Podcast
The Smart Marketer Podcast
Hosted by Smart Marketer · EN
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.'
20episodes
Episodes
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Episode 276: How to Get Your Brand Recommended by AI: AEO with Julian Lopez
2w ago00:45:51Tap to summarizeEpisode 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. • 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. Links & Resources: 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 Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months. Time Stamps: 00:00:20: Welcome: AI, Paid Traffic, Creative and Organic Visibility 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 Applause Your Engagement Matters! Thank 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 support@smartmarketer.com. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
Transcribe →Episode 275: The Paid Ads Machine: Creative Systems That Scale in the Age of AI
3w ago00:54:17Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months. TIME STAMPS: 00:00:17 – Introduction: The Paid Ads Machine 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 Resources YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS! Thank 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!
Transcribe →Episode 274: How to Use AI to Write Better Meta Ad Copy Without Losing the Human Touch
4w ago00:40:53Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 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 Message Call to Action (CTA): If 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 support@smartmarketer.com If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
Transcribe →Episode 273: Scaling to $300M+: Paid Media, Attribution & Building Teams That Win
Apr 2900:30:16Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 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 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 Up Call to Action (CTA): If 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 support@smartmarketer.com If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
Transcribe →Episode 272: The Business Growth Levers That Actually Matter (Ezra Firestone and John Grimshaw)
Apr 2201:04:48Tap to summarizeEp. 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 • 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 Links & Resources • Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/ • 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-table Timestamps 00:00:16 Introduction: Business Strategy and Growth Levers 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 win Call to Action Thank 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
Transcribe →Episode 271: Meta Ads Q&A: Targeting Evolution, Retargeting & What Actually Matters Now
Apr 1500:17:18Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 • 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 Links & Resources • Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/ • 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) Time Stamps 00:00:17 – Introduction: Continuing the Meta Ads Q&A Series 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 Up Your 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 #WeOutHere Have feedback or questions Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
Transcribe →Episode 270: Organic Social vs Paid Ads What's Actually Working Right Now (And Why Most Brands Get It Wrong)
Apr 800:29:22Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 & Resources Smart 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 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 Growth Call to Action (CTA) If 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 support@smartmarketer.com Your support helps us bring you more actionable strategies every week Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit
Transcribe →Episode 269: Meta Ads Q&A: Creative, Budgets, and What's Actually Working Right Now
Apr 100:22:11Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 ads Links & 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-up Your 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 #WeOutHere Have feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
Transcribe →Episode 268: Axon Ads - How to Diversify Beyond Meta and Find New Customers
Mar 2501:16:55Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 • 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 Links & Resources • Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com• 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.) Time Stamps 00:00:15 – Introduction to Axon and expanding beyond Meta 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 – Outro Your 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 #WeOutHere Have feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
Transcribe →Episode 267: Meta Ads Q&A - What's Actually Working in 2026
Mar 1800:15:37Tap to summarizeEpisode 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 • 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 Links & Resources • Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/ • 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) Time Stamps 00:00:21 – Introduction to the Meta Ads Q&A 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 creatives Your 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 #WeOutHere Have feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the world unselfishly and profit.
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