Over The Bull®

Integris Design LLC

Tired of marketing fluff, shady sales tactics, and overpriced agencies that sell fear instead of results? Over the Bull is a no-nonsense podcast where we share real stories from inside the agency world—the wins, the failures, and the clients we had to cut loose. Join me each week as we break down the reality of running a business, expose the marketing BS that’s holding companies back, and talk about what actually works. No generic reports. No empty promises. Just real strategy from the trenches.

  1. #38 - How We Actually Test AI Tools (And Why Most Fail)

    4D AGO

    #38 - How We Actually Test AI Tools (And Why Most Fail)

    Send us a text Everyone is pitching “the latest AI tool.” Most want you to just sign up. In this episode of Over The Bull, Ken breaks down a real email exchange with an AI sales vendor—no names, no screenshots, just the substance. What starts as a simple inquiry turns into a clear example of how speed, automation, and convenience can quietly undermine trust, brand equity, and expertise. We talk about: •Why AI responses that move too fast can signal risk •The difference between activity, automation, and authority •How “near-zero involvement” should raise red flags •Where EEAT breaks down in fully automated outreach •What serious businesses should demand before testing AI tools This isn’t an anti-AI episode. It’s a pro-thinking, pro-brand, pro-human one. If you’re evaluating AI for marketing, sales, or content—and you care about credibility—this episode will help you ask better questions before you commit. Support the show This show breaks down the unglamorous marketing systems that actually work—structured websites, schema, local signals, consistency, and momentum over time. No hacks. No trends. No dopamine marketing. Each episode explains why boring, repeatable actions compound, how businesses accidentally reset their own progress, and what to build if you want growth that doesn’t collapse when the campaign ends. If you’re tired of starting over, this is for you. Schedule A Free Consultation Over The Bull® is brought to you by IntegrisDesign.com. All rights reserved.

    22 min
  2. #37 - Boring Works for Business Marketing Agencies: When What Worked...Doesn't

    DEC 12

    #37 - Boring Works for Business Marketing Agencies: When What Worked...Doesn't

    Send us a text In this episode of Over the Bull, Ken Carroll dismantles the obsession with “cutting-edge” marketing tactics and shiny new tools, arguing that the most effective strategy in today’s landscape is the one most businesses try to avoid: consistency, discipline, and doing the fundamentals exceptionally well. From decades-old sales gimmicks to modern AI-fueled shortcuts, this episode exposes how quick fixes, hype-driven platforms, and abused automation are quietly eroding trust, credibility, and long-term business growth. Ken explains why credibility has become the real currency of the web—and why boring systems like structured websites, intent-driven service pages, proper schema, local citations, call tracking, and consistent content creation quietly compound into real momentum over time. You’ll hear why momentum beats intensity, how “set it and forget it” marketing is costing businesses money, and what business owners should be demanding from their agencies right now—especially in an era where AI misuse is actively damaging otherwise healthy brands. If you’re tired of chasing gimmicks, skeptical of easy promises, and ready to build something durable, trustworthy, and profitable, this episode is a reality check you don’t want to miss. Support the show This show breaks down the unglamorous marketing systems that actually work—structured websites, schema, local signals, consistency, and momentum over time. No hacks. No trends. No dopamine marketing. Each episode explains why boring, repeatable actions compound, how businesses accidentally reset their own progress, and what to build if you want growth that doesn’t collapse when the campaign ends. If you’re tired of starting over, this is for you. Schedule A Free Consultation Over The Bull® is brought to you by IntegrisDesign.com. All rights reserved.

    24 min
  3. #36 - The Small Business Mistakes That Come Back to Bite You

    DEC 5

    #36 - The Small Business Mistakes That Come Back to Bite You

    Send us a text Small businesses rarely get taken down by one big decision — it’s the quiet, everyday mistakes that stack up and cost them time, money, momentum, and credibility. In this episode of Over The Bull, Ken breaks down the most common digital and operational decisions that come back to bite small businesses the hardest. From weak security practices and guessing instead of using data… to cheap hosting, DIY websites, and abusing AI content — we cover the landmines no one warns business owners about. Ken also explains why running Google Ads to separate websites, ignoring conversion tracking, buying generic “SEO packages,” and using unsupported website themes can derail growth before it even starts. And he highlights one of the most overlooked essentials: your Google Business Profile and your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency — which is absolutely non-negotiable for visibility and trust. If you want clear, honest insights into the decisions that quietly sabotage small businesses — and how to avoid them — this episode lays it all out without spin, jargon, or fluff. ⸻ What You’ll Learn: •Why 2-step authentication prevents the most expensive disasters •How bad data — or no data — leads to wasted marketing spend •Why conversion tracking is the backbone of all successful campaigns •The danger of “set it and forget it” marketing •The truth about buying vague services labeled “SEO” •Why website themes eventually break and cost you more •The hidden cost of cheap hosting and DIY website builders •Why abusing AI creates thin, low-trust content •The importance of staying involved with your agency •Why using separate websites for Google Ads destroys trust, tracking, and long-term performance •Why Google Business Profile NAP accuracy is foundational and non-negotiable for rankings Support the show This show breaks down the unglamorous marketing systems that actually work—structured websites, schema, local signals, consistency, and momentum over time. No hacks. No trends. No dopamine marketing. Each episode explains why boring, repeatable actions compound, how businesses accidentally reset their own progress, and what to build if you want growth that doesn’t collapse when the campaign ends. If you’re tired of starting over, this is for you. Schedule A Free Consultation Over The Bull® is brought to you by IntegrisDesign.com. All rights reserved.

    18 min
  4. #33 - When Bad Practices Collide: The New Web Crisis No One’s Talking About

    NOV 7

    #33 - When Bad Practices Collide: The New Web Crisis No One’s Talking About

    Send us a text The web is changing fast — faster than most agencies, hosting providers, and developers are ready for. In this episode of Over the Bull, Ken Carroll from Integris Design talks about the rise (and fall) of “managed” WordPress hosting, why piecemeal systems are killing efficiency, and how outdated thinking is costing businesses real money. From the honeymoon phase with WPEngine to the rough patches with Kinsta, and finally finding a solid partner in Pressable, this isn’t a hit piece — it’s a reality check. Ken shares the lessons learned from a decade of agency experience and the surprising truth about what actually makes hosting stable, scalable, and sane. You’ll also hear how today’s perfect storm — made of AI shifts, bad tech habits, and patchwork infrastructure — is reshaping the web, and what agencies must do if they want to stay afloat in 2025 and beyond. Key topics: •Why “managed hosting” doesn’t always mean managed well •How the web’s evolution has outpaced agency infrastructure •The hidden cost of bad plugin culture and stack sprawl •Why unified systems are the future — and duct tape is not a strategy If you’ve ever asked “Why is my site breaking again?” or “Why are we paying for hosting that’s slowing us down?” — this episode gives you the answer (with a little humor and a lot of truth). Support the show This show breaks down the unglamorous marketing systems that actually work—structured websites, schema, local signals, consistency, and momentum over time. No hacks. No trends. No dopamine marketing. Each episode explains why boring, repeatable actions compound, how businesses accidentally reset their own progress, and what to build if you want growth that doesn’t collapse when the campaign ends. If you’re tired of starting over, this is for you. Schedule A Free Consultation Over The Bull® is brought to you by IntegrisDesign.com. All rights reserved.

    43 min

About

Tired of marketing fluff, shady sales tactics, and overpriced agencies that sell fear instead of results? Over the Bull is a no-nonsense podcast where we share real stories from inside the agency world—the wins, the failures, and the clients we had to cut loose. Join me each week as we break down the reality of running a business, expose the marketing BS that’s holding companies back, and talk about what actually works. No generic reports. No empty promises. Just real strategy from the trenches.