In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups

Cody Schneider
  • 5.0 (17)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups

In the Pit shares what founders and marketers are seeing from the front lines. Join host Cody Schneider for personal brain dumps and conversations with business leaders to learn the strategies and tactics being used to acquire first customers, scale growth, and build thoroughbred marketing organizations. Listen down. Level up.

  1. 5D AGO

    from no app downloads for 2 years, to 100,000 in 14 days. this is how to find the shorts template for your product

    In this episode of In the Pit, we sit down with Laurent, co-founder of FocusTree — a productivity app for students — to break down how he leveraged short-form creator-led content to explode the app to 100,000 downloads in just 15 days. Laurent shares the tactical, step-by-step breakdown of his viral growth playbook, from sourcing international creators to creating a gamified onboarding experience that hooks users. This is a masterclass in thinking media-first, product-second — and building sticky consumer apps in the TikTok era. This episode is sponsored by TalentFiber.com — the best way to hire vetted offshore talent that works in your time zone and speaks fluent English. 🔗 Guest Links Twitter/X: https://x.com/iamlaurentboFocusTree App: https://focustree.app/⏱️ Timestamps (1:10) – Intro to FocusTree & hitting 100K+ users in 15 days(4:37) – The TikTok revolution: why media-led growth works now(9:09) – From paid ads to creators: 95% drop in CAC(12:06) – How to source and manage creators outside the US(16:01) – The key to finding “outlier” creators and winning formats(22:00) – The origin story: fake product, Reddit post → validated idea(26:51) – Beating legacy competitors by targeting Gen Z(30:49) – Onboarding design, SMS > email, and viral loops(34:53) – Product philosophy: build habits like Strava & Duolingo(38:28) – Underrated niches, creator research, and reading comments for hooks 💡 Key Takeaways Media Before Product: Laurent validated FocusTree’s concept with fake mockups on Reddit and TikTok — only building after demand was clear.Creator-Led Growth: FocusTree works with 7+ international creators, paying ~$20/video with performance bonuses — resulting in ~12K daily downloads.Hyper-Optimized Onboarding: From SMS login to school-based friend sync, every screen is engineered for retention.Gamified UX: Users “grow a garden” by studying — a visual reward loop inspired by Strava and Duolingo.Decentralized Creator Ops: Coaches manage onboarding, feedback, and best practices across WhatsApp and School.com.Unlocking Virality: Winning TikTok formats last 2–3 weeks. Read comment sections for next-gen hooks.Underserved Niches: Look for outdated categories with passionate audiences (e.g., astrology, study apps) and remix the experience.🔥 Notable Quotes “You didn’t really study if you didn’t turn on FocusTree.” — Laurent Boulin“If you want to win with creators, you need to know your media landscape like the back of your hand.” — Laurent Boulin “Our CAC dropped by 95% when we switched from ads to TikTok creators.” — Laurent Boulin

    47 min

  2. MAR 10

    100,000 app downloads from vibe coding and zero marketing spend

    In this episode, Jack Friks, the creator of PostBridge, shares a fresh approach to product validation—building media before building the product. He explains how he used viral content strategies to grow his mobile app and later developed a B2B tool to automate content creation and scheduling. If you're a founder, marketer, or creator looking to maximize reach and validate product ideas, this episode is packed with insights! 🔥 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Why testing media virality before product development is crucial✅ Jack’s journey: Learning to code and launching a SaaS business✅ How organic marketing can outperform paid ads✅ The future of AI-driven content creation✅ Finding and replicating viral content formats✅ Automating content creation and scheduling ⏳ Timestamps: (00:00) – Introduction(00:57) – Why media-first validation matters(08:12) – Growing an app to 100,000+ downloads organically(12:45) – Balancing content virality and sales conversions(16:30) – How PostBridge automates content creation(22:10) – The future of AI-generated content marketing(26:45) – Tips for founders leveraging media for growth 💡 Notable Quotes: 📌 "The best way to validate a product is not by building it, but by testing if the media around it goes viral first."📌 "If your idea can't generate organic engagement, it might not be solving a real problem." Resources: 🔹 Learn more about PostBridge: PostBridge - post-bridge.com🔹 Follow Jack on Twitter: https://x.com/jackfriks🔹 Mentioned Tool: Talent Fiber – Offshore hiring agency - TalentFiber.com🔹 Additional References: Memelord Technologies – https://memelord.tech/

    36 min

  3. FEB 24

    using organic shorts to get $1 CPM on tiktok and IG reels

    In this episode, Alex Heiden, co-founder of Get Payd, dives deep into the powerful world of marketing arbitrage and how brands can leverage short-form content to generate millions of views at a fraction of traditional advertising costs. With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Alex explains how brands can exploit the current "TikTokification" of content to build top-of-funnel awareness for B2B, prosumer, and consumer products alike. He shares detailed strategies on running performance-based creator campaigns, optimizing CPMs (as low as $1 vs. $9 on traditional platforms), and structuring competitions that incentivize high-performing content creators. Plus, Alex breaks down how brands can identify top creators for long-term partnerships and generate viral content that attracts organic replication from other creators. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to marketing arbitrage & today's topic03:42 - What is Get Paid? Bringing TikTok Shop strategies to digital businesses05:19 - How TikTok's creator commission model works06:12 - Two campaign models: CPM deals vs. competitions10:44 - Results: Cost-effective campaigns with $1–$3 CPM14:14 - Case studies: Viral success with day-in-the-life content17:00 - The shift from outbound to inbound marketing22:54 - Why the "For You" page changes everything for discovery28:08 - Scaling: From $5K test budgets to $50K monthly spends35:22 - The ripple effect of viral content and organic replication42:25 - How Get Paid incentivizes creators and brands alikeKey Points: Marketing Arbitrage Explained: How to get $1 CPMs vs. $9 on traditional ad platformsShort-Form Content Strategy: Run competitions and pay-per-view campaigns to maximize exposureCreator Incentives: Structuring payouts for maximum engagement and competitive motivationOrganic Growth Tactics: How viral videos lead to a snowball effect with unpaid content replicationB2B & B2C Impact: Why short-form content isn’t just for consumer brandsNotable Quotes: "The only way to grow products quickly is by finding and exploiting marketing arbitrage." – Alex"Discovery isn’t about followers anymore—it’s about creating good content that the algorithm wants to show." – HostKey Takeaways for Founders: Shift ad budgets from traditional channels to short-form creator campaigns for massive reach at lower costs.Run competitive campaigns to organically motivate creators to produce viral content.Focus on specific features or outcomes in your short-form content for maximum clarity and effectiveness.Sponsors: TalentFiber.com – Hire the best offshore marketing talent.Connect with Alex: Instagram: @nocode.alexTwitter/X: https://x.com/alexh459 Platform: https://www.getpaydapp.com/Ready to scale your marketing with short-form content? This episode is a masterclass in how to do it right.

    45 min
  4. Milliseconds Makes Millions: Slow Page Speed is Burning Your Ad Budget

    FEB 20

    Milliseconds Makes Millions: Slow Page Speed is Burning Your Ad Budget

    In this episode, I chat with Lukas from The Nice Agency, a Shopify site speed optimization expert. They discuss why page speed optimization is one of the most overlooked yet impactful factors in improving return on ad spend (ROAS) and conversion rates for e-commerce businesses. Lukas shares insights from his agency’s experience, debunks common myths about automated page speed tools, and reveals the best technology stack for high-performance Shopify stores. Key Topics Covered: Why page speed optimization is a game changer for your e-commerce business.How bloated app stacks slow down your site and kill conversion rates.The biggest scams in the Shopify site speed industry and how to avoid them.The impact of page speed on SEO, paid ads, and overall user experience.A breakdown of the best tools and apps to use for a high-speed e-commerce store.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Page Speed Optimization & Guest Introduction03:45 - How Lukas Got Into Site Speed Optimization08:30 - Common Mistakes That Slow Down Shopify Stores13:20 - The Scam Behind "Instant" Speed Optimization Services19:45 - The True Impact of Site Speed on Conversion Rates & ROAS25:10 - Case Study: How Speed Optimization Increased Sales by 17%30:00 - The Best Page Speed Optimization Tech Stack35:50 - Free Tools to Test Your Website’s Speed41:00 - The Best Shopify Themes for High Performance45:30 - How to Get a Free Site Speed Audit from The Nice Agency50:00 - Where to Find Lukas & Final ThoughtsShow Notes & Resources: Milliseconds Make Millions (Google & Deloitte Report on Page Speed) - Read HereWebPageTest.org - The Gold Standard for Site Speed Testing - Visit SiteDawn Theme - Shopify’s Recommended Lightweight Ecommerce Theme - Explore Here#1 Heatmap Analytics Tool for Tracking Revenue on E-commerce Websites - Check it OutRapidReviews - The Fastest Shopify Review App - Learn MoreShoplift - Best A/B Testing Tool for Shopify - Explore FeaturesInstant.so - The Fastest Shopify Page Builder - Visit SiteLandingCat.com - Automated SEO and CRO for Ecommerce - Visit SiteConnect with Lukas & The Nice Agency: Website: TheNiceAgency.coTwitter: @IGOBYLUKAS

    31 min

  5. FEB 13

    This Simple Ecom Funnel Increases AOV and ROAS by 3x

    Automated SEO and CRO for ecommerce -  https://www.landingcat.com/  Build 10,000+  pages in days not months. Keyword research, page creation, and continuous conversion rate optimization. Go click the link man you'll be stoked you did. Learn more at - https://www.landingcat.com/  In this episode, we dive deep into funnel optimization with Sanjay, Head of Growth at Replo, a powerful landing page builder for e-commerce brands. Sanjay shares the most effective funnel structures, tactics, and landing page strategies that have been proven to increase conversions and maximize Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). From listicle-style pre-sell pages to upsells right before order shipment, this episode is packed with actionable insights for e-commerce brands looking to scale. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and importance of funnel optimization01:30 – Meet Sanjay, Head of Growth at Replo02:19 – The most effective funnel right now: Listicle to collection page04:10 – Psychology behind listicle-style pre-sell pages07:13 – Optimizing landing pages: Headlines, GIFs, and trust badges10:39 – Micro-yeses and shortening the funnel13:06 – Funnel variations for high-ticket vs. low-ticket items17:54 – Ad creative strategies that work: Ugly ads, hook-jacking, and storytelling25:34 – Mid-funnel retargeting and objection handling27:28 – Using landing pages for post-purchase upsells30:46 – Subscription models and long-term upsell strategies34:22 – Unlocking wholesale channels with cold email and automation39:24 – Where to find Sanjay and final takeaways Key Insights: Listicle to Collection Page Funnel: The highest-performing funnel structure involves an ad driving to a listicle-style pre-sell page, which then directs customers to a curated collection page. Psychology of a Soft Sell: Instead of hard-selling in the ad, build intrigue and educate potential customers before presenting them with an offer. Mid-Funnel & Post-Purchase Optimization: Address objections with targeted content, increase AOV through post-purchase upsells, and leverage subscription-first models to drive long-term revenue. Winning Ad Formats: Engaging hooks like UGC-style "fake podcasts," news-style ads, and "ugly" handwritten-style creatives outperform traditional polished content. Cold Email for Wholesale Growth: How e-commerce brands can tap into boutique retailers using automation and personalized landing pages. Notable Quotes:"The best performing ads don’t sell, they educate and entertain first." "People buy into transformations, not just products. Sell the vacation, not the plane ride." "Most brands don’t optimize their funnels, but just doing this can 10X your ROAS." Resources & Links:Replo: https://www.replo.app/Sanjay on Twitter/X: https://x.com/Sanjayatplay

    40 min

  6. FEB 3

    ai built prototypes: going from idea to mvp in under an hour

    Sub to my email newsletter for growth tactics - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe Brought to you by... Talent Fiber: Hire global talent for your growth marketing positions - https://talentfiber.com/ Today, we're diving into the process of turning a product idea into reality using AI tools. My guest Jay, founder of Casper Studios, walks us through the workflow from initial concept to creating a product requirements document (PRD) and then generating a visual prototype. We discuss how AI is revolutionizing product development by allowing ideas to be rapidly transformed into mockups and prototypes. We explore a specific product idea for an AI-powered infographic generator, examining the market opportunity, target users, and potential features. Jay explains how to conduct effective discovery calls with clients, create comprehensive PRDs, and use tools like V0 to quickly produce visual designs. Throughout the episode, we highlight how AI is dramatically accelerating the product development cycle, allowing founders and product teams to validate ideas faster than ever before. This new paradigm is changing how products are conceived, designed, and brought to market. Timestamp(0:00) - Intro (0:10) - Strategy for Validating Product Ideas (0:42) - Uncovering Product Ideas and Creating PRDs (3:00) - Guest Introduction: Jay from Casper Studios (10:14) - Discussion on AI Infographic Generator Concept (16:13) - Importance of Visually Appealing Content (32:57) - Overview of Product Requirements Document (PRD) Host Links Personal email newsletter - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxx https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider/ https://codyschneider.com/ https://inthepitpodcast.com/ Guest Links Twitter/X - https://x.com/JSingh_08 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysingh10125/ casperstudios.xyz

    1h 6m

  7. JAN 27

    landing page masterclass: why your beautiful website is killing your startup growth

    Sub to my email newsletter for growth tactics - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe Brought to you by... Talent Fiber: Hire global talent for your growth marketing positions - https://talentfiber.com/ Let's dive into the pit and talk about one of the most overlooked things in growth marketing - copywriting. Today I have on my friend Jordan Mix from Late Checkout and we're gonna give you a masterclass on how to actually talk about the thing you're building and write well. Especially for those founders fresh out of Y Combinator who are slinging word salad and getting way too cute with their messaging. We rip through some startup websites, dissecting their copy and showing how to make it more effective. It's all about conveying specific ideas with as few words as possible, focusing on the outcomes people are shopping for - more time, more money, or more status. We demonstrate how to cut the jargon, speak directly to customer pain points, and create messaging that can't be copied. Remember, in this AI world with infinite options, you can actually do way less - write fewer words, ship less designs - and accomplish way more.  Timestamps(0:00) - Intro (00:01:03) - Importance of Landing Pages (00:02:28) - Copywriting in Growth Marketing (00:03:08) - The Overlooked Nature of Copywriting (00:09:44) - Principles of Good Copywriting (00:18:04) - Common Mistakes in Google Ads (00:30:09) - Analyzing Y Combinator Startups' Websites Host Links Personal email newsletter - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxx https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider/ https://codyschneider.com/ https://inthepitpodcast.com/ Guest Links Twitter/X - https://x.com/jrdnmix Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-mix1/ https://shopdowithin.com/

    1h 3m

  8. JAN 21

    Enterprise Sales Hack: How to Host $1,500 Dinners for $1M ARR

    Sub to my email newsletter for growth tactics - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe Brought to you by... Talent Fiber: Hire global talent for your growth marketing positions - https://talentfiber.com/ In this podcast episode, I discussed the challenges early-stage founders face in enterprise sales and how traditional marketing strategies often fall short. My guest, Colin, shared a unique solution: hosting intimate dinners with target customers to build relationships and generate leads. By spending just $1,500, founders can create a valuable networking opportunity that can lead to significant revenue growth. We also explored the importance of partnerships with agencies to expand reach without the need for a dedicated sales team. Colin emphasized that these partnerships should focus on educating the agencies about the product, ensuring they can effectively promote it to their clients. This approach not only helps in generating leads but also builds a strong community around the brand, which is essential for long-term success in the health and wellness industry. Timestamps: (0:00) - Intro (0:21) - Hosting Dinners for Target Customers (3:07) - Partnership Arbitrage in E-commerce (5:56) - Impact and Outcomes of Hosting Events (10:09) - Logistics and City Selection for Events (19:03) - Cold Outreach Strategies for Event Invitations (29:03) - Leveraging Agency Partnerships for Distribution Host Links Personal email newsletter - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxx https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider/ https://codyschneider.com/ https://inthepitpodcast.com/ Guest Links https://www.instagram.com/colindougherty_/ https://www.camskns.com/

    51 min
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    5
    out of 5
    17 Ratings

    About

    In the Pit shares what founders and marketers are seeing from the front lines. Join host Cody Schneider for personal brain dumps and conversations with business leaders to learn the strategies and tactics being used to acquire first customers, scale growth, and build thoroughbred marketing organizations. Listen down. Level up.

    Information

    • Creator
      Cody Schneider
    • Years Active
      2023 - 2025
    • Episodes
      40
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © 2025 Cody Schneider

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