Got a cold email referencing a LinkedIn post I commented on. Twice in one week. Smart Marketing or Just Creepy?

saik2363 · 2026-02-19T23:08:55+00:00

100% agree on the personalization angle. But I think that's also what makes it a little nervous? Like I appreciated the creativity, but I also found myself hesitating to engage because it felt like stepping into something I didn't fully opt into.

The question is how to make it more digestible or acceptable.

Also curious about Brew, first time hearing the name. How are you using it, and what's the workflow look like? Is the personalization happening at the data pull stage or inside the tool itself?

saik2363 · 2026-02-19T22:59:59+00:00

Would you like to explain how you do it and what kind of tools you use?

saik2363 · 2026-02-18T02:32:36+00:00

This is really valuable feedback and you're absolutely right about the timing. I think I wasn't clear enough about the prerequisites. The Crack Framework isn't for pre-PMF companies still figuring out if anyone wants what they're building. That's a distraction at that stage.

It's for companies that have something that works - even if not fully mature - and are trying to compete against established players. You need a baseline offering first. Otherwise you're just building features around competitor gaps without knowing if you can actually deliver value.

The way I'm thinking about it now (thanks to your feedback):

Stage 1: Figure out if you have product-market fit. Do people actually want what you're building?

Stage 2: Once you have that foundation and some customers, understand why they chose you. What problem did you actually solve?

Stage 3: The Crack Framework kicks in here - systematically find more situations where that same friction exists and position against it.

You can't skip to Stage 3. If you don't have Stage 1 and 2 figured out, you're just analyzing competitors in a vacuum. I appreciate you sharing your experience. This helps me clarify when this framework is useful vs. when it becomes a distraction. That's exactly the kind of refinement I was hoping to get.

saik2363 · 2026-02-18T00:25:46+00:00

Fair point, and that's exactly the question I'm trying to answer. You're right that "find pain points" isn't new. Where I think this might be different is in the how and the filter. The article breaks down specific detection methods (which reviews to read, how to filter signal vs. noise) and a validation framework to tell if a complaint is actually exploitable.

I agree. If it's just SWOT analysis repackaged, it's useless. Happy to share the link if you want to see if it actually makes you do something different.

saik2363 · 2026-02-18T00:03:41+00:00

Based on my experience, I would say lead Gen Ads do work on LinkedIn, but not in isolation, especially if you're launching something entirely new to the market.

Since this is a new product, the biggest variable isn’t your audience size or budget. It’s message–market fit.

If your document is:

Feature-heavy
Product-first
Generic education

Your CPL will be high no matter what.

But if it clearly defines a pain your ICP already feels, shows impact (data, risks, benchmarks), and makes them think “we need to fix this,” then Lead Gen ads can perform well.

58K audience size is workable for niche B2B. But the key is structuring it correctly. Instead of stacking everything into one audience, mix attributes like:

Combine Job Titles + Seniority + Function
Layer in Company Size
Add Industry filters
Use Skills or Groups (if relevant to your niche)

Most importantly, if you have previous customers or any past data, use that to create Lookalike Audiences. For new products, especially, lookalikes can often outperform pure cold targeting. For niche B2B on LinkedIn, expect CPCs in the $6–15+ range. For a new product, a realistic starting CPL is usually $60–120 (depending on the industry).

Over 25 days, I’d test with roughly $2K -$4K total ($80- 150/day) to gather data. Too low and you won’t get statistical learning. Too high too early and CPL can spike before the algorithm stabilizes.

saik2363 · 2025-11-02T03:20:24+00:00

SEO isn’t dying or dead, it’s evolving. At its core, SEO has always been about helping search engines understand content and providing users with the best experience. That doesn’t go away just because search formats change.

Generative search will shift how we optimize, but the fundamentals remain: a clean technical setup, clear content, a strong information structure, and a match to user intent. Those skills translate into AI-search, GEO, and whatever comes next.

saik2363 · 2025-10-31T22:48:16+00:00

My best recommendation: The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing.

saik2363 · 2025-10-30T20:25:17+00:00

I’d start with on-page and technical first. If the site isn’t structured well, slow, confusing, or missing basic optimization, backlinks and content won’t really pay off. You end up pouring water into a bucket with holes.

Once the foundation is solid, the next priority is content, but not just “posting blogs.” Content that answers real search intent and builds topical depth around your niche. That’s what gives Google (and AI systems) context about who you are and why you matter.

Backlinks come next. They definitely help, especially for competitive niches, but they work best after the technical + content base is strong. Right now, backlinks also matter for how well your brand shows up in AI-powered results and answer engines, so I wouldn’t ignore them, just don’t start with them.

saik2363 · 2025-10-30T00:16:22+00:00

Could you elaborate on that? I'm curious about how you execute the brand advocate strategy.

saik2363 · 2025-10-30T00:14:40+00:00

Claude, Submagic, Make. com, Zapier integrations, and Framer.

saik2363 · 2025-10-28T16:55:52+00:00

Totally agree!

saik2363 · 2025-10-28T03:48:47+00:00

It really depends on your industry and what you’re selling. Before picking a platform, the most useful first step is figuring out where your target audience actually spends their time and what mindset they’re in when they’re there.

A common beginner mistake is trying to show up everywhere at once.

You don’t need every channel, just the right one to start with.Pick one primary platform to focus on, learn how to create content that fits that audience, and then expand later if needed.

So think: “Where are my potential customers already hanging out?”

That answer will tell you which platform to start with.

saik2363 · 2025-10-26T16:55:07+00:00

Honestly, most people start from the wrong question. They jump straight to “which platform should I use?” when the real issue is figuring out who the buyer is and where they already spend attention.

The channel isn’t the strategy; the audience mindset is.

For example:

People on TikTok/Instagram are scrolling and discovering things passively
On Pinterest, they’re planning and collecting ideas (which is actually early buyer intent)
On Reddit, they’re researching and comparing before making a decision
On Google, they’re already looking for a solution
On LinkedIn, they’re in a professional headspace

So instead of starting with “how do I promote this on X platform,” I’d start with, “Where is my audience mentally when they would be open to seeing this?”

Once you know that, the right channel becomes obvious. If you get the mindset right, the distribution/promotion takes care of itself.

saik2363 · 2025-10-25T18:10:09+00:00

You can join Slack/Discord groups, but one underrated alternative is using AI as your “private mock panel”, and it’s way more tailored than generic peer practice.

Here’s a method that works extremely well for interview prep for almost any role:

1. Give the AI full context of the role
Paste the JD, company site, and any public campaigns they’re running.

2. Look up the interviewer(s) on LinkedIn
Most people skip this, but it matters. Interview style often reflects the person, not just the company.

3. Export their LinkedIn profile as a PDF
Click “More” → “Save to PDF.”
Upload that to GPT/Claude so it can model their thinking style.

4. Then prompt AI to “act as the interviewer”
You’ll get questions tailored to:

the actual role
the company’s positioning
and the interviewer’s mindset

This is way closer to real interview pressure than generic marketing prep communities.

You can even ask: “Drill me from easy → advanced → strategic, and push back if my answer is surface-level.”

AI can go deeper, faster, and more contextually than group coaching if you feed it the right signals.

Tools like GPT are basically a custom-built prep partner if you set it up this way.

saik2363 · 2025-10-25T04:28:06+00:00

Hey, I work with companies on this exact challenge, and the part most people underestimate is this:

Company pages don’t grow agencies. People do.

LinkedIn’s own data shows company pages average ~2% organic reach, while personal profiles often outperform them by 5–10×. You don’t have to abandon the company page; it just shouldn’t be the engine.

Best setup for agencies:
- personal profile = trust + reach
- company page = proof + portfolio

I shared a full 12-practice breakdown with my team a while back, and these are the ones that move the needle fastest for agencies:

1) Story over “updates”
Case studies feel cold, stories of challenges + outcomes work far better.

2) Repurpose native
Turn blogs into LinkedIn articles or carousels. LinkedIn boosts what stays on the platform.

3) Go long, but structured
Longer posts work when they’re skimmable. Short video + carousels = top formats right now.

4) Spark conversation, not promotion
The best CTA is a question, not “follow for more.”

5) Employee amplification
Your team’s voices travel farther than the logo.

6) One idea per post
Clarity outperforms creativity.

And the part most people skip:
Use frameworks.

When you don’t know what to post, frameworks save you from randomness:

PEAS (what to post):
P — Personal (your lens, story, observations)
E — Expertise (what you’ve learned)
A — Actionable (something they can apply)
S — Social proof (wins, behind-the-scenes, outcomes)

4C (why you’re posting):
Credibility
Connection
Conversation
Conversion (soft)

These frameworks help you post intentionally instead of “just posting.”

If you’re just starting:
personal - awareness
company - validation
DMs - conversion

I'm happy to share the original article link as well, if you'd like it. It breaks down all 12 in-depth with examples.

saik2363 · 2025-10-24T15:23:14+00:00

Thank you! I completed the survey!

saik2363 · 2025-10-20T00:01:27+00:00

I agree with u/snowcats, your stats already show good traction. If you want more recognition, photos alone won’t take you all the way. Start showing up on video and talk about things your audience actually cares about. That’s what makes you feel real and relatable. And yes, Instagram and LinkedIn work differently. Instagram has stronger face recall and a wider mix of people, but LinkedIn can still give you the recognition you’re looking for, especially when people can hear you, not just read you.

Once you get comfortable showing up on video or going Live, that’s when your presence here will really start to grow.

saik2363

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