The Story Behind That Marketing Buddy
Hey there! Great to meet you. I'm RJ, a 32-year-old marketing nerd from Finland.
I live in Finland with my amazing wife and the world's best dog (objectively speaking). When I'm not testing software, you'll find me skating or enjoying nature.
10+ years of real-world marketing experience. No hype. Just what works.
Former Agency Owner→Coder→AI Enthusiast
After 10+ years co-owning a digital marketing agency and testing countless tools on real projects, I transitioned into coding and AI. Now I combine these skills to curate the best software in this crowded era of endless tools and constantly emerging new options.
My Journey
It all started in 2015 at a digital marketing agency in Helsinki. I dove headfirst into Google Ads, landing pages, and funnel optimization, working hands-on with dozens of clients and learning what actually drives conversions versus what just burns budget.
I quickly became obsessed with data. Google Analytics, Tag Manager, and Looker Studio became my daily tools. I realized that great marketing isn't about guessing. It's about tracking, testing, and letting the numbers tell you what's working.
Over the years, my skillset grew: SEO, organic content, email marketing, webinars, and paid social across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. The agency scaled to nearly 30 marketers serving over 100 clients. Every day brought new challenges, and with them, new tools to test.
Then AI changed everything. I dove into coding with AI as my guide, building real projects instead of just watching tutorials. The same explosion happening in development was happening in marketing software. New tools everywhere, endless options, impossible to keep up.
That's when it clicked: I could be the filter.
Why This Site Exists
Throughout my career, I've tested countless marketing tools. Some were game-changers. Most were not. And with AI reshaping how we create content and reach customers, the number of tools is exploding faster than ever. It's getting harder to separate what's genuinely useful from what's just noise.
I've learned so much from other marketers who openly shared their knowledge through blogs, newsletters, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Now it's my turn to give back.
Think of That Marketing Buddy as your filter in a sea of endless software options. I combine real marketing experience with a technical eye to surface the tools that actually matter for growing your business.
How I Review Software
Transparency is the foundation of everything on this site.
Tools I've personally used on real projects. These reviews include my direct experience, workflow screenshots, and first-person observations.
In-depth analysis using official documentation, verified pricing, aggregate ratings from G2 and Capterra, and real user feedback from multiple sources.
Reviews built primarily from aggregated user reviews and public data. These focus on community consensus rather than personal experience.
Where the Data Comes From
AI-Assisted Research
I use AI tools to help research and structure content, then verify facts and add my professional perspective. AI helps me cover more tools at a higher quality, but every review is checked for accuracy and reflects real data.
Read more in my privacy policyKeeping Content Fresh
Software changes fast. I regularly re-verify pricing, update feature lists when products release major updates, and flag reviews that may be outdated. Each review and pricing guide shows when it was last updated.
You've Got a Buddy Here
If you're building something, growing something, or just trying to make sense of the endless wave of "must-have" tools, you've already got a buddy here.