In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups

• 100,000 app downloads from vibe coding and zero marketing spend

  In this episode, Jack Friks, the creator of PostBridge, shares a fresh approach to product validation—building media before building the product. He explains how he used viral content strategies to grow his mobile app and later developed a B2B tool to automate content creation and scheduling. If you're a founder, marketer, or creator looking to maximize reach and validate product ideas, this episode is packed with insights!🔥 Key Topics Covered:✅ Why testing media virality before product development is crucial✅ Jack’s journey: Learning to code and launching a SaaS business✅ How organic marketing can outperform paid ads✅ The future of AI-driven content creation✅ Finding and replicating viral content formats✅ Automating content creation and scheduling⏳ Timestamps:(00:00) – Introduction(00:57) – Why media-first validation matters(08:12) – Growing an app to 100,000+ downloads organically(12:45) – Balancing content virality and sales conversions(16:30) – How PostBridge automates content creation(22:10) – The future of AI-generated content marketing(26:45) – Tips for founders leveraging media for growth💡 Notable Quotes:📌 "The best way to validate a product is not by building it, but by testing if the media around it goes viral first."📌 "If your idea can't generate organic engagement, it might not be solving a real problem."Resources:🔹 Learn more about PostBridge: PostBridge - post-bridge.com🔹 Follow Jack on Twitter: https://x.com/jackfriks🔹 Mentioned Tool: Talent Fiber – Offshore hiring agency - TalentFiber.com🔹 Additional References: Memelord Technologies – https://memelord.tech/

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  36:25
• using organic shorts to get $1 CPM on tiktok and IG reels

  In this episode, Alex Heiden, co-founder of Get Payd, dives deep into the powerful world of marketing arbitrage and how brands can leverage short-form content to generate millions of views at a fraction of traditional advertising costs. With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Alex explains how brands can exploit the current "TikTokification" of content to build top-of-funnel awareness for B2B, prosumer, and consumer products alike.He shares detailed strategies on running performance-based creator campaigns, optimizing CPMs (as low as $1 vs. $9 on traditional platforms), and structuring competitions that incentivize high-performing content creators. Plus, Alex breaks down how brands can identify top creators for long-term partnerships and generate viral content that attracts organic replication from other creators.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to marketing arbitrage & today's topic03:42 - What is Get Paid? Bringing TikTok Shop strategies to digital businesses05:19 - How TikTok's creator commission model works06:12 - Two campaign models: CPM deals vs. competitions10:44 - Results: Cost-effective campaigns with $1–$3 CPM14:14 - Case studies: Viral success with day-in-the-life content17:00 - The shift from outbound to inbound marketing22:54 - Why the "For You" page changes everything for discovery28:08 - Scaling: From $5K test budgets to $50K monthly spends35:22 - The ripple effect of viral content and organic replication42:25 - How Get Paid incentivizes creators and brands alikeKey Points:Marketing Arbitrage Explained: How to get $1 CPMs vs. $9 on traditional ad platformsShort-Form Content Strategy: Run competitions and pay-per-view campaigns to maximize exposureCreator Incentives: Structuring payouts for maximum engagement and competitive motivationOrganic Growth Tactics: How viral videos lead to a snowball effect with unpaid content replicationB2B & B2C Impact: Why short-form content isn’t just for consumer brandsNotable Quotes:"The only way to grow products quickly is by finding and exploiting marketing arbitrage." – Alex"Discovery isn’t about followers anymore—it’s about creating good content that the algorithm wants to show." – HostKey Takeaways for Founders:Shift ad budgets from traditional channels to short-form creator campaigns for massive reach at lower costs.Run competitive campaigns to organically motivate creators to produce viral content.Focus on specific features or outcomes in your short-form content for maximum clarity and effectiveness.Sponsors:TalentFiber.com – Hire the best offshore marketing talent.Connect with Alex:Instagram: @nocode.alexTwitter/X: https://x.com/alexh459 Platform: https://www.getpaydapp.com/Ready to scale your marketing with short-form content? This episode is a masterclass in how to do it right.

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  45:08
• Milliseconds Makes Millions: Slow Page Speed is Burning Your Ad Budget

  In this episode, I chat with Lukas from The Nice Agency, a Shopify site speed optimization expert. They discuss why page speed optimization is one of the most overlooked yet impactful factors in improving return on ad spend (ROAS) and conversion rates for e-commerce businesses. Lukas shares insights from his agency’s experience, debunks common myths about automated page speed tools, and reveals the best technology stack for high-performance Shopify stores.Key Topics Covered:Why page speed optimization is a game changer for your e-commerce business.How bloated app stacks slow down your site and kill conversion rates.The biggest scams in the Shopify site speed industry and how to avoid them.The impact of page speed on SEO, paid ads, and overall user experience.A breakdown of the best tools and apps to use for a high-speed e-commerce store.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Page Speed Optimization & Guest Introduction03:45 - How Lukas Got Into Site Speed Optimization08:30 - Common Mistakes That Slow Down Shopify Stores13:20 - The Scam Behind "Instant" Speed Optimization Services19:45 - The True Impact of Site Speed on Conversion Rates & ROAS25:10 - Case Study: How Speed Optimization Increased Sales by 17%30:00 - The Best Page Speed Optimization Tech Stack35:50 - Free Tools to Test Your Website’s Speed41:00 - The Best Shopify Themes for High Performance45:30 - How to Get a Free Site Speed Audit from The Nice Agency50:00 - Where to Find Lukas & Final ThoughtsShow Notes & Resources:Milliseconds Make Millions (Google & Deloitte Report on Page Speed) - Read HereWebPageTest.org - The Gold Standard for Site Speed Testing - Visit SiteDawn Theme - Shopify’s Recommended Lightweight Ecommerce Theme - Explore Here#1 Heatmap Analytics Tool for Tracking Revenue on E-commerce Websites - Check it OutRapidReviews - The Fastest Shopify Review App - Learn MoreShoplift - Best A/B Testing Tool for Shopify - Explore FeaturesInstant.so - The Fastest Shopify Page Builder - Visit SiteLandingCat.com - Automated SEO and CRO for Ecommerce - Visit SiteConnect with Lukas & The Nice Agency:Website: TheNiceAgency.coTwitter: @IGOBYLUKAS

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  30:50
• This Simple Ecom Funnel Increases AOV and ROAS by 3x

  Automated SEO and CRO for ecommerce -  https://www.landingcat.com/ Build 10,000+  pages in days not months. Keyword research, page creation, and continuous conversion rate optimization. Go click the link man you'll be stoked you did.Learn more at - https://www.landingcat.com/ In this episode, we dive deep into funnel optimization with Sanjay, Head of Growth at Replo, a powerful landing page builder for e-commerce brands. Sanjay shares the most effective funnel structures, tactics, and landing page strategies that have been proven to increase conversions and maximize Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). From listicle-style pre-sell pages to upsells right before order shipment, this episode is packed with actionable insights for e-commerce brands looking to scale.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and importance of funnel optimization01:30 – Meet Sanjay, Head of Growth at Replo02:19 – The most effective funnel right now: Listicle to collection page04:10 – Psychology behind listicle-style pre-sell pages07:13 – Optimizing landing pages: Headlines, GIFs, and trust badges10:39 – Micro-yeses and shortening the funnel13:06 – Funnel variations for high-ticket vs. low-ticket items17:54 – Ad creative strategies that work: Ugly ads, hook-jacking, and storytelling25:34 – Mid-funnel retargeting and objection handling27:28 – Using landing pages for post-purchase upsells30:46 – Subscription models and long-term upsell strategies34:22 – Unlocking wholesale channels with cold email and automation39:24 – Where to find Sanjay and final takeawaysKey Insights:Listicle to Collection Page Funnel: The highest-performing funnel structure involves an ad driving to a listicle-style pre-sell page, which then directs customers to a curated collection page.Psychology of a Soft Sell: Instead of hard-selling in the ad, build intrigue and educate potential customers before presenting them with an offer.Mid-Funnel & Post-Purchase Optimization: Address objections with targeted content, increase AOV through post-purchase upsells, and leverage subscription-first models to drive long-term revenue.Winning Ad Formats: Engaging hooks like UGC-style "fake podcasts," news-style ads, and "ugly" handwritten-style creatives outperform traditional polished content.Cold Email for Wholesale Growth: How e-commerce brands can tap into boutique retailers using automation and personalized landing pages.Notable Quotes:"The best performing ads don’t sell, they educate and entertain first.""People buy into transformations, not just products. Sell the vacation, not the plane ride.""Most brands don’t optimize their funnels, but just doing this can 10X your ROAS."Resources & Links:Replo: https://www.replo.app/Sanjay on Twitter/X: https://x.com/Sanjayatplay

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  39:59
• ai built prototypes: going from idea to mvp in under an hour

  Sub to my email newsletter for growth tactics - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribeBrought to you by...Talent Fiber: Hire global talent for your growth marketing positions - https://talentfiber.com/Today, we're diving into the process of turning a product idea into reality using AI tools. My guest Jay, founder of Casper Studios, walks us through the workflow from initial concept to creating a product requirements document (PRD) and then generating a visual prototype. We discuss how AI is revolutionizing product development by allowing ideas to be rapidly transformed into mockups and prototypes.We explore a specific product idea for an AI-powered infographic generator, examining the market opportunity, target users, and potential features. Jay explains how to conduct effective discovery calls with clients, create comprehensive PRDs, and use tools like V0 to quickly produce visual designs. Throughout the episode, we highlight how AI is dramatically accelerating the product development cycle, allowing founders and product teams to validate ideas faster than ever before. This new paradigm is changing how products are conceived, designed, and brought to market.Timestamp(0:00) - Intro(0:10) - Strategy for Validating Product Ideas(0:42) - Uncovering Product Ideas and Creating PRDs(3:00) - Guest Introduction: Jay from Casper Studios(10:14) - Discussion on AI Infographic Generator Concept(16:13) - Importance of Visually Appealing Content(32:57) - Overview of Product Requirements Document (PRD)Host LinksPersonal email newsletter - https://investorupdate.beehiiv.com/subscribehttps://twitter.com/codyschneiderxxhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider/https://codyschneider.com/https://inthepitpodcast.com/Guest LinksTwitter/X - https://x.com/JSingh_08Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysingh10125/casperstudios.xyz

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  1:05:57

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