Why Your Ads Feel Broken | AJ Aluthwala & Leo Climaco

“Back in the day” used to mean years ago. Now it can mean three months, especially if you’re talking about AI. From the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas at the Q1 Board of Advisors Summit, we sit down with AJ to get grounded in what actually lasts when technology, platforms, and marketing tactics change at full speed.We talk about AJ’s six-year run inside BA and how the quality of the room has evolved, plus what that kind of community can unlock for an operator who shows up consistently. AJ shares his path from digital marketing services like SEO, websites, and email marketing into mobile app development and custom software, driven by real client needs. We also get into the unexpected opportunities that come from relationships, including his move into an online cigar marketplace and a yacht listing platform.Then we go deep on practical marketing. AJ breaks down how to structure Meta ads so people actually notice them, why repetition matters, and how to think about lead campaigns versus awareness funnels if you care about lead quality. He also shares a favorite free tool: Looker Studio, a “free forever” marketing analytics dashboard that helps you see what’s working across SEO, ads, email, and more, so you can stop guessing and start allocating budget with confidence. We close with AJ’s take on why SEO is not dead, how AEO still sits on an SEO foundation, and why WordPress remains a smart base for discoverability.If you got value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a founder who’s drowning in trends, and leave a review. What’s one “fad” you’re choosing not to chase right now?