Podcasts about customer acquisition

In this episode, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive deep into one of the most critical hurdles every startup faces: customer acquisition.Our special guest is Candice Smith, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of French Press Communications (currently rebranding from frenchpresspr.com). Candice didn't follow a traditional marketing path—she fell into public relations and communications while launching her own education-focused ventures. Today, her agency works with mission-driven solopreneurs and small-to-medium-sized businesses aiming to disrupt established industries. If you are a founder trying to get your business noticed, build authentic customer engagement, or figure out how to tell a story that drives sales, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways for you.Key Topics Discussed in This EpisodeThe Problem of Customer Education: When you enter an established market with a disruptive product or service, you have to educate your audience. Candice explains how to identify core customer pain points and speak directly to their motivators so they feel heard and understood.The "Amore" Visibility Framework: Candice breaks down her proprietary five-pillar strategy designed to build trust, authority, and love for your brand:A – Authority: Sharing your expertise on other people's platforms (podcasts, op-eds, speaking engagements).M – Marketing: Utilizing paid avenues like boosted posts, advertisements, and Google Adwords.O – Owned Media: Channels where you control 100% of the narrative (your website, blog, Substack, or videos).R – Relationships: Building a close network of brand champions—the most critical pillar for early-stage startups.E – Earned Media: Traditional public relations, including television, digital publications, and newsletters.Where Startups Should Focus First: With tight business budgets, trying to be everywhere all at once leads to burnout. Learn why you should lay a foundation with owned media and relationship-building before wasting money on paid ads.Finding the Right Audience: How to pivot from thinking "everyone wants my product" to finding the immediate converters who will open their wallets first.Three Essential Tips for New Entrepreneurs: Candice shares her top advice for the journey: start with sales traction, build a support network to combat isolation, and maintain personal balance outside of work.The Value of Outside Consultants: Hosts Bela and Mike reflect on how to choose a consultant, the necessity of building trust, and why inviting diverse, non-homogeneous viewpoints into your inner circle keeps your business from going extinct.Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to hit that Like button, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway, and Subscribe to our channel for more entrepreneurship and innovation insights! If you know someone who would make a great guest, reach out to us at bela.and.mike@gmail.com.SEO Search TermsStartup customer acquisition, small business communication strategies, brand visibility framework, public relations for entrepreneurs, mission-driven business marketing, ESG business growth, marketing strategy for solopreneurs, digital storytelling for business, how to pitch disruptive products, networking tips for founders, business development pipeline, visibility development strategies.

What happens when a local business stops simply posting on social media and starts using a real visibility strategy? In this episode of Social Media Decoded, visibility strategist and Thames Media Solutions founder Michelle Thames takes listeners behind the scenes of a real local marketing case study with Honey Bee Gardens in Downers Grove, Illinois. In roughly 30 days, Michelle and her team helped the farm create a more strategic approach to social media, storytelling, email marketing, calls to action, community marketing, automation, and customer follow-up. And the results started showing up beyond likes and followers. The farm reported 180 new customers from social media in one week, Farm-to-Table Dinner registrations grew from approximately 20 to 67, and one promotional Reel generated 800+ comments. But this episode isn't about chasing viral numbers. It's about turning visibility into action. Michelle breaks down the exact strategy behind the results—and the lessons any local business owner can use to make their marketing work harder. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why posting consistently is not the same as having a marketing strategy How to identify a visibility problem inside a local business Why businesses should market experiences instead of constantly marketing themselves How storytelling creates curiosity and gives customers a reason to visit Why clarity is essential for converting social media followers into customers How Honey Bee Gardens' Farm-to-Table Dinner grew from approximately 20 registrations to 67 What Michelle's team learned from a Reel that generated more than 800 comments How automation helped turn social media interest into a clear path to registration Why engagement means very little without a next step How Honey Bee Gardens reported 180 new customers coming from social media in one week How strategic marketing helped rebuild momentum despite weather-related cancellations Why local businesses need multiple marketing touchpoints instead of relying solely on Instagram How email, Facebook, social media, websites, events, automation, and word of mouth work together Why every piece of content needs a specific job How to use data to adjust your content strategy in real time Why a strong customer experience has to exist before marketing can amplify it The difference between a social media problem and a visibility-system problem The Honey Bee Gardens Results When Thames Media Solutions began working with Honey Bee Gardens around July 27, one of the immediate goals was increasing awareness and driving more people to the farm's experiences. One major focus was the Farm-to-Table Dinner. At the beginning of the partnership, approximately 20 people were registered. That number grew to approximately 67 registrations. Content surrounding the dinner also generated significant interest, including one Reel that received 800+ comments. Instead of allowing that engagement to stop at the comment section, Michelle created an automated follow-up process through Meta's business tools so interested people could receive the registration link. The strategy connected: Content → Interest → CTA → Follow-Up → Link → Opportunity to Convert The farm also reported 180 new customers attributed to social media during one week, based on asking visitors how they discovered the farm. During the broader campaign period, website sessions also surpassed 8,300, representing an increase of approximately 160% compared with the previous period. Michelle explains why these numbers should not all be attributed to one Reel or one marketing channel. Social media, email, existing customers, word of mouth, the farm's reputation, repeated promotion, and other touchpoints all worked together. That's exactly why businesses need a marketing ecosystem. Stop Selling the Business. Start Selling the Experience. One of the biggest changes was shifting the messaging away from simply telling people to "visit the farm." Instead, the strategy answered the question: Why should someone come? Family activities. Adult experiences. Farm-to-Table dining. Flowers. Seasonal activities. Weekend outings. Homeschool experiences. Local events. The business wasn't simply selling access to a farm. It was showing potential customers: "Here's what your Saturday could look like." That shift makes marketing more relevant to the customer's actual life. The Visibility System Michelle shares a six-part framework local businesses can use to evaluate their marketing: 1. Discovery: Can the right people find you? 2. Curiosity: Does your content make them care? 3. Clarity: Do they understand what you're offering? 4. Action: Do they know what to do next? 5. Follow-Up: What happens after someone shows interest? 6. Retention: How are you getting customers to return? You don't necessarily need 100 more posts. You need these six pieces working together. Content Needs a Job Before creating your next Reel, Facebook post, email, or video, ask: What is this content supposed to do? Is it designed to create discovery? Build trust? Drive registrations? Capture leads? Start conversations? Bring customers through the door? When content has a clear job, marketing becomes much more strategic. Ready to Build Your Visibility Strategy? If you're posting consistently but aren't sure why that attention isn't turning into customers, clients, registrations, or revenue, Michelle offers 1:1 Visibility Strategy Calls. During the session, you'll look at your: Visibility Messaging Content Offers Customer journey Follow-up Marketing ecosystem The goal isn't another generic social media consultation telling you to post more Reels. It's identifying where people are dropping off and developing a visibility strategy connected to what your business is actually trying to accomplish. DM Michelle the word STRATEGY to learn more about booking a 1:1 Visibility Strategy Call. Join the Conversation Where is your visibility system breaking down? Discovery? Curiosity? Clarity? Conversion? Follow-up? Retention? If you're listening on Spotify, leave your answer in the episode comments. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and share your biggest takeaway from this case study. Key Takeaway The goal of visibility isn't to be seen by everybody. It's to be seen by the right people—and make it easy for them to take the next step. Don't just post. Tell better stories. Create curiosity. Give people a clear reason to act. Follow up. Watch the data. Adjust the strategy. And most importantly: Know the job of your content. Because when your content has a job, your marketing gets a whole lot smarter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with Cayla O'Connell Davis, co-founder and CEO of Subset, the organic cotton underwear brand rethinking what goes into your most-worn layer.Cayla bootstrapped Subset in one of the toughest categories to fund, buying inventory five to six months ahead and launching with just four styles. One of them, the high-rise brief, got written up by Vogue and became a cult favorite that carried the brand out of the gate.She gets into the scrappy, human side of growth: a first-of-its-kind program that takes back and recycles your old underwear, handing out free undies on the streets of New York, Galentine's Day roses with a buyback card, and why she markets an unseen product more like a perfume brand. Along the way she shares hard-won lessons on doing the unscalable things on purpose, and protecting time to stay creative several years in.Tune in for an honest look at building a mission-driven brand through organic cotton, grassroots marketing, and a refusal to grow the easy way!For 20% off Subset, use code READRECEIPT. Chapters:00:00 - Cold open00:36 - What Subset is01:00 - The family-run factory in India03:00 - Bootstrapping an expensive category04:24 - Launching with four styles and the Vogue high-rise brief07:26 - The first 16,000-unit order09:02 - Would she launch with PR today?10:40 - The take-back recycling program13:35 - Recycling as acquisition, then Trashie and SuperCircle16:40 - What's driving new growth now17:30 - Giving away underwear on the streets of New York18:00 - Cotton vs synthetics: the health case22:06 - The "ask me about my underwear" sign28:32 - Galentine's roses and being a fun brand31:30 - World-building for a product you can't see33:33 - Getting flagged as adult content in paid ads34:56 - New-media marketing: just be yourself39:14 - Protecting time to stay creative42:34 - Close

Mastering business growth strategies isn't about spending more on ads; it is about accessing the right databases.Most entrepreneurs think they need to hire more sales staff or pump cash into social media campaigns to see real results. This approach often leads to burnout and high overhead costs. Instead, you can bypass the friction of cold customer acquisition by partnering with entities that already serve your ideal client.When you leverage existing databases, you stop chasing cold leads and start focusing on warm, trusted connections. It is the fastest way to scale a business without increasing your headcount. This type of strategic collaboration is the key to sustainable expansion.Subscribe for more practical business growth strategies, and let me know your thoughts in the comments.About Brad SugarsInternationally known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs, Brad Sugars is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. Over the course of his 30-year career as an entrepreneur, Brad has become the CEO of 9+ companies and is the owner of the multimillion-dollar franchise ActionCOACH®. As a husband and father of five, Brad is equally as passionate about his family as he is about business. That's why, Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you – so you can spend more time doing what really matters to you. Over the years of starting, scaling and selling many businesses, Brad has earned his fair share of scars. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road. But if you can learn from those who have gone before you, it becomes a lot easier than going at it alone.Please click here to learn more about Brad Sugars: https://bradsugars.com/Build a Business That Gives You More Time, Money & Life: Get The $100M Playbook: https://go.bradsugars.com/100m-playbook-ebook

Coyuchi is proving that a 35-year of press is a brand's ultimate asset in the age of AI search. By continuously optimizing site schema for LLMs and selling “feelings over features,” the organic home textiles leader is turning AI discovery directly into revenue. For more on Coyuchi, in show notes, click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

What you'll learn in this episode: Why prospecting is the lifeline of predictable income How to use cold outreach effectively (without breaking compliance rules) The overlooked power of referrals and testimonials How local events and sponsorships expand visibility Why reviews and customer feedback are powerful sales tools How to create strategic alliances that consistently feed new clients Why committing to prospecting is the only way to avoid broke months To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:GET THE BOOK! Teach to Sell : Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do InsteadWebsite: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NoBrokeMonths/Facebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan Rochon

In this episode, we dive into how first-party data and audience intelligence can fix rising ad costs.  Tiago Costa, CEO of Clustie.ai, shares how using customer data helps ecommerce brands target high-intent buyers, lower acquisition costs, and boost ad performance without relying on broad targeting.  He also reveals how smart audience segmentation, real-time data signals, and automated campaign workflows help DTC stores scale faster and increase return on ad spend. Topics discussed in this episode:  How broad targeting burns through meta budgets. Why first party data fixes high ad costs. What automated AI campaigns do for growth. How audience intelligence lowers overall CPA. Why relying only on signals limits scaling. What drives free to paid conversions. How real time customer signals lift return. Why agency experience creates better AI tools. How simple app integration boosts ad results. What agency partner programs do for scale. Links & Resources Website: https://www.clustie.ai/Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/clustie-ai-marketing-segmentsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clustie-ai/Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/mr2cmzvs______________________________________________________ Support our Sponsors Bizrate Insights: Star ratings tell you how customers feel. Bizrate Insights reveals what's driving those ratings, helping ecommerce brands create smoother shopping journeys, inspire confident purchases, and build lasting loyalty. Turn verified shopper feedback into clear priorities and better customer experiences. Learn more at bizrateinsights.com/coffee ______________________________________________________LOVE THE SHOW? HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS!Follow the podcast to get every bonus episode. Tap follow now and don't miss out!   Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts at https://tinyurl.com/ecb-apple-podcasts   Join our Free Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com/   Support The Show On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EcommerceCoffeeBreak   Partner with us: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/partner-with-us/

Michael Gants, founder and CEO of Encore, breaks down how apps can turn unused "streak" and celebration screens into a new revenue stream, without a single ad or paywall. He shares how brands like Disney, Uber, and Apple are paying to reach users in their happiest moments, and why founders should be more afraid of a broken CAC/LTV ratio than of running a monetization experiment.

If you cannot answer why a customer should buy from you instead of your competitor, your sales strategy is failing.Many business owners think claiming they have great service or decades of experience is enough to secure a deal. The reality is that these points are standard expectations, not reasons to choose you. When your entire competitive advantage relies on subjective claims, you end up fighting a losing battle for every new lead.This analysis examines why those common pitches fail to land with today's buyers. You will learn to strip away the fluff and build a unique selling proposition that actually forces a prospect to notice your business. We break down how to stop relying on generic promises and start highlighting the specific value that makes your company the only logical choice for customer acquisition.Subscribe for weekly business growth strategy breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest challenge you face when trying to differentiate your brand from competitors.About Brad SugarsInternationally known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs, Brad Sugars is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. Over the course of his 30-year career as an entrepreneur, Brad has become the CEO of 9+ companies and is the owner of the multimillion-dollar franchise ActionCOACH®. As a husband and father of five, Brad is equally as passionate about his family as he is about business. That's why, Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you – so you can spend more time doing what really matters to you. Over the years of starting, scaling and selling many businesses, Brad has earned his fair share of scars. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road. But if you can learn from those who have gone before you, it becomes a lot easier than going at it alone.Please click here to learn more about Brad Sugars: https://bradsugars.com/Build a Business That Gives You More Time, Money & Life: Get The $100M Playbook: https://go.bradsugars.com/100m-playbook-ebook

Brook Schaaf, co-founder of FMTC and author of the new book Affiliate Hypotheses, joins Tye to make the case that affiliate marketing might be the internet's best — and sometimes only — way to monetize the open web. They dig into why walled gardens like Google and Meta get outsized credit for conversions, and why AI search is putting the open web's survival at risk.

Andrea Hippeau is Head of Portfolio Management at Lerer Hippeau, an early stage venture firm based in New York. She has been at the firm for twelve years and recently moved into this role from Partner, shifting her focus from sourcing new deals to supporting the existing portfolio at scale. Lerer Hippeau invests at pre-seed and seed, leads rounds, and writes checks between one and four million dollars.This is Andrea's second appearance on VC10X, and a lot has changed since the last one.We get into what Series A investors are actually screening for now (hint: it isn't revenue), why AI efficiency is pushing some companies to raise more instead of less, the founder trait Andrea says has quietly overtaken sales, why Lerer Hippeau runs 70 to 75 percent enterprise despite its consumer reputation, and what twelve years of investing taught her about patience.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comWe talk about:- What Series A investors actually screen for now, and why an exceptional team can raise with no revenue- The efficiency paradox: AI lets you do more with less, so why are companies raising more?- Why Lerer Hippeau runs 70 to 75 percent enterprise despite its consumer reputation- Storytelling replacing sales as the founder trait that predicts everything else- Why a Partner deliberately stopped chasing deals after twelve yearsConnect with Andrea:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hippeau-64658227/Lerer Hippeau: https://www.lererhippeau.com/Connect with Prashant Choubey:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabSubscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.comSubscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10XSubscribe on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc10x-investing-venture-capital-asset-management-private/id1632806986Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQVC10X website - https://vc10x.comTimestamps:(00:00) - Teaser: The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital(01:58) - The Evolving Bar for a Series A Investment(04:36) - How AI is Redefining Compounding Growth in Startups(06:02) - Lerer Hippeau's Investment Focus: From Consumer to Enterprise(08:05) - Why AI Makes Consumer Brands a More Exciting Investment(10:03) - The Double-Edged Sword of AI on Startup Funding Needs(12:29) - The Impact of AI on Paid Advertising and Customer Acquisition(15:51) - Balancing Portfolio Support and Sourcing New Deals in a New Role(18:05) - Using AI to Manage Portfolio Data at Scale(20:30) - The Shifting Profile of a Modern Founder(21:58) - Sourcing Growth Capital for Consumer Brands Today(25:06) - The Dangers of the Venture Capital Hype Cycle(27:07) - What Founders Need the Most Help With (But Don't Always Ask)(30:36) - Why Storytelling Has Replaced Sales as the Most Important Founder Trait(32:18) - What Makes a Compelling Founder Story?(34:30) - Startups vs. Incumbents: The Battle for the Workflow Layer(36:43) - Regulated Sectors Ripe for Disruption(39:21) - Evolving the Investment Decision Process in the Age of AI(43:13) - Are Big Tech's AI Investments Boosting Startup Productivity?(46:27) - How a Decade in VC Shapes Investment Instincts(49:45) - Strategies for Seed Investing: Go Early, Be Contrarian, or Be Flexible(52:12) - Rapid Fire Round

This week on Marketing O'Clock: Google's new experimental specialized feature, Deal Ends Annotation, is within Product Listing Ads in Merchant Center. According to Google, this feature emphasizes “time-sensitive discounts that create a sense of urgency for shoppers.” Plus, learn about another option in Customer Acquisition. Visit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/

This podcast is a micro lesson of what we teach and discuss every week in our Skool community.  Click the link below to join our free America's Best Restaurants Skool group. https://www.skool.com/americasbestrestaurants

Vikram Chalana, CEO and founder of Pictory, joins the show to unpack how his AI video platform went from 50 customers to 5,000 in just 60 days — and why the breakthrough came from changing the market, not the product. He digs into Pictory's State of Video report (AI adoption has no Silicon Valley bias — Florida and Indiana are leading users), the design principles that keep Pictory out of the "timeline" trap of tools like Premiere, and what's next: code-generated, interactive video that could reinvent how content gets made and consumed.

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open episode 308 with a check on Steve's number one prediction for 2026 — uncertainty reigns supreme — and it's holding up. The flat 10% global tariff is gone, replaced by a 10–12.5% range on nearly all U.S. imports, with steeper rates for Canada and Brazil. The new forced-labor justification behind the increases strikes Steve and Michael as ridiculous and unlikely to survive a court challenge. The retail numbers look better than the tariff logic. June retail sales rose 5.7% year over year, led by sporting goods (a World Cup bump) and electronics. Grocery managed just 1%. Steve walks through why: dollars flat, units falling, prices 33% above pre-COVID levels, food bank use climbing on both sides of the border. Albertsons is the clearest case — sales nearly flat, guidance cut, stock down 20% in a day. Then, recorded live in the pop-up studio at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, Ulta Beauty Chief Retail Officer Amiee Bayer-Thomas argues stores are queen. Thirty years into a career she calls a lattice rather than a ladder — seven roles at Ulta alone, including chief supply chain officer through 2020 — she now owns everything from site selection and store design to services, asset protection, eventing, and the omni guest journey. Stores, she says, are experiential hubs delivering "beautytainment" through 60,000 associates across 1,500 locations. The numbers: 47 million loyalty members, 95% of whom shopped in-store last year. A NielsenIQ study of Gen Alpha found the most AI-engaged shoppers still pick stores over apps, 57% versus 36%. Amiee's take on AI: it's an "and," not an "or." Technology can flag a replenishment; only an associate reads the confusion on a guest's face in the skincare aisle. Omni guests visit and spend three times more. She previews a Times Square flagship alongside outlet and small-format stores, plus an eventing calendar headed toward 140,000 events this year. In the news, Wayfair is expanding its store footprint. Shein is heading toward a Hong Kong listing at roughly half its 2022 valuation. Also on the radar: fuel costs rising again as back-to-school and holiday approach, and U.S. population growth of 0.25% turning retail into a fight over share. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2026 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Remy's Danielle Sakher explains how her team balances speed with observability and security as AI coding tools move from novelty to enterprise infrastructure. She shares what it's really like selling an AI builder to security-conscious industries like financial services, plus a wild stat: alpha users have already spent $300K in AI compute.

Is AI quietly undermining the trust your coaching clients have in you, and if so, what can you do about it? Today's episode features Kae Wagner, returning for her third appearance on the show, to talk about the two realities every coach needs to face right now, why the customer acquisition rollercoaster is wearing coaches down, and how owning your inbox could be the most important business decision you make in the age of AI! Ready to stop renting your audience and start owning it? Kae has put together a free resource with 25 ways to build your email list, and 24 of them won't cost you a thing! Head to www.owntheinbox.today to grab it and start building a business asset that nobody can take away from you! Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships (with a special summer offer), and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. Being a small team their spots are limited, and this promotion ends very soon, July 31st, 2026 (don't forget to mention that Marc sent you)!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: How AI has fundamentally shifted the way clients view authority and trust, and why your expertise alone no longer guarantees either. The reasons that coaching prospects are overwhelmed, skeptical, and distracted, and how their buying behavior has shifted as a result. Why the noisy AI landscape is actually a massive opportunity for coaches who show up consistently and become the trusted guide their clients are looking for. The quiet toll the customer acquisition rollercoaster takes on coaches financially and mentally, and what it really feels like when every month resets to zero. A story turned into a movie and the powerful lesson it holds for any coach who feels stuck in a system they don't understand. Why your email list is a real business asset that you actually own, and how shifting from "building a list" to "building relationships" changes everything. A free resource from Kae with 24 no-cost ways to start building your email list today. LINKS:  Get Kae's Free Resource Now! Episode 868 with Kae  Flamin' Hot (Movie) The Founder (Movie) Sam Walton: Made In America by Sam Walton Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

How do you know when it's finally time to leave your 9-to-5?In this episode of Mama's House To Penthouse, Prinston Hicks and Country Cowboy explore one of the biggest decisions every entrepreneur faces: betting on yourself.They discuss:When it's really time to leave your jobBuilding confidence before taking the leapWhy validation won't build your businessThe power of mastermind communitiesBusiness systems that create predictable incomeAI, automation, and modern entrepreneurshipPractical tools for growing a businessIf you've been waiting for the "perfect time" to pursue your vision, this conversation will challenge the way you think about risk, confidence, and entrepreneurship.Follow Mama's House To Penthouse for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, business systems, AI, leadership, sales, and building a life of freedom.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:30 Behind The Scenes & Logistics03:15 Why Logistics Win Businesses06:10 The "Fat Face" Story

Darryl Yearwood, who leads partnerships at Apollo, makes the case that a smaller, higher-quality partner roster beats chasing volume every time. He and Tye get into what "not plug-and-play" really means in affiliate marketing and how to build partnerships that actually move revenue.

Avishag Daniely built One Layer's entire marketing and partnerships function from scratch — coming from a background in IDF cyber intelligence. She shares how her military analytical training shaped her approach to B2B GTM, what it takes to build pipeline when no one's heard of your company yet, and why she treats every marketing decision like an intelligence problem.

Affiliate fraud investigator Ben Edelman joins Tye for an emergency episode breaking down the "Phia fiasco" that's rattling the affiliate marketing industry. Edelman, who's spent over 20 years catching affiliate fraud and has collaborated with Tye on forensic cases throughout his career, walks through what makes this case different from the usual stand-down violations that have hit shopping plugins like Honey and Microsoft Edge in the past.

In this episode of Strap On Your Boots, I reflect on one of the biggest lessons I've learned after building multiple software companies: creating a great product is no longer the hardest part of entrepreneurship. As software becomes easier to build with AI and modern development tools, the real challenge has shifted to earning attention, finding the right customers, and standing out in an increasingly crowded market. I also share why I pivoted from chasing thousands of SaaS subscribers to pursuing enterprise clients, and how changing the customer completely changed the business.

Logan Dunn, Head of E-commerce at Wyze, ran 100 ads at once, cut traffic, and watched conversions go up. In this episode, he breaks down the counterintuitive paid media playbook behind Wyze's D2C growth — including why narrow targeting beats broad reach, how in-house creative unlocks faster iteration, and what most brands get wrong about scaling paid spend.

How do you know when it's finally time to leave your 9-to-5?In this episode of Mama's House To Penthouse, Prinston Hicks and Country Cowboy explore one of the biggest decisions every entrepreneur faces: betting on yourself.They discuss:When it's really time to leave your jobBuilding confidence before taking the leapWhy validation won't build your businessThe power of mastermind communitiesBusiness systems that create predictable incomeAI, automation, and modern entrepreneurshipPractical tools for growing a businessIf you've been waiting for the "perfect time" to pursue your vision, this conversation will challenge the way you think about risk, confidence, and entrepreneurship.Follow Mama's House To Penthouse for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, business systems, AI, leadership, sales, and building a life of freedom.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:30 Behind The Scenes & Logistics03:15 Why Logistics Win Businesses06:10 The "Fat Face" Story

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with Founder and CEO Allan Khazak about why most high-ticket teams don't have a lead problem — they have a broken conversion process. Allan breaks down the exact system he uses to help insurance producers, advisors, and service-based businesses increase show rates, reduce no-shows, qualify faster, and close based on economic outcomes instead of product pitches. We dive into building an owned, compliant pipeline that works remotely and drives consistent, scalable revenue — without relying on purchased leads or massive recruiting teams. If you sell high-ticket services and want predictable booked appointments that actually convert, this episode is for you.

In this episode, explore the role of inbound calls in Google Ads campaigns for mortgage leads. He argues that businesses often overlook the power of immediate phone contact, treating it as an afterthought rather than a primary conversion channel. The discussion covers why these leads are unique, the importance of operational processes, and how to effectively track call performance. Key Takeaways The Urgency of Inbound Leads: When a user clicks to call directly from an ad, they have a clear intent: they want answers immediately. They are bypassing the standard web form journey because they are ready to talk now. Abolish the Phone Menu: Complex phone menus (IVRs) act as a barrier to potential clients who are already in a "solve my problem now" mindset. Alex advises businesses to remove these menus for ad-driven traffic, or use a dedicated phone number that connects directly to an adviser. Availability is Critical: Running Google Ads without a plan to answer the phone is "throwing money in the fire." If you miss the call, the lead will almost certainly move on to a competitor. If you cannot answer, consider outsourcing call handling, though speaking to an adviser directly remains the gold standard for conversion. The Power of Tracking: Use Google's call tracking numbers to get the full picture. This enables you to report on which specific keywords, ads, and landing pages are driving the most calls, allowing for better ROI analysis. There is no "Standard" Split: The ratio of web forms to inbound calls fluctuates wildly depending on the business. Data from various clients shows ranges from 80% forms to 80% calls. Don't assume a standard conversion ratio; track your specific data to understand your business reality. Actionable Advice Audit Your Process: If you are running ads, ensure someone is available to answer the phone immediately. If it's just you, prioritise availability during your active campaign hours. Clean Your Data: When reviewing call reports, filter out calls shorter than 10 seconds. These are often accidental "fat finger" clicks and will skew your conversion data. Be Accessible: Don't overthink the "professionalism" of being a small team. People want to know who they are working with; they don't need a corporate phone menu to feel secure. Connect with Alex For more insights into content experiments and lead generation data, subscribe to The Lead Engine newsletter on LinkedIn via Alex Curtis's profile. Brought to you by the team at The Lead Engine who specialise in generating mortgage leads.

The modern performance marketing framework is broken, driven down by rising customer acquisition costs and the steady decay of organic reach on traditional networks.In this episode, Nicole Collins, co-founder of 213Deli and former founding team member at Ipsy, outlines the structural adjustments brands must make to thrive within algorithmic social media marketplaces.Deconstructing early-stage subscription e-commerce architectures and evaluating their viability in today's fragmented digital ecosystems.Analyzing operational frameworks from mature Chinese live commerce networks and their domestic application gaps.Mitigating systemic startup risk through rigorous, transparent audits of co-founder operational alignment.Scaling enterprise distribution pathways in a post-follower economy dominated by algorithmic platform rules.Nicole Collins is an enterprise retail tech executive with over twenty years of experience designing high-intent discovery platforms and cross-border commercial channels.Connect with Nicole Collins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinsinla/Explore 213Deli's Infrastructure: https://www.213deli.com/Optimize your enterprise paid media deployment via Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/Follow Host Dylan Conroy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Most regional casino marketing budgets are running heavy on database reactivation — and the math underneath is more fragile than monthly reports show. A direct look at why database marketing has a ceiling, what new customer acquisition actually requires for a regional property, and how to make the case internally before the demographic curve forces it. Sharp, honest, and built for casino marketers thinking through their next budget conversation. Learn more at www.jcarcamoassociates.com/. Get insights delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/3MS2pOz Join the most effective casino marketing training. https://bit.ly/3MXUe3c

On this episode of Chit Chat Stocks, Brett interviews new guest James Emanuel, who discusses a payments stock trading at a discounted earnings multiple. We discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:43) Understanding business model (09:38) Competitive Landscape (12:35) Unique Country Focus (15:58) Growth Drivers: Total Payment Volume and Customer Acquisition (18:53) Addressing the Muddy Waters Short Report (33:00) Valuation (39:46) Risks and Challenges in Investment (45:10) Growth potential (56:40) Final Thoughts and Resources James's Substack: https://rockandturner.substack.com/ James's book: https://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Success-Threads-Tapestry-Business/dp/B0D5W7B9W1 ***************************************************** Subscribe to our newsletter, Emerging Moats: emergingmoats.com  ********************************************************************* Chit Chat Stocks is presented by Interactive Brokers. Get professional pricing, global access, and premier technology with the best brokerage for investors today:  https://www.interactivebrokers.com/  Interactive Brokers is a member of SIPC.  ********************************************************************* Fiscal.ai is building the future of financial data. With custom charts, AI-generated research reports, and endless analytical tools, you can get up to speed on any stock around the globe. All for a reasonable price.  Use our LINK and get 15% off any premium plan: ⁠https://fiscal.ai/chitchat  ********************************************************************* Disclosure: Chit Chat Stocks hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and nothing they say on this show is formal advice or a recommendation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this today's segment, Dan Sperring, founder and CEO of Align ICP, breaks down a mistake most revenue leaders make when defining their ideal customer profile. The instinct is to chase the highest lifetime value customers, but those segments are often the hardest to win, the slowest to close, and the first to break when the market shifts. This clip focuses on how to balance three critical factors inside your ICP: lifetime value, ease of acquisition, and market health. Dan explains why ignoring any one of these creates pipeline risk, and how leaders can avoid over-rotating into segments that look great on paper but fail in execution. For leaders responsible for predictable growth, this is about making smarter tradeoffs, not just better targeting. Dan Sperring is the founder and CEO of AlignICP, a company focused on helping revenue teams align around high-value customer segments to drive predictable growth. He brings experience across customer success, revenue leadership, and scaling SaaS businesses through product-market and go-to-market alignment. Connect with Dan: AlignICP LinkedIn Books mentioned: The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen The Innovator's Solution by Clayton M. Christensen and Michael E. Raynor Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross and ​​Marylou Tyler  Amp It Up by Frank Slootman Tools and podcasts mentioned: clay.com zoominfo.com The Science of Scaling Podcast Listen to the full episode: Aligning Pipeline to Ideal Customer Profile with Dan Sperring Get the Force Management framework for aligning your ICP, sales motion, and customer lifecycle around high-value use cases and measurable business outcomes: The Predictable Revenue Framework: Guide for Leaders Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results. This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross breaks down why founders often over-focus on perfecting the product while underinvesting in the most important part of business: getting customers to buy. He shares 20 practical customer acquisition tactics covering owned channels, outreach, community building, audience engagement, strategic partnerships, personal branding, and frictionless buying experiences. Key Takeaways and Insights: 1. Shift Your Mindset Around Sales - Stop treating every “no” as personal rejection and start seeing it as progress toward a “yes.” - Customer acquisition requires courage, repetition, and strategic thinking—not a massive budget. - Founders need to understand customer nuance, buying behavior, and how to create urgency around their offer. 2. Own Your Audience with Email - Build and maintain an email list so you can communicate directly with prospects and customers. - Make every email valuable enough to inspire, educate, entertain, or give subscribers a competitive edge. - Avoid using email only for product updates or blog announcements; turn it into a trusted resource. 3. Build a High-Value Resource Hub - Create a website section filled with useful tools, guides, quizzes, calculators, and interactive content. - Use gated resources and community features to capture leads and build deeper audience engagement. - Watch for social referral traffic as a signal that your content is valuable enough to share. 4. Create Communities Around Your Market - Build private Slack, Discord, Facebook, or Reddit communities where your ideal customers can gather. - Use these spaces to collect feedback, test ideas, host sessions, and create word-of-mouth momentum. - Stay close to your most engaged community members—they may become your strongest customers. 5. Master Personalized Outreach - Cold email still works when it is researched, relevant, and written for one specific person. - Use LinkedIn, company updates, investor reports, and business context to make outreach feel human. - Ask for feedback or a short conversation instead of immediately pushing for a demo or sale. 6. Leverage Your Existing Network - Reach out to past colleagues, classmates, and professional connections who may now be in relevant roles. - Ask for specific warm introductions and make it easy by writing the intro message for them. - Schedule no-pitch coffee chats to build awareness, gather market research, and create future evangelists. 7. Show Up Where Your Audience Already Spends Time - Participate in Reddit, Medium, Hacker News, Quora, Facebook groups, Slack communities, and X with value-first engagement. - Study the culture of each platform before posting so your contributions fit naturally. - Use podcasts, influencers, guest posts, webinars, and co-marketing to access already-established audiences. 8. Use Strategic Partnerships to Generate Leads - Build referral partnerships with complementary businesses that already serve your ideal customers. - Offer commissions, kickbacks, or revenue share to incentivize partners to send qualified leads. - Create co-branded content or guest content to borrow trust and reach from established audiences. —

In this podcast episode recorded live at the COVESA meeting, host John Heinlein interviews Roger Lanctot about how the automotive industry can leverage vehicle data to transition from a B2B to a B2C model, prioritizing driver personalization over data monetization to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.Chapters:0:00 Introduction to Vehicle Data and Personalization1:12 Introducing Roger Lanctot3:11 Personalization not Monetization5:23 Engagement Strategies of New Automakers6:27 Case Study: Chevy Equinox Connectivity Experience9:57 The Cost of Customer Acquisition and Retention12:11 Ensuring Privacy14:47 Emerging Trends in Vehicle Diagnostics15:45 The Evolution of Usage-Based Insurance18:43 Real-Time Feedback and Driver Engagement19:59 The Future of Personalization in Automotive21:06 Changing the Dealer Engagement Model22:13 Conclusion and Future Perspectives

What does it really take to scale your business with paid ads — without wasting money, burning out, or feeling overwhelmed? In this powerful episode, Allison Walsh welcomes paid advertising expert and entrepreneur Ashley Brock, founder of the Paid Ads Academy, to break down the mindset, strategy, and systems behind profitable business growth through paid traffic. Ashley shares her incredible journey from working with Fortune 500 brands like Coca-Cola, Michaels, and GameStop to building her own 8-figure company in less than three years. Together, Allison and Ashley unpack: The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make with paid ads How to know when you're ready to invest in advertising Why your mindset around money directly impacts your sales How Ashley overcame fear and self-doubt while building her business What makes paid ads work across Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Spotify, and more The importance of data, testing, and customer lifetime value Why visibility is critical for scaling your impact and income How to stop relying on guesswork and become “findable” online Ashley also shares the emotional story behind the moment she bet on herself, invested in mentorship while pregnant, and turned uncertainty into her first six-figure day — a decision that ultimately helped launch an 8-figure brand. Whether you're a coach, creator, service provider, local business owner, or entrepreneur ready to grow your audience and revenue, this episode will help you rethink how you approach marketing, money, and scaling your business. If you're ready to learn how to turn visibility into consistent leads and real business growth, this conversation is for you. Ready to stop guessing when it comes to paid ads? Join Ashley Brock's 5-Day Win With Paid Ads® Challenge and learn how to attract the right audience, create profitable ad strategies, and become more “findable” online — without wasting money or relying solely on organic growth. ✨ Join the challenge here: https://paidadscoaching.com/challenge-604074?am_id=allison2763 Connect with Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ads.with.ashley/ https://paidadscoaching.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/paid-ads-academy https://www.youtube.com/@ads.with.ashley https://www.facebook.com/WinWithPaidAds/ This episode was sponsored by Be A Mind Leader and AdventHealth for Women.  Learn more about Be A Mindleader here.  Learn more about AdventHealth for Women here   Positioned for Partnerships™ Mini Course - Turn your platform into a revenue-generating brand opportunity—without needing a massive following. Learn how to position your brand, create a high-converting media kit, and confidently pitch partnerships so brands instantly understand your value. 

What you'll learn in this episode: Why being “60% right and 40% wrong” can still destroy a business The biggest mistake founders make during customer development Why product-market fit exists on a spectrum—not as a yes/no answer The customer development funnel that creates referrals naturally How to know when your product is ready to scale The danger of building based on your own assumptions instead of customer pain Why entrepreneurs struggle to balance confidence with humility The exact questions to ask customers before investing in growth How Uber Eats generated 33x stronger sales results than average clients Why slowing down can actually help you grow faster About Collin Stewart Founder, CEO, podcast host & failed musician How can he help you? Bootstrapped PR to millions in revenue Built a revenue team to 11 Grew 3 companies from $0–$1M as the only sales hire Hosts a podcast with 120+ episodes Nailed product-market fit but whiffed on building it (and learned a tonne from it) Connect with Collin Stewart: Predictable Revenue Founder's Edition The Terrifying Art Collin Stewart LinkedIn Predictable Revenue Podcast

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Richard C. Wilson sits down with Kevin Harrington, original Shark from Shark Tank, inventor of the infomercial, and founder of the As Seen on TV brand, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and invest in breakout companies. Kevin shares hard-earned lessons from launching over 500 products, generating billions in sales, and helping companies grow through customer acquisition, branding, distribution, influencer marketing, and fair deal-making. The conversation covers the biggest mistakes early-stage founders make, how to create an irresistible offer, why one-minute pitch videos matter, how exponential deal flow creates better investment opportunities, and what Kevin looks for when evaluating businesses and partnerships. If you are a founder, investor, capital raiser, or entrepreneur trying to scale faster, improve your pitch, and understand how elite operators think about growth, branding, and negotiation, this episode is packed with practical insight.https://familyoffices.com/

For Mother's Day, Tye DeGrange hands the mic to his mom — Ginger DeGrange. Rodeo queen. Horse trainer. Summer camp founder. 36-year instructor who's taught 10,000+ students the art of horsemanship at Santa Rosa Junior College. This one's full of great stories: the OJ Simpson trail ride, a student who went on to dine with the Queen of England, competing at the Grand National, and the old reinsman who taught Ginger that quiet confidence beats loud energy every time. Plus real lessons on building confidence, earning trust, and leading with feel — on and off the horse.

The conversation in most ecommerce businesses right now is about which channels to double down on. Meta is getting more expensive. CAC is going up. Every dollar of paid spend aimed at reaching a customer who hasn't found you yet.But some of those customers have already found you. Through a different door.Right now someone is buying your jacket secondhand on eBay. Someone is renting your dress through a peer-to-peer platform. Someone is picking up your shoes from a Facebook buy-swap-sell group. For many of those people, that's their first real experience of your brand. That's acquisition. It's just acquisition you're not in.In this playbook, we cover three things ecommerce operators can take into their business:Your secondary market is already running without youSecondary buyers aren't defectors. They're the top of your funnel.The brand experience of the secondary sale is yours to own or loseConnect with Bernadette OlivierExplore The Volte and SeamlistSubscribe to the Add To Cart newsletterConnect with Nathan Bush on LinkedInJoin the Add To Cart Community 

Huel: Limited Time Offer - Get Huel today with our exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with our code ICED15 at https://www.huel.com/iced15. New Customers Only. MagBak: Get 15% off of ANY product using code COFFEE! at https://creators.magbak.com/theicedcoffeehour9tn Airbnb: Find a co-host at https://airbnb.com/host Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ich CHECK OUT OUR NEW CREDIT IDEA: http://www.extradollar.com/ Follow  @thekoerneroffice  Here! *

This Predictable Revenue Podcast episode, featuring our host Collin Stewart, explores biotech innovation, product-market fit, and navigating the complexities of drug development with co-founder Punit from ALP AI.   Discover how machine learning and immune system testing are transforming pharmaceutical research.   Highlights include: Transitioning from Academia to Industry (07:38), Validating the Business Idea (11:27), Pricing Strategies and Customer Acquisition (20:26), Leveraging Technology for Market Entry (26:29), and more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights on Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!

Every platform eventually turns on the brands that built on it. The leaders winning now aren't begging algorithms for reach – they're owning their audience directly. Tyler Denk is doing exactly that. As CEO of beehiiv, he's built a $500K newsletter in five hours a week while running a $30M business with 110 employees across 15 countries. Before that, he was employee number two at famed newsletter Morning Brew, which sold for $75 million.  He joins Oliver to unpack why storytelling is now your most important business asset, why your social following may be worth less than you think, and how the best leaders today are the ones who know how to communicate, not just manage.  Learn why owning your audience is the most important move leaders can make right now. ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction  (00:58) Why platforms are unreliable now  (02:23) Power of Newsletters (07:31) Why Storytelling is Key (10:16) Founding beehiiv (13:48) Leading Remote 110 Team  (19:39) Creator & CEO Hybrid (21:59) Customer Acquisition in AI Age (25:02) Own Distribution  (29:14) Transparency as a Superpower (32:10) LinkedIn strategy and building a brand as CEO

What happens when the product that made you famous starts holding you back? Kevin Gould co-founded Glamnetic in 2019 with Ann McFerran, launching a magnetic eyelash brand that exploded from $1 million to $50 million in revenue in just one year — fueled by a great product, smart growth marketing, and the COVID-era boom in DIY beauty. But when the tailwinds reversed — iOS 14 updates sent acquisition costs soaring, the lash category contracted, and revenue dipped 25% — Kevin faced a make-or-break decision. Rather than doubling down on what was declining, he pivoted the entire business into press-on nails, a category still in its infancy. Today, Glamnetic is one of the largest press-on nail brands in the world, doing over $100 million a year. In this episode, Kevin gets real about the unglamorous side of hypergrowth: the cash flow crunches that come with scaling too fast, the inventory mistakes that haunt you, and the emotional toll of watching revenue fall when you expected it to double. He shares how he and his team navigated the pivot, why community and brand affinity will always outlast paid acquisition, and why the best advice he can give founders is: don't grow too fast. You'll learn: Why going from $1M to $50M overnight nearly broke the business How to manage cash flow and inventory when you're self-funded The marketing mix that built a real brand — not just an ad machine Why TikTok Shop is the biggest arbitrage opportunity right now How a 40,000-member Facebook community doubles as a product development engine The one hire every founder should prioritize early on What it really takes — personally and professionally — to turn a pivot into a $100M business Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Two recent college grads turned a dorm room pistachio recipe into a fast-growing food brand—by letting their community call the shots. Nicola Buffo and Francine Voit, co-founders of Pistakio, share how they pivoted from pistachio mayo to a sweet pistachio spread one week before their first big grocery pitch, built a loyal following on social media because a college professor forced them to start posting, and turned customer DMs into their best-selling products—including their crunchy spread and date bark. In this episode, Nico and Fran talk about: How a last-minute product pivot landed them in Portland's biggest local retailer Why they said no to Shark Tank and Target before they were ready How community-led product development drove 10x growth Building a brand in public from day one (even with terrible dorm room lighting) The café tour strategy that gets customers to try the product risk-free Navigating a business partnership that's also a romantic relationship The $20,000 TikTok agency mistake and what they learned from it Why taste—not health trends—is their only non-negotiable Whether you're starting a food business, looking for community-driven marketing strategies, or figuring out when to say no to big opportunities, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable advice for ecommerce entrepreneurs. For more on Pistakio and show notes click here: https://www.shopify.com/blog/pistakio-community-led-product-development?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more video episodes: https://utm.io/uhw53 Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

This week on Marketing O'Clock: Google is rolling out its first core update of this year, which aims to help surface relevant content for searchers. Plus, there is a new Customer Acquisition Calculator in Google Ads Campaign Settings. Visit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/

Andrew Dudum is the Founder and CEO of Hims, the company reshaping consumers relationship to healthcare. It has been a rocky ride over the last 6 months, the company is down 66%, their market cap today is $4.3BN on $2.3BN of revenue. They just bought their largest international competitor, Eucalyptus for $1.5BN.  AGENDA: 00:00 — Why Being Public Is Better Than Private  02:50 — My Advice to The Collisons on Taking Stripe Public 07:15 — How to Hire for the Most Gritty People: The Test  10:55 — How AI Will Reshape All of Customer Acquisition  15:30 — What Did Hims Do That Andrew Wishes They Had Not Done  20:15 — What is the Least Profitable but Most Important Hims Product 27:10 — The $1.5BN Acquisition: Why Hims Bought Their Biggest Global Competitor  33:45 — Why Brand Marketing Beats Performance Marketing  39:40 — The Future of Prevention: Why Your Next Blood Test Should Be Free  46:50 — Disrupting the PBMs: How We Are Breaking the Corrupt US Healthcare System

Today, we're joined by Andrew Stern, CEO of Quilt Software – not a fabric company, but a software company powering 20K+ specialty retailers across North America. We talk about:The advantages of serving thousands of smaller customers, such as predictabilityProviding users with actionable intelligenceServing a highly varied client baseBringing best-of-breed solutions to small market segmentsWhy the little guys are chronically underserved

Customer acquisition is getting more expensive — and less effective. CAC is rising. Paid channels are delivering diminishing returns. And many brands are investing more into growth marketing without seeing proportional results. But the problem isn't your channels. It's how your customer acquisition strategy is built. Most customer acquisition strategies rely on traditional models — awareness, consideration, conversion — or growth marketing frameworks like AAARRR. And while these models aren't wrong, they're incomplete. They assume customers evaluate options rationally. But behavioral science shows that's not how people actually make decisions. Customers decide quickly, using mental shortcuts — and one of the most powerful is identity: Is this for someone like me? In this episode, we break down: Why most customer acquisition strategies are underperforming The hidden flaw in traditional growth marketing frameworks How identity shapes customer decision-making and conversion Why brands lose customers before the funnel even begins The difference between “melting pot” and “mosaic” marketing How to reduce friction and improve conversion across your customer journey Real examples from brands like Netflix, Toyota, Walmart, and more If you want to improve conversion, lower CAC, and drive sustainable brand growth, your growth marketing strategy needs to align with how customers actually see themselves — and how their brains make decisions. Because customer acquisition doesn't start with your funnel. It starts with your "who." Friction Finder Growth Audit: https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Frictionless Growth Roadmapping Session: https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmapping/ Email Sonia: Sonia@soniaethompson.com

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to go from $0 to billions in product sales?In this high-energy strategy session, I sit down with Kevin Harrington — original shark on Shark Tank, inventor of the infomercial, and founder behind 20+ companies that each surpassed $100M in revenue.This isn't theory. This is a tactical breakdown of how a real operator builds billion-dollar momentum.Kevin shares:• Why customer acquisition strategy matters more than your product• How Celsius went from a 22¢ stock to a $12B brand using influencer distribution• The “Tease, Please, Close” framework for irresistible pitch videos• Why lifetime customer value beats one-time sales every time• How to negotiate royalty deals that create long-term deal flow• The psychology behind closing high-stakes transactions• How to turn negotiations around so the other side sells you• Why fair deal structures lead to billion-dollar partnerships• The health, energy, and personal standards required to operate at high velocityWe also go deep on:Distribution as the ultimate moatStructuring deals that attract repeat partnersCreating exponential vs. geometric growthWhen and how to restructure agreementsPositioning yourself to see deals first — and at better valuationsKevin also shares behind-the-scenes lessons from building As Seen on TV, launching global infomercials across multiple continents, and scaling through downtime arbitrage in media.If you are a founder, investor, family office executive, or capital raiser, this episode is a masterclass in:Branding + Distribution + Deal Structure + Energy ManagementNo fluff. No theory. Just tactical insights from someone who has generated over $5B in product sales.If you want to operate at a centimillionaire level — this is required listening.https://familyoffices.com/

When Lauren Gropper noticed the amount of disposable plastics used on film sets, she saw a design opportunity. That reframe built Repurpose into a 15-year-old brand selling compostable products while diverting 727 million pieces of plastic from landfills. For more on Repurpose and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

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  

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