In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsToday we break down why “influencer marketing” (renting audience) is losing to creator-based marketing (renting skill at making viral content) — and how to run it like a system. Guest Robert Lukoszko, founder of Stormy AI, shows how their agent finds creators, pulls contacts, sends DMs/emails, follows up, and even negotiates packages before you step in. We get tactical on budgets, pricing, UGC hiring, TikTok vs YouTube strategy, measurement, and building a compounding “surface-area” of content across the web. Brought to you by Graphed.com — connect your data, ask in plain English, ship shareable dashboards.GuestWebsite: stormy.ai Robert Lukoszko — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karmedge X (Twitter): @Karmedge What you’ll learnCreator vs Influencer marketing: Why FYP-driven platforms reward great content over big followings — and how to “rent” creators’ skill instead of their audience.The scalable workflow: Brief → research → outreach (DM/email) → qualify → negotiate packages → handoff to human for final approval.TikTok UGC machine: Hire 1–3 full-time UGC creators posting 2–3 shorts per day; test cheaply, then double down on breakout templates.YouTube packages that work: Three-video bundles over ~6 weeks build trust & lift; use retainers for your top performers.Negotiation scripts that convert: Lead with “Paid collaboration” in subject/first line, anchor on value, and offer volume/retainer discounts.Pricing reality check: Typical UGC test pieces land in the ~$20–$100/video range (many sweet-spot wins at $20–$50) for micro/nano creators; salaried UGC in EU markets often $1–2k/mo part-time depending on output and quality.Compounding effects: Viral videos spawn follower videos; repeated sightings increase creator reply-rates and lower CPAs.Agents as team members: Why modern stacks look like small pods of engineers orchestrating many narrow agents (research, outreach, follow-ups, CRM status, stop-conditions).Chapters & Timestamps00:00:00 — Cold open: “Stop influencer marketing. Start creator marketing.”00:01:17 — Sponsor: Graph.com (AI dashboards from plain English)00:02:26 — Guest intro: Robert (Founder, Stormy AI) + why YouTube/TikTok matter00:03:49 — The pain of manual outreach and why Stormy exists00:05:55 — How Stormy’s research agent finds/qualifies creators (views, recency, fit)00:08:15 — TikTok/UGC playbook: daily shorts, test → double down00:10:04 — It’s a numbers game: post volume & breakout templates00:12:00 — “Surface area” strategy: AI pulls from the open web; brand search as moat00:15:03 — Validating features with viral demos before shipping00:17:02 — Building in public: rapid iteration with creator feedback00:18:00 — Outreach mechanics: DMs, scraping bios/Linktree, multi-source emails00:20:06 — Copy that converts: lead with “Paid collaboration” + template tips00:21:46 — Scale metrics: ~200 messages/day across rotated inboxes; reply-rate ranges00:23:29 — Brand effects: recognition boosts replies; upfront vs affiliate by stage00:26:01 — Compounding virality: trend templates, creator social proof00:29:03 — Pricing: $20–$100 UGC tests; sweet spot $20–$50; EU part-time $1–2k/mo00:29:53 — Agentic negotiations: packages, volume, follow-ups, human handoff00:31:04 — Guardrails: budget anchoring, stop-conditions, funny “PayPal link” story00:35:05 — Toolbelt of agents: research, outreach, CRM updates, payments, bulk sends00:36:01 — Architecture: many narrow agents > one monolith00:37:51 — Future: fewer humans in the loop; AI influencers; approvals as human role00:39:16 — Can businesses run themselves? Media = growth flywheel00:41:11 — Hiring philosophy: engineer-heavy teams (Gary Tan advice)00:43:46 — Wrap + where to find Robert & StormyPlaybooks & templates (steal these)Outreach subject lines (email/DM first line):“Paid collaboration: {Brand} x {CreatorName} — 3-video package”“Paid promo + affiliate: {Brand} (fast approvals, simple brief)”First message (short DM/email): “Hey {Name} — we’re {Brand}, a {1-line what you do}. Paid collaboration: 1 test short this week (${offer}) + option to extend to 3-video bundle over 6 weeks. You keep creative control; we provide brief + examples. Interested? If yes, quick details + rate card?”Negotiation levers: volume (3-pack → 6-pack), multi-month cadence (1/mo), affiliate top-ups on performance, first-video discount, creative templates proven to hit.UGC hiring filter: Look for micro/nano creators (10k–50k) with at least one breakout (e.g., 500k+ views) in your niche; they have the “spark” but are still rationally priced. (Stormy highlights this pattern in search/fit scoring.) Key quotes (pull-ready)“Creator marketing rents skill at making viral content — not just an audience.”“It’s a numbers game twice: mass outreach, then mass posting — let the winners emerge.”“Lead with ‘Paid collaboration’ so creators instantly know there’s budget.”“Templates win. When a format pops, clone it and scale with more creators.”SponsorGraphed.com — Connect your SaaS/GA4/Shopify/data warehouse → ask in plain English → get dashboards & ad-hoc analysis; share with clients or your team in one click. (Free 10-seat trial for listeners — link in description.)

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsAI “agents” have been hyped to death—but very few are truly delivering real-world impact. In this episode, we cut through the vaporware with Christian Wiens, co-founder of Loman, an AI voice agent platform transforming how restaurants handle customer calls, orders, and reservations. Christian shares how Loman went from a two-person idea to serving hundreds of restaurants and hitting $1.5M ARR in record time. We dive into why voice is the most natural, context-rich way for humans to communicate—and how AI agents that do real work (not just answer questions) will change how we interact with businesses forever. You’ll hear how Loman’s restaurant agents integrate directly with POS systems to take orders end-to-end, the surprising reasons Gen Z prefers talking to AI over humans, and why the future of a brand’s “front door” may be an AI personality instead of a website. Christian also breaks down Loman’s explosive growth playbook—from ditching cold email for native social ads, to filming on-location customer stories that convert like crazy. We cover the realities of AI-generated ads, programmatic SEO, and why outcome-driven automation is the only AI worth paying for.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat really defines an AI agent—and why most products don’t qualifyHow voice-based AI can capture richer customer context than any app or formThe operational pain restaurants face with missed calls and how AI solves itWhy customers don’t care if it’s AI or human—only that it gets the job doneGen Z’s surprising comfort with AI calls (and discomfort with human ones)The two make-or-break factors every AI agent needs to succeedHow to create “native feel” ad creatives that crush on socialWhy hyper-specific vertical integration beats horizontal AI every timeThe massive untapped potential for outbound AI voice (and the legal gray areas)Christian’s vision for a future where AI agents replace websites as the primary customer touchpointChapters00:00 – Intro & The AI Agent Hype vs. Reality 04:18 – What an AI Agent Really Is 09:02 – Why Voice Is the Ultimate Interface 13:47 – The Restaurant Industry’s Missed Call Problem 18:25 – Gen Z’s Comfort with AI Calls 22:58 – Vertical vs. Horizontal AI Strategies 27:41 – Loman’s Explosive Growth Playbook 32:16 – Ads That Feel Native & Convert 37:08 – Outbound AI Voice & Legal Considerations 42:55 – The Future: AI Agents as the New Websites 47:20 – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with ChristianConnect with Christian Wiens:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianwiens/Website – https://www.loman.ai/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIf your LinkedIn feed looks like a museum of giant n8n screenshots and “comment to get the guide” posts…good. That means the playbook works—when you do it right. Paolo breaks down the exact framework his agency uses to turn LinkedIn into a repeatable inbound lead engine for B2B—especially SaaS, agencies, and info businesses.What You’ll LearnLead magnet mechanics that still crush: how to pick the right asset (templates vs. guides), formats that perform (Notion docs, Miro boards, short scroll videos), and the “perceived value + curiosity + scarcity” combo.Hooks that make people click “See more”: trigger desire, fear, or curiosity in the first 3 lines.Pattern interrupts that boost reach: why oversized workflows, zoom-ins, and 10-second sped-up videos spike hover time and help the algo.Profile-as-landing-page: how to structure your headline, Featured section, and CTAs to funnel traffic without tanking post reach.Nurture after the comment: DM prompts that qualify intent, when to drop case studies, and how to avoid low-intent “free audit” traps.Where this shines: B2B SaaS, agencies, consultants/coaches—audiences that are active on LinkedIn and buy from content.Paolo’s Playbook (Step-by-Step)Pick the problem (one ICP pain your offer solves).Choose the asset format based on buyer type:Done-for-you buyers → plug-and-play templates.Education/info buyers → guides/videos.Design the preview media to signal value and create curiosity:Notion table of contents screenshot, massive Miro flow, or a 10-sec scroll video.Write the post like this:3-line hook (desire/fear/curiosity).Promise + what’s inside.CTA to comment (optionally “repost for priority”).Light scarcity (e.g., 48-hour window).Delivery & DMs:Send the asset, ask an easy reply (“Are you posting on LinkedIn yet?”).Qualify with 1–2 follow-ups, then make a clear offer with outcomes + timeline (+ guarantee if you have one).Nurture cadence (next 2–3 days):Day 1: Case study (story format: before → intervention → after; CTA to book).Day 2: Technical value post (lower engagement is fine; it nurtures).Add strongest case studies to Featured on your profile.Links without nuking reach:Push to profile/Featured or drop links in comments; edit the post later to add the link after it’s cooked.Tactical NuggetsComments > Likes (weightier signal + more hover time).Avoid bot pods; if you coordinate engagement, keep it real accounts and relationships.For SaaS without a free trial, push to a free setup/usage guide that inherently requires the product.Use storytelling in case studies; people remember transformations, not dashboards.If you’re running volume lead magnets, expect lower engagement on deep-dive posts—that’s normal and still effective.Tools & Formats MentionedNotion (TOC screenshot as lead magnet preview)Miro (big workflow screenshots)n8n (automation diagrams that stop the scroll)Short scroll videos (10–15s, autoplay pattern interrupt)AI voice agent (optional MOFU experiment to educate and qualify at scale before handing off to a human)Who This Works Best ForB2B SaaS (often top performer)AgenciesConsultants/CoachesAny ICP that’s active on LinkedIn and buys based on content/authoritySponsorTalent Fiber — Hire world-class global talent (engineers with 7+ years’ experience, U.S. time zones, excellent English) at ~⅓ U.S. cost. They’re an outsourced HR partner, handling compliance, payroll, and employee happiness—with a free replacement if it doesn’t work out. Learn more: talentfiber.comConnect with PaoloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadgenwiz/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsAI-driven search (AISEO) is opening a new lane for brands in competitive categories. Joe Davies from FATJOE explains why branded mentions (not just links) are increasingly what LLMs use to decide recommendations—and how teams can systematically earn those mentions. We cover tactics like guest blogging at scale, context-seeding your USP across reviews/listicles, building deep product docs to feed LLMs, and using tier-two links to get your “influencer pages” ranking. Early data shows 2–3× higher conversion rates from AI-referred traffic because buyers arrive pre-educated and ready to act.What You’ll LearnWhy AISEO rewards brand mentions and clear USPs more than classic link metrics.How AI-referred traffic converts 2–3× higher than traditional search.A repeatable process to seed your brand in listicles, reviews, and comparisons.How to “context-seed” your USP so LLMs recommend you for the right reason.Why deep help docs / knowledge bases make LLMs more confident recommending you.How to choose targets (DR + real traffic), then lift them with tier-two links.The state of AISEO observability (what to track, what’s still immature).Tactical Playbook (Step-by-Step)Define your USP: the specific “best for ___” angle you want LLMs to repeat.Keyword map long-tail, bottom-funnel queries (e.g., “best X for Y,” “X vs Y,” “X alternatives,” “[product] review”).Prospect targets with credible traffic (DR is fine as a filter, but prioritize verified organic traffic).Commission content: secure guest posts/listicles and full reviews on those sites. Mix formats to look natural.Context-seed your USP in every placement (e.g., “Best for small teams,” “Most features,” “Best value”).Include competitors in listicles/reviews so the page is useful (LLMs prefer balanced sources).Boost with tier-two links (niche edits, syndication) to help these pages rank on pages 1–3.Expand surface area: Reddit answers, YouTube/tutorial mentions, and social chatter to reinforce brand salience.On-site foundation: build exhaustive docs—features, integrations, FAQs, facts sections—so LLMs can learn you deeply.Measure pragmatically: track referral traffic from AI surfaces and downstream conversions; current “AI visibility” tools are early.Resources & MentionsChatGPT Path (shows the searches/sources ChatGPT runs under the hood): https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/chatgpt-path/kiopibcjdnlpamdcdcnphaajccobkbanFATJOE — Brand Mentions Service: http://fatjoe.com/brand-mentionsFATJOE: https://fatjoe.com/Key TakeawaysAISEO is early but growing fast and already drives higher-intent traffic.Focus on being mentioned credibly across the open web; LLMs synthesize those signals.Listicles + reviews on high-trust, real-traffic sites are the current highest-leverage assets.Your docs are marketing now—LLMs read them and recommend accordingly.Don’t abandon SEO; it remains the foundation that AI systems lean on.Chapters00:00 Cold open: AISEO’s opportunity & why mentions matter03:45 Data: AI referrals converting 2–3× vs. classic SEO07:50 Who should prioritize AISEO (and who can wait)10:30 Tactics: listicles, reviews, and “context-seeding” your USP15:45 Tools & workflows; extension that reveals ChatGPT’s queries19:45 Content ops: human vs. AI writing, plans, and clustering22:30 Build deep product docs to feed LLM understanding26:10 Ranking the influencer pages + tier-two links33:00 Observability today: what’s useful, what isn’t yet36:50 The next 5–10 years: AI + SEO, not AI vs. SEOGuestJoe DaviesX: https://x.com/fatjoedaviesLinkedIn: https://es.linkedin.com/in/joe-davies-seoWebsite: https://fatjoe.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsThis AI SEO deep‑dive gets tactical. I sit down with Ilias Ismanalijev (aka @illyism) to map the real discovery journey happening inside AI search—what users actually prompt from problem‑aware to buyer‑ready—and how to influence results across models (GPT, O3, Claude, Perplexity). You’ll learn how to surface the right phrases (not just keywords), make your pages AI‑readable, and win off‑page placements on the listicles and directories LLMs love to cite.What you’ll learnThe 4 levels of AI search (no‑search → deep research) and how strategy changes at each.Prompt‑level intent mapping: info, comparison, executive/delegation, problem‑solving.How to spot AI‑generated queries in Google Search Console and build your tracking sheet.On‑page for LLMs: crawlability, structured content/markdown, alt text, and avoiding blockers (robots.txt, Next.js assets).Off‑page that moves rankings: listicle outreach, affiliate offers, directories (G2, Product Hunt), and Reddit/“parasite” opportunities.Why AI traffic is often more buyer‑ready—and how to target bottom‑of‑funnel prompts (e.g., “X vs Y,” “best X for Y,” pricing specifics).Chapters 0:00 Cold Open — What You’ll Learn 1:22 Sponsor: TalentFiber 2:25 Meet Ilias & Why AI SEO Now 3:02 Who Benefits Beyond SaaS? 4:58 Research vs. E‑com Use Cases 6:20 Comparison‑Style Prompts IRL 8:59 Brands Doing It Well (Examples) 10:46 Why AI Traffic Is Buyer‑Ready 13:42 Benchmarking AI Search Visibility 16:38 Frameworks for AI Keyword Research 20:58 On‑Page for LLMs (Crawlability) 23:30 Finding AI Queries in Search Console 27:30 Regex + Long‑Query Filters 28:25 The 4 Levels of AI Search 32:17 Bottom‑of‑Funnel Prompts That Convert 34:06 Off‑Page: Listicles, Affiliates, Outreach 37:00 Reddit/Parasite SEO & Page One Sources 38:59 Mapping Sources w/ LinkDR 41:02 Pricing Pages & AI Page Inspector 44:34 Directories, Reviews & Digital PR 47:41 Should You Create AI‑Optimized Resource Pages? 48:38 Wrap‑Up & Where to Find IliasGuest Ilias Ismanalijev X: https://x.com/illyism LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/illyism Site: https://il.ly/Host Cody Schneider X: https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codyschneiderx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codyschneiderxSponsor This episode is brought to you by TalentFiber — hiring top offshore software engineers as an extension of your team (technical interviews, compliance, replacements, fast turnarounds). Learn more at talentfiber.com

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsUnlock the practical side of vibe coding and AI‑powered marketing automations with host Cody Schneider and guest CJ Zafir (CodeGuide.dev). If you’ve been flooded with posts about no‑code app builders but still wonder how people actually ship working products (and use them to drive revenue), this conversation is your blueprint.CJ breaks down:What “vibe coding” really means – from sophisticated AI‑assisted development in Cursor or Windsurf to chilled browser‑based tools like Replit, Bolt, V0, and Lovable.How to think like an AI‑native builder – using ChatGPT voice, Grok, and Perplexity to research, brainstorm, and up‑level your technical vocabulary.Writing a rock‑solid PRD that keeps LLMs from hallucinating and speeds up delivery.The best tool stack for different stages – quick MVPs, polished UIs, full‑stack production apps, and self‑hosted automations with N8N.Real‑world marketing automations – auto‑generating viral social content, indexing SEO pages, and replacing repetitive “social‑media‑manager” tasks.Idea‑validation playbook – from domain search to Google Trends, plus why you should build the “obvious” products competitors already prove people pay for.You’ll leave with concrete tactics for:Scoping and documenting an app idea in minutes.Choosing the right AI coding tool for your skill level.Automating content‑creation and distribution loops.Turning small internal scripts into sellable SaaS.Timestamps(00:00) - Why vibe coding & AI‑marketing are everywhere  (00:32) - Meet CJ Zafir & the origin of CodeGuide.dev  (01:15) - Classic mistakes non‑technical builders make  (01:27) - Sponsor break – Talent Fiber  (03:00) - “Sophisticated” vs “chilled” vibe coding explained  (04:00) - 2024: English becomes the biggest coding language  (06:10) - Becoming AI‑native with ChatGPT voice, Grok & Perplexity  (10:30) - How CodeGuide.dev was born from a 37‑prompt automation  (14:00) - Tight PRDs: the antidote to LLM hallucinations  (18:00) - Tool ratings: Cursor, Windsurf, Replit, Bolt, V0 & Lovable  (23:30) - Real‑world marketing automations & agent workflows  (25:50) - Why the “social‑media manager” role may disappear  (28:00) - N8N, JSON & self‑hosting options (Render, Cloudflare, etc.)  (35:50) - Idea‑validation playbook: domains, trends & data‑backed bets  (42:20) - Final advice: build for today’s pain, not tomorrow’s hype SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Talent Fiber – your outsourced HR partner for sourcing and retaining top offshore developers. Skip the endless interviews and hire pre‑vetted engineers with benefits, progress tracking, and culture support baked in. Visit TalentFiber.com to scale your dev team today.Connect with Our GuestX (Twitter): https://x.com/cjzafirCodeGuide.dev: https://www.codeguide.dev/Connect with Your HostX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneiderInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/codyschneiderxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codyschneiderx

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsJoin me as I chat with Yoann Pavy, the growth mastermind behind AI Apply and ex-Deliveroo & Depop head of growth.Timeline 00:00 – AI tooling’s golden age (and why it’s overwhelming) 00:31 – Introducing Yo, the “most gangster” consumer marketer I know 00:45 – What you’ll learn: short‑form content, paid ads, automations 01:23 – Sponsor: Talent Fiber makes offshore hiring effortless 02:12 – Yo’s creative AI spotlight: VO3 videos & gorilla vlogs 04:46 – Humans vs. AI avatars in paid videos (spoiler: humans still shine) 07:20 – Building your creator pyramid with Sideshift & Shortimize 10:00 – Automating code changes via “Jarvis” in Slack 14:38 – Scaling organic content: thousands of posts, not dozens 18:00 – Product‑channel fit: build the media first, product second 20:30 – Automating international growth: 20+ languages in weeks 24:00 – Filtering AI noise: focus on what’s already working 27:15 – The biggest gap: corporate brands vs. startup agilityKey Points • AI creatives are exploding—VO3 videos hit millions of likes fast. • Human spontaneity still outperforms AI‑only videos—for now. • Slack‑based AI agents (“Jarvis”) deploy code, update copy, spin up PRs. • Automate localization: add new languages weekly without human translators. • Scale organic distribution by multiplying creators and formats. • Product‑first mindset flips: media channel drives features. • Startups win by sprinting on AI while corporates stall in red tape.Deep‑Dive SectionsCreative AI in Paid Ads Verdict: 🔥 Underrated • VO3‑generated TikTok vlogs racked up 4M likes in days • AI statics (before‑after sliders) crank out ad assets at scale • Humans still lead on nuance—mix both and test relentlesslyAutomations & Internal AI Agent Verdict: 🚀 Game‑changer • “Jarvis” in Slack handles code tweaks, pull requests, image swaps • One‑line commands push new footer tabs and copy revisions • Frees marketers to iterate strategy, not deploymentsScaling Organic Content Verdict: 💡 Must‑do • Move from 10 posts/month to 1,000+ by cloning formats across creators • Use Shortimize to track views cooking days after publish • Volume on TikTok & LinkedIn is the new SEO—play the numbers gameProduct‑Channel Fit Mindset Verdict: 🔄 Reversed logic • Prototype media hooks (e.g. resume‑kit demos) before building features • Validate with viral tests—first video hit 700K views in 24h • Bake winning social formats into product roadmapFuture of AI‑Powered Growth Verdict: ⏳ On the horizon • Multi‑agent customer personas could replace focus groups • Meta’s AI for one‑to‑one ad creatives will upend engagement • Corporates risk being left behind as startups sprintNotable Quotes “It’s never existed like it has now. But it’s extremely overwhelming.” —HOST“I call it Jarvis because it’s sexy—I just ask Slack to add a tab and it’s done.” —Yoann Pavy“Once you have two or three of these formats, you can go viral any given day.” —Yoann PavySponsor Block This episode is brought to you by Talent Fiber. Hire offshore full‑stack devs with 7+ years’ experience, US‑time‑zone availability, perfect English, and a solid replacement guarantee. Learn more at talentfiber.com or click the link below.FIND ME ON SOCIALLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/codyxschneiderX: x.com/codyschneiderxxFIND Yoann PAVY ON SOCIAL LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yoannpavy X: x.com/yoannpavy Website: aiapply.co

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Adam Silverman — co-founder & CEO of Agent Ops — dives deep into what “AI agents” actually are, why observability matters, and the very real marketing & growth automations companies are shipping today. From social-listening bots that draft Reddit replies to multi-agent pipelines that rebalance seven-figure ad budgets in real time, Adam lays out a practical playbook for founders, heads of growth, and non-technical operators who want to move from hype to hands-on results.Guest socials• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsil• 𝕏 / Twitter: https://x.com/AtomSilverman• Company: https://agentops.aiTimestamps00:00 — Defining “agents”: reasoning-powered automations, not AGI00:54 — Introducing Adam & the 50+ internal agents his team uses daily03:32 — “Vibe marketing” and why every employee will soon have an AI assistant05:18 — Live example: an inbound-lead-scoring agent that books calls automatically08:11 — Metric shift: revenue / agent & revenue / token10:45 — Three-point filter for agent ROI: expensive, repeatable, low-risk tasks12:56 — Social-listening agents for Reddit, X & forums (human-in-the-loop posting)16:14 — OrcaBase + TripleWhale: agentic ad-spend rebalancing for e-com21:29 — WhisperFlow → Claude to generate entire email sequences in minutes25:04 — Multi-agent systems & OpenAI Agents SDK (Crew AI, Llama-Index, etc.)40:12 — Tech stack cheat-sheet: AgentQL, BrowserBase, Composio, Anthropic Claude 3, Gemini 1.5 Pro48:07 — Internal hackathons & “minimum viable post” culture for continuous learningKey Points• Observability is table-stakes. Enterprises won’t deploy agents without 99.99 % reliability, so logging, evals & debugging are critical.• Marketing automations that already work:– Social-listening + auto-response (Reddit, X “Radar”)– Lead-scoring & routing directly inside Superhuman– Real-time ad-budget re-allocation with TripleWhale’s OrcaBase agents– UGC ad generation at ¢-scale via HeyGen API• Tooling matters: mix-and-match lower-cost LLMs (Gemini/Claude) for chain-of-thought tasks and premium models (GPT-4o) for reasoning or code.• Multi-agent ≠ many prompts. Think specialized “teammates” passing JSON, each with its own LLM, tools & memory.• Hire for AI-nativity, not job titles. A VA fluent in Cursor or WhisperFlow can 10× output overnight.• Run micro-hackathons. One day a month of structured tinkering keeps teams ahead of vendor fluff.Six Practical Plays You Can StealExpensive + Repeatable + Low-Risk AuditMap every workflow; circle anything that costs $$$, repeats weekly, and won’t tank the business if it fails. Start there.Social-Listening AgentRadar (X) or manual Boolean search → Agent drafts replies → human approval → schedule via Buffer/Zapier.Ad-Spend RebalancerPipe TripleWhale or GA4 ROAS data into an agent that shifts budget between Meta, Google & TikTok every 60 min.Outbound “Industry Brief” Generatoryou.com’s Ari agent → 5-page PDF tailored to the prospect’s vertical → attach in first-touch email.Auto-Follow-Up ComposerFathom meeting transcript + Superhuman “Ask AI” → ready-to-send recap with action items.Internal Hackathon Framework• 15 min YouTube tutorial• 45 min build using Gumloop / Lutra AI (no-code)• Demo & share Loom — highest-impact sprint gets pushed to prod.Notable Quotes“We’ve got more agent headcount than human headcount.” — Adam Silverman“Stop talking AGI. Look for tasks that are expensive, repeatable, and low-risk — that’s where agents print money.”“Your revenue per employee metric just became revenue per token.”“Build once, sell twice: every podcast, video or doc should spawn emails, tweets and a downloadable PDF.”2025 Takeaway: The winners won’t be the teams with the biggest models; they’ll be the teams that turn everyday processes into measurable, observable agent workflows — and iterate on them faster than their competitors can finish a slide deck.

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Sandra Dajic, Head of Marketing at Chatbase, dives deep into the world of "vibe marketing"—a movement at the intersection of growth, automation, and AI tooling. She shares how she’s building AI-powered workflows to supercharge her marketing efforts, from automated ad competitor dashboards to visual content generation using GPT-4. With a background in both VC-backed and bootstrapped startups, Sandra outlines practical strategies for creating a marketing engine that feels like a team of 100—run by just one person.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The 100x marketer and automation trend 01:40 - Sandra's AI-powered marketing workflows 04:45 - Automating ad analysis with Lovable, Make.com, and GPT 09:12 - Why “vibe marketing” matters now 13:20 - How to scale marketing without engineering resources 16:45 - Building "AI Ninja": Sandra's personalized marketing agent 21:05 - Using AI to streamline press, partnerships, and outreach 27:50 - How Sandra accelerated visual design workflows using GPT-4 31:00 - The power of personal brand and founder-driven marketing 34:15 - Sandra’s experiments with LinkedIn growth strategies 39:22 - Automating content and measuring marketing effectivenessKey Points:Vibe marketing = combining growth strategy with AI automationSandra built a custom dashboard to track and analyze ad creatives across platformsTools used: Lovable for browser agents, Make.com for workflows, GPT-4 for automationAI agents streamline repetitive marketing tasks: outreach, content, visuals, competitor trackingEmphasis on storytelling, personal brand, and focusing on one validated channel at a timeSandra shares tactical tips for LinkedIn growth and content structuringAI enables solo marketers to match output of large teams, affordably and fastNotable Quotes:“I want to automate everything that I don't love doing. My job is to tell the story of the product.” – Sandra Dajic “If you define your workflow, AI can scope the rest. That’s the vibe marketing unlock.” – Host “Personal brand is your biggest asset as a founder—it’s the one thing that sticks.” – Sandra DajicGuest Links: • X: @takotreba • LinkedIn: Sandra Dajic

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, I chat with Niels Klement (Head of Growth, Perspective) about how “app-feel” mobile funnels—with quiz questions, instant personalization, and 1-second load times—are crushing the old landing-page model. We dig into paid-ads math, creative iteration, and why a single 90-second video can double your business. Perfect for agencies, SaaS founders, and anyone chasing dollar-in → five-dollars-out predictability.Timestamps00:00 – Intro & why most builders fail on mobile01:00 – Perspective’s path to €10 M ARR / 6 000 customers02:30 – From web-design agency to quiz-funnel SaaS06:00 – Interactivity, sunk-cost bias & personalization09:30 – Page-speed math: 5 s vs 1 s loads12:30 – Designing funnels that feel like native apps17:30 – Best-fit customers: agencies & B2B teams22:00 – Paid ads vs organic: guaranteed distribution27:00 – Creative ops: turning 1 ad into 100 variants33:00 – Dog-fooding Perspective to grow Perspective38:00 – AI, “vibe-marketing,” and small-team scale42:00 – Free 14-day trial & closing remarksKey Points (to skim fast)Mobile-first, one-page apps load ~1 s and behave like IG Stories.Quiz/configurator flows lift conversions and qualify leads.1 s load time ≈ 2.5× conversion—that’s a $1 M → $2.5 M funnel without extra spend.Paid ads = best first lever for predictable, measurable growth.Creative flywheel: launch 100 assets, kill 98, scale the 2 that print money.Dog-food advantage: marketing uses Perspective daily, feeding product loops.Notable Quotes“A 90-second ad can change the trajectory of your entire business.” – Niels Klement“Remove the right friction—interactive questions—and conversions jump.” – Niels Klement“Paid traffic is guaranteed distribution. If the math works, keep printing customers.” – Niels KlementQuick Funnel FrameworkCraft an irresistible offer (free trial, template, case study).Map the funnel steps backward from that goal.Add interactive questions to personalize and pre-qualify.Obsess over load speed and mobile UX.Measure, prune, scale—let data pick winners.Guest SocialsLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsklement/ Perspective – https://www.perspective.co/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, we’re joined by Jordan Mix, partner at Late Checkout, for an in-depth discussion on how startups can build a million-dollar brand in today’s hyper-competitive landscape. Jordan introduces the concept of digital gravity—a framework for creating “mass” on the internet that draws customers into your brand’s orbit. The conversation explores how companies can move beyond linear funnels and embrace orbit-based growth, where repeated brand interactions across multiple channels drive purchasing decisions.Together, we break down actionable strategies for generating traction, including the smart use of AI agents, automation, and vibe marketing. Jordan shares insights on balancing transactional marketing (like paid ads and cold outreach) with long-term brand-building investments, while emphasizing the role of creators, content flywheels, and the importance of being discoverable in AI-driven search results.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Building a million-dollar brand in 2025 00:27 - Meet Jordan Mix and overview of Late Checkout 01:10 - The idea of digital gravity and mass in the AI era 03:00 - Funnels vs. orbits: How people really buy 06:15 - Automation, AI agents, and vibe marketing explained 10:45 - AI SEO, branded search, and surviving the law of shitty click-throughs 15:20 - Building discovery flywheels and creator-driven growth 20:30 - Strategies for leveraging YouTube, Reels, and creators at scale 25:00 - Managing creator risk and internal content strategies 28:00 - How to start creating digital gravity without overwhelmKey Points: • Digital Gravity Framework — Customers enter your orbit through repeated brand interactions, not linear funnels. The goal is to create mass (content, tools, assets) that attracts and retains attention. • AI Agents + Automation — Jordan highlights practical uses of AI agents, like automating outreach campaigns, creating dynamic ad workflows, or scraping competitive data to inform marketing. • Transactional vs. Brand Marketing — Early traction often comes from transactional tactics (ads, cold outreach), but long-term success requires investment in brand and content that lowers acquisition costs over time. • SEO in the Age of AI — With LLMs scraping Google’s top pages, brands need to dominate bottom-of-funnel keywords and question-based queries to appear in AI search results. • Creator-Led Growth — Partnering with creators can trigger a viral cascade where hundreds of pieces of content are generated without direct cost, building digital gravity passively.Key Takeaway: Startups should focus first on finding where their customers spend time, test 2-3 channels, and double down on what works. From there, build repeatable processes and automate intelligently. The goal: maximize digital mass where it matters most, so your brand becomes the natural choice when buyers are ready.Notable Quotes: • “Funnels create linear growth. If you want exponential growth, you need digital gravity.” — Jordan Mix • “Where are your customers? Build as much mass as possible in that space.” — Jordan Mix • “Every ring you put out is like a mini-funnel — together they form the black hole of your brand.”Guest Socials: X: @jrdnmix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-mix1/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, I chat with Jonathan, a rapidly rising expert on Twitter known for building and scaling AI-driven marketing automations using tools like n8n and custom API integrations. We explore the practical realities of "vibe marketing" automation beyond hype, revealing how real-world workflows are being constructed today and why true expertise in marketing is essential for effective automation. Listeners will gain insights into automating audience research, creative production, and ad performance analysis at scale, as well as actionable tips for getting started and leveraging AI tools to 10x their output.Timestamps(00:00) – Introduction to Jonathan and Marketing Automation The host introduces Jonathan and sets the stage for a discussion on modern marketing automation tools and why they’re currently so powerful.(02:45) – Jonathan’s Background and Automation Journey Jonathan shares how he got into marketing automation, his paid ads background, and the evolution from manual work to automation.(07:30) – Key Tools and Stack for Automation The host and Jonathan discuss their tech stacks, highlighting n8n, railway.com, and custom front-end interfaces to streamline automation.(12:15) – Top Marketing Automation Workflows Jonathan outlines his most effective workflows: audience research, creative generation, and scaling marketing insights.(18:00) – Audience Research Automation: Reddit Scraping and Analysis A deep dive into using n8n to scrape Reddit, filter and analyze discussions, and extract actionable marketing insights and customer language.(25:40) – Twitter Insights Automation How Jonathan automates scraping Twitter for popular posts, identifying top-performing content and structuring it for ongoing content creation.(31:10) – Creative Production Automation Jonathan explains workflows for bulk generating ad variations using OpenAI’s Image Gen API, including reference image analysis and prompt engineering.(38:20) – Custom Front-End Interfaces for Workflows The pair discuss integrating user-friendly front-end UIs (using Lovable or Bolt) with n8n backend automations for client and team use.(44:50) – Automating Ad Performance Analysis Jonathan describes a flow for pulling and analyzing Facebook Ads data, using sub-agents for performance analysis, deep research, and new ad creation.(51:10) – Video Ad Automation and Future Trends A look at how video ad automation is evolving and the current limitations and opportunities, including upcoming tools like Google Veo 3.(56:40) – Speeding Up Workflow Creation with Perplexity and Claude The host and Jonathan discuss using AI (Perplexity, Claude 4) to generate n8n workflow JSON, streamlining the automation development process.Key PointsExpertise in Marketing is Essential for Automation: To automate marketing workflows effectively, you need a deep understanding of marketing processes themselves. Only then can you define, script, and automate successful campaigns[1].Automating Audience Research Drives Results: Bulk scraping and analyzing platforms like Reddit and Twitter allow marketers to extract pain points, trigger events, and customer language at scale, informing ad copy and creative direction.Creative Volume is Game-Changing: Automation tools like OpenAI’s Image Gen API enable the generation of hundreds of ad variations, feeding algorithms for higher performance and lower costs.Custom Front-Ends Improve Workflow Accessibility: Building user-friendly interfaces (using tools like Lovable or Bolt) for complex n8n automations makes them accessible to non-technical team members and clients.AI Accelerates Workflow Development: Using AI tools like Perplexity and Claude to generate n8n workflow JSON reduces the time and technical skill required to build sophisticated automations.Human-in-the-Loop Remains Critical: While automation handles the heavy lifting, human oversight is still needed for nuanced analysis, curation, and final ad selection.Notable QuotesJonathan: “You have to be an expert at that thing to be able to go and actually build out these automations. But when you do that, you can automate 80% of the work that you previously were doing.”Jonathan: “I literally just tell Claude what I want to build, and then it maps it out for me. And then you kind of have a canvas that is like 60, 70, 80% there depending on the complexity.”Cody: “Your customers are your best advertisers, so taking their exact wording and phrases is for sure going to be an effective marketing strategy a lot of the time.”Actionable Takeaways for Founders, Marketers, and PodcastersStart with a Core Marketing Process: Identify a repeatable marketing workflow you fully understand before attempting to automate it.Invest in Audience Research Automation: Use tools to scrape and analyze discussions on Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms to extract customer pain points and language for your messaging[2].Bulk Generate and Test Creatives: Leverage AI to produce hundreds of ad variations, enabling rapid testing and optimization of creative assets.Automate Performance Analysis: Implement workflows to automatically pull and analyze campaign performance data, allowing you to focus on strategy and execution[8].Simplify Tool Accessibility: Build custom UIs for your automation tools to make them accessible for your entire team, not just engineers.Accelerate Workflow Development: Use AI-powered tools like Perplexity and Claude to generate automation scripts and reduce development time.Brought to you byTalentFiber – Hire top offshore engineers with US experience at half the cost of US hires. - talentfiber.comWhere to the find Guest: https://x.com/vibemarketer_ https://linktr.ee/vibemarketerResources Mentionedhttps://www.youtube.com/@nateherkhttps://www.youtube.com/@Mark_Kashefhttps://www.youtube.com/@AI-GPTWorkshop/videosRapidAPI – Access a wide range of third-party APIs for quick integrations. - rapidapi.comApify – Scrape websites and extract data at scale. - apify.comTwitterAPI.io – Free and affordable Twitter data scraping tool. - twitterapi.io

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, I chat with James Cadwallader, co-founder of Profound, about the rise of AI search engines and their impact on traditional search methods. We discuss how tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing user behavior and referral traffic patterns. James shares insights on which companies benefit most from this trend and offers strategies for enhancing brand visibility in AI search results. We explore the importance of tracking bot traffic, creating targeted content, and optimizing metadata to align with AI models' preferences, highlighting the need for brands to adapt to this new digital landscape.🎧 What You’ll LearnAI Answer Engine DynamicsDistinction between AI chat (LLM-only) and AI answer engines (LLM + web retrieval)Key inflection points like ChatGPT’s web-search launch (Oct 2024)Who Benefits MostIndustries with long research cycles (auto, healthcare, consumer electronics)Tech-savvy early adopters and B2B SaaS customers seeing 3–4× month-over-month growthMeasuring AI ImpactTracking bot-to-human conversions via crawler logs + GA4 or AmplitudeUnderstanding AI referrals as a first touch in your marketing funnelTactical SEO LeversComparative “X vs. Y” articles with optimized metadataCategory-specific source mining (Wikipedia, Reddit, publications)Creating simple, highly structured (markdown-style) content for fast crawler reasoningEmerging Best PracticesImplementing llms.txt and bot-first content feedsBuilding a dedicated AI visibility team—your next marketing department⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: The AI search revolution01:00 – AI chat vs. AI answer engines explained03:00 – Case study: ChatGPT mobile growth spike05:00 – Which verticals see the biggest AI referral lift07:00 – Bot crawling: measuring crawler visits + human actions10:15 – How Profound uses synthetic data to map AI sourcing14:30 – Tactical content strategies: from comparative posts to digital PR18:45 – The future of AI SEO: protocols, agents, and team structures22:10 – Action steps: What founders & marketers must do now🎙️ Guest ProfileJames Cadwallader Co-founder of Profound, the “Ahrefs/SEMrush for AI answer engine visibility.” James leads R&D on mapping how LLMs retrieve and cite web content, helping enterprise brands optimize for this rapidly growing channel.🔗 Resources & LinksProfound (AI Answer Engine Visibility Platform) https://www.tryprofound.com/James Cadwallader on X https://x.com/thejamescad/Sponsor: Talent Fiber Hire offshore engineering talent at one-third the cost of U.S. equivalents: https://talentfiber.com

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, I sit down with Louis Shulman of Orbit Flows Marketing to dive deep into why a warmed email list is the single most valuable asset a brand can own. We explore how consistent, process-driven newsletters can drive thousands of targeted clicks weekly, share real-world examples and metrics, and unpack the exact frameworks, templates, and AI-powered workflows Louis uses to produce hundreds of newsletters a month for some of the world’s fastest-growing companies. Whether you’re resurrecting a dormant list or scaling a six-figure send, you’ll walk away with concrete steps to build, clean, and monetize your newsletter with repeatable, bite-sized automation.About the GuestLouis Shulman Louis leads client success and content strategy at Orbit Flows, where his team of five writers produces over 50 email newsletters per week for a collective audience exceeding one million subscribers. He’s spent years perfecting the playbook for turning long-form expert conversations into high-impact weekly sends that consistently deliver 3,000+ clicks per issue.Key TakeawaysEmail Newsletters as Owned Media: A weekly newsletter is an asset you own and control, unlike social platforms or paid ads.Process Over Perfection: Success comes from simple, repeatable systems (templates, cadence, checklists)—not chasing “perfect” content.Customer Journey Mapping: Structure newsletters around problem-aware, solution-aware, and vendor-aware stages to guide subscribers down your funnel.Bridge of Belief: Craft content that anticipates and answers subscriber objections before they arise—turn objections into subject lines.AI as an Accelerator: Treat AI like a managed teammate—define clear sub-steps and approval checkpoints to get 90% of the work done, then add human polish.List Hygiene & Segmentation: Start conservatively, re-engage dormant subscribers with win-back sequences, and prune non-openers after five sends to protect deliverability.Lead Magnets & Growth: Educational email courses and targeted downloadable assets (e.g., “5 Day Course on Accounting Pitfalls”) drive higher opt-in rates than generic “join my newsletter” pitches.ROI in Click Equity: With a 170,000-subscriber list sending twice weekly, 10,000 clicks per send saves upwards of $800,000 in paid LinkedIn ads annually.Episode Highlights00:00 – 01:00 – Why Email Is King: The host frames newsletters as the most valuable, yet overlooked, marketing channel.01:00 – 02:00 – Sponsor Break: Acclaim Podcasting: Full-service agency that builds your weekly content machine (acclaimpodcasting.com).02:00 – 04:00 – Volume & Scale: Louis shares that Orbit Marketing dispatches 50+ newsletters weekly to 1M+ subscribers—and how one weekly send drives ~3,000 clicks.04:00 – 07:00 – Defining “Newsletter”: Establishing clear expectations, consistent format, and landing-page first mindset for newsletter signups.07:00 – 11:00 – Customer Journey & Content Strategy: Reverse-engineer subscriber beliefs at each funnel stage; problem, solution, vendor.11:00 – 15:00 – Objections into Subject Lines: Proactively address subscriber doubts (e.g., “Is TikTok still worth it?”) in your newsletter copy.15:00 – 18:00 – Ideation & Prompts: Three core content buckets—personal stories, business strategies, industry insights—and 100+ ghostwriting prompts for weekly topics.18:00 – 22:00 – Templates & Systems: Pin down a weekly structure with 3–5 sections to eliminate decision fatigue and ensure consistency.22:00 – 26:00 – AI-Powered Workflow: Build “Orbit Flows” with templates, voices, knowledge bases, and spaces—treat AI like a junior teammate with incremental approvals.26:00 – 30:00 – List Building & Hygiene: Start small with new or cold lists, run win-back sequences, remove non-engagers after five weeks to maintain deliverability.30:00 – 34:00 – Lead Magnet Mastery: Email courses and downloadable guides convert far better than generic newsletter invites—package education, not just tips.34:00 – 38:00 – Productizing Internal Tools: How Orbit spun its own AI newsletter engine into the OrbitFlows SaaS platform, with live demos of templates and research pipelines.38:00 – End – Final Advice & Connect: Louis drops his top three rapid-fire tips for B2B founders and shares where to reach him next.Resources & LinksGuest SocialsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisshulman/Orbit Marketing: https://www.orbitmarketing.io/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/LouisShulman/Brought to you byAcclaim Podcasting: https://acclaimpodcasting.comOrbitFlows (Built by Louis & Team)Product Site: https://orbitflows.com

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Nick Abraham, founder of cold email agency Leadbird, joins the show for a deep dive into what’s working right now in the fast-changing world of email marketing. With over 400 clients and millions of emails sent monthly, Nick shares tactical insights from the frontlines — from deliverability strategies to AI usage and cold calling.The conversation covers the recent Apollo crackdown, the shift in data sourcing, and how agencies can safeguard infrastructure to avoid total shutdowns. Nick also unpacks the importance of validating your offer, tips for scaling cold outreach, and the resurrection of cold calling as a powerful channel when paired with smart automation.Timestamps 00:00 – Why cold email is still a top channel 00:39 – State of cold email: "bloody ocean" tactics 02:12 – Apollo’s recent changes & implications 05:00 – Data sourcing alternatives (ListKit, Sales Nav scraping) 07:12 – Clay’s rise & how to enrich leads 10:25 – EDU/Microsoft panel loopholes and risks 14:00 – The right infra mix: Google, Microsoft, SMTP 18:00 – Cost breakdown for 10K cold emails 20:00 – Who cold email works for — and who it doesn’t 23:35 – Cold email templates that work today 28:01 – Cold calling revival & voicemail strategy 33:00 – Smart personalization that stands out 37:00 – Overuse of AI: when it backfires 41:50 – Volume vs optimization: when to scale 47:00 – Warm-up pools, deliverability myths & final thoughtsKey PointsApollo Crackdown: Apollo recently slashed its free plan from 10,000 to 100 leads/month, killing off common scraping strategies. Agencies must now diversify data sources.Email Infrastructure Strategy: Nick recommends splitting accounts evenly across Google, Microsoft, and SMTP providers (like MailReef), using separate tenants for each domain to reduce risk.Top Tools Mentioned: Smartlead, Instantly, LeadMagic, Salesfinity (for cold calling), Clay, HyperType, ListKit.Cold Email Templates That Work: Short emails with a bold subject line, a clearly stated pain point, social proof, and a clear CTA. Two-step sequences are outperforming long follow-ups.AI in Cold Email: Use AI for variable enrichment (like local restaurants or recent promotions) — but not for full email writing. Over-automation feels robotic and gets ignored.Cold Calling Rebirth: Combining parallel dialers, voicemails, and email follow-ups creates a high-performing outbound flywheel. Nick’s simple pitch script: “Can I get 30 seconds, or tell me to kick rocks?”Warm-Up Pools Controversy: Instantly and Smartlead warm-up pools have downsides. Use them carefully and always monitor bounce rates.Who Should Use Cold Email?✔ SaaS, agencies, and service businesses with high LTVs ($5K+) ✔ Founders with a unique, compelling offer ✔ Companies with a working sales process & CRM follow-up ✘ Commodity offers (e.g., generic e-comm marketing) with no clear differentiationNotable Quotes"Don’t build a pricing model on a hack. It’s a matter of time until it breaks." "Most people overthink deliverability — bad offers are the real issue." "You can get 0.8% replies or 0% if your inbox gets shut down — choose wisely."Guest Links:https://www.leadbird.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-abrahamhttps://x.com/NickAbraham12

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Cody hosts Romain Torres, co-founder of ArcAds, to dive into the next evolution of paid advertising — using AI to generate and test thousands of ad creatives at scale. Romain shares the strategies behind ArcAds’ explosive success and how marketers can now use AI agents, automation, and avatars to unlock hyper-efficiency in ad performance. This episode is a masterclass in modern performance marketing for eCommerce, mobile apps, and agencies alike.Timestamps: 00:00 – Why top e-commerce advertisers generate 1,000s of creatives01:10 – The old UGC content model: $100K for 1,000 ad variations01:57 – ArcAds and AI avatars explained03:00 – Lessons from gaming companies and their ad testing obsession06:30 – How to make ad testing 10x cheaper and easier with AI10:20 – Meta’s only recommendation to big advertisers: more creatives13:10 – Why creative volume is now the biggest growth lever15:00 – Romain’s 6-week creative testing sprint process20:05 – The “Notion board” system for organizing ad experiments25:40 – Automating script generation via Facebook Ad Library + Whisper29:20 – AI’s true strength: copying and remixing top-performing formats35:15 – Real examples: language apps, e-com, and viral ad structures40:05 – Why localization with AI avatars is a game-changer44:40 – Using failure and emotion in ads (gaming tactics for e-com)47:50 – “Ads that don’t feel like ads” – winning creative philosophy49:10 – Final frameworks and where to start with AI adsKey Points: • AI is shifting ad creative from an expensive, human-led process to scalable, high-volume automation — unlocking massive performance gains• Meta’s performance advice is now centered on one thing: creative iteration• ArcAds enables users to generate hundreds of UGC-style video ads using AI avatars, voice synthesis, and automated scripting• Creative success depends on three pillars: strong scripts, tested variations of actors, and good editing• Winning ad strategies rely less on creative instinct and more on statistical volume — test everything, let the data decideCreative Frameworks Discussed:Weekly Iteration LoopOrganize creative ideas in a Notion boardTest 10+ variations per conceptReview weekly results → double down on winnersCommit to a 6-week testing cycle to uncover scalable conceptsAI Agent Automation WorkflowScrape competitors’ Facebook ads using the Ads Library APITranscribe videos with WhisperAnalyze hooks and trends with GPTGenerate new scripts, swap in AI avatars, and produce at scaleBest Performing Ad FormatsUGC-style narration with product demo B-rollSplit-screen “AI tutor” dialogue format for language appsLocalized voiceovers for different geographiesStreet interview simulations using avatars for finance/dating appsGrowth Tactics: • Use AI to localize ad content and reach global markets without extra production• Automate creative inspiration by spying on competitors and remixing their winners• Build feedback loops with performance data to fuel ongoing ad ideation• Don’t try to guess the best creative — let scale + data reveal the winnerNotable Quotes:“You just don’t know which actor is best for your ad until you test it.” – Romain Torres “Meta figured out the targeting. Now you have to figure out the creative.” “AI is bad at being creative — but it’s amazing at copying what works.” “Your edge is not doing one thing well. It’s doing everything at 100x volume.”Guest: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/romain-torres-arcadshttps://x.com/rom1trshttps://www.arcads.ai/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode of In the Pit, we sit down with Laurent, co-founder of FocusTree — a productivity app for students — to break down how he leveraged short-form creator-led content to explode the app to 100,000 downloads in just 15 days.Laurent shares the tactical, step-by-step breakdown of his viral growth playbook, from sourcing international creators to creating a gamified onboarding experience that hooks users. This is a masterclass in thinking media-first, product-second — and building sticky consumer apps in the TikTok era.This episode is sponsored by TalentFiber.com — the best way to hire vetted offshore talent that works in your time zone and speaks fluent English.🔗 Guest LinksTwitter/X: https://x.com/iamlaurentboFocusTree App: https://focustree.app/⏱️ Timestamps(1:10) – Intro to FocusTree & hitting 100K+ users in 15 days(4:37) – The TikTok revolution: why media-led growth works now(9:09) – From paid ads to creators: 95% drop in CAC(12:06) – How to source and manage creators outside the US(16:01) – The key to finding “outlier” creators and winning formats(22:00) – The origin story: fake product, Reddit post → validated idea(26:51) – Beating legacy competitors by targeting Gen Z(30:49) – Onboarding design, SMS > email, and viral loops(34:53) – Product philosophy: build habits like Strava & Duolingo(38:28) – Underrated niches, creator research, and reading comments for hooks💡 Key TakeawaysMedia Before Product: Laurent validated FocusTree’s concept with fake mockups on Reddit and TikTok — only building after demand was clear.Creator-Led Growth: FocusTree works with 7+ international creators, paying ~$20/video with performance bonuses — resulting in ~12K daily downloads.Hyper-Optimized Onboarding: From SMS login to school-based friend sync, every screen is engineered for retention.Gamified UX: Users “grow a garden” by studying — a visual reward loop inspired by Strava and Duolingo.Decentralized Creator Ops: Coaches manage onboarding, feedback, and best practices across WhatsApp and School.com.Unlocking Virality: Winning TikTok formats last 2–3 weeks. Read comment sections for next-gen hooks.Underserved Niches: Look for outdated categories with passionate audiences (e.g., astrology, study apps) and remix the experience.🔥 Notable Quotes“You didn’t really study if you didn’t turn on FocusTree.” — Laurent Boulin“If you want to win with creators, you need to know your media landscape like the back of your hand.” — Laurent Boulin“Our CAC dropped by 95% when we switched from ads to TikTok creators.” — Laurent BoulinLandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Jack Friks, the creator of PostBridge, shares a fresh approach to product validation—building media before building the product. He explains how he used viral content strategies to grow his mobile app and later developed a B2B tool to automate content creation and scheduling. If you're a founder, marketer, or creator looking to maximize reach and validate product ideas, this episode is packed with insights!🔥 Key Topics Covered:✅ Why testing media virality before product development is crucial✅ Jack’s journey: Learning to code and launching a SaaS business✅ How organic marketing can outperform paid ads✅ The future of AI-driven content creation✅ Finding and replicating viral content formats✅ Automating content creation and scheduling⏳ Timestamps:(00:00) – Introduction(00:57) – Why media-first validation matters(08:12) – Growing an app to 100,000+ downloads organically(12:45) – Balancing content virality and sales conversions(16:30) – How PostBridge automates content creation(22:10) – The future of AI-generated content marketing(26:45) – Tips for founders leveraging media for growthLandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/💡 Notable Quotes:📌 "The best way to validate a product is not by building it, but by testing if the media around it goes viral first."📌 "If your idea can't generate organic engagement, it might not be solving a real problem."Resources:🔹 Learn more about PostBridge: PostBridge - post-bridge.com🔹 Follow Jack on Twitter: https://x.com/jackfriks🔹 Mentioned Tool: Talent Fiber – Offshore hiring agency - TalentFiber.com🔹 Additional References: Memelord Technologies – https://memelord.tech/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, Alex Heiden, co-founder of Get Payd, dives deep into the powerful world of marketing arbitrage and how brands can leverage short-form content to generate millions of views at a fraction of traditional advertising costs. With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Alex explains how brands can exploit the current "TikTokification" of content to build top-of-funnel awareness for B2B, prosumer, and consumer products alike.He shares detailed strategies on running performance-based creator campaigns, optimizing CPMs (as low as $1 vs. $9 on traditional platforms), and structuring competitions that incentivize high-performing content creators. Plus, Alex breaks down how brands can identify top creators for long-term partnerships and generate viral content that attracts organic replication from other creators.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to marketing arbitrage & today's topic03:42 - What is Get Paid? Bringing TikTok Shop strategies to digital businesses05:19 - How TikTok's creator commission model works06:12 - Two campaign models: CPM deals vs. competitions10:44 - Results: Cost-effective campaigns with $1–$3 CPM14:14 - Case studies: Viral success with day-in-the-life content17:00 - The shift from outbound to inbound marketing22:54 - Why the "For You" page changes everything for discovery28:08 - Scaling: From $5K test budgets to $50K monthly spends35:22 - The ripple effect of viral content and organic replication42:25 - How Get Paid incentivizes creators and brands alikeKey Points:Marketing Arbitrage Explained: How to get $1 CPMs vs. $9 on traditional ad platformsShort-Form Content Strategy: Run competitions and pay-per-view campaigns to maximize exposureCreator Incentives: Structuring payouts for maximum engagement and competitive motivationOrganic Growth Tactics: How viral videos lead to a snowball effect with unpaid content replicationB2B & B2C Impact: Why short-form content isn’t just for consumer brandsNotable Quotes:"The only way to grow products quickly is by finding and exploiting marketing arbitrage." – Alex"Discovery isn’t about followers anymore—it’s about creating good content that the algorithm wants to show." – HostKey Takeaways for Founders:Shift ad budgets from traditional channels to short-form creator campaigns for massive reach at lower costs.Run competitive campaigns to organically motivate creators to produce viral content.Focus on specific features or outcomes in your short-form content for maximum clarity and effectiveness.Sponsors:TalentFiber.com – Hire the best offshore marketing talent.Connect with Alex:Instagram: @nocode.alexTwitter/X: https://x.com/alexh459 Platform: https://www.getpaydapp.com/Ready to scale your marketing with short-form content? This episode is a masterclass in how to do it right.LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insightsIn this episode, I chat with Lukas from The Nice Agency, a Shopify site speed optimization expert. They discuss why page speed optimization is one of the most overlooked yet impactful factors in improving return on ad spend (ROAS) and conversion rates for e-commerce businesses. Lukas shares insights from his agency’s experience, debunks common myths about automated page speed tools, and reveals the best technology stack for high-performance Shopify stores.Key Topics Covered:Why page speed optimization is a game changer for your e-commerce business.How bloated app stacks slow down your site and kill conversion rates.The biggest scams in the Shopify site speed industry and how to avoid them.The impact of page speed on SEO, paid ads, and overall user experience.A breakdown of the best tools and apps to use for a high-speed e-commerce store.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Page Speed Optimization & Guest Introduction03:45 - How Lukas Got Into Site Speed Optimization08:30 - Common Mistakes That Slow Down Shopify Stores13:20 - The Scam Behind "Instant" Speed Optimization Services19:45 - The True Impact of Site Speed on Conversion Rates & ROAS25:10 - Case Study: How Speed Optimization Increased Sales by 17%30:00 - The Best Page Speed Optimization Tech Stack35:50 - Free Tools to Test Your Website’s Speed41:00 - The Best Shopify Themes for High Performance45:30 - How to Get a Free Site Speed Audit from The Nice Agency50:00 - Where to Find Lukas & Final ThoughtsShow Notes & Resources:Milliseconds Make Millions (Google & Deloitte Report on Page Speed) - Read HereWebPageTest.org - The Gold Standard for Site Speed Testing - Visit SiteDawn Theme - Shopify’s Recommended Lightweight Ecommerce Theme - Explore Here#1 Heatmap Analytics Tool for Tracking Revenue on E-commerce Websites - Check it OutRapidReviews - The Fastest Shopify Review App - Learn MoreShoplift - Best A/B Testing Tool for Shopify - Explore FeaturesInstant.so - The Fastest Shopify Page Builder - Visit SiteLandingCat.com - Automated SEO and CRO for Ecommerce - Visit SiteConnect with Lukas & The Nice Agency:Website: TheNiceAgency.coTwitter: @IGOBYLUKASLandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/