Everyone's saying "SEO is dead" because of ChatGPT and AI search... but that's only true if you're stuck using 2020 strategies. The reality? These AI models still rely on Google's foundation, and Ccommerce brands have a massive opportunity right now if they know where to focus.

Seth Trammell, Director of SEO at KlientBoost, breaks down exactly what's working for DTC SEO in 2025 into 2026, and why most brands are wasting time on the WRONG tactics.

→ Why LLMs like ChatGPT still depend on Google for product recommendations

→ The 3 specific SEO areas eCommerce brands should prioritize (collection pages, product optimization, organic feeds)

→ Why blog posts are no longer the (starting) answer for most ecommerce brands

→ How to use Google Search Console to identify your biggest opportunities → The hidden Merchant Center organic feed that almost nobody optimizes

If you're a 7-8 figure eCommerce founder or operator still investing heavily in blog content without seeing returns, or just getting started with SEO, this episode will show you exactly where to redirect that effort for measurable traffic growth.

Your best customers have been trained to never pay full price. Every discount you send conditions them to wait for the next one, slowly destroying your profit margins even as sales volume stays steady. So how do you break the cycle without watching revenue collapse?

Guest:

Samar Owais Founder, Emails Done Right. Retention marketing strategist for 7-8 figure DTC brands

In This Episode:

→ Why changing your opt-in offer won't hurt existing customers (but will transform new customer economics)

→ The 3-step playbook for weaning brands off discounts: free shipping first, bundles second, subscriptions third

→ The metric that matters more than sales volume (and why founders obsess over the wrong number)

→ How to expect and survive the 90-day dip when transitioning away from discount-driven marketing

→ Why bundles are "discounts without calling them discounts" and how they increase AOV while protecting margins

→ Category-specific strategies: what works for beauty, supplements, snacks, coffee, and even one-time purchase products like water flossers

If you're a DTC founder or eCommerce operator tired of competing on price and ready to build a sustainable email retention strategy, this episode gives you the exact framework to start the transition.

Account suspensions during Thanksgiving dinner. Promotions disapproved hours before your Black Friday sale goes live. Billing limits that freeze your spend at the worst possible moment. These aren't hypothetical disasters—they're real stories from seven and eight figure brands who didn't prepare properly for BFCM on Google Ads.

In this episode, Matt is joined by Menachem from JXT Group where, we break down the complete Google Ads preparation strategy for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including the overlooked technical details that can destroy your biggest revenue weekend of the year.

What You'll Learn:

→ Why you need to start your BFCM campaigns 2-3 weeks early (and what happens if you don't)

→ The merchant center data feed mistakes that limit when and where your ads show up

→ P-Max vs Shopping campaign strategy for different product types and price points

→ The post-BFCM pullback strategy that protects your profit when the sale ends

→ Billing, verification, and promotion approval issues that cause account suspensions

If you're a founder or marketer at a $1-20M eCommerce brand preparing for Black Friday, this episode gives you the tactical checklist to prevent disasters and maximize performance during the highest-stakes weekend of the year.