🚀 BIG NEWS: EmpowerLocal Acquires SponsorBooker, Appoints Daniel Caplin as Chief Revenue Officer!
- [The Source Score: Redefining Trust in Hyperlocal Journalism](https://dodsonmc.com/how-source-score-shall-restore-integrity-and-trust-in-news-and-journalism-again/): What is the Source Score™?
- [Engineering Integrity into Journalism: This Is Our Mission](https://dodsonmc.com/engineered-integrity-into-journalism-so-it-revives-and-thrives-for-a-long-time-to-come/): Journalism is at a crossroads. Public trust in media has diminished, local newspapers are disappearing, and misinformation is running rampant.
- [A Moment’s Peace Wins Best in the USA Again—Proving EmpowerLocal, SourceLocalMedia, and DodsonMC’s Marketing Framework Delivers Measurable Success for Any Business](https://dodsonmc.com/proven-marketing-results/): When it comes to measurable success in business growth, customer loyalty, and digital marketing strategies, A Moment’s Peace Salon & Day Spa continues to set the gold standard.
- [Why Your Online Sales Conversions Are Dropping – And What To Do About It](https://dodsonmc.com/why-online-sales-conversions-are-dropping/): Online sales conversions are declining across industries, and if you haven't felt the impact yet, you likely will soon.
- [Pay for Performance Campaigns and IT MUST WORK in 30-90 Days](https://dodsonmc.com/pay-for-performance-campaigns-that-work-in-digital-marketing/): Contact Me We constantly hear, "This pay-for-performance campaign must work in 30 to 90 days, or we’re going to stop doing it."
- [GEO and Human-AI Optimization: The Future of Digital Visibility](https://dodsonmc.com/seo-vs-geo-vs-human-ai-optimization-guide/): These aren’t just buzzwords—they're the next evolution of SEO, designed for a world where chatbots, smart assistants, and AI models are the primary gatekeepers of content.
- [SEO Is Dead. SEO Is Not Dead. Here’s Why Both Are True.](https://dodsonmc.com/is-seo-dead-or-evolving-in-2025/): The digital marketing world loves a good funeral.
- [The Death of SEO: Why Partnering With a Hyper-Local Publisher Is the New AI Search Strategy](https://dodsonmc.com/hyper-local-publishers-vs-seo-in-the-age-of-ai-search/): Once upon a time, ranking #1 on Google was the Holy Grail of digital marketing.
- [SPORTS](https://dodsonmc.com/the-old-system-cfp-robbed-too-many/): For decades, players and fans were robbed by a flawed system.
- [The 20 Most Influential People in World History: Ranked by Global Impact](https://dodsonmc.com/most-influential-people-in-world-history-ranked-by-impact/): Contact Me Recently, I had a discussion about the impact of Elon Musk today and how it compares to other influential figures throughout world history.
- [DIFFERENCES: The Key to Growth](https://dodsonmc.com/embracing-differences-for-growth/): “We learn the most when we surround ourselves with people that are NOT like us.
- [Why Long-Term Investment in Digital Basics, Blogging, and Articles About You is Non-Negotiable for Business Success](https://dodsonmc.com/https-dodsonmc-com-blog-long-term-investment-in-digital-marketing-basics/): In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s easy to get caught up in the need for instant results.
- [The Rise of Hyperlocal Publishers: A Smarter Advertising Investment in 2025](https://dodsonmc.com/the-rise-for-2025-will-be-hyperlocal-publishers/): The advertising landscape in 2025 is more complex and competitive than ever.
- [Building Sustainable Digital Marketing through Hyper-Local Expertise and Expanding Partnerships](https://dodsonmc.com/sustainability/): In the dynamic landscape of digital marketing, sustainability is more than a goal—it’s a commitment to creating meaningful, lasting connections.
- [Restoring Integrity in News: Empowering Local Publishers to Lead the Truth Revolution](https://dodsonmc.com/restore/): In a world where trust in mainstream media has plummeted, a beacon of hope emerges: local publishers and small businesses.
- [Don’t Say Honestly—Say Earnestly Instead](https://dodsonmc.com/earnestly/): How often have you heard someone say, “Honestly, I think…” or “To be honest with you…”? Sounds harmless, right? But think about it.
- [The RESULTS didn’t work?](https://dodsonmc.com/results-didnt-work/): You tried it. The results weren’t delivered. Maybe you were aiming for more clicks, higher sales, or broader awareness. Instead, you get uncertainty.
- [The Digital Basics Audit: Laying the Foundation for Digital Marketing Success](https://dodsonmc.com/audit/): In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, success in marketing and advertising is no longer a game of guesswork.
- [Why You Don’t Need a Social Media Guru: Master the Digital Basics Instead](https://dodsonmc.com/socialmediagurus/): Everywhere you turn, someone is looking for a social media “guru” to grow their business, when its way more about Digital Basics.
- [What the Scientific Method and Journalism Ethics Have in Common – And Why It Matters for Modern Media](https://dodsonmc.com/method/): In a world where information is more accessible than ever, the truth has become both easier to find and harder to verify.
- [Get Back to Basics: Why a Digital Basics Audit is Essential for Your Business](https://dodsonmc.com/essentials/): The pay-to-play game is a loser! Here's how to get out of it.
- [Advertising and Marketing ROI - Here’s What’s Different Right Now!](https://dodsonmc.com/advertising-and-marketing-roi/): What’s causing ROI to decline in small business advertising and marketing right now?
- [Empower Local at Venture Atlanta by Steve Buhrman](https://dodsonmc.com/empowerlocal-at-venture-atlanta-by-steve-buhrman/): America’s first NATIONWIDE network of INDEPENDENT local news, sports, and lifestyle media.
- [Empower Local is featured Venture Atlanta Oct 8, 2024](https://dodsonmc.com/empower-local-va-2024/): Contact Me The founder and managing partner of DodsonMC who brings: 32 years of experience enhancing operations for Fortune 500 companies.
- [Together for Truth](https://dodsonmc.com/together-for-truth/): Who the most aggressive liars and evildoers hate the most is who I'm voting for.
- [Solving Marketing Problems with Tech & Strategy](https://dodsonmc.com/solving-marketing-tech-strategy/): Let’s face it: the world of marketing and advertising has drastically changed.
- [Create Raving Fans With Net Promoter Score](https://dodsonmc.com/net-promoter-score-explained/): Net Promoter Score is a fast-growing method of tracking customer satisfaction.
- [Customer Loyalty Through Proactive Engagement](https://dodsonmc.com/strategies-for-elevating-customer-loyalty/): We converted a bad situation into a magic moment - here's how: Our reply to an online review boldly said call us - we guarantee to make this up to you, and we offered personal contact information of the owner.
- [The Real Battle: Fighting the Evil That Divides Us](https://dodsonmc.com/overcoming-evil-that-divides-us/): In a deeply divided world, we face a critical decision. Who or what is driving us apart, and how can we reunite?

## Pages

- [Richard Spitz](https://dodsonmc.com/richard-spitz/): Richard Spitz leads Markets at Strong Force Innovation Portfolios, which holds more than 1,000 applied AI patent assets.
- [Sandra Lee](https://dodsonmc.com/sandra-lee/): Sandra Lee is a seasoned media professional with a remarkable career across radio, television and the music industry.
- [Clients](https://dodsonmc.com/clients/): Fortune 500 manufacturers, federal agencies and Middle Tennessee businesses.
- [Chad Connery](https://dodsonmc.com/chad-connery/): Chad Connery is a certified business growth specialist, business consultant, M&A advisor, sales leader and coach with a career spanning more than two decades.
- [Associates](https://dodsonmc.com/associates/): Led by founder Kip Dodson in Franklin, Tennessee.
- [Services](https://dodsonmc.com/services/): Strategic growth, ultimate results — we guarantee it.
- [Blog](https://dodsonmc.com/blog/): Practical thinking on business growth, marketing, AI and local media from Franklin, Tennessee.
- [Home](https://dodsonmc.com/): The latest thinking, and the businesses already running on it.


[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)