E066: DTC Marketers - Where Are You Wasting Your Time?

Today we’re getting into how acquisition offers - particularly in pop-ups - can do much more than drive opt-ins. The type of offer you lead with shapes who you acquire, how much they spend, and future LTV. We share examples from the offers we run on our brands, comparing blanket discounts with offers like cashback and second-order incentives, and how those choices impacted retention, AOV, and customer lifetime value.We also discuss why some offers that looked successful on the surface ended up hurting long-term performance or creating poor customer experiences, and how simple changes led to big lifts in repeat purchase rate. We also touch on whywhy very few teams are testing their pop-ups rigorously, what makes offer testing difficult, and how to build an approach that’s aligned with long-term goals - not just short-term wins.We also dig into Meta’s recent performance trends, using the latest data from the Haus report. We share what they’re seeing across ASC and manual campaigns, how different optimization strategies are playing out, and why it's getting harder to rely on Meta as a consistent acquisition engine.Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠.Operators Podcast Episode 123: The Meta Incrementality Report: Lessons from 640 Haus Experiments Chapters:00:00 Introduction 02:34 The Power of Cash Back Offers05:28 Data-Driven Insights on Pop-Up Offers08:19 Retention Metrics and Customer Engagement11:06 Testing Methodologies for Pop-Up Offers14:19 Holistic Approaches to Customer Acquisition17:14 Innovative Second Order Offers20:05 Challenges in Optimizing First Touch Points26:10 Future Trends in E-commerce Offers35:43 Optimizing Data Reporting and Analysis38:00 Evolving Marketing Strategies and Cash Back Offers41:05 Insights from Meta's Campaign Performance Report44:52 Understanding Incrementality in Marketing49:04 Navigating Meta's Advertising Changes54:43 Leveraging Bundle Builders for Increased ConversionsFinance Operators Episode: How CashBack beats discount codes & More with Dan GlazerPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In today’s episode, we’re talking channel expansion and diversifying our media mix - when to think about launching on new channels, what to test, and how to approach those decisions with more clarity.We break down our current media mixes, the journeys that got us here, and the mental frameworks we use to decide what to try next.We’re also joined by Austin Santino, Client Development Manager at Tatari, who shares his perspective on how DTC brands are approaching TV. He breaks down what it really takes to get started with TV advertising, why it’s more accessible than most brands think, and how Tatari is helping brands treat TV more like a performance channel. We talk about starting budgets, creative expectations, how attribution actually works, and what kinds of brands should (and shouldn’t) be thinking about TV right now.If you’re thinking about where to go next with your paid strategy, or how to evolve your channel mix beyond Meta, this episode will help you sense-check your timing, avoid wasted spend, and expand with more confidence.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv600:00 Introduction04:14 Exploring Channel Expansion and Diversification07:01 Current Media Mix and Strategies17:16 The Evolution of Media Mix Over Time25:50 Testing New Channels and Creative Strategies36:23 Insights from the Media Mix Journey42:06 Testing and Scaling Ad Strategies49:15 Creative Diversity and Measurement in Advertising01:01:04 Navigating TV Advertising: Insights and Strategies01:12:07 The Evolution of TV Creative: UGC vs. High Production01:21:25 Final Thoughts on TV Advertising and MeasurementPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsTatari.https://www.tatari.tv/?utm_campaign=16263599-Marketing%20Operators%20July&utm_source=marketing%20operators&utm_medium=podcastSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

When we heard Eric Seufert talk at the Meta Summit we knew we had to have him on the show.Eric is the founder of Mobile Dev Memo and partner at Heracles Capital, and he joins us today for a deep dive into how today’s smartest marketers approach measurement. We unpack the difference between deterministic and probabilistic attribution, why incrementality testing beats last-click reporting, and how to make sense of CAC, LTV, and payback periods across different business models. Eric shares insights on Meta’s evolving AI infrastructure, signal loss, and platform opacity, explaining why a single tool can’t give you the full picture, and why the greatest marketers are the ones that think like data scientists. He also introduces the concept of signal engineering: how to guide automated ad platforms by sending higher-quality signals and intent data.If you’re enjoying the podcast, please hit the subscribe button, comment, share and like - it helps us reach more people, get more great guests on the show and keep bringing these episodes to you every week.Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? ⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠.00:00 Introduction 06:42 The Role of Discord in Gaming Advertising09:21 Eric's Journey in the Gaming Industry19:04 Understanding Freemium Models in Mobile Gaming26:08 Incentivized Advertising in Gaming29:55 Understanding Measurement Tools in Advertising30:24 Deterministic vs. Probabilistic Measurement33:14 Attribution Models and Measurement Tools39:16 Geo Lift Studies and Their Application43:03 Common Sense in Marketing Measurement54:10 Operationalizing Incrementality Testing56:25 Understanding Incrementality and Testing Strategies01:00:33 Navigating the Meta Ecosystem and AI Changes01:06:40 Signal Engineering and Optimizing for Conversions01:09:44 Radical Experimentation in Creative Strategies01:21:55 Breaking Out of Targeting LoopsMeta's AI advertising playbook (with Matt Steiner):https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-5-episode-23-metas-ai-advertising-playbook-with/id1423753783?i=1000711081020Powered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Today, we dig into the Meta performance issues we’ve been seeing firsthand - where spend is up, reach is down and performance isn’t tracking the way it used to. We unpack what’s been going wrong, and share the tactical changes we’ve tested to get better results.We get into where we’ve historically over-invested or moved too slowly, how we’re thinking about creative and spend caps right now, and why simplifying account structure might be more powerful than layering on more campaigns. We also discuss where performance has started to turn around as a result of strategic shifts and tests.We also touch our amazon prime day results so far, recent product drops and more.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv600:00 introduction05:16 Event Insights and Networking08:06 Product Launch Challenges11:30 Marketing Strategy and Tier Systems13:56 AI Automation in Marketing17:14 Prime Day Performance Analysis20:04 Meta Advertising Roadmap26:07 Channel Diversification Strategies29:04 New Product Launches and Incrementality31:50 Funnel Diagnostics and Performance Metrics34:36 Creative Strategies for Different Audiences37:42 Testing and Optimizing Campaigns40:35 Leveraging Partnership Ads43:51 Final Thoughts on Meta and Future StrategiesPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In this episode, we’re joined by James from Boring Marketing to dig into how smart DTC marketers are actually using AI - not just to move faster, but to build more efficient systems and workflows.We talk about how AI can support content systems and internal processes, the difference between prompting and system-building, and why using AI just to generate content won’t drive results on its own. James shares how he’s using MCPs to improve creative output, how agents differ from real workflows today, and how to get more out of your team by designing AI to work alongside them.James also walks us through how he’s thinking about building repeatable content frameworks using AI, and later breaks down a Shopify product page to show how vague, vibe-based copy, often the result of poor AI implementation, can fall flat.To wrap up, James shares his take on what the biggest implementation of AI in the second half of 2025 will be, and what marketers should be paying attention to now.Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠.00:00 Introduction 04:33 The Evolution of Boring Marketer08:41 Understanding Agents vs. Workflows12:50 The Year of Efficiency in AI17:40 Getting Started with AI Workflows21:27 Research and Analysis with AI28:46 Vibe Coding vs. Traditional Automation36:25 Tactical Approaches to Creative Generation42:32 Scraping Ads and Analyzing Competitors46:19 Building a Unique Marketing Brief48:16 Learning to Use AI Tools Effectively50:08 The Future of AI in Marketing58:59 Creating a Brand Analysis01:01:00 The Future of AI Tools in E-commerce01:05:09 Closing the Loop with AI Workflows01:11:31 Building a Shopify Site with AI01:22:45 The Future of Media Buying with AIPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In ecommerce marketing today, acquisition costs are rising, tariffs are up, and growth is harder to come by, which means DTC brands are under pressure to do more with leaner teams. That got us thinking about where are marketers - and our teams - wasting time, and how can we work more efficiently without sacrificing performance?In this episode, we break down the marketing workflows, habits, and internal processes that slow teams down and drain resources, from spending too long refining content that should’ve shipped, to full landing page redesigns, creative testing that never scales, and attribution deep dives that don’t lead to action.We also talk about how to run a lean marketing team without losing output, where DTC marketers tend to overcomplicate, and how to better prioritize what actually drives performance, and much more.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv600:00 Kickoff and Prime Day Preparations02:53 Marketing Strategies for Major Sales Events05:45 Driving Traffic to Amazon: Strategies and Insights09:07 The Importance of Attribution Links11:54 Exploring Paid Traffic for Amazon14:52 Wasting Time in E-commerce: Identifying Inefficiencies17:54 The Balance of Ad Volume and Quality21:11 Learning from Product Launches: Successes and Failures23:46 The Role of Plain Text Emails in Retention27:13 Leveraging Existing Products for New Launches41:49 Wasting Time and High Leverage Attachments48:29 Customer Service Tools and Efficiency57:01 Evaluating SEO and Affiliate Marketing01:01:08 Setting Clear Goals for Marketing Functions01:04:32 Retail as a Growth Channel01:10:40 Operationalizing Marketing Insights01:18:49 The Interconnectedness of Digital and Retail RevenuePowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

This week, we’re talking AI creative, product page testing, and Shopify updates - plus, we’re joined by Steve Rekuc from Common Thread Collective who walks us through how he built the Spending Power metric at CTC, what it tells us about shifting consumer demand, and how brands can use it to adjust spend and planning month to month. We also dig into seasonality vs macro-driven variability, and why awareness of your environment is key to making smarter decisions.We also discuss the viral Kalshi ad and discuss how we’re approaching AI tools for creative development, from visual quality to concept support. We also talk about recent PDP testing wins, what changed, and how to think about the structure of your product pages going into peak season.Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? ⁠Click here⁠.00:00 Introduction02:57 Analytics Reporting and Year-Over-Year Comparisons07:12 Data Warehousing and Shopify Analytics10:54 AI in Marketing and Creative Strategies16:53 Consumer Confidence and E-commerce Predictions23:00 Insights from Common Thread Collective34:20 Understanding Spending Power37:14 Incrementality Testing for Marketing Efficiency40:01 Seasonality and Brand Performance43:41 Predicting Future Spending Power46:59 Consumer Confidence and Spending Trends49:47 Insights from Data for Brand Strategy52:27 Iterating on Product Design and User ExperienceKalshi Ad: https://x.com/PJaccetturo/status/1932893260399456513Steve's X Thread: https://x.com/RSteveData/status/1931107166792159711Episode 64 with Dylan Anders:YouTube: https://youtu.be/QJvj3z68rbE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3iwer8FNwuwzDDnAV5X7JV?si=ab23e70a86404639Powered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Today we’re joined by Dylan Ander, founder of heatmap.com, to talk attribution, LTV, CAC, creative testing, and what actually moves the needle in media buying performance.We unpack why conversion rate alone isn’t the best indicator of success and what to look at instead, from holdout testing and CAC payback windows to 60-day LTV. Dylan shares his approach to attribution when platform data (especially from Meta) falls short, and how to build creative testing frameworks that truly help scale spend.We also dive into the nuances of media buying across channels, how to interpret noisy performance data, and the signals that actually matter. Dylan breaks down how to use on-site surveys to gather clearer attribution insights - what to ask, how to ask it, and how to use the data. Plus, we get into pricing strategy: why many brands hesitate to raise prices, and how pricing impacts both conversion and LTV.Finally, Dylan walks through an audit of Cody’s website using heatmap and revenue data, offering tactical, high-leverage feedback on what’s working, what’s not, and what to test next.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv600:00 Meta Summit Takeaways02:47 AI in Marketing Strategies06:08 Introduction to Dylan Ender09:04 Core Web Analytics Insights11:55 Customer Feedback and CRO15:13 The Importance of AOV and Conversion Rate17:58 Revenue Per Session vs. Conversion Rate20:50 Price Testing Strategies39:41 Revenue Testing and Feedback42:08 The Importance of Price Testing43:36 Challenges in SaaS Pricing44:57 Understanding Heat Maps and Analytics52:58 Live Testing vs. Split Testing56:20 The Role of Customer Feedback in Marketing01:01:12 Understanding Funnel Metrics01:08:53 Optimizing Navigation for Better User ExperienceEpisodes discussed in the show:Episode 1 - A Deep Dive into Attribution and Measurement Episode 27 - How We Set Goals, Attribution Limitations and KPIs for Growth? Powered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In this episode, we dive into Meta ad performance, Shopify’s latest AI features (including Sidekick), and we answer your DTC marketing questions from our MOps Hotline.We start with unpacking how Meta is performing for us right now - why it’s still the most powerful channel in the stack, but also less forgiving than it used to be. Cody shares the thinking behind his recent tweet on Meta volatility and how we’re adapting creative and media buying to respond.Next, we discuss to Shopify’s latest AI announcements and tools - from Sidekick to generative features inside the Shopify platform. We discuss whether these updates are useful for ecommerce operators, or just more hype.Ad finally, we get into a round of your questions from our MOps Hotline, covering email vs SMS strategy, SKU-level segmentation, channel prioritization, and more.Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? Click here.00:00 Introduction 04:34 Leveraging AI in Marketing07:05 The New Metric: Cost Per 1000 Accounts Reached19:26 Optimizing Meta Advertising Strategies27:38 AI Innovations in Shopify37:34 The Future of E-commerce with AI44:12 Incrementality Testing for Ad Spend51:41 Effective Marketing Measurement and Reporting01:02:54 Pricing Strategies and Conversion RatesMehtab's X Thread:https://x.com/mehtabkarta/status/1924547703373189179?s=46Powered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Disclaimer: Meta participated as a guest on this podcast episode, However, Meta does not endorse or sponsor this podcast, its content, or any of its commercial partners or sponsors. Any views expressed are those of the individual participants and do not represent the views of Meta. The Marketing Operators hosts have a live discussion about marketing at the Meta Summit. They discuss the concept of incrementality in marketing, exploring its significance, measurement techniques, and the evolving landscape of marketing tools. They discuss the importance of understanding which conversions are truly incremental and how to effectively measure them using various tools and strategies. They emphasize the need for a culture of experimentation and the role of data triangulation in optimizing marketing efforts. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by marketers in adapting to changing consumer behaviors and the future of incrementality in the marketing industry. They explore the role of AI in creative development, emphasizing the need for diverse and culturally resonant content. 00:00 Introduction to Incrementality in Marketing02:45 Understanding Incrementality: Definitions and Examples06:04 The Role of Measurement in Incrementality09:08 Tools and Strategies for Measuring Incrementality12:01 Operationalizing Incrementality in Marketing18:03 Triangulation of Data for Better Insights20:48 The Future of Incrementality in Marketing29:23 Driving Brand Outcomes through Incrementality33:30 Revisiting Past Ads for New Opportunities35:43 The Future of Creative Testing with AI39:30 Cultural Resonance vs. AI-Generated Content43:54 The Balance of AI and Human Creativity47:32 Exploring Creative AI Platforms51:08 Actionable Insights for Future CampaignsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/