The World's Best Email and Retention Podcast

Email deliverability isn’t a single metric. There’s no dashboard that tells you exactly why you’re going to spam.In this episode of The World’s Best Email & Retention Podcast, Jordan sits down with Pierre Pignault, founder of MailSoar and an “email guy’s email guy,” to break down how deliverability actually works in 2026.From misleading open rates to spam filter behavior, this is a deep dive into how top operators diagnose and fix inbox placement issues.We get into:The 3 signals that actually determine inbox vs spamWhy high open rates can be a red flagHow to tell if your emails are really being seenThe biggest segmentation mistake killing deliverabilityWhy deliverability issues show up weeks after they startHow spam filters actually think (and what they care about)00:00 Fastest way to drive revenue (email + CRO)02:20 Why deliverability is impossible to measure directly08:25 The 3 signals that determine inbox vs spam17:35 Why high open rates can be fake23:44 The #1 mistake killing deliverability (segmentation)29:59 How to fix deliverability in 30 days33:24 What happens when you send too many emailsWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Most ecommerce brands obsess over conversion rate. But according to Dylan Ander, that’s the wrong metric to optimize.In this episode of the World's Best Email & Retention Podcast, Jordan sits down with Dylan Ander — founder of Heatmap.com and author of Billion Dollar Websites — to break down the psychology behind how people actually buy online.Dylan introduces his “Gator vs Judge” framework, a simple way to understand the two forces behind every purchase decision. The “Gator” is the fast, instinctive brain that wants to buy, while the “Judge” is the skeptical brain that introduces doubt, friction, and hesitation.If your website triggers the Judge too early, you lose the sale.If you design a Gator-friendly experience, customers move naturally toward purchase.We also dive into why some of the most common CRO advice may be outdated, including the belief that fewer clicks always lead to more conversions.In this episode, we cover:• The Gator vs Judge framework for ecommerce conversion • Why conversion rate can be a vanity metric • Why more pages visited can actually increase revenue • How to use heatmaps tied directly to revenue • Why your homepage might be your most important landing page • The difference between demographics and psychographics in ecommerce marketing • Why asking customers what they want is the fastest way to improve your site00:00 Why Email + CRO Drive the Fastest Ecommerce Revenue01:21 Meet Dylan Ander (Heatmap.com & Billion Dollar Websites)04:38 The “Choke Point” Framework for Website Conversion07:04 Why More Pages Visited Can Increase Revenue11:17 Using Revenue-Based Heatmaps to Improve CRO17:51 The Psychology of Headlines, Subject Lines, and Conversion22:26 The Gator vs Judge Framework for Ecommerce28:26 Why Your Homepage Might Be Your Best Landing PageWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

What changes when you run email every single day?In this episode of the World’s Best Email & Retention Podcast, Jordan Gordon sits down with Rebecca Knight from DTC Newsletter to break down the differences between running email for an ecommerce brand and operating a large daily newsletter.While ecommerce email programs rely on segmentation, automation flows, and purchase signals, newsletters operate under very different constraints. Rebecca explains how daily senders approach deliverability, testing, list hygiene, and engagement when opens and clicks are the primary signals available.They also discuss the systems behind running email at scale, including why every send is tested before going out, how a single bad link can hurt deliverability, and the process used to isolate issues when inbox placement drops.Topics covered include:• The biggest differences between ecommerce email and newsletters • Why daily newsletters require stricter deliverability discipline • How one bad link can tank an entire email send • The testing workflow behind high-frequency email programs • When to suppress or remove inactive subscribers • Why consistency builds reader habits and long-term engagement00:00 Introduction03:15 How the email landscape has changed in the past 5 years05:35 Ecommerce email vs newsletter email: completely different playbooks07:20 Why one bad link can tank your entire email send16:05 When to suppress or remove inactive subscribers24:05 Why consistency and habit matter for newsletter growthWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In this Segmentation Super Episode, Jordan Gordon breaks down the exact segmentation frameworks the Pilothouse retention team uses to drive more revenue from the customers you already have. If your Klaviyo account feels messy, underperforming, or overly broad, this is your reset.You’ll learn why bad segmentation quietly kills inbox placement, how to structure high-signal engagement windows, and the practical segment models you can build today to improve campaign performance. From lifecycle and recency to whales, cohorts, and discount behavior, this episode is packed with actionable systems you can implement immediately.Whether you're new to segmentation or looking to level up an already sophisticated program, this walkthrough gives you the playbook to send smarter and earn more from email and SMS.00:00 Introduction00:29 The #1 Klaviyo killer: bad segmentation03:18 Inboxing, engagement, and list hygiene fundamentals09:08 Core segmentation factors (recency, lifecycle, engagement, product, whales)24:12 Simple segmentation models you can build today38:17 SMS segmentation math and optimizationWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

How do you actually build an email audience in 2026 without burning your list or wrecking deliverability?In this episode, Jordan Gordon breaks down the math and mechanics behind sustainable audience growth. From unsubscribe modeling to engagement windows, this is a tactical walkthrough of how smart operators forecast list health and protect future revenue.If your list growth feels unpredictable (or worse, quietly shrinking), this episode shows you exactly what to measure and how to model what happens next.Inside the episode: • Why disengaged subscribers quietly kill future revenue • The simple formula that predicts email revenue with surprising accuracy • How unsubscribe rate compounds faster than most teams expect • Why campaigns alone won’t reactivate cold subscribers • The spreadsheet model that forecasts your list through Q4 2026 • How send frequency impacts both revenue per send and list healthEmail remains one of the most controllable growth channels in ecommerce — but only if you understand the mechanics behind it.00:00 Introduction00:40 The core truth about repeat buyers and email reach01:51 What still matters from the 2025 audience playbook05:39 Why reactivation requires evergreen engagement content09:01 The spreadsheet model to forecast your list growth13:26 The unsubscribe math most brands underestimateWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In Part 2 of this deep dive, Jordan breaks down how to attribute your post-click ecosystem without relying solely on platform reporting. From estimating CRO uplift to sizing Rebuy’s true contribution and pressure-testing retention performance, this episode walks through the math and the mindset operators need to understand where low-cost revenue is really coming from.In this episode:How to estimate CRO revenue impact using direct linear conversion rateTwo practical ways to measure Rebuy performanceWhy MER comparisons often mislead operatorsThe retention metrics that matter more than repeat rateHow to size each growth lever against total Shopify revenue00:00 — Why Post-Click Revenue Matters00:29 — Measuring Rebuy’s True Impact06:42 — How to Calculate CRO Revenue Uplift13:25 — Comparing Channel Revenue Rates14:49 — The Retention Metrics That Actually Matter30:22 — Final Framework and Key TakeawaysWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Most brands track repeat rate. I don’t.In this episode, Jordan breaks down the five customer retention metrics he actually uses to judge whether an email and SMS program is driving real business results — and the one popular metric he ignores entirely.Because the truth is: strong retention programs don’t always make your email metrics look better. In fact, sometimes open rates and click rates go down while revenue goes up.This episode covers how to measure what actually matters, including:Why repeat rate can send the wrong signals How to track repeat buyers year over year A leading indicator for second purchases and funnel health How to measure reactivation from “stale” customers What your active repeat buyer base says about long-term growthThe one “master metric” that shows if retention is driving incremental revenue00:00 — Introduction03:25 — The metric I don’t track: repeat rate (and why)04:54 — Metric #1: Repeat buyers year over year06:20 — Metric #2: Same-quarter repeat (a leading indicator)09:13 — Metric #3: Stale repeat buyers (95+ day gap)12:35 — Metric #4: Active repeat buyers as a share of your base15:31 — Metric #5: Repeat buyers as a share of incremental growth19:26 — What happens when retention starts driving the business21:19 — Final thoughts on measuring real retention impactWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Attribution doesn’t stop at ads.In this episode, we walk through how to measure the full post-click ecosystem (from email and SMS to CRO and retention) and how these channels work together to drive low-cost revenue.Jordan shares a practical model for evaluating channel impact beyond standard multi-touch attribution, why some of your most important revenue drivers get under-credited, and how to identify opportunities to improve marketing efficiency without spending more.If you’re trying to understand where your real growth is coming from, this is a foundational episode.#ecommerce #emailmarketing #retentionmarketing #attribution #digitalmarketing #dtc #pilothouse #cro #smsmarketing #shopifymarketing00:00 — Introduction00:50 — Defining the post-click ecosystem and how to think about it02:03 — What rising ad costs can reveal about your retention strategy08:22 — How multi-touch attribution fits into the bigger measurement picture19:03 — The 14-metric framework for evaluating your full ecosystemWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Email is still the most predictable revenue channel in ecommerce—but most brands don’t forecast it correctly.In this episode, Jordan Gordon breaks down a simple, highly accurate system for predicting your 2026 email revenue before the year even starts.You’ll learn how to model email revenue using six core components of a healthy email program, including campaigns, welcome flows, post-purchase, reactivation, and abandonment—without relying on gut instinct or vague growth assumptions.Jordan walks through the exact metrics to pull from Klaviyo and Shopify, how to apply top-of-funnel vs list-growth factors correctly, and why email revenue is far more controllable than paid media.#emailmarketing #emailrevenue #retentionmarketing #ecommercegrowth #klaviyo #customerretention #lifecyclemarketing #dtc00:00 Introduction00:59 How to predict your 2026 email revenue05:03 The two growth factors that drive email revenue09:19 The six core components of an email program12:43 Forecasting campaign revenue using revenue per email18:05 Predicting welcome flow revenue27:41 Modeling abandonment revenue from site sessions31:36 Applying list growth vs top-of-funnel growth correctlyWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

When email revenue drops, most teams guess. This episode shows how to diagnose it systematically.Jordan breaks down the two real drivers of email revenue decline: fewer emails sent and lower revenue per email sent — and walks through the exact hierarchy of metrics that explain what’s actually happening inside Klaviyo.You’ll learn how to:Identify whether the problem is frequency, send size, segmentation, or list healthUnderstand how segment mix and message mix impact revenueSeparate real performance issues from attribution noiseEvaluate inboxing, relevance, and engagement the right wayUse Shopify, Klaviyo, and attribution models to determine whether purchase behavior actually changed#EmailMarketing #Pilothouse #CustomerRetention #LifecycleMarketing #EmailAnalytics #Segmentation #MarketingAttribution #InboxDeliverability #EcommerceMarketing #DTC00:00 — Introduction01:00 — The only framework you need: emails sent vs revenue per email sent03:12 — The real reasons email volume declines05:33 — Segment mix: the silent lever behind performance10:48 — Tune-out vs opt-out: what’s actually shrinking your list15:40 — Why relevance and inboxing determine revenue per email26:34 — Attribution reality: when revenue falls but growth improvesWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Most brands look at the wrong email metrics.In this episode, Jordan explains how to build a real retention engine in 2026 by focusing on the numbers that actually drive growth: clicks, inbox health, segment performance, and list quality.You’ll get a simple dashboard framework you can set up in minutes to see exactly what’s happening inside your email program — and stop getting fooled by misleading attribution.If email is a big part of your revenue (or should be), this is a must-listen.#EmailMarketing #RetentionMarketing #EcommerceGrowth #MarketingMetrics #CustomerRetention #EmailAnalytics #DTC #EmailDeliverability #DataDrivenMarketing #MarketingPodcast00:00 – Introduction: Why Retention Beats Acquisition03:04 – The First Metric to Check06:52 – Start With Clicks, Not Revenue10:16 – When Lower Metrics Are a Good Sign14:08 – Tracking True List Growth23:19 – Inbox Health by Domain32:55 – Cleaning Up Underperforming AutomationsWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Advertising gets people to your site... But your site is what actually makes you money.In this episode, Jordan breaks down DEWALT’s ecommerce ecosystem to show what really happens after someone clicks an ad, an email, or a retargeting link. He walks through how DEWALT structures its homepage, category pages, PDPs, email program, and product discovery to turn awareness into revenue, not just traffic.You’ll see how DEWALT balances brand and performance, how their Site Funnels actually work in practice, and where email, CRO, and on-site merchandising fit into a modern post-click revenue engine. #EmailMarketing #RetentionMarketing #Ecommerce #DTC #CRO #ConversionRateOptimization #PostClickMarketing #CustomerRetention #Klaviyo #ProductDiscovery #EmailStrategy #LifecycleMarketing #Shopify #EcommerceGrowth #MarketingPodcast #PerformanceMarketing #DigitalMarketing #BrandMarketing #EcommerceStrategy #CustomerExperience00:00 – Introduction01:00 – Why DEWALT’s ecosystem works04:33 – The “car vs gas” model for ecommerce09:23 – How DEWALT structures its homepage12:16 – How DEWALT uses email for product discovery18:00 – Why homepage order controls conversion28:14 – Category pages that actually sell33:02 – How PDPs should handle upsells and bundles40:16 – Where DEWALT leaves money on the table43:42 – DEWALT vs Makita: brand site vs ecommerce site47:02 – What to steal for your own siteWork with Pilothouse: ⁠⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast⁠Subscribe to DTC: ⁠⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In Site Funnels 2.0, Jordan breaks down how product discovery actually works when you have hundreds, thousands, or even millions of SKUs.This episode is the follow-up to Site Funnels 1.0, shifting from hero-product funnels to the long-tail reality of mega-catalog brands. You’ll learn how to use email, dynamic merchandising, and just 12 digital assets to turn browsing into buying at scale, without spending more on ads.Jordan walks through two discovery funnels, how to use email as a shoppable landing page, and why most brands are massively underusing their biggest revenue engine: their existing traffic and subscribers.#EmailMarketing #EcommerceMarketing #RetentionMarketing #ProductDiscovery #PostClickOptimization #CustomerJourney #LifecycleMarketing #Klaviyo #Shopify #DTC #DirectToConsumer #DigitalMerchandising #ConversionRateOptimization #CRO #GrowthMarketing #RevenueGrowth #MarketingStrategy #CustomerRetention #LongTailEconomy #MarketingPodcast00:00 — Introduction01:00 — “Double your revenue with no ad cost” and the 12-asset funnel idea03:10 — The difference between manageable-SKU brands and mega-SKU brands05:31 — Low-intent vs high-intent traffic and how funnels are split10:23 — How email triples your product discovery at-bats (with real brand data)15:17 — Funnel 1: using five recommendation emails to power discovery23:17 — Funnel 2: turning category browsing into high-intent revenue41:39 — Why doubling conversion rate beats buying more trafficWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In this episode, Jordan breaks down Site Funnels 1.0, a post-click revenue system designed to turn traffic, email, and organic visitors into low-cost, compounding revenue. You’ll learn how the world’s best ecommerce teams think about funnels, choke points, and psychological progression across the site and why improving conversion rate is often the fastest way to grow without increasing ad spend.Jordan walks through how visitors move from homepage to category pages to product pages to checkout, how to identify the moments that control revenue, and how to design funnels for both qualified and unqualified traffic. Hashtags:#ecommerce #cro #conversionrateoptimization #dtc #shopify #emailmarketing #retentionmarketing #growthmarketing #onlinestore #digitalmarketing #funnelmarketing #performancecommerce #customerjourney #postclick #ecommercestrategy Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Why a 0.5% conversion rate destroys revenue02:29 – Ads create awareness, websites create revenue11:27 – The four stages every site must solve20:15 – The two-minute rule for conversions32:28 – The five site funnels that drive ecommerce revenue49:41 – Why PDPs are the real revenue engineWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In this episode of the World’s Best Email Retention Podcast, Jordan breaks down real buyer data to show which customers truly drive email and retention revenue, and which ones don’t.Using a simple but powerful buyer-group framework (recent vs. stale, first-time vs. repeat), Jordan unpacks why email doesn’t chase the same dollar as ads, why most campaign revenue comes from buyers ads no longer influence, and why optimizing email metrics alone can lead brands to miss their most additive revenue.#EmailRetention #CustomerLifecycle #EcommerceOperators #DTCBrands #RetentionStrategy #EmailROI #ShopifyBrands #MarketingAnalytics #GrowthMarketing00:00 – Why retention, not acquisition, defines efficient growth01:29 – Email metrics vs. the real retention source of truth02:10 – The two models every operator needs to understand retention06:31 – The buyer framework that explains where email revenue comes from19:08 – Why email monetizes customers ads no longer reach24:26 – The revenue impact of stale repeat buyersWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Conversion rate optimization is not a “nice to have.” It is the most reliable way to increase profit without increasing spend.In this episode, Jordan breaks down the financial case for CRO using a simple, realistic model that compares three paths: holding steady, scaling ad spend, and improving site conversion. The results are clear. Spending more on ads can reduce margin, while improving conversion rate increases revenue, efficiency, and profit at the same time.You’ll learn why brands should maximize low-cost, owned revenue first, how CRO impacts MER, ROI, and margin, and why advertising should support owned traffic growth, not replace it. Jordan also walks through where CRO fits in the broader ecommerce stack, from site fundamentals and email to paid media and awareness channels.#ecommerce #conversionrateoptimization #cro #emailmarketing #retentionmarketing #ownedmedia #dtc #digitalmarketing #pilothouse #dtcnewsletter #dtcpodcast00:00 Introduction00:59 The financial case for CRO explained03:38 Ads vs CRO: the spreadsheet comparison08:31 How scaling ad spend can reduce margin10:28 Why CRO dramatically improves ROI and efficiency15:45 The real purpose of advertisingWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Black Friday is the biggest stress test of your email system, and this year delivered some clear winners. In this episode, Jordan breaks down the real tactics that moved revenue: odd-hour sends, plain-text power plays, mystery-angle subject lines, triple taps (and when a pentatap might make sense), plus where revenue actually came from across engaged, unengaged, prospects, and buyers.#emailmarketing #ecommerce #dtc #retentionmarketing #pilothouse #blackfriday #marketingstrategy #q400:00 — Introduction00:28 — Inboxing Is Getting Harder01:00 — Subject Line Mystery vs Clarity02:40 — Odd-Hour Sending Wins03:10 — Why Plain Text Performs06:05 — Triple Taps: What We Saw10:58 — Penta Taps: Use With Caution14:03 — Where Black Friday Revenue Actually Came FromWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Most 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 #ShopifyBrands00:00 — 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 Build Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In this quick 12-minute episode, Jordan breaks down the 10 essential checks every brand should make before launching their BFCM emails. From segmentation cleanup to triple-tapping safely to avoiding coupon-code errors that kill conversions, this is your last-minute guide to protecting inboxing and maximizing revenue on the biggest email day of the year.You’ll learn: • The segmentation fixes that instantly reduce spam risk • How to double-tap and triple-tap without hurting deliverability • Why “send only to non-openers” is dangerous • How to set abandoned flows for BFCM week • The right way to test subject lines on Black Friday • How to safely expand your list size using incremental sends • The universal site banner setup every brand should have live#emailmarketing #ecommercemarketing #dtc #bfcm #blackfriday2025 #retentionmarketing #klaviyo #deliverability #cro #dtcnewsletter #twberp #marketingpodcast Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Email might be the oldest channel in the digital stack, but it’s never been more complicated. In this episode, Jordan sits down with Benny Rubin (CEO of senders.co) and deliverability expert Omer to get straight answers to the questions brands never get clear guidance on.From engagement windows, static send sizes, and domain reputation to inboxing myths, blacklists, warming strategies, ESP limitations, and how Gmail/Yahoo actually judge your sends, this is a full deliverability deep dive.If you’ve ever wondered why your campaigns suddenly tanked, why one ESP rejects more than another, or whether you should really be sending to that wider window… this episode is for you.#EmailMarketing #Deliverability #Klaviyo #RetentionMarketing #EcommerceMarketing #LifecycleMarketing #InboxPlacement #Sendersco #DTCMarketing #MarketingPodcast00:00 — Introduction04:01 — The Real Triggers Behind Deliverability Crises10:20 — Engagement Windows & Why Opens Aren’t What You Think16:29 — Why Some Domains Play by Different Rules24:14 — The Truth About “Delivered” vs. SMTP Reality35:19 — Static Send Size: How Much Variance Is Safe?42:57 — Should Segments Be Combined to Save Inboxing?Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast