The Smart Marketer Podcast

Smart Marketer

Join hosts Molly Pittman, Ezra Firestone, and John Grimshaw as they share their proven paths to success (for your business, brand, and personal life). These Veteran marketers and educators have taught thousands of business owners how to build, manage, and scale successful companies (while growing their own multi-million dollar brands). This weekly podcast will blend tactical marketing tips and strategies with helpful insight and personal stories. This podcast will help you 'Serve the world unselfishly and profit.'

  1. HACE 22 H

    Episode 262: Why Most Meta Ads Fail: The 7 Psychological Layers Behind Scalable Campaigns

    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 Hufen You 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 it Links & 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 months Timestamps (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 Again Call 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

    17 min
  2. 4 FEB

    Episode 261: Overview of 2026

    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) Timestamps 00:00 - Intro: Welcome + What This Episode Is All About 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 Marketer Your Engagement Matters Thanks 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

    32 min
  3. 28 ENE

    Episode 260: Creative Is the New Currency: Winning Smart Marketer Ad Strategies for 2026

    Episode 260: Creative Is the New Currency: Winning Smart Marketer Ad Strategies for 2026 Episode Description In 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" • 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 Links & Resources: • Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com • 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) Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why Meta Ads Have Changed More Than Ever 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 Everything Your Engagement Matters If 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 resources Serve the world unselfishly and profit.

    1 h y 1 min
  4. 21 ENE

    Episode 259: A Product Alone Won't Save You

    Episode 259: A Product Alone Won't Save You (with John Grimshaw, Colleen Taylor, Adam Von Rothfelder & Parker Hilton) Episode Description You can have the best product in the world, but if you're not integrating it with the right brand identity, presentation, and customer insight, it's not going to win. In this behind-the-scenes episode from the Smart Business Systems course, you'll hear the real story of how the GigaLabs team launched a nootropic product in just 8 weeks, from nothing but a brand idea to standing out on the global stage. This episode features a dynamic conversation between Smart Marketer's John Grimshaw, Boom's Colleen Taylor, Strong Coffee CEO Adam Von Rothfelder, and Parker Hilton of GigaLabs. If you're looking to build products that actually sell, this one's a masterclass. "A product alone won't save you. It has to be about the integration of the product, the brand image, and the way you're presenting it, with a real understanding of the customer." – John Grimshaw You Will Learn: Why a strong product means nothing without the right branding and positioning How GigaLabs launched in just 8 weeks with an unforgettable customer experience The power of emotional connection and understanding your audience Real-world product launch lessons you can apply in your own business How visual branding, packaging, and even outfits helped GigaLabs go viral Why new products are the lifeblood of DTC brands Links & Resources: Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Product Creation Course – smartmarketer.com/smart-product-creation Adam Von Rothfelder – linkedin.com/in/vonrothfelder GigaLabs – gigalabs.com Strong Coffee Company – strongcoffeecompany.com OmniSend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Why product alone isn't enough 01:09 Ezra Firestone on why Smart Marketer uses OmniSend 02:23 Meet the Team: Parker, Colleen, John & Adam 04:05 From brand idea to live product in 8 weeks 05:20 Reworking the brand identity from "sleepy" to "vibrant" 06:48 The pivot: From nothing to GigaLabs 09:53 How GigaLabs targeted the D-gen crypto audience 12:21 Building emotional connection with your ideal customer 13:15 The power of physical presentation: The GigaBoy jumpsuits 15:41 What brands can learn from standout Expo activations 17:03 Attention to detail: From Pantone palettes to packaging 18:07 Why GigaLabs inspired this course 19:42 John Grimshaw's Golden Rule: A product alone won't save you 20:19 Building a brand flywheel & strong product feedback loops 21:03 Final thoughts on loyalty, purpose & what's next Call to Action If this episode inspired you to rethink how you bring products to life, let us know. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts – Click Here Share this episode and tag us @smartmarketer using the hashtag #WeOutHere Got feedback? We'd love to hear it: support@smartmarketer.com

    22 min
  5. 14 ENE

    Episode 258: From Doer to Delegator – How to Build a Business That Scales Without Burning Out

    Episode 258: From Doer to Delegator – How to Build a Business That Scales Without Burning Out Episode Description What's the real secret to growth that doesn't lead to burnout? In this powerful conversation from our Smart Business Systems course, CMO John Grimshaw and BOOM! Beauty's Director of Operations Colleen Taylor unpack the mindset shift every entrepreneur must make to scale: letting go of doing it all. You'll learn how to build systems, empower your team, and transition from task-master to true leader. "If you get to the end of a project and you say, 'I did a great job, I can't name a single other person that worked on it [...] you're holding too much.'" – John Grimshaw Whether you're building your first team or stepping into a leadership role, this episode will help you grow your business and create more freedom for yourself. You Will Learn Why "A Players" aren't found, they're made through smart hiring and support How to delegate effectively without losing control Where to find the right people (hint: it's closer than you think) Simple onboarding and training tips that set your team up to win The mindset shift that allows leaders to grow without burnout Why giving away your "small" tasks opens up big opportunities Links & Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Business Systems Course – smartmarketer.com/smart-business-systems BOOM! Beauty – boombeauty.com Omnisend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months) Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome: How to Scale Without Burning Out 02:01 – The Real Secret to Scaling: Recruiting People to the Cause 04:11 – "A Players" vs. People Who Bring Their A-Game 06:07 – Where to Find Great People (Hint: Weak Connections) 10:57 – Hiring for Growth: Promoting from Within 13:16 – Spotting Hidden Talent Inside Your Team 17:25 – Creating a Culture of Learning & Ongoing Education 21:35 – The 80/20 Rule of Growth: Input vs. Output 24:28 – Smart Onboarding: Building Connection from Day 1 26:02 – The Leadership Shift: From Doing to Delegating 29:04 – The Power of Giving Away Ownership 33:09 – Supporting Your Own Growth as a Leader 36:22 – Managing the Managers: Why John Gave Up His "Keys" 40:08 – Final Thoughts: Buy Help, Buy Freedom Your Engagement Matters If this episode helped you shift your mindset or think differently about leadership, we'd love your support: Follow and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode on social and tag us — use #WeOutHere Got feedback? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!

    41 min
  6. 7 ENE

    Episode 257: How to Craft Offers That Convert in 2026

    🎙️ Episode 257: How to Craft Offers That Convert in 2026 Episode Description Want to scale in 2026? It all starts with the right offer. In this never-before-released session from the Smart Ecommerce course, Molly Pittman, John Grimshaw, and Ezra Firestone break down the art and strategy of crafting irresistible offers that speak directly to your audience. Whether you're selling journals, leggings, or skincare, this episode is packed with proven tactics to increase conversions—without racing to the bottom with discounts. "Your product is not the offer […] it's the vehicle to get your customer where they want to go." – Molly Pittman You'll walk away with fresh clarity on what makes an offer work, how to structure bundles, bonuses, and price points for 2026, and why landing pages still reign supreme. You Will Learn: Why great offers go beyond just product features. How to identify the right "who" for your product (and why it matters). The difference between product pages and high-converting landing pages. How to structure bundles and promotions that boost AOV. Smart discounting strategies that protect your brand's value. Real-world examples of offer optimization that increased conversions by 30–50%. Links & Resources: 💡 Smart ECommerce Course – Learn how to build offers that actually convert: https://smartmarketer.com/smart-ecommerce 🚀 Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com 📷 Instagram – @smartmarketerig 📧 Omnisend – Try our favorite email & SMS platform and get 50% off your first 3 months: smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code: SMART) Timestamps (Chapters): 00:00 – Intro: Behind-the-Scenes From the Smart ECommerce Course 01:04 – Why Offers Are More Than Just Products 03:49 – Product Pages vs. Landing Pages 05:20 – The Importance of Knowing Your Customer Avatar 08:13 – Bundling Products for Seasonal & Niche Offers 09:47 – Scaling Through Landing Page Personalization 11:46 – Offers for Multi-Audience Products (Like Resistance Band Leggings) 12:14 – How to Build Your First High-Converting Offer 15:02 – Discounting: What's Too Much & Why It Matters 17:11 – Adding Bonuses, Not Just Subtracting Price 18:42 – The "Stuffed Duffle" Strategy: Why Creative Offers Win 20:23 – Offer Optimization: Messaging Over Micro Tweaks 22:13 – Real Example: From "Leggings with Resistance Bands" to "Burn 255 More Calories a Day" Your Engagement Matters! 💬 Love this episode? Help us spread the word: ⭐️ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share this episode and tag us on Instagram using #WeOutHere 📧 Got feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit 🚀

    24 min
  7. 30/12/2025

    Episode 256: The Top 3 Lessons from 2025 (with Pep, John, and Molly)

    Episode 256: The Top 3 Lessons from 2025 (with Pep, John, and Molly) "These aren't random clips. Each one was part of a conversation that deeply resonated with you, our audience, and together they tell a story about how to build smarter, more resilient businesses in a changing landscape." – Anthony, Smart Marketer Podcast Episode Description As 2025 comes to a close, we're reflecting on the shifts that defined the year; the strategies that moved the needle across offers, customer acquisition, and paid traffic. In this special recap episode, you'll hear back-to-back clips from Molly Pittman, John Grimshaw, and Pep Hufen, each sharing insights that stood up to real-world challenges. If you're planning your next campaign or refining your offer stack, this episode will help you head into 2026 with clarity and momentum. You Will Learn • Why Self-Liquidating Offers (SLOs) are essential for scalability in 2026 • How low-cost digital products drive higher AOV and customer value • The Red Drop case study using education to drive conversions • What Meta's Andromeda update really changed and how to optimize for it • Why creative portfolios outperform individual ad tests • How to structure your campaigns for better results across the funnel Links and Resources • Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com • Instagram: @smartmarketerig • Omnisend for SMS and Email: smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50 percent off your first 3 months Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:40 Ezra on Why We Love Omnisend 02:43 Molly on Self-Liquidating Offers 06:45 Increasing LTV with Strategic Offers 08:56 John Grimshaw on Digital Bumps That Drive Revenue 10:44 Red Drop Case Study 14:04 Smart Marketer's $47 Front-End Offer 16:11 Pep Hufen Breaks Down Meta's Andromeda Update 17:57 Creative Portfolios vs One Winning Ad 20:38 Cleanie Case Study 22:25 What to Watch Out For with Andromeda 23:17 What to Focus on Going Into 2026 24:50 Final Thoughts and Outro Your Engagement Matters Thanks for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If this episode sparked ideas for your brand or helped you think differently about scaling in 2026, here's how to support the show Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode on social media and tag us using #WeOutHere Send feedback or questions to support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

    26 min
  8. 23/12/2025

    Episode 255: Inside Smart Marketer's Black Friday Strategy - Wins, Curveballs and Campaign Secrets

    Episode 255: Inside Smart Marketer's Black Friday Strategy - Wins, Curveballs and Campaign Secrets Episode Description Black Friday may be over, but the insights are just getting started. In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, Smart Marketer's Director of Advertising, Denis Paskalev, joins Content Coordinator Zach Dampier to reveal what actually moved the needle during Cyber Week 2025. From Meta's surprise budget update to a Shopify outage on Cyber Monday, Denis shares exactly how the team prepped, pivoted, and profited; and what you can still apply to your end-of-year campaigns. They also dive into evergreen creative, first-click attribution, and how a smart lead gen strategy made all the difference. "The results that we're going to see during Black Friday Cyber Monday are always going to be highly impacted by what you have been doing throughout the rest of the year." – Denis Paskalev You Will Learn How to use evergreen creative for seasonal promotions What changed with Meta's budget controls (and how to adapt) The role of lead gen campaigns in doubling client revenue How to structure your ads using first-click attribution Smart ways to combine email and retargeting for higher conversions Why you should start your BFCM promotions early (and beat the CPM spike) How community support helped the team move faster and stay informed What to do if your BFCM didn't perform, and how to make your holiday sale count Links & Resources Mentor Table Mastermind: Mentor Table Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com Instagram: @smartmarketerig Omnisend Email & SMS Platform: smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months Timestamps 00:00 – Intro - What Happened Behind the Scenes This BFCM 01:16 – Ezra's Favorite Email Tool (And an Exclusive Offer) 02:19 – Meta's Budget Update - Daily Spend is Now +75% 04:03 – Shopify Outage on Cyber Monday (and What They Did) 05:22 – Why Evergreen Ads Still Win 06:42 – The Power of Starting Promotions Early 07:49 – Younger Shoppers Drove Most of the Sales 08:51 – Client Wins - 20–30% YoY Revenue Growth 10:00 – Lead Gen Campaigns that Actually Worked 11:28 – Repurposing Creative From Previous Years 12:29 – Using Meta's Dynamic (Flexible) Creative Format 13:44 – Full-Funnel Thinking and Attribution with Triple Whale 15:14 – How to Adjust Copy for End-of-Year Promotions 17:06 – Where AI Helped (and Where It Didn't) 18:46 – Buy Now, Pay Later's Role in 2025 20:02 – Make It Scarce, Make It Smart - Crafting Better Messaging 21:57 – How Ads Supported Flooded Email Inboxes 23:56 – The Rise of Mobile and Why Desktop Still Matters 25:07 – Staying Agile Thanks to Community Slack Threads 27:23 – Final Thoughts - What to Do If BFCM Underperformed Your Engagement Matters If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here Share this episode with your team or on social media. Tag us and use #WeOutHere Got feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

    29 min

Calificaciones y reseñas

5
de 5
2 calificaciones

Acerca de

Join hosts Molly Pittman, Ezra Firestone, and John Grimshaw as they share their proven paths to success (for your business, brand, and personal life). These Veteran marketers and educators have taught thousands of business owners how to build, manage, and scale successful companies (while growing their own multi-million dollar brands). This weekly podcast will blend tactical marketing tips and strategies with helpful insight and personal stories. This podcast will help you 'Serve the world unselfishly and profit.'

También te podría interesar