This week, we’re joined by Jon “JMo” Morgenstern, Head of Investment at VaynerMedia, who manages over $1.5B in annual media spend across brands like Oreo/Mondelez, JP Morgan Chase, PepsiCo, and Yeti. JMo breaks down how enterprise advertisers think about channel mix, retail media, and allocating capital across Meta, TikTok, CTV, Amazon, and Walmart and what DTC operators can learn from teams working at that scale.
From there, we dive deep into measurement. JMo breaks down how enterprise teams are approaching incrementality, causal MMM, brand lift, and retail media halo effects and why fast-moving brands need to start thinking beyond last-click and short-window ROAS if they want to graduate into real growth mode.
Then we move into creative. We talk about why “just make more ads” isn’t the strategy and how Vayner thinks about creative volume × creative diversity, niche persona testing, and using organic performance as a signal before scaling into paid.
We wrap with TikTok Shop, retail partnerships, and why even the biggest brands in the world are still navigating the same innovator’s dilemma as fast-growth DTC brands - just with more zeros and way more stakeholders. If you're trying to spend smarter, measure smarter, and make creative that actually moves the needle, you’re gonna love this one.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:04:59 - Fortune 500 vs DTC Strategies
00:17:59 - Measuring Awareness, Incrementality & MMM
00:38:49 - Vayner Volume Model: Diversity over Iteration
00:52:49 - Turning Organic Wins into TV Commercials
01:04:11 - TikTok Shop Strategy & Cross-Channel Halo
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Richpanel.
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Aftersell.
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Rivo.
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In this episode of Marketing Operators, Cody and Connor unpack the real impact of Meta’s Andromeda update and what creative diversity actually means today, plus how to optimize for it in an algorithm-driven environment. They break down how short-form, personalized feeds have reshaped the playbook, why we’ve shifted from the editor era to the creator era, and what now constitutes a better ad in Meta’s eyes. They also dig into how to scale truly diverse creative without slowing down, harness organic social as a performance engine, and how the creative strategist role is evolving - expanding beyond editing into creator-first, social-native thinking and faster content systems.
Then they’re joined by Cathy Sun, VP of Ecommerce at AppLovin, to dive into the launch of AppLovin’s self-serve Axon ads platform. Cathy breaks down how rewarded mobile gaming ads work, why long-form clickable inventory is driving incremental performance for e-commerce brands, and the creative tactics that win - from increasing ad volume and variation to leveraging interactive formats and scaling with repeatable creative workflows. She shares real stories of brands rapidly ramping spend and unlocking breakout ROAS on AppLovin, and why this channel has quickly become a powerful performance complement to Meta.
If you’re evolving your creative for the Andromeda era and looking for scalable performance channels beyond Meta, this episode delivers the frameworks, tactics, and operator-level insights to grow with confidence.
Check out Axon by AppLovin: https://axon.ai/inviteonlyUse code: KLOHWKP3YM
Operators Masterclass on Channel Growth: https://www.9operators.com/applovin
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:06:46 - The "Andromeda" Apocalypse
00:21:55 - Why We're in the "Creator Era" (Not the "Editor Era")
00:37:56 - How to Hire in the Creator Era
00:53:37 - Special Guest: What is AppLovin's Axon Platform?
01:07:39 - AppLovin Performance & Creative Best Practices
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https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Haus.
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This week on Marketing Operators, Connor MacDonald kicks things off with a pressing question: “What does a modern CX team and workflow look like today?” From there, we dive into a growing debate across modern commerce - does CX actually drive growth, or is it still just a support function
Joined by Amit RG, co-founder and CEO of our show sponsor Richpanel, the team unpacks how leading brands are getting dramatically leaner with AI, why Tier-1 support is becoming fully automated, and whether CX should really sit under marketing or operations. Amit breaks down Richpanel’s inspiration from Uber’s self-service model, and what it looks like when support becomes proactive, scalable, and insight-rich instead of reactive and manual.
This leads to a breakdown of the revenue-generating CX touchpoints you’re not thinking about, sparked by McCoy’s prediction that “a year from now we’ll all be talking about generating LTV,” not just acquisition. The group digs into ideas like optimizing high-intent tracking pages with tools like Wonderment, founders jumping into ad comments, and turning warranty claims into upsell moments - with real-world examples from Ridge, Jones Road, Equinox, and even Cartier’s luxury clienteling approach.
The episode wraps with a look at how AI is reshaping DTC ops end-to-end - collapsing workflows, enriching agent decisions, and driving smarter, more efficient growth across the entire customer journey.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:06:21 - What Does a Modern CX Team Look Like?
00:19:10 - The CX to Marketing Feedback Loop
00:32:07 - Revenue-Generating CX Touchpoints
00:45:13 - Is Shade Matching a CX Revenue Driver?
00:57:06 - Using Founder Social Comments as a CX Touchpoint
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This week, we’re taking an even deeper dive into all things BFCM. How the team is approaching forecasting, pacing, and spend strategy heading into the most important stretch of Q4. We break down how each of us is projecting November and December revenue this year, how new product launches and category expansion factor into those forecasts, and what data we’re using to stay accurate in real time.
Connor M walks us through his Holiday Sale Revenue pacing sheet, showing exactly how he tracks daily revenue and ad spend targets, while the group compares different approaches to pacing across brands and channels.
We also dig into how we’re scaling YouTube, Meta, and CTV spend, what the latest incrementality tests are showing, and how to use ROAS lift to decide when to push hardest.
Finally, we wrap up with a look at holiday shipping cutoffs, with how distribution and messaging strategies shift in December, the “Q5” opportunity that follows, and how to make the most of those final weeks of the year when every day still counts.
Holiday Sale Revenue Pacing Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13W_a721DjhlgtLqUj7iC7w32NtitbnNnA9kYifws1NQ/edit?gid=973800920#gid=973800920
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:09:04 - Black Friday Prep & Timelines
00:20:17 - How to Re-Forecast Q4 Revenue
00:35:41 - BFCM Pacing Sheet Walkthrough
00:50:57 - Visualizing Pacing Data & The 12% Stat
01:02:40 - Holiday Shipping Cutoff Strategies
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This week, we’re getting into all things BFCM. What we’re doing right now to prep for the most important time of year for DTC marketers and what brands need to be thinking about that most people don’t. We dig into pacing, impulse-buyer windows and how to avoid misspending on the day, plus how we’re approaching budget planning, Meta performance, and the lessons we’ve learned from our own campaigns over the years.
We also get into what we’d do if we had a new product or brand idea and how we’d validate it in the market, even without a finished product, and the scrappy, cost-effective ways to test before going all in. We break down real examples of brands that nailed their early launches through smart validation and lean marketing, and what you can take from those approaches.
To wrap up, Connor R shares the three ideal hires he’d make first if he were building a marketing team from scratch and how those roles can help you execute faster, test smarter, and scale sustainably.
Zach Stuck on the Core Marketing Tactics to Drive Growth As You Scale: https://youtu.be/M4xn2aISEbg?si=V_8R4sIklXa487CB
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:08:05 - Less-Talked-About BFCM Tactics & Insights
00:24:17 - BFCM Sale Timelines & Pacing Strategy
00:36:46 - Analyzing ROAS Lift & Scaling Spend Pre-BFCM
00:53:50 - How to Test & Validate a New Product Idea
01:10:14 - The First 3 Hires for a New Growth Team
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This week, we’re joined by Reza Khadjavi, founder and CEO of Motion, the podcast’s premier sponsor. Reza breaks down who he’d hire first if he were running growth today, why the best marketers right now are the ones who can merge strategy, execution, and AI into one high-leverage role, and how he’s seeing the return of the elite IC reshape modern marketing teams.
Connor M shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Ridge has collapsed entire layers of their go-to-market workflow, cutting out handoffs, speeding up launches, and proving that smaller, sharper teams can actually do more. We dig into how AI is automating execution, why creativity still sets teams apart, and what it really means for how work gets done.
Then we explore the latest creative trends, from Meta’s Andromeda update and what it means for persona-based targeting to how brands should actually be thinking about creative diversity. Reza walks through Motion’s new AI tagging system, the eight most important categories for creative testing, and why so many brands miss the mark on evolving their messaging. We also talk about how getting naming conventions right can unlock better insights, sharper strategy, and way more creative clarity.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction00:05:41 - The Three First Hires for a Director of Growth
00:26:28 - How Ridge Collapsed Its Go-to-Market Workflow
00:37:36 - When Leaders Become ICs
00:51:14 - Meta Andromeda & The Need for Creative Diversity
01:07:44 - The Power of AI Tagging & Naming Conventions
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Learn what separates top 1% creative strategists from everyone else - and why AI is making this the most valuable role in performance marketing.
The Marketing Operators break down the exact skills, mindset shifts, and creative strategy frameworks that will make you indispensable in 2026.
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Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.
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Despite a one-page website with nothing but his name and a contact button, David Herrmann is easily the world’s most influential media buyer. Famous or infamous (especially if you’re an ad platform that triggers his X-posting wrath), he’s been shaping the face of ecommerce advertising for almost two decades.
One part storytelling, two parts tactical insights … David shares his journey from selling MRI machines online to managing over a billion dollars in ad spend.
Discover the challenges and triumphs of media buying, creative strategy, and the surprising roles of inhouse versus outsourced agencies. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways and industry insights.
The trio is back together and today we’re getting into the topic of the evolution of the media buying role, and how media buying has transformed from button-pushing inside ad platforms to a more strategic role that demands creativity, data fluency, and taking ownership of the entire customer funnel. We explore friend-of-the-show Taylor Holiday’s growth engineer concept, how automation is reshaping the skill set needed, and we compare notes on how our companies are structuring our growth and paid media teams.
From this, we get deeper into hiring and team culture - what traits we look for in senior marketing hires, how to build and curate self-starting teams, the importance of cultural fit, why marketers today must act like CEOs of their channels, and more.
Watch the last week's episode for more on hiring for marketing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uFeSjSwBqe1e39cLQI78x?si=SZH0mEDkQU6VTqX9_QgMkQ
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:06:06 - Deconstructing a Successful Product Launch
00:22:35 - The Evolving Role of the Media Buyer
00:37:48 - The "Marketer First" Mindset
00:51:49 - How to Hire for a High-Performance Culture
01:03:02 - Going Beyond the Resume to Find the Right Fit
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First up today, we’re getting into OpenAI and ChatGPT shopping with the Shopify integration - including how we’re approaching GEO, why bigger brands might have the edge, and why we’re not going all in on optimization just yet.
We also dig into SMS and email, where the real limit is on frequency, and the balance between driving conversions short-term vs unsubscribes vs retaining subscribers in the long-term.
We share what we’ve tested, what the data shows about diminishing returns, and why most brands are probably leaving money on the table. We break down the difference between flows and campaigns, why flows can handle more volume, and how post-purchase upsells fit into this, from one-click add-ons to holding orders “double dash” style.
We also check in on how podcast ads are performing at Jones Road - what the early results look like, why standard tracking under-attributes, and how we’re thinking about picking winners to scale. To finish up, we talk through the first three marketing hires we’d make if we were building a brand from scratch today.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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:10:22 - Our Approach to ChatGPT Shopping & GEO
00:27:13 - Finding the Real Limit on SMS & Email Frequency
00:38:37 - Post-Purchase Upsells: One-Click vs. "Double Dash" Style
00:51:51 - Podcast Ads: Jones Road's Early Results & Attribution
01:01:18 - Drafting Your First 3 Marketing HiresPowered 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/
Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits. https://www.9operators.com/applovin
Dive into the inspiring journey of McCoy Merkley from Portland Leather Goods.
From answering a Craigslist ad to becoming a pivotal figure in the company's exponential growth, McCoy shares candid insights on transitioning from a one-man army to leading a full marketing team.Discover the challenges and triumphs of scaling a business, the importance of courage in leadership, and the strategic marketing mix that propelled Portland Leather Goods to success.
Tune in for a conversation filled with practical wisdom and lots of humor, as McCoy reflects on the lessons learned along the way.
Today we’ve got a jam-packed episode for you, hitting on some of the things that are top of mind for us this week - product launches, Meta, partnerships, and more.First, we get into the value of teasing products and tactics on the best way to do that, how to make sure there’s social proof and community buzz from day one, and the role reviews play in building momentum at launch. We also discuss how Hollow turned an organic Joe Rogan plug into a marketing moment, before diving into Meta tactics and what’s actually moving the needle for Cody in terms of net new reach, from exclusions and bidding to the way we’re approaching mid-funnel.Finally, we get into partnerships and what we’ve got going on at Jones Road and HexClad - why we’re taking bigger swings, how persona-driven funnels fit into our strategies, and why it feels more like portfolio management than simple channel testing.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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:11:18 - Pre-Launch Hype Strategies00:20:00 - The Power of Day-One Reviews & Social Proof00:33:40 - Joe Rogan's Organic Hollow Plug00:41:16 - Is Podcast Advertising Worth It?00:50:06 - How to Increase Your New Customer Rate on Meta01:00:02 - Unlocking Growth with Big-Bet Influencer PartnershipsPowered 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:
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In today’s episode, we’re getting into how and why direct mail can be an impactful part of your retention strategy. We discuss why the first 7–14 days post-purchase are critical, how we’re approaching cross-sells and multi-channel retention, what’s working from postcards to premium catalogs, and where direct mail fits into our overall growth strategies.
We’re also joined by Michael Epstein, co-founder of PostPilot, who talks about how the platform makes direct mail fast and easy for brands to actually use. We discuss why coupon codes and QR scans don’t tell the full story, how holdout testing gives you a real read on incrementality, and what attribution looks like at the household level. Michael also shares how brands are using predictive targeting and peer benchmarking inside the platform, and why premium catalogs can create a brand moment that digital ads just can’t match.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
06:02 Multi-Channel Retention Strategies
17:53 Customer Experience and Retention Management
24:00 Direct Mail Campaigns and Effectiveness
30:04 Postpilot and Direct Mail Solutions
43:39 Revolutionizing Direct Mail Marketing
01:03:29 Optimizing Direct Mail Tactics
01:19:36 Acquisition Strategies Through Direct Mail
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In today’s episode, we’re joined by George Davis, CMO at Cozy Earth, to talk about their viral social challenge - the Cozy Earth Bed Rot Challenge.
George shares the story behind the challenge and how it started as a little MVP test in season one with five employees and a $1k prize, and how it grew into season two with a 24/7 livestream, 50M+ impressions and 15k emails collected. We dig into what worked, where the limits were, the brand’s goal of building cultural relevance over direct sales, and how marketing plays of this size stack up against running ads. We also get into the importance of taking big swings and risks, and George shares how brand partnerships and a refined strategy are shaping plans for season three.
From there, we dive into incrementality — one of the trickiest parts of performance marketing. We talk through channel holdouts, overlapping signals, directional insights, negative incremental ROAS, long-term readouts, and why the numbers don’t always tell the full story.
To hear more of our thoughts as the Cozy Earth Bed Rot Challenge played out, listen to: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6z40HWMVQoBFOBY0Xk6S7v?si=1CoayJh-TkaMi2gsylIyZA
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00:44 Introduction
05:09:17 What is the Bed Rot Challenge?
18:28:47 Brand Building vs. Driving Direct Revenue
33:24:55 The Risk of Failure
44:03:84 Deep Dive on Incrementality
54:37:06 The Case for Longer Holdout Tests
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Today we’re exploring how DTC brands can reach new audiences on Meta using partnership ads, and how they can improve performance and strengthen the paid social mix, as well as checking in on how Ridge's sweepstakes are going so far.
We talk through how partnership ads compare to whitelisting, our experiences working with creators of all sizes, and what’s actually driving ROI. We also get into the role of gifting, why ads run from a creator’s handle often outperform those from a brand handle, and why single-handle creator ads usually feel the most native. Finally, we cover how partnership ads function as signal engineering, whether they truly deliver incremental reach, and the role of creative in making them work.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
07:06 Influencer Marketing Strategies
18:06 Partnership Ads vs. Traditional Ads
27:23 Signal Engineering and Audience Insights
35:20 Navigating Meta's Advertising Challenges
44:37 Leveraging Influencer Marketing for Targeted Reach
01:00:20 Enhancing Customer Experience Through Personalization
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Today we’re joined by Brett Curry from OMG Commerce, and we’re grilling him on all things YouTube advertising - where to start, strategy, creative, and how to drive results.
We discuss where YouTube sits in the channel mix, how it compares to Meta, why it’s still underused by most operators, as well as the challenges of measuring success on YouTube - from attribution challenges to incrementality and brand lift.
We also get into creative: what makes a good hook, how to structure a YouTube ad, and the differences between polished content and UGC-style ads. Brett also shares his approach to testing, how many creatives you really need, and the metrics that matter most.
Finally, we cover bidding, account structure, and how YouTube can unlock performance across your whole media mix when it’s done right.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:00:00 Intro
11:42 Understanding YouTube: Consumption Patterns and Measurement
22:36 The Lift Trifecta: Measuring Success on YouTube
30:07 Navigating Attribution Challenges in YouTube Advertising
37:34 Optimizing Conversion Events
42:39 Account Structure and Automation
45:59 Creative Strategies for YouTube Ads
01:01:06 Measuring Success and Iteration in Campaigns
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In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ariana Ferwerda, co-founder and CEO of Halfdays, to unpack the strategy and philosophy behind building a true community-first DTC brand, and why that approach has worked so well for them.
Ariana shares her journey of launching a brand that struck product-market fit in its first season and grew 10x from their first to second season. We dive into the how and why behind Halfdays’ community-led approach - from the early customer insight that shaped their brand mission, to how they took a different path than the typical early-stage DTC playbook, and how that thinking informs their approach to growth.
She shares what it actually looks like to operationalize community at scale, from their ambassador model to how they decide when to lean on community, and when to tap into performance or influencer marketing instead.
We also get into how they measure the impact of community-led initiatives, what brands often get wrong when they jump into community without a clear reason, and when leading with community simply isn’t the right fit - plus 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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
12:46 Ariana's Journey to Half Days
22:57 Product Market Fit and Growth Strategies
33:07 The Importance of Community in Brand Strategy
45:18 Activating Community: Events and Engagement
01:00:20 Measuring Community Impact and Success
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Prescient AI.
https://www.prescientai.com/operators
Richpanel.
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc
Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Haus.
http://Haus.io/operators
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From measuring brand health beyond ROAS to breaking down viral awareness plays and running focused growth sprints, we’re getting into the topics on our minds as Marketing Operators right now.
We kick things off with baseline revenue - how we define it, how we track it, and why it’s one of Connor Rolain’s go-to metrics for gauging brand momentum, resilience, and reliance on paid media. We also get into its blind spots, how paid activity can still influence it, and why it should be paired with other brand health signals.
Then we break down Cozy Earth’s $25K “Bed Rot Challenge” campaign - why it’s such a perfect, MrBeast-style awareness stunt built for social, and how we’d tie it more closely to actual sales.
Next, Cody takes us inside a growth sprint he’s running to fix high incremental CPAs on Meta - sharing the framework he’s using, how he rallied growth, creative, and data around it, and the results so far.
Finally, we wrap with a MOPs Hotline question on aligning product and marketing, from deciding which products belong in the hero acquisition funnel to launching new ones for fresh audiences without losing your core customer.
Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? Click here.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:23 Measuring Brand Health: The Baseline Revenue Metric
09:07 Navigating Brand Marketing and Incrementality
16:22 The Role of Upper Funnel Marketing
23:25 Innovative Campaigns: The Cozy Earth Bed Rot Challenge
40:33 Engaging with TikTok and SMS Marketing Strategies
46:53 Building Teams Around Sprints for Clarity and Action
54:51 The Importance of Recurring Meetings and Accountability
01:07:29 Collaborative Product Development and Marketing Alignment
01:19:43 Leveraging Customer Feedback for Product Development
Cody's X Post: https://x.com/codyplof/status/1954611362111410540
Episode 66: DTC Marketers - Where Are You Wasting Your Time?
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Prescient AI.
https://www.prescientai.com/operators
Richpanel.
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc
Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Rivo.
https://www.rivo.io/operators
Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9
Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS
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Today on the show we’ve got a very special guest, one of the OGs of ecommerce, Ezra Firestone.
He’s been around forever, running brands like Boom by Cindy Joseph, building software companies like Zipify, and creating training businesses like Smart Marketer, all while staying hands-on in the game as the DTC landscape keeps evolving.
We get into how he went from top wig drop-shipper to building and exiting nine-figure brands, and how that journey shaped the way he thinks about marketing today. Ezra breaks down the creative frameworks and persona funnels he’s using to scale - building tailored journeys that speak directly to specific customer mindsets and motivations - and why a one-size-fits-all approach no longer cuts it in today’s performance landscape.
He also shares why most brands are underusing Amazon and Shop App, how to approach them as full-funnel growth channels, and what it looks like to prepare your brand for AI-native discovery through structured data and platform-level optimization. Plus, we get into Meta ad theory, challenger brand tactics and how Ezra’s role has evolved from hands-on operator to long-term strategist focused on sustainable growth, supporting great teams, and staying aligned with what actually matters.
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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
09:07 The Drop Shipping Business Model Explained
19:26 The Shift from Drop Shipping to Brand Ownership
29:21 Content as a Core Strategy in E-Commerce
39:18 Storytelling and Engagement in Marketing
45:04 Maximizing Amazon and Shop App Opportunities
56:07 The Rise of LLMs and SEO Strategies
59:20 Optimizing E-commerce Operations for Success
01:00:13 Transitioning from Operator to Navigator
01:06:32 The Importance of Strategic Thinking in Business
01:14:08 Evaluating Business Models: E-commerce vs. Agency vs. Software
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Prescient AI.
https://www.prescientai.com/operators
Richpanel.
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc
Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Haus.
http://Haus.io/operators
Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9
Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS
Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/
Today we’re joined by Connor Dault, CMO of Grüns, to talk about his move into the company, how he got up to speed, and the steps he took to work effectively with a team that was already performing at a high level.
We cover his onboarding approach, how he finds quick wins without disrupting existing success, and how Grüns spots opportunities by pairing customer feedback with cultural trends. Connor breaks down their persona-based marketing strategy, balancing cohesive messaging with high testing velocity, and deciding when to quietly test versus go all-in on a new idea.
He also shares the approaches that drove early growth, from Meta advertising to retention-focused customer experience, and the channels now driving scale, including CTV, YouTube, influencer partnerships, and closer cross-team alignment.
Want to submit your own DTC or ecommerce marketing question? Click here.
If you enjoyed this episode, check out Episode 49 when Connor Dault was first on the show - How Digital Product Fuels DTC Growth with Connor Dault
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
07:22 Onboarding and Team Dynamics in Marketing
15:15 Building Cohesion Across Marketing Strategies
23:12 Navigating Brand Messaging and Consumer Engagement
35:09 Tactical Approaches to Marketing Campaigns
38:15 Strategic Hook Development
41:47 Testing and Personalization Strategies
44:41 Seasonal Marketing and Campaign Planning
48:31 Growth Strategies and Revenue Bands
51:51 Unlocking New Marketing Channels
01:04:52 Innovative Projects and Measurement
01:10:23 Leadership and Feedback Culture
Powered by:
Motion.
https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-readshttps://motionapp.com/creative-trends
Prescient AI.
https://www.prescientai.com/operators
Richpanel.
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc
Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Rivo.
https://www.rivo.io/operators
Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9
Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS
Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/