The MarTech Matrix Podcast

🎄 Don’t Let Holiday Traffic Go to Waste—Make It Your Secret Weapon for 2025! 🎄 As the holiday season kicks off, marketers are gearing up for an influx of traffic and sales. But here’s the thing—don’t let all those holiday shoppers pass through without capturing valuable insights. Every click, search, and purchase holds the potential to guide your strategy well into 2025! Listen to this final clip from The MarTech Matrix Podcast where Sean Simon spoke with Clay S., CEO and Founder of Krateo.ai. It summarizes why brands need a solution like Krateo to mitigate marketing costs. Then check out more links in the comments. 📊 Harnessing Shopper Data: Each visitor interaction during this period paints a clearer picture of customer preferences, trending products, and the paths shoppers take before converting. Use this data to inform future campaigns and adjust your product positioning based on real behaviors, not assumptions. 🔍 Optimizing Campaigns in Real Time: With platforms like Krateo.ai, you can use live data to improve holiday campaigns on the fly, but don’t stop there. Let the insights you gather now fuel dynamic marketing strategies that adapt to evolving customer needs in 2025. 🎯 Setting the Stage for a Data-Driven Year: The holiday season is the time to capture data at scale. By analyzing these seasonal patterns, marketers can fine-tune customer segments, better understand purchasing motivators, and make precise predictions about what will resonate next year. Let’s make the holiday season work harder for us—not just for today, but for sustained success in the year ahead. #MarTech #HolidayMarketing #DataDriven #CustomerInsights #MarketingStrategy #KrateoAI Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro Dana Garrett Douglas Smith

🚨 ATTENTION RETAILERS: Enough with the Damn Pop-UPs🚨 We’ve all seen it—“Sign up for 10% off via email, or 20% off if you add your phone number for SMS!” It seems like a quick win, but are brands giving away too much just to get that data? More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section Here’s the scoop from Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs from InboxArmy on the latest The MarTech Matrix Podcast: Sure, offering a discount might get you that email or SMS opt-in, but brands need to think bigger. Don’t just lead with discounts—it’s a slippery slope to shrinking margins. People are getting smarter about gaming the system, waiting for that extra 15% off in their cart abandon emails or simply grabbing the discount and unsubscribing. 🔑 Key Insight: It’s all about balance. You’ve got to protect your margin while still bringing people into the fold. Getting that first purchase is crucial, even if it’s at a slight discount. But if you rely too heavily on discounts, you’re training your customers to wait for sales, rather than building long-term loyalty. 💡 The takeaway? Don’t lead with discounts, lead with value. Sure, offer the occasional deal to hook them, but make sure your long-term strategy is focused on engagement and experience, not just price cuts. Want to know how to walk that tightrope? Catch the full episode of The MarTech Matrix for more tips! #EmailMarketing #SMSMarketing #DiscountStrategy #TheMarTechMatrix #CustomerEngagement Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro

🚨 Are You Ready for Shoppable SMS? 🚨 We’re diving headfirst into the world of Shoppable SMS on the latest The MarTech Matrix Podcast with Sean Simon and his guests, Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs of InboxArmy—and let’s just say, it’s not as simple as “Click to Buy.” More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section Here’s the deal: Shoppable SMS is perfect for repeat purchases or products you’re already familiar with. Think subscriptions, quick replenishments, or items you already know and love. Getting that “click here to confirm” message for your Amazon subscription? Easy. It’s a no-brainer. But if you’re asking someone to drop $150 on a new pair of shoes they’ve never heard of? Pump the brakes. People need time to dig in, research, and build trust. You can’t rush them into a considered purchase with a quick text—at least not yet. 🔑 Key Insight: For brands, Shoppable SMS works best when it’s enhancing convenience—like managing subscriptions or offering simple product variants. But for new or complex products, you need a richer, more informative experience to guide that decision. Shoppable SMS is cool, but it’s not the magic wand for every transaction. Want to know if your brand is ready for it? Catch the full episode of The MarTech Matrix to find out. And if we are lucky, Blu Atwood, CEO of Textual - SMS Commerce will join the conversation in the comments and share some examples of how Shoppable SMS works and when it makes the most sense to use. Maybe he will even come on the podcast... #ShoppableSMS #SMSMarketing #TheMarTechMatrix #CustomerConvenience #InboxArmy Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro

🚨 WhatsApp Is NOT SMS—And Here’s Why That Matters 🚨 I used to think of WhatsApp as that app I downloaded to talk to my one friend overseas (shoutout to Israel 🇮🇱). Fast forward, and now it’s like the wild west of group chats, communities, and… marketing? More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section Here’s the deal, straight from Garin Hobbs and Scott Cohen from InboxArmy on the latest The MarTech Matrix Podcast: 📱 WhatsApp ≠ SMS: While SMS is limited by character count and basic text formatting, WhatsApp is an entirely different beast. It’s basically an app within an app, giving marketers a whole new canvas to play with—think videos, animations, forms, rich media—the works. 🌍 The Opportunity: WhatsApp’s global audience is HUGE. Outside of the U.S., it’s the go-to communication platform. If you’re marketing internationally and still treating WhatsApp like SMS… you’re leaving money on the table. 💡 Bottom Line: Don’t treat WhatsApp like your typical text blast. It’s a more dynamic, interactive tool—use it to create richer customer experiences. And don’t forget, the reach is next-level. Ready to level up your messaging game? Catch the full convo on The MarTech Matrix and learn how to harness the true power of WhatsApp. 🔥 #WhatsAppMarketing #SMSvsWhatsApp #TheMarTechMatrix #GlobalMarketing #InboxArmy Sean Simon Tom Barbaro Etgar Shpivak Cogent Collective

🚨 Batman and Robin: Which one is SMS? Email? 🚨 In the world of marketing, email and SMS are like Batman and Robin—they can be a dynamic duo if you know how to use them together. More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section 🎯 Email: It’s the laid-back sibling. Asynchronous, it hits your inbox and waits patiently for you to open it. Perfect for those thoughtful, longer messages, promotions, and content that’s not on fire. Think more about relationship building and less about immediate action. 📱 SMS: Now, SMS? That’s your in-your-face, “act now” channel. Immediate, urgent, and short—like the espresso shot of marketing. It’s perfect for real-time alerts, updates, and those time-sensitive moments that need to break through the noise. But don’t abuse it! Sending too many “Buy Now!” texts just makes your audience want to hit stop faster than they can blink. 🕹️ Pro Tip from the InboxArmy team: Use SMS for brevity and urgency, but keep your longer, detailed messages for email. And for the love of marketing, don’t text someone about sunglasses when they just bought a pair last week. That’s how you break trust and end up in the “stop” pile. Want more insights on how to balance these two channels? Tune into the latest episode of The MarTech Matrix! 💡 #SMSMarketing #EmailMarketing #TheMarTechMatrix #InboxArmy #CustomerExperience Sean Simon Scott Cohen Garin Hobbs Tom Barbaro Cogent Collective

Thumb Wrestlers, Politicians, and Shiny Toys Politicians, Thumb Wrestlers, and Shiny Toys made there way on to The MarTech Matrix Podcast with guests Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs from InboxArmy, and I gotta say… when you’re getting MORE political texts than meeting requests from aggressive SDRs, something’s seriously off. More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section 📲 Scott’s take? SMS marketing is like that shiny new toy everyone’s fighting over—but political campaigns are abusing it worse than a toddler with a drum set. He’s had to type “STOP” so many times he’s practically a professional thumb wrestler. 💬 And the kicker? Politicians exempted themselves from the very laws they force marketers to follow. So yeah, they’re flooding our phones, knowing there are zero consequences. It’s like they took the election season, put it on steroids, and aimed it straight at our SMS inboxes. 👎 Result? People are done. You’ve got legit marketers like Scott and Garin shaking their heads because this abuse is ruining SMS as a channel. No one’s going to trust it anymore, all thanks to those pesky political texts. So, if you’re wondering why your customers are ghosting your SMS campaigns, blame it on the politicians. We’re all just as mad as you are. Check out the full episode soon! #SMSMarketing #InboxArmy #TheMarTechMatrix #PoliticalSpam #CustomerExperience Sean Simon Tom Barbaro Cogent Collective

Just wrapped up an epic episode of The MarTech Matrix Podcast with two heavy hitters from InboxArmy: Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs. Let me tell you—it was one of those “pour a second cup of coffee and buckle up” conversations about SMS and email marketing that you didn’t know you needed. More clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section 🔥 Key Takeaway #1: Political campaigns have completely hijacked SMS, and yeah, they don’t have to follow the same rules marketers do. If you’re drowning in messages from politicians in states you’ve never set foot in… well, sorry, but there’s no getting off that ride. 😂 Key Takeaway #2: Scott and Garin shared the painful truth we all know too well—STOP doesn’t really stop anything when it comes to SMS. And for the love of all things sacred, can brands PLEASE stop texting us like we need five pairs of sunglasses a month? 📈 Key Takeaway #3: There’s a lot of power in SMS marketing, but it’s only sustainable if brands use it wisely. If your strategy is just “discount, discount, discount,” people are going to bail faster than a politician dodging a scandal. You’ve got to add value and build relationships—not just push products. 🤖 Bonus Round: We even managed to go a full 35 minutes before saying “AI”! Scott and Garin dove into how AI is becoming a helper, not a takeover artist—especially in content creation, decision-making, and keeping your SMS and email campaigns relevant without sounding like a robot from the year 3000. This episode is packed with the kind of insights you don’t want to miss. Especially if you’re tired of being spammed and ready to actually connect with your audience in a meaningful way. 📱💡 #EmailMarketing #SMSMarketing #DiscountStrategy #TheMarTechMatrix #CustomerEngagement Sean Simon Tom Barbaro Cogent Collective

🚀 Relationships are Built In-Between Sales 🎙️ On the latest episode of The MarTech Matrix Podcast, Sean Simon had the pleasure of diving deep into how John Fluevog Shoes builds lasting customer relationships with Luiza Libardi, their Head of eCommerce & Marketing. Fluevog doesn’t just focus on selling shoes—they focus on fostering a community around their brand. 👟 Clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section 🔑 Key takeaways: • Building relationships beyond transactions: Luiza shared that Fluevog creates events and experiences that bring their customers together, even when they’re not shopping. From pop-up shops with local vendors to “knit nights” for their knitting enthusiasts, the brand hosts events that resonate with their community’s interests. 🧶 • Customer-led events: Many event ideas come directly from Fluevog’s stores, where teams propose events that align with their local customers. The result? Authentic experiences that strengthen connections. • Holiday gift exchanges: Every Christmas, Fluevog hosts a gift exchange where customers (aka “Fluevoggers”) can sign up and get paired to exchange thoughtful gifts with each other—creating a sense of community that transcends the typical buyer-seller relationship. 🎁 It’s not just about selling shoes; it’s about creating memorable, meaningful touch-points that keep customers engaged year-round. Fluevog’s approach to community-building is something every brand can learn from. Catch the full conversation and join the conversation 🎧 #CustomerExperience #CommunityBuilding #FluevogShoes #MarTechMatrix #MarketingStrategy #BrandLoyalty #eCommerce #EventMarketing Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro

🎙️ Focusing on Customer Experience with Every Interataction 🎙️ In a recent conversation on The MarTech Matrix Podcast, Sean Simon spoke with Luiza Libardi, Head of eCommerce and Marketing at John Fluevog Shoes. They discussed the future of their eCommerce strategy—and it’s all about enhancing customer experience. Clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section Luiza shared her vision for improving key areas like their return system to make exchanges seamless, even offering incentives for customers to choose another pair instead of returning. Additionally, she’s aiming to improve the gift card experience, giving customers the option to easily check balances online or choose between a physical card or a digital printout. What stood out to me is how everything ties back to user experience—making every interaction easier and more enjoyable for the customer. It’s a reminder for all of us in eCommerce that the little details matter when creating a truly engaging brand experience. If you’re thinking about how to improve your own customer journey, this episode is packed with insights. 🎧 #eCommerce #CustomerExperience #UX #MarTech #DigitalTransformation #FluevogShoes #Podcast #TheMarTechMatrix Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro

🚀 To Grow or Not to Grow an eComm Platform 🎙️ In the latest episode of The MarTech Matrix Podcast, Sean Simon spoke with Luiza Libardi, Head of eCommerce & Marketing at John Fluevog Shoes, about the pros and cons of using a homegrown eCommerce system. With so much talk in the industry about composable commerce platforms, Luiza’s insights offer a fresh perspective on what it’s like to build and manage a custom system in-house. Clips and links to the full episode are in the comments section 🔑 Key takeaways: • Flexibility: Fluevog’s homegrown system allows them to handle their unique business needs, like managing their community-driven initiatives (like their “flu market”) or creative features like hosting a gift exchange or ticket sales for events. With a custom-built platform, they’re not constrained by the limitations of an out-of-the-box solution. 🎨 • Challenges: While the flexibility is a huge advantage, it comes with its own set of challenges. The trade-off? Slower integrations with third-party tools that are often plug-and-play for those on platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce. ⚙️ • Support: Having an in-house developer to manage these complexities is essential. When the team comes up with creative, off-the-wall ideas, like a festival or Craigslist-style shoe market, they can implement them without waiting on external providers. For businesses like Fluevog that thrive on creativity and personalization, a homegrown system is worth the trade-offs. Curious how they’re balancing innovation and technical debt? Check out the full episode here 🎧 #eCommerce #CustomPlatforms #MarTechMatrix #FluevogShoes #MarketingStrategy #HomegrownSystems #ComposableCommerce #DigitalInnovation Cogent Collective Tom Barbaro