How to grow users by fixing conversion not traffic | Adam Miller (Uber, Turo, Postmates)

How to grow users by fixing conversion not traffic | Adam Miller (Uber, Turo, Postmates)

Author: Sundar Swaminathan January 8, 2026 Duration: 44:39

In this conversation, Adam Miller shares his extensive experience in user acquisition across various marketplaces, including Turo, Postmates, and Uber. We discuss the evolution of user acquisition strategies, the importance of creative processes, and the collaboration between marketing and product teams. Adam also highlights common mistakes founders make in user acquisition and his contrarian views on the topic. He emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to supply and demand in marketplaces and the challenges of attribution in user acquisition.

Takeaways

  • User acquisition strategies have evolved significantly over the years, especially with the rise of mobile.
  • In 2025, user acquisition will rely heavily on automated systems and algorithms.
  • Creative processes should start with identifying unique value propositions (UVPs).
  • Collaboration between marketing and product teams is crucial for effective user acquisition.
  • Founders often make the mistake of relying too heavily on paid advertising too early.

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Coming up

00:57 Adam's Journey

03:27 User Acquisition Strategies at Turo, Postmates, and Uber

09:16 Navigating User Acquisition During COVID-19

14:17 The Evolution of User Acquisition in 2025

18:00 Creative Strategies for Effective User Acquisition

19:52 Collaboration Between Marketing and Product Teams

25:35 Common Mistakes Founders Make in User Acquisition

28:29 Contrarian Views on Education and Career Paths

33:28 Future Trends in User Acquisition and Market Dynamics

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If you’ve ever felt that most marketing advice skims the surface without showing you the actual numbers, ExperiMENTAL Marketing | Playbooks to measure and scale Marketing ROI might be what you’ve been looking for. Hosted by Sundar Swaminathan, who led Brand Data Science at Uber and writes the ExperiMENTAL newsletter, this podcast digs into the specific frameworks and calculations that turn marketing from a cost center into a measurable growth engine. Instead of vague theories, each conversation delivers concrete ROI breakdowns and scalable strategies drawn directly from the experiences of leaders at companies like Uber, Google, and Faire. The focus here is on the practical mechanics-how to set up tests, interpret data, and allocate budget for maximum impact. It’s designed for B2C marketers, founders, and analysts who are done with guesswork and want to build strategies grounded in real-world evidence. Tuning in, you’ll hear candid discussions about what actually moved the needle, what failed, and the playbooks that can be adapted to your own challenges. This isn’t about inspirational stories; it’s a hands-on resource for anyone ready to make data-informed decisions that scale.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 17

ExperiMENTAL Marketing | Playbooks to measure and scale Marketing ROI
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Welcome to ExperiMENTAL, the podcast for B2C marketers, founders, and analysts who are done with surface-level advice and ready to make smarter, data-informed decisions.Hosted by Sundar Swaminathan, former Head of Brand…