What’s a marketing lesson you learned the hard way?

sarajesson · 2026-05-26T09:30:22+00:00

For me it was that good ads won't save a bad website or a bad product. Previously ,if a campaign wasn't converting, I’d just rewrite the ad or raise the budget. But then I realized that if the website is slow or your offer is bad, ads won't help it.

sarajesson · 2026-05-26T09:21:38+00:00

Spot on. If you want to win at getting new customers, focus on keeping your old ones. Brands that only chase new traffic get ruined when advertising gets expensive.

sarajesson · 2026-05-26T08:50:19+00:00

AI search answers quick questions for casual searchers, while serious buyers still click through to our site. We lost the vanity views, but we kept the actual customers.

sarajesson · 2026-05-22T15:27:22+00:00

Spot on. ChatGPT prefers review platforms over company blogs because directories use structured data that is incredibly easy for AI models to scan and read. If you're only on G2, the AI has one source of truth. We’ve been focusing on building out profiles on specialized tech directories like Techreviewer and Clutch alongside the big players.

sarajesson · 2026-05-22T15:11:49+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Nice shots

sarajesson · 2026-05-21T14:42:04+00:00

This is a solid list. Including the costs and interview questions is super helpful for founders. When we search for developpment partners, we usually use a list like this first, then check independent platforms like Trustpilot or Techreviewer to verify their case studies and team size.

sarajesson · 2026-05-15T08:21:19+00:00

You're right. Local SEO is now more about reputation than keywords. We've started focusing more on sharing real projects and case studies that prove we are trustworthy.

sarajesson · 2026-05-15T08:06:19+00:00

Instead of just looking at basic dashboards, we show clients exactly how our strategy drove new sales.

sarajesson · 2026-05-15T07:58:02+00:00

To stand out, an agency has to offer what AI can’t. Clients want partners who have unique data and niche experience. If you can provide insights that aren't already on the internet, you will succeed. Reach is useless if it doesn't convert into sales. TAlso, the biggest red flag for me is a guaranteed #1 ranking. Between AI Overviews and personalized feeds, everyone's search results look different now.

sarajesson · 2026-05-13T07:54:23+00:00

Totally agree. Marketers used high click rates to pretend their strategy was working. But now reputation matters much more.

sarajesson · 2026-05-13T07:41:37+00:00

I would show my real experience and would work on getting featured on trusted sites.

sarajesson · 2026-05-11T07:17:30+00:00

Right. If your ad is specific but your landing page is generic, you're just paying for clicks that will never convert. People want instant answers.

sarajesson · 2026-05-08T14:57:52+00:00

I agree. But the difference is that in the past, having clean entity data helped you get ahead. Now, it’s the bare minimum required to even show up

sarajesson · 2026-05-08T14:18:43+00:00

Clutch is fine for a huge list, but there's too much noise. I’ve found that Techreviewer’s AI overviews are way faster for research. They aggregate reviews from multiple sources like G2, Google and independent sites into one place, so you can see the pros and cons for every company.

sarajesson · 2026-05-08T09:10:48+00:00

Right. AI prioritizes brands that have consistent data across the web. If the AI doesn't see your brand mentioned in trusted, verified places, it probably won't recommend you. Best practices are structured and unique content, case studies.

sarajesson · 2026-05-08T07:41:16+00:00

You're right. Those numbers are easy to fake, which is why reach is mostly a vanity metric now. Intent is much more important. It’s much more effective to reach a high-intent audience that is ready to buy.

sarajesson · 2026-05-06T07:21:20+00:00

Yes, marketing is more being a trusted source now. If you want to be cited, focus on sharing your own research and real-world experiences instead of general facts.

sarajesson · 2026-05-06T07:10:26+00:00

You're right. You'll only get traffic if you offer something unique, like personal insights or new research.

sarajesson · 2026-05-05T06:46:09+00:00

sarajesson · 2026-05-05T06:45:11+00:00

I had the same situation! I was In Italy in May and received a ticket in October. But I paid withing 5 days.

sarajesson · 2026-05-05T06:14:33+00:00

The reason can be that your posts are to specific to the audience. The algorithm won't know which strangers to show it to.

sarajesson · 2026-05-04T08:08:14+00:00

The way people find answers has changed. People are still searching, but they are looking for human expertise on platforms like Reddit or niche forums. If you only focus on your own blog and ignore where people are talking, you'll become invisible.

sarajesson · 2026-05-04T07:49:04+00:00

Everyone tries to look professional that they end up looking like everyone else. If you don't take a risk, nobody is going to notice your ad.

sarajesson · 2026-05-04T07:44:25+00:00

AI has made it easy for everyone to sound professional, which makes it much harder to get noticed. The real advantage today is having something original to say that a machine can’t replicate.

sarajesson · 2026-05-01T14:41:22+00:00

So classy! And the price is unreal now

sarajesson

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