What to read this week 🚀


What You'll Learn Today

In 5 minutes, you'll be learning about the following:

  1. How We Use Custom GPTs for Our Brand – Neat [Event]
  2. The CRO Playbook That Made $8M Without a Dollar on Ads
  3. AI-Powered Personalization: The Future of Customer Experience​
  4. Become a Super-Powered CEO [PODCAST]
  5. The No-Code Solution for Stunning Websites & Emails [Tool]

What did everyone enjoy last week?

The most clicked link was ... Smarter Personalization for E-Commerce

Cheers,

Jim Huffman, GrowthHit CEO
(Want a friend? Let's connect on Twitter or LinkedIn)

My Take of the Week
🚨 Big Announcement: Our AI Growth Agent is Live! 🚨

For the past year, we’ve been quietly testing something at GrowthHit—on our own brand (Neat), on our clients’ businesses, and the results? Next-level.

💡 More conversions.
💡 Faster content creation.
💡 Smarter, AI-driven insights that spot opportunities before your competitors do.

🚀 Introducing AI Growth Agent—your 24/7 AI-powered strategist, content creator, and optimizer.

This isn’t another AI gimmick. It’s not just a tool that rewrites ad copy.
It’s a custom growth engine designed based on your business and tech stack. It's built to scale businesses with AI-driven strategy, automation, and content—without the overhead.

✅ Instantly generate high-converting ads, SEO blog posts, and emails.
✅ AI-powered visuals that stop the scroll.
✅ AI-driven workflows that turn one employee into ten.
✅ Data-backed insights to optimize your entire funnel—automatically.

Our early adopters have already seen the impact. Now, it’s your turn.

📢 We’re rolling this out to just 5 companies at a time to ensure every AI Growth Agent delivers results.

Warning: It doesn't work for every business type.

Want to see if it'll work for you? Hit us up for a free AI assessment to see if we're the right fit.

Special Find: Team Pick

Talk About Social Proof

Ever wondered how top brands showcase their customer journeys?

Check out Fermat Commerce, where you can click on client logos and instantly see what each funnel experience looks like.

It’s a masterclass in leveraging social proof—giving potential customers a peek behind the curtain at how trusted brands build trust and conversions.

Credit to Morgan Davison, our Senior CRO Manager, for finding this gem!

GrowthHit Class: How We Use Custom GPTs for Our Brand – Neat

How We Use Custom GPTs for Our Brand – Neat

AI isn’t just hype—it’s a growth engine.

Join me on February 27 at 11:30 AM PT as I pull back the curtain on how GrowthHit uses custom GPTs to scale brands like Neat (our anti-sweat shirts e-comm brand), streamline operations, and unlock new growth opportunities.

In this session, you'll learn:
✅ How we use AI to optimize workflows & boost efficiency
✅ Real-world applications that improve customer experience & conversions
✅ How to build your own custom GPTs to scale smarter

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or operator, this is your chance to see AI in action and walk away with tactical insights you can implement today.

In Partnership with The Rundown.ai

Start learning AI in 2025

Everyone talks about AI, but no one has the time to learn it. So, we found the easiest way to learn AI in as little time as possible: The Rundown AI.

It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

Curated Growth Tips of the Week
2 Growth Tips to Grow Your Biz

Featuring growth tips and insights sourced from other publications.

1/ The CRO Playbook That Generated $8M Without a Dollar on Ads

Most businesses obsess over driving more traffic. But here’s the truth: you don’t need more traffic; you need more conversions.

Andy Crestodina of Orbit Media proved this by generating $8M in revenue without spending a cent on ads.

His secret? A rock-solid Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) process that turns visitors into leads and leads into revenue.

🔥 The best part? The entire playbook is broken down by Moz right here. Let’s unpack the key moves you can swipe today:

🔑 Key Moves from the $8M CRO Playbook:

1. 🔗 Fix the Bottom of the Funnel (Where the Money Happens)

Start where conversions happen—at the end. A leaky contact form or friction-filled checkout page means lost revenue.

  • Run a GA4 funnel exploration: See how many visitors hit your contact page vs. how many complete the form. If fewer than 5% convert, you’ve got a problem.
  • Watch session recordings: Tools like Microsoft Clarity show where users drop off. Look for confusing fields, slow-loading pages, or distracting content.
  • Quick wins:
    • Use action-driven CTAs like “Get My Free Consultation” instead of boring “Submit”.
    • Reduce unnecessary form fields—less is more.
    • Optimize forms for mobile—desktop-only designs kill conversions.

2. 💡 Turn Service Pages into Conversion Machines

Service page visitors are 10x more likely to convert than blog readers. But most marketers under-optimize them.

  • Understand customer intent: Ask real customers what problems they’re trying to solve and what made them hesitate. Address these points directly.
  • Improve findability:
    • Highlight the core offering above the fold—who you are, what you do, and why you’re the best choice.
    • Break up long text with bullet points, visuals, and CTAs.
  • Structure like a sales call: Anticipate objections, answer FAQs, and guide visitors through a seamless pitch.

3. 🛡️ Stack Trust with Social Proof

If they don’t trust you, they won’t buy from you. Back up every claim with proof.

  • Embed testimonials throughout key pages—not just a separate “Testimonials” page.
  • Support with evidence:
    • 📈 Case studies with quantifiable results (“150% increase in conversions in 3 months”)
    • 🏆 Awards, certifications, or years in business (“10+ years helping 500+ brands”)
    • 🌎 Scale indicators (“A global team serving 10 industries”)

4. ⚡ Supercharge Your CTAs (They’re the Money Clicks)

CTAs are the final nudge. Make them irresistible.

  • Be specific:“Get My Free Quote” > “Submit”.
  • Strategic placement: Don’t hide CTAs at the bottom. Add them after every key section.
  • Test relentlessly: Small tweaks in button color, placement, or text can lift conversions significantly.

5. 🤖 Use AI to Spot & Fix Conversion Gaps

AI isn’t just for content creation—it’s your CRO assistant.

  • Run AI-powered audits: Upload pages and customer personas into AI tools. Let them highlight gaps in messaging, UX, and trust-building.
  • Find what you’re missing: AI can reveal if trust elements (like logos and testimonials) are buried too low or if key CTAs lack urgency.

👉 If you’re curious how these principles look in action, check out our case studies to see how we’ve helped Shopify brands scale with conversion-focused strategies.

Source: The CRO Playbook Generating $8 Million in Revenue for Andy Crestodina

2/ AI-Powered Personalization: The Future of Customer Experience

Research shows that 91% of customers prefer brands that personalize offers.

From Amazon’s recommendation engine driving 35% of its revenue to Nike’s AI-powered product suggestions boosting conversions by 40%, personalization is the growth lever brands can’t ignore.

AI makes personalization scalable—predicting behaviors, tailoring recommendations, and adapting experiences in real time. Full article here or catch the key takeaways below.

🔑 AI Personalization Playbook:

1. 🧠 Predictive Personalization: Anticipate Needs

AI forecasts customer behavior using historical data.

  • Amazon: 35% of sales from tailored recommendations.
  • Netflix: 5% churn reduction saved $1B annually.
  • Vodafone & AT&T: AI cuts churn by up to 40%.

💡 Takeaway: Predict customer actions for hyper-targeted offers.

2. ⚡ Dynamic Personalization: Real-Time Relevance

Personalization evolves with user actions.

  • Spotify: Curates real-time playlists for 433M+ users.
  • Instagram & Facebook: AI tailors ads based on user engagement.

💡 Takeaway: Adjust content and ads instantly for better engagement.

3. 🎯 AI-Driven Recommendations: Conversion Drivers

AI suggestions keep users engaged and spending.

  • Amazon & YouTube: 35% of Amazon sales + 80% of YouTube views come from AI recommendations.
  • Spotify: Personalized tracks increase listening time.

💡 Takeaway: Deploy recommendation engines to boost conversions.

4. 💡 Industry Success Stories

  • Nike: 40% boost in conversions with AI-driven product suggestions and sizing tools.
  • Sephora: Virtual try-ons drive higher in-store and online sales.
  • Retail: Hyper-Personalization with AI:
    • Nike Fit uses AI to find the perfect shoe size through foot scans.
    • Sephora’s Virtual Artist leverages AI + AR for virtual try-ons, creating an immersive shopping experience.
    • Result? 40%+ increase in conversion rates and deeper customer loyalty.
  • Hilton: Personalized room settings enhance guest experiences.

🚀 Ready to unlock AI-powered growth for your brand?

We’re offering a free AI personalization consultation to show how tailored strategies can supercharge your funnel.

👉 Book your free AI consultation here

Source - AI-Powered Personalization in Marketing: The Way to Improve Customer Experiences

TOOL OF THE WEEK:
The No-Code Solution for Stunning Websites & Emails

Looking for a way to create sleek, high-converting websites or email templates without drowning in code? Designmodo is your answer.

💡 Why We Recommended It:

  • No-Code Website Builder: Launch responsive websites fast with Startup Framework—perfect for MVPs and landing pages.
  • Postcards for Email: Design professional, drag-and-drop email templates optimized for conversions—no developer required.
  • Developer-Friendly: If you have dev resources, you’ll love how flexible their frameworks are for customization.
  • UI Kits & Design Inspiration: Access beautiful UI kits to elevate your design game.

PODCAST: IF I WAS STARTING TODAY

Become a Super-Powered CEO

In today's podcast, we dive deep into the journey of high achievers with Sharif Shakar, the CEO and founder of CEO-S (Chief Executive Operating System).

Sharif shares invaluable insights on how mindfulness can significantly benefit business leaders, emphasizing the importance of being intentional and creating space between stimulus and response. He elaborates on the challenges faced by CEOs managing large teams and offers tactical advice on managing time, focusing on the right tasks, and leading effectively.

Sharif also discusses the transition from running small businesses to scaling up and the crucial role of a strong hiring process. If you're aiming to take your company to the next level and seek fulfillment in the process, this episode is a must-listen.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE

  • Happiness and Achievement
  • Mindfulness for Business Leaders
  • AM and PM Bookends for Success
  • CEOS: Chief Executive Operating System
  • Scaling Up: From Project Manager to CEO
  • Sharif's Journey and Insights

Would you like to be featured on my podcast? Email me at newsletter@growthhit.com

BUILD IN PUBLIC
NEAT BUILD IN PUBLIC - RECAP!

We acquired Neat, the sweat-proof apparel brand, in September 2023, and it's been a whirlwind ever since!

Here's a speedy scoop

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

December 2023

January 2024

February 2024

March 2024

April 2024

May 2024

June 2024:

July 2024:

August 2024:

September 2024:

October 2024:

November 2024:

December 2024:

January 2025:

Feb 2025:

What's new this week?

Want more updates on how we're growing Neat?

A BONUS FOR YOU
Something Fun . . .

Top Growth Tools & Resources
Tools and Resources

Here are some tools we find helpful:

LOOKING FOR MORE?
How Can I Help?

The Shopify Growth Insider by GrowthHit

Your unfair advantage in eCommerce. Every Thursday, you’ll get: Expert Shopify insights from the GrowthHit team, Curated growth tips from top-performing brands, Killer tool to level up your Shopify. I’m Jim - GrowthHit Founder & Neat (sweat-proof shirts) CEO. Expect real wins, tough losses, and the best memes in eCom.

Read more from The Shopify Growth Insider by GrowthHit

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