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 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 [email protected] Serve the world unselfishly and profit.

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 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 [email protected] Serve the world unselfishly and profit.

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 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 [email protected] Serve the world unselfishly and profit.

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 CEO Molly Pittman breaks down what is actually happening inside the platform, why many advertisers believe Meta ads are "broken," and what it really takes to win with paid traffic in 2026. "This is a new opportunity, and we should be grateful every single day that we have this at our fingertips, that we are able to just open a laptop and grow a business." – Molly Pittman You Will Learn • Why many advertisers believe Meta ads are broken and what is really happening • What Meta's Andromeda system actually is and how it changes ad delivery • The five keys to winning with Meta ads in 2026 • Why creative is now a cost multiplier for ad performance • The difference between the old way and the new way of running Meta campaigns • Why strong inputs like creative, copy, and offers matter more than tactics • The numbers every advertiser must know to scale profitably • How the role of media buyers is evolving into paid performance strategists Links & Resources • Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/ • Smart Paid Traffic Live – https://smartmarketer.com/spt-live/#join • Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com• Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketer.com/agency • Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months) Time Stamps 00:00:15 – Introduction: Inside the 2026 Meta Ads Mini Class 00:01:16 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and Email/SMS Growth 00:02:31 – Welcome to the Andromeda Playbook 00:06:21 – Molly's Journey into Digital Marketing 00:11:45 – Smart Marketer's Experience Managing Hundreds of Millions in Ad Spend 00:15:39 – The Goal of This Meta Ads Mini Class 00:24:41 – Why Many Marketers Think Meta Ads Are Broken 00:27:06 – What Meta's Andromeda System Actually Is 00:29:17 – How Meta's Retrieval and Ranking Systems Work 00:33:54 – How Meta Groups Ads into Clusters 00:37:08 – The Five Keys to Success with Meta Ads in 2026 00:40:30 – Why Creative Is Now a Cost Multiplier 00:44:38 – The Old Way vs the New Way of Running Meta Campaigns 00:49:59 – Mastering Your Numbers to Scale Profitably 00:56:05 – Why Marketing Fundamentals Still Win 01:03:27 – How the Role of Media Buyers Is Changing 01:05:36 – Why Meta Is Still the Most Powerful Ad Platform 01:10:36 – Why Agencies and Freelancers Are Still Essential 01:14:52 – Expanding Beyond Meta to Other Paid Traffic Platforms 01:20:38 – The Future of Digital Advertising 01:22:45 – What's Coming Next in the Mini Class 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 [email protected] Serve the world unselfishly and profit  

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 revenue. This episode goes far beyond "send more emails." You'll learn how to structure a merchandising calendar with major campaigns, micro-offers, product launches, live events, and strategic content that keeps revenue flowing all year long while building a more valuable business asset you can eventually sell. If you care about profit, retention, and long-term brand equity, this is required listening. "Email and SMS are king and queen of revenue, and they should really account for 30 to 40% of your total sales. And if they're not… you got work to do." – Ezra Firestone You Will Learn: • Why email and SMS should drive 30–40% of your total revenue • The real difference between major campaigns and micro-offers • How to structure a merchandising calendar that creates predictable revenue spikes • Why most brands under-promote and how to fix it • The highest-performing eCommerce promotions including BOGOs, bundles, and threshold offers • How to use product launches even when you are not launching something new • When and how to use SMS during campaigns • How to increase average order value with bundles, basket builders, and one-click upsells • A proven email layout structure that increases clicks and reduces unsubscribes • How to use AI to scale content creation without losing brand voice Links & Resources Omnisend Special Offer for Smart Marketer Listeners https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months Smart Marketer https://smartmarketer.com Zipify Apps https://zipify.com Timestamps 00:00:20 Introduction: Building a More Valuable Business Asset 00:01:14 Why Ezra Trusts Omnisend for Email and SMS 00:02:17 The Real Game: Wealth Creation Through Asset Building 00:07:22 Inside a $10M eCommerce P&L 00:10:32 Why Email and SMS Are King and Queen of Revenue 00:15:35 Email vs. SMS Conversion Rates Explained 00:17:04 The eCommerce Ecosystem from Traffic to Retention 00:23:17 What a Merchandising Calendar Really Is 00:25:59 Major Campaigns vs. Micro Offers 00:27:40 Why Product Launches Prevent Revenue Plateaus 00:31:51 Examples of Major Campaign Structures 00:34:55 How to Run High-Converting Micro Offers 00:36:21 Launching Products Without Creating Something New 00:40:22 When to Use SMS in Your Campaigns 00:41:14 The Types of Content That Build Trust and Drive Sales 00:46:44 Black Friday Cyber Monday Breakdown 00:48:09 Increasing AOV with Bundles and Basket Builders 00:52:29 Promoting Across Every Channel 00:56:13 The Proven Email Structure 00:59:42 Campaign Communication Frameworks 01:00:26 Why You Should Not Ignore the Shop App 01:01:10 Final Strategy Recap 01:02:28 Outro YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS! If this episode helped you rethink how you approach email, SMS, and merchandising, share it with another founder or marketer who needs it. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407 Share this episode on social media and tag us using #WeOutHere Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.  

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. Opened to eCommerce in 2024, this mobile gaming network is already helping brands scale from a few hundred dollars a day to thousands, sometimes in a matter of weeks. Pep explains what makes Axon different from Meta and TikTok, why mobile gaming audiences convert differently, how the AI optimization works, and exactly how to structure your first campaigns. "Here's the reality. Every advertising platform has a window of opportunity in the beginning where it's wide open and Axon is in that spot right now." – Pep Hufen If you're always looking for the next scalable growth channel before it gets crowded, this episode is for you. You Will Learn Why AppLovin has "over a billion daily users" and why the audience "skews towards women in their thirties and forties." How Axon delivers "35 seconds of undivided attention." Why "80% of the conversions happen within one hour after someone clicks on your ads." The three things that make this platform different: "the ad format, the user psychology and the AI technology behind it." When to choose ROAS vs. cost per purchase (CPP). Why you should "launch it and don't touch it for seven days." How to scale budgets "30 to 40% every two to three days." The three levers to pull when performance drops: "creative, the offer or the landing page." Why "creative is your biggest lever." Links & Resources Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketeragency.com/ Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months Timestamps 00:16 – Introduction: "The biggest new advertising opportunity since the early days of Facebook ads." 02:19 – "There's a new advertising platform with over a billion daily users…" 03:13 – Why Mobile Games Are Bigger Than You Think 04:05 – Who the Audience Really Is 04:57 – Scaling from "300 a day to 3000 a day in about 30 days" 05:59 – "35 seconds of undivided attention" 08:19 – Why Most Clicks Happen on the End Card 09:09 – User Psychology: Relaxed vs. Doom Scrolling 11:00 – How to Set Up Your First Campaign 12:41 – ROAS vs. CPP 15:48 – Optimization Window Strategy 16:33 – Budget Setup and the 7 Day Rule 18:49 – Creative Set Structure 21:13 – Reading Performance and Attribution 22:42 – Scaling Budgets "30 to 40% every two to three days" 24:09 – When It's Not Working: "Creative is your biggest lever." 24:56 – Why the Window Is Open Right Now YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS! Thank you so much for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If you enjoyed what we shared today, please help us by subscribing to the show. Not only will you be notified when we have new content, it also helps get the show out to many more people. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a fellow marketer who's looking for the next scalable growth channel. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.  

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 inventory, fulfillment, or losing the customer relationship. "This isn't an ad network. Shopify is building an ecosystem flywheel." - Pep Hufen If you run a Shopify store or work with brands that do, this is a must-listen. You Will Learn How Shopify's Product Network actually works and why it is not an affiliate program How to monetize lost intent when shoppers search for products you do not carry Why this feature can increase conversion rate, average order value, and ROAS without more ad spend How Shopify is positioning itself as the anti-Amazon Why collaborative commerce beats marketplaces for brand owners What early adopters can do now to gain a compounding advantage Links & Resources Smart Marketer: https://www.smartmarketer.com/ Smart Marketer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartmarketerig Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/ Prefer video? Watch Pep Hufen explain Shopify's Product Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAvm3eu-B0Q Omnisend (Smart Marketer Exclusive Offer): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50 percent off your first three months Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00:17 Introduction and why Shopify's update matters 00:01:21 What this change means for Shopify brands 00:01:32 Sponsor message and Omnisend recommendation 00:02:35 What Shopify's Product Network is and what it is not 00:03:19 How selling products you do not carry works 00:04:06 Why this is not an ad network 00:05:00 Shopify's real goal and fixing eCommerce leakage 00:05:53 Turning lost intent into new revenue 00:06:43 Increasing the value of every paid click 00:07:36 Why Amazon cannot replicate this model 00:08:27 The three flywheel loops powering the Product Network 00:09:16 What this changes for your catalog strategy 00:10:03 Why customer ownership stays with the host store 00:10:56 Why early movers will capture the biggest advantage 00:11:06 Final thoughts and closing Your Engagement Matters Thank you for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, share the episode with a fellow Shopify brand owner, and tag us on social using #SmartMarketerPodcast. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.  

Episode Description Most advertisers think Meta ads fail because of creative, targeting, or algorithm changes. That's not the real reason. In this episode, Pep Hufen breaks down what's actually driving ad performance beneath the surface, ancient brain programs that have been hardwired into human psychology for over two million years. You'll learn how evolution, emotion, and identity shape buying decisions in under 400 milliseconds, and how to use this insight to build ads that feel predictable, scalable, and profitable. "Success isn't random. It's structural. It's psychological. And now it's predictable." -Pep Hufen You Will Learn (Key Takeaways) • The 8 evolutionary drivers that influence every buying decision • Why features and benefits don't sell, but survival, status, and belonging do • How ancient survival programs turn into modern emotional buying triggers • The identity based consumption model behind premium brands • Why Meta users decide to buy in under 400 milliseconds • A 7 layer framework to diagnose exactly why your ads aren't scaling • How to match messaging to the correct awareness level • Why creative amplifies psychology but cannot replace it • How friction silently kills conversion rates and how to remove it Links & Resources • Smart Marketer – https://www.smartmarketer.com/ • Smart Marketer on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/smartmarketerig • Prefer video? Watch Pep Hufen explain the full psychology behind scalable Meta ads here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kgm6NHDFEk • Omnisend (Smart Marketer Exclusive Offer) – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50 percent off your first 3 months Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00:14 – Why Most Meta Ads Fail (And What Advertisers Miss) 00:01:20 – Omnisend: The Email and SMS Platform Smart Marketer Trusts 00:02:24 – The Real Reason Facebook Ads Stop Working 00:03:07 – Why Ads Cannot Fix a Broken Offer 00:03:57 – The 8 Ancient Survival Drivers Behind Every Purchase 00:05:45 – How Evolution Turns Into Emotional Buying Triggers 00:06:45 – Identity Based Consumption Explained 00:07:35 – The 3 Identity Layers That Drive Sales 00:08:22 – How Meta Ads Trigger Decisions in 400 Milliseconds 00:09:15 – Why Logic Loses to Emotion on Social Platforms 00:09:45 – The 7 Layer Meta Ad Framework Overview 00:10:00 – Case Study: SweetFlex Repositioning for Scale 00:10:50 – Awareness Levels and Messaging Misses 00:12:27 – Why Creative Amplifies Psychology 00:13:15 – Why Sleep Supplements Sell and Magnesium Doesn't 00:14:04 – The Formula Behind Predictable Meta Scaling 00:14:51 – "Success isn't random. It's structural. It's psychological. And now it's predictable." 00:15:40 – Final Takeaway: Making Meta Predictable Again Call to Action (CTA) Your support keeps the Smart Marketer Podcast growing. If this episode changed how you think about Meta ads: Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode and tag us using #WeOutHere Questions or feedback? Email [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Ep. 261 - 2026 Marketing Outlook: Vulnerability, AI, & Finding Your Edge Episode Description What will it take to grow and compete in 2026? In this high-energy kickoff episode, Molly Pittman and Zach Dampier share the five BIG themes shaping the year ahead - from AI-powered marketing tools to new ad platforms, and the rising importance of raw, real storytelling. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what Smart Marketer is launching (including a dog supplement brand), plus actionable strategies to future-proof your business and cut through the noise in an AI-saturated landscape. "The more that AI ramps up, the more that we as marketers and business owners need to lean into vulnerability, into being real, into telling long, genuine stories in our marketing message, because that is what's going to help consumers realize that we are real people, that you can know, like, and trust." – Molly Pittman You Will Learn: Why vulnerability-driven storytelling is your superpower in an AI world How to thrive in a saturated market (yes, even in 2026) The new ad channel Smart Marketer is going all-in on (hint: it's not Meta) What AI search ads mean for marketers and what to expect from ChatGPT ads The number one way to cut costs (and boost profit) in your eCommerce business this year Sneak peek: Smart Marketer's new AI tool, Meta Ads class, and pet supplement brand Links & Resources: Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Show – smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show Smart Marketer YouTube – youtube.com/@SmartMarketerYT Fields of Freedom – fofdogrescue.com Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com OmniSend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Timestamps 00:00 - Intro: Welcome + What This Episode Is All About 02:28 - Behind the Scenes: New Tools, Brands & Projects at Smart Marketer 06:32 - Theme 1: Vulnerability Over AI - Why Realness Wins in 2026 09:14 - Long-Form Storytelling: The New Edge in Advertising 11:53 - Theme 2: There's Still Room in Saturated Markets (Seriously) 14:03 - Molly's Mindset Shift: "You're Not Too Late" 16:26 - Theme 3: A New Ad Channel That's Actually Working - AppLovin 20:42 - Real Results: Why Smart Marketer is Betting Big on AppLovin 21:50 - Theme 4: AI Search & The Future of ChatGPT Ads 24:32 - AI Tools, Maintenance & Training: Staying Relevant in 2026 26:14 - Theme 5: Reduce Costs in Your Tech Stack (Without Sacrificing Power) 28:40 - Action Step: Review Your Subscriptions and Tools This Quarter 29:51 - Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts and What's Ahead for Smart Marketer Your Engagement Matters Thanks for listening to The Smart Marketer Podcast If you enjoyed the episode, please: Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share the episode on social media and tag us @smartmarketer Got feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Episode 260: Creative Is the New Currency: Winning Smart Marketer Ad Strategies for 2026 Episode Description In this tactical episode, Molly Pittman breaks down everything you need to know to stay competitive in 2026, including why your creative could be costing you 50% more (or less). You'll learn the new campaign structures, targeting tactics, and why Smart Marketer Agency is moving away from media buyers and toward paid performance specialists. "If you have really bad creative that's not well thought out, you are haphazardly using AI, you are not thinking about foundational marketing principles, you could be paying 50% more than your competition that is actually doing creative right." – Molly Pittman Whether you're testing with a small budget or scaling aggressively, this episode will help you make smarter creative decisions. You Will Learn • Why "creative is the new targeting" • The 50% creative cost multiplier and how to earn it • Two proven campaign structures that are working right now • What the "Andromeda" update means for your strategy • Why weekly cadence beats daily changes • When to use seven-day click vs one-day click attribution • How to test new ads without killing your winners • The difference between scaling momentum and resetting a failing account Links & Resources: • Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com• Smart Marketer Show – smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show • Ad Creative Class ($49) – smartmarketer.com/ad-creative-class • OmniSend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why Meta Ads Have Changed More Than Ever 02:10 – The 50% Creative Cost Multiplier (Straight From Meta) 06:14 – Creative Is the New Targeting 09:33 – How Meta is Indexing Your Ads, Pages, and Even Accents 10:43 – Breaking News: ChatGPT Ads Are Coming 13:59 – The Real Impact of the Andromeda Update 15:15 – Advantage+ Sales, Broad Audiences, and Simplified Structure 20:33 – Campaign Structure: One Campaign Per Objective 22:44 – How to Segment by Avatar and Build for Scale 24:36 – Top of Funnel Setup: Creative Counts, Exclusions Matter 27:47 – Creative Strategy: 15–20 Unique Concepts, Not Variations 29:46 – Creative Testing Do's and Don'ts for 2026 32:54 – Why Weekly Cadence Outperforms Daily Changes 35:02 – Attribution Strategy: When to Use 7-Day vs 1-Day Click 37:22 – Summary: Molly's Updated 2026 Smart Marketer Strategy 38:20 – Bonus: Behind the Scenes of Longer Together (New Brand Launch) 41:37 – The Two Scaling Approaches: Forrest Gump vs Andromeda 47:02 – Case Study: Scaling From $5K to $35K a Day 50:09 – Case Study: Clean Ease Goes from Struggling to Best Month Ever 54:19 – Reminder: Creative Quality Is Everything Your Engagement Matters If you enjoyed this episode, please: • Follow or subscribe to the show • Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts • Share it with your fellow marketers • Visit us at smartmarketer.com for more free resources Serve the world unselfishly and profit.