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

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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 topic
• 03:42 - What is Get Paid? Bringing TikTok Shop strategies to digital businesses
• 05:19 - How TikTok's creator commission model works
• 06:12 - Two campaign models: CPM deals vs. competitions
• 10:44 - Results: Cost-effective campaigns with $1–$3 CPM
• 14:14 - Case studies: Viral success with day-in-the-life content
• 17:00 - The shift from outbound to inbound marketing
• 22:54 - Why the "For You" page changes everything for discovery
• 28:08 - Scaling: From $5K test budgets to $50K monthly spends
• 35:22 - The ripple effect of viral content and organic replication
• 42:25 - How Get Paid incentivizes creators and brands alike

Key Points:

• Marketing Arbitrage Explained: How to get $1 CPMs vs. $9 on traditional ad platforms
• Short-Form Content Strategy: Run competitions and pay-per-view campaigns to maximize exposure
• Creator Incentives: Structuring payouts for maximum engagement and competitive motivation
• Organic Growth Tactics: How viral videos lead to a snowball effect with unpaid content replication
• B2B & B2C Impact: Why short-form content isn’t just for consumer brands

Notable 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." – Host

Key Takeaways for Founders:

1. Shift ad budgets from traditional channels to short-form creator campaigns for massive reach at lower costs.
2. Run competitive campaigns to organically motivate creators to produce viral content.
3. 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.alex
• Twitter/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.

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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 Introduction
• 03:45 - How Lukas Got Into Site Speed Optimization
• 08:30 - Common Mistakes That Slow Down Shopify Stores
• 13:20 - The Scam Behind "Instant" Speed Optimization Services
• 19:45 - The True Impact of Site Speed on Conversion Rates & ROAS
• 25:10 - Case Study: How Speed Optimization Increased Sales by 17%
• 30:00 - The Best Page Speed Optimization Tech Stack
• 35:50 - Free Tools to Test Your Website’s Speed
• 41:00 - The Best Shopify Themes for High Performance
• 45:30 - How to Get a Free Site Speed Audit from The Nice Agency
• 50:00 - Where to Find Lukas & Final Thoughts

Show Notes & Resources:

• Milliseconds Make Millions (Google & Deloitte Report on Page Speed) - Read Here
• WebPageTest.org - The Gold Standard for Site Speed Testing - Visit Site
• Dawn Theme - Shopify’s Recommended Lightweight Ecommerce Theme - Explore Here
• #1 Heatmap Analytics Tool for Tracking Revenue on E-commerce Websites - Check it Out
• RapidReviews - The Fastest Shopify Review App - Learn More
• Shoplift - Best A/B Testing Tool for Shopify - Explore Features
• Instant.so - The Fastest Shopify Page Builder - Visit Site
• LandingCat.com - Automated SEO and CRO for Ecommerce - Visit Site

Connect with Lukas & The Nice Agency:

• Website: TheNiceAgency.co
• Twitter: @IGOBYLUKAS

  LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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 optimization
01:30 – Meet Sanjay, Head of Growth at Replo
02:19 – The most effective funnel right now: Listicle to collection page
04:10 – Psychology behind listicle-style pre-sell pages
07:13 – Optimizing landing pages: Headlines, GIFs, and trust badges
10:39 – Micro-yeses and shortening the funnel
13:06 – Funnel variations for high-ticket vs. low-ticket items
17:54 – Ad creative strategies that work: Ugly ads, hook-jacking, and storytelling
25:34 – Mid-funnel retargeting and objection handling
27:28 – Using landing pages for post-purchase upsells
30:46 – Subscription models and long-term upsell strategies
34:22 – Unlocking wholesale channels with cold email and automation
39:24 – 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

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

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/

This episode I host my friend Grant, the founder of an AI automation agency that specializes in building marketing workflows for companies. We explore the concept of AI agents and how automation workflows serve as a bridge to developing these agents. Grant shares his insights on the definition of an agent, which he describes as a virtual employee that operates continuously, performing tasks like SEO research and content creation.

We dive into practical applications of AI automation, including how Grant's agency is using LinkedIn automation to transform sales call transcripts into engaging posts. This episode highlights the fascinating idea of passive content production and the importance of domain knowledge in creating effective automation workflows. We also discuss how agencies are evolving by creating products to stabilize their revenue streams.

If you're interested in understanding how to leverage AI for marketing and operational efficiency, this episode is filled with actionable insights and innovative ideas.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction to AI agents and automation workflows

01:14 - Defining an AI agent and its applications

04:02 - Grant's journey and agency growth

05:36 - Enhancing existing teams with automation

10:10 - The evolution of AI agents in organizations

15:14 - The future of content creation and automation

28:03 - Call to Content: Automating content generation from calls

39:39 - The importance of domain expertise in automation

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://grantbot.co/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

In this episode, I chat with Michael Greenberg about AI automation in marketing services. We discuss building AI automation agencies, opportunities in productized services, and specific AI-powered marketing workflows. Michael shares insights on content creation strategies, including social media posts, podcasts, and virtual influencers.

We also explore the technical aspects of implementing AI systems and the business considerations for entrepreneurs in this space. Michael provides perspectives on the challenges of running an AI automation agency and balancing experimentation with focus in entrepreneurship. 

Brought to you by...

Swell AI: Content Repurposing Powered by AI - https://www.swellai.com/

Drafthorse AI: AI-powered programmatic SEO for blog posts - https://www.drafthorseai.com/

Landing Cat: AI-Powered Programmatic SEO for eCommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

Timestamps:

(00:10:20) - Process Automation in Marketing

(00:18:41) - AI-Powered Ghostwriting System

(00:23:32) - Generating Content at Scale with AI

(00:28:23) - AI Avatars and Virtual Influencers

(00:35:13) - Creating Artificial Controversy with AI

(00:47:35) - Balancing Experimentation and Focus in Business

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://x.com/gentoftech

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gentoftech/

https://www.3rdbrain.co/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

In this episode, I chat with Bryan Ng, a script-writing pro who’s helped companies amass hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. We cover everything from crafting thumbnails and titles to nailing the first 30 seconds of a video. Bryan shares insights on the power of long-form content, YouTube’s potential as a brand-building tool, and using it as a distribution channel.

We dive into actionable strategies like writing compelling scripts, delivering on your thumbnail’s promise, and identifying winning trends in your niche. Plus, we discuss the rise of in-house creators and the growing impact of super long-form content. If you’re ready to elevate your YouTube strategy, this episode is packed with tips to get you ahead.

Brought to you by...

Swell AI: Content Repurposing Powered by AI - https://www.swellai.com/

Drafthorse AI: AI-powered programmatic SEO for blog posts - https://www.drafthorseai.com/

Landing Cat: AI-Powered Programmatic SEO for eCommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

Timestamps:

(00:02:27) - Identifying winning content ideas

(00:08:05) - YouTube funnel strategies 

(00:15:08) - Components of a compelling script

(00:23:52) - Trends in video editing and authenticity

(00:35:23) - Creators as company employees

(00:38:48) - Trend towards super long-form content

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.viralbangers.com/

https://x.com/boomerrbryan

https://www.youtube.com/@boomerrbryan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/boomerrbryan/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

https://www.graphed.com/ - AI data analyst to build dashboard and get insights

In this episode, we chat with Desmond, co-founder of Rise App, who scaled his app to $20,000 in monthly recurring revenue in just four months through organic social media marketing. He shares insights on using short-form video content to drive user engagement, emphasizing the importance of relatable narratives that position the app as a solution to users' problems. Desmond explains how a single viral post can significantly enhance an account's visibility and distribution potential on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

We also discuss the resurgence of consumer applications, particularly in the self-improvement niche, and the role of AI in enhancing user experience. Desmond highlights the need to adapt content formats to keep pace with changing audience preferences, noting that while short-form videos are here to stay, the specific frameworks will continue to evolve. This conversation is filled with actionable strategies for leveraging social media to grow your app or brand.

Brought to you by...

Swell AI: Content Repurposing Powered by AI - https://www.swellai.com/

Drafthorse AI: AI-powered programmatic SEO for blog posts - https://www.drafthorseai.com/

Landing Cat: AI-Powered Programmatic SEO for eCommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/

Timestamps:

(00:06:07) Rise App's Success and Download Metrics

(00:06:37) Using Organic Social Media for User Acquisition

(00:13:34) Algorithm Behavior and Account Growth

(00:16:08) Multi-Account Strategy

(00:25:21) Using AI Avatars in Content

(00:28:40) Storytelling in Content

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://x.com/desmondhth

https://www.riseapp.life/

https://designand.build/

LandingCat: SEO for ecommerce - https://www.landingcat.com/