About TriedFirst

Hi, I’m John — the person behind TriedFirst.

I come from a technology and marketing background, and I’ve always been interested in how software changes the way people work, build, sell, create, and make decisions. But after seeing more and more tools promise to save time, boost productivity, automate work, or transform a business overnight, I started asking a simpler question:

What actually happens when you use these tools in real life?

That question is the reason this site exists.

TriedFirst is where I test AI tools, SaaS products, software platforms, and digital workflows before writing about them. Not from a distance. Not by only reading landing pages. And not by repeating what everyone else is already saying.

I want to understand how a tool feels when it is used for real work: where it helps, where it gets in the way, what kind of person it is actually useful for, and what expectations need to be adjusted before someone spends time or money on it.

My goal is not to make every product sound amazing. I’m not interested in turning this site into a wall of recommendations. I care more about useful experience: the small details that only appear after you have opened the tool, tested the workflow, made mistakes, and tried to use it for something practical.

Some tools are genuinely helpful. Some are powerful but difficult to use. Some are overhyped. Some are good only for a very specific type of user. And sometimes, the problem is not the tool at all — it is the way we expect it to work.

That is what I try to separate here: real value from noise.

On TriedFirst, I write about AI, SaaS, productivity tools, marketing software, automation, content workflows, and the practical side of building online projects. I share what I tried, what changed my thinking, what did not work as expected, and what I would do differently if I had to start again.

I write for people who are curious about technology but do not want to be buried under jargon. People who want a clearer view before choosing a tool. People who do not need another sales pitch, but do need someone to explain things honestly, simply, and from real experience.

This site is still growing, and so am I. I’m testing, learning, building, and documenting the process as I go. The promise is simple:

I try it first, then I share what actually happened.