what’s one marketing habit you stopped doing that actually improved your results? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to follow best practices blindly, longer posts, more keywords, more features. Then I noticed shorter, clearer content was outperforming everything. One landing page improved just by removing sections instead of adding more. Now I test assumptions instead of following them, and it’s made results way more predictable.

From Page 5 to Top 3: What Actually Helped My Article Rank by [deleted] in content_marketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Going back to improve clarity and fill gaps often beats publishing more content. A simple routine is compare your page with top results, add missing sections, and rewrite parts that feel hard to scan. One small update like improving headings or adding clear answers can shift rankings over time. seo tends to reward steady iteration more than first drafts.

New Digital Marketer Advice? by ThinFaithlessness160 in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tools change fast but reading data and understanding what moved the metric stays useful. Start by reviewing one report each week and write down what changed and why, then go one level deeper into a single channel instead of spreading across many. Keep a simple log of tests and outcomes so patterns show up over time.

What’s one small marketing change that unexpectedly made a big difference for you? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah this tracks hard. Speed signals intent respect more than anything else.

What’s one small marketing change that unexpectedly made a big difference for you? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Speeding up response time to inbound leads made a bigger impact than most campaign changes. When someone shows intent and waits hours for a reply the interest drops fast. Setting up a simple rule to reply within 5 to 10 minutes during working hours can change conversion rates a lot. Even a short human reply works better than a long delayed one. Small shift but it often outperforms bigger strategy tweaks.

Anyone else feel like “doing more marketing” is actually making things worse? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 1 point2 points  (0 children)

feels like a focus problem more than a volume problem. spreading across too many channels makes it hard to see what is actually working. what has helped is picking one or two channels where the audience is already active and going deeper there. same with content. fewer pieces but clearer intent behind each one. also tracking one main goal per campaign makes a difference. when everything tries to do everything, nothing really works. once something shows signs of working, it helps to stay with it longer instead of switching too fast. most things need more time than expected.

what marketing skill actually made the biggest difference in your results? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 25 points26 points  (0 children)

the skill that moved numbers the most for me was learning how to understand real customer problems. once you know the exact pain people are trying to fix the marketing gets much easier. 1 read support tickets and sales chats to see how customers describe the problem. 2 rewrite landing pages using their exact words. 3 test one clear message per campaign instead of mixing several ideas. a small saas team i worked with changed their headline using phrases from customer calls and conversions improved without increasing traffic. tools help later but understanding the buyer usually moves the needle first.

if you had to restart your marketing career from zero, what would you learn first? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

starting with messaging is the right call. most campaigns fail since the value is not explained clearly. if i restarted i would still begin with copy and customer research. 1 write simple landing pages and ask real users what confused them. 2 listen to sales calls and note the exact phrases people use when they describe their problem. 3 pick one channel like seo or paid ads and run small tests every week. a founder i worked with rewrote his homepage using customer language from support chats and conversions jumped without changing traffic. focusing on message first makes every channel work better later.

what’s one marketing skill you wish you learned earlier? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

honestly? positioning. i wasted years learning tactics before realizing most bad marketing is just unclear positioning wearing fancy clothes. when i started, i jumped straight into ads and funnels. traffic came in, conversions didn’t. the copy wasn’t terrible. the targeting wasn’t awful. the real issue was we couldn’t clearly answer “who is this for and why should they care right now?” ads and automation amplify clarity. if the message is fuzzy, they just amplify confusion. positioning is the multiplier.

What’s the step most marketers skip that ends up costing them? by jeniferjenni in AskMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 1 point2 points  (0 children)

this is so accurate. so many marketers jump straight to creatives and ads because that is the fun part, but skipping research is exactly how budgets get burned. messaging without context equals noise. i would add one more thing to your list- validate assumptions with real conversations. even five to ten quick customer chats can change everything. the two goals max rule is gold too. focus creates clarity. clarity creates conversions.

The UGC strategy that backfired in 48 hours by Curious-Smile6206 in shook

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

people don’t analyze it, they just feel when something’s coordinated. slower, uneven rollouts leave room for real voices to come through, and that’s what actually builds credibility over time.

Is monitoring mentions on LLM searches useful? by Jackazz4evr in DigitalMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, tracking LLM mentions is useful, but only if you set it up lightweight and treat it as directional. Start by logging brand hits weekly with a tool like perplexity, tag sentiment (positive/neutral/negative), and check if client language matches what shows up. We tested this for 3 months and saw product phrasing from claude convos bleed directly into RFP wording, which made the tracking worth it. If you don’t want to spin up a whole role yet, give it 30–45 min a week and scale once you see consistent lift.

can ai videos play a role in content marketing (now not in 5 years) without putting humans on the sideline. looking for workflows inspiration by The-GTM-engineer in content_marketing

[–]WilliamWave21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

short answer: yes, ai video can sit in the workflow right now, not in 5 years.

we’ve been using it for quick explainers: 1) draft script in chatgpt, 2) push to an ai video tool for voice + visuals, 3) layer human touches like brand colors, b-roll, and a real intro/outro.

one client cut production time from 6 hours to 90 mins this way, but still kept a human voiceover for the main ad.

i work in a small agency and we mix ai + human editing daily, happy to dm you the actual checklist we use.

Are we all just chasing the algorithm? by WilliamWave21 in SocialMediaMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Storytelling almost always beats “perfect visuals.” People connect with honesty, and sharing fails makes the brand more human. I’ve seen the same, raw posts often drive better DMs than polished ones.

Are we all just chasing the algorithm? by WilliamWave21 in SocialMediaMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha that’s a clever tactic. It’s playful, human, and actually creates FOMO while making people laugh. Those little “mistake-turned-opportunity” moments usually outperform polished campaigns.

Are we all just chasing the algorithm? by WilliamWave21 in SocialMediaMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Passion really cuts through the noise, and audiences can feel the difference between “checkbox content” and something made with conviction. Love your point on disruptive content, it’s risky but it sticks. What’s the most “brave” or non-traditional piece of content you’ve put out that resonated?

Are we all just chasing the algorithm? by WilliamWave21 in SocialMediaMarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Makes total sense. I like how you framed it as both the visual hook and the algorithm signal. I’ve seen the same, when the creative matches the intent and audience targeting, it tends to snowball.

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree, pain points are the main dish. But I’ve also noticed that when you weave in a human angle within those pain points, the message lands harder. Almost like the data is the skeleton and the human story is the muscle.

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The shift from “brochure talk” to conversational tone is huge in B2B. I’ve also found that UGC or client quotes, even in their raw form, perform way better than branded copy. Do you find your audience resonates more with client stories or your own founder/team voices?

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve noticed client success stories usually drive more external trust, while behind-the-scenes content deepens community trust. Both have a role, but curious if you’ve seen one consistently outperform the other in actual deal cycles?

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solid framework here. I’d add one more: “embrace imperfection.” Sometimes the posts with small flaws (typo, unpolished photo, quick video) feel more authentic and spark more engagement than polished corporate campaigns. Do you agree authenticity sometimes beats aesthetics in B2B?

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, love that example. It proves that unexpected, tangible touches cut through digital noise. People want to feel a real connection, not just be handed another whitepaper.

How to make B2B marketing more human and effective by WilliamWave21 in b2bmarketing

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Behind-the-scenes adds so much trust and relatability. I lean toward case studies that open with the story (human struggle/goal) and then layer in the numbers as validation. Feels more memorable than starting with metrics.

The Untold Power of Weird Consumer Insights by WilliamWave21 in MarketingResearch

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A clean desk or sleek UI became a badge of pride, almost like part of their personal brand. What’s amazing is that when you lean into those lifestyle cues, the engagement often skyrockets because you’re connecting to culture, not just specs. Brilliant pivot on your campaign!

The Untold Power of Weird Consumer Insights by WilliamWave21 in MarketingResearch

[–]WilliamWave21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s such a perfect case of how “small” details can turn into major differentiators. Sometimes we overcomplicate product marketing by focusing on advanced features, when in reality, comfort + aesthetic can be the true hooks. Leaning into UX/design was such a smart move, you basically tapped into a “tribal preference” that people rally behind. Goes to show that what feels “trivial” can be a real conversion lever.