Podcasts about customer acquisition

Monday has been hit harder than almost any other public SaaS company. With $1.3BN in ARR, the company is valued at just $3.8BN; a more than 60% fall since IPO. Today, Eran Zinman, Monday's CEO joins Harry Stebbings in the hotseat to walkthrough six of the biggest threats to Monday's business; what is real, what is not and what are the unknowns.  AGENDA: 05:47 Six Threats Monday Faces Today  07:04 Threat #1: Vibe Coding: Will Companies Vibe Code Everything 11:24 Threat #2: Will OpenAI and Anthropic Own the Application Layer  13:52 Threat #3: Will Agents Turn Monday and Salesforce into a Database 18:43 Why is Monday Adding 15% Headcount When Everyone is Cutting? 21:40 How Monday is Using AI to be More Efficient 27:49 What Happens to Seat Pricing? What Comes Next? 34:17 What No One Sees About Enterprise AI Adoption 37:13 How Google AI Overview Smashed 10% of our Customer Acquisition 38:49 If Bullish on Monday, Why Has Eran Not Bought More Stock… 40:38 How to Manage Internal Morale When Stock is Down 60% 44:08 Do Private Companies Have Advantages Public Companies Do Not Have 47:28 With $1.5BN in Cash, Why is Eran Not Buying More Companies… 53:30 What is the Most Offensive Bet Eran Would Like to Take? 57:13 Quickfire: Marriage, Biggest Short, Mentors  

This episode explores the future of search and digital discoverability with an experienced SEO executive and growth advisor who has worked with high-growth marketplaces and SaaS companies. The conversation unpacks how the mechanics of online discovery are being reshaped by AI, shifting user behavior, and the declining reliability of traditional traffic channels. Together, we examine why visibility is no longer just a marketing function but a product and experience challenge — where trust, intent, and usefulness determine whether users discover and choose a product. The discussion also covers how teams should rethink SEO from a tactical ranking exercise into a strategic growth capability, what durable acquisition looks like today, and how organizations can adapt their playbooks to stay relevant as search continues to evolve.

In this episode, host Brad Banyas interviews Collin Stewart, CEO of Predictable Revenue, to discuss the evolution of outbound sales, the role of AI in sales outreach, and the importance of understanding product-market fit. Colin shares insights from his new book, 'The Terrifying Art of Finding Customers', emphasizing the need for more authentic relationships in sales and the iterative process of product development. The conversation highlights the shift towards relationship-first prospecting and the long-term thinking necessary for business success.About Collin Stewart:Collin Stewart is a seasoned entrepreneur and sales expert with over a decade of experience in B2B sales development. In 2012, he co-founded voltageCRM, an experience he often cites as a pivotal learning moment. Despite building a high-quality tool, the venture struggled because it lacked true product-market fit. This "failed" startup served as the catalyst for his deep dive into customer development and outbound sales methodology, leading him to co-found Carb.io in 2013, which successfully scaled from zero to $1 million in revenue in just a matter of months.Today, Collin serves as the CEO of Predictable Revenue, where he helps B2B organizations build repeatable, scalable sales development teams and robust go-to-market strategies. He is also the host of the Predictable Revenue Podcast, having interviewed hundreds of industry experts on the nuances of modern sales. Expanding on his years of hands-on experience, Collin authored The Terrifying Art of Finding Customers, a practical guide designed for "sleep-deprived founders" navigating the chaos of early-stage growth. In the book, he demystifies the process of securing the first critical customers by emphasizing the importance of active listening, validating product-market fit, and bridging the gap between customer development and a repeatable revenue engine.Collin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinstewart/Collin's Newsletter: https://foundersedition.co/Collin's Podcast: https://predictablerevenue.com/podcasts/Grab a copy of his book: https://www.amazon.com/Terrifying-Art-Finding-Customers-Sleep-Deprived/dp/1774586134

Wade Tonkin is the Director of Global Affiliate Marketing at Fanatics, Inc., where he oversees one of the largest and most complex affiliate programs in the world. With over 20 years of experience in performance marketing, he has played a key role in shaping Fanatics' global partner ecosystem, driving growth through content creators, media publishers, loyalty partners, and innovative performance channels.This episode dives deep into the evolution of affiliate marketing at massive scale. The conversation spans growth levers beyond the traditional affiliate playbook—ranging from content partnerships, media integrations, sports‑driven real‑time demand, coupon ecosystem shifts, loyalty dynamics, influencer performance trends, incrementality measurement, BNPL behavioral changes, AI's emerging role in affiliate operations, transparency challenges with subnetworks, and experiments in compensation modeling. It also includes personal touches: international travel, hiking adventures, and the guest's surprising hobby as a certified bourbon steward.

Paula Macaggi sits down in New York with Renée Federico, Head of Marketing at Primark US, to explore how one of Europe's most iconic retail brands is accelerating its growth across America. From launching Primark's first US brand campaign to building awareness in a store-led model, Renée shares how physical retail drives loyalty, how pop-ups and brand activations fuel customer acquisition, and why listening is the foundation of great marketing. The conversation also looks ahead to one of the most anticipated retail openings, Primark's flagship store in Manhattan in 2026, and what it takes to scale a global value fashion brand in one of the world's most competitive markets.

In this episode of Always Be Testing, host Tye DeGrange is joined by Cormac Jonas, CEO and Founder of The Jonas Agency, for a deep dive into what's actually broken in modern performance marketing. With years of experience across affiliate, paid media, and creator-led growth, Cormac brings a sharp perspective on why so many brands are optimizing campaigns while ignoring the bigger problem: flawed measurement.The conversation unpacks how misattribution, last-click bias, and platform incentives distort ROI, using the recent Honey browser extension controversy as a real-world example of how value gets misassigned across channels. They explore why TikTok and YouTube reshaped high-intent demand, how AI, CTV, and programmatic traffic are inflating “performance” metrics, and why owning an audience now matters more than owning traffic. This episode is a candid look at where affiliate and performance marketing are heading — and what brands need to fix before scaling spend.

Paula Macaggi sits down with Ankur Goyal, SVP of Growth at Coterie, to explore how a premium, subscription-first brand can win in one of the most competitive and emotional consumer categories: baby care. They unpack how trust is built when product, brand, and customer experience work together, why messaging matters more than channels, and how Coterie balances performance marketing with long-term brand building. From controlling customer acquisition costs and prioritizing quality over quantity, to using service and personalization to drive retention, this conversation reveals what modern DTC growth really looks like and what comes next for the brand following its recent acquisition.

In this episode of Always Be Testing, host Tye DeGrange sits down with Guillaume Cabane, Founder of HyperGrowth Partners and one of the earliest leaders to shape modern B2B SaaS growth.Guillaume breaks down why most companies struggle to scale—not because they lack tools or talent, but because they're unwilling to embrace the speed, risk, and failure real growth requires. The conversation unpacks what actually defines a growth team, why experimentation must move faster than polish, and how founders often sabotage growth by demanding results without accepting uncertainty.They also explore where AI is genuinely creating leverage in B2B today, why SDRs haven't been fully replaced, and how trust, culture, and incentives shape whether growth teams succeed or stall.This episode is a practical, no-fluff look at what it really takes to build growth systems that scale in B2B SaaS.

My guest today is ⁠Gokul Rajaram⁠, Founding Partner at Marathon Management. Gokul is one of the most prolific product builders and investors of the last twenty years. He has built the core ad and product businesses at Google, Facebook, Square, and DoorDash, working at each company during its most formative scaling periods. Alongside his operating career, Gokul has invested in more than 700 companies, giving him an unusually broad view into how products are built and scaled. This conversation is about how product building is changing with AI. We discuss the one thing Gokul believes is truly future-proof in AI, why companies like Zendesk and Slack are more exposed than Salesforce or NetSuite, and the only sources of defensibility.  We also talk about everything Gokul has learned from helping build the most important ads businesses, including the only three ways an ad business can make money, how those constraints shape product decisions, and what consumer behavior change threatens every major platform. Gokul shares lessons from working closely with Larry and Sergey, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and Tony Xu. Please enjoy my conversation with Gokul Rajaram. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Ramp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ramp.com/invest⁠⁠ to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Vanta⁠. Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Visit ⁠vanta.com/invest⁠.  ----- This episode is brought to you by ⁠Rogo⁠. Rogo is an AI-powered platform that automates accounts payable workflows, enabling finance teams to process invoices faster and with greater accuracy. Learn more at ⁠Rogo.ai/invest⁠. ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠ ⁠WorkOS⁠⁠. WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. Visit⁠ ⁠WorkOS.com⁠⁠ to transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ridgeline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ridgelineapps.com⁠. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Timestamps (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:00:53) Meet Gokul Rajaram (00:02:05) How Product Development is Changing with AI (00:07:32) Philosophy of Product Management (00:10:19) What is Future-Proof in AI Era (00:11:25) Building AI Applications Today (00:15:03) Systems of Record vs Agent Companies (00:16:58) Which Legacy Software Companies Are Most Exposed (00:22:15) Stickiness in the AI Era (00:24:10) Learning from Larry Page and Sergey Brin (00:28:15) Learning from Mark Zuckerberg (00:31:31) Learning from Jack Dorsey (00:35:40) The Art of Great Product Design (00:36:49) Weekly CEO Communication (00:40:27) Three Ways to Succeed in Advertising (00:44:27) What Should Scare Major Ad Platforms (00:48:24) North Star Metrics (00:50:09) Self-Serve Products (00:54:50) Careers in the AI Era (00:59:03) Stay Long Enough to Have Impact (01:00:10) Founder Authenticity and Superpowers (01:02:21) Navigating the Idea Maze (01:03:42) Role of Boards (01:06:31) Excellence in Customer Acquisition  (01:09:11) The Kindest Thing 

Today's episode of the Punk CX podcast is with Joel Kellhofer, CEO of SignWow, which offers business BSL solutions, including Video Relay Service & Video Remote Interpreting, to make services accessible to Deaf customers. We talk about Joel's background and experiences as a Deaf founder, some of the everyday communication barriers Deaf people face in public services, healthcare, hospitality, and retail, why brands often don't design experiences that work for everyone, what they should be doing differently, and how SignWow can help. We finish off with some advice for brands looking to build standout, inclusive customer experiences, Joel's Punk CX brand, and his very own good news story. Note: Now, I should point out that today's episode is a little different. Given that Joel is deaf, we are joined by his colleague, Emma McQuillan, Chief Interpreting Officer (CIO) at SignWow, who will be interpreting for us in real time. What I should also point out for those of you watching the video version of this podcast or listening to the audio version, you'll experience some pauses after I ask my questions as Joel and Emma communicate via sign language before Emma answers the questions on Joel's behalf. I hope that makes sense. This interview follows on from my recent interview – From product-led innovation to a service-led experience model – Interview with Deborah Honig of Samsung UK & Ireland – and is number 571 in the series of interviews with authors and business leaders who are doing great things, providing valuable insights, helping businesses innovate and delivering great service and experience to both their customers and their employees.

 It's a goal of every business owner and often a large expense - acquiring more customers! Additionally, once you get them, how do you ensure retention? Matt Simmons, co-founder of Curbside Laundries, shares tips and tricks he's learned from his background in marketing and the data from their many clients. This is an episode of The Laundromat Millionaire Show every business owner won't want to miss! Also, stay tuned for a peek into the Curbside 2026 Conference!Referenced Links: Our Guest's Links: Conference Link:   https://www.curbsidelaundries.com/conference/Curbside Software: https://www.curbsidelaundries.com/Laundry 'Matt' Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/curbsidelaundriesX:  https://x.com/CurbsideAppInstaGram:    https://www.instagram.com/curbsidelaundries/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CurbsideLaundriesOur Sponsors: H-M Company Drain Troughs: https://www.draintroughs.com & LaundroBoost: https://laundroboostmarketing.comOur Website: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.comOur Online Course: https://dave-menz.mykajabi.com/sales-pageOur Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/LaundromatMillionaireOur Podcast: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/podcast/Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laundromatmillionaireOur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-laundromat-millionaire-menz/Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our laundromats: https://www.queencitylaundry.comOur pick-up and delivery laundry services: https://www.queencitylaundry.com/deliveryOur WDF & Delivery Workshop: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/pick-up-delivery-workshop/Suggested Services Page: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.com/servicesWDF & Delivery Dynamics: A Complete Business Blueprint: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/wdf-delivery-dynamics-a-business-blueprint/The Laundromat Millionaire Insurance Program: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/insurance/Alex Bloom on Curbside: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nogsyKKV7jgEpisode on Commercial Accounts: https://youtu.be/bRP1ox4SX2gWebinar on Growing Revenue: https://get.curbsidelaundries.com/webinar/Timestamps 00:00 Episode 113 Intro – Matt Simmons01:29 Spotlight: Dave AI Coaching5:13 Matt's Entrance into the Laundry Industry10:13 Starting Wash-Dry-Fold POS11:51 Matt's Laundromat Operations13:33 Learning from Others in the Industry to Speed Growth15:41 First Curbside Laundry Conference18:28 Laundry Industry Trends23:24 Customer Acquisition Costs31:38 Importance of Retargeting34:19 Auto-Route Fill Up42:50 Growth of Pickup & Delivery Laundry Services44:37 Commercial Laundry Trends & OPL Facilities48:27 Speakers for Curbside 2026 Conference56:39 Matt's Links & Final Thoughts 

In this episode of Always Be Testing, Tye DeGrange sits down with Ziggy Kopetti, a veteran affiliate marketing operator and platform founder who has spent years working inside the mechanics of performance marketing—from attribution and partner incentives to how networks and platforms actually make money.The conversation explores how affiliate programs really scale, where brands commonly misjudge incentives, and why many performance issues are self-inflicted by poor structure rather than bad partners. Ziggy breaks down the economic realities behind affiliate platforms, how creators and publishers think about risk and reward, and why transparency and alignment matter more than tooling alone. The episode also touches on where affiliate marketing is headed, what brands misunderstand about creator partnerships, and how short-term optimization often creates long-term trust problems.

In this emergency episode of Always Be Testing, I'm joined by Ben Edelman—an economist, lawyer, and one of the most respected affiliate fraud investigators in the industry. Ben has spent over two decades uncovering adware abuse, browser extension misconduct, and attribution fraud, working with merchants, networks, and publishers to protect the integrity of affiliate marketing.We break down what actually happened with the Honey browser extension, why multiple affiliate networks removed it, and why this case is fundamentally different from past controversies. Ben explains how affiliate attribution is supposed to work, how “stand down” rules came to exist, and how Honey allegedly bypassed those rules by intentionally concealing violations from testers and networks. We also discuss the real impact on content publishers, review sites, and the broader ecosystem—and why concealment, not just rule-breaking, changes the legal and ethical stakes. This episode is a deep, technical, but essential conversation for anyone who cares about transparency, trust, and accountability in partner marketing.

The Value of LTV:CAC Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. The Lifetime Value to Cost of Customer Acquisition ratio is called LTV:CAC and is a useful ratio in determining the health of a startup. To calculate the Lifetime value, take the monthly revenue and divide by the churn rate. To calculate the Cost of Customer Acquisition, take the number of new customers for a month and divide by the cost of sales and marketing for that month. Compare the LTV to CAC to determine the ratio. The ratio must be at least 3:1 to prove the business viable. The higher the LTV:CAC, the higher the gross margins and profit margins. This provides a greater reinvestment rate into the business. Investors place a higher valuation on startups with higher LTV:CAC ratios. SaaS businesses often have a 5:1 LTV:CAC, which comes from the recurring revenue. SaaS businesses at the Series A level often have a 7:1 LTV:CAC. The higher the multiple, the higher the growth rate for the company. Check the LTV:CAC rate of a startup to determine its growth prospects. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

MANSCAPED, the men's grooming brand that pioneered below-the-belt care, sold out its first product in two weeks and scaled to $300 million in just three years. Founder Paul Tran shares how rapid iteration, customer feedback, and a razor-sharp focus turned a taboo idea into a global brand.For more on MANSCAPED and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

In year one, Crayola launched a global initiative expecting to engage about 500,000 kids. Instead, more than 2 million participated. Five years later, that same initiative now engages over 17 million kids across more than 120 countries. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the brand strategy and customer acquisition approach behind that scale with Crayola's Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they explore how the brand designed a global initiative rooted in inclusive marketing principles — and how focusing on engagement across the customer journey became a powerful engine for building trust, relationships, and long-term growth. You'll hear how Crayola: Used brand strategy to design a global initiative that scales year over year Approached customer acquisition through participation, not promotion Built an ecosystem across products, experiences, and content Applied inclusive marketing to engage diverse audiences worldwide This conversation offers a clear lesson for modern brands: sustainable growth comes from engaging customers throughout the journey — not just reaching them once. If you're curious how other billion-dollar brands are driving growth in today's market, I've linked my Billion-Dollar Brands Roadmap in the show notes. It breaks down the strategies leading brands are using to build relevance, trust, and loyalty at scale. - www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmap Crayola Creativity Week 2026 - https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

Dana Roberts spent years watching fifth-grade girls panic through their first periods with ill-fitting products and no preparation. The period care aisle hadn't changed in decades. Same brands. Same sizing that was never designed for a 10-year-old's body. When she pitched the idea to her god-sister, Dr. Monica Williams, she got a polite brush-off. Years later, Monica's own daughter started showing signs of puberty, and suddenly the problem wasn't theoretical anymore.What followed was a brutal education in bootstrapping: churning through agencies, surviving iOS 14.5, and funding an entire company through pitch competitions because traditional VCs wouldn't write checks. Last year, a three-minute pitch won them $1 million from Pharrell Williams. Then Ulta told them to change their name if they wanted shelf space. They did it in 90 days.Now Scarlet by RedDrop is in almost 400 stores trying to fix something the industry ignored for generations. We talked about all of it, including the part where Monica says she wishes she'd never bootstrapped at all.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSScarlet by RedDrop: tryreddrop.comUlta product page: ulta.com/brand/scarlet-by-reddropBlack Ambition Prize: blackambitionprize.comKlaviyo: klaviyo.comSmart Marketer: smartmarketer.comWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

We joke about founders wearing many hats, but that metaphor misses the point. It's not about swapping accessories—it's about growing entirely new heads, each with its own brain that thinks, speaks, and prioritizes differently. In this episode, I explore why the transition from consulting or agency work to software entrepreneurship is so disorienting, and why the instincts that made you successful before might be the exact things preventing success now. From the uncomfortable truth about acquisition in low-touch SaaS to the cognitive dissonance of believing in yourself while questioning everything you know, this is about what it really takes to become someone new while staying grounded in who you've always been.This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.comThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/many-heads-not-many-hats-the-founders-identity-crisis/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/many-heads-not-many-hats-the-founders-identity-crisisCheck out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

How Tom Aulet built Ergatta into a profitable fitness brand with $35M raised, gamified workouts, and lean, cost-effective growth.For more on Ergatta and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Growing a pool service business comes down to clear choices and honest math: buy a route, build organically, or blend both. Each path has tradeoffs in cash, time, and risk. Buying through a trusted broker can deliver instant revenue and a safety net, but it requires real capital and commitment. Building through ads and local outreach can be cheaper per account, but it demands relentless effort and tight tracking. The right choice depends on your market's competition, your cash access, and how quickly you need dependable monthly revenue.Route purchases can be a smart investment when you treat them like an asset, not a gamble. Most brokered routes trade near 12 times monthly billing, which implies a one-year payback if retention holds. You're not waiting a year to see money—cash flow starts day one—but mentally assigning that revenue to repay the purchase keeps you disciplined. Brokers add value with short safety periods and seller training, which matters when some sellers vanish after closing. If you finance with a home equity line of credit, understand you're “all in.” Buying a partial route can de-risk your entry, letting you learn which pools to keep, which to swap, and how to manage density without overextending.We share a practical roadmap to grow a pool service business with real numbers, clear tradeoffs, and field-tested plays. From buying a partial route to building a referral engine and partnering with builders, we map the paths that scale without wasting cash.• when buying a route makes sense and why broker safety nets matter• financing realities, payback math, and retention risks• organic growth via Google Ads, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, and Thumbtack• door hangers and targeted mailers that lower cost per account• market differences that favor partial route purchases• referral rewards that convert and sustain growth• builder partnerships and NPC startup methods for easy wins• simple metrics for route density, churn, and marginsJoin the pool guy coaching program. Get expert advice, business tiSend us a textSupport the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBAPool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y

Natalia Chappell is the founder of Natalia Chappell & Co, a UK-based consultancy helping luxury and lifestyle brands scale sustainably. Previously, she led marketing for THG's luxury division, working with brands like Coach and Ralph Lauren across price points from hundreds to thousands of pounds.In this episode of DTC Pod, Natalia breaks down what it really takes for US brands to win in the UK—and why so many get it wrong. She shares the full-funnel mistakes she sees premium brands make over and over, why some household US names thrived in Britain while others quietly retreated, and what's actually driving results on Meta right now. She also gets into how to connect with younger consumers who think differently about spending, and why the old playbook of polished content isn't cutting it anymore. Plus, her journey from corporate marketing leader to female founder, and what she wishes more people understood about building a business as a woman.Episode brought to you by StordInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Lessons from high-growth UK e-commerce brands 2. Creating sustainable, holistic marketing strategies3. Using data and analytics to drive channel mix decisions4. Optimizing for paid and organic synergy5. Landing page and website audit best practices6. UGC, influencer, and creator partnership frameworks7. Onboarding and managing creators for conversion and brand fit8. Navigating UK logistics, customs, and local expectations9. How to adapt brand voice and content for UK consumer10. UK cultural moments and how to plan campaigns around them11. Success stories (Drunk Elephant, Ralph Lauren, Coach) and why some US brands flop12. Digital-first approaches to brand building13. Upcoming trends—partnership ads, authentic content, and Gen Z consumers14. Supporting and growing as a female founder in e-commerceTimestamps00:00 Introduction to DTC POD and episode with Natalia Chappell01:18 Natalia's background: fashion, digital marketing, luxury brand experience03:26 Lessons learned building luxury and beauty e-commerce teams05:16 Becoming a female founder and launching Natalia Chappell & Co07:22 The type and scale of brands Natalia's agency works with09:07 Optimizing paid-to-organic mix for sustainable growth12:12 Data, analytics, and the importance of first-party data integrity13:33 Why understanding inventory and offer depth matters before scaling ads16:26 Building a marketing flywheel that feeds itself18:50 Audience segmentation, CRM, and conversion optimization20:08 Attribution modeling and keeping data integrations clean22:29 Organic growth: auditing website, SEO, landing pages, and reviews24:03 Content strategy: authentic UGC, influencers, and the UK market26:58 Equipping creators for conversion, not just reach29:25 Structuring affiliate and creator programs, commissioning vs. flat fees33:01 Logistics: Warehousing, customs, and UK delivery expectations36:54 Adapting voice, copy, and calendar to resonate in the UK38:34 Brand case studies: Drunk Elephant, Coach, Ralph Lauren41:09 Why some US brands struggle in the UK (Forever 21, etc.)44:21 Trends to watch: partnership ads, content authenticity, Gen Z targeting47:25 Where to find and connect with Natalia ChappellShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokNatalia Chappell - Founder of Natalia Chappell & Co.Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Nick talks to Allan Dib, author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan and Lean Marketing, about the power of simplification in marketing and business growth, particularly for those with seven- to eight-figure businesses.  Allan shares his core philosophy, the structure of his 9-box marketing plan, and the importance of focusing on a "rich life" by design. KEY TAKEAWAYS Simplification is crucial in marketing, as complexity often hampers execution and leads to procrastination. Allan's 1-Page Marketing Plan is a 9-box framework that simplifies the entire customer journey. Focus on specialisation (niching) and avoid the temptation to widen your market, as being highly specialised allows you to charge more, resonate better with customers, and communicate with higher precision. The only two marketing metrics that truly matter are Cost of Customer Acquisition (CoCA) and Lifetime Value (LTV). All other metrics are merely tools to help troubleshoot or optimise these two primary figures. Convert customers by delivering a world-class experience and orchestrate referrals by making the referrer look good, which creates positive goodwill and brand equity for your business. BEST MOMENTS "My role in simplification is to simplify the complex." "The only two metrics that really, really matter are your Cost of Customer Acquisition and Lifetime Value." "If you do the first parts of your marketing right, sales becomes so easy and frictionless." "How do we get to that rich life, how do we live a life that's essentially awesome?" VALUABLE RESOURCES Exclusive offer for SCALE UP listeners! Level up your marketing with The 1PMP Architect, a free tool by Allan Dib that builds your custom marketing plan. Access it here: leanmarketing.com/scaleup  Allan Dib on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/allandib Allan Dib on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/allandib/?hl=en Lean Marketing With Allan Dib on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeanMarketingOfficial To get your copy of Nick's new book, go to http://bit.ly/4ngC2hO Exit Your Business For Millions - Download This Guide: https://go.highvalueexit.com/opt-in Nick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley Nick Bradley is a world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert, who works with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to build, scale and sell high-value companies. He spent 10+ years working in Private Equity, where he oversaw 100+ acquisitions, 26 exits, and over $5 Billion in combined value created. He has one of the top-ranked business podcasts in the UK (with over 1m downloads in over 130 countries). He now spends his time coaching and consulting business owners in building and scaling high-value business towards life-changing exits. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, we'll talk through how you'll find customers in-person. This is the single most important acquisition tool for early-stage founders, and there's no excuse - any business targeting any customer can do it. We use a few Tacklebox examples and give you a framework to make it happen.  Tacklebox CODE "HOLIDAY2025" for 50% off month one)Tacklebox Sunday EmailsTally (online form builder)Timestamps:00:45 Your In-Person Growth Strategy Intro01:30 Cropped04:20 For the People Who Can't Do In-Person05:26 Your In-Person Acquisition Plan: A Date Wingman07:34 Places to Find Hard to Find Customers09:54 The Script11:42 The Media12:32 The End

In this episode, I get the chance to sit down with Jen Goodwin, a powerhouse with 17 years of experience driving growth across e-commerce and affiliate marketing. Jen has helped scale some of the biggest brands in the space and played a major role in two successful exits — the acquisition of Coupons.com (Quotient) and Honey's $4B sale to PayPal.She's worked at every level of an organization, mentoring new talent, partnering with the C-suite, and leading teams through transformation and growth. Today, she co-leads Hi Energy Agency, where she helps publishers scale faster through smarter affiliate partnerships and more efficient monetization strategies across major networks.Our conversation digs into what real leadership looks like inside high-growth environments — the tough decisions, the clarity required, the importance of operational discipline, and the mindset shifts that separate good teams from great ones. Jen brings a level of honesty and practical insight that operators will immediately recognize and appreciate.

In this conversation, Kevin Johnson interviews Charles McCarthy, a welding business owner who shares his journey from starting a small welding operation to managing a large fabrication company. Charles discusses the importance of keeping processes in-house to maintain quality and timelines, the challenges of scaling his business, and the strategies he employs for customer acquisition and hiring. He emphasizes the lessons learned from mistakes made along the way and his vision for future growth. In this conversation, Charles McCarthy shares his journey from a welding job to becoming a successful business owner. He discusses the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of building the right team, and the lessons learned from experience. He emphasizes the need for effective management, the significance of understanding customer needs, and the thrill of continuous improvement in business processes. The discussion also touches on common mistakes made by small business owners in the welding industry and highlights a unique success story involving hand sanitizer stands during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this conversation, Charles McCarthy shares his experiences of building a business during a crisis, navigating the challenges of selling on Amazon, and the importance of automation and technology in driving business growth. He emphasizes the need for data-driven decision-making and the impact of investing in the right tools and processes to enhance efficiency and profitability.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Overview of Charles' Business03:01 Charles' Journey into Welding and Business Growth07:20 Scaling the Business: From Garage to 21,000 Square Feet10:38 Team Dynamics and In-House Processes14:02 Customer Acquisition and Reputation Management19:00 Challenges of In-House Operations and Learning Experiences25:21 Hiring Practices and Employee Growth32:00 Future Aspirations and Business Vision41:13 From Welding to Business Owner44:15 The Sprint to Business Independence46:46 Navigating Growth Challenges49:55 Building the Right Team54:21 Key Roles for a Small Shop01:01:24 Learning from Experience01:04:47 Managing Expectations and Emotions01:07:45 The Thrill of Business Ownership01:12:26 Common Mistakes in the Welding Business01:17:56 The Hand Sanitizer Stand Success01:23:17 Building a Business During Crisis01:28:01 Navigating Amazon's Marketplace Challenges01:33:42 Automation and Estimation in Business01:45:09 Investing in Technology for Growth01:51:09 Data-Driven Decision Making

In this episode of Always Be Testing, I sit down with Howard Schaffer — a 25-year performance marketing leader, former CMO and VP across major wellness, fitness, and tech brands, and now the founder of HOS Performance — for a deep dive into what really holds companies back from scaling. Howard and I unpack why so many teams are still operating on shaky data foundations, from broken UTM structures to inaccurate attribution and reporting gaps, and he shares the exact diagnostic framework he uses when he steps into an organization. We talk about what every new CMO should evaluate in their first 30–60 days, how to assess channel performance without bias, and why disciplined tracking and clean measurement matter far more than adding another fancy analytics tool. We also get into AI's growing role in competitive research and creative iteration, how SEO is evolving, and why creator-led partnerships are becoming more valuable than traditional influencer deals. This conversation is full of practical insights for CMOs, performance marketers, analysts, and founders who want to understand what's slowing down their growth — and how to fix it.

Episode 194: Automate Your Lead Generation with our FREE online course: https://go.digitaltrailblazer.com/auto-leads-course-freeMany online business owners are stuck on a "hamster wheel from hell"—constantly chasing new customers while existing ones slip away, leaving you burned out and unable to step away from your business.In this episode, Matt Stanley shares his journey from getting fired during the 2008 recession to building a thriving marketing agency by focusing on retention and creating systems that work.Matt teaches us how to transform your messaging from commodity-based to value-driven, master the critical balance between customer acquisition and retention, and build a sustainable business that attracts and keeps dream customers without the overwhelm.About Matt Stanley: Matt has spent 30 years helping growth-minded entrepreneurs build thriving businesses through proven sales and marketing systems. As founder of GetReviewsAndLeads.com, he specializes in high-conversion websites, lead generation, SEO, AI technologies, and marketing automation. His proprietary & holistic marketing framework helps businesses scale like clockwork.Matt combines cutting-edge technology expertise with a commitment to perpetual learning. He helps entrepreneurs unlock their full potential through integrated mindset, marketing, and business coaching & strategies. Recognized with the Better Business Bureau's "Integrity Counts!" Award in 2010, Matt is known for transparent client partnerships and exceptional results.Free Marketing Audit with Matt: https://getreviewsandleads.com/free-marketing-audit-and-strategy-sessionGet Matt's Free Lead Generation Guide: https://getreviewsandleads.com/free-ebook-10-lead-gen-strategies-to-get-customers-nowConnect with Matt:https://getreviewsandleads.com/ https://share.google/KCpubM11ccgoKD9eT https://www.facebook.com/getreviewsandleads https://www.linkedin.com/company/getreviewsandleads/ https://www.instagram.com/getreviewsandleads/Want to SCALE your online business bigger and faster without the endless hustle of networking, referrals, and pumping out content that nobody sees?Grab our Ultimate Ad Script for Coaches, Agencies, and Course Creators.Learn the exact 5-step script we teach our clients that allows them to generate targeted, high-quality leads at ultra-low cost, so you can land paying customers and clients without breaking the bank on ad spend. Grab the Ultimate Ad Script right HERE - https://join.digitaltrailblazer.com/ultimate-ad-script✅ Connect With Us:Website - https://DigitalTrailblazer.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/digitaltrailblazerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitaltrailblazerTwitter: https://twitter.com/DgtlTrailblazerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/DigitalTrailblazer

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Ginsberg — VP of Performance Marketing at Penske Media, the powerhouse behind brands like Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, and Robb Report. With two decades in affiliate and performance marketing (including leadership roles at BrandCycle, CJ, and Yahoo), Scott breaks down how the industry evolved from “coupons and last-click” into one of the most strategic levers in modern growth.We explore how top publishers balance editorial integrity with monetization, the rise of content-commerce, how AI is reshaping traffic and attribution, why brand-publisher relationships win long-term, and the underrated leadership principles that drive great teams.This episode is a masterclass for marketers, operators, and leaders navigating a shifting ecosystem.

So there's this moment in 2022 where Celia Hatch wakes up from a dream about chicken supplements called "Chicken Spice." She thinks it's ridiculous. Fast forward to today, and she's running a seven-figure business serving America's 13% of households with backyard chickens.The twist is it started as her teenage son's eighth-grade homework assignment. He made $500 selling herbs in craft bags, then quit. Ms. Hatch, a serial entrepreneur with 16 businesses behind her, picked it up and scaled Buff Clucks to seven figures in 18 months using Meta advertising, landing pages, and subscription bundling.This is a story about accidental entrepreneurship, the growing market of premium pet owners willing to double their feed costs, and why sometimes the best business ideas come to you in your sleep. Along the way, Celia reveals why their Shopify store is the "neglected child" of their operation, how a "sneeze warning" became genius marketing, and why she wishes she'd built a proper Shopify store from day one.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSBuff Clucks: https://www.buffclucks.com/Buff Clucks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buff_clucks/Funnelish (tool they use): https://funnelish.com/SEMrush: https://www.semrush.com/Ubersuggest: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Join Our FREE Start Repairing Credit Challenge: http://startrepairingcredit.com/You want to run effective Meta ads for your credit repair business... but you're worried about blowing your budget.What do you do? Give up on ads? Keep throwing money at them with no real strategy?Well, that's what a lot of businesses do... But what if I told you that you could run Meta ads that actually convert, even on a small budget?Today, I'm joined by Max Knowles, a marketing expert who's built eight-figure sales teams, trained 1000s of entrepreneurs, and created a simple ad system that helps credit pros attract the right audience, build trust, and grow fast without wasting a single dollar. Max shares his step-by-step demo on how credit repair businesses can leverage Meta ads to attract leads and clients without breaking the bank.You'll learn how to set up Meta ads like a pro, write high-converting ad copy with ChatGPT, and use AI to automate conversations with leads. We'll also explore the key factors that make ads successful, like targeting the right audience and focusing on long-term customer value, not just cost-per-lead.If you're tired of wasting money on ads and want to learn how to run campaigns that work, this episode is for you.Tune in!

This episode features Adam Robinson, Founder & CEO of Retention.com, who shares his journey from finance into tech and how he built Retention.com from the ground up into a lean, high-margin SaaS serving both e-commerce and B2B brands. He talks about hitting a growth plateau around ~$3M ARR and the breakthrough that followed, the role of continuous product innovation, and how founder-led brand building on LinkedIn became a core distribution and trust engine for the company. The conversation also explores defining what “enough” truly means, designing work around the life you want to live, and his decision to relocate to Aspen to raise his family in a more intentional environment.

In this episode of Always Be Testing, host Tye DeGrange sits down with Amro Naddy, VP of Product and General Manager at U.S. News & World Report, where he leads digital transformation, innovation, and audience growth initiatives across one of the most trusted names in media.With a background spanning product strategy, growth, and media leadership, Amro brings a thoughtful lens to how legacy brands can evolve without losing credibility. He shares how U.S. News balances data-driven optimization with editorial integrity — and why connecting product, marketing, and content strategy is crucial for long-term success.Together, they dive into the future of product-led growth, what it takes to lead cross-functional teams in a complex organization, and how to measure what really matters when building products for millions of users. Amro also reflects on leadership lessons — from building psychologically safe teams to navigating change in organizations that have been around for decades.This episode is a masterclass in modern leadership, where innovation meets trust and experimentation meets purpose.

Devin Johnson is a tech entrepreneur and AI innovator who has built multiple high‑growth SaaS companies by combining an obsessive focus on relationships with cutting‑edge automation.  His entrepreneurial journey began at 16, when a series of family hardships — a father involved in drugs, a sister battling brain cancer and the death of a close friend — pushed him to start flipping sneakers to support his household .  The success of that side hustle gave him early exposure to marketing and sales .  By age 19 he had become a devout Christian and found a mentor in Cody Harvey; together they would later found and build the digital marketing agency Kennected .In 2018 Johnson and Harvey sketched an idea on a napkin: software to automate LinkedIn outreach.  Frustrated by the hours he spent prospecting, Johnson “founded Kennected out of pure frustration” .  As CEO he grew the Indianapolis‑based SaaS company to more than 15,000 users and over 100 employees , generating more than $15 million in annual sales .  Under his leadership Kennected landed on the Inc. 5000 list at No. 583 with 832 % three‑year revenue growth , a testament to his ability to turn vision into execution.  Employees describe him as an inspirational, empathetic leader who values relationships over profit and fosters a culture of hard work and positivity .  He has been willing to “take massive action” since high school, travelling across the U.S. to conferences simply to network with potential clients .After stepping away from Kennected, Johnson co‑founded SalesAI, a next‑generation sales enablement platform.  SalesAI uses autonomous AI agents to qualify leads and provide real‑time voice‑ and text‑based sales conversations, reducing average response times from an hour to seconds .  The platform integrates directly into a customer's CRM to manage outreach via voice, SMS and email, and is scaling revenue more than 20 % month‑over‑month .  Johnson is a four‑time Inc. 500 founder with two successful exits and has been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year .  He is a frequent speaker at AI and SaaS conferences, sharing frameworks on speed‑to‑lead and how to build AI‑first companies .  Through appearances on podcasts such as Dropping Bombs, Sharkpreneur, and The Mind of George Show, he encourages entrepreneurs to harness AI while doubling down on human connection.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-johnson-salesai/

In this episode of Always Be Testing, host Tye DeGrange sits down with Michael Cole, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Everflow and active member of the Performance Marketing Association's Measurement Council. With a decade of experience leading growth and analytics in the partner and affiliate space, Michael helps brands unlock performance marketing efficiency through better data, smarter attribution, and stronger relationships between advertisers and publishers.Their conversation dives deep into how affiliate marketing and partnerships are rapidly evolving in the age of AI and advanced measurement. Michael shares how Everflow empowers marketers to see the full picture of affiliate performance — from first click to repeat purchase — while debunking the biggest myths holding brands back. Together, they unpack how AI is reshaping discovery, what most marketers still misunderstand about attribution, and how partner programs can deliver growth that's both scalable and sustainable.

In this episode of Always Be Testing, host Tye DeGrange sits down with Bob Feist — known as the Godfather of Team Roping — a legendary cowboy, entrepreneur, and rodeo announcer. A Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee and PRCA Pioneer Award winner, Bob is also the founder of Ropers Sports News, the first-ever newspaper dedicated to team roping, and the creator of The Bob Feist Invitational (BFI), the richest one-day open team roping event in the world.In this inspiring conversation, Bob and Tye explore the Cowboy Code — a timeless set of values centered on courage, integrity, and doing what's right — and how these principles apply to today's business and marketing world. Bob shares stories and lessons from decades of entrepreneurship, from building a publication out of nothing to growing one of the most prestigious events in rodeo history.They dive into how the Cowboy Code influences leadership, business ethics, and branding, as well as the importance of trust, humility, and staying true to your brand identity. Bob also discusses key entrepreneurial lessons on starting small, adapting to change, and rewarding loyalty, offering timeless wisdom on integrity, perseverance, and leading with purpose.

Most brands focus on awareness in their customer acquisition strategy—but neglect the proof that actually drives conversions. In this episode of Inclusion & Marketing, Sonia Thompson explains why relevant social proof is the missing piece that helps customers see themselves in your brand—and feel confident saying yes. You'll learn how to show “people like me succeed here,” why belonging matters just as much as benefits, and how to weave proof of success naturally into every part of your customer journey. If you want to turn more awareness into action—and more browsers into buyers—this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Other episodes in The New Rules of Customer Acquisition Series: 177. The #1 customer acquisition rule to boost conversions and maximize ROI - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/ 178. Win more customers with these 17 proven customer acquisition strategies - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/178-win-more-customers-with-these-17-proven-customer/id1604907821?i=1000723850008 | Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/episode/20g1LPHdTKonIi4Mg0mArn?si=6058bac77a364a62 183. How to increase the effectiveness of your customer acquisition strategy - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/183-how-to-increase-the-effectiveness-of-your/id1604907821?i=1000729666137 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/06uWd7kXFQNLtPsTYZFgQI?si=bce30052698a46d5

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dive into how to turn restaurant events into true profit centers instead of simple marketing stunts. I explain why events should be treated as products with clear margins and measurable results, and how that mindset shift can transform your bottom line. I walk through the systems I use to plan, price, and evaluate events so they drive both revenue and brand loyalty.  TakeawaysEvents should make money twice: at the ticket sale and through repeat customers.A great event is a product with a defined cost and profit margin.Hope is not a strategy; measurement is essential for success.Predictability in events leads to increased profitability.Full rooms do not guarantee profit; focus on fat margins instead.Every event should have a clear conversion goal.Delete 'awareness' from marketing vocabulary; prioritize revenue.Audit past events to understand profitability.Create a 12-month event calendar with repeatable, profitable events.Reprice events for margin, not just fill rate.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Marketing Strategies01:50 Transforming Events into Profit Centers05:44 Actionable Steps for Event ProfitabilityIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dive into how to market restaurants more effectively by treating each service as its own unique offering. I explain why lunch, dinner, and brunch each need clear promises and tailored marketing, and how productizing those services can transform customer acquisition. I break down the phased approach I use to launch them and the strategies that actually move the needle on performance. TakeawaysEach service is a standalone product with a single obvious promise.Lunch is not just food earlier; it's a promise of speed and certainty.Different services cater to different customer needs and experiences.Your website should route customers to the service they want.Marketing should focus on one service at a time for better results.Creating a clear offer and ritual for each service is essential.Measure the success of your marketing efforts consistently.Product market fit is crucial for customer acquisition.Awareness builds on the momentum of a strong service offering.Tailor your marketing message to fit into customers' lives.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Marketing Strategies01:49 Understanding Different Service Times05:39 Productizing Each Service for Success08:51 Implementing and Measuring Marketing StrategiesIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Most brands are eager to launch new campaigns and chase fresh leads. But here's the truth: if your foundation isn't strong, your customer acquisition strategy won't deliver the growth you want. In this episode of Inclusion & Marketing, Sonia Thompson breaks down why “getting your house in order” is the key to making any acquisition strategy more effective. You'll learn what most companies overlook, how to fix it, and the simple shifts that turn attention into actual conversions. If you want your customer acquisition efforts to work harder and deliver bigger results, this episode is your roadmap. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Other Episodes In This Customer Acquisition Series: The #1 Customer Acquisition Rule to Boost Conversions and Maximize ROI - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/ Win More Customers With These 17 Proven Customer Acquistion Strategies: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/178-win-more-customers-with-these-17-proven-customer/id1604907821?i=1000723850008 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3hC7ezeDfhotEInmHDtL6Z

In this episode of Remodelers On The Rise, Kyle Hunt sits down with Spencer Powell, CEO of Builder Funnel, to unpack the marketing math remodelers need. You'll learn how to set a practical budget, track lead sources, and focus on ROI so you know exactly what you can afford to spend to acquire clients. Spencer walks you through Builder Funnel's “attract → convert → nurture → measure” framework, and they share actionable wins you can implement immediately—whether that's smarter offers on your website or follow-up strategies you may be skipping. Plus, if you're ready to do more than just listen, hear how you can work with Builder Funnel: start by visiting builderfunnel.com/rotr. ----- Today's episode is sponsored by Builder Funnel! Click here to learn more about how Builder Funnel helps remodelers and home builders grow through strategic digital marketing. ----- Takeaways Surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial for success. Networking and peer groups can significantly impact your business. Understanding how much to spend on marketing is essential for growth. Investing in marketing should be viewed as a long-term strategy. Knowing the value of a customer helps in determining marketing spend. A marketing engine consists of attracting, converting, nurturing, and measuring leads. Tracking and measuring marketing efforts is often overlooked by remodelers. Quick wins can be achieved by reaching out to past clients and leads. Building a marketing strategy takes time and consistency. The importance of playing the long game in marketing efforts. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Wisdom Sharing 03:40 The Importance of Networking and Peer Groups 06:47 Understanding Marketing Spend for Remodeling Businesses 09:40 The Value of Customer Acquisition Costs 12:37 Investment Mindset in Marketing 15:37 Calculating Customer Value and Marketing Ratios 18:31 Building a Marketing Engine: Attract, Convert, Nurture 21:35 Strategies for Attracting Clients 29:18 Lead Generation Strategies 31:01 Nurturing Leads Effectively 33:01 The Importance of Measurement 36:42 Tracking Marketing Success 40:45 Understanding Customer Acquisition Costs 44:40 Quick Wins for Remodelers 49:35 Creating a Marketing Through Line 51:43 The Long Game in Marketing  

Lincode Labs is transforming quality control in automotive manufacturing through AI-powered visual inspection systems that replace traditional machine vision cameras with advanced computer vision technology. After nine years and $10 million in funding, the company has established itself as an early mover in bringing modern AI to one of manufacturing's most conservative sectors. In this episode of Category Visionaries, I spoke with Rajesh Iyengar, a fourth-time founder with multiple exits, about his methodical approach to market validation, the operational realities of selling into automotive manufacturing, and the counterintuitive GTM strategies that enabled market penetration in a notoriously risk-averse industry. Topics Discussed: Pre-incorporation market validation methodology: surveying 300-400 manufacturers over one year Positioning within existing "vision systems" budget categories versus creating new AI category Manufacturing engineer versus quality engineer buyer persona discovery and implications Trade show strategy for demonstrating complex AI technology to skeptical prospects Geographic arbitrage: leveraging Silicon Valley for fundraising, Michigan for customer proximity Structured investor feedback collection across 400-500 pitches for business model refinement GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Execute systematic pre-incorporation market validation at scale: Before incorporating Lincode, Rajesh spent an entire year surveying 300-400 manufacturers through a structured questionnaire approach. Starting with 8-10 manufacturing contacts, he expanded through LinkedIn outreach to validate core assumptions about AI adoption, deployment complexity, and willingness to pay. This wasn't casual customer discovery—it was quantitative market research that de-risked his fourth venture before committing capital. B2B founders should design systematic validation processes that generate statistically meaningful data rather than relying on anecdotal feedback from a handful of prospects. Position within existing budget categories to accelerate procurement cycles: Despite building AI technology, Rajesh deliberately positioned Lincode within the established "vision systems" category rather than creating a new AI category. As he explained, "as far as customer is concerned, whether it's AI or not AI, they'll put us into a category of vision systems... so they can assign the budgets." Creating new categories extends sales cycles as procurement teams struggle with budget allocation and vendor evaluation frameworks. B2B founders should analyze how their innovation maps to existing enterprise budget line items and position accordingly, reserving category creation for later market education phases. Identify economic buyers through productivity impact mapping, not feature alignment: Lincode's initial assumption that quality engineers would buy quality inspection technology proved completely wrong. Manufacturing engineers became the actual buyers because quality bottlenecks directly constrained their core KPI: productivity. Rajesh discovered that "manufacturing engineers responsibility is on productivity, so quality kind of puts a bottleneck on that." This required repositioning their value proposition from quality improvement to productivity optimization. B2B founders must map their solution's economic impact across organizational functions to identify who controls budget decisions, which often differs from the obvious feature-benefit alignment. Deploy experiential marketing for technology adoption in conservative industries: Traditional SaaS demo strategies failed in automotive manufacturing where "AI is something which nobody wanted to just believe on a buzzword, especially in Midwest." Rajesh invested in major trade shows with hands-on demos, allowing prospects to physically interact with components and see real-time AI analysis. This strategy mimicked automotive showroom experiences where customers need tactile engagement before purchasing decisions. For B2B founders selling complex technology to traditional industries, budget allocation should prioritize experiential marketing that enables physical product interaction over digital marketing channels. Structure investor feedback as systematic business model iteration: Rather than fundraising episodically, Rajesh treated investor pitches as structured feedback collection, comparing it to AI model training: "if you give thousands of images, then the AI will work perfectly." Pitching 400-500 investors generated business model insights that shaped core strategic decisions, including the critical industry focus recommendation that transformed their approach. One investor's feedback about avoiding multi-industry approaches directly contradicted Rajesh's initial strategy but proved transformational. B2B founders should design investor interaction as ongoing strategic consulting, maintaining regular dialogue for continuous business model refinement beyond capital needs.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co   //   Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM     

Meenakshi Lala is the CEO of UrbanStems, an online floral gifting company that designs, sources, and delivers high-quality, curated bouquets and gifts across the U.S. She brings over two decades of operational experience from leading brands in fashion and retail such as Alice + Olivia, Juicy Couture, and Elie Tahari. Her expertise in scaling complex businesses and building operational excellence now fuels UrbanStems' growth as a leader in the industry.In this episode of DTC Pod, Blaine and Meenakshi explore the complex world of DTC flower delivery: from sourcing stems globally, managing cold chain logistics, forecasting inventory, and reducing spoilage, to ensuring the end customer receives a high-quality bouquet every time. Meenakshi candidly discusses the challenges of seasonality, tariffs, international shipping, and why a robust brand and customer-centric approach are keys to thriving in today's fast-moving e-commerce landscape.Episode brought to you by StordInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. The complexities of the floral industry and perishability2. The evolution of e-commerce in the flower business3. Building a robust and agile international supply chain4. Cold chain logistics and fulfillment center operations5. Planning, forecasting, and reducing spoilage in inventory6. Unique challenges: tariffs, customs, and unpredictable events7. Customer experience: packaging, instructions, and communications8. Curation, personalization, and expanding gifting moments9. Driving growth through brand, loyalty, and education10. Lessons learned in leadership and staying agileTimestamps00:00 Meenakshi's career journey and joining UrbanStems04:49 Key learnings from legacy brands and focus on brand ethos07:21 Operational challenges unique to the floral industry11:00 The evolution of flowers in e-commerce and UrbanStems' role14:28 How Urban Stems' supply chain is structured for freshness16:37 International sourcing, design, and bouquet assembly process18:27 Managing supply chain risks: tariffs and customs21:45 Inventory planning, spoilage, and matching supply to demand24:45 Supply chain as a business moat and high-precision operation25:36 Customer fulfillment: hydration, packaging, and experience28:34 Packaging complexities and spec sheets per SKU30:08 Lessons from moving from COO to CEO32:19 How operational expertise shapes strategic leadership34:17 Customer feedback and new initiatives at UrbanStems38:02 Growth channels: brand loyalty, curation, and gifting moments41:58 Biggest CEO learnings and future outlook43:51 Where to find Meenakshi and UrbanStems onlineShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokMeenakshi Lala - CEO at UrbanStemsBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

At just 19, Carson launched her business in Reno, Nevada, driven by a passion for special education and a glaring need for 24/7 childcare options in her community. In this conversation, Carol Schultz interviews Carson about the challenges and experiences of being a young entrepreneur.Carson shares her journey facing ageism, building a team, and navigating client relationships. She emphasizes the importance of trust, community, and ethical growth in business, while also providing valuable advice for young leaders.Key Topics: Carson's Entrepreneurial Journey Facing Reverse Ageism Leadership as a Young Founder Advice for Young and Emerging Leaders Healthy Client Relationships Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Young Entrepreneurship 02:43 The Journey of Starting a Business 05:50 Experiencing Reverse Ageism 08:52 Building a Team and Leadership Challenges 11:51 Growth and Franchising Strategies 14:43 Customer Acquisition and Marketing Strategies 17:40 Priorities for Future Growth 20:40 Navigating Client Relationships 23:31 Advice for Young Leaders Connect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information. And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Paid ads are expensive and crowded.The brands that stand out today know how to blend organic marketing, referrals, and authentic word-of-mouth… online and offline.In this episode, Neil Twa sits down with Ashley Stanford, digital strategist and co-founder of Ice Cream Social, to unpack how entrepreneurs can lower acquisition costs, create authentic content, and turn every customer into an influencer. Ashley also shares her own journey of building a flexible business while raising kids, and why “freedom” has always been her core driver. In This Episode, We Cover:✅ How to combine paid media with organic growth channels✅ The role of authentic UGC and influencer partnerships✅ Offline referrals and why every customer can be an influencer✅ How Ice Cream Social helps brands activate word-of-mouth online✅ Ashley's journey to balancing business, family, and freedom

Today, we'll teach you how to name your startup. This is from No Whisper Ideas, a post sent every Sunday by Brian. Customer Interviews Workshop (Starts Sep 15)No Whisper Ideas Weekly Post 

Want more customers? You need better customer acquisition strategies — ones that actually work in today's marketplace. Too many brands still take a passive “build it and they will come” approach, but today's consumers — especially those from underrepresented and underserved communities — don't show up where they haven't been invited. In this episode, Sonia Thompson, inclusive marketing strategist and host of Inclusion & Marketing, shares 20 proven customer acquisition strategies you can use to win more customers now. Organized into five key pillars — Visibility, Belonging, Experience, Voice, and Conversion — you'll hear real-world examples from brands like NYX, Mastercard, Toyota, and Ralph Lauren. Whether you're a marketing leader at a Fortune 100 company or an entrepreneur building your customer base, this episode is your playbook for attracting, converting, and keeping more of the people you want to serve. Stop waiting for customers to find you. Start inviting them in. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter This is the 2nd episode in "The New Rules of Customer Acquisition" series. Listen to the first episode here: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/

Most brands want more customers, better conversions, and stronger ROI. But here's the catch: when it comes to customer acquisition, there's one critical rule most brands completely skip. And missing it could be the reason your campaigns aren't delivering the results you want. In this episode, you'll discover the #1 rule of customer acquisition that turns efforts into measurable growth. I break down why this overlooked step is the foundation of successful strategies, how skipping it sabotages your conversions, and what you can do to apply it immediately. If you're ready to boost conversions, maximize ROI, and build a customer acquisition engine that actually works, this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter

Today, we'll help you tackle the big question for entrepreneurs with startup ideas and jobs - when's it time to quit the job and focus on the startup full-time? You should think about this question the second you start working on an idea, and you should use the Skeptical Startup framework - a goal of $8k per month in 10 hours per week - as a guide. The Skeptical Startup framework is magical, and Brian will show how it'll help you focus with an example startup.  TackleboxIdea to Startup NewsletterIdea to Startup BotFarnam Street - Surface AreaThe AlchemistNatalie Imbruglia - Torn00:30 When to Quit Your Job03:25 Life Expenses Excel Sheet04:05 The Skeptical Startup Framework06:25 The Idea: Home AV Improvements07:44 Smooth Jazz08:22 The Logistics of $8k11:26 An AV Marketplace12:46 Reduce the Surface Area15:27 The Search16:30 A Lead for the AV Startup19:16 The End - Your Goals19:26 A Goal Framework

With all the data at our fingertips, why do so many companies still struggle to deliver truly personalized experiences at scale? Agility requires being able to cut through the noise of data and culture shifts to deliver experiences that truly resonate with each individual.Today we're going to talk about personalization maturity, the role of machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI in driving relevance, and how to future-proof your martech stack with open, flexible architectures that enable best-in-class personalization. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Yaniv Navot, Former Dynamic Yield by Mastercard CMO and current SVP of Commercialization for Customer Acquisition & Engagement at Mastercard. About Yaniv Navot Former Dynamic Yield by Mastercard CMO and current SVP of Commercialization for Customer Acquisition & Engagement. He is marketing leader and personalization expert with nearly two decades of experience driving performance-driven marketing at scale. He shaped the personalization market and led the company's rise as an industry leader. Joining as the first marketing hire, Yaniv built a world-class team and partnered with top B2C brands to deliver impactful, cutting-edge personalization strategies. Follow him on LinkedIn: @yanivnavot. Yaniv Navot on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanivnavot/ Resources Mastercard: https://www.mastercard.com https://www.mastercard.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brandsDon't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150" Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company