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Question (Camille):
“How do I know if it’s the ad that sucks or the product that sucks?”
Answer (Dan Coughlin & Matt Johnston):
Check Retention & LTV: Look at repeat purchases and customer lifetime value. If people don’t come back, the product may be weak.
Collect Feedback: Reviews and direct customer feedback reveal if the product solves the problem.
Analyze Data: Metrics like churn (for apps) or reorders (for consumables like skincare/supplements) show product strength.
Acquisition vs. Retention: Most businesses focus only on acquisition, but retention exposes whether the product truly delivers.
Marketing Stress Test: Running ads aggressively reveals weak points in the funnel product, creative, landing page, or brand.
Real Reviews & PR: Send products to YouTube or micro-reviewers for authentic feedback and exposure.
Holistic View: It’s rarely just the ad or the product it could be landing pages, store design, brand presence, email/SMS marketing, or product-market fit.
Bottom Line: Start marketing hard, track the data, fix holes as they appear. If every hole is unfixable, it’s likely a product problem.
You’ll Learn:
How to use customer retention data to judge product quality.
Why ads alone can’t fix a broken product.
How to stress-test your funnel to find the real issue.
When to accept that the product not the ad is the problem.
Question (Derek):
“What’s your process for finding creators who don’t suck?”
Answer (Dan Coughlin & Matt Johnston):
Define “Good Creators”: Not just about style look for creators who deliver authentic, engaging, and on-brand content.
Use Your Own Feed: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube your algorithm already shows you creators in your niche. If their content resonates, they may be a fit.
Check Ads: Many creators run whitelisted brand ads. Click, see who they are, and reach out directly.
Direct Outreach: DM creators you like and ask if they’ll create content for your brand.
SaaS Tools: Platforms exist that source vetted creators, provide engagement metrics, and match you with top talent (subscription-based).
Agencies & Specialists: Agencies can connect you with networks of creators. Or hire an in-house specialist who knows how to scout talent.
Cost Spectrum: Free if you DIY through social feeds; higher investment if you use SaaS tools or agencies.
You’ll Learn:
How to spot creators with real impact.
The easiest (and cheapest) way to find creators right now.
Tools and strategies to scale beyond DIY outreach.
Why the algorithm is already your best recruiting partner.
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