Johnny Hughes

CMO & Chairman, AI Council. Founder, Zillas

Johnny Hughes is an award-winning strategic digital marketing advisor, leading enterprise B2B clients through full-funnel lead generation, AI integration and conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies.

Serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Chairman of the AI Council at Avenue Z, Johnny leads the digital delivery production and internal marketing teams at the agency.

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/EXPERTISE AREAS

B2B Lead Generation

Conversion Rate Optimization

Growth Strategies

Building and Selling Companies

Performance Marketing

AI & Emerging Tech

SEO Marketing Strategies

Full-funnel Marketing

Website Design & Optimization

A/B Testing & Experimentation

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About Me

With decades of experience, Johnny has assisted enterprise brands in improving their online presence and achieving lasting growth through innovative omn-ichannel marketing strategies. He founded the Zillas agency in 2007, where a strategic blend of top-notch creativity and advanced digital marketing techniques converge to meet the needs of today’s business leaders.

He has provided solutions for various global organizations in different industries, including healthcare, fintech, manufacturing, technology, entertainment, and tourism, having worked with notable clients, including AAA, Truist Bank, AdventHealth, Orlando Magic, Goodwill, Boys & Girls Club, and Piper Aircraft.

Hughes’ exceptional blend of creativity and forward-thinking innovation continue to position him as a thought leader, navigating through decades of transformative digital landscapes. Now, as the Chief Marketing Officer for Avenue Z, he integrates marketing advancements from emerging technologies like Web3, Generative AI (such as Funnel GPT), and Web XR into his visionary approach to leading the digital delivery teams across the Avenue Z Network.

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My Latest Insights

  • Google’s AI Search Evolution: What Marketers Need to Know About AI Mode & Expanding AI Overviews

    Google just dropped a major update to search with expanded AI overviews and the introduction of AI Mode, so…

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    4 min read

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    DeepSeek’s Security Risks: What Business Leaders Need to Know

    DeepSeek is gaining traction as a low-cost AI tool, but in my Entrepreneur feature, I break down why its…

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    2 min read

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    SEMrush’s New AI Toolkit: A Complete Review

    We just tested SEMrush’s new AI Toolkit, and the results were interesting—here’s what it gets right, where it falls…

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    5 min read

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  • OpenAI ChatGPT 4.5

    Hands-on with ChatGPT-4.5: What Tech Leaders Need to Know

    ChatGPT 4.5 introduces major improvements in accuracy, contextual understanding, and AI-driven conversations, offering fintech and tech leaders new opportunities…

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    5 min read

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    AI Crawlers vs. Traditional Crawlers: How AI Indexes the Web Differently

    AI-powered crawlers are transforming web indexing by going beyond traditional link-following and keyword matching to understand context, process dynamic…

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    6 min read

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  • Artificial Intelligence processor unit. Powerful Quantum AI component on PCB motherboard with data transfers. with font "AI" on chipset

    How to Use AI Optimization (AIO) to Increase Brand Visibility

    Unlock the power of Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) to enhance your brand’s search visibility, PR strategy, and creative execution—discover…

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    5 min read

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