The Smart Marketer Podcast

Learn how to craft compelling offers that convert in 2026! The hosts reveal the importance of understanding your customer avatar and how to leverage landing pages over product pages. Discover smart strategies for bundling and seasonal offers to boost average order value. They stress the significance of modest discounting to maintain brand integrity and recommend enhancing offers with bonuses and educational content. Finally, hear real-world examples that show how messaging tweaks can significantly lift conversion rates.

Reflecting on 2025, experts share key insights for building resilient businesses. Discover why Self-Liquidating Offers are crucial for scalable growth. Low-cost digital products can enhance customer value and boost average order value. The Red Drop case study highlights education as a powerful conversion tool. Learn about Meta's Andromeda update and the importance of creative portfolios over individual ads for better performance. Finally, streamline your campaigns for improved results at every funnel stage.

Episode 255: Inside Smart Marketer's Black Friday Strategy - Wins, Curveballs and Campaign Secrets Episode Description Black Friday may be over, but the insights are just getting started. In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, Smart Marketer's Director of Advertising, Denis Paskalev, joins Content Coordinator Zach Dampier to reveal what actually moved the needle during Cyber Week 2025. From Meta's surprise budget update to a Shopify outage on Cyber Monday, Denis shares exactly how the team prepped, pivoted, and profited; and what you can still apply to your end-of-year campaigns. They also dive into evergreen creative, first-click attribution, and how a smart lead gen strategy made all the difference. "The results that we're going to see during Black Friday Cyber Monday are always going to be highly impacted by what you have been doing throughout the rest of the year." – Denis Paskalev You Will Learn How to use evergreen creative for seasonal promotions What changed with Meta's budget controls (and how to adapt) The role of lead gen campaigns in doubling client revenue How to structure your ads using first-click attribution Smart ways to combine email and retargeting for higher conversions Why you should start your BFCM promotions early (and beat the CPM spike) How community support helped the team move faster and stay informed What to do if your BFCM didn't perform, and how to make your holiday sale count Links & Resources Mentor Table Mastermind: Mentor Table Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com Instagram: @smartmarketerig Omnisend Email & SMS Platform: smartmarketer.com/omnisend Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months Timestamps 00:00 – Intro - What Happened Behind the Scenes This BFCM 01:16 – Ezra's Favorite Email Tool (And an Exclusive Offer) 02:19 – Meta's Budget Update - Daily Spend is Now +75% 04:03 – Shopify Outage on Cyber Monday (and What They Did) 05:22 – Why Evergreen Ads Still Win 06:42 – The Power of Starting Promotions Early 07:49 – Younger Shoppers Drove Most of the Sales 08:51 – Client Wins - 20–30% YoY Revenue Growth 10:00 – Lead Gen Campaigns that Actually Worked 11:28 – Repurposing Creative From Previous Years 12:29 – Using Meta's Dynamic (Flexible) Creative Format 13:44 – Full-Funnel Thinking and Attribution with Triple Whale 15:14 – How to Adjust Copy for End-of-Year Promotions 17:06 – Where AI Helped (and Where It Didn't) 18:46 – Buy Now, Pay Later's Role in 2025 20:02 – Make It Scarce, Make It Smart - Crafting Better Messaging 21:57 – How Ads Supported Flooded Email Inboxes 23:56 – The Rise of Mobile and Why Desktop Still Matters 25:07 – Staying Agile Thanks to Community Slack Threads 27:23 – Final Thoughts - What to Do If BFCM Underperformed Your Engagement Matters If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here Share this episode with your team or on social media. Tag us and use #WeOutHere Got feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Episode 254: From Support to Strategy: How Brittany Casella Helps Brands Unlock Hidden Revenue Episode Description What do eComm upsells and dog rescue have in common? More than you think. In this special live recording from Smart Marketer Live's VIP Mentor Table Day, Zach Dampier sits down with Brittany Casella, Head of Enterprise at Zipify's OneClick Upsell. Brittany shares how she climbed from support rep to strategic lead, helping top eCommerce brands boost revenue through post-purchase optimization. Then, the conversation shifts to something deeply personal: Brittany and Molly Pittman's shared mission of rescuing dogs through Fields of Freedom. "There's always more to be done. You can get higher conversion rates, optimize for more revenue." – Brittany Casella Whether you're here to grow your business or save some furry lives, this episode is packed with purpose and practical advice. You Will Learn Why "set it and forget it" is killing your upsell conversions How Zipify merchants are making $30K+ in just 60 days with optimization Brittany's journey from customer support to strategic enterprise leadership The biggest mistake eComm brands make with upsells How dog rescue became a mission of impact (and how you can help) The true cost and reward of saving a life Links & Resources Zipify OneClick Upsell: zipify.com/oneclickupsell Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue: fofdogrescue.com Instagram: @fieldsoffreedomrescue Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com Omnisend for SMS & Email: smartmarketer.com/omnisend — Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction: Growth, Grit & Dog Rescue 01:28 — Ezra's Favorite Email/SMS Tool: Omnisend 02:32 — Meet Brittany Casella: From Support to Strategy 03:51 — What Zipify Offers and Why Upsells Matter 05:18 — Case Study: $30K Upsell Revenue in 60 Days 06:58 — How Support Roles Prepare Future Leaders 08:11 — The #1 Mistake Brands Make With Upsells 09:43 — Why You Shouldn't "Set It and Forget It" 10:03 — From Ecomm to Dog Rescue: Fields of Freedom's Origin Story 12:18 — Foster Fails, Romeo the Rescue Dog & Garage Adoptions 14:27 — Zach's Dog Adoption Stories 17:19 — The Reality of Rescue: Choosing Who to Save 19:25 — First-Time Fosters and How You Can Help 21:31 — What's the Cost of Saving a Dog? 23:46 — Meet Crypto: From Chain Wounds to Wagging Tail 25:34 — Fan Favorites: Coco, Daisy, Susan and More 26:43 — Wrap-Up: From Kentucky to New York, Serve the World Unselfishly Your Engagement Matters If you enjoyed this episode, here's how you can support the show and our mission: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode on social media and tag us @smartmarketer using the hashtag #WeOutHere Send your feedback to support@smartmarketer.com Support the rescue at fofdogrescue.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!

🎙️ Episode 253: How to Win on TikTok Shop - Real Strategy Over Viral Hype with Ashley Wright Episode Description "People think, 'Okay, a video's gone viral or it's doing really well,' but then realistically you've got to say, has that actually turned into ROI?" – Ashley Wright In this behind-the-scenes episode from Smart Marketer Live, Content Coordinator Zach Dampier sits down with Ashley Wright, founder of Social Tale and one of the top TikTok Shop experts in the game. With over $80 million in sales under his belt, Ashley reveals what most brands get wrong about the platform and how to fix it. They dive into pricing psychology, organic vs paid performance, platform patience, and how building trust through content is the real key to social commerce success. If you're wondering whether TikTok Shop is right for your brand or how to scale it without chasing trends, this one's for you. You Will Learn: Why TikTok Shop isn't plug-and-play and what it really takes to succeed The #1 mistake brands make when launching on TikTok How to structure your social content for trust and visibility Why patience beats quick wins in today's attention economy What top brands get right before even touching TikTok The future of live shopping and social commerce LINKS & RESOURCES: 💼 Ashley Wright's Agency: Social Tale ✨ Ashley Wright on LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/ashleywright1 🎤 Smart Marketer: smartmarketer.com 🧠 Smart Social Course: landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/smart-social 📩 Omnisend Offer 50% Off for 3 Months: smartmarketer.com/omnisend ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro: Behind the Scenes at Smart Marketer Live 01:21 Ezra's Tool Tip: Why He Moved His New Brand to Omnisend 02:25 Meet Ashley Wright: $80M+ in TikTok Shop Sales 03:28 What Most Brands Get Wrong About TikTok Shop 05:22 Views Don't Equal Revenue: Targeting & ROI Reality Check 06:35 Social Content Isn't Just Conversion, It's Identification 08:00 The Patience Game: TikTok Shop Requires a Long-Term Plan 09:47 Why Instant Gratification is Killing Your Strategy 11:50 You're Growing More Than You Think: Year-Over-Year Metrics 12:17 How Ashley Connected With Smart Marketer and Got Invited 13:43 Inside Smart Marketer Live: Energy, Vibes, and Jeopardy Music? 15:56 Ashley's Latest Win: $6M from a Single Brand on TikTok Shop 17:26 The Future of TikTok: Live Shopping, Retail Reinvented and AI Integration 20:29 Raising Prices and Letting Go of the Wrong Customers 21:50 What "Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit" Means to Ashley 24:32 Why Sharing Your Knowledge Is Smart Business 25:15 Long-Form Ads, Better Hooks and Better Consumer Experiences 25:59 Outro: Thanks for Tuning In! 📣 YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS! If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here 📲 Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use the hashtag #WeOutHere 💬 Have feedback or guest suggestions? Email us anytime: support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit. 🚀

Kurt Elster, a Shopify expert and host of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast, shares his insights on modern e-commerce. He reveals the biggest Shopify checkout mistake and how to correct it in five minutes. Kurt discusses the importance of community in combating the isolation of online business, emphasizing in-person events. He also tackles the creative demands of Meta's new ad algorithm, highlighting the need for diverse ad content. Lastly, he shares his passion for 'enabling entrepreneurship' and the hidden pressures behind success in the industry.

Episode 251: Shark Tank, AI & Social Impact: How Kreyòl Essence Scaled With Purpose Episode Description: In this powerhouse episode, Smart Marketer's Zach Dampier sits down with Yve-Car Momperousse, CEO & Co-Founder of Kreyòl Essence, the clean beauty brand that turned Haitian Black Castor Oil into a viral, purpose-driven movement. Yve-Car shares what it was like stepping into the Shark Tank spotlight, how she's leveraging AI to evolve her brand, and why poverty alleviation is her true North Star. "Don't feed into your own hype. What you did five years ago, what you did ten years ago; it matters. But what you do the next five years is critical." – Yve-Car Momperousse If you've ever wrestled with staying relevant while staying rooted in your mission, this one's for you. You Will Learn: How Kreyòl Essence blended culture, biotech & commerce to reach millions What really happens behind the scenes on Shark Tank A powerful mindset shift to avoid being replaced by AI Why inclusive marketing is both ethical and profitable How to use your founder story as your brand's superpower The real reason entrepreneurship is a "team sport" Links & Resources: Smart Marketer Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale – smartmarketer.com/BFCM-2025 Kreyòl Essence Website Watch Kreyòl Essence on Shark Tank: Season 11, Episode 11 Instagram – @yvecar Smart Marketer Get 50% off Omnisend: smartmarketer.com/omnisend – Use code: SMART Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome from Smart Marketer + Omnisend Promo 02:08 – Meet Yve-Car: CEO & Co-Founder of Kreyòl Essence 04:47 – How Ezra Firestone Discovered Yve-Car at a Conference 05:52 – Why Community & Collaboration Are Entrepreneurial Superpowers 08:45 – From Executive Assistant to CEO: Don't Minimize Your Experience 11:59 – Why Smart Marketer Events Feel Different 13:09 – Big Takeaway: Let AI Be Your Copywriter, Strategist & Soundboard 15:05 – Don't Feed Into Your Own Hype: Why Adaptability Is Everything 17:24 – Mindset Matters: Why Coaching & Therapy Aren't Optional 19:10 – Inclusion in Ecomm: Why Representation Still Lags 22:28 – Real Talk: Targeting Customers Multilingually 23:27 – Her True North Star: Poverty Alleviation, Not Product Sales 25:37 – Representation Wins: "Now I know I can do it too" 26:38 – Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank: What They Don't Tell You 29:24 – Best Ad Ever? How Shark Tank Helped Them Tell Their Story 30:53 – Final Thoughts + Why This Journey is Bigger Than Business Call to Action: If this episode inspired you, here's how you can support: 💥 Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share this episode on social & tag us [@smartmarketer] 📧 Got feedback? We'd love to hear from you: support@smartmarketer.com 💥 Take advantage of our biggest sale of the year – Save up to 60% during the Smart Marketer BFCM Sale + get two bonus gifts. Ends December 4, 2025. → smartmarketer.com/BFCM-2025 Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

Episode 250: Scaling Regulated Brands & Building What You Believe In Episode Description What happens when you mix a viral beverage, a high-compliance industry, and one of the sharpest minds in performance marketing? In this episode, recorded live at Smart Marketer Live 2025, Nick Shackelford joins Zach Dampier for a candid behind-the-scenes look at building BRĒZ a microdose beverage brand blending THC, functional mushrooms, and adaptogens. From navigating paid media challenges to retail expansion, Nick shares real talk on scaling products you care about, retention strategies that actually work, and why creative still trumps targeting on Meta. "Our mission is to reduce human suffering and maximize human potential through a better beverage." – Nick Shackelford You Will Learn: How to scale a product in a highly regulated category like THC The exact creative that outperforms for BRĒZ (hint: it's not what you expect) Why retail is still essential, even for DTC brands A smarter way to build LTV from first purchase to loyal customer Why "broad targeting" is Meta's new reality Nick's bold prediction about AI-generated content and Meta's next big move Links & Resources Smart Marketer Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale – smartmarketer.com/BFCM-2025 BRĒZ Beverage – drinkbrez.com Nick Shackelford on Instagram – @iamnickshackelford Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Instagram – @smartmarketerig – Follow Us Instagram – @mollypittmandigital – Follow Molly Omnisend (Email & SMS Tool) – smartmarketer.com/omnisend – Use code SMART for 50% off Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Nick Shackelford joins live at Smart Marketer Live 02:46 – Nick's journey & how BRĒZ was born 04:08 – From agency life to brand ownership 05:27 – Navigating compliance in regulated industries (like THC) 07:19 – Cultural shifts: The rise of non-alcoholic social beverages 09:35 – Why retail still wins: "Cans in hands" matters 10:42 – The creative that outperformed all ads: A real customer call 12:35 – LTV & retention: How to optimize post-purchase flow 14:21 – The most common mistake in paid ads (and what Meta reps say now) 16:25 – What fuels Nick's team: Mission, movement, and remote hustle 19:10 – Full-circle moment: How pirated Ezra content sparked Nick's career 22:51 – Purpose & product: Nick's take on meaningful business 24:38 – Bold prediction: Meta's new "Vibes" AI feed & where it's heading 27:28 – Closing thoughts: Reaffirmation bubbles, dual realities & what's next Call to Action Thanks for tuning in to Episode 249 of the Smart Marketer Podcast! 🎧 If this episode brought you value: ✅ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share it with your network and tag us – use #WeOutHere 💬 Questions or feedback? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com 💥 Take advantage of our biggest sale of the year – Save up to 60% during the Smart Marketer BFCM Sale + get two bonus gifts. Ends December 4, 2025. → smartmarketer.com/BFCM-2025 And remember: Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

🎙️Episode 249: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy – Part 2 (with Ben Bennett) 📝 Episode Description Want more winning ads with less guesswork? In Part 2 of this creative strategy masterclass, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative, Ben Bennett, takes you behind the scenes of a real ad campaign to show how small, intentional changes to your message and creative experience can lead to major performance gains on Meta. Forget pumping out 20 random creatives a week. Ben shows you how to scale creative purposefully by testing strategic variables like persona, tone, and setting instead of scrambling to change formats. "With the right variables, small changes become big changes. That's real creative strategy." – Ben Bennett This episode is packed with examples, frameworks, and a fresh way to approach Meta's evolving algorithm by focusing on people first. ✅ You Will Learn How to turn one winning hook into multiple high-performing ads Why Meta's algorithm rewards creative diversity based on experience What variables matter most: persona, setting, tone (not just format) How to create "purposeful volume" instead of creative noise Why human-first strategy beats algorithm-chasing every time A repeatable system for long-term creative testing & scaling 🔗 Links & Resources Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Agency – smartmarketeragency.com Omnisend (Email & SMS tool) – smartmarketer.com/omnisend 👉 Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months ⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00 – Welcome back: What You'll Learn in Part 2 01:00 – Ezra Firestone's Omnisend Shoutout: "That's how much I trust that platform." 02:04 – Ad Case Study: 3 Winning Ads, Same Hook, Different Experiences 03:54 – How Changing One Variable (like persona) Unlocked Higher Performance 06:52 – From Winning Image → UGC Video: Building Iterations with Confidence 07:41 – Persona Shift: Human Activity vs. Human Connection 08:58 – Why Format Isn't Strategy (And What Actually Is) 10:05 – Why People First > Algorithm First Creative 11:01 – The Real Director of Meta's Algorithm? Humans. 12:08 – Purposeful Volume: How to Test Strategically 13:02 – Final Thoughts: Real Creative Strategy is Human-First 14:01 – Outro & YouTube Shoutout 📣 Your Engagement Matters! Thanks for listening to The Smart Marketer Podcast! If this episode helped shift your thinking, do us a favor: ✅ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share this episode on social & tag us with #WeOutHere 💌 Got feedback or a question? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

Episode 248: The Meta Algorithm Shift: How to Adapt Your Creative Strategy - Part 1 (with Ben Bennett) 📝 Episode Description What's really going on with Meta's latest algorithm update? In this must-listen episode, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative, Ben Bennett, breaks down what the Andromeda update means for advertisers and how to adjust your creative strategy to keep winning in 2025. "If we can take creative and make that our advantage, then it's like AI to the speed of sound." – Ben Bennett Ben shares the four-step framework he uses daily to build high-performing creative and explains why Meta's new system favors marketers who understand message, tone, and audience experience; not just volume. Plus, you'll hear why obsessing over technical formats like video vs. image is not where performance starts. Part 2 drops next week and will go deeper into examples, production tips, and AI workflows. ✅ You Will Learn: What the Meta Andromeda update changes for creative strategy How to avoid "creative noise" and create performance-driven diversity Why your best ads still dominate spend (and how to find more like them) The four-step process Smart Marketer uses with agency clients What variables actually matter when planning diverse creatives Why starting with your best-performing hook changes everything 🔗 Links & Resources Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com Smart Marketer Agency – https://smartmarketeragency.com Omnisend Email Tool – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use coupon code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months) ⏱️ Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00 – Intro: Why You Need to Rethink Your Creative Strategy 01:16 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend: "That's how much I trust that platform..." 02:19 – Meta's Andromeda Update: "It's not just more creative." 03:17 – Is 20 Ads/Week Really Necessary? What the Data Shows 06:01 – "The thing that I think is really awesome about this algorithm is that it helps those with better creative win." 07:51 – Creative Volume vs. Creative Clarity: "They have lost touch on what's working and what's not." 09:40 – Step 1: Choose Your Best Performing Hook 11:20 – Case Study: Good Riddance Natural Insect Repellent 13:02 – Step 2: Build an Experience Around the Hook 14:01 – The Role of Tone, Setting, and Persona in Ad Performance 16:49 – How Demographics and POV Impact Results 18:33 – Match Your Creative to Viewer Behavior on Facebook 19:28 – 3 Example Creative Plans Using the Framework 20:31 – Step 3: Add Technical Variables (Format, Length, Placement) 21:51 – Final Framework: "When a hook and experience have a baby, they make an ad." 📣 Your Engagement Matters! If this episode gave you a new perspective on creative strategy, we'd love to hear from you. ✅ Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts 📲 Share this episode and tag us using #WeOutHere 💌 Questions or feedback? Email us: support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀