On Mike Tyson’s 60th birthday, his complicated life still serves as a cautionary tale about the risk of using a celebrity to endorse a brand or product.

Host nations in the FIFA World Cup consistently outperform their historical averages, with 14 of 18 hosting countries achieving better results at home. Data shows hosts average performance equivalent to a near runner-up finish, compared to a quarterfinal range when playing abroad. As the 2026 tournament approaches, the United States could benefit from this trend and exceed past results.

Most business owners hear “AI” and immediately feel overwhelmed by the technical side. But AI doesn’t have to be complicated. In this post, we break down the three core components of AI for business, show how one consultant built a full business plan in a single day using AI collaboration, and explain why the real value still comes from human thinking and strategy.

AI for small business marketing has moved way beyond chatbots. Today, consultants are using it to write code, automate Google Business Profiles, schedule social media, and produce dozens of local SEO pages in days. This post breaks down the practical strategies that are working right now.

Most small business owners aren’t calling about inefficiencies. They’re calling because they’re terrified AI is going to leave them behind. The truth is, most of that fear comes from hype, not reality. A think tank approach brings business owners together to share real experiences, see live demos, and start imagining practical ways to put AI to work in their own companies. You don’t need to understand how the technology works. You just need to see what it can do.

Andrew Curtis of Fuel VM shares his vision for Catalyst, a collaborative program designed to bring small businesses, startups, and Main Street companies together. Built around the community at Launch Fishers, Catalyst aims to help business owners identify process challenges, share ideas across industries, and tap into Indiana’s deep pool of talent and higher education resources.

Small business automation is not a technology problem. It is a people problem. Before investing in AI tools or hiring an AI strategist, business owners should focus on change management. That means understanding your team, identifying where frustrations exist, and building belief that technology can actually solve those problems. The answers are already inside your organization. You just have to ask the right questions.

AI isn’t here to replace people. It’s here to handle the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that slow your team down. For small and medium-sized businesses, AI tools act as powerful research assistants that multiply your output while keeping a human hand in the process. Early adopters who jump in and learn how AI fits their specific workflows are already seeing real advantages over competitors still sitting on the sidelines.

Warren Buffett’s retirement marks the end of an era in value investing. His philosophy of being “fearful when others are greedy” extends beyond finance – it offers marketers a timeless lesson in when to scale and when to pause. Learn how Buffett’s contrarian mindset can shape modern marketing strategy.

The Dallas Cowboys are America’s Team for the second year in a row when it comes to NFL social media followers. The New England Patriots have overtaken the Carolina Panthers as the team with the most followers per numbers of wins on the field.

This article explores whether other companies fared better than Cracker Barrel when changing logos.

The world of internet search currently sits in a state of flux. Google remains the reigning champion, but some early indicators point to a search future dominated by chatbot query results.

Google’s recent restructuring puts the marketing world on notice that the evolution of internet search has arrived.

Over half of the time, companies that advertise in the Super Bowl do not outperform the DJIA or S&P 500 in the same year.

Social Media Followers Like NFL Football!

As a kid, I knew of three bourbon brands: Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark, and Jim Beam. My parents did not drink spirits, so my familiarity with these brands came from their advertising in Sports Illustrated. My teenaged friends believed that bourbon was a drink for our grandparents. Times have changed. Many Americans now view bourbon […]

Cold emails in marketing campaigns work well if executed properly. We had a not-for-profit client who recently wanted to increase website traffic and wondered if a cold email campaign could help achieve that goal. Our data clearly shows that they achieved the goal during a four-month campaign. A fine line exists between cold emails and […]

It is the year 2024, and as always, many variables of SEO and website traffic generation are evolving in front of our eyes. Let’s discuss them.

As strategies to engage customers continue to evolve, it’s crucial for businesses to stay ahead of emerging trends to elevate outreach and stay competitive. AI and machine learning will continue to dominate in 2024 as it becomes the go-to resource to keep any marketing campaign efficient. In addition to AI-driven marketing, voice search optimization, video […]

Introduction Hiring and talent acquisition is not just evolving; it’s undergoing a revolution. In this ever-changing landscape, where technology and human expectations intersect, new trends are emerging that are reshaping how companies attract, hire, and retain talent.  Andre Boulais, an expert in all things related to talent acquisition, shares his 2024 outlook with Fuel VM. […]

There is a major shift in traditional talent acquisition. Gone are the days when the process was limited to straightforward job postings and routine interviews. Today, the field is evolving rapidly, spurred by technological advancements, shifts in workforce preferences, and unexpected global events like the 2020 pandemic.  Andre Boulais, expert in all things talent acquisition, […]

In the dynamic world of digital marketing, understanding the concept of Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) is pivotal for brands seeking to establish a lasting impact in the market. As a leading digital marketing agency, we delve deep into the essence of CBBE and its crucial role in shaping brand success. Understanding Customer-Based Brand Equity Customer-Based […]

In a groundbreaking (and brilliant) move, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently announced the launch of free training courses in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), marking a significant stride in democratizing AI education. This initiative is not just a boon for tech professionals but also a beacon of opportunity for anyone wanting to […]

Introduction Generative AI, a technology that harnesses massive bodies of data to create art, text, and other content, is rapidly transforming creative industries. While it introduces a world of possibilities, it also brings a plethora of legal issues, particularly regarding copyright infringement. In this blog post, we will delve into the legal challenges associated with […]

A good sales prospecting strategy compiles and makes the most of your cold lead list, while continuing revenue growth. When your pipeline of potential customers starts to slow down, it’s critical to address this challenge early and quickly.   Reassess your target market for your Cold Lead List Are you focusing on companies or individuals that […]

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your buyer’s journey can have several advantages, but it’s essential to carefully consider whether it aligns with your business goals, target audience, and resources. It can also translate to business to business sales because the B2B customer journey can also benefit from AI integration. Here are five things to consider before […]

We are thrilled to announce that Fuel VM added a shiny new accolade to its collection of marketing certifications — we are now an esteemed Google Partner. This coveted title is more than just a badge; it’s a promise. It is also assurance that our clients will always have the cutting-edge arsenal of tools and […]

An Indianapolis branding agency analysis of Burger King For the first time in twenty years, fast food giant, Burger king decided to take on a rebrand. First of all, this is jam-packed with a revamped logo, packaging, and uniforms. Emphatically, the focal point of the rebrand was the logo and colors. Opposed to the 2000s […]

Slack In the same vein of thought, Slack is a good example of a company that had to adapt to their increasingly digital surroundings with a logo and color palette update. Going digital, means that you need a logo with elements that can be used independently of each other, broken down, and reconstructed. Their original […]

Domino’s Pizza In my humble opinion, Dominos has had one of the must successful rebrand campaigns in the 21st century. From being laughed at, and nationally recognized as the worst pizza chain in the early 2000s, Dominos decided to take some action around 2010 in launching their “Pizza Turnaround” campaign. They devised an ad that […]

Sears When going mobile and developing an app, it is almost completely necessary to have a symbol outside of your company’s name to represent it. However, Adding an icon to the name has not always gone well, as Sears found out in 2019. With sales plummeting in recent years due to rise in e-commerce and […]

Coors The Coors rebrand is an interesting study because their goal was to evolve the public’s perception of their character as well as visually.  With the ultimate goal of cracking into the top 3 or 4 premium beers on an international scale, removing the “light” from Coors light, and adding the blue mountains were just […]

Keeping your company at the top of the list    Predicting the future is hard, but keeping up with trends and modern technology can certainly help you prepare for what’s next. This is important with regards to every nearly aspect of digital marketing, and especially website maintenance and search engine optimization. Looking forward to this upcoming […]

Rebrands are required to constantly evolve in order to keep up with the times. There can be many motivating factors that lead a brand to evolve such as social influences, current trends, adapting with technology, or simply just becoming too outdated over time. Great brands understand that it is important to balance the company’s core […]

“Every business decision is not just based on what I can put in an Excel sheet. You have to be able to have a relationship. You have to be able to connect with people at a human level.”Andrew Curtis, Owner and President, Fuel VM Business success is tied to relationships. How we treat others. How […]

“I care more about relationships than I do necessarily the business because I also realize handling the relationships IS the business.”Andrew Curtis, Owner and President, Fuel VM Building relationships at the heart of how we do business at Fuel VM. Andrew explains how failed business deal made him more focused on the value of client […]

I think my superpower is making friends of clients.” Andrew Curtis, owner Fuel VM I want you to recklessly hopelessly believe in other people. My business model fundamentally changed as soon as I realized if I just poured into my clients and sat side-by-side and step-by-step with them over the course of time instead of just […]

Fast service doesn’t always earn you the top spot on a customer’s VIP list. With endless content running on social media, TV, radio and, Internet searches, consumers are experts in discerning real from fake. Authenticity – a personal touch – is the top strategy that keeps customers loyal to your brand. Authenticity is kingIn a […]

First impressions are everything. With your website and other marketing materials, it starts with a great font. Use a curvy font like Lucinda Handwriting and information might be hard to read. Go with Arial and you might seem unoriginal. Fonts are serious business. In fact, one study suggests there could be an ideological meaning behind […]

Dr. Rob Bell’s latest book, Puke and Rally,  launched this spring with the cover design created by Fuel VM.   Puke and Rally focuses on turning setbacks encountered in business, career or personal life into a comeback.  Dr. Bell details how to push through those tough times and use those challenges as opportunities to grow and […]

Today’s consumer behavior demands a viable, comprehensive marketing strategy that goes beyond the typical tools of engagement. Everyone – from our grandparents to 2 year-olds – is swiping, browsing and searching online. That means a successful engagement strategy must include digital marketing working in tandem with advertising and media campaigns. It’s SEO, social media, mobile […]

Understanding the difference between ERP and CRM systems As technology continues to advance at a staggering pace, and business systems are deliberately enhanced to do much more than originally intended, it’s no wonder there is confusion about which tools to use, especially when it comes to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) […]

The C-Suite. The most coveted of audiences for B2B marketers looking to engage the decision-makers who sign the checks. Often the most visible people at any firm, they also tend to be the most elusive, and reaching them could be considered an Olympic sport. Rarely will you ever be able to make a cold-call into […]

The concept of Place. It defines where you are now. It’s the marker that grounds every moment in your history. It’s the Alpha and the Omega of every trip you’ll ever take, whether you’re alone, brushing your teeth, needing groceries, or wanting to experience the proverbial “event-of-a-lifetime.” Place is constant and affects everything and everyone, […]

FUEL VM has always celebrated our constant state of evolution. Over the past 15 years we have successfully adapted to the natural ebb and flow of clients, and more importantly the consistent need to stay on-top of the ever-tumultuous communications world for them. One of the axioms in our own self-branding process has always been […]