DTC Podcast

DTC Newsletter and Podcast
  • 4.5 (36)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED DAILY

Weekly discussions between disruptive direct to consumer ecommerce brands and our amazing team about marketing, funnels, and everything scaling related. Subscribe to our newsletter for highlights and step by step tactical insights 👉🏻 📦 directtoconsumer.co

  1. Ep 605: Meta Attribution Change – Why ROAS Dropped 40%

    1D AGO

    Ep 605: Meta Attribution Change – Why ROAS Dropped 40%

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Meta changed attribution in March — and suddenly every brand’s ROAS looks worse. Chris Richards from Pilothouse breaks down what actually happened, why performance appears to have dropped 30–45%, and how brands should respond without damaging long-term growth. For DTC founders and operators scaling from $5M–$50M who rely on Meta as a core channel. In this episode: What Meta’s attribution change actually did Why social proof no longer shows up the same way How to interpret rising CPA and falling ROAS Why MER is a better north star right now The risk of over-retargeting after performance dips Who this is for: DTC founders, CMOs, and media buyers trying to make sense of Meta performance What to steal: Shift from ROAS to MER as your primary KPI Keep funding top-of-funnel even when numbers look worse Use consistent attribution (MTA) to guide spend decisions Timestamps 00:00 Meta attribution change explained 02:00 Click vs engaged attribution breakdown 04:00 Impact on ROAS and CPA metrics 06:00 Social proof and ad performance insights 08:00 Why engagement optimization can backfire 10:00 Importance of multi-touch attribution tools 12:00 How campaign strategy is shifting 14:00 MER as a new performance north star 16:00 Omnichannel and ecosystem thinking 18:00 Meta automation and future attribution trends 20:00 What brands should do right now 22:00 Strategy mistakes and growth risks Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF605 Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    25 min
  2. Bonus: How DTC Brands Scale Affiliate Marketing Without Fraud or Bad Attribution

    3D AGO

    Bonus: How DTC Brands Scale Affiliate Marketing Without Fraud or Bad Attribution

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Affiliate is getting a lot more attention in DTC right now, and for good reason. In this episode, Yash Chavan, Founder and CEO of SATHI & SARAL, breaks down why the channel looks so attractive on paper, where it falls apart in practice, and what brands can do to make it perform like a real growth engine. Claim your free trial and 20% across all pricing plans at mysathi.io. Don't forget to use the code DTC! Request your free trial: http://www.mysathi.io/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=dtc&utm_campaign=dtc-podcast We get into: Why affiliate is attractive to operators and finance teamsHow last-click attribution distorts performance dataWhat affiliate fraud actually looks like inside a real programHow to think about multi-touch attribution by product categoryWhy gamification matters if you want creators to stay activeHow affiliate fits alongside Meta, TikTok, and retargeting What to steal: Run a fraud scan on your current affiliate program and check for leaked codesBuild commission tiers and milestone bonuses to keep strong creators engagedChoose an attribution model based on how your product actually gets bought If you’re a DTC marketer, founder, or growth lead trying to lower CAC, improve measurement, and build a more durable acquisition program, this episode is essential listening. Timestamps 00:00 Affiliate marketing explained 02:00 Why affiliate is hard to scale 04:00 The problem with last-click attribution 06:00 Affiliate fraud examples and risks 09:00 Influencers shifting to affiliate models 11:00 Why reels + links change everything 13:00 How modern affiliate tracking works 16:00 Multi-touch attribution strategies 19:00 Retargeting affiliate traffic 21:00 Gamifying affiliate programs 24:00 How to start and scale affiliates 27:00 Program hygiene and key metrics 30:00 Where affiliate fits in your funnel 33:00 The future of affiliate marketing Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    39 min
  3. Ep 604: How Lexington Bakes Cut CAC From $180 to $25 With a Better First-Order Offer

    5D AGO

    Ep 604: How Lexington Bakes Cut CAC From $180 to $25 With a Better First-Order Offer

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup https://lexingtonbakes.com/ Lex Evan built Lexington Bakes after years of baking for friends who kept telling him the same thing: they didn’t usually like desserts like this, but they loved his. That turned into a bootstrapped brand built on better ingredients, frozen and refrigerated distribution, and a refusal to follow the usual packaged dessert playbook. For CPG founders and DTC operators trying to improve conversion, CAC, and retail sell-through without watering down the product. In this episode, Lex breaks down: How Lexington Bakes went from a holiday presale to about 200 retail stores Why premium products can fail when value is not obvious at first glance How changing format, sizing, and offer structure helped bring CAC from roughly $180 down to $25 on a new-customer offer What “radical ingredient transparency” actually looks like in packaged food Why a product rename turned a weak SKU into one of the brand’s best retail performers Who this is for: DTC founders, CPG operators, grocery brands, and marketers working on pricing, offer design, retention, or retail expansion. What to steal: Build first-order offers around how cautious buyers actually shop Make value obvious without forcing customers to do math Use plain-language product naming until the brand has enough equity to get more creative Timestamps: 00:00 From zero to shipping 500 brownies 02:30 Why Lexington Bakes started 05:00 No preservatives and cold chain strategy 07:00 Manufacturing challenges and scaling 09:30 Radical ingredient transparency explained 13:00 Product evolution and Lexington Bakes 4.0 17:00 Pricing psychology and shelf perception 21:00 Fixing DTC conversion and CAC 24:00 Intro offer strategy and LTV thinking 29:00 Retail behavior and repeat purchase patterns 34:30 Naming mistake and SKU turnaround 39:00 2026 growth strategy and manufacturing focus Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    42 min
  4. Ep 603: Why Most DTC Brands Fail on YouTube (And How to Fix It in 60 Days)

    APR 17

    Ep 603: Why Most DTC Brands Fail on YouTube (And How to Fix It in 60 Days)

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Most brands test YouTube, don’t see conversions, and shut it off. The problem isn’t the channel. It’s how they’re measuring it. Dougie from Pilothouse breaks down how YouTube actually drives growth for DTC brands, and why cost per brand search is one of the most useful signals to track early. For DTC founders and growth marketers spending $50K+/month and looking for a channel beyond Meta. What we get into: Why conversions lag on YouTube The 4-week window to judge early performance How cost per brand search shows real intent Budget levels needed to generate signal Targeting mistakes that kill campaigns Who this is for: Brands hitting a ceiling on Meta and testing new acquisition channels What to steal: Track brand search before and after launching YouTube Use cost per brand search to judge efficiency Run geo tests to validate lift Timestamps 0:00 YouTube as awareness vs conversion channel 2:00 Why DTC brands fail testing YouTube 4:00 Creative and audience readiness for YouTube 6:00 Why YouTube attribution is broken 8:00 Cost per brand search as key metric 10:00 YouTube campaign setup basics 12:00 Targeting mistakes and audience signals 14:00 Excluding existing customers properly 16:00 Setting expectations and measuring success 18:00 Budget requirements and testing timelines 20:00 Fixing struggling YouTube accounts 22:00 Low quality placements and wasted spend 24:00 Creative strategy and frequency on YouTube 26:00 The first 5 seconds rule for ads Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF603 Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    29 min
  5. Bonus: How to Scale Amazon in 2026 – 3 Data Plays DTC Brands Are Still Missing

    APR 15

    Bonus: How to Scale Amazon in 2026 – 3 Data Plays DTC Brands Are Still Missing

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Bradley Sutton from Helium 10 joins the pod to break down how serious brands should be thinking about Amazon now: not as a backup channel, but as a core retail growth engine. We get into where Amazon fits in an omni-channel stack, how PPC has gotten way more complex, why Walmart and TikTok Shop matter more than most brands admit, and where sellers can actually use AI for efficiency. Sign Up for Helium 10: https://www.helium10.com/?utm_source=DTC&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=homepage In this episode, we cover: Why Amazon has shifted from “nice to have” to a core acquisition and retention channelHow top sellers use PPC automation, dayparting, and keyword harvesting to manage spend without blowing budgetWhat Helium 10 actually helps with, from product research and listing optimization to competitive intel and campaign managementWhy TikTok Shop and Walmart aren’t side quests anymoreHow to think about Rufus, AI shopping tools, and what actually matters right now If you’re a DTC founder or an ecommerce operator scaling across Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop and you want cleaner CAC, better retail media performance, and fewer wasted ad dollars, this episode is a must listen. Helium 10 is a platform that brings research, operations, Amazon advertising, and performance insights together so you can scale faster across marketplaces. Timestamps 00:00 Amazon beyond a traffic source 02:00 Amazon as a core growth channel 03:30 Multi-channel fulfillment and expansion 06:30 Why Amazon ads are now critical 08:00 Organic vs paid growth on Amazon 12:00 Product research and competitor analysis 15:00 Validating demand before launching 19:00 Amazon vs TikTok vs Walmart strategy 23:00 AI impact on Amazon shopping behavior 28:00 Branded keyword bidding strategy 32:00 Automation and dayparting for ads 36:00 Biggest mistakes Amazon advertisers make Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    39 min
  6. Ep 602: How Bobbie Won 91% of the Conversation With 4% Market Share | Building the Brand

    APR 13

    Ep 602: How Bobbie Won 91% of the Conversation With 4% Market Share | Building the Brand

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Kim Chappell is Chief Brand Officer at Bobbie, the mom-founded infant formula brand that’s crossed $100M in revenue and is trying to change how formula gets talked about in America. In this episode, she breaks down how Bobbie built a brand parents are proud to buy in a category that used to be driven by guilt, and why trust beats sheer creative volume when the old Meta scale-button playbook stops working. For DTC founders, CMOs, and performance marketers scaling a trust-heavy product in a crowded category. Inside the episode: Why Bobbie treated infant formula as a culture problem, not just a product problem How the team thinks about brand vs performance now that the old Meta-only growth playbook has weakened What “learn more” looks like when your customer journey is messy, delayed, and omnichannel How Bobbie chooses the few advocacy lanes it can credibly own, then actually follows through Why the Cardi B partnership worked, and how it turned celebrity into conversation share, trust, and policy momentum Who this is for: Operators building in regulated, trust-sensitive, or education-heavy categories where brand has to do real work before performance can convert. What to steal: Put performance, organic, creator, and lifecycle under one brand story Treat education as part of conversion, not a nice-to-have Pick fewer cultural or political lanes, but show up with receipts when you enter them Timestamps 00:00 Performance marketing has changed 03:00 Building Bobbie from scratch 06:00 Removing the stigma around formula 08:00 Why Bobbie understood the customer 10:00 Transparency as brand strategy 12:00 Brand vs performance 15:00 The omnichannel customer journey 18:00 Choosing the right advocacy lanes 21:00 Community-led brand action 23:00 Building awareness in a small market 26:00 How the Cardi B partnership happened 29:00 Measuring the campaign’s impact Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    37 min
  7. Ep 601: 25% of Your List Drives 75% of Revenue. The Dangers of AI Email Segmentation

    APR 10

    Ep 601: 25% of Your List Drives 75% of Revenue. The Dangers of AI Email Segmentation

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Jordan Gordon from Pilothouse comes back to the DTC Podcast with a sharp warning for brands buying into AI-powered customer segmentation. The promise sounds good: send to the “best” people, cut waste, let the machine find hidden revenue. The problem is what happens after that. Jordan breaks down why over-segmentation can shrink your active list, cut click volume, hurt inbox placement, and quietly bleed revenue over time. For DTC founders, retention leads, and CRM operators trying to grow email revenue without slowly choking list health. In this episode, Jordan gets into: Why inbox placement still sits upstream of almost every retention result How “smart” segmentation can reduce sends so much that your list starts decaying The real risk of AI tools unsuppressing bad or low-quality addresses Why cleaner funnels usually beat clever segmentation The 15 lifecycle touchpoints most brands should actually be auditing across site, pop-up, landing pages, and email Who this is for: DTC operators, lifecycle marketers, Klaviyo teams, retention agencies, and founders trying to scale email without tanking deliverability. What to steal: Audit whether your segmentation strategy is growing revenue or just shrinking mail volume Map your top lifecycle touchpoints and check them for message, persona, and offer consistency Prioritize tools that increase high-intent capture and safe inbox placement instead of just “optimizing” who gets excluded Timestamps 00:00 AI segmentation buyer beware 02:20 Inbox placement vs message quality 04:40 Why sending less can shrink revenue 08:05 When AI unsuppresses bad addresses 10:55 Has anyone cracked AI segmentation 13:10 One clean funnel beats micro-segmentation 15:35 The 15 lifecycle touchpoints to audit 17:45 Persona mismatch kills conversion 19:55 If everybody owns it, nobody owns it Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF601 Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    21 min
  8. Ep 600: How Acid Buddy Got 1,000+ Orders in Its First 6 Weeks, Creating a New Category Behind the Bar

    APR 6

    Ep 600: How Acid Buddy Got 1,000+ Orders in Its First 6 Weeks, Creating a New Category Behind the Bar

    Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup http://cocktailbuddies.com Tao, founder of Acid Buddy, joined the show to talk about a product that feels early, unusual, and potentially huge: flavored acids. After years working in bars and consulting, he kept running into the same issue. Citrus was inconsistent, messy, expensive, and limiting. So instead of treating acid like a background ingredient, he turned it into the product itself. That’s the bet behind Acid Buddy, and early traction suggests the market is paying attention: 1,000+ orders in the first 6 weeks, with customers in more than 75 countries. For DTC founders creating new categories, and beverage operators who want more consistency, speed, and flexibility behind the bar. In this episode, we get into: Why Tao believes flavored acids could become a real new category in beverages How Acid Buddy gives bars another place to build flavor, outside the usual syrup-heavy approach Why the product works for cocktails, mocktails, coffee, tea, and other drinks How this can help with half-sweet and skinny-style drinks that still feel balanced What the first 6 weeks looked like, including 1,000+ orders and strong pull without paid ads Who this is for: DTC founders, beverage brands, bar owners, operators, and anyone interested in category creation inside food and drink. What to steal: Build around a problem professionals already deal with every day Make the use case obvious fast, especially when the category is new Let early traction validate the story, then widen the market Timestamps 00:00 Why Acid Buddy exists 02:10 Solving consistency behind the bar 04:12 Turning flavored acid into a product 06:14 Why the cocktail market is huge 08:24 What makes Acid Buddy different 10:31 Mocktails, coffee, and drink less better 13:08 The bar lime hygiene problem 15:18 1,000 orders in the first six weeks 18:03 The content and ambassador strategy 21:12 Why TikTok Shop could be big 23:35 Tao’s Netflix and Drink Masters story 28:42 The Cocktail Buddy long-term vision Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

    32 min
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4.5
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Weekly discussions between disruptive direct to consumer ecommerce brands and our amazing team about marketing, funnels, and everything scaling related. Subscribe to our newsletter for highlights and step by step tactical insights 👉🏻 📦 directtoconsumer.co

Information

  • Creator
    DTC Newsletter and Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    729
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 352487
  • Show Website
    DTC Podcast

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