DTC Podcast

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Conversion Rate Optimization for Subscription Ecommerce Products...could there be a sexier topic for brand owners? 💃🏼   🤓Nerd out with Eric, the Pilothouse team, along with legends Josh F Elizetxe from Snow At-Home Teeth Whitening and Vinny McCauley from SmoothieBox for a golden nugget filled talk that fills in the details on how each has built, optimized and pivoted their funnels to reach 8 figures in sales.   Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup In this cast we invite longstanding team member Brett to join us. We talk about what's working in lead generation, and the holistic approach to multi-touch marketing you need to make things work in today's environment. We also talk about what Ecommerce entrepreneurs can learn from lead generators and vice versa  What's Working with Lead Gen in 2020   Benefits from Lockdown for Lead Generation   How has Lead Generation Evolved in the last 5 years   Optimium form length (push the info onto the phone)   Multi-touch marketing for lead gen (incorporating SMS + Push)   Lead Generation Ad Content (What Works?)   Which Niches are Popping for Lead Gen?   Automation and aggregation in the Lead Gen space   Telemedicine Client with multiple Touchpoints   Server to Serve Tracking - Benefits, what it enables, how to set it up   Main takeaways: Smarter customers and more automated middlemen Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup The team was a little light this week, but the actionable insights are HEAVY.    🎥 How to make a first person explainer video (these are crushing)   📈Listicles continue to pay dividends in the form of cheap engagement   👨🏻‍⚖️Facebook Ads Rep Reports - Auction Competition is heating back   🛍Shopify vs. Tesla - which valuation is more nutty?   🏘Should you buy an office in this down market or continue to rent?   🩺Keeping a pulse on all accounts and staff as the weeks from home drag on Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup What do you do when the Facebook Ad creatives that brought you to scaletown BURN OUT? That's what this week's AKNF found us asking. We brought in our Senior media buyer, Nate Vankoughnet and Creative Director Cam Wind to join co-founder Kylh Eitchcox and myself for a round table discussion on:  The Facebook Power 5 and why you need to embrace it for longer lasting audience and creative  The Pilothouse Creative process (and the importance of aligned incentives on the creative team  How to create purposeful, angle driven creative  How build creatives and campaigns for launch (and the place for dynamic ads.)  Creative testing at Scale through isolated variables  Restarting a MASSIVE campaign after creative burnout strikes Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup 🚀🔪AKNF #5 is LIVE 🚀🔪   This week we discuss:   🧔🏻 Nick Shackelford's "It's True" ad copy hook and our experiment testing it across most of our clients campaigns   👟We bought Vessi shoes and this happened (experiential marketing)   🛠Anthony Ulwick's concept of Jobs to Be Done and how that should impact how we think of and talk about all our products   🍫Rogers Chocolate, Accountants and the big Covid Pivot Winners Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup 🟢It's GO TIME - This week I surprised the panel with an ambush AKNF session. Good thing our team is always ready to rock 🤘🏼Here we discuss the success we're having across the board, as traffic is on sale, and clients are scaling hard and fast. Watch this quick cast to glean some insight onto how YOU can best ride this wave with your brand! 🌊 0:00 - It's GO TIME across the board (and how best practices allow you to ride the wave)   2:50 - Double, or Triple your Budgets yesterday!   4:00 - Exodus of certain traffic vertical advertisers (travel + + ) means inventory is on sale   4:40 - ROAS vs Volume in these BOOM times (invest now at a discount)   6:00 - Email Story telling and education tactics from Chris Meade and CROSSNET   7:28 - Lifetime Budgets still CRUSHING (are you switched over yet??)   9:00 - Control campaign overlap with FB Experiences, Facebook's native testing platform   11:35 - Pre Sales Magic - Use presales page to align your angles fully (shout out to the master, Mohamed Ali Aguel!)   14:12 - Advertisers and Ideas we LOVE: - Novel ideas - Brands reinventing themselves - Info Product Deluge (The GURUS are coming( - DIY and Hair Dye is the new TP   18:25 - Is this the new normal for Ecommerce? What happens when the economy rebounds?   20:15 - 🍷Are you drinking more or less? Box wine vs Bottle?   21:35 - Shoutout to Moez Ali's new podcast "Exit Strategy"   22:10 - Team member personal growth through #WINNING  23:10 - No such thing as a bad Dragon's Den experience Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup 👀Watch this 20 min vid to learn the tactic (that we learned from Josh F Elizetxe, that's LOWERING our CPAs 20-50% (!!!) for our Agency clients across the board.   Find out how switching campaigns to lifetime budgets could make a big addition to your bottom line.   🚀Welcome to All Killer, No Filler Fridays, the pod where Pilothouse principles get together to discuss what worked this week in our agency with examples and data to back it up.   Skip to -12:00 to hear our Lifetime Budget Scaling hack that's working well right now, or blast the whole "all killer, no filler" cast for other tips on:   1. Crushing with Facebook Poll Ads   2. Quiz funnels for ecom and Lead Gen   3. Ad comment kung fu   4. Lifetime budget hacks that lowered CPA 30%!   5. Testing old tactics, finding new wins   6. New client runways coming out of the crisis   7. Custom calculations in ad reporting Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup 👋🏻Hey everyone! Eric Dyck here with my new WFH studio all built out!  What better time than a global pandemic to get five digital marketing veterans with over 50 years of performance ad buying experience into a #zoom call to discuss high level strategies and in-the-trenches tactics for brands and media buyers to keep their campaigns scaling throughout these uncertain times.  If you're a brand or a media buyer looking for guidance, then check out this value-packed call where we discuss the angles that are working right now, how position your brand during this time of low cost traffic and high anxiety, compressing the customer journey with campaign structure changes and lots more!  Check out the timestamps below to jump to the most relevant sections.  If you dig it, we'll do it again and again. Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThomas Robinson has helped build full‑funnel growth engines for brands like Tiege Henley and now Breath Death — where he’s turning chaotic traction into scalable funnels and converting creator buzz into sustainable growth.For growth leaders scaling DTC with low‑AOV products.In this episode, Thomas breaks down:How YouTube influencer authenticity became a systematic funnel driver (not a one‑hit wonder).Why TikTok Shop is the top strategic revenue channel — and how it boosts Amazon performance.The three‑part funnel framework: Hook → Integration → CTA + cohesive landing page.Why psychographics beat demographics in creative.Omni‑channel retention: SMS, email, DM automations, WhatsApp.Who this is for: D2C marketers scaling early‑growth brands, content and performance teams, founders wrestling with low‑AOV CAC.What to steal:Turn creator moments into evergreen assets for Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.Build landing pages that mirror ad intent (don’t lose momentum).Segment email/SMS flows by customer psychographic intent.Timestamps00:00 — Turning creator buzz into scalable growth02:00 — Why Breath Death chose TikTok Shop as a core channel04:00 — Gen Z targeting, nostalgia, and early audience signals06:00 — Learning from Liquid Death’s polarizing brand strategy08:00 — Turning influencer moments into evergreen funnels10:00 — Structuring ads with hooks, integrations, and CTAs12:00 — TikTok Shop, Amazon halo effects, and channel synergy14:00 — Affiliate strategy from nano creators to macro partners16:00 — Why YouTube influencers compound better than paid ads18:00 — SEO, Reddit, and authority in AI-driven search20:00 — Scaling low-AOV products on Meta ads22:00 — Psychographics, motivations, and creative archetypes26:00 — Q4 growth, LTV focus, and retention strategy28:00 — Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and DM automation31:00 — Long-term brand storytelling vs direct response34:00 — Personalized landing pages and post-click experienceHashtags#dtcpodcast #dtcbrands #ecommercegrowth #tiktokshop #influencermarketing #creatorcommerce #brandstrategy #performanceads #youtubeinfluencers #affiliatemarketing #consumerbrands #foundermarketing #growthmarketing #directtoconsumer Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupEric sits down with Dougie, Pilothouse's Google Lead, to dig into why content targeting—specifically with YouTube Select—is outperforming audience-based targeting, even at premium CPMs. If you’ve been running low-cost YouTube campaigns with underwhelming results, this is the mindset shift you need.For DTC brands tired of wasting money on passive YouTube impressions.What YouTube Select actually is (and why it matters for performance)How to think about placements vs. audiencesWhy content congruence improves funnel performanceScaling tips: what kind of brands can go big with SelectHow to build creatives that match the content being watchedWho this is for: Brands spending serious dollars on YouTube, or considering a shift from Meta to a broader channel mix.What to steal:Align creative to content before launchUse Google reps to identify top indexed channels by personaTreat YouTube Select like TV: flight-based, not daily budget-drivenTimestamps00:00 Content vs interest targeting02:01 Why content alignment converts04:02 YouTube Select explained06:02 Why low quality inventory fails08:04 How content based creative works10:03 Google and YouTube strategy shift12:02 Aligning creative to placements14:02 Meta and Google funnel synergy16:01 Scaling with YouTube SelectHashtags#YouTubeSelect #GoogleAds #ContentTargeting #MediaBuying #DigitalAdvertising #PerformanceMarketing #BrandStrategy #YouTubeAds #PaidMedia #MarketingPodcast #DTCMarketing #AdStrategy #AudienceTargeting #CreativeStrategy #Pilothouse Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF577Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAlbert Chow built Silk & Snow in the shadow of the DTC mattress wars—but instead of racing to burn VC cash, he played the long game. Today, Silk & Snow has grown into a full home brand with 10 retail stores, a thriving Canadian customer base, and a strong U.S. expansion roadmap.For DTC founders scaling from $5M to $50M...Why they skipped the mattress arms race and leaned into vertical integrationHow bundling less (and planting trees instead) saved $1.3MWhat they learned scaling from 1 to 10 retail stores in a yearThe metrics they track now that ROAS is irrelevantWhy launching a sofa was more about customer affinity than furnitureWho this is for: Operators scaling past one SKU or one channel—and looking for a sustainable path to growth.What to steal:Bundling with purpose (optional tree planting vs. free stuff)Bottom-up brand building: low-funnel mastery firstHow to use DTC data to drive brick-and-mortar strategyTimestamps00:00 Organic growth and surviving the DTC mattress crash02:00 Entering the crowded mattress market in 201704:00 Why Silk and Snow became a full home brand06:00 Factory-first supply chain and Canadian manufacturing08:00 Launching with Kickstarter and early traction10:00 The 2019 DTC apocalypse and sustainable growth12:00 Expanding beyond mattresses into sleep accessories14:00 Functional vs aspirational buying in home goods16:00 Becoming a multi-channel retailer18:00 Using customer data to choose store locations20:00 Canada vs US growth strategy22:00 Building brand from the bottom of the funnel24:00 Replacing bundles with tree planting26:00 Performance marketing roots and early Google28:00 Shifting into awareness and brand media30:00 Why ROAS isn’t the real growth signal32:00 Retail partnerships and staying DTC34:00 Black Friday for big-ticket home products36:00 Fulfillment, returns, and sustainability38:00 Repeat customers and long-term LTV40:00 Sleep Country acquisition and retail scale42:00 Vancouver store and physical retail strategyHashtags#DTC #EcommercePodcast #SilkAndSnow #AlbertChow #DTCBrands #HomeGoods #MattressIndustry #BrandBuilding #RetailStrategy #DirectToConsumer #EcommerceGrowth #StartupPodcast #FounderStory #CanadianBrands #PerformanceMarketing #Omnichannel #RetailExpansion #DTCpodcast Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup🎧 Listen now: https://www.pilothouse.co/This week on the DTC Podcast, we’re re-airing a must-listen from our sister podcast Adventurous, hosted by Avery Valerio.Avery’s diving deep into one of the most overlooked levers in DTC growth: angles — the emotional and strategic hooks that turn browsers into buyers. If you’ve been leaning on “vibes” and lifestyle content to carry your creative… this is your wake-up call.For creative strategists, performance marketers, and founders stuck at the “vibes plateau.”🧠 Tactical takeaways:Why most brands stall at $3–5M without real angle developmentHow to build angles that scale across top and bottom funnelThe difference between product features and product benefits — and why that mattersWhy “vibe-first” brands eventually need strategy to surviveHow Avery maps personas to angles using a tool she built (linked on her LinkedIn/TikTok)👀 Who this is for: Creative leads, ad buyers, or anyone building brand strategy from the ground up.💡 What to steal:The "steak vs. sizzle" framework for angle testingA mindset shift: Treat angles like campaign assets, not just captionsHow to tell when you’re out of angles — and how to fix it fastTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Ad-venturous Angles02:00 Why most DTC brands stall on vibes04:00 The need for real creative strategy06:00 What an angle really is08:00 Features vs benefits in ad angles10:00 The Got Milk example12:00 How angles create emotional connection14:00 The upside-down triangle framework16:00 Why modern angles must be agile18:00 Using research and reviews to build angles20:00 Personas and segmentation for scale22:00 The three layers of the triangle24:00 Top of funnel angle development26:00 Middle of funnel curiosity28:00 Bottom of funnel community content30:00 Why angles must work everywhere32:00 Testing and iterating angles34:00 Final takeaways on creative strategyHashtags:#DTCMarketing #AdCreative #MarketingAngles #PerformanceCreative #EcommerceMarketing #BrandStrategy #CreativeTesting #FunnelMarketing #DigitalAdvertising #ContentStrategy #Pilothouse #DTCNewsletter #AdVenturousPodcast #MarketingPodcast Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF575Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupDaniel Rotman built Pretty Litter into a $300M+ revenue juggernaut by doing something most founders won’t: going all-in on an unsexy product. In this episode, he breaks down how a single innovation in kitty litter unlocked a billion-dollar outcome—with just $1M raised and a 12-person team.For DTC founders scaling from 7 to 9 figures...How to win in overlooked categories (and why sexy products attract deadly competition)Why kitty litter was the perfect subscription productThe secret to high-margin DTC logistics (and how silica unlocked DTC viability)Daniel’s media buying strategy in year 1 that drove $750K soloHow Pretty Litter used smart ops, lean hiring, and brand positioning to build a moatWho this is for: Founders, growth leads, and marketers looking to scale profitably and avoid the DTC hype trapsWhat to steal:The underdog category playbookRetention-driven brand buildingThe ops strategy behind $300M revenue and 12 employees#DTCGrowth #SubscriptionBusiness #RetentionMarketing #BootstrapStartup #EcommerceStrategy #ConsumerBrands #FoundersJourney #LeanStartup #ProductInnovation #BrandBuilding #UnsexyProducts #ScalingUp #StartupExit #PetCareIndustry #MarketingTactics00:00 – Introduction: The Power of Unsexy Products 04:41 – The Loss That Sparked Pretty Litter 16:41 – The Health Monitoring Breakthrough 20:25 – From Idea to Launch in 6 Months 23:44 – $750K Year One, Solo Founder 25:33 – Why Daniel Said No to VC 30:20 – Year-by-Year Revenue Growth to $300M+ 36:00 – How Unsexy Built a Moat and Killed the CopycatsSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupMost brands obsess over ads and ignore the moment that matters most: where the click lands. In this episode, Jordan Gordon and Pilothouse strategist Taylor Cain break down how to decide whether traffic should go to your homepage, a PDP, a collection, or a dedicated landing page—plus how to diagnose when conversion rate issues aren’t about your ad at all. You’ll learn:When a landing page outperforms your homepage (and when it doesn’t)How consideration level, pricing, and message clarity determine the ideal click-through pathWhy “anchoring” and UX sequencing can dramatically change conversion ratesHow testing new PDP structures (including delaying price) can increase resultsHow to build fast, scrappy landing pages that plug cleanly into ShopifyWhat heatmaps, scroll behavior, and section-level engagement reveal about frictionWhy iteration beats theory — and how to develop a testing mindset that actually finds signal #EmailMarketing #RetentionMarketing #CRO #LandingPages #EcommerceStrategy #DTCMarketing #ShopifyBrands 00:00 — Introduction01:00 — When a Landing Page Beats Your Homepage03:00 — How Disrupted Traffic Changes Your Funnel06:00 — Rising Prices, Rising Consideration10:00 — PDP vs Landing Page: Which One Converts Better?14:00 — Why Testing Beats Theory Every Time20:00 — The Underrated Power of Email Capture on Landers29:00 — Inside a High-Performing Landing Page BuildSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF573Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupOn this episode of the DTC Podcast, Eric sits down with Dean Krowitz, Co-Founder of Blend‑AI, to unpack what happens when you stop managing channels in silos and start automating your entire media mix. If Meta’s efficiency is dropping and your cross-channel budget is vibes-based… this is your fix.Learn More about Blend AI: blend-ai.comWhat You’ll Learn:Why composite funnels matter more than platform-specific attributionHow Blend automates budget shifts based on live conversion dataWhy humans shouldn’t manage five channels manually anymoreWhat most brands get wrong with creative distributionHow underused channels (like Microsoft) quietly drive resultsHow to launch campaigns in October — not November — for peak BFCM gainsSync audiences across channels to reduce over-saturationAnalyze top, middle, and bottom funnel cross-platform, not in silosIf you’re a media buyer, growth lead, or a DTC founder trying to scale performance without losing your mind, this episode is your new best friend.Hashtags:#ecommerce #dtc #mediabuying #performancemarketing #paidmedia #digitalmarketing #aimarketing #martech #adtech #marketingautomation #omnichannel #fullfunnel #growthmarketing #customeracquisition #conversionrateoptimization #cro #marketingmix #crosschannel #attribution #metaads #googleads #tiktokads #youtubeads #shopify #ecommercegrowth #d2cpodcastTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction. Why overspending on one channel kills growth04:22 – The “who, what, where” framework behind Blend’s composite funnel10:00 – How AI launches full-funnel ads across every major platform15:18 – Why Microsoft Ads is the most ignored growth channel21:40 – Why Meta’s algorithm starves most of your creative29:15 – How one brand tripled revenue with 20% less ad spendSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupWhen Amy joined Wildfang, she was running a storefront in Portland. 10 years later, she’s the President of a vertically-integrated DTC brand pulling $200 AOVs, 25% of revenue from extended sizing, and partnerships that drive CAC down by 50%.She also made a major paid media pivot — bringing on Pilothouse to reset their entire growth engine.For DTC founders scaling from $5–50M who are thinking about verticalization, performance marketing, or brand-led growth.🔍 Inside this episode:How going vertical changed everything — from cashflow to creativeWhy extended sizing drives 25% of Wildfang’s revenue (and what it took to get there)The “90/10” Meta strategy that crushed Black Friday with PilothouseThe ROI of Debbie Harry and Taco Bell collabs (hint: it wasn’t just vibes)How to restructure ops, finance, and paid when profitability becomes the priority👀 Who this is for:Brand founders, VP Growths, operators, and marketers building modern DTC brands💥 What to steal:Pilothouse’s ad architecture playbook: reuse, reframe, retestA partnership model that blends licensing, NIL, and white-labelingHow to spot “overthink” in your performance strategy — and simplify for scaleSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this BFCM 2025 breakdown, Eric chats with Pilothouse's Head of Ecom Grayson Rudzki and Lead Strategist Abby to unpack what actually worked, what flopped, and how smarter strategy beat brute-force ad spend.For DTC marketers running paid, creative, or lifecycle retentionHow Pilothouse beat Meta's creative fatigue warningsWhat "targeting with creative" really means in 2025Why retention—not acquisition—won this yearTactics for using AI without generating slopReal BFCM ads that moved the needle (with examples)Who this is for: Founders, brand-side marketers, and media buyers looking to de-risk spend and boost lifetime valueWhat to steal:The "persona-led Christmas card ad" concept that crushedHow to diversify creative for open targeting without burning outSimple Rebuy tweaks that doubled items per orderTimestamps00:00 AI reshaping BFCM strategy and creative testing02:00 Record BFCM performance numbers and key takeaways04:00 Why retention, baseline revenue, and loyalty mattered most06:00 Real examples of AI workflows that saved teams time08:00 Outdated playbooks vs the need for real strategists10:00 Meta Andromeda, creative fatigue, and targeting with creative12:00 Persona-driven creative example that drove conversions14:00 Humor, culture, and relevance in winning ad creative16:00 Diversified creative performance and lowered CPMs18:00 The new state of UGC and authenticity on Meta20:00 Post-click strategy, bundles, and conversion wins22:00 2026 resolutions: intuition, creativity, and human strategy24:00 Hero apps of the year: Rebuy, Triple Whale, and resultsHashtags#BFCM #Ecommerce #EcommerceMarketing #DTC #MetaAds #FacebookAds #PerformanceMarketing #AIinMarketing #BlackFriday #CyberMonday #MarketingStrategy #CreativeStrategy #AdBuying #TripleWhale #Rebuy Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF571Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupMatthew Gohl took over the family business, Santevia, and turned it into a DTC powerhouse. In this episode, he breaks down how they scaled Amazon 2X, rebuilt their Meta ads strategy from the ground up, and landed a killer deal on Dragon’s Den.For DTC operators scaling beyond $5M and navigating Meta + Amazon growth channels:Why switching from Vendor Central to Seller Central was worth the 16-month headacheHow a $25 hero product failed on Meta, and why their $320 glass system now crushesThe role of creative strategy in hitting $100K+ weekly spend without tanking ROASHow they prepped their brand for Dragon’s Den—and doubled baseline sales afterThe case for launching refillable, eco-focused SKUs in 2026Who this is for: DTC operators, marketers, and founders looking to scale with lean teams and high-margin SKUs.What to steal:Creative briefing process that reduces wasted ad spendWhy Meta sees "different creators" as "same ad" (and how to fix it)How to make a high-ticket product actually work in cold acquisitionTimestamps:00:00 Why creative diversity (not campaign complexity) is the real Meta unlock03:05 Buying the family business and shifting from retail-first to DTC06:48 Revenue dips, imposter syndrome, and trusting the long-term strategy09:15 From 1 video every 2 weeks to 60 creatives by Friday (creative velocity shift)13:02 Why hero products with higher AOV unlock profitable Meta spend16:19 Meta’s Andromeda explained: aggregation + creative volume wins30:34 Dragon’s Den moment: “I own that one” and why endorsements change everythingHashtags:#DTC #Ecommerce #MetaAds #CreativeStrategy #BrandBuilding #PerformanceMarketing #DirectToConsumer #PaidSocial #AdCreative #MarketingPodcast #EcommerceGrowth #ScalingBrands #FounderStory #Dragon’sDen #BFCM #RetailStrategySubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupThis one’s for the Amazon operators. Eric's joined by Pilothouse's Amazon leads Tyler and Takai for a tactical BFCM debrief: how one brand 3x'd in November, and the optimizations that separated the winners from the stalled-out.For Amazon brands prepping for deal season 2026...Why adjusting bids every few hours on BFCM isn't overkill, it's table stakesHow Buddha Board used Q1 seasonal keyword campaigns to dominate Q4Why not discounting your hero product can kill your momentum—and rankWhat to watch: Buy Box battles, billing failures, and inventory stockoutsWho this is for: Brands selling on Amazon, agencies running client accounts, operators trying to scale beyond ad-only growthWhat to steal:Search Query Performance Report: find keywords you're under-targeting with high conversion potentialDeal discount strategy: 20% minimum, monitor competitor offers in real timeBuild keyword rank 6–12 months out from your key seasonTimestamps00:00 Amazon BFCM optimization mindset02:10 Why frequent bid and budget changes matter04:00 How aggressive Amazon bid adjustments get during BFCM07:00 Building Amazon keyword ranking before Q411:00 Buddha Board case study and seasonal keyword strategy15:00 How early planning led to 3x November growth17:00 Amazon buy box explained and reseller risks23:30 Common BFCM pitfalls: billing, inventory, hero SKUs28:00 What actually worked in Amazon BFCM 202529:50 The discount levels that moved buyersHashtags#AmazonFBA #AmazonAdvertising #BFCMRecap #BlackFridayStrategy #CyberMonday #AmazonPPC #EcommerceMarketing #DTCBrands #AmazonBuyBox #AmazonGrowth #EcommercePodcast #Q4Strategy #AmazonCaseStudy #RetailMedia #Pilothouse Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF569Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode of the DTC Podcast, we have Josip Begic, CEO and Co-Founder of Lebesgue, to answer the one question every DTC CEO asks: what’s actually working right now? With $4B in ad data and insights from 25,000+ brands, Henry AI cuts through the noise to pinpoint the exact levers that drive revenue up (or down).Get started with Henri AI inside Lebesgue–plans start at $79/month. This episode breaks down:Why conversion tanked 25% after a "small" discount code tweakHow AI visibility (e.g. ChatGPT referrals) is becoming the new SEOWhere Meta's AI (Andromeda) really works—and where it doesn'tThe biggest mistake DTCs are making with email segmentationWhy attribution models need game theory (yes, really)If you’re a DTC founder scaling from $5M–20M, brand owner, growth lead, or a marketer who wants a smarter way to spot performance issues, this episode is a must listen.Timestamps00:00 Lebesgue’s AI approach to ecommerce analytics02:05 Why better measurement changes marketing decisions04:00 How AI uncovered a hidden conversion rate issue06:10 Correlation vs causation in attribution modeling08:00 ChatGPT as a high-converting traffic source10:05 Optimizing ecommerce sites for AI discovery13:00 Why fundamentals still matter more than advanced AI18:30 Common email marketing mistakes during peak periods21:00 Using competitor data to find growth gaps23:30 What CEOs see first when using Henry AI27:00 Where AI agents and ecommerce are heading31:00 AI visibility as the next growth battleground33:00 Getting started with Lebesgue and pricingHashtags#DTC #Ecommerce #AIinMarketing #MarketingAnalytics #Attribution #ChatGPT #AIDiscovery #MetaAds #GoogleAds #EmailMarketing #ConversionOptimization #FounderInsights #MarTech Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video