Up Arrow Podcast

Noah Kravitz is the host of NVIDIA’s The AI Podcast, where he connects with leading experts in AI, deep learning, and machine learning. He is also the Founder and Chief Consultant at Resonant Digital, which works with VC-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies to deliver effective content strategies, development, and distribution services. As a seasoned journalist charting the rise of electronics and computing, Noah built one of YouTube’s most successful science and technology channels, served as a tech expert on various TV outlets, and wrote about society-changing technologies in media publications, including WIRED, Business Insider, and Entrepreneur. In this episode… With AI models taking the business realm by storm, individuals and corporations alike are strategizing methods for leveraging the tool. As buzzwords like multimodal large language models emerge, what is the current and future state of AI, and how can you prepare for what lies ahead? With deep involvement in the AI space, journalist Noah Kravitz defines large language models (LLMs) as AI technology that uses transformers to process language. These models include ChatGPT, Google Bard, Jasper, Bing Chat, and other tools you can leverage for various content marketing campaigns. Multimodal LLMs elevate these capabilities by generating videos, images, and speech simultaneously. In the near future, AI will enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks and workflows. Long-term uses of AI involve harnessing personalized agents that can replicate human behavior, creating a science-driven utopia. In the meantime, Noah recommends experimenting with public-use AI chatbots like ChatGPT and discovering how your skills integrate with this new technology. In today’s Up Arrow Podcast episode, William Harris converses with Noah Kravitz, the host of NVIDIA’s The AI Podcast, about the potential of AI in the business landscape. Noah mentions AI’s role in technological advancements, how to leverage AI responsibly, and the main differences between AI chatbots.

Adam Butt is the Founder and CEO of UN/COMMON, a fully integrated e-commerce and marketing agency facilitating sustainable and profitable growth. In his role, he leads a team of over 50 people to scale $10-100 million international brands, including Liquid Death, Rare Beauty, and Beauty Blender. Adam launched UN/COMMON with only $500 in capital before growing it into a multimillion-dollar agency. He is also a serial investor in companies like American Battery Technology and Postscript. In this episode… With the lines between digital and physical blurred, DTC brands must capture the entire customer lifecycle. Yet these businesses often don’t consider the foundational factors that comprise the lifecycle, like content, the customer experience, branding, acquisition, and conversions. How can you prioritize and optimize the customer lifecycle to gain market share and create a distinctive brand? According to multimillion-dollar agency founder Adam Butt, each component of the customer lifecycle must be cohesive. If you have strong acquisition and retention strategies but an inconsistent website experience, your lifecycle is likely to malfunction. However, Adam warns not to segment your efforts into a single channel. Instead, create a comprehensive omnichannel strategy by tracking the entire customer journey and adding incremental value at each stage. Building a personable brand requires cultivating a community of loyal customers through authenticity and organic connection. On this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, the Founder and CEO of UN/COMMON, Adam Butt, joins William Harris to talk about optimizing the customer lifecycle. Adam addresses the issues with specialized agency structures, how he built and scaled UN/COMMON, and case studies of a successful customer lifecycle.

Brad Redding is the Co-founder and CEO of Elevar, which powers server-side conversion tracking for DTC brands on Shopify and Shopify Plus. With 17 years of experience in e-commerce, he has launched and optimized several businesses. Brad hosts the Conversion Tracking Playbook podcast and coaches agency owners at SaaS Academy. In this episode… With the rapid adoption of AI, data analytics has shifted from manual to automated, so companies must revise how they interpret and relay insights. Additionally, recent iOS updates have limited consumer data tracking, further complicating data analytics. How can you develop intuitive questions to optimize the data collection process? Rather than arbitrarily studying data attribution or analytics tools for vague insights, e-commerce entrepreneur Brad Redding recommends gathering and reporting insights with specific business goals in mind. This involves asking pointed and analytical questions to narrow down relevant insights to accomplish the objectives. The launch of iOS 17 has modified data collection for private browsers, so Brad says to identify and transmit alternative user matching data to advertising platforms for activity metrics.  In today’s Up Arrow Podcast episode, William Harris chats with Brad Redding, the Co-founder and CEO of Elevar, about his projections for the future of data analytics. Brad explains how Elevar promotes precise data analytics, how to navigate evolving user privacy settings, and the importance of maintaining health and longevity as a founder.

Sarah Levinger is a creative strategist, Forbes-featured consumer behavior analyst, and performance creative consultant. Having spent 10 years studying the human mind, consumer psychology, economics, and behavior science, she helps DTC brands increase paid advertising ROI using psychology-based creative. Previously, Sarah built and managed a marketing agency, where she developed social media and marketing strategies for small businesses, multilevel startups, and community associations. In this episode… While many marketers optimize their ads for technicalities, neuroscientific research shows that 95% of daily decisions are made from the subconscious mind, so ads must influence emotional decision-making. How can you leverage basic psychology principles to customize your ads for the consumer experience? Rather than solely relying on demographic information to develop your ads, creative psychology integrator Sarah Levinger says to collect experiential and psychographic information about your target customer. This includes psychological fears and emotions surrounding a core issue. Sarah recommends gathering this information through a natural language processing (NLP) report, which identifies key emotional motivators. You can then incorporate these fundamental human experiences into your ads through humor and intentional language.  In this installment of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris interviews creative strategist Sarah Levinger about implementing psychology into advertising and marketing. Sarah explains the importance of intentional ad designs, why influencing consumers’ emotions can cross a line, and how to leverage AI to tap into human psychology.

Darin Lynch is the Founder and CEO of Irish Titan, which builds and grows e-commerce channels. With experience in corporate IT, he worked for companies, including Principal Financial Group, Wilsons Leather, and the Platinum Group. Darin is also a national speaker specializing in e-commerce, leadership, culture, and entrepreneurship. In this episode… eCommerce trends like shoppable videos and headless integrations are sweeping the market, and brands stall their growth when trying to capitalize on them simultaneously. So what key aspects should merchants focus on, and how can they partner with an agency to accelerate growth? As one of the early e-commerce adopters, growth leader Darin Lynch says brands must understand e-commerce basics like data management, omnichannel integrations, the path-to-purchase, and the user experience to remove growth barriers. When analyzing these areas, many merchants notice inaccurate product listings or descriptions on various channels, so updating keywords and integrating data to optimize profits is crucial. Darin also recommends partnering with an agency that specializes in areas you struggle to scale. This requires clearly articulating your business strategy, priorities, target audience, and supply chain management so the agency can build and grow your ideas. In today’s Up Arrow Podcast episode, Darin Lynch, the Founder and CEO of Irish Titan, joins William Harris to talk about enhancing growth for stagnant e-commerce brands. Darin shares how to improve your marketing efforts, how merchants should consider e-commerce integrations, and his experience meeting Clint Eastwood and Simon Sinek.

Michael Siegel is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Decocrated, a seasonal and holiday home decor subscription box. As a serial seven-and eight-figure entrepreneur, he is also the Co-founder and Co-CEO of 1Thrive and Stratton Home Decor. With over 25 years of experience in the home decor industry, Michael has built high-performing sales and product development teams that fuel growth. In this episode… Customer lifetime value (LTV) is top of mind for many brands in the digital marketing space, and subscriptions are the leading choice for cultivating loyalty and retention. Yet brands with subscription-based business models require alternative methods of ensuring long-term satisfaction. How can you integrate customer insights and feedback into every aspect of your business? Having transitioned from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce DTC, multipreneur Michael Siegel understands how to curate feedback to develop content and a community of loyal customers. He recommends cultivating trust by establishing an online community and offering exclusive deals. Then you can gather reviews using customized surveys with detailed questions. When analyzing the responses, many brands try to accommodate every customer, but Michael advises remaining consistent with your business model and mission, especially if you’ve already built a loyal consumer base. Once you’ve gathered feedback, develop organic content that aligns with consumer needs. For instance, you can create TikTok videos instructing customers on using your products.  Join William Harris in this Up Arrow Podcast episode as he sits down with Michael Siegel, the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Decocrated, to talk about fostering customer lifetime value. Michael shares the value of mentorship in the DTC landscape, how sports influenced his entrepreneurial journey, and how he scaled Decocrated through customer insights.

Walter Harrison is the CEO of Tapestri, an app allowing consumers to earn money from their data. He is also the Co-founder and CRO of Complementics, a mobile audience network that manages national and international data. With over 15 years of experience in ad technology, data monetization, and product development, Walter has worked with major Fortune 500 clients across various industries. As an ambitious serial entrepreneur, his previous product reached five million users. In this episode… With popular apps like TikTok and Instagram gathering data with each use, younger consumers have become accustomed to a lack of privacy. However, the widespread adoption of privacy regulations allows consumers to refuse certain types of data collection. How can you target audiences with granularity while facilitating consumer transparency? Data pro and app builder Walter Harrison has developed an app that pays consumers for personal data collection. This allows users to govern their monetized information and incentivizes them to permit activity tracking on apps and websites. Similarly, e-commerce stores can build an audience by targeting potential customers on corresponding sites and social platforms, cultivating security and trust, and rewarding them for data-sharing. Walter recommends gathering data from mobile apps or website browsers for precise attribution.  In today’s episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris hosts Walter Harrison, the CEO of Tapestri, to discuss how e-commerce sites can leverage data monetization. Walter addresses the role of cryptocurrency in data monetization, the various types of consumer data, and how to analyze data proactively.

Darren Marshall is the CEO of Steven Smith Teamaker, a luxury tea and beverage company. As an Inc. 5000 growth leader, he has 30 years of experience delivering transformative growth in the consumer sector. Having spent 10 years in the consumer private equity space, Darren has led some of the world’s most iconic CPG brands. Before joining Steven Smith Teamaker, he served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at The Coca-Cola Company and the Senior Marketing Manager for Taco Bell at PepsiCo. In this episode… In the rapidly developing e-commerce age, once essential retail categories have become obsolete as brands launch products in high-performing categories optimized for the digital shelf. However, brands renowned for deteriorating categories have struggled to maintain customers and profitability. How can you pivot to adapt to omnichannel approaches? With 70% of products delivered to the food service industry at the pandemic’s onset, growth-oriented CEO Darren Marshall pivoted to launch products in multiple DTC channels. Restructuring your business model requires agility, discipline, and innovation to maintain inventory, quality standards, and profitability. When expanding to new mediums, you must invest strategically in digital media to target and acquire a diverse customer base. Through collaboration, an intentional culture with motivated professionals, and low customer acquisition costs, you can scale your business in modern verticals. On this Up Arrow Podcast episode, William Harris invites Darren Marshall, the CEO of Steven Smith Teamaker, to discuss how he adapted the company’s retail model for the e-commerce landscape. Darren addresses the importance of marginal CAC, his rituals for stress reduction, and how to balance omnichannel investments.

Reggie Black is the Co-owner of Better Way Health, an e-commerce company specializing in premium supplements like Beta Glucan. He also leads the company’s Cancer Data Foundation. As a seasoned entrepreneur, Reggie has over 20 years of experience in various sectors of wellness and technology. He shares his insights on health and wellness across multiple platforms, including natural health summits and executive seminars. In this episode… Although the e-commerce space shifts seemingly by the day, one crucial aspect remains the same: the customer experience. Marketing, technology, and other business investments are fruitless without exceptional customer service that promotes lifetime value. Learn how you can prioritize the consumer — even in heavily regulated industries. Committed to providing valuable products to consumers, Reggie Black leads a supplement company with a customer-first mindset. Despite strict FDA regulations, he markets products to target audiences’ specific needs. With so much cost, competition, and industry standards surrounding customer acquisition, Reggie says to cultivate lifetime value by building a culture around consumer demands. Brands have the power to capture audiences’ undivided attention, so answering questions and resolving issues promptly is critical in sustaining a loyal customer base. Join William Harris in this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast as he chats with Reggie Black, the Co-owner and CEO of Better Way Health, about driving sales through unparalleled customer experiences. Reggie explains Beta Glucan, how his company carved out a niche in the supplement space, and the business’ data analytics process.

Jess Chan is the Founder and CEO of Longplay, a full-service retention and lifecycle marketing agency for DTC e-commerce brands. She is also the Founder and CEO of Backbone, an email strategy automation tool. As a former CMO of a multimillion-dollar DTC e-commerce company, Jess bootstrapped Longplay to seven figures in revenue within the first 18 months. She is a sought-after speaker, podcast guest, product developer, and consultant on topics like retention, lifecycle marketing, and progressive agency business modeling. In this episode… Retention marketing is an overlooked component of the sales cycle. While many brands claim to create robust retention models through email and SMS marketing, these strategies are merely channels within the consumer lifecycle. How can you foster lifelong relationships with your customers? According to passionate retention marketer Jess Chan, an effective retention marketing model has two main aspects. These include various channels like email and SMS and the lifecycle journey, where brands retain customers by building subscription programs and generating repeat purchases. Rather than measuring ROI during the retention phase, you should analyze repeat purchase rates by assessing engagement and purchase percentages at various stages of the customer journey. This allows you to identify high-performing loyalty and retention strategies.  On today’s Up Arrow Podcast episode, William Harris speaks with Jess Chan, the Founder and CEO of Longplay, about lifecycle and retention marketing. Jess discusses how to boost repeat purchase rates, how to build relationships with consumers, and even reveals how she bailed a friend out of a Mexican prison.