Episode 279: Smart Marketer's 2026 Growth Playbook: What We're Building, Testing & Doubling Down On Episode Description

What does growth look like when AI is changing every week, paid traffic is evolving, and your business has to keep adapting in real time?

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw pull back the curtain on what Smart Marketer has been building, testing, and improving in 2026. From Axon/AppLovin and TikTok Shop to AEO, AI-powered creative, new software, and launching an ecommerce brand from scratch, this episode is a candid look at how Smart Marketer is thinking about the future.

You'll hear why partnerships are becoming one of the biggest growth levers, why founder visibility matters more in the AI era, and why not every experiment needs to work in order for your business to keep moving forward.

"Not everything has to work. If everything is successful, you're probably not doing enough." – Molly Pittman

You Will Learn:

• Why Smart Marketer is expanding beyond courses, agency services, and masterminds. • How Axon/AppLovin is creating new paid traffic opportunities for DTC brands. • Why TikTok Shop requires a different approach than traditional paid media. • What AEO is and why AI search may become a major growth channel. • How Smart Marketer is using AI to create more direct-response ad creative. • Why partnerships can unlock faster business growth and new opportunities. • What Molly and John are learning from launching an ecommerce brand from scratch. • Why the info product space is not dead, but it is evolving. • How to decide what to scale, what to cut, and where to focus next.

Links & Resources:

Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com
Smart Marketer Podcast: https://smartmarketer.com/podcast
Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/
Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/
Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/
Thumbstop: https://usethumbstop.ai/
OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00:22 – Welcome: What's Changing Across Marketing Right Now 00:01:10 – Sponsor Message: Ezra Firestone on OmniSend 00:02:14 – Molly Welcomes John Grimshaw to the Podcast 00:03:28 – Behind the Scenes: What's Been Happening at Smart Marketer 00:04:34 – How Smart Marketer Has Evolved Beyond Courses 00:06:29 – Why Business Leaders Must Keep Innovating 00:07:34 – Launching the Axon/AppLovin Masterclass 00:09:30 – The Power of Partnerships in Business Growth 00:11:51 – Testing TikTok Shop as a New Growth Channel 00:15:19 – AEO, AI Search, and Optimizing for Answer Engines 00:17:27 – Why Founder Visibility Matters in the AI Era 00:19:13 – Introducing Thumbstop: AI-Powered Ad Creative 00:23:51 – Smart Marketer's First New Software Tool in Years 00:24:49 – Launching a New Ecommerce Brand From Scratch 00:28:59 – Why Partnerships Are Central to Smart Marketer's Next Chapter 00:31:00 – Building Agentic AI Systems for Ecommerce Brands 00:33:01 – Why Courses and Info Products Are Not Dead 00:35:49 – The Reality of Testing New Ideas 00:37:59 – How Smart Marketer Is Refocusing for the Rest of 2026 00:38:29 – Molly's Reminder: Not Everything Has to Work 00:40:38 – Final Thoughts and a Bandit Cameo 00:41:15 – Closing CTA: Subscribe, Review, and Share the Show

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