Episodios

  • Episode 220: Marketing That Actually Works: Ezra & John’s Real-Time Q&A for Entrepreneurs

    Episode 220: Marketing That Actually Works: Ezra & John’s Real-Time Q&A for Entrepreneurs
    May 21 2025
    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, influencer marketing to staying motivated—this episode covers the full journey of building and growing a business. “Doubt and worry is not energy that's useful.” – Ezra Firestone Whether you're scaling a product brand, launching a course, or navigating burnout, this session is packed with both tactical gold and mindset wisdom. You Will Learn: How a homepage redesign boosted conversions by 16% Ezra’s smart framework for splitting ad spend between paid media, influencers, and ambassadors How to deal with rising tariffs without sacrificing Q4 sales Ways to market an info product without showing your face How to identify when it’s time to pivot (or quit) a business The truth about tracking data, profit margins, and “source of truth” Honest advice for staying grounded through grief or hardship Links & Resources 🌐 Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com 🎙️ The Smart Marketer Show 🎤 Smart Marketer Live – Join us in Denver, CO, Oct 7–8! ✅ Want an audit for your brand? Contact the Smart Marketer Agency Timestamps (Chapters) 01:02 – Live Q&A Kickoff with Ezra Firestone John introduces the session, the community vibe, and Ezra sets the tone with stories of business and babies. 04:18 – What’s the Most Profitable Split Test You’ve Run Lately? Ezra shares a homepage redesign at SafeSleeve that boosted conversions by 16%. 10:03 – Are You Moving Budget from Homepage to Landing Pages? Discussion on traffic strategy, testing sequences, and what happens when your homepage is your best landing page. 11:55 – How Many Tests Should You Run at Once? How Ezra approaches A/B testing cadence based on volume and traffic. 12:50 – How Do You Split Spend Between Conversion vs. Brand Marketing? Breakdown of paid vs. influencer vs. ambassador budgets—and benchmarks by vertical. 15:47 – What’s the Difference Between an Influencer and an Ambassador? Ezra explains how to use creators, content briefs, and what most brands get wrong. 21:19 – What Should I Do About the 30% Tariff Hike from China? Ezra shares his current supply chain decisions and whether “gray area” loopholes are worth it (they're not). 26:26 – How Should I Design Ad Creative for Info Products or SaaS? High-performing structures for intangible offers, and why entertainment + education wins. 33:17 – Why Lead Gen & Long Sales Cycles Matter for High-Ticket Products Strategies for warming cold leads with value before asking for a sale. 35:33 – How Can I Get Local Clients When I’m in a Tourist-Heavy Area? John and Ezra’s playbook: Google Business, proximity targeting, and local content hacks. 40:27 – I’ve Been in Business 4 Years and Still Struggling—What Now? When to push through vs. when to pivot. Real talk on ROI, emotional attachment, and hard truths. 45:11 – What’s Your “Source of Truth” for Data? How Ezra uses real financial KPIs over third-party attribution, and why agreement matters more than accuracy. 48:07 – How Can I Stay Authentic While Grieving? A powerful, heartfelt conversation about trauma, storytelling, and honoring what’s real. 53:51 – Should I Launch My Coaching Offer Under My Existing Brand? When to stack vs. split a business—and the importance of your exit strategy. 55:15 – What’s a Brand You’re Loving Right Now? Ezra plugs his favorite chocolate brand (Askinosie) and why little joys matter in big business. Your Engagement Matters! Thank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast! 🎧 If you found value in this episode, here’s how to support the show: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share this episode on social and tag us using #WeOutHere 💌 Send your feedback to support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀
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    59 m
  • Episode 219 -The Email Audit Framework That Unlocks Revenue You’re Missing

    Episode 219 -The Email Audit Framework That Unlocks Revenue You’re Missing
    May 14 2025
    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 the patterns he sees again and again—and how you can fix them to make email a real profit center.

    “Go in and see what's being done day to day. Are you getting forward progress, forward motion?” – John Grimshaw

    You’ll learn the four-part framework, why list quality is more important than ever, and how to make your campaigns and flows work together—without gimmicks.

    You Will Learn:

    • The 4-part email audit we use with every client

    • Why 40–60% of your revenue should come from flows

    • A simple fix to improve deliverability and engagement

    • The #1 mistake brands make with offer strategy

    • How to turn campaigns into automations that print money

    • What to do if your email performance has flatlined

    Links & Resources:

    • Smart Marketer

    • Smart Email Marketing Course

    • Smart Marketer Live – Join us in Denver, CO, Oct 7–8!

    • Want an audit like this for your brand? Contact the Smart Marketer Agency

    Timestamps (Chapters):

    00:45 – John Grimshaw: Why I’m fired up about this episode
    01:35 – A shortcut audit for your business (and why it matters)
    02:18 – The 4 audit categories: Monetization, Promotions, List Quality, Automation
    04:30 – Section 1: Why 60/40 revenue splits between flows and campaigns matter
    07:55 – Automations you’re probably missing (and how to fix it)
    10:10 – Add personalization beyond the name to drive deeper engagement
    10:58 – Section 2: The problem with repetitive discounts & how to build better offers
    13:07 – Real-life example: How Boom made 72% of promo revenue after the first email
    14:00 – Section 3: List quality, deliverability, and how to incentivize clicks authentically
    16:45 – What not to do (like fake games and gimmicks)
    17:29 – Section 4: Most brands miss this huge automation opportunity—cross-sells
    19:05 – Why your automations need regular updates & micro-tests
    19:54 – The recap: Run your audit, then fix what matters
    20:56 – Final thoughts: Get intentional and put your flows to work

    Call to Action (CTA):

    Thanks for tuning in to The Smart Marketer Podcast!
    If you found this episode helpful, here’s how to support the show:

    ✅ Follow and subscribe wherever you listen
    ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
    📲 Share this episode with a friend or your team
    📧 Got feedback? Reach us at support@smartmarketer.com

    Let’s keep growing together—Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit 🚀
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    22 m
  • 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
    May 7 2025
    🎙 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—and how to position yours for maximum value, even if you never plan to sell.

    “You want to run your business like you're always going to sell it, but you're never going to sell it. You got to love it.” – Chris Moore

    Whether you’re planning an exit or just want to build a more scalable and sellable company, this is a must-listen episode packed with honest advice and deep experience.

    ✅ You Will Learn:

    • Why selling out of boredom leads to missed opportunities (and lower multiples)

    • The #1 pitfall that ruins business sales (and how to avoid it)

    • How to build operational systems that make your company transferable

    • When to let go—and how to know if you're truly ready to exit

    • The mindset shift that helps you scale beyond burnout

    • How great businesses become great acquisitions

    • Why the best time to sell is before you feel done

    🔗 Links & Resources:

    • Smart Business Exit : Smart Business Exit - Full Course

    • Smart Marketer AI Tools: ai.smartmarketer.com

    • Quiet Light (Buy/Sell Online Businesses): quietlight.com

    • Ezra Firestone – Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com

    • Brad Wayland – Quiet Light Advisor: quietlight.com/advisors/brad-wayland

    ⏱ Timestamps (Key Moments Only):

    00:01:21 – The #1 Mistake: Trying to Sell Without a Plan
    00:02:51 – Shiny Object Syndrome: How Distraction Hurts Valuation
    00:04:37 – How to Replace Yourself (and Why It Can Make the Business Grow)
    00:07:36 – When Is the Right Time to Sell a Business?
    00:10:21 – The “Anvil on the Chest” Test: Are You Still Fired Up or Burning Out?
    00:12:38 – “Good Businesses Always Sell”: Why Market Timing Doesn’t Matter

    📢 Your Engagement Matters!

    If you loved this episode, help us grow:

    • ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts → Click Here

    • 📲 Share on social media & tag us with #WeOutHere

    • 💬 Send feedback to support@smartmarketer.com

    Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀
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    15 m
  • 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
    Apr 30 2025
    🎙️ 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. John Grimshaw unpacks how surprise, novelty, and personalization create viral, high-converting experiences—and he shares his 5-part offer formula that you can use in any business. If you’re tired of bland messaging and weak conversions, this one’s for you. Learn how to build offers that actually move people to buy. 💡 You Will Learn: The 5 elements every great offer needs to connect and convert Why personalization + identity = performance gold in DTC How Whym makes “travel agents” cool again (and highly marketable) Why transformation matters more than features or price How to add surprise & delight to any offer—no matter your niche 🔗 Links & Resources: 🌐 Whym Travel 📈 HYROS Attribution Tool 🎓 Smart Marketer 📲 @smartmarketer on Instagram 🧠 Connect with John Grimshaw ⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters): 00:00 – Welcome & Intro (Anthony + Molly) Anthony tees up the episode and Molly shares a must-have attribution tip for paid ads. 02:13 – John’s Segment: What Makes a Brand Worth Watching Why Whym stood out—and why studying good offers beats copying funnels. 04:28 – What Is an Offer? Why It Matters More Than Creative John defines the concept of an offer and explains why it drives growth more than ads ever could. 06:08 – Step 1: Define the Product or Service Clarify what you're actually selling and why it matters to your customer. 06:55 – Step 2: Create Relevance – The “Why Now?” Make it matter. Relevance helps your audience feel seen and ready to act. 08:22 – Step 3: Identify Your Audience Targeted messaging only works when you know who you're speaking to. 09:45 – Step 4: Give a Reason to Act Now From urgency to incentives, here's how to overcome inertia and spark conversions. 11:57 – Step 5: Sell the Transformation Forget features—focus on how your customer’s life improves after buying. 16:55 – Case Study: Whym’s Irresistible Offer Strategy A breakdown of how Whym made surprise travel feel fun, personal, and Instagram-worthy. 23:36 – Identity, Novelty & Why Whym Nails It How Whym plays into millennial identity and experience collection to win hearts (and wallets). 28:40 – Key Takeaway: Add Novelty to Win in DTC John explains why uniqueness beats polish—and how surprise drives performance. 🙌 Your Engagement Matters! If you enjoyed this episode, here’s how to support the show: 📢 Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts – Click Here 📲 Share this episode, tag @smartmarketer, and use #WeOutHere 💌 Feedback or guest ideas? Email support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit 🚀
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    36 m
  • 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
    Apr 23 2025
    🎙 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 to talk about the evolution of ecommerce—and why there’s never been a better moment to dive in.

    From Laura’s journey working four jobs (including Cracker Barrel) to becoming Director of Retention at an 8-figure brand, to Kurt’s eBay hustle during the Furby craze, you’ll walk away inspired—and armed with strategic advice on how to grow in this booming industry.

    You Will Learn:

    • Why ecommerce has the lowest barrier to entry right now

    • How to avoid overwhelm and choose the right learning path

    • What “Shopify nerds” have known for years (and you should too)

    • Real stories of career transformation through ecommerce

    • Why marketing is all about making the backend prettier for the frontend

    • Where to find trustworthy, high-impact education (and what to avoid)

    Links & Resources

    • 🎓 Smart eCommerce Course

    • 🧠 Kurt Elster – The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

    • 📈 Hyros – Advanced Attribution Tracking

    • 🌐 Smart Marketer

    Timestamps

    02:17 – Ezra shares why this is the best time to start in ecommerce
    02:24 – Meet Laura and Kurt
    03:31 – Kurt on getting started with eBay
    05:03 – Laura’s journey from Cracker Barrel to Boom
    06:17 – What surprised Laura most about marketing
    08:41 – Advice for new ecommerce learners: avoid overwhelm
    09:27 – Don't be afraid to use Shopify’s powerful documentation
    10:21 – Laura’s framework for learning in a noisy space
    11:14 – Ezra’s advice: Follow the course and focus

    Your Engagement Matters!

    Thanks for tuning in 🙌 If this episode brought you value:

    • 🌟 Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts

    • 📲 Share it on social and tag us — #WeOutHere

    • 💬 Got thoughts? Email support@smartmarketer.com

    Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit 🚀
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    13 m
  • Episode 215: Winning Ad Creative: What Works Now & How to Measure It

    Episode 215: Winning Ad Creative: What Works Now & How to Measure It
    Apr 16 2025
    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 strongest hooks, and which numbers really matter.

    Plus, we introduce a brand-new metric (yes, we named it), and show you how AI is changing the creative game—without replacing your team.

    “If your ad doesn’t have a heart, it will not perform well.” —Ben Bennett

    You Will Learn

    • The 3 key metrics that reveal if your ad creative is working

    • How to identify and fix poor-performing ads (without guessing)

    • Why emotional hooks beat flashy tactics every time

    • How to use AI image tools like ChatGPT to speed up creative

    • The “thumb stop ratio” metric you should be tracking (and how)

    • A 30-minute Action of the Month to sharpen your creative instantly

    Links & Resources

    • smartmarketer.com/hyros – Hyros attribution tool

    • Smart Marketer Free Resources – smartmarketer.com/free-resources

    • Smart Marketer Agency – smartmarketer.com/agency

    Timestamps (Chapters)

    02:05 – Meet Ben Bennett: Creative Director at Smart Marketer
    03:15 – Top 3 Metrics That Matter for Ad Creative
    07:24 – Metric 1: Unique Link Click-Through Rate
    11:54 – Metric 2: Conversion Rate & Ad Scent
    15:51 – Metric 3: Thumb Stop Ratio
    19:00 – How to Set Up and Benchmark Your Thumb Stop Ratio
    21:07 – AI for Ad Creatives: How ChatGPT-4 is Changing the Game
    26:32 – Action of the Month: Add Heart to Your Hooks
    27:27 – The Heart Behind Your Creative
    29:30 – If Your Ad Doesn’t Have a Heart, It Won’t Perform
    30:33 – The Hook and the Hand: A Smart Marketer Analogy
    34:01 – Making Facebook Ads People Don’t Hate
    36:24 – Hooks vs. Heart: What's Missing in Most Ads
    40:57 – A Simple Exercise
    42:56 – The Nine Motivators That Move People
    45:12 – Building Visual Hooks Around Real Situations
    45:39 – How to Think About Hooks, and How They Fit Into Existing Ads
    48:08 – How to Create Really Good Problem Hooks
    56:48 – Here's How to Copy This Win

    Call to Action

    Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review, share it with a marketer who needs better ad creative, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly insights from the Smart Marketer team.
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    1 h y 1 m
  • 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
    Apr 9 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 highs and lows of leadership, Molly pulls back the curtain on what’s really working in 2025—and how to stay human in the age of AI. You’ll walk away with tactical strategies to boost your ad performance and a renewed sense of purpose and confidence as a marketer, creator, or entrepreneur. "You will always outperform other advertisers—even [those] that are tactically better than you in the platform because you understand the psychology, and you are not just selling a product or service in the news feed." – Molly Pittman You Will Learn Why 2024 was one of the hardest (and most transformational) years in marketing How to use AI without losing your voice, creativity, or soul The 3 biggest ad strategies working right now (based on $600M of data) The #1 mistake most people make when writing ads—and how to fix it How to sell connection, not just conversion Why being “for someone” is the key to standing out in 2025 How to reframe fear and uncertainty into opportunity and clarity Episode Sponsor – Hyros Hyros is the AI-powered ad tracking platform trusted by top marketers and agencies. It shows you exactly which campaigns are driving results—so you can scale without wasting ad spend. If you’re tired of guessing and want brutal, data-driven truth in your marketing, Hyros delivers the clarity to grow. Learn more at smartmarketer.com/hyros Links & Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com Copy Posse / Alex Cattoni – copyposse.com Launchpad Season 6 – click here to join Smart Marketer Free Resources – smartmarketer.com/free-resources Instagram – Molly Pittman – @mollypittmandigital Instagram – Smart Marketer – @smartmarketer Instagram – Alex Cattoni – @alexcattoni Instagram – Copy Posse – @copyposse Timestamps 00:30 – Intro: What You’ll Learn and Why It Matters 02:27 – Molly's Journey: From Bartender to VP to CEO 12:15 – Why Right Now Is the Best Time to Start 16:40 – AI vs. Copywriters: What’s the Real Impact? 25:15 – What $600M in Ad Spend Says About Winning Ads 36:37 – How to Write Ads That Actually Convert 37:49 – The Biggest Mistake Marketers Make (And How to Fix It) 40:43 – The Mindset That Will Keep You Relevant in 2025 Call to Action If this episode hit home for you, do us a favor: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share it with your community and tag us using #WeOutHere Got thoughts or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the world unselfishly and profit!
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    44 m
  • Episode 213: What’s Working Now in Ecomm: Hook Strategy, AI Signals & Smarter Offer Design

    Episode 213: What’s Working Now in Ecomm: Hook Strategy, AI Signals & Smarter Offer Design
    Apr 2 2025

    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 important than ever to get your data right. That’s why we’re proud to have Hyros supporting this episode—a platform built to give marketers crystal-clear attribution so you can stop guessing and scale with confidence. If you’re serious about understanding what’s actually driving your sales, Hyros is the tool that gives you the truth you need to win.

    “If you don’t know what’s working, you can’t scale. The best brands are doubling down on the right hooks and smarter systems.” – Molly Pittman

    You Will Learn:

    • How to track your top-performing creative hooks and scale with confidence

    • The #1 variable that drives success on Meta (after analyzing $1B+ in ad spend)

    • Why engagement is more powerful than conversion when testing new messages

    • A practical system for mapping hooks, angles, and campaign goals

    • How to use your creative to replace targeting as AI takes over

    • The “system vs. product” strategy that instantly boosts AOV and LTV

    • Real examples of creative that doubled revenue and unlocked new markets

    • Why Flewd’s bath brand is one of the smartest DTC models to study right now

    Episode Sponsor – Hyros

    Hyros is the AI-powered ad tracking platform trusted by top marketers and agencies. It shows you exactly which campaigns are driving results—so you can scale without wasting ad spend. If you’re tired of guessing and want brutal, data-driven truth in your marketing, Hyros delivers the clarity to grow.

    👉 Learn more at Hyros.com

    Links & Resources:

    • Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

    • Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com

    • Follow us on Instagram – @smartmarketer

    • Smart Marketer Live Tickets – smartmarketerlive.com

    • Flewd Stress Care – flewdstresscare.com

    • Recovery Labs – recoverylabs.com

    • Hyros – hyros.com

    Timestamps:

    00:36 – Pickles & Platforms: The Wild World of DTC

    00:02:56 – Codifying Hooks For Scalable Growth

    00:06:21 – One Message, Big Risk

    00:14:48 – The Power of Engagement Over Attribution

    00:31:38 – Don't Sell A Product, Sell A System

    00:36:28 – Skittle Nails & The Power of Regrame

    Your Engagement Matters!

    Thank you for tuning in! If you got value from this episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d:

    • ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts – Click Here

    • 📲 Share this episode and tag us @smartmarketer

    • 💬 Got feedback? Send us a note at support@smartmarketer.com

    Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀
    Más Menos
    46 m
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