EP353 - When Automation Took Over: How Opteo Rethought PPC

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast , Anu Adegbola hosts Adam Dale and Shaquira Jeyasingh from Opteo, discussing the evolution of digital marketing tools, the impact of AI on Google Ads management, and the importance of customer engagement. They share insights on the challenges faced during the rebuilding of the Opteo platform, common mistakes in PPC management, and the future of AI in marketing. The conversation emphasizes the need for transparency, adaptability, and understanding customer needs in a rapidly changing landscape.
Takeaways
- AI has fundamentally changed the role of Google Ads managers.
- Opteo has undergone a significant rebuild to adapt to market changes.
- Customer transparency is crucial during periods of change.
- Knee-jerk reactions to new tools can hinder effective marketing strategies.
- Engaging with customers directly can provide valuable insights.
- The importance of maintaining fundamental knowledge in PPC management.
- Automation tools should complement, not replace, human oversight.
- Understanding the evolving landscape of digital marketing is essential.
- The future of AI in marketing presents both opportunities and challenges.
- Building a multi-channel approach is key for modern marketing tools.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to PPC Live and Opteo
06:35 Fun Facts and Personal Insights
11:25 The Impact of AI on Google Ads Management
16:04 Navigating Changes in Automation and User Trust
21:10 Rebuilding the Platform: Challenges and Solutions
24:37 The Importance of a Holistic Business View
26:24 Customer Retention and Transparency During Change
28:48 Understanding Customer Sentiment and Communication
30:34 Key Takeaways from the Journey of Change
34:41 Common Mistakes in PPC Management
37:28 The Future of AI in PPC Advertising
41:06 Fun Reflections on PPC Careers
48:40 Outro.mp3
Find Opteo on LinkedIn
Early Access to revamped Opteo platform
PPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.
Join us for PPC Live Online on Apr 29th
Join our Whatsapp group
Subscribe to our Newsletter
00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:13,300
Hello and welcome to PPC Live,
the podcast.
2
00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:16,300
I'm your host Annie.
I'm the founder of PPC live and
3
00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:19,340
if you're used to hearing advice
from PPC experts about how to
4
00:00:19,340 --> 00:00:22,460
ensure we are keeping up with
the ever changing landscape,
5
00:00:22,460 --> 00:00:24,540
don't worry, you are still in
the right place.
6
00:00:24,780 --> 00:00:28,700
Every week I speak to a
different PPC expert or industry
7
00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:32,020
expert even about the biggest F
UPS they've made and but also
8
00:00:32,020 --> 00:00:33,980
how they've turned things
around, the learning that
9
00:00:33,980 --> 00:00:37,220
they've made, the challenges
that they had to turn things
10
00:00:37,220 --> 00:00:39,920
around to ensure that they're
still experts in their field.
11
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,520
And now I'm not just speaking to
one individual expert.
12
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,720
I'm speaking to two experts in
the digital marketing field.
13
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,320
Two, people from the fantastic
company Opteo, a brand that have
14
00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,480
been a fantastic supporter of PC
Live for a long while.
15
00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,440
And there are people who have
sent their brand, who have sent
16
00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,600
their team to really interact
with the community in a very non
17
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,440
salesy way, in a way that really
just ensures that they're
18
00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,280
listening first hand on what our
issues are in this industry.
19
00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,040
They listen through all the
talks, they listen through all
20
00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,920
the panel discussions,
especially where people share
21
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,480
what their biggest issues have
been.
22
00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,880
And they take that away to
ensure that they're building a
23
00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:23,480
tool that responds to what are
the customers issues and what
24
00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,560
such marketers issues mainly
are.
25
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:31,040
So we speak to Adam and Shakira
to hear from their experience of
26
00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,000
how the mistakes that they've
had, especially in the AI
27
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,040
industry and how they how as a
company, they turn things
28
00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,320
around, the people who are like,
you know, pivotal in those
29
00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:41,880
changes.
And what were the real
30
00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,440
challenges to make those changes
to ensure that they were keeping
31
00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,880
up with, you know, the AI
revolution that we're very much
32
00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,360
in right now.
So yeah, let's go speak to Adam
33
00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,400
and Shakira.
Hello, Shakira.
34
00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,560
Hello, Adam.
Welcome to PPC Live, the
35
00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,800
podcast.
Hello.
36
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,160
Hey guys.
So yeah, I've got so much
37
00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,120
delights before having these two
very wonderful people joining
38
00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,000
our podcast.
As I said in the intro, they are
39
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,960
they've been a long standing
support of PPC Live out of the
40
00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,680
19 events LED especially, we've
got to give a shout out to Ben,
41
00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,880
our our, our fun leader Ben,
who's always bringing the Obtea
42
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,080
band together for the PBC live
events.
43
00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,960
And so we're so grateful that
Obtea are sponsoring us this
44
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,600
year and always coming to our
events.
45
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,640
And yeah, you know, part of part
of like the benefits is being
46
00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:39,000
able to have this nice chat with
the people who helped to ensure
47
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,560
this PPC live events come alive
and continue to to go.
48
00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,600
So I'm just so delighted that
there's this opportunity to do
49
00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,560
this.
So a little bit about up to you
50
00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,640
and what they do.
Up to you have been around for
51
00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:54,760
over 10 years originally as a
Google Ads optimization tool.
52
00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,480
They've now launched, just
launched like an early access to
53
00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,800
a big new version of the
platform.
54
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,760
So this is kind of their, you
know, launching tool.
55
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,040
You're going to hear them on
loads of other, I'm sure,
56
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,880
podcasts and publications
talking about this, you know,
57
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,400
fantastic new launch and it now
covers multiple channels with
58
00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,400
powerful analysis tools and
thoughtfully integrated AI.
59
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,160
It's designed for performance
marketers navigating a world
60
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,040
that's a lot more automated than
it used to be.
61
00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,280
We know about that.
If you're not using AI, you
62
00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,520
might as well not be doing paid
search at all, right?
63
00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,600
Right now they're also expanding
their agency growth programme,
64
00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,040
helping agencies grow into
channels like Microsoft and more
65
00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,480
recently TikTok.
So if you're managing either of
66
00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,440
those, they are definitely
people worth knowing and All in
67
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,920
all, it feels like it's going to
be a big year for them.
68
00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,160
So yeah, check out what they're
doing.
69
00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,920
There's loads of exciting stuff
ahead, but before we get into
70
00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,120
like the the crux of what we're
going to talk about, because it
71
00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,120
is don't worry, you know, don't
do like, Oh my God, I know you
72
00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,400
just is this just a brand coming
to share what they do and how
73
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,440
great they are?
No, they are going to share F
74
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:02,920
UPS.
They're going to, you know, go
75
00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,920
down the path of being a bit,
you know, self deprecated and
76
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,400
trying to look back as things
where things have gone wrong and
77
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,800
you know how they responded to
that.
78
00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,960
But so that you know, our lovely
speakers are the lovely reps
79
00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,360
from Uptario a little bit
better.
80
00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,480
They're going to share a few of
the fun facts about them from
81
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,640
you know what, sorry, I'm
actually going to get them to do
82
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,080
this.
So, so Shakira, your fun fact
83
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,160
and you'll hear her speak and
then have fun fact when really
84
00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,800
makes sense as to why it is a
fun fact.
85
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,680
Shakira, what's your fun fact?
My fun fact is, despite this
86
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,400
lovely English accent, when I
was growing up, I had quite a
87
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,200
thick Irish accent.
When I started school.
88
00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,560
Yeah, I came in with a very
thick Irish accent, obviously
89
00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,440
very disappeared quickly and I
can't do an Irish accent full
90
00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,320
disclaimer anymore.
Oh, I at the beginning of the I
91
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,280
was going to try and get her to
do something to her phrase, but
92
00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:55,440
let's not let's inform any Irish
listeners.
93
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,960
Maybe we don't, we don't set
them up, but like, so how long
94
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,080
were you in Ireland for before
you not?
95
00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:03,880
That long?
A couple of years, but it was
96
00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,560
like formative years.
So, you know, like when I first
97
00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,280
started school.
Yeah, it was.
98
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,200
It was quite.
Right, the knowledge and pick OK
99
00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,000
and Adam, what's your fun fact?
It's not not quite as shocking
100
00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,640
and she curious but like being
from the northeast of England,
101
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,160
proud Geordie are very much
planned and still half.
102
00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,760
Do you plan to be a professional
footballer at some point?
103
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:24,840
So.
Who I know.
104
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,080
If ever I start I guess becoming
less available, then you know, I
105
00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,760
finally have the call up from
from Newcastle United.
106
00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,840
Right, Newcastle United, that's
the thing, You're, you're 100%
107
00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:39,080
Course A. 100% no.
One else, no one else.
108
00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:40,080
Love it.
Love it.
109
00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,880
But there's another fun fact
that I do love as I'm a very
110
00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,200
music inclined person.
Please tell us your second fun
111
00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:48,440
factors.
Yeah.
112
00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,280
OK.
So I mean, I wouldn't have said
113
00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:53,640
it's necessarily that fun of a
fact that me and my brother who
114
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,720
also does work here at Optio,
James, shout out to James.
115
00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,800
We we do like to stay tuned on
the weekend where you could call
116
00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,360
us DJ's, bedroom DJ's would be
the qualifier.
117
00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,680
We just normally get roped into
playing our mates birthday
118
00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,520
parties and house parties
whenever that happens.
119
00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,400
Nice, nice.
No?
120
00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,720
Look, it's nice to have a fun
thing that has nothing to do
121
00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,120
with the marketing world and
digital marketing world that
122
00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,040
that you do.
So you and your brother must be
123
00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,320
really close.
You work together, you DJ
124
00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,680
together.
Is is, has it always been like
125
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,480
that?
Great family relationship?
126
00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,720
It has actually really lucky to
to for it to have turned out
127
00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,320
that way.
There's a five year age gap
128
00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,400
between us.
So when we were growing up, like
129
00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,960
I would safe to say we went as
close as we are now.
130
00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,000
Like it's just the an annoying
younger brother used to get
131
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,480
picked on from all my mates.
But like as, as we grew up, we
132
00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,400
realised it's like a freebie
mate, isn't it?
133
00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,960
Like if you can get on well with
your sibling and you've got a
134
00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,120
lot of common ground.
We actually live together as
135
00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,560
well, which is, yeah, it would
be a bit annoying if we didn't
136
00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,360
get on.
So one of them we do.
137
00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,600
Mum will be pleased to hear me
talk about.
138
00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,400
I'm so positive.
I'm sure you'll be listening to
139
00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,640
this at some point.
Of course, of course you better
140
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,880
send this link to her.
Better send this to her.
141
00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,600
That would be fantastic.
I will.
142
00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,840
So yeah, going going now
straight into, you know what we
143
00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,640
talk about on on this podcast?
It's all about sharing, Fr
144
00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,840
sharing mistakes that we've made
and that this episode is going
145
00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,920
to be no difference.
And really grateful that Adam
146
00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,800
and Shakira you're going to be
talking about means that I've
147
00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,000
gone wrong.
And I'm also grateful for your
148
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,280
founder, Guillaume and, you
know, for allowing this to
149
00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,600
happen because Yahoo, which tech
company is actually brave enough
150
00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,560
to be like, yeah, we did this
wrong, you know, But yeah,
151
00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,120
thankfully you guys are, you
know, being very good at, you
152
00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,680
know, working on that, creating
new solutions for your
153
00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,760
customers.
But yeah, let's get into talking
154
00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,560
about that.
I think, Adam, you're going to
155
00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,560
kick us off.
What is the F up that you want
156
00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,880
to share today?
Yeah, well, I just want to start
157
00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,760
off by saying thank you very
much once again for having us
158
00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:56,720
on.
We have been huge fans of what
159
00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,960
you've been building at PPC Life
for a while now.
160
00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,800
I know you mentioned the all
just said he reminds me ever so
161
00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,840
often that he was at your first
ever PPC live event.
162
00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,280
So we are really pleased to be
sponsoring the podcast for the
163
00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:08,800
year and events for the year
ahead.
164
00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,400
Amazing.
Yeah, excited to share what
165
00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,920
we've been working on as well.
And I guess through through the
166
00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,680
lens of what is I haven't.
I was fair on here, aren't I?
167
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,960
Are you allowed to swear?
Yeah, just to clarify.
168
00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,160
Yeah, yeah.
Don't rollback like DJ speaking
169
00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,760
the language that you.
Were easy.
170
00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,120
I'll do, I'll do easy three.
What was ultimately a kind of
171
00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,640
turned out to be a bigger fuck
up than what it was if we hadn't
172
00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:32,760
dealt with it the way that we
did.
173
00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,240
Yeah.
So yeah, Shakira and I, you may
174
00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,559
well have recognised our faces
if anyone, any listener there.
175
00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,520
Also anyone watching on YouTube,
which I've always wanted to say
176
00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,960
this, anyone watching on YouTube
listening may have recognised
177
00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,320
names, voices.
If you've been an Optio user
178
00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,400
over the years.
We've been at the company since
179
00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,520
day two, haven't really secure
if like we missed the risky
180
00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,640
founding path, but we are, We
were one of the first cohort of
181
00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:03,240
hires, team members who didn't
code, didn't design, didn't
182
00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,880
develop.
So we've grown through various
183
00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,320
iterations of Google Ads,
various iterations of Optio,
184
00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:11,320
learned a fair bit along the
way.
185
00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,920
And talking of such iterations,
we are about to release a new
186
00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:18,520
version.
In fact, we kind of have started
187
00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,640
to slowly roll this out and it
took a bit of learning and a lot
188
00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,160
of struggle to get to that
point.
189
00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,680
So I guess that's kind of the
fucked up that we're going to
190
00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:29,920
talk about today is how
distilling it to a sentence, the
191
00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,280
rise of AI and automation has
changed what it means to be a
192
00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,040
Google Ads Manager, and
therefore by proxy, has very
193
00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,480
much changed what it means to be
a tool that says Google Ads
194
00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,600
managers.
No, absolutely AI definitely
195
00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,160
changed the landscape for for a
lot of us.
196
00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,720
I mean, some of us would say
like, you know, Niels Rugeman,
197
00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:54,400
who was was was fantastic, like
speaker at our last event and
198
00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,000
you know, who has been doing
working on scripts, you know,
199
00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,160
and him and him and I fell in
love, you know, and actually I
200
00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,440
fell in love with each other.
Let's clarify that.
201
00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:06,360
Fell in love with ultimation,
fell in love with paid search
202
00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,560
and God became really good
friends for our love of create
203
00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:13,040
such kind of thing.
I love of doing automation and
204
00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:14,680
that's how we became really good
friends.
205
00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,120
And the whole automation thing
has been around for a long time,
206
00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,440
but the fact that it's now
became, you know, show the main,
207
00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,760
the main show was like Google
ads with some notation.
208
00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,080
Now it's automation through
Google ads a little bit kind of
209
00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,440
thing, you know, but yeah, so
you said that.
210
00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,240
I didn't say it's like the past
couple of years situation came
211
00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,240
really big, AI became really
big, really great.
212
00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:37,800
And what was the thing that
really or slow into the way you
213
00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,960
guys did things or just kind of
kind of your response at what
214
00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,800
stage as well did you like, OK,
we need to be acting faster?
215
00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,960
Yeah, Well, it's a good question
because I mean, AII mean you
216
00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,600
mentioned it's not necessarily a
new thing AI automation.
217
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,920
Like I remember my when I
started at Octa, it would have
218
00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,320
been 2017.
Now it was the year before that
219
00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,200
when Google started a roll out
smart bidding.
220
00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:01,440
Yeah.
And I can remember, I can still
221
00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,440
remember one of my first days at
the office, sat down with the
222
00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,000
and he had his pen and paper out
trying to explain to me how a
223
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,760
smart bidding algorithm works.
And it was all shrouded around
224
00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,000
this.
Be aware because customers are
225
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,720
going to have worries and
concerns about it.
226
00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:20,160
And for so long, like that was
the normal, like we'd see the
227
00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,480
automated product releasing
Google ads customer reaction,
228
00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,360
like user reaction through our
support inboxes often like a
229
00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,920
good barometer.
So, so long we would always
230
00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,720
sounds strong, but almost like
reject it.
231
00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,480
You know, it was it was kind of
like a yeah in the very early
232
00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,920
days because there was there
wasn't the trust or the
233
00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,200
robustness behind these
algorithms that that there are
234
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,840
today.
And it took us a while and our
235
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,920
users a while to access accept
that this is the way that Google
236
00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:50,800
is heading.
There is nothing we can do about
237
00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,280
it.
So we shouldn't keep trying to
238
00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,760
hold on to the old ways of
managing Google ads.
239
00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,920
You know, this idea where we're
losing transparency when we're
240
00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,520
losing control and Optio is a
solution was always OK.
241
00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,440
Well we're going to try and do
all we can to help you use the
242
00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,720
manual alternative to this.
Product.
243
00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:10,760
But we're going to give you the
benefits, the time saving
244
00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,760
benefits through our own
algorithms, which don't require
245
00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,360
you handing control over to the
to the overlords of the big ads
246
00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,200
platforms.
And it is in fine sight.
247
00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:26,280
I think it was probably the
release of P Max when we Google
248
00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,240
really went all in with it.
OK, full box black box
249
00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,200
transparency here.
And they took away our ability
250
00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,400
to muscle in, you know, pull
these action users.
251
00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:35,960
And that was run before.
OK.
252
00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,400
We kind of might need to go back
to the drawing board here and
253
00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,400
think about what do we need to
change fundamentally to make
254
00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,240
sure that we're continuing to
give our users an edge today and
255
00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,880
also tomorrow moving forward.
Absolutely no.
256
00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,160
That's a very, very interesting
and great point.
257
00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,600
A point and to be honest,
really, really impressed that
258
00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,600
you guys I'd say weathered this
storm.
259
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,720
I know I definitely feel like,
you know, I might probably even
260
00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,600
be on the plane for how tools
really needed to be able to
261
00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,680
respond to like, OK, we can't
just be like, OK, we'll be the
262
00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:11,800
one that shows you the
visibility while Google is
263
00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,120
closing now Google like this
big, big him off of like, you
264
00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:16,920
know, a brand, they've got the
monopoly.
265
00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,600
There's so many like lawsuits
against them that it's literally
266
00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,320
like, yeah.
And they're still doing business
267
00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:27,920
as usual.
So And honestly, I wouldn't
268
00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,360
because this is not about, you
know, you know, putting down any
269
00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,520
other brands, but some brands
didn't make it.
270
00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,240
Generally.
Some brands had the same issues
271
00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,320
that you guys had.
They weren't able to, you know,
272
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,000
change the direction of their
ship.
273
00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,880
Their ship had been built such
in a very, you know, stagnant
274
00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,120
way that they weren't able to
really respond in kind that kind
275
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,600
of way.
But one thing I'm curious about,
276
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,160
even from my experience that I
used to work for a different,
277
00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,880
you know, tool at some point,
were you seeing that your
278
00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,640
customers like when like those
smart campaigns are smart
279
00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,600
bidding?
Where were working?
280
00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,040
What were they?
Were your customers not finding
281
00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,880
smart bidding working well for
them?
282
00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,760
So you guys were an alternative
solution or their customers,
283
00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:13,000
customers were just or customers
more apprehensive of this new
284
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,640
thing, so they didn't try it.
I think a mix of the both, but I
285
00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:22,400
my memory is more so that the
the latter is what prevailed
286
00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:23,840
there.
It was, it was definitely
287
00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,920
wrapped up in this idea where I
mean I got, I'm talking nearly
288
00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,040
10 years ago now like this.
It was it was very much a new
289
00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,240
thing and everyone that was
managing campaigns at the time,
290
00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,440
they were somewhat set in stone
or like they tried and tested
291
00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,400
processes and like, hey, I'm so
used to controlling everything
292
00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,640
down to daily keyword bid
adjustments.
293
00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,600
And now all of a sudden there's
this new way of expected to
294
00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,360
trust these.
You know, that the I say these
295
00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,240
algorithms as if they're
entirely bad.
296
00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,160
Of course, they're not like time
is the stood the test of time.
297
00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,720
And then they're more robust,
more refined, but there were
298
00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,240
benefits to it.
But we would just give them the
299
00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,440
security, the Peace of Mind and
not, you know, we can help you
300
00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,600
with these massive time saving
benefits, standardisation
301
00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,040
benefits as well, but just
continue using the bidding
302
00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,880
strategies that you used to.
And in hindsight, as we're about
303
00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:16,040
to get on to, maybe we should
have took an AC company and join
304
00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:20,360
an approach a little sooner.
Can I also, I it's been too
305
00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,560
late.
I saw this like 5 minutes into
306
00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,480
the call.
Shout out to your heart.
307
00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,080
Shout out to the yeah, yeah,
making because it's all about
308
00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,920
that.
At some point Google were just
309
00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,120
taking a lots of things and one
of those things was the exact
310
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,160
match issue and the fact that
all close verits and everything
311
00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,840
that we're like what is a batch
type anymore?
312
00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,440
And whether you like it or not,
it is part of that journey into
313
00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,160
making more things more
automated because it was a
314
00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,680
matter of no, you can't just
tell us the exact thing that you
315
00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,080
want to bid on.
We're going to decide for you.
316
00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,800
We're going to decide the
variety of that actually exact
317
00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,200
word that we feel that, you
know, your ads should be showing
318
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,040
again some.
So, yeah, that was definitely
319
00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:06,280
one of those limits or movements
in that area as well.
320
00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,440
So like now going on to like how
you guys did turn it around.
321
00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,920
You mentioned the fact that when
then P Max came about, that's
322
00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,360
when you started thinking, oh,
actually maybe we should do
323
00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,320
some.
Although my memory of P Max, I
324
00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,200
don't know about you, is that
loads of people complained about
325
00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,640
it at the beginning.
P Max was a, was a like a, yeah,
326
00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,040
a trash fire.
And it's really actually only
327
00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,400
recently with, you know, channel
reporting and you know, you
328
00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:37,120
know, having more access to like
your search query reports on an
329
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,960
asset groups that people have
been more oh, OK, now I have
330
00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,320
more visibility.
But at the beginning people were
331
00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,040
a bit annoyed with it.
So was it right to the beginning
332
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,200
of P Max coming out that you
guys or you or you waited a bit?
333
00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,040
Go on.
Yeah, no, it wasn't.
334
00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,960
So we actually funnily enough we
are very early days in P Max.
335
00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,120
We had a a really nice value
adding optio and that we built a
336
00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,680
tool which supported or could
reveal performance match search
337
00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,560
terms before they were available
through the API.
338
00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,599
Wow, OK.
And I think that in hindsight,
339
00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:10,960
that probably delayed the
motivation behind making this
340
00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,280
decision to have a big rethink.
It's because, oh, wow, we can
341
00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,560
keep doing what we're doing.
It was almost like an accidental
342
00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,800
feature, to be honest.
OK, we found a cool way to
343
00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,440
engineer these search terms and
apply what's named called N
344
00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,000
gramme analysis.
Sure.
345
00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,240
Adding new negative keywords and
answer to your question, no, it
346
00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,160
was probably a couple years
after P Max was originally
347
00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,720
introduced.
I think it was maybe 2021 when P
348
00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,760
Max is fully rolled out the year
before in beta.
349
00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,960
So we matched that like this
gradual rollout and increase in
350
00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:47,680
adoption with performance marks
by taking a look at the data we
351
00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,600
had access to.
So primarily user actions inside
352
00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,840
our platform and we noticed that
what was the wheelhouse of
353
00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,840
options for so long daily
recommendations to help you
354
00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:04,000
manage manual campaigns starting
to trend downwards in terms of
355
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,000
numbers applied, at which point
that was what's faded on really
356
00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,920
it was OK P Max's adoptions
going up and performance is
357
00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,280
getting better and it's clearly
going nowhere.
358
00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,880
Although last year or so maybe
is a different angle to take on
359
00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,080
that believe P Max has started
to taper off a little bit in
360
00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:24,480
term of tentative adoption
rates.
361
00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,080
But we just thought that this
this daily recommendations is
362
00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:31,000
being holding on to this idea of
controlling campaigns in the old
363
00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,520
way is not going to stand us in
good stead for the long term.
364
00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:38,240
So that's where we went back to
the drawing board.
365
00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,240
Yeah, sorry, I've been like I'm
talking a lot here about.
366
00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:47,560
That Shakira, Shakira is going
to take the stage now for us and
367
00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,840
telling us from like, you know,
what happened at the drawing
368
00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,120
board.
How did?
369
00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,360
How did things then turn around?
Yeah.
370
00:18:54,360 --> 00:18:59,360
I mean, yeah, we, as you know,
we spent many, many, many months
371
00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,120
rebuilding the app from the
ground up, which was no easy
372
00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:05,440
feat.
I don't think anyone, any tool
373
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,960
tech company decides to take on
that endeavour lightly.
374
00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,600
And it was, yeah, I mean, Adam
probably agree it was a
375
00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,800
difficult year of not releasing
much to the public, to users,
376
00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,000
but behind the scenes being like
incredibly busy and incredibly
377
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,000
stressed out.
Yeah.
378
00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,480
I think we we navigated that
well.
379
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,240
We're here now.
We're kind of proud of of where
380
00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,680
we've ended up after that year
of rebuild.
381
00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:33,720
Yeah.
I mean, Adam, I know you had
382
00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,920
some some thoughts that you want
wanted to share on on this bit.
383
00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,440
Yeah.
I mean this is a case of, you
384
00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,120
know, the first time ever going
back to the drawing board and
385
00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:44,960
you think realising that it's
not just new small iterations of
386
00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,960
updates which you've been so
used to.
387
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,160
Like I'm ultimately doing a bit
of market research like speaking
388
00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,680
to first and foremost our loyal
customers.
389
00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,800
You know, we had hundreds of see
back calls SM about Optio of
390
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,440
course, but also more
importantly at this point about.
391
00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,320
Outside of up to you like what
are they actually spending their
392
00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:09,120
time doing every day?
You know this time consuming
393
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:13,280
daily grunt work which we set
out to help users eliminate back
394
00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,440
in the early days, which
nowadays can in many cases
395
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,360
actually be solved by in
platform automation.
396
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,680
You've got your automated
bidding strategies, you've got
397
00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,840
your responsive ads.
So you don't need to manage it
398
00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,320
split test for the ETA's.
So it was just a case of
399
00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:28,920
thinking, OK, what are you
doing?
400
00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,200
What are we not doing to help
you with what you do?
401
00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,680
And you know that that was so
there was existing customers.
402
00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,240
We actually, we looked at a lot
of, as I say, the data, which
403
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,320
I'm actually curious to talk on
a bit more late shortly, but
404
00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,720
also we got, we made an effort
and I'm sure some of the
405
00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:49,160
listeners here will.
Yeah, well, we'll agree that you
406
00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,200
may have bumped into US and
you've mentioned that already at
407
00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,120
industry events over the last
couple of years.
408
00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:58,600
Like we made a point to put our
faces out there and meet experts
409
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,720
in the fields that really
learned, what do you need?
410
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,040
Like who are we building this
thing for and what are the
411
00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:05,480
challenges?
What keeps you awake at night?
412
00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,840
And what we realised that we
know it sounds like we're just,
413
00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,520
we've got to put a target on the
back of AI and ordination here.
414
00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,920
But you know that it is all a
consequence, whether intended or
415
00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:20,560
otherwise, of how our our way of
life has changed as a Google Ads
416
00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,280
Manager now that AI is the
default.
417
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,000
So sorry Ani.
No, no, go ahead.
418
00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,440
Yeah, absolutely.
I'll just say absolutely.
419
00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,400
Yeah, you're right.
Oh, thought long and hard about
420
00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,720
this and I think I can distil
what we found to three points.
421
00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:38,640
So first, being the role of a
Google Ads specialist, what
422
00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,640
we're seeing is perhaps on the
decline, you know, whether it's,
423
00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,680
you touched on the and again,
don't want to get too political
424
00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:49,880
here, but the court case with
Google, maybe there is something
425
00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,040
to be said in that visit.
I guess a default lack of trust
426
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:57,920
at the moment, all time high.
You know, maybe advertisers are
427
00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,680
a little less reluctant to
invest in Google Ads.
428
00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,840
Maybe there's also new
opportunities have opened up in
429
00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,920
other channels.
What we're seeing is talk to
430
00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,120
your users who signed up
managing just a Google ads
431
00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:13,960
account and now managing a
Microsoft emeta, a LinkedIn and
432
00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,080
in some cases a tick, well in
many cases more.
433
00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,360
But in those are the new
channels which we've ultimately
434
00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:21,800
decided to to roll up into
Optio.
435
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,680
Off the back of this big project
we can officially say we are a
436
00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,920
multi channel automation tool,
not just a Google ad one which
437
00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,600
is exciting.
And what what I'd love to love
438
00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,280
you to touch upon because, yeah,
you're right that there's an all
439
00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,480
time low in changing, you know,
changing tact in terms of like,
440
00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,200
you know, trust Google trust for
them.
441
00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,680
And also a big challenge in kind
of trying to make those changes
442
00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,080
in terms of like, OK, finally
going all right, we need to we
443
00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,720
need to get on board with all
this, this AI stuff.
444
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,560
And what how what does that mean
for a marketer?
445
00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,800
And how do we support this paid
search marketers in a way where
446
00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:03,080
they are more integrated with
their the other channels and
447
00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,920
it's more like they're working
for the brand success.
448
00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,800
I think that's a big thing that
has shifted where a lot of time
449
00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,160
the paid search managers job was
to drive traffic.
450
00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,120
Now you're really supposed to be
like, yeah, you might be driving
451
00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:17,120
traffic and your PPC might be
doing revenue, great revenue,
452
00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:20,120
but if the business is not
making money, they're going to
453
00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:22,840
cut your cost.
And so you need to know what are
454
00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,280
the other channels are doing?
What are the marketing factors
455
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:28,040
that are going to be affecting
what what that paid site manager
456
00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,400
is going to be doing?
But like what also I'd like you
457
00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,080
to touch upon is that with those
changes, what would you say what
458
00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:34,920
you know, because you just said
you did some big market
459
00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,280
research, went to several
different events.
460
00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,880
I saw those.
I got a little bit jealous
461
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,640
sometimes my my aunt.
I was like, I hope you're coming
462
00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,000
back to BBC Live.
Of course you have asked.
463
00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,400
Of course, we never leave you.
Good guys.
464
00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,600
I love that.
But yeah, what would you say?
465
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,680
Well, really that some of those
big challenges for like a tool
466
00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:57,840
to to do what, what, what aspect
of that re shifting of that year
467
00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:02,040
of, of trying to really like
kind of reach change what you
468
00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,040
guys actually did?
What what parts of it was the
469
00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:10,240
most challenging for you guys?
Yeah, well, it's those
470
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,160
developers will tell me for
saying this, but the boring
471
00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,280
stuff, from my point of view,
the data stuff, it's just
472
00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,880
they're doing some very clever
stuff behind the background.
473
00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,160
This idea of, you know, we've
got 10 years worth of code which
474
00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,440
we built to support Google Ads.
You know, Microsoft Ads is
475
00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,800
pretty similar.
But the matter is not, is not at
476
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:28,720
all.
So we have to find a way.
477
00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,560
We're still a small team.
We don't have the time to
478
00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,960
continue to build for individual
features moving forward or five.
479
00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,480
So there was a lot of the, the
work behind the scenes went into
480
00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,160
a way to almost like normalise
the data between the four or
481
00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:43,760
five platforms that we're now
supporting.
482
00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,960
So we can effectively build 1
feature and it can as close as
483
00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:51,480
we can get it to copy paste
across the others.
484
00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,440
So there's a big emphasis on
optio of getting all of the
485
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,400
channels performance data in one
place.
486
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,520
And you don't need to bounce
between different ads platforms.
487
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,280
Holistic view, as you've touched
on there, how's the business
488
00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,640
performing rather than just
how's, how's my Google ads
489
00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,160
account performing?
It's it was all taken into
490
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,800
consideration when we redesigned
the interface, but also thought
491
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,840
about how we're plugging in all
these data sources.
492
00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:17,000
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So yeah, that change of date,
493
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,040
that's a very good point.
Honestly, I think I'm going to
494
00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,120
actually the way I'm going to
promote this episode is like the
495
00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:27,520
most honest of an interview
you'll get with a tool company
496
00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,920
as you can get, because you you
know, all the tools are these
497
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,680
like, Oh, we do great thing we
do this with this.
498
00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,960
But actually talking about, you
know, what are the true, you
499
00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,200
know, annoyances.
Just the software engineers will
500
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,240
love you for this all year.
All.
501
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:43,480
All of.
Them because.
502
00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,120
Because you're being honest
about how it's challenging, I
503
00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:53,040
think we underestimate how much
coding it takes to, you know, be
504
00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,400
an API to be able to work with
the API.
505
00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,480
And I think sometimes we're
like, oh, you've done it for
506
00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,200
Google, so you can do it for
anything, right?
507
00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,440
And actually it's reported to
know.
508
00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:05,680
No, no, you can't.
It might even take a brand new
509
00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,560
learn and it might take a brand
new, you know, need to go on
510
00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,240
another course and how meta does
things will be different how
511
00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,160
TikTok do and and it's all
because they're just trying to
512
00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,160
be challenging against each
other.
513
00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,840
Like Facebook and Apple, we
know, hate each other.
514
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,880
So there's no way that because
you can code for Apple means
515
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,400
that you can code for Facebook.
Absolutely not.
516
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,200
And that that works with all the
different, you know, big brands.
517
00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,320
So I think that is such a very
insightful thing for you to
518
00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,280
actually share with us on that.
So yeah, definitely thank you
519
00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,920
for that.
So like how are your customers
520
00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:40,080
in terms of this process?
You know, where was it a
521
00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,280
difficult time for customer
retention?
522
00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:44,880
You know, I know you don't, we
don't necessarily.
523
00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,560
I mean every every brand that
has this, any time you have a
524
00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:51,080
client, your agencies have the
issues with like customers come,
525
00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,520
customers go kind of thing.
Was that quite stable for you
526
00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,840
guys or?
And yeah, please touch on that.
527
00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,080
Yeah, it was, I wouldn't say it
was alarming, but it wasn't, it
528
00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:03,520
wasn't a period of exciting
growth that we've been used to
529
00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,560
for so long.
We really were I guess the
530
00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,560
reason why we're here to talk
about and I'm conscious of
531
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,640
framing this around not being
fearful of change, but more like
532
00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,600
complacency.
Like we, we were really on to a
533
00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,240
winner for so long and it was
start to taper off a little bit
534
00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,640
and then things kind of started
to continue to taper off.
535
00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,080
And then like releasing new
features in the frame of what we
536
00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,400
were used to didn't really fix a
customer retention or customer
537
00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,920
acquisition.
So bluntly.
538
00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,440
Yeah, that mean the numbers, the
lines going down on a graph are
539
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,760
what motivate you to have tough
conversations and decide to
540
00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:44,400
spend 18 months like on
essentially a feature freezing
541
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,640
to rebuild but necessary.
And we're already starting to
542
00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,520
see the benefits of it amongst
the customers who we've.
543
00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:54,760
I mean, some of our users have
been with us for 10 years as
544
00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,520
transparent as possible with
them throughout this whole this
545
00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,720
whole process is.
Yeah, I know things maybe aren't
546
00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,480
moving as fast as what we would
ideally like, but, you know,
547
00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,360
keeping them abreast of all the
plans and updates and you know,
548
00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,760
in many cases showing them what
we've been working on as it
549
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:13,800
progresses.
I think it goes a lot some way
550
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:18,000
to, to just be honest with your
customers as much as you can.
551
00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:21,560
Absolutely, especially for a SAS
tool.
552
00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,120
Again, we're not, we're not an
agency.
553
00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,640
It's not like we have personal
relationships with all of our
554
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:27,840
clients.
So it's really hard to be
555
00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,400
personally honest with everyone.
But you know, whenever someone
556
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,760
does have a question, just like
tell them how it is.
557
00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,920
Ultimately, there's a lot of
users that put a lot of faith in
558
00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,360
US and we're looking forward to
paying it back to them over the
559
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:42,160
next couple of weeks.
Absolutely.
560
00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,680
How about you, Shakira?
Do you what, what do you feel
561
00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:46,520
like?
What?
562
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,320
Because yeah, both of you will
have your different like
563
00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:50,800
customer bases that you were
speaking to.
564
00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,560
What were you getting in terms
of like, what was what, what,
565
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,120
what was the temperature like
for customers during that time
566
00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,080
of like needing to overhaul?
Yeah.
567
00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,440
I mean, I, I speak to customers
every single day like I have
568
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,680
done for pretty much like the
past seven years, right?
569
00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:08,160
So, yeah, it wasn't like a
particularly comfortable time.
570
00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,960
But when we, we're really lucky
that I don't know whether it's
571
00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,520
just us, but like our user base,
a lovely bunch of people.
572
00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,760
And we tend to have, like Adam
said, a lot of our users have
573
00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:19,960
been around for for years and
years and years.
574
00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,400
And a lot of them, you know,
root for us and were rooting for
575
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,840
us during that, that kind of
feature freeze, which was nice
576
00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:30,160
and that was encouraging too.
I think a lot of it came from,
577
00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,880
like Adam said, transparency,
being honest, having that open
578
00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,600
dialogue between us and them,
letting them into what we're up
579
00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:40,520
to instead of just like shutting
them out completely because
580
00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,480
we're nervous or embarrassed or
scared.
581
00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:46,760
Yeah, just having that open
dialogue I think helped.
582
00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,120
And yeah, certainly wasn't a
comfortable.
583
00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,760
Yeah, that's that's how I put
it.
584
00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:53,360
Absolutely.
No.
585
00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,920
Yeah.
And when, when you need to make
586
00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,600
this changes and when it can be
like, because guys, we've been
587
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,960
very honest in terms of like you
are not quick on the jump to
588
00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,440
actually make the change.
And then it's, it's can be
589
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:09,400
really heartwarming that you
have customers, as you said, who
590
00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,360
are rooting for you.
So you're like, okay, kind of a
591
00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,880
bit of that helps the journey,
which is really great to hear
592
00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:18,800
where I I didn't realise how
long we've been talking for
593
00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,160
because I've been interested in
all of this.
594
00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:23,960
But so we're going to have to
switch gears very soon because
595
00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,160
I'd love us to also touch on the
fact of like what you feel like,
596
00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,520
you know, customers now are
being, you know, reacting or
597
00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,840
maybe mistakes that you see that
coming into like when you get
598
00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:37,560
new clients, I'm sure they're
like, oh, can you audit?
599
00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,240
We've not, we've not been doing
this.
600
00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,160
Well, can you help us with this?
We'll be ready to get to talk on
601
00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:43,920
that.
But before we get into that bit,
602
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,640
what's 1, you know, big takeaway
you'd like to leave our
603
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:49,960
audiences with in terms of like
that, that, that journey you
604
00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,960
guys had from, from, from going
to a state of let's, let's,
605
00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,200
let's help our customers deal
with the status quo and get back
606
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,160
onto the status quo to them
embracing the whole AI evolution
607
00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,160
revolution.
Yeah, yeah.
608
00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,160
What?
So the question is what take
609
00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:11,080
away what?
Take away what for anyone?
610
00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:16,600
I mean, if you're a tech tool,
my price would be to definitely
611
00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,400
step out of any echo chain biz
you're in.
612
00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,560
Yeah.
I think all the answers you kind
613
00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,160
of need are with the customers
and with the users.
614
00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:30,480
So don't be scared, don't be
embarrassed if you feel like
615
00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,720
you're on the right, off the
right track.
616
00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,560
That's not the way you say, but
yeah, you know what I mean?
617
00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:40,840
And yeah, just get out of any
echo chamber and, and just get
618
00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,880
your face out there.
Go to events like we did, like
619
00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,600
speak to the people you're
you're building for.
620
00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,160
Yeah, speaking to the customers
is a big thing for sure.
621
00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,840
Yeah, it sounds like a cliche,
but it's.
622
00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:54,760
But people don't do it enough.
That's why it's still being
623
00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:56,720
said.
We can it things that sound like
624
00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,160
a cliche that people always say,
I always like me and my friends
625
00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,720
will say, you know, we'll talk
about some advices that still
626
00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,760
being given about on paid
search.
627
00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,240
As you know, people are still
going, Oh yeah, don't use broad
628
00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,160
match too much or make sure it
has guard rails.
629
00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,480
And and this lady, she's an SCO
senior expert.
630
00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,920
She's like, really?
They're still giving those basic
631
00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:16,880
advice.
And I'm like, you've got to
632
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:19,800
realise that maybe the reason
that advice is still being
633
00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,440
giving is that people are still
not adhering to it.
634
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,200
People are forgetting people are
literally, it seems like basic
635
00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,800
to us because we're in it every
day.
636
00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:32,000
But their new account managers
coming to the scene, their new
637
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,440
brands, you know, popping up,
the new people discovering paid
638
00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,960
site for the first time.
And they're still making the
639
00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,800
stupid errors because obviously
Google is going to push for the
640
00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,800
strategy that makes them the
most money.
641
00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:47,800
That common sense to paid search
markets as we know not to do it.
642
00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,480
And yeah, it all ties in with
Google Trust.
643
00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,720
How do we trust Google?
And some people, they don't
644
00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,360
know, they don't know yet to not
trust Google.
645
00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:59,520
That's the thing, yeah.
Yeah, we, we, we've seen that I
646
00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,760
would say overall change
gradually, not of course, not
647
00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:04,840
thoroughly.
I think you touched on it,
648
00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:09,560
newcomers to Google Ads, it's
easier to, or you've got to,
649
00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,640
you've got to experience it.
Google has to give you a reason
650
00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,160
maybe not not to fully trust
them.
651
00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,240
You know, I guess as you're
starting out, it's so easy to
652
00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:21,720
believe the big authority figure
in, you know, the power pairing
653
00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,480
of Toilet Row, Assim and OK Max
and Board Match.
654
00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:27,160
Right power pair.
But yeah, exactly.
655
00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,440
But what put it this, if you've
gone back back to it?
656
00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:31,800
But it's just the guardrails,
isn't it?
657
00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,680
You know, just yeah, they're not
saying don't use the power
658
00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,960
pairing.
It's just don't set it up and
659
00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:39,160
then forget about it just
because the average row ass
660
00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,920
seems to be good in the end.
Like there are ways for you to,
661
00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,600
I guess, apply a guardrail that
maybe other agencies aren't
662
00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:46,360
doing.
Yeah.
663
00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:50,600
And sometimes it does take
looking up things from a
664
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,000
different perspective to be able
to to see those those
665
00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:55,280
guardrails.
Yeah, no, absolutely.
666
00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:56,960
Well, thank you guys for for
that.
667
00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:00,680
That's been a very genuinely
most honest conversation I've
668
00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,440
had with the tech tool.
I don't know whether I'll be
669
00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:04,520
able to do that again.
In fact, I might use your
670
00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:08,000
episode to implore all the tech
tools to be a bit more honest
671
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,440
because, yeah, because it's it's
a good, it's a good fresh
672
00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,760
perspective.
It's a refreshing to have that
673
00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,199
kind of conversation with, you
know, SAS tool.
674
00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:21,360
But yeah, now, now get into that
whole like, you know, when
675
00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,320
sometimes new clients come on
board and they're, you know,
676
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,600
they need help with certain area
they've been doing wrong for a
677
00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,920
while.
And, you know, what are some of
678
00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,960
like those like big errors that
you feel brands are still doing,
679
00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,639
managers are still doing.
Now you're like, guys, this
680
00:34:36,639 --> 00:34:38,760
should be basic.
Like we just said a minute ago,
681
00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,080
this should be basic.
Like you shouldn't be doing this
682
00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:42,800
anymore.
How come it's still happening?
683
00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,480
What are some of those obvious
or some of your favourite ones?
684
00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,960
It might not even be something
that's hard or easy, might just
685
00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,159
something that has stuck out in
your head.
686
00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:52,280
Shakira, do you want to start
also?
687
00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:56,000
Yeah, I mean for me it's quite
broad, but I see it all the
688
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,680
time.
I was saying to Adam like knee
689
00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:02,640
jerk reactions from PPCS is, is
something I see all the time and
690
00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:07,040
it manifests for me quite
clearly because I when Peanuts
691
00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,480
came out, for example, I
remember like chatting to loads
692
00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,800
of people and they just kept
asking me, what are you guys
693
00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:14,320
doing for P Max?
What do you do for P Max?
694
00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,400
They were freaking out.
They just heard about this thing
695
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,080
coming out.
And I kind of calmly ask him,
696
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:21,240
well, what do you want?
What do you want to optimise for
697
00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:23,480
P Max?
What are you currently doing?
698
00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,560
You know manually that you want,
want a tool to help with?
699
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,640
And they had like nothing to
say.
700
00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,200
They had no answer.
They didn't really know what
701
00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:31,720
they were asking.
Yeah.
702
00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,840
And so I still see that.
Well, I have seen that
703
00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,000
historically and I expect to
keep seeing it where people,
704
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,720
yeah, have really knee jerk
reactions to to new stuff that
705
00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:44,520
drops.
And it'd be nice if people took
706
00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:48,800
a calm, measured approach when
new stuff drops in and just sees
707
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,520
it as an exciting opportunity to
explore something new instead of
708
00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:53,760
scary.
Yeah, absolutely.
709
00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,160
How are you, Adam?
What are your, like favourites?
710
00:35:56,240 --> 00:36:00,480
Oh my God.
So if I if I try and like get
711
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,920
back to very like a recent
sample size, I would say the way
712
00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:08,200
that I've seen some users
interacting with Optios AI, I
713
00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:11,640
haven't had a chance to touch on
it yet, but we've introduced our
714
00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:15,360
own AI chats integration
throughout the whole of Optio in
715
00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:18,360
a new update.
And it's essentially A
716
00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:21,400
standalone track feature way,
which can tap into like your
717
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:26,640
Google ads account or database
code base, various web searches.
718
00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:29,800
And you can mean we've seen some
good, good use cases for the
719
00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:34,400
users that are willing or not
willing or understand AI and
720
00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:37,960
LLMS can't always give you a
perfect answer after a very,
721
00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,680
very short and brief prompt.
I've seen some users work with
722
00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:44,520
it to the point where they've
essentially replicated them
723
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,720
daily, month, weekly, monthly to
do lists for all clients in
724
00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:52,120
optio to the point where they
save the prompt, return next
725
00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,360
week to click all the buttons
and all the answers are given to
726
00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:56,200
you already.
Because everything like pre
727
00:36:56,960 --> 00:37:00,040
prompted and given the context
it needs to just go straight to
728
00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:04,000
relevant part of the account.
So my recent example of this
729
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,920
sort of frustration would be
just trying to maybe expect too
730
00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:11,880
much too soon from whatever AILM
about you guys are using.
731
00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,400
Work with it a little bit.
Yeah, yeah, expect those for
732
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:17,680
sure.
I think if people like
733
00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:21,200
especially, yes, again, this is
for those who are new, we should
734
00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,880
never forget that the, the
industry is always involving.
735
00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:26,840
The people we're speaking to
might be people who just joined
736
00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:29,680
the industry maybe 2-3 years
ago, because it's the people who
737
00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:33,520
have been in this for a long
time that we know, you know,
738
00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:35,600
give it a while, give it a while
to learn.
739
00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,840
And the newbies, they're like,
Oh yeah, I did the first results
740
00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:40,320
is exactly what it's going to
do.
741
00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:43,400
I'm like, no, no, it's not.
Give it a give it time to learn.
742
00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,200
So yeah, now also even going
into like how, how AI, the what
743
00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:50,080
the AI frontier is going to be
about.
744
00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:53,480
Like do you guys have any advice
in terms of for the future for
745
00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:59,440
2026, what's what's, what people
should prepare for or just what
746
00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:01,720
are your predictions for this
year of how, how, how the
747
00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:04,320
industry, what's going to be
like our biggest challenge to
748
00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,400
really face in terms of the
world?
749
00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:12,040
Of AI, I think we're going to
see this like move into this
750
00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,640
fully agentic future backfire, I
think people.
751
00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:19,160
Are going to think it's going to
backfire I mean we're.
752
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:25,480
We're, we're super interested in
the idea that, that it can do
753
00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:29,440
even more heavy lifting for you.
But I worry that there's a bit
754
00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:34,520
of a, a gap between just
fundamental knowledge of PPC and
755
00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:37,160
also just, you know, businesses,
your clients, your brand, like
756
00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:38,680
what the important parts of
that.
757
00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:41,600
Yeah.
If you don't have those
758
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:45,480
fundamentals in place and you're
relying on some AI agent to
759
00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,720
actually push the buttons and do
the thinking, I can see that
760
00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:52,080
backfiring massively.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
761
00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:53,400
I agree.
I agree.
762
00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:58,280
How about you, Adam?
Well, I think the big to boost,
763
00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:00,320
whether it's to be or not is AI
Max.
764
00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:04,880
Like I think it's I think the
warnings are and she here was
765
00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:07,280
touched on it just before, like
this idea of like knee jerk
766
00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:10,520
reactions and panic.
Like, I don't really see it
767
00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:14,200
being as impactful as like the
introduction of performance Max
768
00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:16,320
was.
Like it doesn't seem to be a new
769
00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,040
to be fair.
I mean, P Max originally was an
770
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:20,760
evolution of smart shopping,
wasn't it?
771
00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:24,760
So it was and then all of a
sudden Google removed smart
772
00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:27,520
shopping and like transitioned
everything over to P Max.
773
00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:29,800
If I don't know if Google
started to do the same thing
774
00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:34,160
with getting Infinity to appear
in like the AI searches on the
775
00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:36,040
Google search page and then
maybe.
776
00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:41,120
But I think I saw, I think it
was it was a talk at your PPC
777
00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:43,880
live was about last November or
October when you did 1.
778
00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:46,880
And I remember the name of the
gentleman, but he was talking
779
00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:49,280
about like market share of all
the LLMS.
780
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:53,080
And I think, I still think he
predicted like compared to like
781
00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,360
paid.
Yeah, this was a TUG.
782
00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:57,880
Wait, wait, wait.
Shortage.
783
00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,160
Yeah.
Yeah, that Neil Baker from TUG.
784
00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,280
Yeah, Yeah, Neil.
And it was Neil, Yeah, good
785
00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:03,880
memory.
And he was saying that the
786
00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:06,120
percentage of market share is
still like absolutely
787
00:40:06,120 --> 00:40:09,480
negligible, but clearly, clearly
it's going nowhere.
788
00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:14,400
So like it's a case of, yeah,
maybe get in testing early, but
789
00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:18,640
don't expect to see the same
efficiencies as you would like a
790
00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:21,280
traditionally and like a bottom
funnel search campaign.
791
00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:24,760
It's testing budget.
As we know P Max didn't perform
792
00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:26,560
well for a couple of years after
that was released.
793
00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:31,680
And yeah, it's, it's similarly,
but I don't think the scale, the
794
00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:35,280
potential risk or the wage that
will be dropped in the water
795
00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,720
will be quite big with this AI
Max in my limit limited opinion.
796
00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:42,160
Yeah, to be fair, like, you
know, I know some people are
797
00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:45,200
going like, yeah, it's working
instead, you know, and all of
798
00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:47,520
these things, it depends.
Some people are saying that it's
799
00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:51,040
totally trash kind of thing.
But yeah, it's, it's all about
800
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,200
thinking that any, any new, new,
new new feature.
801
00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:58,680
And you know, I'll be remiss not
to mention shout out to ChatGPT
802
00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,920
ads and people who have had
their eyes on like Yoko, when is
803
00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:03,720
it going to come to the UK?
Who knows?
804
00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,880
Like I'm, I'm very intrigued to
just say the word of people who
805
00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:10,000
have had the opportunity to test
it in the US to start a lot of
806
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,840
with like, yeah, in the
beginning stages are not not
807
00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:16,200
going to be reflective of how it
actually will work on a long
808
00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:18,400
term.
When they actually, you know,
809
00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:22,120
then see results on what what
advertisers complain about and
810
00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:24,360
what they did.
They decide to, you know, give
811
00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:28,200
control, you know, of to for,
for that first advertisers to be
812
00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:30,480
able to do so.
Yeah, that's very interesting.
813
00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:35,000
You guys, the two of you have
been a fantastic pair to talk to
814
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:37,040
today.
Adam and Shakira, thank you so
815
00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:39,160
much.
Before we go, before we do our
816
00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:43,800
final sign of a nice fun non
PPC, non work question.
817
00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:47,080
What if your PPC career were a
movie?
818
00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:50,640
What would the title be?
It could be a movie that always
819
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:52,480
already out there.
You could come out with a brand
820
00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:54,360
new title.
It doesn't matter either way.
821
00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:56,480
Wax Shakira, do you want to go
first?
822
00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:00,000
Oh, this is a this is a tricky
one that I'm not prepared for.
823
00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,640
But you said, you said the
famous phrase a second ago and I
824
00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:05,400
was thinking it's a phrase I use
probably every single day, which
825
00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,880
is it depends.
Three.
826
00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,520
OK, a lot of a lot of questions,
a lot of advice.
827
00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,520
What do I do?
Whether it's in Google Ads or an
828
00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:17,560
optio, it depends.
Let's talk.
829
00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:20,120
It depends.
The Shakira movie, I love it.
830
00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:21,200
I love it.
Let's do it.
831
00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:24,000
How about you, Adam?
You can't say it depends now.
832
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:24,920
Sorry.
That's taken.
833
00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:27,920
Well, it always depends what's
the honest answer?
834
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:32,880
No, no, I think because my my
PPC career equals my career with
835
00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:36,880
Optio, I think it makes it'd be
sensible here for me to link it.
836
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:41,520
But somehow back to the change
which is happening here in the
837
00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:42,960
products, you know, where we're
evolving.
838
00:42:43,240 --> 00:42:45,440
So I was I was I was thinking
about this before the court.
839
00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:47,000
Of course, spoiler alert
everyone.
840
00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,480
I mean, might have suggested
that she was going to ask this
841
00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:52,880
question and I was thinking
about, you know, it's a next
842
00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:54,520
level.
It's a new phase, maybe some of
843
00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,440
the best sequels, sequel movies
that have ever been made.
844
00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:02,440
My opinion, Godfather Part 2,
Lord of the Rings episode 2 and
845
00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:04,600
three, of course, 2 towers
returning again.
846
00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:10,160
Yeah, but again, film extra
linking it back to AI and
847
00:43:10,160 --> 00:43:12,840
automation.
I think the most fitting answer
848
00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,000
here would be Terminator 2, Rise
of the Machines.
849
00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:19,080
Oh, OK, OK.
Terminator 2, Rise of the
850
00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:20,400
Machine.
I love that.
851
00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:22,920
I love that, and I love the
explanation.
852
00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:24,280
We don't need to say more about
that.
853
00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:28,360
That's absolutely fantastic.
Yeah, the machines are coming.
854
00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:30,800
Although, as Shakira said, it
might backfire.
855
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:32,960
All the Genting world might
backfire.
856
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:35,080
So yeah.
We'll see how it plays out,
857
00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:37,000
yeah.
We'll see.
858
00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:39,000
Just just make sure you're
saying please and thank you to
859
00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:40,320
charge you.
Right.
860
00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:45,680
I cannot yes, there's a whole
conversation about that Good.
861
00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:48,280
Oh bless you guys.
It's been so great tracted with
862
00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:49,840
you.
Where can we where?
863
00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:53,120
Where's the best way to get, you
know the updates of what of TA
864
00:43:53,160 --> 00:43:55,280
are doing?
Yeah.
865
00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:58,000
I mean, so we have an early
access programme that we're
866
00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:00,120
rolling out for the new version
of the app right now.
867
00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:05,400
So if you go to optio.com/PPC
Live, then you can register for
868
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:08,920
early access and you can see
everything we've been up to and
869
00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,360
get into a free trial for the
new stuff.
870
00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:16,400
Amazing and I don't like any
other places like like maybe
871
00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:18,080
LinkedIn.
Yeah.
872
00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:21,360
I mean, we were getting a bit
active again on LinkedIn, aren't
873
00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:23,440
we, on the Optio account secure.
We've been posting some
874
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:26,600
announcements on, I guess, the
early access programme, the new
875
00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:29,560
agency growth partnership.
I.
876
00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,800
Mean feel free to connect with
both of us, Shakira, our
877
00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,360
teammate Ben, teammates Ben and
James as well.
878
00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:39,760
We, if anyone has any questions
about what we've been up to,
879
00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:44,320
what we've got planned, we would
just be so favourite thing to do
880
00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:47,920
really is talk to people, give
us an opportunity.
881
00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:49,680
We'll we'll answer everything
you've got.
882
00:44:50,120 --> 00:44:52,840
I can attest for that.
They did, they absolutely love
883
00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:55,200
chatting.
I'll have them at the events and
884
00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:57,720
I'll be like, Yep, they're,
they're chatting away with some,
885
00:44:57,840 --> 00:44:59,840
some new people, some about your
service.
886
00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:02,120
And it's great.
It's what it's what makes the
887
00:45:02,120 --> 00:45:05,000
event so, so lovely.
And so I, you know, like have
888
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,280
that great community feel.
So yeah.
889
00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:10,720
For, for those who would love to
meet Adam and Shakira at any
890
00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:13,560
future events that our next one
is April 29th.
891
00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:15,880
That's going to be at Brighton,
but we're going to be back in
892
00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:18,440
London on like July first, I
think it is.
893
00:45:18,440 --> 00:45:22,320
It's the last Thursday of July.
So whichever that data is, we'll
894
00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:25,320
be back in London.
So yeah, you'll get to have a
895
00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:28,760
chat with the fun PPC Life
community, including Adam
896
00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:30,640
Shakira.
But yeah, for now, thank you
897
00:45:30,640 --> 00:45:34,160
both for joining the podcast
today and sharing so many great
898
00:45:34,160 --> 00:45:36,960
learnings with our listeners.
Thank you guys.
899
00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:39,760
Thank you very much.
Yeah, I appreciate it.
900
00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:44,360
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Shakira.
901
00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:46,280
Thank you so much, Adam, for
sharing that.
902
00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:49,760
Very insightful behind the
scenes of what happens with a
903
00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:54,080
SAS tool when you know changes
in the market happens where you
904
00:45:54,080 --> 00:45:58,120
have to redirect 'cause I love
that advice, especially from
905
00:45:58,120 --> 00:46:01,040
Shakira, about making sure that
you're not sitting in an echo
906
00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:05,200
Chamber of what you feel that
you know the customer should do
907
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:08,360
or what you feel like you you
know, you've created the tool
908
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:09,800
for.
You should not just create the
909
00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:11,840
tool for what you think in your
head.
910
00:46:11,840 --> 00:46:14,360
You should create a tool for
what customers need.
911
00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:17,680
So speak to your customers so
that they can help you lead the
912
00:46:17,680 --> 00:46:20,600
direction of where what, you
know, releases that you should
913
00:46:20,600 --> 00:46:22,960
make to ensure that you keep
having customers.
914
00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:26,280
You know, you need customers to
ensure that you you, you thrive
915
00:46:26,280 --> 00:46:29,280
and survive in in a, in the, you
know, B to B SaaS world.
916
00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:31,400
So if you're not listening to
them, if you're not creating
917
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:33,720
something that they are going to
need, how you're going to
918
00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:35,280
survive.
So always keep that in mind.
919
00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:39,520
So, yeah, For more information
on the full transcript and show
920
00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:43,120
notes and all those resources
and and links that we we shared
921
00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:46,320
on that episode, please go to
podcast dot PPC dot live to get
922
00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:49,040
all those details.
Yes, PPC live events.
923
00:46:49,040 --> 00:46:53,920
We had a fantastic PPC in person
event and by our next event is
924
00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:56,600
going to be our in person event
is going to be in April, April
925
00:46:56,600 --> 00:46:59,560
29th in Brighton, just before
Brighton SCO.
926
00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:01,480
So we're really excited for
that.
927
00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:03,960
We've already I've already
gotten speakers lined up.
928
00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:06,600
Tickets are going to go to sell
on sale very soon.
929
00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:08,960
So look out for that.
But yeah, keep in mind to join
930
00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:13,360
us on April 29th and actually
already, so go to PC dot live to
931
00:47:13,360 --> 00:47:15,680
figure out, find out whether you
can get your early bird ticket
932
00:47:15,680 --> 00:47:17,320
sale.
And we're going to be doing 3
933
00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:18,960
stages of the ticket sales this
time.
934
00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:20,320
We're going to do early bird
sale.
935
00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:23,560
We're going to do first ticket
sale release and final sale
936
00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:26,560
release on the week of.
So because we really, it really
937
00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:30,640
helps to plan to have people buy
their tickets in advance as
938
00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:33,040
advanced as possible.
So if you're buying your ticket
939
00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:36,000
at the last minute, it's going
to cost you the most.
940
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:38,880
So, yeah, make sure you're one
of the first to get your ticket
941
00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:42,440
so that you can get it for the
cheapest possible price before I
942
00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:44,520
leave you.
I'm also delighted to share that
943
00:47:44,520 --> 00:47:47,720
I am taking on coaching clients.
And so yeah, just to help people
944
00:47:47,720 --> 00:47:51,600
with their confidence to really
get involved in the industry and
945
00:47:51,600 --> 00:47:55,680
know how to navigate it, whether
it's from, you know, a client
946
00:47:55,680 --> 00:47:59,200
working with a client or working
with a manager or working with,
947
00:47:59,200 --> 00:48:01,760
you know, an agency.
If you're the manager of an in
948
00:48:01,760 --> 00:48:03,480
house brand.
Yeah, so let me know.
949
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:06,200
I've dealt with, I've, I've
worked in all those situations,
950
00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,600
whether it's about matter of,
you know, asking for that
951
00:48:09,640 --> 00:48:14,440
promotion or asking for that
salary in I, I can help you do
952
00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:15,480
that.
So yeah, go to
953
00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:18,960
themarketingannual.com to book a
discovery call with me.
954
00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:21,560
It's going to be a free 15
minute call with me first to
955
00:48:21,560 --> 00:48:25,040
figure out what it is that you
need so that I can plan our
956
00:48:25,040 --> 00:48:29,360
conversations around the
specifics areas of interest that
957
00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:31,000
that matter to you.
So, yeah.
958
00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:34,400
So I hope you then enjoyed the
show and I look forward to
959
00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:36,920
bringing more PPC efforts and
triumph next week.
960
00:48:37,040 --> 00:48:37,800
Thank you.
Bye.