Why Marketing Sucks With Nathan Smith

Nathan Smith
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Marketing

Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, founder of the SEO and marketing agency SEOptimize. Every guest gets asked the same question: Do you actually think marketing sucks? Each episode, Nathan sits down with a founder or operator running a growing company and walks through how that business really gets customers. Not the version on the website, the real one. What they tried first and why it fell flat. The channel that finally worked, whether that turned out to be SEO, Google Ads, cold outreach, referrals, or word of mouth. What broke when they tried to scale it, who they hired, who they had to let go, and what it cost them to learn that. Then the conversation goes where most marketing shows stop. What happens if the one channel carrying the whole business quits working tomorrow. What the founder is still personally holding that nobody else can do yet. Where the next 12 months actually go. Why Marketing Sucks is for founders, owners, and the people responsible for growth, especially anyone who has paid for marketing that produced good reports and no revenue. Hosted by Nathan Smith from Colorado. New episodes weekly. Be a guest, or hear past episodes: whymarketingsuckspodcast.com Nathan Smith's agency, SEOptimize: seoptimizellc.com

  1. 2d ago

    Scaling A Functional Beverage Brand On Amazon | Dan D'Souza

    Most beverage founders discover that paid ads are a bottomless pit and getting stocked on shelves means nothing if venues do not sell through the product. Dan D'Souza is the Marketing and Finance Director of Mush, a functional drinks brand that makes low-sugar lion's mane drinks, elixirs, and mixers with added vitamins and fiber for health-conscious consumers. In this episode, Dan shares how cutting 90% of their Amazon ad spend made their business profitable, why driving a branded electric-blue Rolls-Royce around London creates more inbound demand than paid ads, and how they secure predictable B2B sales through venue contracts with retro discounts. In this episode: - Why cutting 90% of unprofitable Amazon ad spend unlocked real bottom-line profitability - How driving an electric-blue vintage Rolls-Royce through London drives job applicants and sales - The B2B sampling trap and why getting stocked in independent bars does not guarantee reorders - Structuring B2B elixir contracts with retro discounts to secure high-margin cocktail placements - Why functional drinks must lead with great taste and experiential sampling rather than health claims - Navigating UK health regulations around lion's mane by pairing mushrooms with vitamins and fiber - Why relying on full AI automation destroys brand trust and tone of voice About Dan D'Souza: Dan D'Souza is the Marketing and Finance Director and Co-Founder of Mush. His company, Mush (operating at muush.co), produces functional lion's mane mushroom drinks, ready-to-drink cans, and cocktail elixirs designed to provide brain, gut, and immune benefits without relying on pills or powders. The business serves consumers across the UK on Shopify and Amazon, supplies independent hospitality venues, and exports to major grocery retailers in the Netherlands. After working in corporate marketing and running a hospitality cafe and bar, Dan launched Mush two years ago with his business partner to solve the lack of great-tasting, functional, low-sugar alternatives in the beverage space. Website: https://muush.co/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Watch the full conversation above and subscribe for weekly breakdowns of how real companies get customers. Topics covered: functional beverage marketing, lion's mane drink business, Amazon ACoS reduction, experiential sampling events, B2B drink distribution, CPG product line profitability, retail grocery export, founder delegation challenges Chapters: 0:00 Why functional mushrooms needed a drink format 4:12 Building a lean early stage startup team 12:46 The dangers of end to end AI marketing 20:51 Leaving corporate marketing to start a beverage brand 26:42 Using an electric blue Rolls Royce for brand awareness 34:03 Navigating lion's mane education and UK regulations 47:12 Rising paid ad costs on Meta vs Amazon 1:08:17 Why getting stocked in venues is only step one

  2. 2d ago

    How To Market A Retail Wine Shop Without Ads | Hunter Rudd

    Most wine marketing relies on snobbery and confusing label designs to push generic bottles, but Hunter Rudd proves that stripping away pretension is what actually builds a retail brand. Hunter is the CEO and Co-Owner of Wine Dispensary, a multi-location beverage retailer in Colorado that sells curated wine, spirits, beer, and gourmet food to modern, experience-driven consumers. In this conversation, Hunter explains why he stopped running paid digital ads entirely, how tasting in-store three days a week drives customer retention, and why listening to real consumer feedback beats relying on industry experts. In this episode: - Why the traditional wine industry is losing an entire generation of younger drinkers - How a gamified tasting app connected consumers directly to a Denver retail shop - The reason Wine Dispensary stopped running paid ads on Google and Meta - Using the maximum legal limit of in-store tastings to drive customer retention - How offshore talent in Nairobi supports single-operator mountain retail stores - Partnering with local nonprofits using affiliate links instead of generic gala sponsorships - Why investing ten thousand dollars into frontline employee wages beats paid ad spend About Hunter Rudd: Hunter Rudd is a former Green Beret, Duke MBA graduate, and the CEO and Co-Owner of Wine Dispensary. His company operates physical retail bottle shops in Denver and Buena Vista, Colorado, selling quality wine, spirits, craft beer, and specialty food items to everyday drinkers and collectors alike. Hunter originally built a gamified tasting app called Sommsays to make wine approachable for younger consumers, which led directly to acquiring Wine Dispensary in downtown Denver[cite: 6]. Today, he focuses on acquiring independent bottle shops and backing frontline retail staff with modern digital tools. Website: https://www.winedispensary.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Watch the full conversation above and subscribe for weekly breakdowns of how real companies get customers. Topics covered: retail customer retention, local SEO strategy, wine industry marketing, brick and mortar operations, nonprofit affiliate partnerships, employee experience in retail, Google Business Profile optimization, word of mouth growth Chapters: 0:00 Building a wine game to replace industry snobbery 6:45 Why younger drinkers are abandoning traditional wine 16:42 Capturing first-party tasting data with QR codes 29:18 Training retail beverage experts to have consumer empathy 41:40 Acquiring independent bottle shops across Colorado 47:42 Why Wine Dispensary abandoned Google and Meta ads 58:10 Using OpenAI and global support for local retail 1:07:05 Replacing paid ads with nonprofit affiliate partnerships

  3. 2d ago

    Scaling An Outdoor E-Commerce Brand With Lo-Fi Video | Derek Tillotson

    Most e-commerce brands waste thousands of dollars gifting free products to influencers who never post, but Derek Tillotson flipped the entire model on its head. Derek is the Founder of Haven Tents, an outdoor gear brand that designs and manufactures lay-flat hammock tents for campers who want comfortable sleep outside. In this conversation, Derek reveals how simple demo videos shot on an iPhone pulled in 22 million views, how retargeting that organic traffic drove an MER over 6, and why he turned his creator cashback framework into a brand new Shopify app. In this episode: - Why casual, lo-fi smartphone videos consistently beat expensive agency productions - Turning 22 million organic video views into paid ad retargeting campaigns - How Derek stopped gifting free gear and made creators buy products first - The reason Haven Tents positions against traditional ground camping instead of hammocks - How a single broken Klaviyo tag triggered a sudden drop in store sales - Using post-purchase review tools and referral links to drive second orders - Why blocking out one full content day each week is a founder's highest-leverage task About Derek Tillotson: Derek Tillotson is the Founder and CEO of Haven Tents[cite: 4]. His company designs and sells lay-flat hammock tents and outdoor sleep accessories built for campers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts who cannot sleep bent like a banana in traditional hammocks[cite: 4]. Haven Tents launched on Kickstarter in 2019, shipped its first units in 2020, and has now sold more than 50,000 units globally while building a social following of over 800,000 fans[cite: 4]. Derek is also a co-founder of First Shake, a Shopify creator app built to replace broken product-gifting workflows with performance cashback[cite: 4]. Website: https://haventents.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Watch the full conversation above and subscribe for weekly breakdowns of how real companies get customers. Topics covered: e-commerce video marketing, organic social media growth, creator product gifting, influencer cashback programs, Meta retargeting ads, outdoor gear business, Shopify store optimization, marketing attribution tracking Chapters: 0:00 Hacking the hammock to sleep flat outside 4:04 Building the largest hammock brand on social 8:55 Feeding 22 million organic views into retargeting 11:03 Why lo-fi founder videos outperform polished ads 23:38 The death of product gifting for e-commerce 26:33 Turning creator cashback into a Shopify app 41:50 How a broken Klaviyo tag damaged store sales 59:55 Why founders must block one content day weekly

  4. 2d ago

    Scaling A Local Manufacturing Shop With AI | Colin Morris

    Most local framing shops are quietly closing as aging owners retire, but Colin Morris took over his family shop and used organic SEO, automation, and AI chatbots to double the business. Colin is the CEO and Owner of Kingston Frameworks (operating nationally as Frameworks Canada), a full-service art services company that provides custom framing, giclée printing, art scanning, restoration, and drop-ship fulfillment for artists, collectors, and corporate partners across Canada. In this conversation, Colin explains how a single AI recommendation brought him an ongoing contract for 100 pieces a week, how he replaced manual print file prep with automated n8n workflows, and why he is shifting his focus from chasing new services to sweating existing assets. In this episode: - Why local SEO and AI search engines outperform paid ads for niche art services - How a single inbound lead generated by AI chatbots doubled company production volume - Replacing five minutes of manual graphic setup per order with n8n and Claude automation - Building a complete service fence around artists by adding art cards, scanning, and web design - What it really costs to run a physical manufacturing shop every single day - The framework for sweating assets: monitor performance, maximize efficiency, and protect accounts - How to step back from daily fires and hand off core responsibilities to trusted leaders About Colin GW Morris: Colin GW Morris is the Owner and CEO of Kingston Frameworks Ltd. (also operating as Frameworks Canada and Belleville Frameworks). His company provides comprehensive art services, including bespoke custom framing, fine art printing, high-resolution scanning, art restoration, and national drop-ship fulfillment. The business serves retail collectors, working artists, and commercial accounts across Canada from its physical locations in Kingston and Belleville, Ontario. The shop was originally founded by Colin's father Wayne Morris in 1982 as a DIY framing store, and Colin stepped in during 2018 to modernize the business into an automated, tech-driven operation. Website: https://kingstonframeworks.ca/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Watch the full conversation above and subscribe for weekly episodes on real company growth. Topics covered: local SEO, AI search recommendations, custom framing business, art drop shipping, business automation workflows, n8n automations, delegating business operations, direct response vs brand awareness Chapters: 0:00 Turning a legacy framing shop into art services 4:15 Why SEO and AI drive high volume leads 7:01 Using print mailers to build local awareness 13:10 Winning 100 piece weekly orders through AI 18:00 Productizing art cards and wholesale services 23:31 High touch onboarding vs automated artist accounts 36:32 Automating print production flows with n8n 44:47 Sweating underperforming assets instead of adding services 1:16:13 Stepping out of daily fires to delegate

  5. Oct 20

    How To Build A D2C Beverage Brand On YouTube | Peter Bayne

    When Peter Bayne built Kenetik, he spent $150,000 on a single high-production video ad using humor to explain the science of exogenous ketones. The ad generated content assets, but failed to deliver immediate ROI. Instead, Kenetik scaled by leveraging YouTube influencer partnerships, geo-targeted ad campaigns around retail stores, and AI-optimized search strategies. In this episode: - Why a $150,000 video ad campaign failed to produce instant ROI - How YouTube creators outperformed Instagram influencers for DTC sales growth - The strategy behind using geo-targeted Facebook and Google ads to clear retail shelves - Why Kenetik underwent a complete rebrand after getting banned by Meta - How to build AI-driven web pages to capture search queries across LLMs - Why caffeine blocks sleep receptors and how ketones provide alternative cellular energy About Peter Bayne: Peter Bayne is an entrepreneur and the founder of Kenetik, a functional beverage company that creates plant-based exogenous ketone drinks. Before launching Kenetik during the pandemic, Peter built and managed 13 to 14 restaurants and bars in the food and beverage industry. Kenetik produces functional brain drinks designed to boost alpha and gamma brain waves for mental clarity and focus without relying on caffeine or sugar. The company operates in both the direct-to-consumer market and the clinical medical research space. Website: https://drinkkenetik.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Subscribe for weekly interviews with founders revealing how they really grow their businesses. Topics covered: DTC marketing, YouTube influencer marketing, functional beverage scaling, Meta ad bans, brand messaging, geo targeted ads, retail expansion, AI search optimization Chapters: 0:00 How ketones provide cellular energy without caffeine or sugar 4:54 The origin of Kenetik and solving the flavor problem 16:45 Team structure and maintaining a D2C focus 35:45 Marketing challenges and the $150,000 video ad lesson 43:09 Scaling through YouTube influencers and geo-targeted retail ads 53:28 Rebranding after Meta suspended the Facebook ad account 1:09:59 Why explaining complex product education is the hardest part of marketing 1:12:46 Investing $10,000 in AI search optimization and question-answering domains

  6. Oct 20

    How To Use AI For E-Commerce SEO In 2026 | Sandy Ronalds

    When external agencies cost $3,000 a month for SEO, Sandy Ronalds trained Claude AI to manage her search rankings, weekly optimizations, and LLM visibility instead. Sandy Ronalds, founder of Nat V Basics, produces eco-friendly underwear and everyday apparel made from beech tree fibers for women in Australia and New Zealand. In this episode, she breaks down how she cut her internal team from 8 to 2 while maintaining scale, why Meta ad acquisition broke over the last two years, and how influencer marketing outperforms paid ads. In this episode: - How running an AI prompt system in Claude AI replaced a $3,000 per month SEO agency retainer - The strategy behind cutting internal staff from 8 people down to 2 using 3PL and AI automation - Why constant retail sale cycles and discount codes destroy margins in e-commerce - The difference between micro influencers for content creation and macro influencers for direct sales - How paid ad spend indirectly drives untracked organic and brand search traffic - What happens when Meta acquisition costs skyrocket and how to manage media spend budgets About Sandy Ronalds: Sandy Ronalds is the founder of Nat V Basics, an Australian e-commerce brand specializing in sustainable, comfortable underwear and everyday apparel for women. Originally conceptualized in 2017 and launched in 2019, the company focuses on eco-friendly fibers like Lenzing Modal sourced from beech trees. After years of running small businesses and starting a skincare brand, Sandy built Nat V Basics to deliver long-lasting products that prioritize consumer comfort and supply chain transparency. The company primarily serves women in Australia and New Zealand while expanding into global shipping. Website: https://natvbasics.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Subscribe to the podcast and hit the notification bell for new episodes every week! Topics covered: e-commerce marketing, AI SEO strategies, Meta ads attribution, influencer marketing ROI, customer acquisition cost, e-commerce retention tactics, DTC brand scaling, supply chain management Chapters: 0:00 Founding Nat V Basics and brand background 4:07 Scaling down team size with 3PL and Claude AI 5:24 Using Claude AI for weekly SEO and goals 10:40 Managing ad agencies and retainer models 14:28 Expanding product catalog to boost lifetime value 18:33 The impact of continuous retail discounting cycles 30:20 Meta ad performance challenges and customer acquisition 36:08 Influencer marketing strategies and UGC content 43:53 Tracking organic traffic lift from paid campaigns 51:23 Where to invest $10,000 in marketing budget

  7. Oct 20

    How To Scale A B2B Brand Without Paid Ads | Sam Goulden

    Sam Goulden built a multi-million dollar direct to consumer brand without spending a single dollar on paid ads. The founder of Minimal Golf sits down with Nathan Smith to share how he creates loyal customers by treating every buyer like a friend. He also reveals how a failed deal left his company with $400,000 in debt and how he is working his way out. In this episode: - Why Minimal Golf refuses to run paid ads or hire paid influencers - The exact customer service routine that turns one-time buyers into brand advocates - How a canceled Super Bowl campaign left the company with $400,000 in inventory debt - The simple design fixes that eliminate the most common points of failure in golf bags - Why giving away free products to young players drives organic word-of-mouth sales - How posting up to 20 times a day generates millions of organic impressions About Sam Goulden: Sam Goulden is the founder of Minimal Golf, a premium golf brand based in Redondo Beach, California. His company makes golf bags out of 100% recycled ocean plastics and operates a local golf club with simulators, club fittings, and lessons. A former competitive golfer and golf coach, Sam launched Minimal Golf in 2020 to build sustainable, high-performance equipment for modern players. Website: https://minimalgolf.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Subscribe to the channel to get weekly interviews with founders who share how they actually grow their businesses. Topics covered: bootstrapped growth, direct to consumer marketing, organic social strategy, customer retention tactics, eco friendly products, brand loyalty strategy, inventory debt management, word of mouth growth Chapters: 0:00 Building a brand for the player and the planet 4:57 Leaving a successful app to start a new business 8:23 Operating a lean direct to consumer team 13:07 Using coaching experience to understand customers 20:48 Overcoming a major product quality failure 24:42 Dealing with $400,000 in inventory debt 34:35 Product features that solve real golfer problems 38:15 Reaching millions through organic social media 54:25 Why paid advertising and influencer deals do not work 1:06:50 Giving back to junior golfers at the driving range

  8. Oct 20

    How To Scale A D2C Brand With Micro Influencer Marketing | Alex Vailas

    Building a million-follower audience on social media does not mean you have to stay an influencer forever. Alex Vailas, Head of Brand at Bad Birdie, joins Nathan Smith to discuss how she transitioned from early Pinterest influencer to leading brand strategy for a disruptive D2C apparel brand. Bad Birdie creates bold, high-performance golf apparel for men, women, and kids who want to break away from traditional golf dress codes. In this episode: - How Bad Birdie positioned itself as a challenger brand in a traditional industry - Why coming into a new industry with zero background knowledge can be a competitive advantage - How Alex built a audience of 1 million Pinterest followers in 6 months before influencer marketing existed - What made Alex pivot from creator to agency operator and brand executive - How Bad Birdie scales through retail doors, organic content, and selective creator partnerships - What Alex would do with a 10K monthly marketing budget to drive real growth About Alexandra E. Vailas (Alex Vailas): Alexandra E. Vailas (Alex Vailas) is the Head of Brand at Bad Birdie. Founded in 2017, Bad Birdie is a golf apparel company that makes bold, high-performance polos, apparel, and activewear for men, women, and kids. The brand started as a direct-to-consumer business designed to challenge traditional, conservative golf style and has since expanded nationwide into major retail doors like Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Scheels, and Nordstrom. Before leading brand strategy at Bad Birdie, Alex was one of the nation's first Pinterest influencers, gaining over 1 million followers before transitioning into agency leadership and brand marketing. Website: https://badbirdiegolf.com/ About Why Marketing Sucks: Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, the founder of SEOptimize, an agency that owns the full marketing funnel for a small book of clients across SEO, paid ads, content, PR, and web. Each episode is a conversation with a founder or operator about how they actually get customers: what they tried first, what finally worked, what broke when they scaled it, and whether they think marketing sucks. New episodes every week. https://whymarketingsuckspodcast.com https://seoptimizellc.com Subscribe now and watch full episodes every week! Topics covered: D2C marketing, brand strategy, influencer marketing, retail expansion, apparel marketing, customer acquisition, social media marketing, organic growth Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Alex Vailas and Bad Birdie 4:00 How the name Bad Birdie creates disruption 8:02 Why Bad Birdie focuses strictly on golf apparel 11:53 How male and female shoppers buy differently 19:59 Leading brand marketing with zero golf background 26:14 How Alex gained 1 million Pinterest followers 34:10 Pivoting from full-time influencer to brand marketer 42:39 Bad Birdie's strategy for creator partnerships and retail 50:09 Why marketing sucks and the struggle with content scale 59:38 How Alex would invest a 10K marketing budget

See All (21)

About

Why Marketing Sucks is a weekly business podcast hosted by Nathan Smith, founder of the SEO and marketing agency SEOptimize. Every guest gets asked the same question: Do you actually think marketing sucks? Each episode, Nathan sits down with a founder or operator running a growing company and walks through how that business really gets customers. Not the version on the website, the real one. What they tried first and why it fell flat. The channel that finally worked, whether that turned out to be SEO, Google Ads, cold outreach, referrals, or word of mouth. What broke when they tried to scale it, who they hired, who they had to let go, and what it cost them to learn that. Then the conversation goes where most marketing shows stop. What happens if the one channel carrying the whole business quits working tomorrow. What the founder is still personally holding that nobody else can do yet. Where the next 12 months actually go. Why Marketing Sucks is for founders, owners, and the people responsible for growth, especially anyone who has paid for marketing that produced good reports and no revenue. Hosted by Nathan Smith from Colorado. New episodes weekly. Be a guest, or hear past episodes: whymarketingsuckspodcast.com Nathan Smith's agency, SEOptimize: seoptimizellc.com

Information