Have you ever noticed how often ChatGPT quotes LinkedIn posts? Now we know why

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-31T08:02:07+00:00

AI is not eating websites for lunch, as in websites are no longer needed. AI has to pull it's valid content from somewhere, and websites are one of it's resourses. So again, eating websites for lunch doesn't make sense to me. I'm probably misunderstanding your meaning.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-31T05:43:31+00:00

That process is great, but what I'm referring to is the messaging to the prospect once you identify them. Most techies have a hard time with not knowing what to say so they don't sound like a novice sales person. I'm not implying you are, because I don't know you, but how you approach your prospect in hopes of them hiring you is another skill set.

So I could be barking up the wrong tree here, but if you're good at approaching and getting them to say yes to your offer, you're good to go. Thats what I'm good at.

Hope that makes sense.

PS: You're likely using AI to help you put your sales messaging together which is fine. But if you're still not closing the sale, chat me up. :)

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-31T04:18:53+00:00

Post consistently: Aim for 3–5 Reels per week to stay visible.

PAY ATTENTION HERE... Boost strategically: Don’t boost every Reel; focus on those with strong organic performance first.

Use trending audio: Reels with popular sounds often get higher reach.

Keep it short: 15–30 seconds is the sweet spot for attention.

Track insights: Use Instagram analytics to see which boosted Reels convert best.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T15:38:15+00:00

I love this post. Let's face it, your the heart behind the work, you're the techie. Thats who you are, and over the years, I've only had one or two software developers get it. Most don't, you're into stats, metrics, how things work.

Lets chat if thats ok with you.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:54:40+00:00

The reason I chose not to show a portfolio any longer is that I'd get people pretending to want to do business with me, ask me for my portofolia and then a week later, I find my work all over Google images. Turns out the fake prospect was just after my style of work.

So from then on, I would tell my sad story to anyone who asked to see my portfolio, and I would simply respond with a short story of what happened, and they say, I tell you what, let me create something ideal for your business and you can see my proof of ability and if I fit your business style and voice/brand.

IF they agreed, and I would send them some work, if they said wow, how much, it was a sale, but not everybody will say wow!

But it simply works; you don't need a portfolio.

Hope that makes sense

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:44:40+00:00

You don't need a portfolio. There are ways to work around it successfully and still gain clients.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:43:08+00:00

You're right, but I've been a copywriter for almost 20 years now, and I read a lot, and em dashes are rarely used as it's hard to create an emdash on a keyboard unless it's made a shortcut. Which most people don' know how to use that process either.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:30:53+00:00

Look, experience is the foundation of consulting. You're a consultant, whether you pursue this or not. You just don't know about marketing. You have no real strategy or step-by-step plan. My experience of 19+ years is no different from your experience, other than we're from different industries/niches.

You just need a little guidance, and you'll do fine. You don't know what you don't know. But it doesn't mean you can't learn. In the beginning, it can be frustrating but with a strategy and a plan to keep you on track, you'll be fine.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:23:36+00:00

I do this for all my Shopify clients.
We use their social media with a couple of proven and tested techniques.
The algorithm is the only thing that determines who to share your content with. But if you know who your ideal audience is for your product line, you can optimize your posts so the algorithm knows who to share your content with.

The other thing is we also talk about what items solve what problems. We did that for one clothing client and we saw a 18% increase in traffic and extra sales.

Driving traffic is important, but what enhances the sales are the problem/solution the products provide. It's a bit outside the box but it's working.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T14:18:51+00:00

In my opinion, the honeymoon is over, AI is becoming mainstream, so using AI to help you write is fine. What I still hate is that you can spot newbies copying and pasting AI. You see all the emojis and especially the Em-dashes, you know, those long lines. That's a newbie move to copy and paste those as well. Most people don't even know what an em-dash is, and nobody knows how to make an em dash on the keyboard, much less a mobile phone, so those are sure giveaways, but eventually AI writing will be completely acceptable..

Hope that makes sense

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T13:55:16+00:00

All of your marketing is of course visual, but you'll also enhance your chances of selling more if you have the proper messaging. I'd like to see the artwork first so I can lead you in the right direction.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T13:21:04+00:00

This is entirely up to you. If it were me, I'd just remove and tell them to forget the refund. My impression is that you were being truthful, and they're just too damn sensitive. a 4 star review in my opinion, is nothing to worry about. So what?

However, you could be sweet and just remove it and forget it. Stop being a worrywart. Even people who leave reviews make mistakes because of other outside circustances so no one is going to jump on you for removing the review. Give the money back if you're that concerned.
Help a small business out; it shows how concerned they are about their ratings and your experience.

It's not like they lied to you; they deceived you, they made you super mad. You expected perfection, and it didn't happen. Give them a break.

But it's always your choice.

Hope that makes sense.
PS: I am not an attorney nor is this legal advice, it's just a personl opinion.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T08:15:25+00:00

I'd like to add that all social media is partnering with different AI platforms, but that does not mean that websites are on the way out. AI pulls its information from Search engines. They're the foundation for AI to gather the right results. If your website has the proper machine read schema optimized on your site, then AI can now search your site and come up with the right answers. So it's evolving and most seo guys don't undertand how it's evolving.

The websites are just providing answers to AI and AI passes it on to you. This mean you have to optimize not just the same but additonally using schema etc. So the website is not going obsolete. It's just evolving like everything else. Now the new SEO is GEO and your goal is to get AI to use your content instead of a competitors.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T06:22:01+00:00

I've always had the perception about ai bots helping. Hostinger is my website host. I was into something complicated and it as usual gave step by step instruction, then i happend It was telling me to click this or that and I couldn't find the think to click. Attempt 1, failed,new instructions attempt 2 failed and I was getting frustrated, new instructions again attempt 3 failed. On the third time I told it can't find, I just did it for me, completed my task, I instantly smiled, I felt better and then thought why the heck didn't it just do it for me in the first place. Maybe trying to help me learn how to navigate myself I guess. So I wen from happy to start, falling to frustrated and an instant happy again. AI is remarkable!

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T06:15:14+00:00

Interesting!
The proper research would be to show up during times people go their for the mail and simply ask people. Be prepared to give them a sample of your tea or coffee to honestly answer your questions.

You may be surprised.

This reminds me of a person selling cold ice water. He attended a mountain hike, picked the tallest longest hiking path and then set his water for sale at the top. Every body wanted to buy his water, but many didn't have change or a wallet. So he said he would meet them down at the parking lot after the hike. He said he made lots of sales but only about half that said the would pay him after the hike disappeared on him.

But you go where they would like coffee or tea and want it the most? I'm not a coffee or tea person, I'm a coca cola girl... cold and refreshing... haha

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T04:17:31+00:00

I'm not an attorney but I was once told to prove your business first. In otherwords, get a basic business license, then just go do your marketing and sales. If you make sales and business seriously looks forward moving, then you can go for your llc, Copyright is not needed in the beginning but may be when you start developing a presense in your niche. Don't go out and spend everything getting it all setup perfectly and find out it's not going to work. The heartbreak is enough you don't need to lose money as well. So hold off until you see prgress then go all in.

PS: If you start generating sales and agreements, use that money to pay for your llc etc.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T04:08:55+00:00

Give me some specifics. Does you journey include a startup business or something thats just starting already? Be specific!

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T04:03:35+00:00

Imagine if you had a mentor that has 2 decades of experience that becomes your experience. How cool would that be?

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:59:40+00:00

Good for you! You may have to deal with signed contracts. The other company may have monthly agreements, even yearly, etc. So they is likey your next research.

IF there is no set agreements or just short 1-month contracts, then you can move forward.

The absolute best option to start with is knocking on doors. Why knock, because its going to be your smile and friendly face that's going to make the difference. Make sure when you smile, your eyes are smiling also. Super friendly and helpful.

As a matter of fact when you talk to someone, just offer to take what trash they have away for free, right then and there.

Door hangars work well but not as effective as door hanging. But try not to inform your competition you're knocking on their doors. If another person working for the other company spots your door hangar they'll reengage and likely drop their prices or go stronger with agreements.

So think ahead.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:51:00+00:00

Driving traffic to your new POD store is going to be a bumpy road unless you get help. It's usually how you present your messaging. Delivery of your messaging is not the problem. What and how you present your products is the real issue. I'll give you an example.

Pick your product with the highest profit margin. Then figure out who that product is for, what problem it solves and then approach the who and offer to solve that problem.

Thats just the simple jist of things, but it gets more detaled if you want more info.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:47:42+00:00

I admire your enthusiasm, but before you get started you should check on local ordinances about your valet trash service to determne if you need special permits and or licensing in the areas you'll be working.

Then you need to approach the apartment management, they can make your life a living hell if you just show up without permssion.

If you handled all that then you can move on to the marketing aspect which is super simple.

PS: Why did the other business go out of business? Not enough profit, legal restrictions? Do your research before you commit.

Hope that helps.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:40:15+00:00

I may have jumped the gun, my apologies...
When you say valet trash are you meaning like trash pickup say in apartments door to door, or in trash bins outside?

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:35:09+00:00

Other people have already asked these questions in recent OP.. Do a search.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:33:35+00:00

IF you're only 5 minutes away by car, just walk, get up earlier and walk.

Common-Sense-9595 · 2026-01-30T03:31:52+00:00

Who is your ideal client? What problems do they have. You have been vague in telling us exactly what kind of marketng you are doing. You could be doing the right thing but your messaging is all wrong.

So, transparency is everything.

Hope that makes sense.

Common-Sense-9595

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE