by René Pfitzner

When we started Experify back in 2019, we knew the marketing industry was about to go through some major changes. 

It was clear that the increasing demand for data privacy would render many targeted marketing tactics useless. Well, we were right. Privacy changes like those in iOS14, restrictions on 3rd party cookies, and regulations like GDPR/CCPA have caused Customer Acquisition Costs to skyrocket by 60%-80% in just the past 2 years. On top of that, people are just plain tired of those intrusive targeted ads. The good old days of simply "buying" eyeballs on social media are long gone... and they're not coming back.

Turning to customer involvement

So, what should businesses do about it? The answer is simple: focus on your existing community of customers who already love you. Happy customers are your greatest asset. Because let's face it, people talk - and they talk about you.

At Experify, we've made it our mission to help brands become "community-first brands." These are brands that genuinely love their customers and make them part of their story, part of their company, rather than just consumers of their products. There's so much you can learn from your superfans if you give them a chance.

After successfully growing our first product, Experify Connect, to become the market leader and go-to tool for companies worldwide to combat fake reviews and instead foster honest customer-to-customer conversations, I'm incredibly proud to pre-announce our latest product: Portals.

What is Portals?

Portals is a breath of fresh air in this noisy world. It's a unified space where brands and consumers can truly connect on an equal footing. No more ads, no more mindless scrolling through unrelated content. It's a place where brands can share their story, values, and products in a way that really resonates. It's like having a heart-to-heart conversation with your customers, building trust, and forming genuine connections.

But here's the best part - Portals doesn't just benefit brands. It empowers customers with a unique opportunity to engage with their fellow enthusiasts and their favorite brands. Imagine being able to ask questions directly, give feedback that actually gets heard, and feel like your voice truly matters. It's all about being part of a community driven by shared interests and passions, not just mindless consumption.

We strongly believe that brand-consumer conversations should be a two-way street. Brands can learn so much from their customers and vice versa. It's a symbiotic relationship built on respect and authenticity. And that's exactly what our community app is all about - a place where genuine connections thrive and real stories are shared.

Ready to learn more?

With Portals, we're taking a huge leap towards becoming the community operating system for online businesses of all sizes and types. Starting today, you can sign up for our business waitlist to be one of the first brands to join Portals. And stay tuned for an official announcement from us very soon.

I'm really excited to continue championing authenticity in this noisy world, where being real is what truly sets us apart.