The Smart Marketer Podcast
Join hosts Molly Pittman, Ezra Firestone, and John Grimshaw as they share proven strategies for business success, branding, and personal growth. Experienced marketers and educators, they've guided thousands of entrepreneurs in building and scaling companies. Each weekly episode offers practical marketing tactics combined with personal stories and insights. The show aims to help listeners serve the world unselfishly while profiting.
Episodes
Episode 289: Scaling Meta Ads: Campaign Structure, Creative Testing & Attribution
Episode Description What actually matters when you're trying to scale a Meta ad account today, and what are media buyers still overcomplicating? In this behind-the-scenes episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman shares a real strategy call with the Cuddle Clones team and Marianne White from Smart Marketer's paid performance team. They work through an account that has recently undergone major offe
Episode 288: The Case for Doing Hard Things
Episode 288: The Case for Doing Hard Things Episode Description What happens when you remove social media from your phone for two weeks? And what can deliberately choosing the harder path teach you about what you're capable of? In this episode, we're giving you an inside peek at a real Smart Marketer team call. Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman shares two personal takeaways from a recent trip to Te
Episode 287: More Meaningful Ads at Scale: Building Thumbstop with AI
Episode Description AI can help marketers create more ads faster, but volume means nothing if the creative lacks strategy. In this episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer Agency CEO Pep Hufen for a behind-the-scenes look at Thumbstop, the AI creative tool built to help direct-response marketers produce meaningful image and video ads without prompting every frame fro
Episode 286: How to Build a Scalable UGC System: Creative Operations with Melvin Cotton III
Episode Description Finding great creators is only half the battle. The real advantage comes from building a creative system that consistently turns creator content into high-performing ads. In this episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer's Creative Operations Manager, Melvin Cotton III, to unpack the behind-the-scenes processes that power hundreds of creative asset
Episode 285: How to Work With Meta's AI: Paid Ads Strategies That Are Working Now
Episode Description The Meta ads landscape has changed, and trying to control every variable may now be doing more harm than good. In this episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer Agency Senior Paid Performance Specialist Maryanne White, who manages some of the agency's largest Meta ad accounts. Maryanne shares what she's seeing inside those accounts, why performance
Episode 284: Website Accessibility Lawsuits: What Every Ecommerce Store Owner Needs to Know
Episode Description Could your ecommerce store face a website accessibility lawsuit without you realizing there's a problem? In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Carl and Brooke Wood of Antler Rings to discuss the web accessibility lawsuit their business is currently navigating. They share how the situation began with a settlement demand, what happened when they were formally served, and
Episode 283: Building a Local Brand, Marriage, and Mission with Molly Pittman & Casey Maupin
What happens when two childhood friends reconnect, build a life together, and end up creating businesses rooted in community, purpose, food, and rescue dogs? In this heartfelt episode, Molly sits down with her husband, Casey, to talk about their reconnection story, building Morley's Backyard in Danville, Kentucky, navigating entrepreneurship as a couple, honoring Molly's dad, and growing Fields of
Episode 282: Meta Ads Performance & Profitability: What's Really Happening in 2026
Episode Description Meta ads are still one of the most powerful growth channels for ecommerce brands, but 2026 has been anything but predictable. In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer Agency CEO Pep Hufen to unpack what they're seeing across client accounts right now, why Q1 felt strong for many brands, why Q2 has been more volatile, and what business owners should focus on
Episode 281: Leading Media Buyers, Winning on TikTok Shop & the New Creative Playbook
Episode Description TikTok Shop is creating a totally different kind of opportunity for ecommerce brands, but it is not just another paid ads platform. In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer's Manager of Advertising, Dilyana Doychinova, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to lead paid performance teams, support media buyers, and stay ahead as Meta, TikTok Sho
Episode 280: AI Creative Strategy: How to Analyze Ads, Find What's Working, and Build Smarter Creative Systems with Ben Bennett
Episode Description Everybody can generate AI creative now. The real advantage is knowing what to make next. In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer's Director of Creative, Ben Bennett, to unpack the AI-powered creative strategy workflow he's building inside the Smart Marketer creative department. Instead of using AI only to pump out more ads, Ben explains how to use it to ana
Episode 279: Smart Marketer's 2026 Growth Playbook: What We're Building, Testing & Doubling Down On
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, an
Episode 278: Answer Engine Optimization: How Brands Can Win in the Age of AI Search with Kasim Aslam
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 experti
Episode 277: How to Build an AI-Native Team with Rytis Lauris of Omnisend
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
Episode 276: How to Get Your Brand Recommended by AI: AEO with Julian Lopez
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 recomme
Episode 275: The Paid Ads Machine: Creative Systems That Scale in the Age of AI
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
Episode 274: How to Use AI to Write Better Meta Ad Copy Without Losing the Human Touch
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
Episode 273: Scaling to $300M+: Paid Media, Attribution & Building Teams That Win
Episode 273: Scaling to $300M+: Paid Media, Attribution & Building Teams That Win Episode Description What 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 bu
Episode 272: The Business Growth Levers That Actually Matter (Ezra Firestone and John Grimshaw)
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
Episode 271: Meta Ads Q&A: Targeting Evolution, Retargeting & What Actually Matters Now
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, a
Episode 270: Organic Social vs Paid Ads What's Actually Working Right Now (And Why Most Brands Get It Wrong)
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
Episode 269: Meta Ads Q&A: Creative, Budgets, and What's Actually Working Right Now
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
Episode 268: Axon Ads - How to Diversify Beyond Meta and Find New Customers
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 diffe
Episode 267: Meta Ads Q&A - What's Actually Working in 2026
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
Episode 266: The New Andromeda Playbook: The State of Meta Ads
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 C
Episode 265: The Merchandising Calendar Blueprint: Turn Email & SMS Into 30–40% of Your Revenue
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 reve
Episode 264: The Next Big Ad Platform? How AppLovin Is Quietly Scaling eCommerce Brands
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
Episode 263: Shopify's Product Network: The Quiet Update That Could Change E-Commerce Forever
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 inven
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 d
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
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 me
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
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
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
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 shif
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 s
Episode 254: From Support to Strategy: How Brittany Casella Helps Brands Unlock Hidden Revenue
Episode 254: From Support to Strategy: How Brittany Casella Helps Brands Unlock Hidden Revenue Episode Description What do eComm upsells and dog rescue have in common? More than you think. In this special live recording from Smart Marketer Live's VIP Mentor Table Day, Zach Dampier sits down with Brittany Casella, Head of Enterprise at Zipify's OneClick Upsell. Brittany shares how she climbed from
Episode 253: How to Win on TikTok Shop - Real Strategy Over Viral Hype with Ashley Wright
🎙️ Episode 253: How to Win on TikTok Shop - Real Strategy Over Viral Hype with Ashley Wright Episode Description "People think, 'Okay, a video's gone viral or it's doing really well,' but then realistically you've got to say, has that actually turned into ROI?" – Ashley Wright In this behind-the-scenes episode from Smart Marketer Live, Content Coordinator Zach Dampier sits down with Ashley Wright,
Episode 252: Creative Shifts, Community, and the Realities of Modern E-Commerce with Kurt Elster
Episode 252: Creative Shifts, Community, and the Realities of Modern E-Commerce with Kurt Elster Episode Description What keeps a Shopify expert motivated after 15+ years in the game? In this episode, Kurt Elster, creator of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast and longtime Smart Marketer collaborator, joins Zach Dampier live at Smart Marketer Live to share real talk about modern eCommerce, creative fat
Episode 251: Shark Tank, AI & Social Impact: How Kreyòl Essence Scaled With Purpose
Episode 251: Shark Tank, AI & Social Impact: How Kreyòl Essence Scaled With Purpose Episode Description: In this powerhouse episode, Smart Marketer's Zach Dampier sits down with Yve-Car Momperousse, CEO & Co-Founder of Kreyòl Essence, the clean beauty brand that turned Haitian Black Castor Oil into a viral, purpose-driven movement. Yve-Car shares what it was like stepping into the Shark Tank spotl
Episode 250: Scaling Regulated Brands & Building What You Believe In
Episode 250: Scaling Regulated Brands & Building What You Believe In Episode Description What happens when you mix a viral beverage, a high-compliance industry, and one of the sharpest minds in performance marketing? In this episode, recorded live at Smart Marketer Live 2025, Nick Shackelford joins Zach Dampier for a candid behind-the-scenes look at building BRĒZ a microdose beverage brand blendi
Episode 249: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy - Part 2
🎙️Episode 249: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy – Part 2 (with Ben Bennett) 📝 Episode Description Want more winning ads with less guesswork? In Part 2 of this creative strategy masterclass, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative, Ben Bennett, takes you behind the scenes of a real ad campaign to show how small, intentional changes to your message and creative experience
Episode 248: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy - Part 1
Episode 248: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy - Part 1 (with Ben Bennett) 📝 Episode Description What's really going on with Meta's latest algorithm update? In this must-listen episode, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative, Ben Bennett, breaks down what the Andromeda update means for advertisers and how to adjust your creative strategy to keep winning in 2025. "If we
Episode 247: Revolutionizing Recurring Revenue with Supliful's Game-Changing Consumables
Episode 247: Revolutionizing Recurring Revenue with Supliful's Game-Changing Consumables Episode Description "You're literally solving the biggest problem in business right now." – Molly Pittman What if you could add high-margin, recurring revenue products to your business without worrying about inventory, cash flow, or manufacturing? In this episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Martins Lasmanis,
Episode 246: Beyond Andromeda - 4 Meta Ad Updates Every Marketer Needs to Know (With Pep Hufen)
🎙️ Episode 246: Beyond Andromeda: 4 Meta Ad Updates Every Marketer Needs to Know Episode Description Everyone's talking about the Meta Andromeda update like it's the only thing that matters. But in this power-packed solo episode, Smart Marketer Agency CEO Pep Hufen breaks down four essential Meta updates that are redefining ad performance and why focusing on just one is a costly mistake. "These ar
Episode 245: Smart Marketer Live 2025 Recap (with Molly Pittman and Zach Dampier)
Episode 245: Smart Marketer Live 2025 Recap (with Molly Pittman and Zach Dampier) Episode Description "We knew we wanted the best information out there in the space, that's a given, but we wanted this to feel like a family atmosphere." - Molly Pittman In this episode, Molly and Zach Dampier take you behind the scenes of Smart Marketer Live 2025 from packed roundtables and unforgettable presentatio
Episode 244: The 60-Minute Email Fix for Q4 Wins (with John Grimshaw, CMO of Smart Marketer)
Episode 244: The 60-Minute Email Fix for Q4 Wins (with John Grimshaw, CMO of Smart Marketer) Episode Description "Email isn't dead, it's your fastest path to real profit this Q4." In this episode, John Grimshaw lays out the exact email strategies Smart Marketer is using to maximize results during the busiest time of the year. Learn how to supercharge your automations, craft high-converting message
Episode 243: From Intern to Content Leader - Zach Dampier on Growth, Grit, and Working with Family
Episode 243: From Intern to Content Leader - Zach Dampier on Growth, Grit, and Working with Family Episode Description What does it take to go from intern to indispensable? In this episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman interviews Content Coordinator Zach Dampier; her cousin and long-time teammate about his inspiring journey from college intern to running all of Smart Marketer's organic content
Episode 242: The Truth About Creative Volume, Meta's Shift, and What Still Works (Part 2 with Ben Bennett)
Episode 242: The Truth About Creative Volume, Meta's Shift, and What Still Works (Part 2 with Ben Bennett) Episode Description In this second part of their deep-dive conversation, Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer's Creative Director Ben Bennett to map out the exact creative systems used to produce dozens of high-performing ads every single month. From team structure to tooling to hook v
Episode 241: The Truth About Creative Volume, Meta's Shift, and What Still Works
Episode 241: The Truth About Creative Volume, Meta's Shift, and What Still Works Episode Description Everyone's talking about creative volume but more doesn't always mean better. In this honest, behind-the-scenes conversation, Molly Pittman and Smart Marketer's Creative Director Ben Bennett unpack the current state of paid creative in a post-Andromeda world. From team leadership to what Meta is re
Episode 240: The Meta Andromeda Update - Why Your Facebook Ads Stopped Working (And What To Do Instead)
Episode 240: The Meta Andromeda Update - Why Your Facebook Ads Stopped Working (And What To Do Instead) Meta just launched its biggest algorithm update in years! If your ads started tanking in August, Andromeda could be the reason. In this game-changing episode, Smart Marketer's agency director, Pep Hufen, reveals how Andromeda is reshaping the ad platform from the ground up and what you must do t
Episode 239: Protecting Your Brand in 2025 – SMS Compliance, Copycat Stores & Strategic Defense
Ep. 239: Protecting Your Brand in 2025 – SMS Compliance, Copycat Stores & Strategic Defense Episode Description What happens when a new law could cost you $10K… or worse, someone clones your website and starts stealing your customers? In this exclusive Mentor Table session, John Grimshaw and Molly Pittman tackle two major challenges facing DTC brands in 2025: new SMS compliance laws in Texas and a
Episode 238: The 2025 Black Friday Cyber Monday Playbook with John Grimshaw & Ezra Firestone
Episode 238: The 2025 Black Friday Cyber Monday Playbook with John Grimshaw & Ezra Firestone Episode Description Want to crush Q4 this year? 💥 In this special webinar replay, John Grimshaw (Smart Marketer CMO), Ezra Firestone, and Greg from Omnisend reveal their proven 2025 Black Friday Cyber Monday Playbook. From offer structures that boost cart value to ad strategies that cut through the noise t
Episode 237: Haunted Houses, Taylor Swift & Trivia Nights: An Unexpected Journey to Smart Marketer
🎙 Episode 237: Haunted Houses, Taylor Swift & Trivia Nights: Paul Kalnitzky's Unexpected Journey to Smart Marketer Episode Description What do haunted houses, radio gigs, trivia nights, and Taylor Swift have in common? Paul Kalnitzky. In this raw and hilarious episode, Molly Pittman sits down with Smart Marketer's very own product and community manager to unpack his unexpected journey—from flippin
Episode 236: Safe Sleeve's First 60 Days On Omnisend
Episode Title SafeSleeve's First 60 Days on Omnisend Episode Description What happens when you migrate to Omnisend? In this episode, John Grimshaw sits down with Ezra Firestone and Omnisend's CEO, Rytis Lauris, to share the behind-the-scenes story of SafeSleeve's first 60 days on the platform. Spoiler: Just by migrating to Omnisend, before adding any new automations or campaigns, SafeSleeve projec
Episode 235: Email Deliverability Troubleshooting: A Real-World Case Study from Mentor Table Office Hours
Episode 235: Email Deliverability Troubleshooting: A Real-World Case Study from Mentor Table Office Hours Episode Description Your emails might look great, but are they even landing in inboxes? In this Mentor Table Email Office Hours session, you'll sit in on a real-time troubleshooting call with Heather and Matt from the Smart Marketer email team as they help a founder navigate a frustrating deli
Episode 234: How to Build High-Converting Product Pages (with Kurt Elster)
Episode 234: How to Build High-Converting Product Pages (with Kurt Elster) Episode Description Are your product detail pages costing you conversions? In this episode, Shopify expert Kurt Elster breaks down exactly what makes a high-converting PDP in today's eCommerce landscape. Straight from a Mentor Table session, Kurt shares real examples from Amazon, Walmart, Tactical Baby Gear, and more—along
Episode 233: The NEW Way of Running Facebook Ads in 2025
Episode Description Facebook ads have changed again. In this episode, Pep Hufen pulls back the curtain on the four simple guidelines Smart Marketer's agency is using right now to spend smarter, scale faster, and stay profitable in 2025. From building streamlined campaigns that make data crystal clear to using a "Golden Triangle" tracking system, Pep reveals exactly how to keep your top-performing
Episode 232: From $1/Day to $100,000/Day – Scaling Your Facebook Ad Spend
Episode 232: From $1/Day to $100,000/Day – Scaling Your Facebook Ad Spend (The Right Way) Episode Description Every business starts at zero. In this tactical training, Pepijn Hufen breaks down exactly what it takes to scale from $1/day to $100,000/day in ad spend—based entirely on what's working right now inside Smart Marketer brands. "If you want to scale your ads, it all comes down to messaging,
Episode 231: How We Doubled Ad Spend in 60 Days (And Boosted Revenue by 65%)
Episode 231: How We Doubled Ad Spend in 60 Days (And Boosted Revenue by 65%) Episode Description What does it really take to scale your paid ads in 2025? In this behind-the-scenes episode, Molly Pittman breaks down exactly how Smart Marketer doubled ad spend and increased revenue by 65%—with the real ad structures, creative formats, and landing page tactics that made it work. You'll also hear how
Episode 230: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 4 – Mindset (Part 2) My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It's Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That's Happened in My Life
Episode 230: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 4, Mindset (Part 2) "My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It's Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That's Happened in My Life" Episode Description In this powerful continuation, Molly Pittman picks up where Part 1 left off and shares the final seven lessons she learned after losing her father. This isn't just about grief. It's about redefining success, leadersh
Episode 229: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 4 – Mindset (Part 1) My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It's Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That's Happened in My Life
Episode 229: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 4 – Mindset (Part 1) "My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It's Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That's Happened in My Life" Episode Description In this deeply personal episode, Molly Pittman reflects on the sudden loss of her father, and the powerful lessons it's taught her about life, business, and what truly matters. If you're navigating grief, burnout, o
Episode 228: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 3, Conversion Rate Optimization with John Grimshaw
Episode 229: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 4, Conversion Rate Optimization with John Grimshaw Episode Description In this episode of the summer series, Smart Marketer CMO John Grimshaw breaks down one of the most overlooked growth levers in digital marketing: conversion rate optimization. Whether you're optimizing headlines, simplifying your landing pages, or bundling smarter offers, these case s
Episode 227: What's Working Mid-2025, Part 2 - Improving Retention and Monetization Strategies with Email and SMS
Episode 227: Improve Retention and Monetization Strategies with Email and SMS - What's Working Mid-2025, Part 2 Episode Description Retention is the engine behind sustainable growth, and it's more important than ever in 2025. This is part 2 of a 4-part series on what's working right now in direct-to-consumer marketing. In this follow-up episode, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw share four tactical
Episode 226: What's Working Mid-2025 In Paid Traffic - 5 Paid Ad & Offer Strategies Driving Results
Episode 226: What's Working Mid-2025 - 5 Paid Ad & Offer Strategies Driving Results Episode Description The digital landscape is moving fast, but Smart Marketer is staying ahead. This is part 1 of a 4 part series about what is working right now halfway through 2025 in direct to consumer marketing. In this tactical check-in, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw share five strategies that are helping bus
Episode 225: How We Scaled Meta Ad Spend from $500/Day to $5K/Day
Episode Title How We Scaled Meta Ad Spend from $500/Day to $5K/Day Episode Description What does it really take to scale ad spend 10x—and still stay profitable? In this in-depth case study, Smart Marketer's Pep Hufen shares how our agency helped Pretty Farm Girl grow fast using Advantage Plus campaigns, conversion-focused landing pages, and sharp backend tracking. "Advertising is acceleration. W
Episode 224: The AI Ad Playbook - How to Save Time, Create Better Hooks & Scale Your Campaigns
Ep 224: The AI Ad Playbook — How to Save Time, Create Better Hooks & Scale Your Campaigns Episode Description How do you create compelling ad copy, research your avatar, and generate high-performing creative—without burning out or hiring a team of specialists? In this live replay from The Smart Marketer Show, Molly Pittman and Pep Hufen walk you through Smart Marketer's complete AI workflow. You'l
Episode 223: Cracking the Code on AppLovin Ads - A New Traffic Channel for DTC Brands
Episode 223: Cracking the Code on AppLovin Ads: A New Traffic Channel for DTC Brands Episode Description If you're tired of being stuck between Meta and Google for your media buys—this episode is for you. Pep Hufen is back with a behind-the-scenes look at AppLovin Ads: the breakout ad platform that's scaling DTC brands like Breeze and Boom. Discover why this mobile-first platform is outperforming
Episode 222: Build Your E-Commerce Site Right: How to Turn Browsers into Buyers
Episode Description Your website is more than a digital storefront—it's the heart of your brand. In this episode, John Grimshaw, Ezra Firestone, and Kurt Elster unpack the proven strategies behind high-converting e-commerce sites. From the pitfalls of homepage design to the power of mobile-first thinking, they reveal how to turn casual visitors into loyal customers. If you want to build a brand th
Episode 221: The 5 AI Tools I Use Daily as a CEO (to Save 10+ Hours per Week)
Episode 221: The 5 AI Tools I Use Daily as a CEO (to Save 10+ Hours per Week) Episode Description In this episode, our very own Pep Hufen, CEO of the Smart Marketer agency, shares the five AI tools he uses every day to save over 10 hours per week and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Pep walks through practical, real-world use cases for each tool—no fluff, just strategies you can
Episode 220: Marketing That Actually Works: Ezra & John's Real-Time Q&A for Entrepreneurs
Episode 220: Inside the Marketing Lab – Ezra & John Answer Your Questions Live! Episode Description Ever wish you could ask Ezra Firestone or John Grimshaw your biggest business questions—live? Now's your chance. In this special replay from The Smart Marketer Show, Ezra and John sit down with the Smart Marketer community for a real time Q&A. From homepage split tests to pricing strategy, influenc
Episode 219 -The Email Audit Framework That Unlocks Revenue You're Missing
Episode 219 The Email Audit Framework That Unlocks Revenue You're Missing Episode Description Email marketing still works—but only if you treat it like a growth engine, not an afterthought. In this episode, John Grimshaw breaks down the exact audit framework Smart Marketer uses inside its agency and mastermind to find revenue opportunities fast. After auditing multiple accounts, John highlights t
Episode 218: Sell Sooner, Not Sorer: The Entrepreneur's Guide to a Smart Exit
🎙 Episode 218: Sell Sooner, Not Sorer: The Entrepreneur's Guide to a Smart Exit Episode Description What's the best time to sell your business? Hint: It's not when you're burned out. In this exclusive segment from Smart Marketer's Smart Business Exit course, Ezra Firestone is joined by Brad Wayland and Chris Moore of Quiet Light to break down why successful businesses are more attractive to buyers
Episode 217: John's DTC Brands to Watch: Whym and the 5-Step Formula for Better Offers
🎙️ Episode 217: John's DTC Brands to Watch – Whym and the 5-Step Formula for Better Offers Episode Description ✨ "Nobody cleans their room to make it not smell bad. They clean it so they can get that sense of a good smell." – John Grimshaw This episode is a deep dive into how Whym, a mystery travel company, revitalized an "outdated" industry by wrapping a brilliant offer around a simple service. J
Episode 216: Why Now Is the Best Time to Start an Ecom Business
🎙 Episode 216: Why Now Is the Best Time to Start an Ecom Business Episode Description "This is the best time, I think, better than when I got into the industry over 15 years ago to get started in e-commerce." – Ezra Firestone In this special episode, we're pulling back the curtain on an exclusive session from the Smart eCommerce course. Ezra Firestone is joined by Laura Paladino and Kurt Elster
Episode 215: Winning Ad Creative: What Works Now & How to Measure It
Episode 215 – Smart Marketer Show Winning Ad Creative: What Works Now & How to Measure It Episode Description What makes an ad actually perform in 2025? In this episode, John Grimshaw and Ben Bennett pull back the curtain on the creative process that drives real sales—from emotional resonance to performance metrics. You'll learn why good creative starts with empathy, how to identify your stronges
Episode 214: Strategy Meets Soul: What 2024 Taught Us About Marketing, Mindset & Staying Human in 2025
Episode 214: Strategy Meets Soul: What 2024 Taught Us About Marketing, Mindset & Staying Human in 2025 Episode Description 2024 was a year that tested every marketer's resilience—and in this vulnerable, insight-packed interview, Molly Pittman sits down with Alex Cattoni from the Copy Posse to share what she learned from the trenches. From managing over $600M in ad spend to navigating the emotional
Episode 213: What's Working Now in Ecomm: Hook Strategy, AI Signals & Smarter Offer Design
This week, Molly Pittman and Brett Curry are pulling back the curtain on what's working right now in digital marketing—and what's not. From creative hooks and audience targeting to offer structure and AI-powered platform changes, this episode is stacked with real-world strategies to help you stay profitable and ahead of the curve. As marketing shifts and tracking becomes trickier, it's more import
Episode 212: The 2025 Marketing Shift: How to Stay Ahead in a Changing Landscape
In this exclusive live session from Smart Marketer Live, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw dive into the biggest challenges businesses face in 2025 and, more importantly, the strategies you need to stay ahead. From rising ad costs to shifting consumer behavior and increased competition, this episode is packed with insights on how to adapt and thrive. "We're in the middle of a major shift. The busine
Episode 211: Scaling Faster: The Metrics That Actually Matter
Are you still tracking Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)? If so, it's time for an upgrade. In this episode, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw dive into Customer Value Velocity (CVV)—a smarter, more actionable metric that helps businesses scale faster and make better marketing decisions. Learn how top brands are using CVV to increase revenue, improve monetization, and acquire the right customers. "If you
Episode 210: DTC Brands to Watch: Plufl Brand Study
Molly Pittman is back with another DTC Brands to Watch episode, and this time she's diving into Plufl, the brand that turned a simple concept—dog beds—into a viral human comfort product. Discover how their innovative marketing, branding, and product expansion have made them a leader in the space. "Plufl took a familiar product and reimagined it. This is a case study in creative branding and audien
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Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
