RelationshipOps of the Week #5.

Ben Zettler.

This week, we’re spotlighting Ben Zettler, founder of Zettler Digital, former Director of E-commerce & Digital Marketing at Steiner Sports, and the rare agency leader who’s also been a DTC operator.

Long before advising E-commerce brands, Ben had built and exited one of his own… Brooktide Sunglasses. 

The hands-on experience later shaped how he operated at Steiner Sports. And after Steiner Sports was acquired, he decided to pursue Zettler Digital full-time.   

Now, Ben and his team help growth-stage ecommerce brands dial in their performance across paid media, email marketing, and Shopify. They're also recognized as a Shopify Premier Partner and Klaviyo Elite Partner, which speaks to the depth of their work.

All of which makes Ben an ideal guest for this series.

Just One Connection.

Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?

Ben Zettler:

“One of the most pivotal relationships in Zettler Digital’s growth started as a small collaboration with a Shopify-based brand years ago. The client came in through a referral — just a single introduction from a founder I’d helped years earlier — and what began as a three-month project turned into something much bigger.

Through that one connection, we ended up helping the brand overhaul their entire digital strategy. That work caught the attention of one of Shopify’s partner managers, who later introduced us to other high-growth DTC brands looking for the same type of hands-on support. That chain of relationships ultimately led to partnerships with several category-leading brands, long-term retainers, and a seat at the table as a Shopify Premier Partner and Klaviyo Elite Partner.

The lesson was simple but foundational: relationships compound. Every great client outcome, referral, and opportunity has a human starting point — someone who trusted you enough to put your name forward. You can’t manufacture that. You earn it by showing up, doing exceptional work, and treating every project like it’s the one that defines your reputation.”

Disciplined Approach.

Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?

Ben Zettler:

“I treat relationship management with the same level of discipline as client delivery. Every week, I block time to check in with a handful of people — clients, partners, and peers — with no agenda other than staying connected. Sometimes it’s a quick note about a campaign result they’d appreciate, other times it’s a simple “thought of you” message tied to something happening in their world.

Beyond that, I try to make myself genuinely available. If someone reaches out with a question or needs a quick opinion, I don’t delegate it — I respond personally. That accessibility has probably created more goodwill over the years than any marketing effort ever could.

Once a quarter, I also review our partner and client list and identify who we haven’t meaningfully connected with in a while. A quick update, a shared insight, or even a referral goes a long way toward keeping those relationships active. All it takes is nurturing genuine connections built on mutual respect and consistency.”

Speed of Trust.

Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?

Ben Zettler:

“I’d tell my younger self that relationships move at the speed of trust, not ambition. Early on, I was focused on proving myself through volume — more clients, more outreach, more hustle. What I eventually learned is that depth beats breadth every time.

Strong relationships don’t scale overnight. They’re built through reliability, transparency, and shared wins — especially when things get tough. I’d also tell myself to focus less on who someone is today and more on the trajectory they’re on. Some of our best long-term partners were small when we met them. We grew together.

Finally, I’d remind myself that credibility compounds. Every honest conversation, every deadline hit, every extra mile adds to a foundation that opens doors years later. You never know who’s watching or where a single introduction might lead — so treat every interaction like it matters, because it usually does.”

Key Takeaways.

Once again, we thank Ben Zettler for taking the time to share his strategies and tactics on how he’s been leveraging existing relationships to grow Zettler Digital.

And I believe here are the few key takeaways worth noting:

• One intro, one project, one person’s trust. That’s all it took to unlock a chain of partnerships that still fuel Zettler Digital today.

• Weekly check-ins and hands-on replies. Ben treats his relationships with the same discipline as client delivery.

• Relationships grow at the pace of trust, not at the pace you wish. So just be patient and focus on deepening every relationship at every touchpoint.

If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.

Author.

Leonard Chin
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