Today we’re exploring how DTC brands can reach new audiences on Meta using partnership ads, and how they can improve performance and strengthen the paid social mix, as well as checking in on how Ridge's sweepstakes are going so far.

We talk through how partnership ads compare to whitelisting, our experiences working with creators of all sizes, and what’s actually driving ROI. We also get into the role of gifting, why ads run from a creator’s handle often outperform those from a brand handle, and why single-handle creator ads usually feel the most native. Finally, we cover how partnership ads function as signal engineering, whether they truly deliver incremental reach, and the role of creative in making them work.

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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

07:06 Influencer Marketing Strategies

18:06 Partnership Ads vs. Traditional Ads

27:23 Signal Engineering and Audience Insights

35:20 Navigating Meta's Advertising Challenges

44:37 Leveraging Influencer Marketing for Targeted Reach

01:00:20 Enhancing Customer Experience Through Personalization

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Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Haus.http://Haus.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

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Today we’re joined by Brett Curry from OMG Commerce, and we’re grilling him on all things YouTube advertising - where to start, strategy, creative, and how to drive results.

We discuss where YouTube sits in the channel mix, how it compares to Meta, why it’s still underused by most operators, as well as the challenges of measuring success on YouTube - from attribution challenges to incrementality and brand lift.

We also get into creative: what makes a good hook, how to structure a YouTube ad, and the differences between polished content and UGC-style ads. Brett also shares his approach to testing, how many creatives you really need, and the metrics that matter most.

Finally, we cover bidding, account structure, and how YouTube can unlock performance across your whole media mix when it’s done right.

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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:00:00 Intro

11:42 Understanding YouTube: Consumption Patterns and Measurement

22:36 The Lift Trifecta: Measuring Success on YouTube

30:07 Navigating Attribution Challenges in YouTube Advertising

37:34 Optimizing Conversion Events

42:39 Account Structure and Automation

45:59 Creative Strategies for YouTube Ads

01:01:06 Measuring Success and Iteration in Campaigns

The Black Friday Operators Online EventSign up here: https://www.9operators.com/black-friday

Powered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Rivo.https://www.rivo.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ariana Ferwerda, co-founder and CEO of Halfdays, to unpack the strategy and philosophy behind building a true community-first DTC brand, and why that approach has worked so well for them.

Ariana shares her journey of launching a brand that struck product-market fit in its first season and grew 10x from their first to second season. We dive into the how and why behind Halfdays’ community-led approach - from the early customer insight that shaped their brand mission, to how they took a different path than the typical early-stage DTC playbook, and how that thinking informs their approach to growth.

She shares what it actually looks like to operationalize community at scale, from their ambassador model to how they decide when to lean on community, and when to tap into performance or influencer marketing instead.

We also get into how they measure the impact of community-led initiatives, what brands often get wrong when they jump into community without a clear reason, and when leading with community simply isn’t the right fit - plus much more.

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/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

12:46 Ariana's Journey to Half Days

22:57 Product Market Fit and Growth Strategies

33:07 The Importance of Community in Brand Strategy

45:18 Activating Community: Events and Engagement

01:00:20 Measuring Community Impact and Success

The Black Friday Operators Online EventSign up here: https://www.9operators.com/black-friday

Powered by:

Motion.

⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.

https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/