Amantha Perera
Amantha Perera is a no-nonsense marketer, content creator, and founder of his own marketing company. Known for his raw and unfiltered takes, he has built a following of over 200K by telling it like it is. In this column, he breaks down Sri Lanka’s marketing landscape—calling out the bad, applauding the good, and keeping it real.
The No BS Marketer Four Lessons This Year Smacked Into Me
As the year wraps up, everyone starts posting poetic captions about gratitude, healing, soft eras, and whatever new Pinterest word is trending. Me? I like to keep it simple. This year didn’t “soften” me. It
Your Brand Is Not The Main Character
Let me start with a truth most brands refuse to accept. People do not spend time thinking about your brand. They spend time thinking about their lives. Fit into that. It sounds harsh, I know. But it is one of the
I Know You Missed Me! The Return of The No BS Marketer
Hey, it’s been a minute. The No BS Marketer took a short break, not because I ran out of things to say (trust me, I never do) but because I was living through the kind of chaos that teaches you lessons no MBA ever could.
Loyalty vs. Distractions The Hiring Dilemma in Sri Lanka
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you may have seen one of my videos go viral, where I said something that made a lot of employees uncomfortable. I basically told the truth: as a business owner, I’d rather pay
Do TV Commercials Still Work
Let’s get straight to the point; TV commercials are expensive. Not just “a bit pricey” expensive. I’m talking hemorrhage-your-budget expensive. Between agency fees, sky-high production costs, overpriced “creative directors” (still convinced a jingle can save a bad script), and then the airtime itself, TV advertising often feels like paying in gold bars. But here’s the million-rupee question: Do TV commercials still work? Ask an agency, and the an
’’Someone else’s blueprint is their success story, not yours’’
In Sri Lanka, we have a strange habit. The moment someone “makes it,” everyone else suddenly wants to do exactly what they did, same idea, same style, same social media posts, same captions, same
Stop Hiring Dinosaurs to Run Digital Marketing
In too many boardrooms in Sri Lanka, the marketing decisions are being made by people who: Don’t know how TikTok works
Ten Marketing Myths That Need to Die Already (Especially in Sri Lanka)
Let’s face it, the marketing world is full of noise. And Sri Lanka? Oh, we’re swimming in myths, shortcuts, and absolute nonsense. Whether it’s from your friend who thinks running a boosted post makes him a media strategist, or that uncle who read one Forbes article and now gives marketing advice over lunch, it’s time to clear the air. Here are 10 marketing myths that need to be buried. Today. From someone who’s done the work, built the brand, an
Stand-Up in Sri Lanka Where Laughs Come with Death Threats
Let me just say this straight up: Sri Lanka has a stand-up comedy scene, and it’s WILDLY underrated. I’m not talking about the occasional skit on YouTube or the uncle at the wedding who tells the same three jokes every time he’s drunk. I’m talking about actual, raw, real stand-up comedy, where a person grabs a mic, walks up on stage, and attempts to do the hardest thing in entertainment: make people laugh on command. And no, it’s not easy. This
From Freelancer to Founder The Hard Truths I Learnt Going Solo
Let me tell you something upfront: Working independently is not for the faint of heart. Everyone wants the freedom. Everyone wants the, ’’be your own boss’’ Instagram caption. But not everyone is ready for the late-night edits, the angry clients,
The Hate and Copy Culture in Sri Lanka If You’re Doing Well, Get Ready!
You know what happens when you start doing well in Sri Lanka? People don’t ask, “how did he get there?” They ask, “how do we bring him down?” Let’s not sugarcoat this. We live in a society where the moment someone starts succeeding, the microscope comes out. People aren’t zooming in to admire your grind — they’re zooming in to find a crack. If there isn’t one? Don’t worry, someone will make one up.
From Employee to Entrepreneur The THREE Corporate Lessons That Built Me
Let me get one thing straight, I didn’t wake up one day, post a few Reels, and suddenly become an “entrepreneur.” This journey wasn’t just built with aesthetic pitch decks and digital buzzwords. It was built on lessons learnt the hard way: through clocking in, staying back, getting feedback that stung, and learning to play the long game.
Why Going ORGANIC Works
Let me get this out of the way before someone puts down their paper and heads straight to the nearest farmers market: no, I’m not here to talk about vegetables. When I say, ’’go organic,’’ I’m
The Secret Marketing Sauce Have Fun or Fade Out
Here’s a little marketing secret no one’s bold enough to print: your brand is not as serious as you think it is. The truth? It’s probably just boring online. I say this with love, of course. But somebody had to say it. Because while Sri Lankan brands are out here assembling dancing flash mobs to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” like it’s a school concert, brands in the West are doing something completely different; and winning big time.
’’Her Name Is Not a Folder’’
There’s a silent pandemic going around, and no, it’s not COVID-19. It’s digital, it’s cruel, and it’s built on the shame and suffering of innocent girls across this country. It’s happening in your WhatsApp groups. In your Telegram chats. In private DMs. It’s happening when boys send links to MEGA folders titled “Kandy Girls” or “Colombo party” like they’re sharing Spotify playlists.
The Dark Psychology of Online Hate and Why You Should Keep Going
There’s a certain species on the internet. You’ll recognize them immediately. They usually operate from TikTok profiles with usernames like
NO BS MARKETER “That’s Not a Real Job”
Machan, what do you do?” “I run a social media marketing agency.” “Ah okay… but like… what’s your actual job?” Welcome to the Sri Lankan Hall of Fame, where you’ll be questioned to death unless you’re a doctor, lawyer, or engineer married to another doctor, lawyer, or engineer. But here’s the kicker; while some are still worshipping job titles, others are quietly making millions in revenue with nothing but a laptop and WiFi. No storefront. No
The Rise of the Online Messiahs: Are Course Sellers Selling You Dreams or Scams?
Let’s talk about the new-age career option that doesn’t require a degree, talent, or even honesty: selling dreams online. You’ve seen them.
How I Became a Marketer
If you’re expecting a story that involves an MBA from an Ivy League college, a startup funded by Daddy’s credit card, and a LinkedIn post about “manifesting success” - sorry to disappoint. This is The No BS Marketer, and I’m here to tell you the real story. At 22, I run my own marketing agency. No, I don’t have a double degree. No, I didn’t inherit a business. And no, I definitely didn’t “manifest” this
Gossip, Virality, and the Fine Line Between Trend and Trouble
Let’s talk about the video that had every single Sri Lankan with a Wi-Fi connection glued to their screen this Avurudu season. Content creator Kalathma Hitihamige jumped on a US-originated trend where people
