In today's competitive landscape of digital marketing, very few strategists have carved out a niche quite like Randy Rohde. Serving as the founder of The News Guy and 38 Digital Market, Rohde has built a reputation as a nationally acclaimed PR expert who empowers brands build authority, dominate search rankings, and get featured on more than 900 media outlets.
An Unconventional Path to PR Expertise
Rohde's career path took several unexpected turns. Holding degrees from institutions including Michigan Ross, he started out in retail operations — managing national retail locations, handling multi-unit management, and eventually overseeing operations at two national retail companies.
However, Rohde always had the drive to build something of his own. Together with a group of collaborators, he launched a national service provider, exited successfully, started another, then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he scaled a company to operate in five states — and sold that business as well. It was during this time that he became captivated by digital marketing.
The News Guy: Strategic PR Distribution
Currently, Rohde runs 38 Digital Market, a digital marketing agency based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Through his brand "The News Guy," he provides a full range of services designed to generate measurable outcomes for businesses.
His core offering is press release distribution, publishing content across high-authority publications such as AP News, Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, and Business Insider. Beyond press releases, Rohde also provides high-profile article placements on top-tier media outlets, SEO and local SEO optimization, strategic link building, and PPC campaign management.
Where PR Meets AI
What truly sets Rohde apart is his expertise in AI search visibility. He views press releases as a form of influence over AI systems — enabling businesses to influence what AI tools including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity say about their company. This cutting-edge approach offers brands read more a significant advantage in today's shifting digital landscape.
A Renaissance Man of Media and Marketing
Rohde's reach goes much further than client work alone. He runs a pair of podcasts — "Hot Off The Press," a daily show dedicated to press releases, SEO, and digital PR that has surpassed 400 episodes, and "Running the Bases with Small Businesses," an interview series spotlighting small business stories and insights.
On the speaking circuit, Rohde has presented at industry conferences around the world, including SEO Rockstars, the YACSS SEO Conference in Aalborg, Denmark, and Digital Unfiltered. He's appeared as a guest on numerous podcasts like The Virtual CMO Podcast, the Million Dollar Agency Podcast, and the SEO Video Show.
On top of all that, Rohde boasts IMDB credits as a producer, actor, and director — demonstrating his ability to tell compelling stories both behind the camera and in the boardroom.
The Bottom Line
In his own copyright: "Visibility without credibility is a missed opportunity." For businesses looking to build authority, boost their search rankings, and future-proof their marketing, Randy Rohde and The News Guy deliver the results that matter.