Blake Stockton, Marketing Expert in Atlanta, GA, United States
Blake is available for hire
Hire Blake

Blake Stockton

Verified Expert  in Marketing

Marketing Expert

Location
Atlanta, GA, United States
Toptal Member Since
March 27, 2024

Blake is a dynamic strategist with 15 years of digital marketing expertise, including roles at Google, an Inc. 5,000 fastest-growing startup, and the Small Business Administration. With a creative and entrepreneurial approach, he crafts impactful content and strategies, drawing on his experience founding successful online ventures. In 2018, Blake won the Rising Star of the Year award in Florida for pioneering Facebook Live training and providing social media algorithms and content updates.

Project Highlights

SEO and SEM Course Creation | Google's Digital Marketing and eCommerce Certificate
Directed the development of the SEO and SEM course for Google's Digital Marketing and eCommerce certificate, receiving a 4.8-star rating from 4,800+ reviews.
Content Vertical Leadership at an Inc. 5,000 Fastest Growing Startup | FitSmallBusiness.Com
Led the "starting a business" vertical by planning the article pipeline with SEO strategies, managing freelancers for content creation, and optimizing the UX for SEO.
Sales Funnel Development for a $297 Online Course | Google Profile Domination
Developed an online course on local SEO for Google Business Profile, complemented by a sales funnel incorporating YouTube videos, story-driven email marketing, a sales webinar, and an optimized landing page, achieving a conversion rate of over 2%.

Expertise

Work Experience

Learning Experience Designer | Digital Marketing SME

2020 - 2024
Google
  • Achieved impactful results for Google's Grow with Google initiative, accessible via grow.google/certificates/.
  • Attracted 500,000+ enrollees and a 4.8-star rating after developing the syllabus and crafting 40+ content elements, including scripts, readings, activities, and assessments, for the SEO and SEM course within the digital marketing certificate.
  • Reduced negative feedback on assessments by 80% by directing a project to audit the project management certificate and overhauling 300+ assessment questions.
  • Doubled the number of graded questions to 6,000+ over five months after training and mentoring vendor writers in assessment creation and editing questions.
  • Created 100+ pieces of educational content, including scripts, readings, assessments, and activities for certificates, such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI essentials. I did this while filling in for a full-time peer in a bungee role.

Content Producer | Editor

2019 - 2020
FitSmallBusiness.com
  • Leveraged SEO, UX writing, and industry insights to author 2020's most-viewed article on top businesses to start, amassing over 110,000 views.
  • Utilized keyword research and SEO principles to develop a content runway of 250+ articles for the "starting a business" vertical.
  • Managed four freelance writers to build out the "starting a business" cluster to 45+ pieces of content.
  • Acted as a scrum master, leading the UX and content design team for nine months.
  • Produced 68 long-form, SEO-optimized content pieces for the "starting a business" vertical, adhering to UX writing principles.

Founder | Content Strategist

2018 - 2020
Google Profile Domination
  • Built an entire marketing funnel and website landing page, generating 60+ sales on a $297 online course.
  • Used YouTube SEO to secure 4,400+ subscribers and over 230,000 views.
  • Created a 12-email drip marketing campaign with a storytelling thread to sell the Google Profile Domination course to interested customers.
  • Developed an on-demand online course with 16 videos, six activities, and four readings, receiving only a 5% refund rate on a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
  • Consulted clients, some ongoing, on optimizing their Google Business profiles.

Business Consultant | Trainer

2015 - 2019
Small Business Administration
  • Won the 2018 Rising Star of the Year award in Florida for pioneering Facebook Live training and delivering updates on social media algorithms and content.
  • Provided 2,000+ hours of consultation to 700+ small business owners, focusing on online growth strategies and content localization.
  • Conducted 30-minute to 3-hour training for business owners in 90+ workshops and speaking engagements.
  • Developed customized online presence reviews for 80+ small businesses in Northeast Florida, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of their digital footprint.
  • Represented the organization at 50+ meetings and networking events throughout Northeast Florida.

Content Strategist

2015 - 2018
Smokeware
  • Quadrupled monthly eCommerce sales YoY in under nine months by driving a multimedia strategic campaign through Google-optimized website, email, social media, Meta ads, and video marketing.
  • Gained 200,000+ niche and targeted views on YouTube by crafting and recording SEO-optimized scripts for grilling videos.
  • Achieved an impressive average cost per click of $0.12 by optimizing Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns.

Founder | Content Designer

2010 - 2017
GBF Sports
  • Boosted a basketball camp's review website to 2.5+ million visitors via organic SEO, effectively ranking content for state-based and professional athlete searches.
  • Grew an Instagram account organically to 80,000+ highly engaged followers.
  • Gained 20,000+ email signups via a popup with a 5% conversion rate. Used AWeber to create an automated email sequence to achieve an over 25% average open rate.
  • Implemented affiliate marketing with ClickBank to sell hundreds of products and earn over $14,000.
  • Negotiated and secured advertising deals with top US basketball camps, including Nike Basketball Camps and PGC Basketball.

SEO and SEM Course Creation | Google's Digital Marketing and eCommerce Certificate

https://www.coursera.org/learn/attract-and-engage-customers/

Directed the development of the SEO and SEM course for Google's Digital Marketing and eCommerce certificate, receiving a 4.8-star rating from 4,800+ reviews.

Using my digital marketing and SEO knowledge, I spearheaded the development of a 6-week course for Google, converting a basic syllabus into comprehensive, production-ready content within seven months.

My responsibilities included authoring and refining 120+ diverse digital marketing materials, such as scripts, readings, and assessments. I facilitated collaborations with stakeholders, including SMEs, legal teams, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility experts, product managers, and instructional designers, ensuring a holistic and integrated educational experience. Post-launch, I became the sole learning experience designer, managing 110+ updates to optimize the content's effectiveness and relevance.

Beyond this project, I expanded my role as a bungee editor and content developer. I contributed to several other certificate programs, including cybersecurity, project management, data analytics, and AI essentials, demonstrating my broad expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality educational content.

Content Vertical Leadership at an Inc. 5,000 Fastest Growing Startup | FitSmallBusiness.Com

https://fitsmallbusiness.com/

Led the "starting a business" vertical by planning the article pipeline with SEO strategies, managing freelancers for content creation, and optimizing the UX for SEO.

In leading the "starting a business" vertical, I devised a comprehensive strategy rooted in SEO and content clustering, which paved the way for a robust pipeline of 200+ articles. My collaboration with a UX designer was pivotal, ensuring each piece of content was user-friendly and SEO-optimized. Recognizing the need for rapid development within this vertical, I took charge of managing three freelancers. I meticulously guided the writing and editing and refined the process to align with our style guide.

To augment our content's reach and utility, I transformed our pillar articles into an ebook, establishing it as a powerful lead magnet. This strategic decision was crucial in enhancing our content's lifecycle and value. Our concerted efforts bore fruit, culminating in the production of 100+ content pieces that collectively garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

Notably, one of our articles emerged as the most viewed on the website in 2020, a testament to the effectiveness of our approach and the quality of our content. This project was not just about content creation; it was a journey of strategic planning, collaboration, and execution that drove unparalleled engagement and success.

Sales Funnel Development for a $297 Online Course | Google Profile Domination

Developed an online course on local SEO for Google Business Profile, complemented by a sales funnel incorporating YouTube videos, story-driven email marketing, a sales webinar, and an optimized landing page, achieving a conversion rate of over 2%.

In developing the sales funnel for our online course, which achieved a remarkable 2% conversion rate, my strategy unfolded through five steps. Initially, I crafted SEO-optimized educational videos that resonated with our audience, amassing 200,000+ views on YouTube. Recognizing the opportunity to deepen engagement, I introduced a downloadable cheat sheet within the videos, which attracted 2,000+ downloads, further establishing our credibility and value.

The journey continued with an automated 12-email sequence I devised, blending storytelling with proven sales techniques to nurture and convert leads. Each email was a step in a narrative that built trust and showcased the course's potential. The climax of this funnel was a compelling sales video, where I employed strategies like social proof to communicate the course's worth and success stories effectively. Finally, the sales journey culminated in an optimized sales page designed to sell and educate potential customers on the benefits of the course.

This holistic approach solidified our market presence, translated into significant conversions, and led to a minimal refund rate of around 5%.

Fourfold Website Sales Growth in Less than 12 Months | Smokeware

http://www.smokeware.com/

Formulated a marketing strategy that included social media ads, video content, email marketing, and SEO-optimized website content for a niche grilling product.

Smokeware, specializing in patented grilling accessories for the Big Green Egg grill, experienced stagnant annual non-Amazon sales at around $30,000 before my tenure as a content strategist.

Tasked with amplifying online marketing, I spearheaded a Facebook and Instagram advertising campaign, achieving a cost-effective rate of approximately $0.12 per click through precise audience targeting. To enhance customer engagement, I implemented an email marketing strategy, introducing a website popup and educational drip emails, which boasted a 7% sign-up rate. I also produced educational grilling videos showcasing product usage, garnering 300,000+ views.

My strategies catalyzed a fourfold increase in non-Amazon revenue in under a year, with continued growth in subsequent years, marking a significant enhancement in the company's online footprint.
2006 - 2010

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

University of Central Florida - Orlando, Florida, USA

AUGUST 2023 - PRESENT

Supervised Machine Learning: Regression and Classification

DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera

JUNE 2023 - PRESENT

100 Days of Code – The Complete Python Course

Replit, Inc.

MAY 2023 - PRESENT

AI For Everyone

DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera

FEBRUARY 2021 - PRESENT

Google Project Management: Professional Certificate

Google | via Coursera

Core

SEO Content, Social Media Posting, Writing & Editing, Digital Marketing, Digital Marketing Strategy, Content Creation, Social Media Content, Local SEO, Email Marketing, Funnel Marketing, Google SEO, SEO Tools, Agile, WordPress SEO, Affiliate Marketing, Keyword Research, SEO Keyword Research, Digital Marketing Best Practices, Marketing Strategy, Funnel Optimization, Marketing Automation, Email Marketing Automation, On-page SEO, Marketing Analytics, Brand Marketing, Copywriting, Social Media Advertising, Landing Pages, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), A/B Testing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Growth Hacking, Content Marketing, Content Marketing Strategy, AWeber, Social Media

Platforms & Tools

Ahrefs, Google My Business, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Google Analytics 4, Instagram Ads, Meta Platform, ClickBank

Technical

Google Search Console

Other

Content Writing, Education, Storytelling, Web Content, Communication, Training & Training Content Development, Online Course Design, Copy Editing, Drip Email, YouTube SEO, eCommerce Marketing, ChatGPT, Social Media Engagement, YouTube Marketing, Video Marketing, ConvertKit, WordPress, Business Consulting, Public Speaking, Presentations, eCommerce, Website Builders, Scrum, Webinars, Sales Funnel, Consulting, Startup Marketing, Content Localization, Business Planning, Digital Project Management, Trello, Google Docs, Stakeholder Management, Case Studies, Interviewing, AI Content Creation, Content Production, Niche Email Marketing, Email Management, UX Writing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Agile Project Management, Python, Instagram, Banking & Finance, eCommerce SEO, Shopify SEO, Shopify, Ebooks, Semrush, Project Management, Waterfall Methodology, Project Lifecycle, Digital Marketing Product Manager, Landing Page Optimization, Content Design, Management Consulting, Growth Strategy, YouTube, Affiliate Programs, Multimedia

Collaboration That Works

How to Work with Toptal

Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.

1

Share your needs

Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2

Choose your talent

Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3

Start your risk-free talent trial

Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.

Top talent is in high demand.

Start hiring