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Episode 279: Smart Marketer's 2026 Growth Playbook: What We're Building, Testing & Doubling Down On Episode Description
What does growth look like when AI is changing every week, paid traffic is evolving, and your business has to keep adapting in real time?
In this behind-the-scenes episode, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw pull back the curtain on what Smart Marketer has been building, testing, and improving in 2026. From Axon/AppLovin and TikTok Shop to AEO, AI-powered creative, new software, and launching an ecommerce brand from scratch, this episode is a candid look at how Smart Marketer is thinking about the future.
You'll hear why partnerships are becoming one of the biggest growth levers, why founder visibility matters more in the AI era, and why not every experiment needs to work in order for your business to keep moving forward.
"Not everything has to work. If everything is successful, you're probably not doing enough." – Molly Pittman
You Will Learn:• Why Smart Marketer is expanding beyond courses, agency services, and masterminds.
Links & Resources:
• How Axon/AppLovin is creating new paid traffic opportunities for DTC brands.
• Why TikTok Shop requires a different approach than traditional paid media.
• What AEO is and why AI search may become a major growth channel.
• How Smart Marketer is using AI to create more direct-response ad creative.
• Why partnerships can unlock faster business growth and new opportunities.
• What Molly and John are learning from launching an ecommerce brand from scratch.
• Why the info product space is not dead, but it is evolving.
• How to decide what to scale, what to cut, and where to focus next.Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com
Smart Marketer Podcast: https://smartmarketer.com/podcast
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/
Thumbstop: https://usethumbstop.ai/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
TIME STAMPS:
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.00:00:22 – Welcome: What's Changing Across Marketing Right Now
YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!
00:01:10 – Sponsor Message: Ezra Firestone on OmniSend
00:02:14 – Molly Welcomes John Grimshaw to the Podcast
00:03:28 – Behind the Scenes: What's Been Happening at Smart Marketer
00:04:34 – How Smart Marketer Has Evolved Beyond Courses
00:06:29 – Why Business Leaders Must Keep Innovating
00:07:34 – Launching the Axon/AppLovin Masterclass
00:09:30 – The Power of Partnerships in Business Growth
00:11:51 – Testing TikTok Shop as a New Growth Channel
00:15:19 – AEO, AI Search, and Optimizing for Answer Engines
00:17:27 – Why Founder Visibility Matters in the AI Era
00:19:13 – Introducing Thumbstop: AI-Powered Ad Creative
00:23:51 – Smart Marketer's First New Software Tool in Years
00:24:49 – Launching a New Ecommerce Brand From Scratch
00:28:59 – Why Partnerships Are Central to Smart Marketer's Next Chapter
00:31:00 – Building Agentic AI Systems for Ecommerce Brands
00:33:01 – Why Courses and Info Products Are Not Dead
00:35:49 – The Reality of Testing New Ideas
00:37:59 – How Smart Marketer Is Refocusing for the Rest of 2026
00:38:29 – Molly's Reminder: Not Everything Has to Work
00:40:38 – Final Thoughts and a Bandit Cameo
00:41:15 – Closing CTA: Subscribe, Review, and Share the ShowThank you for tuning in! Your support keeps this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share it with fellow entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners who want to stay ahead of what's coming next.
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here
Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere
Have feedback? Email us at [email protected]
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
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Episode Description
AI tools are changing how people research, compare, and make buying decisions, and the brands that show up in those answers are going to have a massive advantage.
In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with entrepreneur and AEO expert Kasim Aslam to unpack what Answer Engine Optimization really is, how it differs from traditional SEO, and why founder-led content, real expertise, strong reviews, and authentic authority are becoming non-negotiable for brands that want to stay visible.
You'll also hear early results from Smart Marketer's first AEO client cohort, including wins from brands like BabyRX, Winona, and Outdoor Vitals, plus why AEO may be one of the biggest organic opportunities since the early days of SEO.
"If you believe in your product, if you're truly a thought leader, if you have the information and if other people really like what you have to say, AEO is great." – Kasim Aslam
You Will Learn:• What AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is and why it matters right now.
Links & Resources:
• How AI-driven traffic differs from traditional SEO and paid traffic.
• Why founder-led brands and expert-driven content are winning in AI search.
• The role schema markup plays in helping AI tools understand your website.
• Why reviews, reputation, and real authority are becoming major ranking signals.
• How to think about attribution when AEO cannot be tracked like Meta or Google Ads.
• Why "being for someone" is one of the most important marketing advantages in the AI era.
• Early AEO case studies from BabyRX, Winona, and Outdoor Vitals.
• Why brands that lack a clear point of view may struggle as answer engines become more influential.Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/
AEO: https://aeo.co/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
TIME STAMPS:
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.00:00:16 – Introduction: Why AEO Matters for Modern Brands
YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!
00:01:16 – Sponsor Message: Ezra Firestone on OmniSend
00:02:20 – Molly Welcomes Kasim Aslam to the Podcast
00:04:11 – The Power of Long-Term Relationships in Business
00:06:34 – How Molly and Kasim's AEO Partnership Began
00:11:09 – Why AEO Is the Future of Marketing
00:13:14 – What Is AEO and How Is It Different from SEO?
00:15:42 – How Kasim Started Studying Answer Engine Optimization
00:16:44 – Why Understanding the Machine Matters
00:18:01 – Why AEO Strategy Must Be Vertical-Specific
00:19:16 – Why AEO Is Harder to Game Than Traditional SEO
00:20:08 – Why Reputation, Reviews, and Real Authority Matter
00:22:34 – Why Context Changes Every AI Search Result
00:24:48 – Why Direct Response Marketers May Struggle with AEO
00:26:14 – How to Measure AEO When Traditional Attribution Breaks
00:28:47 – Bot Traffic, Citations, and Secondary Success Signals
00:30:22 – The Return of "How Did You Hear About Us?"
00:32:54 – Early AEO Results from the First Client Cohort
00:34:33 – BabyRX Case Study: From Zero Visibility to AI Citations
00:35:31 – Why Schema Markup Is Critical for AI Visibility
00:37:32 – How Content Repurposing Helps AI Validate Authority
00:39:47 – Winona Case Study: Growing Share of Voice in Google AI Mode
00:40:46 – Outdoor Vitals Case Study: From Invisible to 34% AI Visibility
00:42:12 – Content Atomization and Founder-Led Authority
00:43:23 – How to Apply for the Next AEO Test Cohort
00:45:03 – Why Answer Engines Trust People More Than Brands
00:47:41 – Why Brands Need a Real Point of View
00:48:09 – Final Thoughts: Why AEO Rewards Businesses That Truly Serve Their Market
00:49:47 – Closing CTA: Subscribe, Review, and Share the ShowThank you for tuning in! Your support keeps this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share it with fellow entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners who want to stay ahead of what's coming next.
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here
Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere
Have feedback? Email us at [email protected]
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Episode Description
AI can help your team move faster, work smarter, and free up hours of repetitive work… but only if you build the habits, systems, and ownership to actually use it.
In this live session from Mentor Table Nashville, Rytis Lauris, co-founder and CEO of Omnisend, shares the six practical lessons his company learned while transforming a 200+ person organization into a more AI-native team. From monthly AI Days and simple point-solution agents to the mindset shift required to "manage" AI assistants, this episode is packed with real-world examples you can bring back to your own business.
"AI can really help us to be way more productive and to be better employees, to be better specialists, to be better humans." – Rytis Lauris
If you've been wondering how to get your team to move beyond "playing around with ChatGPT" and start using AI to save time, improve processes, and scale smarter, this one is for you.
You Will Learn:• Why AI adoption has to be intentional and led from the top down.
Links & Resources:
• How Omnisend uses monthly "AI Days" to help employees build real AI habits.
• Why simple point solutions often work better than complex AI agents.
• How a sales team built an AI follow-up tool without engineers.
• How Omnisend reduced influencer review time from 90 hours to 20 hours per month.
• Why AI tools should be treated like products, not one-time projects.
• The importance of assigning a human "manager" to each AI agent.
• Why AI works best when it improves existing processes instead of creating new work.
• How AI can support email, SMS, segmentation, forms, support, and sales workflows.
• Why the future belongs to humans who learn how to scale themselves with AI.Smart Marketer: https://smartmarketer.com/
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table
Omnisend Smart Marketer (sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Time Stamps:
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.00:00:15 – Welcome: Moving Beyond AI Marketing Tasks
Your Engagement Matters!
00:01:13 – Sponsor Message: Why Ezra Firestone Uses Omnisend
00:02:39 – John Introduces Omnisend and Rytis Lauris
00:04:16 – Why Becoming AI-Native Isn't as Simple as Buying Tools
00:06:14 – Lesson 1: AI Does Not Adopt Itself
00:07:18 – How Omnisend Uses Monthly AI Days Across the Company
00:08:19 – The Sales Follow-Up AI Agent That Saves Time After Calls
00:09:30 – Reducing Influencer Review Time from 90 Hours to 20 Hours
00:10:31 – Lesson 2: Complexity Is a Trap
00:12:21 – Why Point Solutions Beat Over-Engineered AI Agents
00:13:24 – Lesson 3: Switch from a Project Mindset to a Product Mindset
00:15:24 – Lesson 4: Iteration Isn't Sexy, But It's Inevitable
00:16:24 – Why Every AI Agent Needs a Human Owner
00:17:23 – The AI Voice SDR Example: Smart, Useful, and Still Imperfect
00:19:13 – How Omnisend's AI Support Agent Resolves 40% of Support Conversations
00:21:19 – Lesson 5: Build on Existing Processes, Don't Create New Work
00:22:13 – Rytis' LinkedIn AI Agent Story and Why AI Won't Create Habits for You
00:23:55 – Omnisend's Most-Used AI Features: Subject Lines and Preheaders
00:24:47 – AI for Email Copywriting and Segment Building
00:25:58 – AI Form Generation and Giving Customers Control
00:26:48 – Lesson 6: AI Is an Assistant, Not the Enemy
00:28:00 – How Point Solutions Can Free Up 30–40% of Your Time
00:28:45 – Recap: The Six Lessons for Becoming AI-Native
00:30:11 – Special Omnisend Offer for Smart Marketer Listeners
00:30:39 – Closing ThoughtsThank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast! Your support helps us continue bringing you practical marketing strategies, behind-the-scenes systems, and real-world business insights from operators who are doing the work.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.
Share this episode on social media, tag @smartmarketer, and use #WeOutHere.
Have feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected].Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
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Episode Description
AI is changing how customers discover, research, and choose brands. If your business isn't showing up in AI-generated answers, you may be missing the next major wave of organic visibility.
In this live session from Mentor Table Nashville, Julian Lopez from the Smart Marketer team breaks down AEO, Answer Engine Optimization, and what brands need to do now to become the recommended choice inside AI tools, AI overviews, and answer engines. From schema markup and indexability to brand authority and bottom-of-funnel search intent, Julian shares the early signals Smart Marketer is seeing after analyzing thousands of AI-driven commercial searches.
"Your brand is not what you say, it is what AI is able to pull out of the answer." – Julian Lopez
You Will Learn:• What AEO is and why it matters for brands that want to stay visible in the AI era.
Links & Resources:
• Why SEO isn't dead, but the game has changed.
• How AI tools research, compare, and recommend brands behind the scenes.
• Why your website is becoming less of a destination and more of a data source.
• The difference between informational traffic and bottom-of-funnel commercial intent.
• How schema markup helps AI understand your products, people, and brand.
• Why third-party sources, reviews, Reddit, directories, and social proof impact AI recommendations.
• How to structure your content so AI can retrieve, understand, and cite it faster.
• Why brand authority now depends on what AI can verify across the web.
• What agentic shopping may mean for the future of ecommerce.Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Time Stamps:
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.00:00:20: Welcome: AI, Paid Traffic, Creative and Organic Visibility
Your Engagement Matters!
00:01:11: Sponsor Message: Why Ezra Firestone Uses Omnisend
00:02:14: Molly Introduces Julian Lopez and the Importance of AEO
00:03:47: How to Get Your Brand Recommended by AI
00:05:00: Create Relevance, Not Awareness
00:06:03: Why AEO Is Still an Emerging Discipline
00:07:09: What Changed: AI Enters the Search Experience
00:08:16: Search Is Becoming Delegated Research
00:09:39: Is SEO Dead? What's Actually Changing
00:10:41: What Commercial Search Results Look Like Now
00:12:11: The Future of Walled Gardens, Wearables and AI Everywhere
00:14:11: GEO, LMO, AEO: What Should We Call It?
00:15:10: The Goal: Become the AI-Recommended Brand
00:16:19: What Smart Marketer Found After Thousands of AI Queries
00:17:22: Why Your Website Is Now a Data Source
00:18:28: The Challenge: AI Platforms Are Black Boxes
00:19:28: SEO Still Matters, But Rankings Aren't the Whole Story
00:21:29: How AI Answers Actually Work
00:22:38: Why Bottom-of-Funnel Questions Are the New Opportunity
00:23:21: The Site Is Not the Destination, It's the Data Source
00:24:29: The Answer Budget Theory: How AI Chooses Brands
00:26:43: Why AI Looks Beyond Your Website Before Recommending You
00:28:10: Your Brand Is Built on the Sources
00:29:10: The AEO Action Plan: Indexability, Content Readiness and Authority
00:32:11: Why You Need to Let the Right Bots Access Your Site
00:33:06: Schema Markup: Helping AI Understand Your Business
00:36:38: How to Make Product Pages More Specific for AI
00:38:44: IDs, Entities and Connecting Your Website's Information
00:39:45: Optimizing Product Data, Ratings and Rich Results
00:40:44: Content Structure: Make Your Pages Easier for AI to Retrieve
00:42:12: Cover Topics, Not Just Keywords
00:43:12: Brand Representation and Authority in the AI Era
00:44:23: Agentic Shopping: What's Coming Next
00:45:13: Wrap-Up and Final ApplauseThank you for tuning in! Your support keeps this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share it with fellow entrepreneurs, marketers, and ecommerce operators.
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.
Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere.
Have feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected].Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
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Episode 275: The Paid Ads Machine: Creative Systems That Scale in the Age of AI Episode Description
What if your ad creative system could think more like Meta's algorithm?
In this live session from Mentor Table Nashville, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative Ben Bennett and Creative Operations Manager Melvin Cotton III break down the exact system they use to plan, produce, analyze, and scale paid social creative in the age of AI and Andromeda.
From diagnosing what's actually working inside your ad account to building scalable creator systems and using AI to uncover hidden performance insights, this episode is a masterclass in modern paid creative strategy.
"Our overall goal is to establish a strong system that provides us good creative and strong feedback." – Melvin Cotton III
If you're tired of guessing what makes ads work and want a smarter process for creating winning creative, this episode is for you.
You Will Learn:Why marketers are overcomplicating "Andromeda" and what actually matters
The difference between what Meta sees in your ads vs. what it knows about users
How to use AI to analyze creative at scale
The creative variables Smart Marketer tracks across every ad
Why "creative volume" alone isn't enough anymore
How to identify gaps in your messaging and creative strategy
The framework for building a scalable creative production system
Different ways to source UGC and creator content effectively
Why operational systems are critical for creative scale
How feedback loops improve ad performance over time
LINKS & RESOURCES:Smart Marketer: https://smartmarketer.com/
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
TIME STAMPS:
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.00:00:17 – Introduction: The Paid Ads Machine
YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!
00:01:19 – Ezra Firestone on Why He Uses OmniSend
00:02:41 – Live from Mentor Table Nashville
00:03:55 – How Ben Bennett Joined Smart Marketer
00:06:18 – Creative Planning in the Age of Andromeda
00:08:18 – Why AI & Andromeda Feel Like a "Black Box"
00:12:55 – Using AI to Analyze Creative at Scale
00:17:08 – Building an AI-Powered Creative Data Lab
00:22:34 – Closed Variables vs Open Variables in Creative Analysis
00:25:55 – Applying Marketing Frameworks to Ad Creative
00:29:20 – Turning Creative Data Into Actionable Insights
00:33:32 – What AI Reveals About Winning Creative Patterns
00:36:07 – Why Beginner-Focused Ads Outperformed Problem-Aware Messaging
00:40:56 – Transitioning from Analysis to Production Systems
00:42:01 – Building a Creative Menu for Your Team
00:45:16 – Different Systems for Sourcing UGC & Creator Content
00:48:20 – Creator Compensation & Contracts
00:49:59 – Managing Creative Operations & Tracking Systems
00:51:48 – Identifying Where You Are on the Creative Spectrum
00:52:23 – Final Thoughts & Downloadable ResourcesThank you for tuning into the Smart Marketer Podcast! Your support helps us continue bringing you actionable marketing strategies, behind-the-scenes systems, and real-world business insights.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode on social media and tag @smartmarketer
Send feedback or questions to [email protected]Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
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Episode 274: How to Use AI to Write Better Meta Ad Copy Without Losing the Human Touch Episode Description
AI can help you write faster, but that does not mean it should be writing your ads for you.
In this podcast episode taken from our Smart Paid Traffic Live training, Senior Paid Performance Specialist Dominique Nobel breaks down her step-by-step process for using AI to create stronger Meta ad copy. You will learn how to build a brand intelligence document, generate better hooks, write stronger body copy, improve headlines and descriptions, and use AI as a volume tool while keeping strategy, judgment, and customer insight in human hands.
"AI is the volume producer, and us humans, we are the ones that are going to be doing the judgement and be the filter." – Dominique Nobel
If you have been using AI and getting copy that feels bland, generic, or a little off, this episode will show you a smarter way to prompt, edit, and test.
You Will Learn:Why vague AI prompts lead to vague, generic ad copy
How to create a brand intelligence document before asking AI to write anything
Dominique's step-by-step prompt process for Meta ad copy
How to generate hooks that stop the scroll and open curiosity loops
Why body copy should focus on mechanisms, transformation, and objections
How to write headlines and descriptions that support the click
Why your CTA should include both a clear action and an objection crusher
How to use AI for volume while keeping human strategy, fact-checking, and editing in control
Links & Resources:Smart Marketer: https://www.smartmarketer.com/
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Paid Traffic: https://smartmarketer.com/smart-paid-traffic/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)
Timestamps (Chapters):00:00:16 - Introduction: Using AI to Write Stronger Meta Ad Copy
Call to Action (CTA):
00:01:13 - Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend
00:02:18 - Meet Dominique Nobel and Today's AI Training Agenda
00:04:02 - Rule #1: Your AI Output Is Only as Good as Your Input
00:05:43 - Why You Must Fact-Check and Humanize AI Copy
00:07:40 - AI as the Volume Producer, Humans as the Filter
00:08:45 - Start With a Brand Intelligence Document
00:10:45 - What to Include in Your Competitive Intelligence Prompt
00:13:19 - Writing Better Hooks for Meta Ads
00:20:26 - Building the Body Copy After the Hook
00:26:39 - Why Headlines and Descriptions Still Matter
00:31:08 - Writing CTAs That Drive Action and Handle Objections
00:34:28 - How Hook, Body, CTA, Headline, and Description Work Together
00:35:21 - Live Case Study: Building AI Ad Copy for a Supplement Brand
00:38:16 - Prompt Cowboy AI and Choosing the Right AI Tool
00:39:11 - Final Recap: Test, Iterate, Edit, and Humanize
00:40:27 - Closing MessageIf you enjoyed this episode, help us get it in front of more marketers.
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode on social media and tag us using #WeOutHere
Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected]If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer.
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
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Episode 273: Scaling to $300M+: Paid Media, Attribution & Building Teams That Win
Episode DescriptionWhat does it really take to scale to $300M+ in revenue and spend $300K per day on ads?
In this live Mentor Table session from Nashville, Molly Pittman sits down with entrepreneur Rob Schmidt to break down what actually changes as you grow, from attribution and paid media to leadership and team building.
"You have to be really comfortable relying on your other leaders… You need to find good people to surround yourself with that you can trust because you can't do it all yourself. And even if you do, you're not going to be able to put your all into what actually matters for you." – Rob Schmidt
If you're trying to grow, simplify, or step into your role as a true operator, this episode will challenge how you think about scaling.
You Will Learn:Why you cannot scale without trusting your team and how to delegate effectively
What changes when you are spending millions per month on paid media
How to think about attribution across multiple models and time windows
Why relying on a single attribution model can lead to poor decisions
How to evaluate new channels and big marketing bets
The truth about brand versus direct response and what actually drives growth
How to use data and internal tracking to make better marketing decisions
Why top operators constantly revisit fundamentals and keep learning
Links & Resources:Smart Marketer: https://www.smartmarketer.com/
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Mentor Table: https://landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/mentor-table
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)
Timestamps (Chapters):00:00:16 – Introduction & Live Mentor Table Session
Call to Action (CTA):
00:01:13 – Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend
00:02:16 – Meet Rob Schmidt & His $300M Brands
00:03:18 – Inside Winona & Willow
00:04:10 – Rob's Journey from Agency to Operator
00:07:20 – Leadership Shift: Delegation and Hiring
00:09:31 – Paid Media at Scale: What Actually Changes
00:10:39 – Attribution Challenges and Data Complexity
00:12:46 – Direct Response vs Brand Marketing
00:15:10 – Making Big Bets and Testing New Channels
00:17:39 – What Winning Looks Like Moving Forward
00:21:48 – Q&A: Attribution Tools and Data Strategy
00:25:41 – Measuring Organic Traffic and SEO Impact
00:28:21 – Brand vs Direct Response Budget Decisions
00:29:42 – Final Thoughts and Wrap UpIf you enjoyed this episode, help us get it in front of more marketers.
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode on social media and tag us using #WeOutHere
Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected]If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer.
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
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Ep. 272: The Business Growth Levers That Actually Matter (Mentor Table with Ezra Firestone and John Grimshaw) Episode Description
Most entrepreneurs are stuck optimizing the wrong things.
In this Mentor Table conversation, Ezra Firestone and John Grimshaw break down the real levers that drive business growth from customer acquisition and profitability to product strategy and operational focus.
If you have been buried in the weeds, this episode will help you zoom out, simplify, and focus on what actually moves the needle.
"Don't quit before the miracle, man, just keep going. I am telling you that it is shocking how effective that strategy is." – Ezra Firestone
You Will Learn• The 3 core levers that drive sustainable business growth
Links & Resources
• Why most businesses waste time on micro optimizations
• How to balance profitability versus growth
• What makes a true hero offer and how to find yours
• The truth about customer acquisition versus retention
• How to simplify your business and cut what does not matter
• Why creative is the number one lever in paid traffic right now
• How top brands are using AI and creators to scale content• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/
Timestamps
• The Smart Marketer Show – https://smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show/
• OmniSend (50% Off) – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
• Mentor Table – https://landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/mentor-table00:00:16 Introduction: Business Strategy and Growth Levers
Call to Action
00:03:48 Why AI adoption is failing and how to fix it
00:05:53 The 3 core levers of business growth
00:06:42 Micro versus macro and where real growth comes from
00:08:54 Key metrics: new versus returning customers
00:10:46 Profitability, margins and marketing spend
00:13:23 Why your offer not your ads is the real problem
00:14:09 The lifecycle of a winning product
00:17:05 The 3 elements of a winning offer
00:20:23 Simplifying operations and cutting what does not matter
00:21:36 Building a scalable creative system
00:27:57 Paid creators versus influencers versus ambassadors
00:31:46 Leveraging customer data for influencer outreach
00:38:20 The KPI dashboard every business needs
00:45:39 Product development: hero versus supporting SKUs
00:53:10 The future of digital marketing and policy
00:57:20 Final advice: staying in the game long enough to winThank you for tuning in. Your support helps this podcast grow.
If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, review, and share it with someone who would benefit.
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode and tag Smart Marketer
Send feedback to [email protected]Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
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Episode 271: Meta Ads Q&A: Targeting Evolution, Retargeting & What Actually Matters Now Episode Description
Are you overthinking your campaign structure while missing what actually drives results?
In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, Molly Pittman and Smart Marketer's Director of Advertising, Denis Paskalev, continue the Meta Ads Q&A series, diving into retargeting, targeting strategy, and how the algorithm is really working in 2026.
From whether you still need separate retargeting campaigns to how creative is now doing the heavy lifting, this conversation breaks down where marketers should actually be focusing their time and energy.
"You don't really need to have a separate retargeting campaign because the algorithm is going to do a lot of this." – Denis Paskalev
If you are still relying on outdated targeting tactics or overcomplicating your setup, this episode will help you simplify and win.
You Will Learn• Whether Meta automatically handles retargeting inside consolidated campaigns
Links & Resources
• When it actually makes sense to run separate retargeting campaigns
• Why broad targeting is becoming the default and what that means for your strategy
• How creative and ad copy now act as your primary targeting tools
• The role of messaging in attracting different customer avatars
• How Meta uses signals like visuals, text, and audio to find the right audience
• When to use interest targeting and why it may disappear soon
• How to approach testing campaigns with broad versus guided targeting
• Practical ways to research and validate customer avatars
• How to uncover new audiences using customer data, reviews, and competitors• Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/
Time Stamps
• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
• Molly Pittman – https://mollypittman.com
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)00:00:17 – Introduction: Continuing the Meta Ads Q&A Series
Your Engagement Matters
00:01:12 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and Email and SMS Growth
00:02:16 – Does Meta Handle Retargeting Automatically
00:03:20 – When You Should Use a Separate Retargeting Campaign
00:03:26 – Is Interest Targeting Still Relevant
00:04:27 – How Creative Becomes the New Targeting
00:05:07 – How Meta Indexes Creative, Copy, and Audio Signals
00:07:17 – Broad vs Interest Targeting for Testing Campaigns
00:09:03 – How to Research and Validate Customer Avatars
00:10:21 – Using AI and Customer Reviews for Avatar Insights
00:11:32 – Leveraging Reddit, Forums, and Ad Comments
00:12:43 – Identifying New Avatars from Real Customer Behavior
00:14:51 – Why Business Owners Miss New Opportunities
00:15:06 – Using Competitor Research and Meta Data to Refine Targeting
00:16:20 – Final Thoughts and Wrap UpThank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHereHave feedback or questions
Email us at [email protected]Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
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Episode 270: Organic Social vs Paid Ads What's Actually Working Right Now (And Why Most Brands Get It Wrong)
Most brands are doing organic social completely wrong and it's costing them growth.
In this episode, Zach Dampier breaks down what's actually working with organic social right now… and how to use it alongside paid ads without burning out or chasing the wrong metrics.
If your organic content feels like an afterthought or just a weaker version of your ads, this episode will completely reframe your strategy.
"Organic and paid are not competing for your resources. They're doing completely different jobs in your customer's journey."- Zach Dampier
You Will Learn:Why organic social is not just "free ads" (and what it should be instead)
The real role of organic content in your customer journey
How to create content that builds connection, trust, and loyalty
The biggest mistake brands make when measuring organic performance
Why follower count can actually hurt your growth if you're not careful
When to prioritize paid ads vs. organic (and how to scale both together)
The 3-phase framework to build a sustainable organic strategy
How to turn organic content into a paid traffic flywheel
Simple ways to make organic more measurable (without overcomplicating it)
Links & ResourcesSmart Marketer – https://www.smartmarketer.com/
The Smart Marketer Show – https://smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show/
OmniSend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months
Timestamps (Chapters)00:00:15 – Introduction: Why Organic Social Feels Like an Afterthought
Call to Action (CTA)
00:00:53 – Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend for Email & SMS
00:01:56 – Organic vs Paid: The Core Misunderstanding
00:03:42 – The #1 Mistake Brands Make with Organic Content
00:04:27 – The Real Job of Organic vs Paid Ads
00:06:05 – What's Actually Working: Real Organic Content Examples
00:07:42 – Why Authenticity & Storytelling Drive Engagement
00:10:14 – Vulnerability, Trust & Building Real Brand Connection
00:11:04 – The Problem with Chasing the Wrong Metrics
00:11:52 – Why Your Social Metrics Might Be Misleading
00:13:32 – The Truth About Follower Count (And Why It Can Hurt You)
00:15:41 – Reels vs Carousels: What's Working Right Now
00:17:25 – The Metrics You Should Actually Track
00:18:15 – How Organic & Paid Work Together (The Right Way)
00:19:08 – When to Focus on Paid vs Organic (Early-Stage Strategy)
00:21:24 – Organic as "Meta Insurance" Explained
00:23:13 – Turning Organic Content into a Paid Flywheel
00:24:50 – Making Organic Measurable with Tools Like ManyChat
00:25:43 – The 3 Phases of a Winning Organic Strategy
00:27:32 – Final Takeaways: Long-Term vs Short-Term GrowthIf you enjoyed this episode, don't keep it to yourself
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode and tag us using #WeOutHere
Have questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]Your support helps us bring you more actionable strategies every week
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
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Episode 269: Meta Ads Q&A: Creative, Budgets, and What's Actually Working Right Now Episode Description
In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, Molly Pittman, CEO of Smart Marketer, and Denis Paskalev, Director of Advertising, answer real questions from marketers navigating the shift in Meta ads, starting with one of the biggest concerns right now: can small businesses still win?
They break down the reality behind creative demands, including whether you really need dozens of new ads every week, and what actually drives performance when budgets are limited.
"The information that we give you are our best practices of what we see in terms of companies that are growing really quickly." – Molly Pittman
If you're trying to simplify your Meta strategy and get better results without overcomplicating things, this episode will give you a practical path forward.
You Will Learn• Why Meta ads still work for small businesses with limited budgets
• The truth about needing large volumes of creative
• How to approach campaign structure without overcomplicating it
• When to consolidate campaigns versus splitting them for more control
• Why your offer matters more than your campaign setup
• Creative lead generation strategies beyond "get a quote"
• How to structure campaigns for local service businesses
• Ways to target local audiences and avoid wasted spend
• How to think about lifetime value when running local adsLinks & Resources
• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
• Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketeragency.com/
• Molly Pittman – https://mollypittman.com
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)Time Stamps
00:00:15 – Introduction to the Meta Ads Q&A
00:01:00 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and email/SMS growth
00:02:05 – Can small businesses still win on Meta?
00:03:11 – Do you really need dozens of new creatives?
00:04:27 – Should you stop running Meta ads or keep going?
00:05:04 – Can you scale with just one strong ad?
00:06:41 – Campaign structure for local service businesses
00:07:37 – Why "get a quote" is a weak lead magnet
00:08:29 – Creative offer ideas that actually convert
00:10:35 – One offer versus multiple funnels
00:10:47 – When to combine or split campaigns
00:11:41 – Budget allocation and controlling performance
00:12:42 – High-converting example: the LASIK calculator
00:13:53 – How to target locals instead of tourists
00:14:54 – Tripwires and entry offers for local businesses
00:16:55 – Thinking in lifetime value for local ads
00:18:15 – Advanced location targeting tips
00:20:01 – Creative strategies for local ad performance
00:21:13 – Final thoughts and wrap-upYour Engagement Matters!
Thank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHereHave feedback or questions?
Email us at [email protected]Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
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Episode 268: Axon Ads - How to Diversify Beyond Meta and Find New Customers Episode Description
In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, Molly Pittman is joined by Smart Marketer agency CEO Pep Hufen to break down Axon (also known as AppLovin), a fast-growing ad platform that is giving marketers a new way to diversify beyond Meta.
They walk through how the platform works, what makes it different from traditional social media advertising, and why it is becoming a powerful channel for acquiring net-new customers. From creative requirements and campaign setup to attribution differences and scaling strategies, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to start testing Axon in your own business.
If you are running ads for ecommerce, SaaS, info products, or local businesses, this episode will help you understand how to expand your paid traffic strategy and unlock new growth opportunities.
"The goal is not necessarily for you to replace Meta. The goal is to run advertising on both platforms. You want to have traffic diversification. You want to reach people that otherwise you wouldn't be able to reach." – Pep Hufen
You Will Learn• Why Axon is emerging as a serious alternative for paid traffic diversification beyond Meta
Links & Resources
• How the Axon ad experience differs from traditional social media platforms
• Why user psychology on gaming apps leads to higher attention and engagement
• How Axon attribution works and why it appears more conservative than Meta
• When to use ROAS optimization versus cost per purchase
• How to choose between day-zero and day-seven optimization windows
• What types of creative formats perform best on the platform
• How to structure your first campaign and creative sets for testing
• What to expect when launching and evaluating early performance
• How brands are scaling spend while acquiring a high percentage of new customers• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
Time Stamps
• Axon – https://smartmarketer.com/axon
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)
• Thumbstop – https://smartmarketer.com/thumbstop
(Thumbstop Is Live. Get 50% Off For The First 3 Months. Use Code SMART50 At Checkout After Creating An Account.)00:00:15 – Introduction to Axon and expanding beyond Meta
Your Engagement Matters!
00:01:08 – Ezra Firestone on OmniSend for email and SMS
00:02:13 – Molly introduces Axon and Pep Hufen
00:03:01 – Why Axon is a major opportunity for paid traffic
00:04:26 – What to expect from this training and roadmap
00:05:19 – How quickly you can launch campaigns on Axon
00:08:58 – What AppLovin is and how the platform started
00:10:21 – Why this is about diversification, not replacing Meta
00:11:33 – How Axon blends social media and TV-style ads
00:12:24 – The scale of mobile gaming audiences
00:14:08 – Conversion behavior and fast purchase cycles
00:15:16 – Attribution differences between Axon and Meta
00:17:39 – The three-part Axon ad experience explained
00:19:27 – Creative best practices and video requirements
00:22:17 – Why Axon delivers longer attention spans
00:24:20 – The psychology of users playing games vs scrolling
00:25:46 – What the interactive step is and how it works
00:26:51 – Using Thumbstop to create ad creatives
00:28:46 – Why gaming users are more relaxed and receptive
00:30:38 – How Axon's AI model works differently
00:33:13 – Step-by-step campaign setup overview
00:35:53 – Choosing ROAS vs cost per purchase
00:39:15 – Universal vs prospecting campaigns
00:40:52 – Day-zero vs day-seven optimization
00:42:44 – Budgeting and data maturity expectations
00:46:17 – Structuring creative sets for testing
00:49:55 – Scaling strategies and creative expansion
00:53:33 – Budget timing and UTC considerations
00:54:36 – Axon credit offer and how to get started
00:55:26 – Case studies and real brand results
00:58:18 – Next steps and upcoming masterclass
00:59:28 – Catalog segmentation and targeting questions
01:03:53 – Live walkthrough of campaign setup
01:10:33 – Success rate across tested brands
01:11:35 – Offer types and landing page strategies
01:12:21 – Scaling campaigns effectively
01:14:17 – Final thoughts, resources, and tools
01:15:57 – OutroThank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHereHave feedback or questions?
Email us at [email protected]Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
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Episode Description
In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, Molly Pittman is joined by Smart Marketer's Director of Advertising, Denis Paskalev, for a live Meta Ads Q&A where they answer real questions from marketers about what is actually working with Meta ads in 2026.
From campaign structure and creative testing to scaling strategies and performance metrics, this conversation breaks down the modern approach to Meta ads in a world where targeting is driven more by creative, messaging, and landing pages than traditional audience targeting.
If you are running ads for ecommerce, SaaS, info products, or local businesses, this episode will give you practical guidance on how to structure, test, and scale campaigns in today's Meta ecosystem.
"I think people are putting too much pressure on trying to figure out the exact winning campaign structure, where actually there are other things that are usually more important." – Denis Paskalev
You Will Learn• Why there is no single perfect Meta ad campaign structure and what actually matters more
Links & Resources
• When to use CBO versus ABO for creative testing and campaign control
• How to handle situations where one ad receives most of the budget in Meta campaigns
• The difference between vertical and horizontal scaling in today's ad ecosystem
• Why scaling often causes CPAs to spike and how to prevent it
• How creative, messaging, and landing pages now act as targeting signals for Meta
• The metrics to evaluate during the first one to three days of ad testing
• When to move a winning creative from testing to scaling campaigns
• Whether videos and static ads should be tested together or separately• Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/
Time Stamps
• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
• Molly Pittman – https://mollypittman.com
• Smart Marketer Podcast – https://smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show/
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)00:00:21 – Introduction to the Meta Ads Q&A
Your Engagement Matters!
00:01:08 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and Email/SMS Growth
00:02:11 – Molly introduces the live Meta ads Q&A session
00:03:13 – The truth about Meta campaign structure in 2026
00:04:14 – Why Meta sometimes allocates most of the budget to one ad
00:05:41 – CBO versus ABO for creative testing
00:06:56 – Vertical and horizontal scaling strategies
00:07:58 – Why increasing budgets can break campaigns
00:09:38 – When to move a winning ad from testing to scaling
00:11:18 – How long ads should stay in testing campaigns
00:11:32 – Metrics to evaluate during the first days of testing
00:13:14 – Testing static versus video creativesThank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHereHave feedback or questions?
Email us at [email protected]Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
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Episode Description
In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, we're sharing the first lesson from our free mini class: Learn to Run Meta Ads the 2026 Way.
If you've been running Meta ads recently, you've probably felt the shift. With Meta's new AI driven system often referred to as Andromeda, the platform has fundamentally changed how ads are delivered, optimized, and scaled.
Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman breaks down what is actually happening inside the platform, why many advertisers believe Meta ads are "broken," and what it really takes to win with paid traffic in 2026.
"This is a new opportunity, and we should be grateful every single day that we have this at our fingertips, that we are able to just open a laptop and grow a business." – Molly Pittman
You Will Learn• Why many advertisers believe Meta ads are broken and what is really happening
Links & Resources
• What Meta's Andromeda system actually is and how it changes ad delivery
• The five keys to winning with Meta ads in 2026
• Why creative is now a cost multiplier for ad performance
• The difference between the old way and the new way of running Meta campaigns
• Why strong inputs like creative, copy, and offers matter more than tactics
• The numbers every advertiser must know to scale profitably
• How the role of media buyers is evolving into paid performance strategists• Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/
Time Stamps
• Smart Paid Traffic Live – https://smartmarketer.com/spt-live/#join
• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
• Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketer.com/agency
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months)00:00:15 – Introduction: Inside the 2026 Meta Ads Mini Class
Your Engagement Matters!
00:01:16 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and Email/SMS Growth
00:02:31 – Welcome to the Andromeda Playbook
00:06:21 – Molly's Journey into Digital Marketing
00:11:45 – Smart Marketer's Experience Managing Hundreds of Millions in Ad Spend
00:15:39 – The Goal of This Meta Ads Mini Class
00:24:41 – Why Many Marketers Think Meta Ads Are Broken
00:27:06 – What Meta's Andromeda System Actually Is
00:29:17 – How Meta's Retrieval and Ranking Systems Work
00:33:54 – How Meta Groups Ads into Clusters
00:37:08 – The Five Keys to Success with Meta Ads in 2026
00:40:30 – Why Creative Is Now a Cost Multiplier
00:44:38 – The Old Way vs the New Way of Running Meta Campaigns
00:49:59 – Mastering Your Numbers to Scale Profitably
00:56:05 – Why Marketing Fundamentals Still Win
01:03:27 – How the Role of Media Buyers Is Changing
01:05:36 – Why Meta Is Still the Most Powerful Ad Platform
01:10:36 – Why Agencies and Freelancers Are Still Essential
01:14:52 – Expanding Beyond Meta to Other Paid Traffic Platforms
01:20:38 – The Future of Digital Advertising
01:22:45 – What's Coming Next in the Mini ClassThank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode:
⭐ Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
📲 Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
📢 Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHereHave feedback or questions?
📧 Email us at [email protected]Serve the world unselfishly and profit
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Episode Description
Most eCommerce brands are obsessed with traffic.
But what if the real growth lever isn't more clicks? What if it's better monetization of the audience you already have?
In this special training, originally delivered live in partnership with Omnisend, Ezra Firestone breaks down the exact framework he uses across his 8-figure brands to turn email and SMS into 30–40% of total revenue.
This episode goes far beyond "send more emails." You'll learn how to structure a merchandising calendar with major campaigns, micro-offers, product launches, live events, and strategic content that keeps revenue flowing all year long while building a more valuable business asset you can eventually sell.
If you care about profit, retention, and long-term brand equity, this is required listening.
"Email and SMS are king and queen of revenue, and they should really account for 30 to 40% of your total sales. And if they're not… you got work to do." – Ezra Firestone
You Will Learn:• Why email and SMS should drive 30–40% of your total revenue
Links & Resources
• The real difference between major campaigns and micro-offers
• How to structure a merchandising calendar that creates predictable revenue spikes
• Why most brands under-promote and how to fix it
• The highest-performing eCommerce promotions including BOGOs, bundles, and threshold offers
• How to use product launches even when you are not launching something new
• When and how to use SMS during campaigns
• How to increase average order value with bundles, basket builders, and one-click upsells
• A proven email layout structure that increases clicks and reduces unsubscribes
• How to use AI to scale content creation without losing brand voiceOmnisend Special Offer for Smart Marketer Listeners
https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 monthsSmart Marketer
https://smartmarketer.comZipify Apps
Timestamps
https://zipify.com00:00:20 Introduction: Building a More Valuable Business Asset
YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!
00:01:14 Why Ezra Trusts Omnisend for Email and SMS
00:02:17 The Real Game: Wealth Creation Through Asset Building
00:07:22 Inside a $10M eCommerce P&L
00:10:32 Why Email and SMS Are King and Queen of Revenue
00:15:35 Email vs. SMS Conversion Rates Explained
00:17:04 The eCommerce Ecosystem from Traffic to Retention
00:23:17 What a Merchandising Calendar Really Is
00:25:59 Major Campaigns vs. Micro Offers
00:27:40 Why Product Launches Prevent Revenue Plateaus
00:31:51 Examples of Major Campaign Structures
00:34:55 How to Run High-Converting Micro Offers
00:36:21 Launching Products Without Creating Something New
00:40:22 When to Use SMS in Your Campaigns
00:41:14 The Types of Content That Build Trust and Drive Sales
00:46:44 Black Friday Cyber Monday Breakdown
00:48:09 Increasing AOV with Bundles and Basket Builders
00:52:29 Promoting Across Every Channel
00:56:13 The Proven Email Structure
00:59:42 Campaign Communication Frameworks
01:00:26 Why You Should Not Ignore the Shop App
01:01:10 Final Strategy Recap
01:02:28 OutroIf this episode helped you rethink how you approach email, SMS, and merchandising, share it with another founder or marketer who needs it.
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407Share this episode on social media and tag us using #WeOutHere
Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.
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Episode 264: The Next Big Ad Platform? How AppLovin Is Quietly Scaling eCommerce Brands Episode Description
There's a new advertising channel with over a billion daily users and most eCommerce brands haven't tested it yet.
In this episode, Pep Hufen, CEO of Smart Marketer Agency, breaks down why AppLovin's Axon Ads platform is becoming one of the fastest growing acquisition channels for DTC brands. Opened to eCommerce in 2024, this mobile gaming network is already helping brands scale from a few hundred dollars a day to thousands, sometimes in a matter of weeks.
Pep explains what makes Axon different from Meta and TikTok, why mobile gaming audiences convert differently, how the AI optimization works, and exactly how to structure your first campaigns.
"Here's the reality. Every advertising platform has a window of opportunity in the beginning where it's wide open and Axon is in that spot right now." – Pep Hufen
If you're always looking for the next scalable growth channel before it gets crowded, this episode is for you.
You Will LearnWhy AppLovin has "over a billion daily users" and why the audience "skews towards women in their thirties and forties."
How Axon delivers "35 seconds of undivided attention."
Why "80% of the conversions happen within one hour after someone clicks on your ads."
The three things that make this platform different: "the ad format, the user psychology and the AI technology behind it."
When to choose ROAS vs. cost per purchase (CPP).
Why you should "launch it and don't touch it for seven days."
How to scale budgets "30 to 40% every two to three days."
The three levers to pull when performance drops: "creative, the offer or the landing page."
Why "creative is your biggest lever."
Links & ResourcesSmart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/
Timestamps
Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months00:16 – Introduction: "The biggest new advertising opportunity since the early days of Facebook ads."
YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!
02:19 – "There's a new advertising platform with over a billion daily users…"
03:13 – Why Mobile Games Are Bigger Than You Think
04:05 – Who the Audience Really Is
04:57 – Scaling from "300 a day to 3000 a day in about 30 days"
05:59 – "35 seconds of undivided attention"
08:19 – Why Most Clicks Happen on the End Card
09:09 – User Psychology: Relaxed vs. Doom Scrolling
11:00 – How to Set Up Your First Campaign
12:41 – ROAS vs. CPP
15:48 – Optimization Window Strategy
16:33 – Budget Setup and the 7 Day Rule
18:49 – Creative Set Structure
21:13 – Reading Performance and Attribution
22:42 – Scaling Budgets "30 to 40% every two to three days"
24:09 – When It's Not Working: "Creative is your biggest lever."
24:56 – Why the Window Is Open Right NowThank you so much for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If you enjoyed what we shared today, please help us by subscribing to the show. Not only will you be notified when we have new content, it also helps get the show out to many more people.
Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a fellow marketer who's looking for the next scalable growth channel.
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Episode Description
Shopify just released a feature that most brands have not noticed yet, but it could completely change how eCommerce stores grow, monetize traffic, and increase conversion rates.
In this episode, Pep Hufen, CEO of Smart Marketer Agency, breaks down Shopify's new Product Network, a system that lets your store sell other brands' products directly inside your own site without inventory, fulfillment, or losing the customer relationship.
"This isn't an ad network. Shopify is building an ecosystem flywheel." - Pep Hufen
If you run a Shopify store or work with brands that do, this is a must-listen.
You Will Learn
How Shopify's Product Network actually works and why it is not an affiliate program
How to monetize lost intent when shoppers search for products you do not carry
Why this feature can increase conversion rate, average order value, and ROAS without more ad spend
How Shopify is positioning itself as the anti-Amazon
Why collaborative commerce beats marketplaces for brand owners
What early adopters can do now to gain a compounding advantage
Links & Resources
Smart Marketer: https://www.smartmarketer.com/
Smart Marketer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartmarketerig
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Prefer video? Watch Pep Hufen explain Shopify's Product Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAvm3eu-B0Q
Omnisend (Smart Marketer Exclusive Offer): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Use code SMART for 50 percent off your first three monthsTimestamps (Chapters)
00:00:17 Introduction and why Shopify's update matters
00:01:21 What this change means for Shopify brands
00:01:32 Sponsor message and Omnisend recommendation
00:02:35 What Shopify's Product Network is and what it is not
00:03:19 How selling products you do not carry works
00:04:06 Why this is not an ad network
00:05:00 Shopify's real goal and fixing eCommerce leakage
00:05:53 Turning lost intent into new revenue
00:06:43 Increasing the value of every paid click
00:07:36 Why Amazon cannot replicate this model
00:08:27 The three flywheel loops powering the Product Network
00:09:16 What this changes for your catalog strategy
00:10:03 Why customer ownership stays with the host store
00:10:56 Why early movers will capture the biggest advantage
00:11:06 Final thoughts and closingYour Engagement Matters
Thank you for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, share the episode with a fellow Shopify brand owner, and tag us on social using #SmartMarketerPodcast.
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.
-
Episode Description
Most advertisers think Meta ads fail because of creative, targeting, or algorithm changes. That's not the real reason.
In this episode, Pep Hufen breaks down what's actually driving ad performance beneath the surface, ancient brain programs that have been hardwired into human psychology for over two million years. You'll learn how evolution, emotion, and identity shape buying decisions in under 400 milliseconds, and how to use this insight to build ads that feel predictable, scalable, and profitable.
"Success isn't random. It's structural. It's psychological. And now it's predictable."
-Pep HufenYou Will Learn (Key Takeaways)
• The 8 evolutionary drivers that influence every buying decision
• Why features and benefits don't sell, but survival, status, and belonging do
• How ancient survival programs turn into modern emotional buying triggers
• The identity based consumption model behind premium brands
• Why Meta users decide to buy in under 400 milliseconds
• A 7 layer framework to diagnose exactly why your ads aren't scaling
• How to match messaging to the correct awareness level
• Why creative amplifies psychology but cannot replace it
• How friction silently kills conversion rates and how to remove itLinks & Resources
• Smart Marketer – https://www.smartmarketer.com/
• Smart Marketer on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/smartmarketerig
• Prefer video? Watch Pep Hufen explain the full psychology behind scalable Meta ads here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kgm6NHDFEk• Omnisend (Smart Marketer Exclusive Offer) – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
Use code SMART for 50 percent off your first 3 monthsTimestamps (Chapters)
00:00:14 – Why Most Meta Ads Fail (And What Advertisers Miss)
00:01:20 – Omnisend: The Email and SMS Platform Smart Marketer Trusts
00:02:24 – The Real Reason Facebook Ads Stop Working
00:03:07 – Why Ads Cannot Fix a Broken Offer
00:03:57 – The 8 Ancient Survival Drivers Behind Every Purchase
00:05:45 – How Evolution Turns Into Emotional Buying Triggers
00:06:45 – Identity Based Consumption Explained
00:07:35 – The 3 Identity Layers That Drive Sales
00:08:22 – How Meta Ads Trigger Decisions in 400 Milliseconds
00:09:15 – Why Logic Loses to Emotion on Social Platforms
00:09:45 – The 7 Layer Meta Ad Framework Overview
00:10:00 – Case Study: SweetFlex Repositioning for Scale
00:10:50 – Awareness Levels and Messaging Misses
00:12:27 – Why Creative Amplifies Psychology
00:13:15 – Why Sleep Supplements Sell and Magnesium Doesn't
00:14:04 – The Formula Behind Predictable Meta Scaling
00:14:51 – "Success isn't random. It's structural. It's psychological. And now it's predictable."
00:15:40 – Final Takeaway: Making Meta Predictable AgainCall to Action (CTA)
Your support keeps the Smart Marketer Podcast growing.
If this episode changed how you think about Meta ads:
Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode and tag us using #WeOutHere
Questions or feedback? Email [email protected]Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.
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Ep. 261 - 2026 Marketing Outlook: Vulnerability, AI, & Finding Your Edge Episode Description
What will it take to grow and compete in 2026?
In this high-energy kickoff episode, Molly Pittman and Zach Dampier share the five BIG themes shaping the year ahead - from AI-powered marketing tools to new ad platforms, and the rising importance of raw, real storytelling. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what Smart Marketer is launching (including a dog supplement brand), plus actionable strategies to future-proof your business and cut through the noise in an AI-saturated landscape.
"The more that AI ramps up, the more that we as marketers and business owners need to lean into vulnerability, into being real, into telling long, genuine stories in our marketing message, because that is what's going to help consumers realize that we are real people, that you can know, like, and trust." – Molly Pittman
You Will Learn:Why vulnerability-driven storytelling is your superpower in an AI world
How to thrive in a saturated market (yes, even in 2026)
The new ad channel Smart Marketer is going all-in on (hint: it's not Meta)
What AI search ads mean for marketers and what to expect from ChatGPT ads
The number one way to cut costs (and boost profit) in your eCommerce business this year
Sneak peek: Smart Marketer's new AI tool, Meta Ads class, and pet supplement brand
Links & Resources:Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com
Smart Marketer Show – smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show
Smart Marketer YouTube – youtube.com/@SmartMarketerYT
Fields of Freedom – fofdogrescue.com
Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com
OmniSend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months)
Timestamps00:00 - Intro: Welcome + What This Episode Is All About
Your Engagement Matters
02:28 - Behind the Scenes: New Tools, Brands & Projects at Smart Marketer
06:32 - Theme 1: Vulnerability Over AI - Why Realness Wins in 2026
09:14 - Long-Form Storytelling: The New Edge in Advertising
11:53 - Theme 2: There's Still Room in Saturated Markets (Seriously)
14:03 - Molly's Mindset Shift: "You're Not Too Late"
16:26 - Theme 3: A New Ad Channel That's Actually Working - AppLovin
20:42 - Real Results: Why Smart Marketer is Betting Big on AppLovin
21:50 - Theme 4: AI Search & The Future of ChatGPT Ads
24:32 - AI Tools, Maintenance & Training: Staying Relevant in 2026
26:14 - Theme 5: Reduce Costs in Your Tech Stack (Without Sacrificing Power)
28:40 - Action Step: Review Your Subscriptions and Tools This Quarter
29:51 - Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts and What's Ahead for Smart MarketerThanks for listening to The Smart Marketer Podcast
If you enjoyed the episode, please:Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
Share the episode on social media and tag us @smartmarketer
Got feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected]
Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
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Episode 260: Creative Is the New Currency: Winning Smart Marketer Ad Strategies for 2026
Episode DescriptionIn this tactical episode, Molly Pittman breaks down everything you need to know to stay competitive in 2026, including why your creative could be costing you 50% more (or less). You'll learn the new campaign structures, targeting tactics, and why Smart Marketer Agency is moving away from media buyers and toward paid performance specialists.
"If you have really bad creative that's not well thought out, you are haphazardly using AI, you are not thinking about foundational marketing principles, you could be paying 50% more than your competition that is actually doing creative right." – Molly Pittman
Whether you're testing with a small budget or scaling aggressively, this episode will help you make smarter creative decisions.
You Will Learn• Why "creative is the new targeting"
Links & Resources:
• The 50% creative cost multiplier and how to earn it
• Two proven campaign structures that are working right now
• What the "Andromeda" update means for your strategy
• Why weekly cadence beats daily changes
• When to use seven-day click vs one-day click attribution
• How to test new ads without killing your winners
• The difference between scaling momentum and resetting a failing account• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com
Timestamps
• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com
• Smart Marketer Show – smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show
• Ad Creative Class ($49) – smartmarketer.com/ad-creative-class
• OmniSend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months)00:00 – Introduction: Why Meta Ads Have Changed More Than Ever
Your Engagement Matters
02:10 – The 50% Creative Cost Multiplier (Straight From Meta)
06:14 – Creative Is the New Targeting
09:33 – How Meta is Indexing Your Ads, Pages, and Even Accents
10:43 – Breaking News: ChatGPT Ads Are Coming
13:59 – The Real Impact of the Andromeda Update
15:15 – Advantage+ Sales, Broad Audiences, and Simplified Structure
20:33 – Campaign Structure: One Campaign Per Objective
22:44 – How to Segment by Avatar and Build for Scale
24:36 – Top of Funnel Setup: Creative Counts, Exclusions Matter
27:47 – Creative Strategy: 15–20 Unique Concepts, Not Variations
29:46 – Creative Testing Do's and Don'ts for 2026
32:54 – Why Weekly Cadence Outperforms Daily Changes
35:02 – Attribution Strategy: When to Use 7-Day vs 1-Day Click
37:22 – Summary: Molly's Updated 2026 Smart Marketer Strategy
38:20 – Bonus: Behind the Scenes of Longer Together (New Brand Launch)
41:37 – The Two Scaling Approaches: Forrest Gump vs Andromeda
47:02 – Case Study: Scaling From $5K to $35K a Day
50:09 – Case Study: Clean Ease Goes from Struggling to Best Month Ever
54:19 – Reminder: Creative Quality Is EverythingIf you enjoyed this episode, please:
• Follow or subscribe to the show
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
• Share it with your fellow marketers
• Visit us at smartmarketer.com for more free resourcesServe the world unselfishly and profit.
- Visa fler
