The Marketing Mistakes Costing Founders Customers with Lauren Schafer

If your marketing isn't generating qualified leads, the problem probably isn't your budget—it's your strategy. In this episode, Lauren Schafer shares why so many businesses waste money on marketing that never converts and what founders should do instead. From Google Ads and landing pages to LinkedIn, AI search, and employee advocacy, you'll learn practical strategies that help your business get found when buyers are actually ready to make a decision. In this episode, we discuss: • Why sending paid traffic to your homepage is one of the most expensive marketing mistakes you can make • How to improve Google Ads performance through better targeting, monitoring, and conversion-focused landing pages • The biggest reasons marketing campaigns fail—even with a healthy budget • How to build a consistent LinkedIn strategy that increases reach and credibility • Why employee advocacy often outperforms company pages on social media • How to turn your company culture into content that attracts both customers and top talent • What AI search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini look for when recommending businesses • The SEO strategies that still matter in an AI-driven world • If you had to cut your marketing budget in half, where you should—and shouldn't—spend it Whether you're a founder, CEO, or marketing leader, this conversation will help you stop wasting marketing dollars and start building a strategy that creates visibility, trust, and qualified leads. If you enjoyed this episode, follow *Scaling with People*, leave a review, and share it with another founder who wants to grow smarter—not just spend more.