Behind the Scenes with Jack Wendt in Las Vegas: Eataly Eats, Paradox Museum & Comedy Nights

What do you get when you combine a day of grind with a Vegas food crawl? A behind-the-scenes look at how Jack Wendt and I turn a trip into content gold. We started at Eataly on the Strip for authentic Italian bites before diving into the mind-bending optical tricks at the Paradox Museum. Between the attractions we were talking shop about building brands and training our young agency apprentices – because when you love what you do, the line between work and play blurs.

From there, we hopped to a couple of comedy clubs to soak in some laughs and share stories from the trenches. And because no Vegas day is complete without overindulgence, we wrapped up with an all-you-can-eat sushi feast that tested our appetite and our ability to keep a straight face on camera.

Check out the full video above for the unfiltered, whirlwind day in Vegas — then head over to Jack Wendt for more of his adventures. For my insights on marketing, building agencies and making the phone ring for local businesses, visit Dennis Yu. Let us know your favorite Las Vegas spots in the comments — maybe we’ll feature them next time.

Train a Young Adult to Be Your AI-Powered Marketing Expert | Franchise Partner Program

Unlock the full potential of your franchise’s marketing by training a young adult—your son, daughter or a team member—to become a dedicated digital marketing and AI-powered social media expert. In this video, Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt explain how a one-year program equips them with the tools and strategies to manage the Content Factory process for your local service business.

This program includes:

  • Weekly Office Hours and coaching
  • Full access to all training materials
  • Hands-on support with analytics, ads, and websites
  • A community of peers and mentors

The curriculum is built on proven methods used by major brands like Red Bull and Nike and thousands of local service businesses. Think of it as trade school for digital marketing—tailored specifically for your franchise.

If you’re ready to give a young adult the opportunity to grow into your business’s marketing champion, watch the video and learn how to enroll them today.

Learn more about the AI Apprentice Program.

For Young Adults Wanting to Fix the Digital Marketing for Their Parents Businesses | Jack and Dennis

In this video, Jack and Dennis discuss how young adults can help fix the digital marketing for their parents’ businesses. They share practical insights into advertising, content creation, and SEO fundamentals.

If you’re a young adult looking to build real marketing skills and serve local businesses, check out the High Rise Academy program to get hands-on training and mentorship.

Claiming Your Google Knowledge Panel & Scaling Your Agency: Dennis Yu x Jack Wentz at DigiMarCon NYC

If you’re tired of vague “consulting” promises and want a repeatable blueprint for building a service agency that actually scales, this candid conversation is for you.

Dennis Yu and Jack Wentz pull no punches as they share how High‑Rise Influence helps 7‑ and 8‑figure founders earn a Google Knowledge Panel — the digital stamp of legitimacy most gurus can’t deliver. They reveal why clarity and proof matter more than hype, why you must draw a line on who you serve, and how to create an operations playbook that lets you hire and train without reinventing the wheel each time.

Highlights include:

  • Why “customizable” beats “custom” — and how to productize services without becoming a cookie cutter.
  • The hard truth about clients who think they’re the exception: you can’t make a beef Wellington out of baloney.
  • Real numbers: thousands of AI bots (from Claude, ChatGPT, and others) hitting their content, turning free education into actual leads.
  • How to leverage AI, social snippets and small ad spends to attract the right people — and repel the wrong ones.
  • Lessons from plumbing and HVAC agencies: focus on one niche, own your proof, and watch referrals snowball.

If you’re ready to stop selling air and start delivering results that even Google recognizes, hit play. Then let us know in the comments: what’s the one thing holding your agency back from scaling?

Don’t Tag Me in Basecamp — Here’s Why

Every time someone tags me in Basecamp, I get two emails for the same message: one for the post, and one for the mention.

Multiply that by dozens of projects, and you’ve just doubled the noise in an inbox that already gets over a thousand emails a day.

I manage 1,000 emails a day. Every unnecessary ping pulls me away from the high-value work that keeps everything moving: strategy, client relationships, training, and developing the next generation of digital leaders.

Tagging me in Basecamp might seem like a quick way to get my attention, but it actually creates friction.

It breaks the system we built to keep communication smooth, focused, and accountable.

A team member tagged me in the Basecamp project of Cardinal Treatment Center

If I’m subscribed to a Basecamp thread, I already get the message.

Practice RACI

Basecamp is where we document work.

We always practice RACI:

  • R = Responsible (the person doing the work).
  • A = Accountable (the person ensuring it gets done).
  • C = Consulted (people giving input).
  • I = Informed (people who just need to know).

When you tag someone just to make sure they “saw it,” you’re bypassing that structure.

It’s like cutting across traffic because you don’t feel like waiting for the light; it might save a second, but it causes chaos.

We Built Systems for a Reason

We created the Level 1 Guide to make this process easy for new folks and anyone who hasn’t worked in a high-functioning team before. It’s all spelled out, who does what, where updates go, and how to communicate clearly without creating extra noise.

Following these systems is about protecting focus.
Every time you skip the system, you create work for someone else and that ripple effect slows everyone down.

The Bottom Line

Don’t tag me in Basecamp.
If I need to be looped in, assign the task to the right person and let the process work.
If it’s truly urgent, use the proper channels.

We win by running clean systems, not by shouting louder in the digital hallway.

How to Keep Clients Happy Before Problems Start

Congratulations, you’ve got your first client!
That’s a huge milestone. But here’s the thing: the easiest time to keep a client happy is before they’re upset. Once things spin out of control, you’re in damage-control mode and that’s exhausting.

When you care early, communicate often, and follow the right process, you won’t have to “save” accounts. You’ll grow them.

Why Clients Stay: Results + Communication

Our clients don’t stay because of contracts.
They stay because we drive real results, and they feel cared for.

Retention happens when you:

  1. Deliver results consistently through the MAA process — Metrics → Analysis → Action.
  2. Communicate clearly every week, no matter what.

We don’t hide behind a one-year lock-in. Clients stay with us because they want to, not because they have to.

The MAA Process (Metrics → Analysis → Action)

This isn’t just another framework or template; it’s a mindset.
Every week, you’ll move through these three steps:

  1. Metrics: Gather the numbers. What happened?
  2. Analysis: What do the numbers mean?
  3. Action: What will we do next?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re running Google Ads, Facebook, SEO, or content. The same process applies everywhere.
Your goal? Drive more qualified phone calls that lead to real customers for your client.

The Power of the Friday Report

Every Friday (or Thursday if you’re ahead), send your optimization report.
Even if you don’t have big changes to announce, your consistency shows you care.

Weekly MAA for Plumbing Pros PA

Clients should never wonder, “What’s happening?”
The moment they stop hearing from you, they assume you’ve stopped caring. And that’s the #1 reason clients leave, not bad performance, but lack of perceived care.

If you’re sick, traveling, or have weak Wi-Fi, still message them. Even a quick “Hey, I’ll send the update tomorrow, just want you to know I’m on it” goes a long way.

Handling the Unexpected

Stuff breaks, websites crash, ads stop running, Google updates happen.
That’s life in digital marketing.

When things go sideways:

  • Don’t panic.
  • Triage. Figure out what matters most.
  • Communicate. Tell the client what’s happening and what you’re doing.

Most clients are understanding, especially compared to their last three agencies that ghosted them or sent useless, automated reports.
When you care, analyze, and take action, you stand out instantly.

Learn Before You Lead

You’re part of a team now, and eventually, you’ll lead one.
But before you manage others, master the process yourself.

Do the work first. Learn the system.
Then, when your teammates get stuck, you’ll know how to guide them.

That’s how we grow.

Why Feedback is Gold

Weekly reports aren’t just for clients; they’re feedback loops for you.

Sometimes clients will say:

“This looks awesome, great job!”

Or even:

“Turn the marketing down, we’re booked out for two weeks!”

Other times, they’ll raise concerns. That’s fine too. It keeps communication alive and helps you improve faster than any course ever could.

Keep Optimizing

No one ever becomes “done learning.”
Even the most experienced marketers keep refining how they use data and tools.

Treat every week like another rep in the gym, small, steady improvements that add up over time.

Remember: you don’t win by sprinting. You win by showing up consistently.

Final Thought

Client success isn’t about being a “guru.” It’s about being reliable, thoughtful, and proactive.
Do what you say you’ll do, communicate clearly, and improve week after week.

That’s how you build a career. That’s how you make clients stay.
And that’s how you win, one Friday report at a time.

Meet the Coaches Behind High Rise Academy

Meet the Coaches

High Rise Academy is led by three practitioners who train students on real business projects using documented processes and live feedback.

Jack Wendt — Founder & CEO, High Rise Influence

Jack started young — at 12–13 he was buying and reselling watches, learning how to negotiate, reinvest profits, and build relationships. That early hustle turned into a passion for entrepreneurship and mentorship. He built High Rise Academy so motivated teens don’t have to guess their way forward or build businesses alone.

“When I was 13, I had to figure it out myself. Now we can give young people a system — and help real businesses along the way.” —Jack Wendt

How Jack mentors

  • Assigns live business tasks: editing vertical videos, writing platform-native captions, basic ad setups.
  • Shows students how to publish once, then distribute across channels without duplicating work, following our cross-posting guide.
  • Models client communication and simple reporting (before/after assets, notes, and next actions).
  • Helps students channel their entrepreneurial energy into real businesses — generating calls, creating content, and directly contributing to client revenue.

Dennis Yu — Former Search Engine Engineer & Co-Creator of the Content Factory

Dennis designs the systems our teams use to execute reliably at scale — checklists, SOPs, and feedback loops rooted in the Content Factory framework. Students don’t watch theory; they ship assets and get reviewed. He also emphasizes E-E-A-T — real people, real places, real work — to make content credible and reusable.

“There’s no age too early to start building a brand or learning how to learn.” —Dennis Yu

How Dennis coaches

  • Weekly reviews with concrete acceptance criteria (naming, thumbnails, captions, repost rules).
  • Layering proof — names, locations, client artifacts — to establish trust via E-E-A-T.
  • Avoiding common VA pitfalls by tying every task to a clear goal, content asset, and target.
  • Works with students from age 17 to 60, proving that the Academy’s structure supports all levels of experience — from teenagers just starting out to adults seeking to sharpen their skills.

Dylan Haugen — Professional Dunker & Creator

Dylan is a professional dunker who performs in contests and live shows while documenting his journey online. His creative background gives him a unique perspective on content and storytelling. After connecting with Dennis and Jack in late December, he discovered how to use the Academy’s structure to transform his passion into professional growth.

“After joining the program, I learned more in a few weeks than I had in years on my own.” —Dylan Haugen

How Dylan teaches

  • Short-form storytelling on real client pages (clear hook, proof, next step).
  • Batch capture and workflow hygiene (shot lists, b-roll banks, caption templates).
  • Practical feedback on pacing, framing, and retention.
  • Works with business owners — from local gyms to personal brands — showing them how consistent storytelling drives measurable results online.

What You’ll See in Practice

  • Live weekly coaching with screen-share reviews and action items.
  • Documented SOPs with examples for each step.
  • Real distribution on business accounts, followed by sensible republishing.
  • Proof built in — faces, places, and outcomes attached to the work.
  • Range of participants from teens to age 60; quality is driven by checklists, not age.
  • Students are paid as they demonstrate competency on production tasks.

Why High Rise Academy Matters

Students learn marketing by doing: edit videos, post on business accounts, and follow checklists until their work meets spec. Parents see consistent habits and professional communication develop over time. Business owners get useful assets instead of vague ideas.

For parents who want to see their teens develop real-world skills, build meaningful relationships, and gain confidence through hands-on experience, High Rise Academy provides a clear path — while also contributing real work for the businesses they support.

If you’d like to learn from mentors like Dennis, Jack, and Dylan, or know a young adult who would thrive in this environment, explore how to get involved with High Rise Academy. It’s a place where curiosity turns into capability, and learning turns into real results.

Welcome to the AI Apprentice Program

You made it, welcome aboard!
You’re now part of a group that’s building real-world skills with AI.

You’ll learn by doing, build real assets, and get mentored by people who’ve actually done this before.

Let’s Get You Set Up

Our Operations team has already onboarded you, so here’s what you need to do right now to get fully set up and connected:

  1. Accept your Basecamp invitation
    This is where you’ll find your projects, resources, and weekly MAA report templates.
    (Check your email for an invite from Basecamp if you haven’t already.)
  2. Join our ChatGPT Business Account
    You’ll get full access to AI tools and shared projects.
    (Accept the email invitation we sent you)
  3. Join our private Facebook group
    Join the group here
    Once you’re in, introduce yourself: tell us where you’re from, and what you’re excited to learn.
  4. Attend Office Hours every Thursday at 2 PM PST
    This is your chance to ask questions live, share wins, and connect with mentors and fellow apprentices.

Free Access to the Academy

You’ve got full, free access to 140+ premium courses and every bit of training inside the Academy.
Just everything you need to level up fast, if you actually use it.

The Weekly MAA Report

Every Friday, you’ll post your MAA report (Metrics, Analysis, and Action) in Basecamp.
It’s how we track your growth and give you feedback that actually helps you improve.
Do it weekly, even if it’s short. The discipline builds momentum.

You’re Not Alone

You’ll receive direct feedback from mentors who’ve been there, done that, and built agencies based on this.
We’ll guide you through every step but you have to show up and do the work

Your journey to mastering AI, content, and digital marketing starts now.
Let’s make some magic together.

Who the High Rise Academy Is NOT For — And What It Takes to Succeed

The Short Answer

High Rise Academy is designed for people who take action. Success comes from following the Metrics → Analysis → Action (MAA) process every week. Apprentices who do the work, communicate clearly, and follow through on assignments build measurable results and real skills.

Dennis Yu emphasized during the conversation that the Academy only works for those willing to “do the thing.” As he explained, people who collect metrics but never implement improvements are “getting paid to do nothing.”

The Foundation: Taking Consistent Action

Many projects fail because people spend too much time reporting and not enough time executing. Every week should include progress—new videos published, ads launched, or landing pages improved.

Our process relies on three steps:

  • Metrics: Track specific numbers tied to your work, such as video performance metrics or ad performance.
  • Analysis: Identify what changed and why.
  • Action: Implement the next improvement before the next report.

Jack Wendt mentioned how some participants kept producing the same weekly reports without changing a thing. He shared that those projects “looked busy on paper but delivered no new client results.” This reinforced the Academy’s focus on action, not appearance.

Dylan Haugen added that every weekly status report feeds the coaching process. “The more action they take,” he said, “the more feedback we can provide.” When students actually produce videos, launch ads, or adjust campaigns, coaches have data to work with and can give sharper guidance.

Communicating Effectively

Remote work depends on timely, organized communication. Team members are encouraged to apply the Do / Delegate / Delete framework:

  • Do the next task from your checklist.
  • Delegate when you hit a roadblock and need support.
  • Delete low-value items that don’t advance the goal.

Jack recalled several examples where simple communication lapses caused unnecessary delays—someone waited days to ask a question instead of flagging it early. “If they’d just said something, we could’ve solved it in five minutes,” he said. Clear updates keep everyone aligned and prevent small issues from slowing progress.

Skills that Support Success

Participants who think clearly, express ideas in writing, and approach problems logically tend to perform well. The program rewards those who take ownership of their work, stay organized, and use available tools to keep improving.

Dennis highlighted that being able to reason through tasks with AI tools or team members is key to growth. “Young adults who can talk through a problem and provide context always do well,” he said. This ability to explain intent and process mirrors how top performers handle real client projects.

Follow-Through Makes the Difference

Age and credentials matter less than reliability. Students as young as fourteen have produced outstanding results through consistent follow-through.

Dennis shared one story about a 14-year-old student who completed every assignment on time, produced content weekly, and analyzed results without prompting. That consistency led to measurable growth and personal confidence. In contrast, he mentioned older participants who “have to ask a question every single time” or constantly make excuses—and they rarely advance.

To stay on track:

  • Dedicate at least one hour per day to assignments.
  • Complete and submit a weekly status report summarizing what you shipped, what you learned, and what comes next.
  • Plan around vacations or other priorities so deadlines are met.

The goal is steady progress, not perfection.

What Success Looks Like Week to Week

Each week, successful participants:

  • Publish new work such as a video, ad, or content update.
  • Record clear performance metrics and note what improved.
  • Decide on the next concrete action to take.
  • Review targeted feedback from mentors and apply it immediately.

Dylan described one student who launched a short-form video campaign and then tracked its performance in the weekly report. “They took the feedback, adjusted the titles and tags, and doubled their watch time in a week,” he said. That’s the type of learning loop the program aims to build.

This cycle—action, reflection, improvement—builds measurable skill and momentum.

How to Prepare and Self-Assess

  1. Identify specific actions you can take this week.
  2. Choose one checklist and complete the first task today.
  3. Start your weekly status report document now and update it as you complete work.
  4. Set up a simple metric tracking sheet for your projects.
  5. Reserve your hour-a-day block on your calendar for the next two weeks.

These steps help you form the habits that lead to success inside the program.

Final thoughts

High Rise Academy rewards people who act consistently, communicate clearly, and keep improving. Those habits matter more than background or prior experience. The more you build, measure, and refine, the more meaningful results you’ll achieve.

Dennis concluded the discussion by reminding parents and students that this program requires genuine interest. “We’re not here to babysit,” he said. “If they have that drive—whether it’s basketball, content creation, or entrepreneurship—they’ll thrive. If they don’t, they’ll struggle.”

The SEO Tree: How to Stop Creating Digital Vandalism

The Problem

Most SEO content is digital vandalism. Agencies and VAs pump out articles with no strategy. They duplicate pages or chase random keywords. It wastes money and time.

The SEO Tree

The SEO Tree fixes this. It has:

  • Trunk: the main authority page.
  • Branches: subtopics that support the trunk.
  • Leaves: specific detailed posts linking back up the branch.

Every page needs a place on this tree. If it doesn’t, it’s a weed.

What Bad SEO Looks Like

When people ignore the tree:

  1. They create isolated articles that duplicate topics.
  2. They miss internal links, leaving pages orphaned.
  3. They write generic content with no expertise.
  4. They force senior staff to fix the damage.

What Good SEO Looks Like

When you follow the tree:

Four Rules for Building the Tree

  1. Know the goal. Every page should drive a business result, not just rank.
  2. Build E‑E‑A‑T. Use real client examples, names, locations, photos and facts.
  3. Enhance before creating. Improve what exists before making a new page.
  4. Link intentionally. Link up to the parent topic and across to relevant siblings.

Example: Murphy Beds

Consider a client selling Murphy Beds:

  • Trunk: a page about Murphy Beds.
  • Branch: a page about Murphy Beds with a Desk.
  • Leaf: a page about a Queen Murphy Bed with Desk and Bookshelf.

Before you publish:

If you write about “Top 20 Hidden Beds” and never link it back, you’ve created a weed. If instead you enhance the “Murphy Bed with Desk” page with photos and links, you’ve strengthened the branch.

Checklist for VAs and Editors

  • Where does this page sit on the tree?
  • Does it link up and across correctly?
  • Does it show real experience?
  • Does it support a defined goal?
  • Would it be better to enhance an existing page?

If you can’t answer those, stop and rethink.

Final Word

The SEO Tree is the structure that turns random content into authority. Ignore it and you’ll keep making weeds. Follow it and you’ll build a site that grows stronger over time.

The Problem

Most SEO content is digital vandalism. Agencies and VAs pump out articles with no strategy. They duplicate pages or chase random keywords. It wastes money and time.

The SEO Tree

The SEO Tree fixes this. It has:

  • Trunk: the main authority page.
  • Branches: subtopics that support the trunk.
  • Leaves: specific detailed posts linking back up the branch.

Every page needs a place on this tree. If it doesn’t, it’s a weed.

What Bad SEO Looks Like

When people ignore the tree:

  1. They create isolated articles that duplicate topics.
  2. They miss internal links, leaving pages orphaned.
  3. They write generic content with no expertise.
  4. They force senior staff to fix the damage.

What Good SEO Looks Like

When you follow the tree:

  • You reinforce the main pages.
  • You build relevant links upward and sideways.
  • You grow traffic and revenue instead of cannibalising it.
  • You use real examples to show expertise.

Four Rules for Building the Tree

  1. Know the goal. Every page should drive a business result, not just rank.
  2. Build E‑E‑A‑T. Use real client examples, names, locations, photos and facts.
  3. Enhance before creating. Improve what exists before making a new page.
  4. Link intentionally. Link up to the parent topic and across to relevant siblings.

Example: Murphy Beds

Consider a client selling Murphy Beds:

  • Trunk: a page about Murphy Beds.
  • Branch: a page about Murphy Beds with a Desk.
  • Leaf: a page about a Queen Murphy Bed with Desk and Bookshelf.

If you write about “Top 20 Hidden Beds” and never link it back, you’ve created a weed. If instead you enhance the “Murphy Bed with Desk” page with photos and links, you’ve strengthened the branch.

Checklist for VAs and Editors

Before you publish:

  • Where does this page sit on the tree?
  • Does it link up and across correctly?
  • Does it show real experience?
  • Does it support a defined goal?
  • Would it be better to enhance an existing page?

If you can’t answer those, stop and rethink.

Final Word

The SEO Tree is the structure that turns random content into authority. Ignore it and you’ll keep making weeds. Follow it and you’ll build a site that grows stronger over time.ds. Follow it and you’ll build a site that grows stronger over time.