Stop Wasting Your Marketing Budget | SME Growth, AI & Branding with Jingjing Zhong & Robert Lai

Описание: Most SMEs are burning their marketing budget — and they don’t even know it. In this brutally honest conversation, Superbench AI founder Jingjing Zhong sits down with Robert Lai, founder of performance agency Kaliber and an Ex-Googler, to unpack the real reasons marketing fails for small businesses.

💡 From dodgy agency practices and AI hype to building brand value over blind performance, this episode is a masterclass in sustainable SME growth.

🚀 What You’ll Learn:
• The hidden reasons your ad budget isn’t working
• How to align sales + marketing for real ROI
• Using AI for qualitative insights, not just speed
• Why brand-first strategies win over constant discounts
• The right way to build a long-term marketing engine

📈 Perfect for:
• SME founders, marketers, growth leaders
• Business owners tired of bad agency results
• Teams exploring AI-powered marketing that actually works
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🎙️ Featuring:
• Jingjing Zhong – Founder, Superbench AI | Former GM, Helpling
• Robert Lai – Founder, Kaliber | Ex-Google NYC & Sydney
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⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Why even experienced marketers waste budget
02:00 – The difference between performance marketing & performance branding
04:34 – The agency problem: hidden fees, lack of transparency, account control
07:15 – How platforms like PMax and Meta Advantage+ hide the truth
10:00 – AI tools for productivity vs real marketing impact
12:28 – Are AI-generated websites and blogs killing SEO?
15:44 – How Google’s AI Overviews are changing organic + paid results
18:00 – Budget strategy for clinics & local businesses with $5K/month
22:05 – Why YouTube outperforms Meta & TikTok for attention & brand-building
27:40 – “My leads suck!” – Diagnosing lead quality & sales misalignment
31:00 – The critical numbers every SME must track (CAC, CLV, etc.)
35:55 – Why most agencies are operators, not marketing strategists
39:48 – Promotions are killing your brand — here’s what to do instead
44:30 – Perceived value vs price: how to shift your brand positioning
49:00 – Should you use a chatbot behind your ads? What really works
52:45 – Final thoughts: no shortcuts, only strategy

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👉 Watch, take notes, and rethink how you’re spending every marketing dollar.
💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments.