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In this episode of All Killer No Filler, Abby & Henry from Pilothouse break down what it means to build real strategy for DTC brand growth. They explain how many brands today are stuck optimizing what already worked — rather than asking who the right audience is, what their pain points are, and how to speak to them.

What we cover:

• Defining real audiences & personas — how to move away from “Meta placing you” to targeting who truly values your product.

• Lifetime value, product curation, NCAC & AOV — choosing what to push, upsell, or abandon.

• Creative & messaging that connect across funnel stages — why the same creative at every stage fails.

• Strategy informing all channels — landing pages, email, ads, CRO & more.

“The game in 2020 was easy — now you're paying for a strategy that works.”

Whether you have a growing DTC brand or are scaling, this episode gives you concrete frameworks to sharpen your strategy, escape the spin cycle, and unlock long‑term performance gains.

Timestamps

00:00 Strategy vs. Easy Growth in DTC

02:45 The Role of an Account Strategist

05:30 Integrating with Brand Teams Across Channels

07:50 Unlocking New Audiences with Strategic Shifts

11:20 Why Lifetime Value Should Shape Your Strategy

15:30 Escaping the Tactical Spin Cycle

18:00 Building Effective Top-of-Funnel Creative

20:00 What a Strategic Audit Looks Like

22:00 The True Meaning of “Better” Creative

25:20 Why Deep Audience Research Drives Long-Term Growth

26:40 The Future of Media Buying and Creative Strategy

Hashtags

#DTCMarketing #EcommerceStrategy #MediaBuying #AdStrategy #GrowthMarketing #CustomerAcquisition #DigitalMarketing #CreativeStrategy #MarketingPodcast #Pilothouse

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Ep 546: How Pilothouse’s Strategy Team Transformed Ad Accounts & Grew Audiences

DTC Podcast