AI & Automation for Small Business

More reach.
Less work.

Marketing that grows your revenue — powered by AI agents and automation that shrink your workload. Built for high-performing local businesses that know they need AI, but don't have time to figure it out.

No jargon. No 40-slide pitch. Reach out and we'll take a 30-minute look at where AI can make you money.

Running Dog Media — running dog with circuit and growth-arrow artwork

Sound familiar?

You built a great business.
Now it runs you.

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Every hat is your hat

Marketing, follow-ups, scheduling, reviews, reporting — it all lands on you or a team that's already maxed out. Growth means more hours you don't have.

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You know AI matters. Who has the time?

Everyone says you "need AI." But between running the business and living your life, learning automation platforms isn't happening — and the fear of falling behind is real.

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Growth shouldn't require more payroll

The old playbook says grow by hiring. But every new hire eats margin. There's a better way: systems that do the work of staff — without the overhead.

That's exactly the gap Running Dog Media fills: we build the AI and automation for you, so you get the growth without the learning curve or the headcount.

What we do

A growth engine that works while you sleep

Four pillars, one goal: more revenue and better margins — without adding personnel.

AI Agents That Never Sleep

An AI voice & chat agent — trained in your brand voice — that answers calls, qualifies leads, books appointments, and follows up. Every missed call is revenue walking out the door; your agent catches it, 24/7.

  • AI call agent that answers & books in your voice
  • Instant lead follow-up (speed-to-lead wins deals)
  • Review requests & reactivation campaigns on autopilot

Automation That Buys Back Your Time

We connect the tools you already use — calendar, CRM, phones, email, socials — into automated workflows that handle the repetitive work your team shouldn't be doing by hand.

  • Client intake, reminders & no-show reduction
  • Reporting that lands in your inbox, not your to-do list
  • Custom workflows built on n8n — you own them

Get Found — on Google and AI

Deep SEO plus AEO (Answer Engine Optimization): when someone asks Google — or ChatGPT — for "the best med spa near me," your business is the answer. Most agencies haven't caught up to AI search. We live there.

  • Deep SEO/AEO audit & keyword research
  • Local SEO setup & on-site optimization
  • Competitor watching & monthly reporting

Content & Social, Done For You

Weekly content in your brand voice that turns into a steady stream of social posts — 4–10 per week — plus virtual-assistant support for the tasks that keep piling up.

  • Brand-voice content templates & weekly creation
  • Content-to-social pipeline: write once, post everywhere
  • Dedicated VA task support as you grow

Who it's for

Built for premium local businesses

We work with established, consumer-facing businesses where every new client is worth real money — and every missed one hurts.

The best fit: established businesses doing $1.5M+ in annual revenue with high-ticket, high-margin services — owners who want growth without adding headcount. If that's you, we should talk.

These types of businesses are the perfect fit:

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Med Spas & Aesthetics

High-value treatments, competitive markets, and clients who research before they book. Win the search, answer every call, keep the chairs full.

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Cosmetic Dentists

A single case can be worth five figures. Speed-to-lead and reputation are everything — exactly what AI agents and automation do best.

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Estate Planners & Professional Services

Trust-driven, referral-heavy practices. Consistent content and follow-up systems turn your expertise into a steady pipeline.

How it works

From overwhelmed to automated in three steps

1

Free AI Opportunity Audit

A 30-minute call where we map where your revenue leaks — missed calls, slow follow-up, invisible-on-Google — and where AI pays for itself fastest. You leave with a plan whether we work together or not.

2

We build your growth engine

In the first 90 days we do the heavy lifting: deep SEO/AEO audit and implementation, brand-voice content system, AI call agent, and the automations that stop the bleeding — all built for you, not dumped on you.

3

Scale without hiring

Once the engine is running, we keep it fed: weekly content, 4–10 social posts a week, competitor watching, and clear monthly reporting. You see the numbers move — your workload doesn't.

Results

What it's really like to work with us

Client Testimonial · Working together since 2018

"We don't think of Shane as an outside consultant. We consider him a valued member of our team."

"We have had the privilege of working with Shane since 2018, and it is difficult to overstate the impact he has had on our business and its growth. He brings a rare combination of strategic insight, technical expertise, and hands-on execution — and he knows how to turn that knowledge into initiatives that produce meaningful results.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach or simply implementing the latest technology, Shane understands how to identify where AI, automation, and content creation can have the greatest practical and strategic impact on a business. His solutions have significantly reduced the time, manpower, and financial resources required to execute — allowing us to accomplish more while freeing our people to focus on other priorities. In an environment where AI is rapidly changing how companies compete, Shane helps ensure his clients aren't simply keeping up with that change, but are positioned to capitalize on it.

What truly separates Shane is the level of ownership he brings to his work. He doesn't simply make recommendations and move on; he rolls up his sleeves, stays involved, and continually iterates to accelerate results. He genuinely cares about our business and its success as though it were his own."

— Neil D., business owner & Running Dog Media client since 2018
Shane LaPan, founder of Running Dog Media

About

Guided by experience, not hype

Running Dog Media is led by Shane LaPan, a marketing and e-commerce operator with 20+ years of experience growing businesses — responsible for over $101 million in revenue since 2021 and three successful exits, built through search, content, advertising, and the systems behind them.

Shane has spent his career on the operator's side of the table: doing keyword research at midnight, reconciling ad spend, watching competitors, and building the systems that let small teams punch far above their weight. Today, that experience goes into one thing — building AI agents and automation that make local businesses more money with less work.

You won't get a junior account manager reading a script. You get a seasoned operator who has run the playbook himself — and who now uses AI to run it faster.

Connect with Shane on LinkedIn →

FAQ

Questions owners actually ask

What does Running Dog Media do?

Running Dog Media builds AI agents, marketing automation, SEO/AEO, and done-for-you content for established local businesses. In plain terms: we grow your revenue and reach while shrinking the amount of work it takes to run your marketing — without you hiring more staff.

Who is this for?

Consumer-facing businesses doing roughly $1.5M+ in annual revenue with high-ticket services — med spas, cosmetic dentists, estate planners, and similar premium local businesses. If every new client is worth real money to you, we're probably a fit.

What is an AI Opportunity Audit?

A free 30-minute conversation where we map where your business is leaking revenue — missed calls, slow follow-up, weak search visibility — and identify where AI and automation would pay for themselves fastest. You keep the roadmap whether or not we work together.

Do I need to be technical, or learn AI tools myself?

No. That's the point. We design, build, and run everything for you — the AI call agent, the automations, the content engine. You approve the strategy and see the results; we handle the technology.

What is AEO, and why should I care?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is making sure AI assistants like ChatGPT recommend your business, the same way SEO gets you found on Google. More of your future customers are asking AI for recommendations every month — most agencies haven't caught up to this. We optimize for both.

How is this different from a traditional marketing agency?

Traditional agencies sell you campaigns and hours. We build systems — AI agents and automations that keep working 24/7 after they're built — and pair them with the search, content, and social work that feeds them. You get senior, hands-on attention from an operator, not a junior account team.

Let's talk

Get your free AI Opportunity Audit

Reach out and we'll set up a 30-minute conversation. No pressure, no jargon. We'll show you exactly where AI and automation can grow your revenue — and you keep the roadmap either way.

Reach out directly

Send a note about your business and what's eating your time. You'll hear back from Shane personally — usually within one business day — and we'll find a time to talk that works for you.

Email Shane

shane@runningdogmedia.com

Or use the form