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Marketing Operators

Marketing Operators

By: Marketing Operators I Connor Rolain I Connor MacDonald I Cody Plofker
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Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Chat GPT Shopping, Striking a Balance with SMS & How We’d Build a Marketing Team from Day One
    Oct 7 2025

    First up today, we’re getting into OpenAI and ChatGPT shopping with the Shopify integration - including how we’re approaching GEO, why bigger brands might have the edge, and why we’re not going all in on optimization just yet.

    We also dig into SMS and email, where the real limit is on frequency, and the balance between driving conversions short-term vs unsubscribes vs retaining subscribers in the long-term.

    We share what we’ve tested, what the data shows about diminishing returns, and why most brands are probably leaving money on the table. We break down the difference between flows and campaigns, why flows can handle more volume, and how post-purchase upsells fit into this, from one-click add-ons to holding orders “double dash” style.

    We also check in on how podcast ads are performing at Jones Road - what the early results look like, why standard tracking under-attributes, and how we’re thinking about picking winners to scale. To finish up, we talk through the first three marketing hires we’d make if we were building a brand from scratch today.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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:

    00:00:00 - Introduction

    00:10:22 - Our Approach to ChatGPT Shopping & GEO

    00:27:13 - Finding the Real Limit on SMS & Email Frequency

    00:38:37 - Post-Purchase Upsells: One-Click vs. "Double Dash" Style

    00:51:51 - Podcast Ads: Jones Road's Early Results & Attribution

    01:01:18 - Drafting Your First 3 Marketing HiresPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Operators Titans E002: Portland Leather Goods (with CMO MacCoy Merkley)
    Oct 2 2025

    Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.https://9ops.co/channelsDive into the inspiring journey of McCoy Merkley from Portland Leather Goods. From answering a Craigslist ad to becoming a pivotal figure in the company's exponential growth, McCoy shares candid insights on transitioning from a one-man army to leading a full marketing team.Discover the challenges and triumphs of scaling a business, the importance of courage in leadership, and the strategic marketing mix that propelled Portland Leather Goods to success. Tune in for a conversation filled with practical wisdom and lots of humor, as McCoy reflects on the lessons learned along the way.



    00:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Challenges00:49 The Unconventional Job Interview01:30 Starting at Portland Leather Goods05:59 Learning the Ropes of Digital Marketing19:09 Building and Scaling the Marketing Team33:23 Tactical Marketing Mix Strategies33:46 Early Stage Marketing Focus34:31 Mid-Stage Marketing Adjustments36:03 Advanced Marketing Diversification37:30 Vetting New Marketing Channels41:34 AppLovin Sponsorship Announcement43:34 Current Media Mix Insights44:41 Balancing Reach and Frequency48:11 Challenges of Reaching New Audiences54:58 The Titan 10: Rapid Fire Questions


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    1 hr and 1 min
  • New Product Launch Strategy, Net New Reach on Meta, and Big Partnership Swings
    Sep 30 2025

    Today we’ve got a jam-packed episode for you, hitting on some of the things that are top of mind for us this week - product launches, Meta, partnerships, and more.First, we get into the value of teasing products and tactics on the best way to do that, how to make sure there’s social proof and community buzz from day one, and the role reviews play in building momentum at launch. We also discuss how Hollow turned an organic Joe Rogan plug into a marketing moment, before diving into Meta tactics and what’s actually moving the needle for Cody in terms of net new reach, from exclusions and bidding to the way we’re approaching mid-funnel.Finally, we get into partnerships and what we’ve got going on at Jones Road and HexClad - why we’re taking bigger swings, how persona-driven funnels fit into our strategies, and why it feels more like portfolio management than simple channel testing.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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:11:18 - Pre-Launch Hype Strategies00:20:00 - The Power of Day-One Reviews & Social Proof00:33:40 - Joe Rogan's Organic Hollow Plug00:41:16 - Is Podcast Advertising Worth It?00:50:06 - How to Increase Your New Customer Rate on Meta01:00:02 - Unlocking Growth with Big-Bet Influencer PartnershipsPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:

    https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

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    1 hr and 11 mins
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