YC startup Bland AI gains Slack-breaking number of leads and 20,000 clicks with TLDR

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About Bland AI

You used to need people to answer phone calls. But thanks to revolutionary technology (hello, generative AI!), that’s no longer the case. Bland AI helps companies build AI phone call agents that sound so human, you’d never know you weren’t speaking to a real person. They’ve also made it incredibly simple to get started. With fewer than 10 lines of code, you'll be up and running.


Earning Bland AI’s business  

Michael Burke, Head of Growth at Bland AI, sought to leverage TLDR’s extensive reach and reputation among tech and AI enthusiasts. After evaluating the audiences of multiple publishers, the professionalism and responsiveness of the TLDR team made them the clear choice for this high-stakes campaign. He opted to test placements in TLDR Marketing and AI, before quickly deciding to also run a primary placement in the Tech newsletter after seeing initial results.

Date published: June 24, 2024

Read time: Less than 5 minutes

🎯 Results

  • Over 20,000 clicks 

  • A Slack-breaking number of leads for 48 hours post-campaign launch

  • Positive reception and validation of messaging and strategy

  • TLDR Tech, AI and Marketing

📢 Newsletters Sponsored

  • Brand awareness and visibility amongst decision-makers at scale-ups and enterprises 

  • Generate high-quality leads to fuel growth and upcoming funding rounds

  • Utilize a multi-channel approach to ensure comprehensive market penetration

⭐ Goals

"My Slack has been filled up [with leads], for the past 48 hours, I can't scroll up…You were one of the top sources that we've worked with in terms of generating leads…TLDR really, you knocked it out of the park.”



Driving Slack-breaking results

Through the three newsletters they sponsored, Bland AI reached over 2 million TLDR subscribers while surpassing our CTR benchmarks by 3-4x with every ad. Over 20,000 clicks were driven to Bland AI’s site and an endless sea of leads interested in learning more about their call agents.


Michael’s secrets to success

Our audience’s response to Bland AI’s campaigns was loud and clear: Bland AI’s marketing was anything but bland. We asked Michael if he had any tips to share with fellow marketers so that they too can find success:


1) Take a multi-channel, holistic approach to your marketing strategy

“If you open TLDR, we’re there. You open your Twitter feed, we’re there. You open your LinkedIn, we’re there…you’re bound to click on something somewhere.”

2) Don’t be afraid to be controversial

"I think that the formula for growth is that controversy equals engagement. You don't want to be too controversial but just enough to get people talking about whatever it is that you're doing.

3) Think divergently and do something unique rather than just following trends

“Look at the content [on a platform], and try to really think of something that [you can do] on that platform, that’s not like what everyone else is doing.”

Bland AI 

ad examples

"My Slack has been filled up [with leads], for the past 48 hours, I can't scroll up…You were one of the top sources that we've worked with in terms of generating leads…TLDR really, you knocked it out of the park.”

Bland AI ad examples

“The professionalism and quick responses from the TLDR team made this the best experience we've had with a newsletter campaign. They truly went to bat for us.”

- Michael Burke, Head of Growth at Bland AI


“The professionalism and quick responses from the TLDR team made this the best experience we've had with a newsletter campaign. They truly went to bat for us.”

- Michael Burke, Head of Growth at Bland AI