Marketing Operators

Marketing Operators I Connor Rolain I Connor MacDonald I Cody Plofker
  • 4.6 (10)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Untapped Potential of YouTube Ads – Strategy, Measurement & What Drives Results with Brett Curry

    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 The Black Friday Operators Online EventSign up here: https://www.9operators.com/black-friday 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/

    1h 14m

  2. SEP 2

    How Halfdays Turned Community into a Growth Engine - with CEO Ariana Ferwerda

    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 The Black Friday Operators Online EventSign up here: https://www.9operators.com/black-friday 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 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/

    1h 27m

  3. AUG 26

    From Growth Sprints to Brand Health Metrics: What's Driving Wins Right Now

    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? Follow us on X 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/

    1h 23m

  4. AUG 19

    DTC OG Ezra Firestone on How the Game Has Shifted and What’s Working Now

    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 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 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/

    1h 26m

  5. AUG 12

    Unlocking Growth Levers with Connor Dault, CMO of Fast-Growth DTC Supplement Brand Gruns

    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/

    1h 19m

  6. AUG 5

    How We’re Iterating on Tentpole Campaigns & Structuring the Content Teams That Power Them

    Today, we’re kicking things off by sharing how we’re structuring our content teams - from hiring in-house roles to building systems around freelancers - and how that supports creative that performs across both brand and paid. Next we dive into how we’re iterating on some of the biggest campaigns we run at our brands: the sweepstakes. We talk through what’s changing this year, how we’re using influencer content in new ways, and how we’re optimizing campaigns across Meta, YouTube, and TV. We also get into what we’re testing right now, from comment-to-enter flows to view content objectives and engagement-first creative, and how we use those signals to improve each round. To wrap up, we look at a product page from Fellow as an example of strong direct response storytelling and share how we’re applying those same principles to our own landing pages. 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 03:58 Insights on AI in Creative Strategy 07:16 Behind the Scenes of Content Production 11:06 The Evolution of Internal Content Production 15:18 The Importance of Incrementality Testing 19:18 Planning for Sweepstakes and Major Changes 28:35 Execution Strategies for Sweepstakes Campaigns 38:28 Leveraging Influencer Content for Marketing Success 40:48 Innovative Ad Strategies and Content Creation 44:24 Expanding Marketing Channels and Engagement Metrics 47:31 Understanding Sweepstakes Performance and Audience Engagement 59:20 Cash vs. Experience: The Sweepstakes Dilemma 01:04:19 Building Anticipation for New Campaigns 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 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/

    1h 20m

  7. JUL 29

    Acquisition Offers That Drive Retention: What’s Working - and Why Testing Matters

    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 Offers 05:28 Data-Driven Insights on Pop-Up Offers 08:19 Retention Metrics and Customer Engagement 11:06 Testing Methodologies for Pop-Up Offers 14:19 Holistic Approaches to Customer Acquisition 17:14 Innovative Second Order Offers 20:05 Challenges in Optimizing First Touch Points 26:10 Future Trends in E-commerce Offers 35:43 Optimizing Data Reporting and Analysis 38:00 Evolving Marketing Strategies and Cash Back Offers 41:05 Insights from Meta's Campaign Performance Report 44:52 Understanding Incrementality in Marketing 49:04 Navigating Meta's Advertising Changes 54:43 Leveraging Bundle Builders for Increased Conversions Finance Operators Episode: How CashBack beats discount codes & More with Dan Glazer 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/

    1h 13m

  8. JUL 24 · BONUS

    When to Diversify or Evolve Your Media Mix: How To Approach Channel Expansion (Bonus Episode)

    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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6 00:00 Introduction 04:14 Exploring Channel Expansion and Diversification 07:01 Current Media Mix and Strategies 17:16 The Evolution of Media Mix Over Time 25:50 Testing New Channels and Creative Strategies 36:23 Insights from the Media Mix Journey 42:06 Testing and Scaling Ad Strategies 49:15 Creative Diversity and Measurement in Advertising 01:01:04 Navigating TV Advertising: Insights and Strategies 01:12:07 The Evolution of TV Creative: UGC vs. High Production 01:21:25 Final Thoughts on TV Advertising and Measurement 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 Haus. http://Haus.io/operators Tatari. https://www.tatari.tv/?utm_campaign=16263599-Marketing%20Operators%20July&utm_source=marketing%20operators&utm_medium=podcast 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/

    1h 24m
See All (78)

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

.

Information

  • Creator
    Marketing Operators I Connor Rolain I Connor MacDonald I Cody Plofker
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marketing Operators I Connor Rolain I Connor MacDonald I Cody Plofker
  • Show Website
    Marketing Operators

You Might Also Like