At DigiMarCon in Minneapolis, Jack Wendt and I showed off our Topic Wheel – a simple way to map out who you know, what you know, and how those relationships build trust with Google, LinkedIn, and even ChatGPT.
Your reputation online is just an echo of your real‑world relationships. By the way, shout‑out to Professor Barikisu (check out her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barikisu-issaka-phd-80a7a1136/) and our students at Cal State University–Long Beach! You folks inspired much of what we taught on stage, and we’re proud of how you’re applying these ideas in the real world.
The gist is simple: if you want to rank well and generate leads, you need proof. Think of our plumbers in Long Beach who have decades of experience but no photos or videos to show for it. We send young adults — the apprentices we train through our Content Factory — out with smartphones to capture real‑life work: fixing water heaters, unclogging drains, installing toilets. We then turn those clips into YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and Google Business profile updates. When people search “best plumber in Long Beach,” guess who shows up? The plumbers who can prove it.
This approach isn’t just for plumbers. It works for landscapers, roofers, pizza shops, and even professors. The more you document what you do, the easier it is for algorithms to believe you. And when you connect with respected professionals like Dr. Karen Freberg or our friend Jack Wendt, you’re borrowing their trust too. Jack runs High‑Rise Influence, where he trains young adults to become AI apprentices and builds tailored blueprints for clients. If you want to learn from one of the best, check out Jack Wendt at https://jackwendt.com.
Our message to the DigiMarCon crowd was the same one we share with our students at CSULB: build real relationships, capture proof of your expertise, and let the internet do the rest. When you reach out to someone you admire on LinkedIn, follow up with genuine curiosity and find ways to help them. When you attend a Zoom session hosted by experts like Barikisu, take notes, ask questions, and implement what you learn. The more you give, the more you get back.
Whether you’re a plumber or a professor, the formula stays the same: know your craft, capture the evidence, and surround yourself with people who raise your game. Barikisu and our CSULB crew have shown what’s possible when you mix hustle with heart. Keep proving what you do, keep building your Topic Wheel, and you’ll see that trust turns into traffic and traffic into opportunities.
Interested in becoming an AI apprentice yourself? Learn more at HiRISE Academy’s AI Apprenticeship Program — a hands-on pathway where young adults learn modern skills, earn income, and help local service businesses while being mentored by leaders like Jack Wendt. As Dylan Haugen notes in his article about the program, participants gain real-world experience, build their digital footprint, and open doors for their careers. If you’re curious, check out the program and see how you can start earning and learning today.