Episodes

  • Ep #17: AI usage costs are destroying SaaS business models
    Dec 5 2025

    Over the last 30 years, software pricing has evolved from on-prem licenses (Software 1.0) → cloud subscriptions (Software 2.0) → and now the era of AI-powered, compute-dependent pricing (Software 3.0). What does that mean for founders, product leaders, and anyone building SaaS today? A LOT.

    In this episode, we cover:

    -Why freemium is dying in the age of AI
    -How compute-heavy AI workloads change your unit economics
    -Why SaaS companies may need two pricing models (software access + AI usage)
    -The messy world of credits, API calls, and tokens
    -How PLG and SLG are merging into a hybrid growth model
    -The real risks & opportunities in usage-based and outcome-based pricing
    -Whether AI features make SaaS more or less profitable
    -How “brand taste” in AI models (GPT vs Claude vs Grok) affects perception and pricing
    -Why AI might force even enterprise SaaS to offer playgrounds, demos, and hands-on trials
    -A spicy segment on token arbitrage 👀 (Nick’s Dumb Idea of the Week)

    Corey breaks down the economics.
    Zach unpacks how this impacts product + growth.
    Nick asks the questions everyone’s thinking.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

    You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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    50 mins
  • Bonus Episode from The Break Room #2: Are you ready to be a dad quiz
    Nov 21 2025

    This is very educational, ok? Please don't flag us

    In this episode, we put Corey to the test with a fatherhood quiz on all things babies and childbirth, from meconium to Braxton Hicks contractions and the ring of fire, to gauge just how ready he really is.

    ...

    The Breakroom is a show hosted by the three cofounders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth. Tune into the Factory Floor, our other show, to stay up to date with the changing landscape of the marketing world.

    On the Break Room, we just like to chill out and tell stories. Whether you're on your way to work, just passing the time, or stuck somewhere with nothing but an internet connection, tune in. We're here for you, a couple of dudes hanging out.

    To support the channel, like and subscribe. It really helps.

    You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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    17 mins
  • Ep #16: It might be time to revolutionize your brand
    Nov 7 2025

    Maybe you just need an updated logo. Or maybe you need a whole new brand.

    How do you spot the difference?

    In this episode of The Factory Floor, hosts Nick Loudon, Corey Haines, and Zach Stevens break down rebranding strategies through a structured framework: revolutions, evolutions, and optimizations.

    Drawing from Conversion Factory's 73-point brand audit (recently updated to 99 point), Zach explores key visual identity elements like logo functionality, color palettes, typography, icon libraries, brand patterns, and accent elements to assess when a full overhaul is needed versus targeted refinements.

    Using real client examples, the discussion covers timelines (2-4 weeks for revolutions, 1-2 for evolutions, immediate for optimizations) and trade-offs, such as preserving brand equity versus accelerating execution.

    They dive into strategic triggers for rebranding: positioning shifts, acquisitions and brand architecture, and enterprise requirements for consistent, scalable systems beyond "professional" aesthetics. Additional insights include global expansion challenges (Amazon's custom typeface) and signaling maturity for exits or funding rounds.

    Whether you're evaluating brand guidelines, visual consistency, or post-acquisition integration, this rebranding overview equips you to align rebranding with business goals. Listen now for actionable criteria on revolutions versus evolutions, and share your brand audit takeaways in the comments. Subscribe for more on design strategy, creative direction, and marketing operations.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

    You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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    35 mins
  • Ep #15: Why Webflow is the best website builder for marketers (Framer sucks)
    Oct 10 2025

    In this episode of The Factory Floor, Nick, Corey, and Zach compare website building platforms for SaaS marketing sites, focusing on Webflow, Framer, and custom-coded solutions.

    They highlight Webflow’s strengths in scalability, SEO, and ease of updates, making it ideal for marketing teams. Framer is praised for design flexibility but criticized for poor scalability and limited CMS.

    Custom-coded sites offer full control but are costly and hard to maintain. WordPress and Wix are deemed unsuitable for SaaS needs. The hosts recommend Webflow as the most balanced, efficient choice for business websites.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

    You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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    40 mins
  • Ep #14: Comparing marketing for bootstrapped companies vs. VC backed companies
    Sep 29 2025

    In this episode of Factory Floor, hosts Nick Loudon, Corey Haines, and Zach Stevens discuss the distinct marketing approaches employed by bootstrapped and venture capital (VC)-backed startups. The conversation explores how these two types of businesses, often operating in similar industries, adopt contrasting strategies based on their funding models. Corey, the resident marketing expert, sets the stage by highlighting the differences in marketing intensity and investment timing, noting that bootstrapped startups prioritize early marketing to drive revenue, while VC-backed companies often delay marketing efforts until achieving product-market fit.

    The discussion delves into why early-stage bootstrapped startups and mid-to-late-stage VC-backed companies are more likely to seek marketing support, examining factors like financial runway, investor pressure, and the need for rapid growth. The hosts analyze the pitfalls of "maintenance marketing" for bootstrapped companies, the risks of over-relying on sales or freemium models for VC-backed startups, and the importance of diversifying marketing channels at the right time. They also touch on the trade-offs between bootstrapping and VC funding, including failure rates, revenue expectations, and the role of product type in determining the funding path.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

    You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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    36 mins
  • Ep #13: Why “we’re focusing on sales” isn’t a good reason to stop doing marketing
    Sep 26 2025

    On this episode of the Factory Floor, we debunk "focusing on sales." We discuss why a focus on sales shouldn't halt marketing, and how the two fuel growth together, as two sides of the same coin.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

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    33 mins
  • Ep #12: The things preventing you from being a better founder (pull from bad fit criteria)
    Sep 22 2025

    For this episode of the Factory Floor Podcast, we discussed what its like working with clients, and what sets the best SaaS founders we know apart. Topics include: the advantages of working async (less meetings, more shipping), what its like running a marketing agency, and how founders can 10x their ARR.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth.

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

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    44 mins
  • Ep #11: Creative Firm Pricing Models | What Model is Best?
    Sep 19 2025

    Corey, Zach, and Nick discuss the pros and cons of multiple pricing models for creative agencies.

    ...

    The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth.

    Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.

    Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.

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    38 mins