Boosted by People: Dan about Thailand Startup Replaces Paid Social Ads with Real Humans

A new martech platform from Thailand is challenging the status quo of digital advertising—not by spending more, but by shifting who delivers the message. Boosted by People, founded by digital media entrepreneur Dan Cheeseman (aka ‘Dan about Thailand‘), enables businesses to have their content shared by real social media users, influencers, and local pages—leading to up to 10x higher engagement compared to traditional ads.

Following success in Thailand, the platform is now preparing to launch in the UK in Q4 2025, with early partner onboarding already underway.

“Social platforms have become pay-to-play—and only the biggest budgets get heard,” said Cheeseman. “But people still listen to those they trust. We believe anyone with a voice, and relevance within their own network, can be a media channel. This isn’t influencer marketing—it’s influence, matched and activated at scale.”

📉 The Problem: Ads Are Being Ignored

In 2025, global social media ad spend will exceed $247 billion, yet engagement rates remain under 1% [Insider Intelligence]. But the real issue isn’t just cost—it’s attention. Consumers are tuning out ads and tuning in to what their friends, communities, and favourite creators are posting. Traditional digital ads and even influencer campaigns struggle to cut through.

Meanwhile, collaborating with creators has typically meant expensive, time-consuming content production that small businesses can’t afford.

🚀 The Solution: Content Sharing Without Content Creation

Boosted by People lets businesses upload their own content—complete with external links and CTAs—then match it with everyday users, creators, and pages who choose to share it with their engaged, relevant audiences. Each sharer sets their own price, and performance is tracked via real-time data: link clicks, CPC, shares, and engagement.

“We saw better visibility and stronger traffic through Boosted by People than through Meta ads,” said Sebastian Hopp, Managing Director at Siam Royal View. “It felt like the difference between being ignored and being trusted.”

There are no content production costs, no long timelines, and no minimum budgets. Businesses provide the post—they get distribution from credible voices who already speak to their market.

📈 Real Traction

Since its launch in 2024, Boosted by People has:

Delivered over 2,000 campaigns for Thai businesses
Helped brands achieve up to 10x higher engagement than paid social ads
Onboarded thousands of micro-users, content creators, and local pages across Thailand

“When someone I follow shares a product or service that matches their world, I notice,” said Alex Parry, an early adopter. “It’s word-of-mouth with modern tracking.”

🇬🇧 UK Expansion: Coming Q4 2025

Boosted by People’s UK launch will focus on industries where trust and authenticity matter most: real estate, hospitality, fitness, retail, and B2B services. Businesses can reach warm, targeted audiences—without expensive content creation or unpredictable ad algorithms.

“Our UK expansion puts affordable, authentic amplification back in the hands of small businesses,” Cheeseman added. “They get direct distribution, and measurable ROI—without the middlemen.”