Marketing Operators

Performance creative consultant Dara Denney joins the show to break down how modern brands are approaching creative strategy in 2026. The conversation opens with the shifting role of content creators versus strategists, and why creative velocity, operations, and in-house production are increasingly shaping how brands scale.
From there, they dig into how AI is actually being used inside creative workflows - where it speeds up research and briefing, and where human judgment still matters, especially around roadmapping and idea selection. The group also explores the growing convergence of organic and paid, including how organic performance signals influence paid creative, why upper-funnel content belongs in performance accounts, and when “organic-first” ideas can still drive results.
The episode wraps with a candid discussion on performance measurement beyond short-term ROAS, touching on creative diversity, upper-funnel impact, and how operators think about long-term growth when building scalable content systems.
If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6
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⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/?utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_content=motion-sign-up&utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast
Motion Creative Strategy Bootcamp.
https://motionapp.com/2026-creative-strategy-bootcamp-paid?utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_content=creative-strategy-bootcamp-2026&utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast
Prescient AI.
https://www.prescientai.com/operators
Richpanel.
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc
Aftersell
https://www.aftersell.com/operators
Haus
https://haus.io/operators
Get the 9 Operators Newsletter
https://9operators.com/

This episode breaks down a key 2026 initiative: when and how to diversify your media mix, grounded in real operator decision-making rather than theory. The conversation uses HexClad’s approach as a case study, exploring the data signals that indicate it’s time to expand channels, how teams test incrementality, and how operators manage rising measurement complexity - especially when scaling internationally.
Along the way, the team explains how the “Rocks” system supports this kind of decision-making, from setting clear priorities and aligning teams to establishing cadence and ownership. They also unpack how KPIs are chosen at different stages, how retention-focused Rocks anchor growth efforts, and how insights from Japanese market data inform smarter media mix expansion.
If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:03:27 - Hexclad's 2026 Rocks
00:23:08 - Signals for Channel Expansion
00:32:23 - Expansion Playbook & Strategy
00:43:17 - New US Channels
00:55:59 - Sequencing & Complexity

Powered by:
Motion.
⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Rivo.
https://www.rivo.io/operators

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:
https://9operators.com/

This week, the team sits down with Dylan Ander, founder of Heatmap and author of Billion Dollar Websites, to break down how modern ecommerce funnels are evolving and why many legacy playbooks are starting to crack. The conversation opens with Dylan’s perspective on AI, trust, and synthetic content, and why brands may be heading back toward more human-led, harder-to-fake creative as AI becomes table stakes.
From there, they unpack why traditional DR funnels are losing effectiveness, how homepage-style and “Trojan horse” landing pages are reshaping conversion behavior, and what operators need to rethink about how users actually move through sites today. Dylan shares lessons from Billion Dollar Websites, including how ecommerce brands can borrow from info funnels to monetize beyond products and increase LTV.
The episode closes with a practical look at research and CRO systems - how to structure insights, prioritize tests, and turn qualitative signals into a clear experimentation roadmap - grounding the conversation in how operators can build strategies that reflect real buyer behavior as the landscape continues to shift.

Check out the previous episode with Dylan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3iwer8FNwuwzDDnAV5X7JV?si=3NJKr9aMQLun1qWQvegSYw

Find more about Dylan: https://dylanander.com/
Dylan’s newsletter: https://dylanander.com/newsletter

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:
00:03:47 - AI Hot Takes
00:24:49 - Info Funnels & Monetizing the Customer Journey
00:39:13 - Research & The Billion Dollar Data Funnel
00:55:35 - Deepening Customer Feedback Analysis
01:10:40 - Testing Strategy & Evolutionary Redesign

Powered by:
Motion.
⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Haus.
http://Haus.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CMxGOODTOB4zRbq5oHAVm?si=b295b9c03e9a407c
Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cqVNmmrYxgb5ohBhw8uvy?si=424001675b3b48fa
Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: ⁠https://9operators.com/⁠

This week, the hosts return for their annual predictions episode, starting by revisiting their 2025 forecasts and holding themselves accountable for what hit, what missed, and what changed faster than expected. From there, they transition into their 2026 predictions for DTC and eCommerce marketing, grounding each call in real performance data, platform behavior, and operator-level experience.
The conversation centers on paid media and channel mix, with deep discussion on Meta’s evolving ability to drive new customer growth, AppLovin’s continued rise, renewed performance on X, and how brands should think about wallet share, prospecting vs. retargeting, and incrementality across channels. They also unpack how creative strategy and signal engineering are becoming more critical as platforms automate bidding and optimization.
As the episode progresses, the discussion broadens into longer-term growth levers, including performance-driven organic social, brand awareness measurement, dynamic pricing and pre-orders, affiliate and social commerce strategies, and the growing need to connect marketing decisions with inventory, finance, and long-term brand value.
A core takeaway from the episode is how operators can move beyond tactics and apply better measurement, accountability, and systems thinking heading into 2026.
Watch last year's predictions episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CzkMlAHp7a2elLsIWO9qJ?si=wqbUJI_3QWqFLlOb5vN8aw

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:04:33 - Reviewing 2025 Predictions
00:18:58 - Brand Tracking and Awareness
00:38:41 - AppLovin and Channel Predictions
00:57:14 - Database Design and Data Fragmentation
01:16:46 - AI Infrastructure and Documentation

Powered by:
Motion.
⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Rivo.
https://www.rivo.io/operators

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:
https://9operators.com/

This week, we’re joined by Liz Anthony, Chief of Staff at Halfdays, the fast-growing women’s outdoor apparel brand redefining performance skiwear. Liz breaks down how Halfdays balances brand and performance marketing to scale a highly seasonal DTC business, including the role of founder-led content, creative diversity, and standout collaborations like HOKA in driving Q4 momentum.

From there, the group digs into how the Chief of Staff role acts as a force multiplier across marketing, product, and strategy - pulling from Liz’s consulting background to explore how strong operators create leverage in fast-moving brands.

We wrap with a collaborative discussion on KPI ownership, dashboards, and forecasting, covering how teams use simple tools like Google Sheets to track leading indicators, align cross-functional teams, and connect marketing execution to real business outcomes.
If you’re scaling a seasonal brand, building cross-functional clarity, or trying to connect brand moments to measurable growth, this episode is packed with practical insight.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

Find out more about the Halfdays brand in another MOperators Episode: 
How Halfdays Turned Community into a Growth Engine - with CEO Ariana Ferwerda

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introducing Liz and Halfdays’ Brand Story
00:03:10 – Finding Product-Market Fit in Women’s Ski Wear
00:08:00 – Expanding Beyond Ski: Year-Round and Omnichannel Growth
00:13:30 – Defining “Her”: Core Customer, Persona, and Positioning
00:19:00 – Chief of Staff Role: KPIs, Strategy, and Cross-Functional Glue
00:24:10 – Liz’s Operator Background and Translating Consulting Skills to DTC
00:30:20 – Building the Team, Ownership Culture, and Management Style
00:36:20 – Q4 and Black Friday: Hoka Collab, List Growth, and Demand
00:44:30 – Content Engine, Community, and Always-On Brand Marketing
00:52:30 – Channel Mix, Out-of-Home Bets, and Retargeting Strategy
01:01:00 – 2026 Roadmap: New Franchises, Launch “Moments,” and Playbooks
01:11:30 – Data Stack, KPIs, and Using Analytics to Drive Decisions

Powered by:

Motion.
⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠
https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Aftersell.
https://www.aftersell.com/operators

Haus.
http://Haus.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/