The New Media Buying Playbook: AI, Performance Models & Agency Profitability

SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES:

https://bit.ly/41Sm05N

In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Jeff Shannon, co-founder of Pilothouse, an eight-figure performance digital marketing agency serving e-commerce and DTC brands.

Jeff breaks down how they went from affiliate media buyers to building one of the most influential DTC media engines in the space—combining an agency, a newsletter, and a podcast into a single growth flywheel.

If you run a digital marketing agency and you’re thinking about newsletters, media, performance-based pricing, or how to position for AI without burning millions on tools, this conversation is a blueprint.

⏱ Chapters

Chapters & Timestamps

– Cold Open & Intro

– Who Is Jeff & What Is Pilothouse?

– From Affiliate Arbitrage to Content-Led Growth

– Proving the Newsletter & Going All-In

– 150K Subs & Negative CAC for the Agency

– Would Jeff Start a Newsletter in 2025?

– Jordan’s Newsletter & Monetization Strategy

– When Sponsorships Make Sense (and When They Don’t)

– Multiple Legs on the Stool: Beyond Newsletters

– The Three Biggest Growth Levers to 8 Figures

– Performance-Based Pricing & Paying Talent Big Upside

– Risk-Reward Models & the New Agency Standard

– Life as a Non-Day-to-Day Founder

– Founders vs Operators: Knowing Your Seat

– How Pilothouse Is Positioning for AI (2026–2027 View)

– Move Fast or Get Left Behind

– Where to Find Pilot House, DTC, and Join Agency

– Outro & Event Plug

To learn more go to 8figureagency.co

To reach Jeff - https://www.pilothouse.co/