How to Turn Hate Comments Into Your Best Marketing Strategy
What if your next viral ad came from your meanest review? In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dive headfirst into the world of negative feedback, brand psychology, and emotional resilience—starting with a spicy listener review about Sarah’s voice. 😅 From Liquid Death’s savage comment campaigns to Domino’s “We’re Sorry for Sucking” rebrand, they unpack how smart brands turn criticism into currency (and why most founders take it way too personally). You’ll learn: → Why consumers trust brands that own their flaws → The psychology behind “reversal bias” and “competence signaling” → How to decide if a bad comment is valid feedback—or just someone having a bad day A mix of humor, honesty, and a little therapy banter (don’t worry, Nate’s still anti-therapy 😆), this episode will make you rethink how you handle haters—and maybe even thank them for your next creative breakthrough. 🎧 Listen if: You’ve ever been roasted online, doubted your product, or wanted to clap back at a troll but turn it into a high-performing ad instead. 👉 Learn more how to apply psychology to your ads: skool.com/tether-lab\ CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534 CoHost: Sarah Levinger Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevingerLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg
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21:51
🎃 Scary Good Advertising: The Tango Slap, Diamond Shreddies, and the Pepsi Riot
In this Halloween-themed episode, Sarah and Nate dive into the wildest (and weirdest) campaigns in advertising history (the ones that shouldn’t have worked… but somehow did.) From the Tango Orange Man who literally slapped sales up 33%, to the Diamond Shreddies intern who made millions by tilting a cereal 45 degrees, to Pepsi’s 1992 Number Fever fiasco that sparked riots in the Philippines, this episode is a masterclass in how psychology, timing, and cultural context can make or break a campaign. Expect laughter, disbelief, and plenty of “wait, that actually worked?” moments...plus two challenges for listeners at the end. Because sometimes, genius isn’t about doing more — it’s about seeing differently. 👉 Learn more how to apply psychology to your ads: skool.com/tether-lab\ CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534 CoHost: Sarah Levinger Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevingerLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg
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The OK Soda Story: How One Brand Died Before It Began
Coca-Cola once tried to sell apathy in a can. They called it OK Soda — a grungy, “anti-brand” aimed at cynical Gen Xers. The ads were clever, the design was bizarre…and the product died within a year. In Episode 107, we dig into why “anti-branding” almost always backfires, why Liquid Death succeeded where Coke failed, and the psychology of why brands can’t thrive on indifference. Inside the conversation: ✅ The real reason OK Soda flopped despite massive hype ✅ Why apathy is the weakest emotion you can build a brand on ✅ The key difference between active vs. passive emotions in marketing ✅ How today’s “anti-agency agencies” and “non-beauty beauty brands” are repeating Coke’s mistake ✅ Why rebellion only works if you give customers an identity to step into, not out of If you’ve ever wondered: Why some “anti” campaigns take off while others flatline How to pick the right emotion to anchor your brand around What Liquid Death nailed that Coke couldn’t figure out And why fighting your own category is the fastest way to lose… …this one’s for you. 👉 Learn how to become a psychology-based creative strategist: skool.com/tether-lab CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534 CoHost: Sarah Levinger Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/
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The Weird Ad Length That Drove 40% More Traffic
What if everything you’ve been told about the “right” ad length is wrong? In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dive into a surprising new study showing that one oddly specific video length outperformed the standard 15–30 second format — driving 40% more traffic and 3X engagement. They break down: Why shorter ads spark curiosity (and clicks) while longer ones stall The real “job” of an ad vs. your landing page Why benefit-first storytelling beats pain-point rambling Live ad-read experiments (yes, in under 10 seconds) Source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/keep-video-ads-under-10-seconds 👉 Learn more how to apply psychology to your ads: skool.com/tether-lab CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534 CoHost: Sarah Levinger Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevingerLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg
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When to Use % Off vs. $ Off Discounts
We dropped a stat this week that stopped Nate in his tracks: brands can see up to 42% more sales just by framing discounts the right way. No new ads, no extra products...just choosing percent off vs. dollar off at the right moment. In Episode 105, we dig into the psychology behind that lift and why most brands blow Q4 by overcomplicating offers, stacking promos, and teaching customers not to trust them. Inside the conversation: ✅ The science behind when to use % off vs. $ off (and why it changes sitewide vs. single product) ✅ The 5 offer types we see every year — and which ones are worth your testing budget ✅ Why “combo deals” and “sale extended” emails wreck trust long-term ✅ Sequencing tactics (like Nate’s “Better Than Black Friday” play) that build urgency without burning credibility ✅ Why sometimes the boldest Q4 strategy is raising prices, not cutting them If you’ve ever wondered: 1. How to simplify offers so customers don’t need a calculator 2. Why half-off deals aren’t always the flex you think they are 3. How to build trust during the most profitable month of the year 4. And why less discounting can actually mean more margin …this one’s for you. Season 3 keeps pushing, and the data’s spicy. 🧠 Source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/coupons-when-to-give-10-off-vs-10 👉 Learn more about applying psychology to your ads: skool.com/tether-lab CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534 CoHost: Sarah Levinger Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/
Host Sarah Levinger breaks down the advanced neuromarketing secrets of 9-figure brands (like True Classic, Spotify, and Plants vs. Zombies) to show you psychology tactics any e-commerce brand can use today to cut costs, boost sales, and captivate the masses.
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