No Hacks with Slobodan Manic

In this episode of No Hacks Snacks, I sit down with Manuel Krähe, a digital growth and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) expert and founder of notion.ch, to discuss the limitations of UX best practices as starting points for experimentation. 

Manuel shared his insights on why relying solely on these practices can be misleading and emphasizes the importance of individualized data analysis and forming proper hypotheses based on your specific audience and website metrics. He also touches upon the pitfalls of outdated best practice checklists and offers strategies for guiding clients through data-driven decision-making processes.

Tune in to catch one of the best quotes in No Hacks history and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes and an exclusive giveaway for No Hacks listeners! 

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this No Hacks Snacks interview, I talked to Moshe Mikanovsky, product director and host of not one, but two popular podcasts (🤯): Product for Product Podcast and Beyond the Product. 

Moshe shared some incredible insights on what startup founders can learn from seasoned product managers, emphasizing the importance of falling in love with the problem rather than the solution. Safe to say your host was very interested to learn about this 🧠 

We also discussed some common pitfalls like over-relying on surveys and the critical role of stakeholder relationships. Some great book and podcast recommendations there as well!

If you are not quite a product person but need to know some of the things product people know, I can list you 8 worse ways to spend 8 minutes of your life. :)

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

Welcome to the latest episode of No Hack Snacks! In this one, I was by e-commerce expert, András Kobza, to explore the crucial role of friction in shopping experiences. 

Should you always strive to reduce friction, or are there cases where a bit of friction adds value? Why do luxury brands like Ferrari and Rolex intentionally build friction into their processes to increase anticipation and value? 

Learn easy, actionable tips for reducing friction on your e-commerce website, the importance of user testing, and proven strategies for improving customer experience. 

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this episode of No Hacks Snacks, I sit down with product and experimentation expert Nils Stotz to discuss the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on A/B testing and experimentation.

Nils shares his insights on how AI can transform the entire experimentation process, from idea generation and hypothesis creation to prioritization and design. He also raises critical questions about the potential for AI to replace human participants in experiments, discussing the ethical and motivational implications of such a shift. 

Next, we explore the future of AI in creative fields and digital optimization, emphasizing the importance of preserving human creativity while leveraging AI to handle more mundane tasks. Nils predicts how AI will be integrated into company processes three years from now, highlighting the importance of safe and compliant AI usage. 

He also introduces the concept of 'prompting parties,' workshops where teams brainstorm AI use cases to enhance their daily workflows. 

This episode offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking look at how AI could reshape the world of product development and experimentation. Don't miss this engaging and informative discussion!

All this in under ten minutes? Yep!

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In the latest episode of No Hacks Snacks, I had an insightful chat with Luka Nikolić about how Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) is shifting from an add-on service to a core discipline in digital marketing.

Key takeaways from our conversation:

✅ CRO is going mainstream – It's following the path of PPC and SEO, moving from an afterthought to a necessity.
✅ Specialization is the future – More agencies and freelancers are focusing solely on CRO rather than offering it as a side service.
✅ It’s a process, not just A/B testing – True CRO involves research, design, development, QA, and analytics—not just running experiments.
✅ E-commerce is leading the way – Businesses are recognizing CRO's role in lowering acquisition costs and optimizing the full buyer journey.
✅ Hyper-focused providers may emerge – In the future, we might see agencies specializing in just research, A/B test development, or qualitative analysis.

CRO needs to be baked into projects from day one, not treated as an optional “Would you like fries with that?” service.

How do you see CRO evolving in the next few years?

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this episode of No Hacks Snacks, I talked to Brendan McNulty, a CRO, experimentation and product expert, about accessible research methods for optimizers and product builders.

Brandon discussed using AI tools like SimilarWeb, GummySearch, and NotebookLM to gather customer insights quickly. He emphasized prioritizing customer understanding and validates findings with additional data sources.

The conversation is packed with practical tips on leveraging search data, analyzing competitor strategies, and optimizing content for conversions.

Let me know what you think, and subscribe to Brendan's 52 AI Experiments!

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this episode of 'No Hacks Snacks,' we interview Marcella Sullivan from Women in Experimentation to discuss how digital professionals can advance their careers through conferences. 

Marcella shares insights on the importance of attending and speaking at conferences, building networks, and finding your professional tribe. She highlights upcoming events like the Women in Experimentation Summit and the TLC Summit, designed to help individuals with limited speaking experience gain confidence and professional coaching. 

The episode also touches on the evolution and goals of Women in Experimentation, offering opportunities for both men and women to grow and diversify their skill sets. Marcella emphasizes the significance of supporting and compensating speakers to foster a community that benefits everyone involve

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this episode of No Hacks Snacks, e-commerce and Shopify expert Dušan Popović discusses how successful Amazon sellers can establish their own direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels. 

Dušan emphasizes the importance of building a brand independent of Amazon and offers practical steps to set up a Shopify store. He addresses challenges like marketing outside of Amazon's ecosystem, identifying target audiences, using platforms like Google Ads for keyword testing, and adapting marketing strategies. 

The conversation highlights the long-term benefits of direct customer communication and maintaining control over the business.

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

In this No Hacks Snacks interview, Jonny Longden, Chief Growth Officer at Speero, talked about the evolution of digital optimization and experimentation, discussing how businesses need to shift their mindset by 2025 and beyond. Here are some key takeaways:

✨ Redefine experimentation beyond A/B testing: Experimentation shouldn't be limited to just A/B tests and software; it should be a mindset applied across all areas of a business.

🧪 Learning from science: Even when controlled experiments aren't possible, using the best available evidence is critical. This is the essence of a scientific approach.

🌌 Goal-centric approach: Begin with clear goals and objectives. Think about the 'man on the moon' analogy where experiments make sense only within the context of well-defined goals.

🔧 Tools should support strategies, not define them: Don’t start with tools or data. First, figure out your strategic intentions for learning and growth, then find the tools that support your mission.

Listen to the full interview below and don't forget to subscribe for future episodes!

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit

Just dropped a new Snack interview, and this one’s packed with insights from Amrdeep Athwal, someone who’s serious about optimization. Here’s a little taste of what we chatted about:

1️⃣ How do we use digital optimization in our everyday lives?
2️⃣ What’s the best way to boost your running performance using data?
3️⃣ Can regular tasks be turned into cool optimization projects?
4️⃣ How is running the ultimate metaphor for digital marketing?
5️⃣ How do we know if our optimization efforts are actually working?

If you're into making things work better, faster, and smarter, this chat is for you.

No Hacks runs no sponsorships and is funded by advisory and audit work. 

If your website needs to work for machines as well as people, start with a fixed-scope Machine-First Architecture audit: https://nohacks.co/audit