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.


/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

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