The Customer Acquisition Trick That Got Me Investigated by the FTC episode artwork

EPISODE · May 26, 2026 · 18 MIN

The Customer Acquisition Trick That Got Me Investigated by the FTC

from Built Different · host Marcus Chen

What if the customer acquisition trick that almost got Marcus Chen investigated by the FTC could 10x your business overnight? In this episode of Built Different, Marcus reveals the psychological triggers and urgency tactics that work so well, they border on unfair. But here's the thing: they're completely legal when done right. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why 92% of people trust friend recommendations over ads and how to weaponize this trust • The artificial scarcity technique that boosts demand 270% (even with abundant inventory) • How responding to leads in under 5 minutes makes you 9x more likely to close the deal • The onboarding sequence that increases customer retention by 82% and revenue by 23% 👤 Perfect for: entrepreneurs tired of slow growth who want proven tactics that actually convert leads into paying customers. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Marcus Chen's FTC investigation story [01:45] The psychology behind referral programs that actually work [03:30] Creating scarcity without lying to your customers [05:15] The 5-minute rule that changed everything [07:00] Why most businesses fail at onboarding [09:30] The conversion framework Marcus uses today [11:15] Three tactics you can implement this week 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Built Different on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next breakthrough insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, business growth, referral marketing Listen on your favorite app at Built Different ------------- Keywords: wealth building, business breakthrough, business growth, business scaling, practical entrepreneurship, business failures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the customer acquisition trick that almost got Marcus Chen investigated by the FTC could 10x your business overnight? In this episode of Built Different, Marcus reveals the psychological triggers and urgency tactics that work so well, they border on unfair. But here's the thing: they're completely legal when done right. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why 92% of people trust friend recommendations over ads and how to weaponize this trust • The artificial scarcity technique that boosts demand 270% (even with abundant inventory) • How responding to leads in under 5 minutes makes you 9x more likely to close the deal • The onboarding sequence that increases customer retention by 82% and revenue by 23% 👤 Perfect for: entrepreneurs tired of slow growth who want proven tactics that actually convert leads into paying customers. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Marcus Chen's FTC investigation story [01:45] The psychology behind referral programs that actually work [03:30] Creating scarcity without lying to your customers [05:15] The 5-minute rule that changed everything [07:00] Why most businesses fail at onboarding [09:30] The conversion framework Marcus uses today [11:15] Three tactics you can implement this week 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Built Different on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next breakthrough insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, business growth, referral marketing Listen on your favorite app at Built Different ------------- Keywords: wealth building, business breakthrough, business growth, business scaling, practical entrepreneurship, business failures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

The Customer Acquisition Trick That Got Me Investigated by the FTC

0:00 18:58

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

She’s a Hazard to Herself She’s a Hazard Hi there, I’m Mallory, and I’d like to invite you into our world with “She’s a Hazard to Herself!” Join us as we navigate life with Multiple Sclerosis from the seat of my power wheelchair. Discover stories of resilience, family, and the community we’ve built around chronic illness. Whether you’re impacted by MS or want to learn from our journey, there’s something here for you. So why wait? Subscribe to “She’s a Hazard to Herself” on your favorite podcast app and be part of our journey today. Let’s lift each other up, one episode at a time! Why That with Wyatt Wyatt Your semi-weekly source for fun facts and deep dives into different topics! Please follow the show and share the link with anyone who doesn’t already listen! Rich Dad's Guide to Investing II Robert T. Kiyosaki II Full Audiobook II Robert T. Kiyosaki Investing means different things to different people… and there is a huge difference between passive investing and becoming an active, engaged investor. Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing, one of the three core titles in the Rich Dad Series, covers the basic rules of investing, how to reduce your investment risk, how to convert your earned income into passive income… plus Rich Dad’s 10 Investor Controls.The Rich Dad philosophy makes a key distinction between managing your money and growing it… and understanding key principles of investing is the first step toward creating and growing wealth. This book delivers guidance, not guarantees, to help anyone begin the process of becoming an active investor on the road to financial freedom. Hyperfluent Hypio Hyperfluent transmits straight from the heart of Hyperliquid, where culture, creativity, and capital converge. Anchored by the architects of Hypio—the decentralized cultural virus—each episode archives the minds engineering the blockchain built to house all finance. These conversations are traceable artifacts in HyperEVM’s evolution: not just what’s being built, but why it matters, how it mutates, and where it’s taking us next. Listen in for the blueprints, the blind spots, and the narrative weapons shaping tomorrow’s markets.Hyperfluent: learn the language, ride the wave, spread the strain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Built Different?

This episode is 18 minutes long.

When was this Built Different episode published?

This episode was published on May 26, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What if the customer acquisition trick that almost got Marcus Chen investigated by the FTC could 10x your business overnight? In this episode of Built Different, Marcus reveals the psychological triggers and urgency tactics that work so well, they...

Can I download this Built Different episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!