My Complete Guide To Meta Ads For BFCM

INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.//Eric Bandholz is the Founder & CEO of Beardbrand and the host of Ecommerce Conversations, which you can find at https://www.practicalecommerce.com/author/eric-bandholz. Get his "36 Ways To Revive An Ecommerce Business" episode here: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/36-ways-to-revive-an-ecommerce-business.//Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, joins the show to talk candidly about rebuilding after losing nearly $1M in cash between 2023–2024. In this episode, Eric shares how Beardbrand plugged its biggest leaks—inventory issues, packaging missteps, and manufacturer misalignment—and why raising prices actually restored trust with customers.We also dive into deeper questions: what it means to build for freedom instead of an exit, how to sustain motivation after 13 years in the same business, and why work itself can be life-giving. Eric discusses the role of subscription growth, fragrance innovation, and even AI-driven ads in shaping Beardbrand’s next chapter.If you’re running an eCommerce brand under pressure from margin compression, lawsuits, or scaling hurdles, this conversation offers grounded perspective. You’ll walk away with concrete lessons on pricing, manufacturing strategy, subscription models, and long-term founder psychology.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:32 - Erics Big Reveal00:03:12 - Current State of BeardBrand00:07:29 - Why Problem Solving Is Key00:15:03 - Price Changes In Products00:17:17 - Andrew Opens Up About His Fragrance Brand00:20:55 - What Goes Into Fragrance Development00:25:33 - Subscriber Growth00:34:05 - BearBrand New Productline00:37:21 - Package Material Sourcing00:41:09 - Building For Freedom00:52:09 - Exciting Erik Ideas//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af//"How to Solve The Biggest 4 Cost Cap Media Buying Challenges" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1UU4ihwIACody Plofker Goes DEEP On Meta Media Buying" - https://youtu.be/rEeh1SieNUU?si=25kBcutn0fJCKn40//Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the most competitive ad buying days of the year—and after 11 years of managing BFCM campaigns ranging from $1K to $1M+ in spend, Andrew has seen what actually works and what wastes money.This episode breaks down his complete approach to Meta ads for BFCM 2025: from creative strategy to media buying, bid caps, ROAS optimization, forecasting, and how to handle customer behavior shifts like delayed purchasing. You’ll learn why simple “offer-first” creative consistently outperforms over-engineered ads, how to prevent Meta’s bidding algorithm from lagging behind reality, and the right way to balance evergreen vs. sale-specific ads.If you’re looking to maximize spend efficiency, avoid margin-killing mistakes, and set your brand up for both scale and profitability this holiday season, this guide is the blueprint.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:00:38 - Key Things For Your Meta Creatives00:05:00 - Media Buying & Correct Approach00:11:55 - Value Optimization00:14:01 - Delay In Purchase Behaviors00:20:25 - Daily Forecasting00:22:50 - Hourly Forecasting00:24:33 - Learn and Take Notes//SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can make or break Q4, but timing your sale wrong—or structuring your offer poorly—can leave money on the table. In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down the data that reveals exactly when to launch your sale and why most brands get this wrong.You’ll learn how to:- Structure BFCM offers that maximize AOV and profit per order.- Avoid common mistakes around margin erosion and shipping costs.- Use early November shopping spikes to your advantage.- Understand why sending more email and SMS is critical, not optional.- Protect profit if inventory runs low, and why chasing “viral” Black Friday wins usually backfires.This episode is about helping operators make data informed decisions. It will help operators scale profitably during the busiest season of the year. If you want to enter BFCM with confidence—and avoid the mistakes that drain margins—this episode will give you a clear framework to follow.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:00:55 - The Importance of Your Black Friday Offer00:04:20 - Black Friday Deals WON’T Degrade Your Brand00:06:34 - Larger AOV Creates Greater Margin Benefit00:07:45 - Pay Close Attention To Your Margin00:10:30 - When To Launch Your Black Friday Sale00:14:25 - Consistency In The Data00:18:31 - You CAN’T Send Too Many Email00:21:03 - Inventory Shortages00:23:06 - DON’T FORCE IT//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠. RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//Scaling an ecommerce brand today means confronting rising costs, shifting ad platforms, and the hype cycle of new tools like AI. In this episode, Andrew Faris cuts through the noise with six clear, tactical lessons drawn directly from his work with high-growth DTC brands.You’ll learn why retention advertising is often the most overlooked source of incremental revenue, why Meta remains the most powerful platform for growth despite the complaints, and how AppLovin is emerging as a serious performance channel. Andrew also breaks down why creative success is harder than most founders realize, what the AI “trough of disillusionment” means for operators, and how the right mix of vision and process can transform a business.If you want practical insights that can help you make smarter ad spend decisions, improve your creative process, and position your brand for sustainable growth, this episode is a must-listen.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:00:39 - Spend Money On Retention Advertising00:04:16 - A.I. Delusion00:08:51 - Related Points For Customers00:17:51 - META Is Still AWESOME!00:23:26 - App Lovin00:26:57 - Bring In The RIGHT Team//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Most ads fail long before they launch—at the concept level. In this episode, we break down the foundational framework behind effective social media advertising. Instead of chasing hacks or production tricks, we get into the real drivers of performance: messaging, hooks, nativeness, and storytelling.//You’ll learn:- Why messaging is the “nutrient value” of every ad, and how to craft one that moves the needle.- How hooks and nativeness work together to capture and keep attention in a feed full of distractions.- Storytelling frameworks that retain attention and make your message stick.- How to operationalize ad creation at scale—so great ads aren’t a fluke, but a repeatable process.- If you’re scaling a brand and battling rising CAC, margin pressure, or creative fatigue, this episode gives you practical insight into how the best ads actually work and how to structure your team to deliver them consistently.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:00:13 - Where Ads Go Wrong?00:01:55 - The Value of Money and Your Product00:05:16 - Core Messaging For Brand00:10:14 - Breaking Down Elements of the Ad00:13:58 - Using Catchy Hooks00:14:51 - The Principle of Nativeness00:21:44 - Storytelling 00:25:50 - Hypothetical Best Ad In The Universe//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠. INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.//Richie Mashiko is the CEO of She's Birdie and the Head of Beacon, a division of Iris Financial that does fractional financial consulting for DTC brands. Email Richie at [email protected].//A brutally transparent turnaround story. Richie Mashiko walks through how he took She’s Birdie from a $3M loss and $6.5M in obligations to an operationally disciplined business paying down debt—without Meta ads. We break down the debt stack, negotiation order, cash-flow forecasting, and the exact operating changes that created free cash to service creditors.What you’ll learn fast:- Debt triage that works: Prioritizing bank lines with personal guarantees, restructuring MCAs, sequencing suppliers and vendors, and why lawsuits are rarely the optimal path for counterparties.- Cash-flow clarity: How a weekly cash-flow model drives decisions and sets realistic paydown schedules.- Opex rightsizing: Cutting bloat from ~$500K/month to ~$75K, what to cut first, and how to preserve core capabilities.- Ad spend discipline: Turning off losing channels, operating with Amazon ads only, and rebuilding profitability before scale.- Unit economics that fund the plan: 90% landed margin before fulfillment, ~30% all-in cost of delivery, and why high margin + favorable terms enable rapid debt reduction.- Supplier terms that matter: 25% deposit, 75% net-120 after cargo-ready—how to negotiate (and keep) terms through a downturn.- Operator mindset: Replace vanity growth with durable free cash flow; define “winning” as consistent distributions, not fantasy exits.If you’re feeling margin pressure, stuck in growth-at-all-costs habits, or unclear on your balance sheet, this episode gives you a concrete operating playbook you can adapt immediately.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:02:10 - The Rescue Mission Of She’s Birdie 00:05:06 - Initial Growing Pains Post Covid (Product Development)00:11:49 - How We Almost Got Bought By Amazon00:16:55 - Breaking Down The Balance Sheet00:22:46 - Keeping The Bank From Freezing Assets00:24:05 - Operational Vs. Finance Challenges00:31:17 - Bad Ad Dollars00:35:20 - Manufacturing Terms00:40:19 - The Secret Sauce//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WORKSPACE6Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io. RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//Meta’s auction is a probabilistic forecasting engine. Treat it that way and your creative testing stops being guesswork. In this episode, Andrew lays out a first-principles framework for Meta Ads that resolves three tensions operators hit every day:Consolidation: why “more purchases per ad set” increases model confidence, stabilizes delivery, and compounds performance over time.Creative supply: how to increase diverse creative volume (not near-duplicates) without kicking high-performing ad sets back into volatility.False negatives: when Meta gives up too early—and practical ways to limit misses without torching budget.You’ll leave with a clear mental model for structuring campaigns, setting bid strategies (including when manual bids help and why), deciding ad-per-ad-set counts, and preventing “learning phase” churn. If margin pressure, inconsistent scaling, or noisy tests are blocking growth, this is a rigorous, operator-grade way to diagnose the system and deploy creative testing that actually compounds.What you’ll learn:- The ad-set level is where learning really happens—and how to leverage that- Why consolidating conversions beats scattering them across many ad sets- How to design creative pipelines that maximize diversity and minimize redundancy- Practical safeguards to reduce false negatives without sunk-cost waste- A simple deployment pattern to add new ads without disrupting scale- Listen to sharpen your testing strategy and reclaim wasted spend with a framework you can apply this quarter.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:38 - Why Meta Ad Creative Structure Is Important00:03:53 - The Value of Purchases In Your Ad Sets00:07:40 - Conversions Effect Ad Performance00:10:40 - Purdy & Figg Example00:17:13 - Utilizing Manual Bids For A Greater Performance00:21:05 - Creative Volume Is Good00:32:44 - Avoid False Negatives00:41:46 - What Should You Do?//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com

WORKSPACE6Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io. RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//Hiring “influencers” is not a single play—it’s four different jobs with four different outcomes. In this episode Andrew breaks down a clear framework for on-screen ad talent: actors (scripted delivery), creators (algorithm-savvy editors who deliver finished ads), authorities (trusted endorsers who bridge efficacy/credibility gaps), and celebrities (brand-equity plays that rarely win in direct response).You’ll learn:- When to script an actor vs brief a creator, and how to structure both so performance doesn’t depend on luck- A practical pricing heuristic for creator partnerships (the “~5% of planned ad spend” rule of thumb) and where it breaks- When whitelisting adds leverage—and when it doesn’t- How to use authorities to validate claims in categories like health, performance, or technical products- Why most early-stage brands should avoid big celebrity contracts (and the two exceptions: deep integration or licensed co-brands)- A simple audit to categorize your current roster, upgrade contracts, and operationalize briefing, asset handoff, and off-boardingIf you’re navigating margin pressure, uneven ROAS, or confusion about creator pricing and deliverables, this gives you a decision tree you can hand to your team today. Expect fewer dead-end tests, cleaner processes, and ad dollars aligned to the right kind of talent for your goal.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01_37 - Building An Influencer Program at AJF Growth00:02:58 - Hiring Actors For Ad Creatives00:07:49 - Let Creators Do What They DO BEST, CREATE!00:10:59 - What Is Whitelisting Relationships?00:17:24 - Communicating With Your Creator Partner00:23:42 - Allowing Your Influencer To Be The Authoritative Voice00:27:16 - Building Trust With An Audience00:28:57 - Sources of Credibility 00:34:29 - Do Celebrities Help Sell Products?00:39:15 - Would I advise to contract with Celebrities?//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//Most DTC teams want wholesale but treat it like a black box. In this episode, Jared Mehr (Pura Vida) lays out the exact path he used to build a $35M wholesale program—from first doors to trade shows to rep groups—without blowing up margins or ops.What you’ll learn:- Readiness checklist before you call a buyer: inventory, UPC/SKU hygiene, pricing, 3PL capabilities, and wholesale order flow- The real margin model (retail 50 / brand 50), why big boxes demand an extra 10–20% off wholesale, and how to price with future sales-rep commissions- Why “permanent promo” DTC tactics kill retailer interest—and what to do instead- Cash-flow realities: net-30/60/90, chargebacks, AR risk, and why a mom-and-pop baseline protects you when majors change POs- How to get your first accounts: outreach scripts, sampling, store-locator lead lists, and door-to-door tactics that still work- Operational must-haves: displays that drive sell-through, starter packs, minimums, and a reorder cadence that compounds- When wholesale beats ecom on profit, and how channels can lift each other rather than cannibalize- Scaling playbook: when to add trade shows, inside sales, and regional rep groups—and how to vet the right partners- Merch & forecasting: use pre-booking data to decide what to actually make (and what not to)If you’re feeling margin pressure, stagnant growth, or rising CAC, this episode gives you a practical, de-risked way to add a meaningful revenue channel—complete with the numbers, sequences, and pitfalls to avoid. No hype. Just a clear plan to get into stores and sell through.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:36 - The Retail Experience: Should I Do It For My Brand?00:02:18 - How Jareds Got His Start In The Retail Business00:04:54 - Why It’s Important To Establish A Brand Online00:08:24 - Good $ Starting Point For A Brand To Turn Retail00:12:14 - First Things To Do 00:16:10 - How Profit & Margin Work In Retail Relationships00:23:31 - Wholesale Vs Ecommerce00:25:57 - The Sales Process00:32:47 - The Hotel Gift Shop00:35:38 - In Store Merchandising00:41:25 - What Sales Pitch Worked For Me00:45:13 - How To Be Successful Once You Are In Stores//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: ⁠https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.//This episode gets practical about AI and ad creative. Andrew Faris and Alex Cooper (Adcate) break down what’s actually working, why most AI ads still fall flat, and how operators can build a creative system that compounds.What you’ll learn:- AI as an amplifier, not a shortcut: why bad ideas stay bad, even with great models—and how to surface signal from 20+ AI-generated options instead of shipping noise.- Context engineering OVER prompt engineering: building brand-specific context documents and custom GPT/Claude projects (brand data + top performers + task-specific creative principles) to raise hit rate across headlines, hooks, scripts, and iterations.- Operationalized knowledge: treating your agency/org as “operationalized knowledge,” then encoding that knowledge into AI so strategy scales without diluting quality.- Process over novelty: frameworks like AI Days and moonshot briefs to test new tools (VO3, image/video gen, research apps) without derailing production.- Where VO3 fits now: using intentionally unrealistic visuals for hooks and pattern breaks while keeping workflows realistic for speed and cost.- Tool overload triage: how to evaluate new AI releases against business outcomes (profit, CAC, volume, timelines) and avoid shiny-object churn.- The strategist’s new job: knowing what to create (psychology, research, copy fundamentals) while AI accelerates execution.Why this is worth your timeIf you’re feeling margin pressure, creative fatigue, or whipsawed by weekly AI launches, this conversation gives you a repeatable way to:- Raise creative hit rate without inflating headcount- Protect focus while still exploring new tools- Encode your best thinking into systems your whole team can useShip more diverse, on-strategy ads—faster//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:33 - Where Is Alex Moving???00:02:27 - A.I. Great For Ideation, Bad For Execution00:08:24 - Strategy For Deep Research 00:15:15 - The Agency Model In DTC00:22:48 - How To Know What Knowledge Is Truth Using A.I.00:35:48 - The Future Of Content Creation & Creative Output00:41:41 - Andrew’s Bet On The Future of A.I. Technology00:45:43 - Hot Takes With Alex//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: [email protected] with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠