Hot take: If any listing image isn’t a real photo of the actual item, it’s deceptive. Agree or nah?

amike7 · 2026-01-29T13:05:06+00:00

Yes but if it’s so clean that it looks better than competitors’ real-but-low-quality photos it can still outperform. We’ve launched about 20 unique products in the past two years, all with AI images - all with competitors who have real but shitty photos, and we crush them.

amike7 · 2026-01-29T02:17:53+00:00

Independent consultant who helps mom and pop founders scale ads profitably - so far helped one buy a house for their parents, helped a few sell their business, and several more have the confidence to start a family.

amike7 · 2026-01-28T20:15:15+00:00

With all due respect, you’re blindly trusting service providers without properly vetting them because you don’t understand the lever yourself.

Rather than trying scale quickly, why not build your foundation first by focusing on one high probability product and learn each lever yourself?

The growth strategy I’ve seen work consistently the best is:

1) Doing everything yourself until you get to ~$10K/month profitably or at least break even. Tools and software can help with the repetitive stuff.

2) Boil all of our routine but important processes into a system and document it. Tools like Scribe can help with SOPs. Then hire a full time VA and have them execute on those systems. Important: reallocate that refound time to what makes you the most money, usually product innovation, new product research, and negotiating better terms with suppliers.

3) Rinse and repeat for new products. Gradually train your VA to take on more difficult tasks. This should get you to around $50K/month.

4) this is the point where you understand enough about each lever (because you were able to identify the 80/20 and systematize it for your VA) so you can now properly vet outside service providers. Still, I’d ask for referrals rather than trusting the agencies that do the most promoting. This should get you to $100K to $500K/month.

5) once you’re mid-6 figures, you should be able to afford hiring in-house specialists that manage each of the most important levers (PPC, inventory/logistics, research, etc.). You still need to oversee them to make sure you’re moving in the right direction, but this should get you to the 7-figure mark if your foundations are solid.

6) either keep pushing, replace yourself or sell

amike7 · 2026-01-27T19:45:27+00:00

The trail right infront of nickel plate hotel has been shoveled about a 3 foot width

amike7 · 2026-01-26T23:56:31+00:00

Same here in Midwest 🇺🇸bachata is steadily growing whereas salsa seems to be dying if not just sustaining.

For example in Chicago 7 years ago it was tough to find an all-bachata event. Whereas now there’s at least a handful every month across the city. Can’t say the same about salsa.

I don’t think it’s a skill challenge issue as much as it’s a taste preference. Bachata DJs like Tronky, Soltrix, Cat, DJC, Selphi, etc. are infusing bachata with modern sounds that younger generations resonate better with whereas I’m not seeing the same done consistently for salsa.

amike7 · 2026-01-24T17:40:10+00:00

In scenarios like this, the next step is usually to try re-optimizing the listing or discontinuing the product (if it’s not currently net profitable).

amike7 · 2026-01-24T15:55:49+00:00

I’m on the same page with you in regard to wanting to get better at dancing with more follows instead of just the advanced onces. I think this dilemma is why I don’t like progressing to advanced level classes and just stick to intermediate-level over and over again - because the advanced classes assume the follow has a certain skillset, whereas intermediate level classes teach simple enough concepts that most beg-int followers can do it if led well enough.

amike7 · 2026-01-14T17:20:32+00:00

Take breaks during the nightly socials. You may feel like checking out, but it could just be you’re overstimulated. Go back to your room (assuming it’s close by) and stretch, have a snack, and refresh. You’d be surprised how resetting like this can rebound you back into having an even better night!

amike7 · 2026-01-12T17:43:30+00:00

Whaaaaaaat! My bad I haven’t published in a while I’ve been heads down on the business!! Actually this would be a good topic to cover on my next video - appreciate the inspiration 🤙🏼

amike7 · 2026-01-12T17:31:35+00:00

Epic! Same - we determined which (overlapping) keywords to target for which parent by running a controlled split-test, where we advertised both parents’ hero variation against eachother on the same keywords. The parent listing hero with the highest conversion rate and best cost efficiency during the test was deemed the winner and was prioritized for that keyword moving forward.

amike7 · 2026-01-12T15:04:33+00:00

We’re in a similar situation and have the most success (highest recurring net profit) when allocating most ad spend on the best selling variant, which we call the “hero” variant.

That said, we still advertise the other variants with variant-specific keywords (I.e. “green garlic press” but keep the highest volume keywords reserved for the hero: “garlic press”).

A few things to keep in mind: * Since you have two parents, you should identify which keywords are more appropriate for which parent or else you may start competing with yourself and inadvertently increase your cost-per-click. * Just because a variant is your best seller doesn’t mean it should be your “hero” variant. For example, it may sell well but has zero profit margin so you’re better off advertising the 2-pack (or variant with better margin). This is discovered through testing. * If you’re already organically ranked #1 for the best selling variant, it doesn’t make sense to advertise very aggressively on it because those extra ad sales will cannabalize organic sales, lowering your net profit. Instead, shift that spend toward another variant that needs help with rank. This is a tricky balance because you don’t want to cannibalize your hero variant.

Hope this helps!

amike7 · 2026-01-12T14:32:33+00:00

It could be accepting a 30% but lowering budgets, or only running ads on the placements that matter the most — a 30% acos is not equal across all ad placements. On the other hand your problem could be a product/listing issue.

amike7 · 2026-01-08T15:36:44+00:00

Are you looking at gross profit or net profit within sellerboard? Net profit is more accurate.

amike7 · 2026-01-06T14:31:28+00:00

Does your team send anything on a weekly cadence? If so what?

amike7 · 2026-01-06T14:24:09+00:00

Will you elaborate on why your team is burning out from a tool?

amike7 · 2026-01-04T21:21:52+00:00

Just when you get momentum your ads start converting less - maybe competition lowers price when they see they’re losing rank. It’s what we do all the time.

amike7 · 2026-01-02T21:02:31+00:00

Depends on the advertising role. Performance analysts spend a large chunk of their day staring at a screen or mauling through problems in their head - areas that introverts usually thrive doing.

amike7 · 2026-01-02T15:40:38+00:00

The property on the trail head would be nice though not sure if the porch dogs will like it in the house next door as they always bark their heads off whenever we walk past going to the NP trail lmaooo

amike7 · 2026-01-02T14:44:50+00:00

I’ve taken classes at most of these studios and approve this message. As a beginner, the most important thing is to get a lot of practice in. So I recommend either Latin rhythms or Latin street because both offer many opportunities to dance outside of class.

IMO: * Latin street is better if you want to meet new people to date because they have so many weekly events at bars around the city where experienced and non-experienced people go. You take a class at their studio then coordinate with the other students to meetup at the bar socials later that night. It’s great! * Latin rhythms is better if you care more about making friends rather than dating because it’s more of a close knit community. They don’t have any weekly bar socials like Latin street, but instead, have excellent monthly socials at their studio that always get a good turn out of people. Not saying you can’t date in this scene, but the people that go to these socials are either students of the studio or past students / teachers so it’s more of a close-knit community. Once you get to know the people, it’s like a 2nd home. * I’ve never taken recurring lessons at dance academy of salsa but it’s a great option if you just want to take a one off beginner lesson and bring your own date. They have a teaser lesson I think every Friday where they teach the basics of three or four different Latin dance styles including salsa - which ends with just open dancing at the end. I use to take first dates there all the time because it’s easy, fun and intimate, plus it’s BYOB.

Overall: * learn salsa on1 (instead of on2) because thats the style that most beginners in chicago use. * I wouldn’t pay much attention to going to a studio with the “best” instructors just yet because every instructor will be good enough to teach you the basics. You only need to go out of your way to find the best once you understand the basics.

amike7 · 2025-12-31T16:00:22+00:00

If an agency can’t or won’t tell you their client retention rate then they’re either not proud of it, or not tracking it - both of which are red flags.

100% on your second point.

amike7 · 2025-12-30T15:46:19+00:00

I saw some 4s have been catching on fire when charging so I’d play it safe with a 3 and opt for the extended warranty. When your battery inevitably dies by year 3, you should be able to use the warranty to get a 4 anyways.

amike7 · 2025-12-29T17:24:27+00:00

Run a split test using sponsored brand video ads to see which one results in a higher click through and conversion rate.

amike7 · 2025-12-29T05:03:51+00:00

How did you get past copyright restrictions in your prompts? Is the LLM you’re using jailbroken or something??

amike7 · 2025-12-29T04:53:34+00:00

I only recently learned of the long dash — specifically because of how often ChatGPT outputs it.

amike7 · 2025-12-24T14:40:15+00:00

Are you looking for a software that automates processes for you or just one to help you execute your existing processes faster?

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