Episode 227:  What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 2 - Improving Retention and Monetization Strategies with Email and SMS

Episode 227:  Improve Retention and Monetization Strategies with Email and SMS - What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 2 Episode Description Retention is the engine behind sustainable growth, and it’s more important than ever in 2025. This is part 2 of a 4-part series on what’s working right now in direct-to-consumer marketing. In this follow-up episode, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw share four tactical retention and monetization strategies using email and SMS. These are the backend wins that help you convert more leads into buyers and get the most value from your list. If you want to engage customers, drive more revenue, and make your messages stand out in 2025, this one's for you. “You absolutely need to be thinking also, which emails get the most engagement. How do I find different destinations I can send people to besides collection pages, besides product pages, besides offer pages to get them interested.” — John Grimshaw (11:54) You Will Learn How to increase email click rates post-iOS updates Why you should never end a promotion on a holiday The surprising results from testing email send times How to turn one email into multiple high-performing sends The role of SMS as both a reminder and a revenue driver What to include in your sale follow-up campaigns Links and Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Summer Sale – smartmarketer.com/summer Apply for AppLovin Beta – applovin.com/beta-application?cg_code=C658 Omnisend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use coupon code “SMART” for 50% off your first 3 months) Timestamps 00:00 – Intro from Anthony and Ezra’s Omnisend Endorsement 02:52 – Molly and John Kick Off: Retention and Monetization Focus 03:12 – Why This Is the Backend That Drives Profit 06:28 – Tip #1: Boost Click Rates by Building Interactivity 10:40 – Tip #2: Never End Your Promo on the Holiday 14:13 – Tip #3: Send When Your Audience Shops 20:10 – Tip #4: Repeat Winners and Resend to Non-Openers 26:25 – Wrap-Up and Preview of Next Week on Conversion Strategies Your Engagement Matters If you’re getting value from this series, share it with a marketer or business owner you know. • Follow or review on Apple Podcasts • Tag us and share your takeaways on social using #WeOutHere • Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Episode 226: What’s Working Mid-2025 - 5 Paid Ad & Offer Strategies Driving Results Episode Description The digital landscape is moving fast, but Smart Marketer is staying ahead. This is part 1 of a 4 part series about what is working right now halfway through 2025 in direct to consumer marketing. In this tactical check-in, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw share five strategies that are helping businesses generate better results in 2025. Whether you're working on ads, funnels, or creative, this episode gives you practical ideas to tighten up your offers, test smarter, and set up growth for the next six to twelve months. “People want the prescription. People want to be told what to do for the scenario that they are in or the outcome that they want.” – Molly Pittman You Will Learn Why low-cost digital offers are outperforming free trials for customer acquisition How bundling products into systems increases AOV and simplifies the buying journey The evergreen category page strategy that lifted revenue by 22% How employee-generated content is helping brands connect more authentically Practical Meta creative testing tips that are working right now What AppLovin is and why it’s a promising new platform for businesses Links & Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Summer Sale – smartmarketer.com/summer Pretty Farm Girl Skincare – prettyfarmgirl.com RedDrop Products – tryreddrop.com/collections/all-products BRĒZ Functional Beverages – drinkbrez.com Apply for AppLovin Beta – smartmarketer.com/applovin Omnisend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use coupon code “SMART” for 50% off your first 3 months) Timestamps 00:00 – Episode Intro & Mid-Year Marketing Insights 03:23 – Host Updates, Business Context & Episode Framing 07:01 – Why Marketing Trends Mirror Business Performance 09:57 – Strategy Behind Seasonal Offers and Bundling 12:22 – Using Slow Periods to Prepare for Peak Growth 15:29 – Tip #1: Digital Products with No COGs 22:47 – Tip #2: Sell a System, Not a Single Product 30:02 – Tip #3: Landing Page Strategy for Higher Conversions 32:50 – Tip #4: Use Simple Pages to Guide the Customer Journey 36:47 – Tip #5: Winning Creative Types in Paid Traffic 44:20 – Bonus: Structuring Creative Testing for Performance 47:27 – Outro: Preview of Retention & Email Marketing Episode Your Engagement Matters If you found this episode helpful, please take a second to follow, review, and share the show. It helps us reach more marketers and business owners looking for what’s working now. Review on Apple Podcasts Share and tag us on social – use #WeOutHere Feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Episode Title How We Scaled Meta Ad Spend from $500/Day to $5K/Day  Episode Description What does it really take to scale ad spend 10x—and still stay profitable? In this in-depth case study, Smart Marketer’s Pep Hufen shares how our agency helped Pretty Farm Girl grow fast using Advantage Plus campaigns, conversion-focused landing pages, and sharp backend tracking. “Advertising is acceleration. We cannot fix a broken offer.” – Pep Hufen If you want the full breakdown of creative structure, data-driven testing, and campaign strategy that got this brand a 7x ROAS, this episode is for you. You Will Learn The exact ad account structure behind our 141-day scale-up Why creative isolation leads to better Meta results How backend metrics differ from Ads Manager—and why they matter more What to look for in your first 12-month customer value The key difference between high AOV and strong LTV offers Links & Resources Smart Summer Sale – https://smartmarketer.com/2025-summer-sale AI Tools for Marketers – https://ai.smartmarketer.com Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend Pretty Farm Girl – https://prettyfarmgirl.com Timestamps 00:02:41 – Intro to Pretty Farm Girl: Family-run brand and niche positioning 00:03:15 – Why they reached out: Growth plateau and creative needs 00:04:42 – “Advertising is acceleration” – Why offers matter most 00:05:18 – “You can’t fix a broken offer” – The foundation for scaling 00:06:05 – The real ROAS: Blended metrics and actual revenue 00:10:16 – The 141-day scaling journey: Spend breakdown and strategy 00:14:22 – Backend ROAS vs. Ads Manager: What we actually trust 00:17:22 – Structuring campaigns by product category 00:21:52 – Landing pages: What worked for Pretty Farm Girl 00:26:06 – Real testimonials and credibility boosters 00:30:47 – Crafting ad copy that resonates with intent Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407 Share the episode on social media and tag us with #WeOutHere Got questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Ep 224: The AI Ad Playbook — How to Save Time, Create Better Hooks & Scale Your Campaigns Episode Description How do you create compelling ad copy, research your avatar, and generate high-performing creative—without burning out or hiring a team of specialists? In this live replay from The Smart Marketer Show, Molly Pittman and Pep Hufen walk you through Smart Marketer’s complete AI workflow. You’ll learn how to use ChatGPT for deep customer research, how to write high-converting hooks in minutes, and how to train AI to write like your brand. Pep also shares how Meta’s new tools are reshaping creative testing and what that means for marketers in 2025. “AI is not replacing us. It’s a tool to accelerate things that we intuitively already know pretty well.” – Pep Hufen Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting with automation, this episode is your tactical guide to doing more with less—without sounding robotic. What You’ll Learn How to use ChatGPT’s Deep Research function to save hours of manual work A proven prompt structure for generating customer hooks, ad copy, and strategy How to build and deploy a brand-specific voice prompt for AI content Why Meta’s AI tools work best after you write strong original copy How to build your own custom GPT based on brand data and writing samples What LLM SEO is—and how it’s already impacting eCommerce traffic and sales Links & Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Live – Grab Your Tickets Smart Marketer AI Tool – ai.smartmarketer.com The Smart Marketer Show – smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show Instagram – @smartmarketer, @mollypittmandigital, @pep_hufen Omnisend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months) Timestamps 00:00:00 – Welcome & Episode Overview Molly introduces Pep and sets up what you'll learn in this AI-focused episode: real tools, tactical examples, and Smart Marketer's own workflows. 00:07:04 – The Mindset Shift: AI as a Mentor Pep shares how he uses ChatGPT as a thought partner—not a search engine—and why this shift is essential for marketers today. 00:11:17 – What You’ll Learn in This Episode A clear summary of the episode’s value: research, messaging, creative, and how to implement AI inside your workflow. 00:20:45 – Deep Research Prompt Walkthrough A full demo of Smart Marketer’s “Research Hook” prompt, showing how to use ChatGPT's Deep Research feature for customer insights and hooks. 00:29:51 – Evaluating & Refining AI-Generated Hooks Pep walks through the outputs, discusses emotional triggers, and how to ask ChatGPT for stronger, more nuanced messaging. 00:34:34 – Training ChatGPT with Your Brand Voice Step-by-step instructions to upload your writing samples, build a reusable prompt, and get ad copy that sounds like your brand. 00:41:23 – Meta AI Copy Variations: Real Results How Meta’s ad variation tools stacked up in real campaigns—and why quantity is the new creative strategy. 00:56:27 – AI Search Optimization & The Future of Commerce Final segment on how LLMs are changing discovery, why 8% of ecommerce purchases now come from AI, and how to prepare your store. Your Engagement Matters Thanks for listening to The Smart Marketer Podcast. If you got value from this episode, please help us grow: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode and tag us on Instagram with #WeOutHere Have feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Episode 223: Cracking the Code on AppLovin Ads: A New Traffic Channel for DTC Brands Episode Description If you're tired of being stuck between Meta and Google for your media buys—this episode is for you. Pep Hufen is back with a behind-the-scenes look at AppLovin Ads: the breakout ad platform that’s scaling DTC brands like Breeze and Boom. Discover why this mobile-first platform is outperforming Google for some advertisers, how it works, and why it might just be your next great opportunity for customer acquisition. Plus, Pep shares a step-by-step walkthrough of how Smart Marketer tested it with Boom Beauty and what you need to know to get started. “I’ve given you an overview of AppLovin and hopefully also I’ve shown that hey, there are actually platforms coming up that can compete with performance actually with Meta and Google.” – Pep Hufen You Will Learn What AppLovin is and how it’s unlocking new acquisition channels Why major DTC brands are shifting serious spend to this platform The two bidding strategies you need to test (CPP vs ROAS) How Boom Beauty achieved a 1.1X ROAS on a brand-new pixel What creatives work best on mobile-first ad placements Tips for optimizing end cards to boost conversions Where AppLovin fits in your broader traffic strategy Links & Resources Smart Marketer Smart Marketer Live – Grab Your Tickets Boom Beauty Apply for AppLovin Beta w/ Smart Marketer Partner Credit Aaron Nosbisch on X (@aaronjnosbisch) Timestamps 00:00:21 – What Is AppLovin & Why It Matters to DTC Marketers 00:01:52 – AppLovin’s Pivot to Ecomm: A New Channel for Acquisition 00:02:30 – Case Study: Breeze Spends $1.4M—and Outpaces Google 00:03:04 – Why ROAS Is the Real Story (Not Just Clicks) 00:04:02 – AppLovin’s Ad Inventory, Reach & Algorithm Explained 00:06:12 – Why These Clicks Convert: Real Buyer Signals 00:07:05 – CPP vs. ROAS Goals: How to Structure Campaigns 00:13:56 – Boom Beauty Setup: Pre-Sell Pages, Offers & Funnel 00:17:05 – Scaling Boom: CPM, Creative Testing & Ad Types 00:22:09 – Final Optimizations: ROAS Wins & What’s Next Your Engagement Matters Thanks for tuning in. This episode was packed with data-backed strategy and firsthand testing insights. If it helped you think differently about ad platforms: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share with your team, mastermind, or community Tag us on social using #WeOutHere Join us live at Smart Marketer Live — meet the team, connect with marketers, and leave with a growth game plan. Get your ticket here Questions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Episode Description Your website is more than a digital storefront—it’s the heart of your brand. In this episode, John Grimshaw, Ezra Firestone, and Kurt Elster unpack the proven strategies behind high-converting e-commerce sites. From the pitfalls of homepage design to the power of mobile-first thinking, they reveal how to turn casual visitors into loyal customers. If you want to build a brand that lasts (not just a business that sells), this is your roadmap. "Get out of your own way. Your customers don't care how pretty your site is—they care how easy it is to buy." — Kurt Elster You Will Learn: Why relying solely on marketplaces limits your growth—and how to take back control. The #1 metric that matters when building an e-commerce site. How to structure your homepage for maximum impact (hint: it's not about looking like Apple). The mobile-first mindset that can double your conversions. The quick fix that boosted conversion rates by 24%—without redesigning the whole site. Links & Resources Omnisend – Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months. Smart Marketer Kurt Elster Smart Marketer Live Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00:48 – Ezra’s Top Tool for Email & SMS: Omnisend 00:02:10 – Why You Must Build Your Own Website (and Not Just Sell on Marketplaces) 00:05:17 – The #1 Goal for Your Website: Capture Information 00:06:27 – The Secret to High-Converting Sites? Convenience 00:07:07 – Homepage Design: Your Site’s Table of Contents 00:11:05 – Skip the Pretty Graphics: Why Your Hero Image Might Hurt Sales 00:12:38 – The #1 Mistake in E-Commerce: Ignoring Mobile-First Design 00:14:50 – Your Menu is the Map: How to Structure Navigation for Sales 00:15:55 – How We Boosted Conversion Rates by 24% With One Simple Fix 00:17:21 – Competing with Amazon: Why Relationships Win 00:19:28 – Final Takeaways: Build for Your Audience, Not Your Ego 00:20:19 – Thanks for Listening & Next Steps CTA: We’d Love Your Support! Enjoyed this episode? Help us spread the word! ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 💬 Share this episode on social media—tag us and use #WeOutHere 📧 Got feedback? Email us at [email protected] 👉 Subscribe to the podcast: The Smart Marketer Show Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

Episode 221: The 5 AI Tools I Use Daily as a CEO (to Save 10+ Hours per Week) Episode Description In this episode, our very own Pep Hufen, CEO of the Smart Marketer agency, shares the five AI tools he uses every day to save over 10 hours per week and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Pep walks through practical, real-world use cases for each tool—no fluff, just strategies you can actually implement. Plus, for those of you who love a visual learning experience, there’s a full video version of this episode on YouTube—complete with on-screen graphics and tool demos. Check it out! “These are five ways I think are really good ways to start using AI—without having to be technical.” – Pep Hufen 🔑 You Will Learn How to implement AI in your daily workflow as a CEO or marketer The exact tools Pep uses to automate tasks and free up time Real examples of AI handling scheduling, meeting briefs, content testing, research, and more Why AI is your new productivity partner—and how to make it work for you The mindset shift: AI isn’t the future, it’s the now 🕒 Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00 – Introduction: 5 AI tools that save time 05:25 – Tool 1: AI scheduling assistant (Lindy AI) 16:07 – Tool 2: Daily meeting brief (Lindy AI) 22:00 – Tool 3: AI marketing focus group (Lindy AI) 31:46 – Tool 4: Notebook LLM for content summarization (Google) 34:55 – Tool 5: ChatGPT for tasks, research, and conversation partner 🔗 Links & Resources Smart Marketer Lindy AI Notebook LLM by Google ChatGPT Watch the video version on YouTube (search “Smart Marketer Podcast” or see our channel) 🙌 Call to Action If you’re loving this episode, help us keep the value flowing: Subscribe to the Smart Marketer Podcast Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode with your fellow marketers and entrepreneurs Follow us on social: @smartmarketer Thanks for listening—and remember, Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

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 [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

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 [email protected] Let’s keep growing together—Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit 🚀  

🎙 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 [email protected] Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀