One Bad Review, 370 Wins, and the Keyboard Warrior Who Never Sleeps

So here's a stat for you:
370 students. 4.9-star rating. All in just two weeks.
That’s the current status of our new HighLevel Masterclass on Udemy. Sounds amazing, right?

Well… it mostly is.

Out of 50 reviews, we got one bad one. Just one. From a guy who never even opened the course. Didn’t watch a video. Didn’t read a guide. Just showed up, slapped a low rating, and dipped like a digital drive-by.

And honestly? It stung.

It reminded me of this one guy on YouTube who—no matter what—always drops a thumbs down. I’ll have 99 likes, and there he is. Lurking. Clicking. Logging off satisfied like he just fulfilled his life’s purpose. I don’t even think he watches the videos. He just has an alert set:

And look—I know the drill.
The more you grow, the more haters you collect. It’s part of the game.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get to you.

Real talk: content creation can be brutal.
That Udemy course? Over 17 hours of video.
Not to mention guides, snapshots, planning, late nights, retakes, “where’s my mic?”, “why isn’t this exporting?”… and caffeine. Lots of caffeine.

You pour yourself into it.
Then someone who didn’t even open the course gives you a review like they just spent a weekend bingeing it. It messes with your confidence, slows your momentum, and makes it harder to sit down and create the next thing.

And if you’ve ever felt that? You're not alone.
Whether you’re posting reels, writing emails, running a campaign, or just trying to get one client to say something nice—you’ve probably been there too.

But then… there’s this:

That right there? Worth everything.

That student completed 70% of the course in two weeks.
He’s already taking action, getting results, and on his way to winning. That’s why we do what we do.

🙌 So Here's the Lesson

If you’re building, creating, helping others—you will attract noise.
But you’ll also make impact.
And impact always outweighs noise.

So let the haters scroll on. Let that one star fade into the sea of five-stars.
We’re here for the people who show up, do the work, and grow.

370 in two weeks? That’s a win.
And if you haven’t checked it out yet, seriously—

🎓 Here’s the link:
https://www.udemy.com/course/gohighlevel-masterclass-from-beginner-to-expert/?couponCode=GHLACCESS19

Let’s keep building. Even when the mic cuts out halfway through.

How to Get Clients Like a GHL Wizard

(Bathrobe Optional)

If you’ve ever wondered how to get clients faster than you can say “cold email,” you’re going to love this one. HighLevel just dropped a monster session with Declan O’Reilly—aka “the GHL Wizard”—where he didn’t just talk theory. He walked you through 21 real-deal client-getting strategies, all of which he and his students have actually used to grow service businesses (yes, even the ones involving bathrobes and QR codes).

Here’s why this is worth your attention: this isn’t another fluff video on “manifesting” leads. It’s a tactical breakdown of everything from AI-powered scraping to chocolate-foot-in-the-door walk-ins (you read that right).

Let’s get into the core strategy that stood out:

We’re not going to list all 21 here—that’s what the full video is for. But here are the top 10 strategies to get you moving today.

🧙‍♂️ 1. Google + AI = Free Leads

No scrapers, no Chrome hacks. Just:

• Search: plumber "@gmail.com" New York

• Grab the emails listed on those sites

• Paste into ChatGPT: “Organize by biz name + email”

• Instant spreadsheet of potential leads

You can swap emails for phone numbers, social handles, or WhatsApp—whatever works. Best part? It’s free.

✉️ 2. Cold Emails That Don’t Suck

Mass emails? Use tools like Instantly.
Personal emails? Use Loom + audits for local biz owners.

Here’s the move:

• “Hey [Name], noticed [tiny problem] on your site. Made a 2-min video showing a fix.”

• Include Loom link.

• Don’t pitch—just offer help.

Bonus: Slight typos and casual tone = more replies.

📞 3. Cold Calling (Yes, Still Works)

Hate it? Me too. But it still works.

• “Hey, I noticed your hours on Google are off—just wanted to help fix it.”

• Or: “I made a better landing page for your business, can I send it?”

If you're gutsy, walk in with a smile and a QR code (see #7).

📱 4. DM Outreach That Doesn’t Get You Blocked

Declan’s favorite.

• Find niche biz accounts.

• DM with a shared pain point (e.g., “Tired of SEO spam too?”)

• Or comment on something specific they posted.

Do not open with “Hey, do you need more clients?” Ever.

🌐 5. SEO + AEO (AI Engine Optimization)

AEO is SEO’s cooler, bot-friendly cousin.

• Optimize your site not just for Google, but for AI bots (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)

• Use niche keywords: “med spa CRM,” “plumber reputation tools,” etc.

• Write for humans and machines.

This is how people find you instead of the other way around.

🎥 6. Video Content for Niche Domination

You don’t need a million followers. You need:

• One clear problem you solve

• A video explaining how

• A call-to-action

Even a faceless channel can bring in leads. Give value, get traffic.

📰 7. Get Featured by Local Media

Local news outlets love small biz success stories.

• Offer to do a ribbon-cutting.

• Share your 9–5-to-entrepreneur journey.

• Ask to be interviewed for a local feature.

They’ll blast you to their giant email list—and your credibility gets a glow-up overnight.

🤝 8. Referral Playbook (The Real One)

Don’t guess—just go to acquisition.com, hit the Leads Course → Referral Playbook.

Declan swears by this. So do I. If you build a referral system the right way, clients start sending you more clients. Like magic. Or compound interest, but better.

🧑‍💼 9. Expos, Meetups, and Conferences

If you’re not introverted to the point of physical pain, go where your prospects hang out.

This is how Declan and Dean met. And it still works.

• Look up business expos near you.

• Attend. Shake hands. Bring cards.

• Biggest clients often show up in person—not in your inbox.

🧑‍💻 10. Facebook Groups & Reddit Threads

Yes, even plumbers and roofers hang out online.

• Join groups in your niche.

• Be helpful, drop value bombs.

• DM after you’ve built rapport.

If you’re authentic and not annoying, it works.

🎁 Pro Tip: Stack Your Favorites

Pick 2–3 of these and combine them. Here’s an easy combo to get started:

• Use Google + AI to build your list.

• Send Loom emails or DM on social.

• Follow up with a QR code walk-in or a call if they ghost you.

This is the game. Not shouting louder, but being more useful, more human, and a bit more creative.

👉 Want all 21 lead-gen strategies (including the chocolate foot story and the “QR code plexiglass” walk-in method)?

Watch the full video here:
▶️ 21 Proven Strategies to Get Clients Fast

You’ll laugh, you’ll take notes, and you’ll probably rethink how you do outreach. Seriously—grab a coffee and watch it.

Blog Like a Boss: N8N + Highlevel = I Never have to write a Blog Again

You know that moment when a client says, “We just need a few blog posts each month—shouldn’t take long, right?” And you smile politely while screaming internally?

Well, grab your coffee (or tequila, I don’t judge), because HighLevel just launched something that might finally make blogging not feel like medieval punishment.

It’s called the AI Blog Builder, and it lives right inside your HighLevel dashboard. No switching tools. No copy-pasting from ChatGPT into a sad WordPress backend. Just clean, SEO-ready content that you (or your VA, or your client) can write, edit, and publish—without leaving the platform.

Here’s why this is a game-changer (and why I kinda want to gatekeep it, but here we are):

🧠 One Prompt = One Blog (And Not the Garbage Kind)

HighLevel’s new blog tool isn’t just another AI content generator glued into the UI. This thing is actually useful:

• You enter a topic or prompt

• It creates a structured, SEO-conscious blog post

• You get a full-blown editor that lets you edit inline

• Hit publish and it goes straight to your website (yep, the actual blog page)

No plugins. No “export to WordPress.” No praying to the formatting gods.

It’s like having a junior copywriter who doesn’t flake or ask you to explain what “H2” means.

💡 Real-World Use Cases (AKA How Agencies Win With This)

This isn’t just a solo-preneur toy—it’s a full-blown content engine for agencies and SaaS pros:

• Reputation Agencies: Push out localized content for 50 clients in 3 industries—without crying.

• Niche SaaS: Build weekly blog posts around product updates, use cases, or onboarding tips.

• Local Business Clients: Offer monthly content packages (“We’ll blog for you!”) as a high-margin upsell.

• Multi-location SEO: Use AI to create neighborhood-specific blogs (hello, “best dentists in Plano”).

And since it’s all native, you can combine it with automations—like publishing updates to social or triggering a newsletter send once the post goes live.

Chef’s kiss.

🧰 Let’s Talk Features

Here’s what the builder can actually do today:

• ✍️ Generate Posts Based on a Prompt
  Example: “Write a blog about why med spas should automate client reviews”

• 🧱 Full Editor with Formatting
  Add headlines, images, CTAs, and preview it like a pro

• 🌍 Publish Natively to Your Blog
  No WordPress. Just go live, instantly

• 🧠 AI That Knows the Basics of SEO
  Posts come out clean: headings, structure, flow—all optimized for readability

• 🔁 Rinse and Repeat
  Want 5 blog posts per month? Duplicate, tweak, schedule.

This isn't a placeholder feature. It’s ready to go right now—inside HighLevel Labs.

🔥 Pro Tip: Train It With Your (or Your Client’s) Voice

You want better results? Give it better fuel.

• Feed it old blog posts

• Drop in your landing page copy

• Use your email sequences as tone references

Suddenly the blog builder starts sounding like you—not some AI intern who thinks “Click here to learn more!” is a strong CTA.

Better prompts = better content. Don’t overthink it—just feed the machine.

Blogging is still one of the best ways to:

• Build authority

• Drive traffic

• Educate leads

• Get organic reach without paying Zuck another dime

But most folks never do it consistently—because writing is hard, time is tight, and let's face it: Canva memes feel easier.

Now? No excuses. This tool is built for execution. You’ve got the strategy. Let the AI handle the typing.

So go ahead—schedule that client content package. Charge extra. Publish faster. Look like the genius who somehow finds time to blog and grow a business.

Flying Kangaroos, Fighting Robots & a Wolf on Roller Skates: AI Just Went Off the Rails

So, I was going to tell you about one cool thing I found this week. But then… I fell down an AI rabbit hole and popped back out surrounded by kickboxing robots, voice assistants that finally work, and image generators that can put you on Mars with aviators and a beer.

If you’re wondering what the AI world is up to—besides replacing your entire media team in 2 clicks—strap in. Here’s the weirdest, wildest, and most mind-blowing stuff I found online this week:

🖼️ Flux One: Image Generation That Actually Understands Context

Black Forest Labs dropped this thing called Flux One Context Model. Think ChatGPT’s image model, but with less “mid-2000s stock photo” energy and more "Yes, that seagull is actually drinking a beer in a bar now.”

• Upload an image → Tell it what to change → Done.

• “Put me on Mars.” ✅ “Make this Ghibli-style.” ✅

• Realistic edits. Like, scary good.

• Bonus: You can try it free on https://playground.bfl.ai/image/generate

Also available in Leonardo AI now. Which, yes, means you can animate these.
A monkey on roller skates? Sure.
Spinning video of said monkey with motion effects? Obviously.

🧑‍🚀 Hunan Video Avatar: Talk Like a Human, From Just a Photo

Tencent came in with their Video Avatar tech—upload a photo, add a script, and this thing lip-syncs like it’s ready for your next sales video.

• It supports multiple characters

• Works with text or audio input

• And yes, it’s free (for now)

It’s not Pixar-perfect, but for open source? It’s freakishly decent.

🧠 Claude Just Got a Voice—and a Brain

Claude (Anthropic’s AI assistant) added voice mode, and I’ll just say it:
It makes Siri look like a toaster.

• Ask it to check your calendar, email, or files

• It responds in full sentences

• Feels like Jarvis but with fewer explosions

Also, the voice options? Weirdly good. You can sound like a yoga teacher or a caffeinated podcast host.

📊 Perplexity Labs = Your AI Research Department

New from Perplexity: give it a task, and it grinds away for 10+ minutes crafting dashboards, reports, even short film concepts.

Examples:

• Full F1 performance breakdowns

• Custom B2B lead lists with analysis

• An actual noir sci-fi film storyboard with visuals

It’s like asking ChatGPT to go do your homework—and it turns in a thesis.

🤖 Factory AI’s Droid Agent Codes While You Talk

Factory AI’s “Droid” is a code agent that literally builds software while you’re chatting.

• In one demo, two guys talked on a podcast

• Droid quietly built a working DocuSign clone in the background

• They signed a doc live on the show. Game over.

This one’s still in dev, but mark my words: big things are coming.

💻 CodeRabbit = A Developer That Won’t Judge Your Syntax

For all the builders out there, CodeRabbit is like a senior dev whispering in your ear—except it never sighs when you miss a semicolon.

• Works inside VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf

• Spots bugs, security holes, sloppy code

• Offers one-click fixes as you write

• Free to start (yes, really)

Basically, if GitHub Copilot and Stack Overflow had a baby… this would be the more helpful twin.

🦘 AI Kangaroo Goes Viral, Fools the Internet

VO3’s latest update created the internet’s newest hoax:
A woman trying to board a plane with an emotional support kangaroo.
Millions believed it. The video? 100% AI-generated.

Midjourney had the Pope in a puffer jacket.
VO3 has Roo Air.

🛰️ China Just Launched AI Supercomputers… Into Space

No joke. China is literally building a satellite-based AI supercomputer array in orbit.

• Uses the vacuum of space to cool processors

• Crunches data up there so it doesn’t clog your bandwidth down here

• Feels very “sci-fi villain” energy, but also kinda brilliant?

The AI arms race just hit escape velocity.

🧑‍🏫 Manis Slides: AI That Builds Your PowerPoints for You

Manis (not to be confused with mayonnaise) now builds entire slide decks from prompts.

• Enter your topic

• Get a full deck with visuals, layout, and content

• Edit inline or export to share

If Canva and ChatGPT hooked up in a WeWork… this would be their kid.

🕹️ Odyssey ML’s Interactive AI World You Can Explore

This one’s weird—and awesome.

You can walk around a fully AI-generated world in real-time. Every step you take creates a new frame. It’s like Doom meets DALL·E meets acid trip.

Still super beta, but the fact that it works at all? 🤯

Wrap-Up:

So yeah. While you were sleeping, AI learned to make blog posts, build slide decks, animate photos, write code, fake kangaroos, and explore virtual universes—all in a single week.

Is any of this useful for business? Some of it, absolutely.
Is all of it mind-melting? Also yes.

And if you’re wondering whether I used AI to write this… no.
But I might feed it into one of these tools just to see what it looks like illustrated in Studio Ghibli style.

Builder.ai Wasn’t AI. It Was Just 700 Humans in the Back Room. Ai Startup That Wasnt Ai

You’ve probably heard it already: “AI can build your app in minutes.” That’s been the holy grail for years. Builder.ai took that dream, raised nearly half a billion dollars to sell it, and then—well—they handed the work to 700 engineers in India and pretended it was AI all along.

Now they’re broke. The tech press is on fire. And all of us in the SaaS and marketing world are left with one big, awkward question:
If billion-dollar AI tools are faking it… how do we know what’s real?

🚨 What Actually Happened

Here’s the quick backstory:

• Builder.ai was a London-based startup that claimed its AI assistant, “Natasha,” could build apps autonomously—just give her your idea.

• Turns out Natasha wasn’t very artificial or intelligent. Most of the “AI” was just human engineers executing behind the curtain.

• Their 2024 revenue? They said $220M. It was actually $50M.

• Their cash? Mostly frozen. Their credibility? Torched.

• They’ve filed for insolvency and Microsoft, one of their investors, has quietly stepped away like someone backing out of a room on fire.

They also allegedly used fake invoices and phantom deals to inflate growth—and reportedly ignored warnings about financial misconduct dating all the way back to 2019.

💭 Why This Matters (Especially to Marketers)

Let’s be honest—there are lessons here. Real ones. Because if you’re building or buying anything AI-related, this could’ve been your tool, your vendor, or your partner.

Here’s what Builder.ai taught us the hard way:

1. AI Labels Are Often Just Labels

If someone slaps “AI-powered” on a tool, you must ask:

• Is it actually using machine learning or NLP?

• Or is it just a fancy interface with freelancers behind the scenes?

You don’t need a PhD to figure this out—just ask to see the process. If the “AI” never adapts or automates, it’s probably manual labor in a hoodie.

2. Due Diligence Isn’t Just for Investors

Whether you're signing up for software or recommending a tool to a client, vet the tech:

• Can they show a live demo?

• Do their results vary by input? (A good sign of real AI.)

• Is there documentation or support beyond the buzzwords?

Don’t buy the hype. Test the tool.

3. Transparency Is the New Premium Feature

If you're offering AI-driven services, this is your moment to shine:

• Be honest about how your tech works.

• Show the blend of automation + human input (if there is one).

• Build trust by showing behind the curtain, not hiding it.

Right now, transparency builds more credibility than another “autopilot” claim ever will.

You’re not hiding behind a buzzword. You’re showing clients that you know how to balance speed with strategy.

And in a post-Builder.ai world, that’s a selling point.

Final Thought

The AI gold rush is very real. And yeah, it’s producing amazing tools. But we’re also in a moment where a lot of folks are selling magic—and delivering mirrors.

Builder.ai isn’t just a one-off scandal. It’s a reminder: People want solutions, not smoke. If you’re in the business of building, selling, or even just recommending AI tools, now’s the time to focus on what’s real.

The takeaway?
Don’t chase the buzz. Build the trust.

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