No Hacks: The Mindset Behind Digital Optimization and Growth

In this episode of the No Hacks Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bjarn Brunenberg, Experimentation Lead at TomTom. Bjarn has a passion for turning big ideas into actionable steps, and in this conversation, we get into the nuts and bolts of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), how they differ from KPIs, and why they’re a game-changer for teams and businesses alike.

Bjarn shares some incredible stories from his time at TomTom, where he’s been helping the company shift from their famous hardware devices to innovative software solutions. We also talk about how OKRs can help bridge the gap between ambitious company goals and the day-to-day work that teams do.

Here’s a glimpse of what we covered:

• The difference between OKRs and KPIs (and why getting this right matters).
• How to avoid common OKR mistakes, like setting vague objectives or misaligning teams.
• Practical tools like the KPI Tree and Opportunity Solution Tree that make complex goals feel achievable.
• Lessons from experimentation failures (including a pricing test with unexpected results).
• How Bjarn applies the principles of OKRs to his personal goals, like learning Portuguese and becoming a keynote speaker.

Whether you’re a leader, part of a product team, or just someone looking to bring more structure and focus to your goals, there’s something here for you. This conversation is full of relatable insights, practical advice, and a good dose of humor about the challenges we all face in trying to “get it right.”
Chapters:
00:00 Understanding OKRs and KPIs
01:33 Bjarn's Role at TomTom
03:02 Challenges with OKRs
04:01 Aligning OKRs with Business Goals
06:46 Frameworks for Clarity
10:37 Common Pitfalls in Product Development
12:54 Rapid Fire Questions
13:18 The Humor in Testing Failures
14:13 The Ethics of Pricing Tests
14:56 Lessons from Professional Mistakes
16:44 Favorite Optimization Tools
17:36 Applying OKRs to Personal Life
22:17 Real-World Applications of Product Development Strategies
25:04 Final Thoughts and Season 2 Wrap-Up

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Welcome to nohacks.show, a weekly podcast where smart people talk to you about better online experiences!
In this episode, I'm excited to welcome Eden Bidani, a conversion copywriter and messaging strategist at CAPE.agency, and one of the speakers at the upcoming Women in Experimentation Summit on June 6th. Eden shares her insights on the role of copy in conversions, the challenges faced by women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and the significance of the Women in Experimentation Summit.

We discuss why copy isn't always the root cause of conversion issues and explore the broader factors that impact performance, such as UX problems and targeting the wrong audience. Eden emphasizes the importance of starting with copy when designing landing pages to ensure a seamless integration with the overall design and user experience. She also provides practical advice on how to effectively use tools like ChatGPT while maintaining a human touch in copywriting.
Links:

• Eden's LinkedIn
• Women in Experimentation Summit

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Unlock the secrets to effective email marketing and smarter audience engagement!
In this episode, Tara Dinoski, CEO of Indico Digital, shares practical strategies for making email marketing work without overcomplicating it. Learn how to create meaningful segments (hint: start with customers vs. prospects), why overusing buzzwords and gimmicks won’t get results, and how integrating email with other channels like paid media can be a revenue game-changer.

Tara also debunks myths that hold brands back, including the idea that there’s a “perfect” time to send emails or that SMS marketing is always the better choice. Plus, she shares her unique perspective as a digital nomad, balancing client work while traveling the world and building a high-growth agency.

Whether you’re just starting out with email or looking to optimize your current strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply today. And for fun, we get Tara’s take on the best Greek dishes and the biggest lessons she’s learned from living abroad.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The first step to better email segmentation
• Why “testing just to test” won’t get results
• The smartest way to integrate email with other channels
• How to manage client work while living a digital nomad lifestyle
• Simple strategies to build your email list

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction to Tara Dinoski and Indico Digital
0:38 Strangest client call as a digital nomad
1:59 How location and time zones affect client relationships
3:40 Overcoming fear in email marketing
5:18 The basics of segmentation: customers vs. prospects
7:28 Real-world insights from segmentation (boots and colors example)
9:52 Myths about email marketing: Testing and over-segmentation
12:18 SMS vs. email: Costs, myths, and misconceptions
15:42 The perfect time to send emails is a myth
19:00 Integrating email marketing with paid media
22:55 How reviews power smarter email campaigns
28:12 Life as a digital nomad: Lessons from Greece and Medellín
32:40 Balancing work, travel, and client expectations

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Welcome to nohacks.show, a weekly podcast that lets smart people talk to you about better online experiences!
In this episode, I talked to Daphne Tideman, a renowned growth consultant, mentor, public speaker, author, and specialist in helping eco-friendly and wellness direct-to-consumer startups grow faster. Daphne shares her insights on the importance of a growth mindset in both individual and organizational contexts, emphasizing the need to embrace failed experiments as opportunities for learning and improvement.
Daphne discusses her unique journey into the field of growth, starting from a background in finance to finding her passion in marketing and growth hacking. She highlights her approach to growth consulting and the importance of aligning personal values with professional work.
The conversation also touches on the concept of growth experiments, where Daphne illustrates how to effectively utilize failures as stepping stones for success. She emphasizes the importance of preparation before experiments and the need for a systematic approach to assessing and learning from outcomes.
Additionally, Daphne shares her experiences as a mentor in the GrowthMentor community, offering insights into how mentorship can help individuals and businesses thrive. She also delves into the nuances of building a growth mindset within a company, stressing the significance of management's role in fostering an environment that encourages risk-taking and learning from mistakes.
Finally, Daphne draws interesting parallels between her experience as a runner and her professional work in growth, illustrating how perseverance, dealing with failure, and understanding the difference between discomfort and pain are crucial in both domains.
Episode links:

• Daphne's LinkedIn
• Daphne's website
• Experimentation Elite
• GrowthMentor

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00:33 Introduction
00:01:23 Daphne's Journey into Growth
00:03:06 The Concept of Growth Mindset
00:07:02 Specializing in Eco-Friendly and Wellness Brands
00:09:05 The Role of Niching in Growth Consulting
00:10:11 Experiences as a GrowthMentor
00:12:09 Building a Growth Mindset in Companies
00:16:46 Utilizing Growth Experiments Effectively
00:18:14 Preparing for and Learning from Experiments
00:20:48 The Challenges and Rewards of Growth Consultancy
00:22:49 Running and Growth: Drawing Parallels

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Are you passionate about user research and UX optimization? Then you won't want to miss our latest episode featuring the incredible Els Aerts, a user research legend, if there ever was one!

In this episode, Els talks about her straightforward, data-driven approach to user research, tracing its evolution from the 1990s to today. With decades of experience, she offers a fresh perspective on how user research has transformed, especially with groundbreaking technologies like AI reshaping the landscape.

What You'll Learn:

• The Evolution of User Research: Discover how methodologies have changed over the years and what that means for today’s UX professionals.
• The Importance of Expertise: Els stresses the need for deep knowledge and warns against the pitfalls of "research theater" – where research is done more for appearances than for real insights.
• Ethical Considerations: Learn about the risks of synthetic research methods and why genuine human interaction is crucial for meaningful data.
• Practical Tips for Beginners: Get actionable advice on crafting effective surveys and avoiding common mistakes with flawed tools and techniques.
• Dynamic Approaches to Personas: Explore why traditional personas might fall short and how frameworks like Jobs-to-Be-Done can offer more flexibility and accuracy.

Els also shares her personal journey, focusing her career on user research and offering candid thoughts on the trend of democratizing this essential practice. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and real-world insights to elevate your user research game.

🔍 Why Listen?

• Gain expert knowledge from a leader in user research and UX optimization.
• Understand the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of user experience.
• Get inspired by real-world stories and practical advice to enhance your professional journey.

If you want to learn about user research from the best, this is the episode for you 🚀

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