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.

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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

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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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.

More and more traffic is coming from LLMs. If you want to get a piece of the pie, you'll have to adapt.

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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.

The creative director is the most underrated hire right now. Zach, Corey and Nick discuss.

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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.

Vibe marketing in 2025. Are you utilizing the tools available?

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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.

Your product might be great. Your positioning might be sharp.
But if your branding sucks? You're losing trust—and revenue.

In this episode, we break down the symptoms of bad branding and how they show up in your design, your messaging, your customer acquisition, and even your own confidence as a founder.

You'll learn:
-Why trust is the real bridge between product and sales
-How bad aesthetics create doubt (and drive customers away)
-Why chasing design trends is a branding trap
-How to know if you're replaceable in your market
-What your brand story says about your vision—and your future

Featuring insights from April Dunford, Jason Cohen (WP Engine), and legendary adman Eugene Schwartz, this episode is a crash course in identifying and fixing brand trust issues before they kill your growth.

🎙️ Brought to you by Conversion Factory – product marketing for SaaS founders.

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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.

Listen to the show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-factory-floor/id1833579865
Listen to the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nEG2Ce56mlOq1a9YJqsTE