Aves breaks down her real, in-the-weeds workflow for optimizing creative during the biggest revenue weekend of the year. No generic “best practices,” just the exact steps she takes to find hidden winners, fix underperformers, and squeeze every last drop of performance out of Meta, Shopify, and your landing pages.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What to check first on Saturday morning
• How to spot high-engagement, low-conversion ads worth iterating
• What comments, clicks, and demos can tell you about hidden angles
• How Warp Drive unlocks fast landing-page testing
• How to prioritize builds without burning efficiency
• The creative iteration system Aves uses all weekend long

#dtc #ecommerce #blackfriday #cybermonday #marketingpodcast #adcreative #performancecreative #metaads #creativestrategy

00:00 — Introduction: The Saturday Morning Black Friday Check-In

02:00 — How Aves Approaches Creative During BF/CM Weekend

04:00 — What She Looks for First in Meta + Shopify

06:00 — Using Comments to Validate Offer & Sentiment

10:00 — Fixing High-Engagement, Low-Conversion Ads

15:00 — Reading Product + SKU Data to Guide Creative

17:00 — Output, Spend, and Avoiding Overproduction

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

In this episode of Ad-venturous, Aves breaks down what it really looks like to use social platforms with intention when social is literally part of your job.

From personal posting to structured inspiration gathering to deep persona research, Aves explores how to show up online on purpose, not out of habit. She shares:

Why “unstructured research time” isn’t research

How personal posting can actually make you a sharper, faster creator

The real way to separate work scrolling from leisure scrolling

Where personas actually live online (hint: not always where you think)

How understanding different communities makes you a better marketer

Why thoughtful screen-time boundaries lead to better creative output

Tune in, take notes, and start showing up online with intention.

#DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #ContentStrategy #CreatorEconomy #MarketingTips #DTCPodcast #EcommerceMarketing #PersonaResearch #SocialMediaMarketing #BrandBuilding #MarketingPodcast #PaidSocial #ContentCreatives #MarketingMindset #AdStrategy

00:00:00 — Introduction: How Marketers Should Really Show Up Online

00:02:00 — The Moral Philosophy Story & Standpoint Theory

00:05:00 — Personal vs. Professional Posting Online

00:10:00 — Posting for Fun Makes You a Better Marketer

00:14:00 — The Myth of “Unstructured Research Time”

00:20:00 — Creative Targeting Starts With Persona Strategy

00:25:00 — Platform Demographics: Why They Matter

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

That weird, cozy week between Christmas and New Year’s isn’t just for leftovers and movie marathons; it’s one of the most overlooked opportunities in marketing.

In this episode, Avery breaks down what “Q5” really is, why CPMs drop while audiences scroll endlessly, and how smart brands use this window to squeeze in extra revenue before year-end. From verticals that thrive (wellness, fitness, CPG) to creative angles that actually work (“Santa didn’t get you what you wanted?”), this is your guide to turning holiday downtime into serious results.

#Ecommerce #MarketingPodcast #DigitalMarketing #DTC #Q5 #MediaBuying #AdCreative #HolidayMarketing #BrandStrategy

00:00 – Introduction: What “Q5” Actually Is and Why It Matters

04:00 – Who Wins in Q5: The Verticals That Thrive

06:00 – Why “New Year, New You” Is Dead (and What To Say Instead)

09:00 – How To Nail CPG & Wellness Subscription Strategy

17:00 – Q5 Offer Strategy: Turning Downtime Into Revenue

21:00 – Winning Angles: Bad Gifts, Holiday Stress, and “Treat Yourself”

25:00 – What Not To Do: Avoiding the Holiday Hangover

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Gifting isn’t just a holiday afterthought. It’s one of Q4’s biggest growth levers. In this episode, Avery breaks down how to build a real gifting strategy that goes beyond discounts and flash sales.

Learn how to:

• 🎁 Map your customer’s gifting journey
• 💡 Connect emotional reactions to your product’s key USPs
• 📈 Build a creative range that actually converts
• 🛍️ Optimize post-click experiences for high-intent shoppers

If your ads are only focused on “the sale,” you’re missing one of the most powerful opportunities of the season.

#AdventurousPodcast #DTCMarketing #EcommerceMarketing #Q4Strategy #GiftingStrategy #AdCreative #MetaAds #PerformanceMarketing #MarketingPodcast #EcommercePodcast #DigitalMarketing #PaidSocial #MarketingTips #ItsGivingGifting #Q4Marketing #AdStrategy #BrandBuilding #CreativeStrategy #DTCBrands

00:00 – Introduction: Why Gifting Deserves Its Own Strategy

04:00 – Mapping the Gifting Journey (Who’s Buying and Why)

10:00 – Turning Product USPs Into Thoughtful Gift Moments

15:00 – Building Gifting Creative That Converts

20:00 – Post-Click: Landing Pages and Checkout That Simplify Gifting

25:00 – Stop Making Gift Guides — Do This Instead

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Big Milk is back. 🥛

In this episode, Avery breaks down how challenger brands can stand out when they’re up against legacy giants.

Using Oatly’s cheeky, copy-driven approach as a case study, she explores what it really takes to differentiate, from breaking category conventions and rethinking PDPs to using humor and design as your secret weapons.

If you’re fighting for attention in a space dominated by the “big guys,” this episode’s for you.

#DTC #MarketingPodcast #Adventurous #BrandStrategy #CreativeStrategy #Ecommerce #PerformanceMarketing #Advertising #DigitalMarketing #BrandBuilding #ChallengerBrands #AdCreative #MediaBuying #CRO #LandingPageOptimization #Oatly #CreativeTesting #ContentStrategy #MarketingTips #MarketingEducation #DTCMarketing

00:00 – Introduction: Why going up against legacy brands matters

02:30 – Oatly vs. Dairy Milk: Playful disruption done right

05:00 – Humor + Copy: Your most powerful differentiators

10:30 – Design and packaging as competitive advantage

13:00 – Landing pages that turn curiosity into customers

20:00 – Above-the-fold testing and CTA tweaks that drive results

31:00 – Pilothouse’s Warp Drive: Testing at scale

37:00 – Avery’s Q4 advice + final takeaways

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

No one trusts you. Yet.

In a world where anyone can start a brand, trust is your biggest advantage, and social proof is how you earn it.

In this episode, Avery breaks down how to use reviews, comments, and community interaction to make your ads more believable, your customers more confident, and your brand more human.

From reputation building to leveraging social proof across every stage of the funnel, this episode is your roadmap to making people actually believe you.

Trust isn’t bought. It’s built.

#AdventurousPodcast #DTC #SocialProof #BrandTrust #EcommerceMarketing #DigitalAdvertising #AdStrategy #CreativeTesting #MarketingTips

00:00 — Introduction and Why No One Trusts You (Yet)

02:45 — How DTC Changed Trust Forever

05:00 — You’re Not a Person, You’re a Brand

10:00 — Building Social Proof That Converts

20:00 — Turning Comments Into Conversions

26:00 — Trust Isn’t Bought. It’s Built.

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

We’re in the thick of Q4.

AKA, the most chaotic, high-stakes, and exciting time of the year for ecommerce brands. In this episode, Avery breaks down the best practices for crafting sale ads that actually work during peak season.

From keeping your offer simple to balancing scrappy and polished creative, staying prepared for last-minute pivots, and nailing your post-click experience, this episode is your quick-hit checklist for ads that convert.

Breathe, simplify, and make it sell.

#Q4Marketing #EcommerceTips #AdCreative #BlackFridayAds #CyberMonday #DTCTips #MarketingPodcast #PerformanceMarketing #CreativeStrategy #MetaAds #DigitalAdvertising #BrandGrowth #AdventurousPodcast #PilotHouse #AveryValerio #SaleStrategy #Q4Sales #MarketingBestPractices #AdOptimization #EcommerceMarketing

0:00 — Introduction

2:00 — Keep It Simple: The Power of Clear Offers

7:00 — Build a Full Creative Range (Scrappy to Polished)

11:00 — Be Prepared: Ads for Every Scenario

14:00 — Don’t Forget Post-Click Strategy

18:00 — Slow Down, Analyze, and Enjoy Q4

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

There’s a fine line between standing out and turning people off. In this episode, Avery unpacks the difference between differentiation and alienation—and why brands that mistake one for the other risk losing relevance fast.From Refy’s “Iconic Never Gets Old” campaign to the downfall of try-hard “pick-me” branding, Avery explores how intention, optimism, and care separate the brands that build connection from the ones that repel it.#MarketingPodcast #BrandStrategy #CreativeMarketing #Differentiation #BrandBuilding #AdventurousPod #DTCPodcast #MarketingTrends #BrandIdentity #ContentStrategy #Advertising #RefiBeauty #AveryValerio #EcommerceMarketing #MarketingInsights #CulturalBranding #BrandVoice #MarketingCommunity #SocialMediaStrategy #CreativeStrategy

00:00 — Introduction: Differentiation vs. Alienation - The Fine Line Every Brand Walks02:00 — Pumpkin Spice, Pick-Me Energy, and the Problem With “Relatable” Brands06:00 — Refy’s “Iconic Never Gets Old” Campaign Breakdown07:00 — Why Aging (and Evolving) Is the Ultimate Brand Advantage19:00 — How to Stand Out Without Turning People Off28:00 — Differentiation Is Hope; Alienation Is FearWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

Winning ads start with strong angles.

In this episode, Aves Valerio breaks down her “Try-Angle Method” for developing ad angles that connect across personas, platforms, and funnel stages.

From spotting the difference between features and benefits, to avoiding the trap of “just vibes” creative, you’ll learn how to build angles that scale and keep working long-term.

#AdventurousPodcast #MarketingAngles #DTCMarketing #AdStrategy #CreativeStrategy #DigitalMarketing #AdCreative #MediaBuying #GrowthMarketing #EcommerceMarketing #ContentStrategy #MarketingTips #BrandStrategy #Advertising

0:00 — Introduction

2:00 — Why vibes and aesthetics alone won’t scale your brand

5:00 — Back to strategy: personas, segmentation, and angle psychology

9:00 — Features vs. benefits: the foundation of strong angles

21:00 — Introducing the Try-Angle Method (upside-down triangle framework)

26:00 — Middle-funnel angles: creating curiosity and avoiding insider lingo

34:00 — Testing angles the right way (and why most brands waste them)

Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠

Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast

Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠

Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

What’s holding so many founders and marketers back? Fear of being “cringe.”In this episode of Ad-venturous, Aves breaks down why cringe culture is killing creativity, how authenticity fuels community, and why your next stage of growth might be waiting on the other side of Cringe Mountain.You’ll hear:Why “trying too hard” is actually a superpower.How founder-led content drives brand scale.The mindset shifts that help you post, build, and sell without fear.#Adventurous #Podcast #MarketingPodcast #DTC #DirectToConsumer #BrandBuilding #CringeCulture #Authenticity #FounderLed #ContentStrategy #CommunityBuilding #MarketingMindset #CreativeStrategy #FearlessBrands #ScaleWithAuthenticity0:00 – Introduction3:00 – Effort Over Talent10:00 – Redefining Cringe22:00 – Authenticity That Scales28:00 – Breaking Through Cringe MountainWork with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcastSubscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast