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If you’re running a DTC brand, you know the struggle: ad costs keep rising, and getting new customers is more expensive than ever. But what if the secret to better performance isn’t in your ads at all?
In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we welcome back Kyle Hitchcox, co-founder of Pilothouse and founder of Warpdrive, a CRO tool that helps brands optimize every step of the shopping experience post-click.
Kyle breaks down the Golden Rules of CRO, how top brands are improving conversion rates, and why landing pages and checkout optimizations are the highest-leverage activities for brands in 2025.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Why only 3% of visitors are in-market—and how to convert them
✅ The difference between search vs. social traffic and how to optimize for both
✅ How Four Sigmatic & Big Blanket use CRO to drive massive lifts in conversion
✅ Why fast load times (under 2 sec) are a non-negotiable in 2025
✅ How Warpdrive helps brands split-test and improve conversions without disrupting campaigns
Learn More About WarpDrive (Download The PDF)
Reach out to Kyle on LinkedIn
Timestamps:
00:00 – Why 2025 is the year of post-click optimization
02:03 – Landing pages, cart mechanics, and creative strategies
04:16 – State of DTC: Growth despite economic uncertainty
06:30 – What is post-click optimization? Explained
08:55 – The psychology of user experience timing
11:27 – Balancing branding and performance post-click
13:49 – Where to start with CRO: Closest to the money
15:42 – Pilot House's golden rules for CRO
19:01 – Understanding traffic types and how to optimize each
22:12 – Conversion optimization vs. reducing ad costs
24:05 – Warpdrive: How it works and who it’s for
26:45 – Real brand examples and live test wins
Hashtags:
#PostClickOptimization
#ConversionRateOptimization
#DTCPodcast
#EcommerceTips
#LandingPageOptimization
#WarpDriveCRO
#ShopifyTips
#PerformanceMarketing
#DigitalMarketingStrategy
#MediaBuying
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