The Smart Marketer Podcast

Episode Title SafeSleeve’s First 60 Days on Omnisend Episode Description What happens when you migrate to Omnisend? In this episode, John Grimshaw sits down with Ezra Firestone and Omnisend’s CEO, Rytis Lauris, to share the behind-the-scenes story of SafeSleeve’s first 60 days on the platform. Spoiler: Just by migrating to Omnisend, before adding any new automations or campaigns, SafeSleeve projected an additional $100,000 in annual revenue. “If you're doing under 25 to 30% of your revenue from email, you ain't working hard enough.” – Ezra Firestone You Will Learn Why SafeSleeve was only getting 8% of revenue from email (and how they fixed it) The exact steps Smart Marketer used to migrate seamlessly to Omnisend How cleaning disengaged contacts and bots improved deliverability and engagement Why a “warming campaign” can skyrocket your click rates The power of automations and why 2% of traffic often drives 37% of orders How brands can realistically hit 25–30% of revenue from email and SMS What’s next: AI-driven automations and real human storytelling Links & Resources Omnisend Special Offer – https://omnisend.com/smart Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/ Ezra Firestone – https://smartmarketer.com/about/ SafeSleeve – https://www.safesleevecases.com/ Timestamps (Main Beats) 00:07 – Intro by Anthony: Why this episode matters 01:11 – John Grimshaw welcomes Ezra Firestone & Rytis Lauris 04:13 – The $100K Hook: Projected lift from switching to Omnisend 05:20 – Ezra’s backstory with SafeSleeve & the 8% email revenue problem 09:55 – Why Mailchimp held SafeSleeve back and why Omnisend made sense 12:06 – Key migration steps: template update & 4 core automations 15:07 – The warming campaign and engagement “snowball” 19:05 – July 4th promotion: 20% revenue lift post-migration 21:36 – Cleaning bots, disengaged contacts, and better deliverability 24:27 – Why migrations don’t have to be painful 25:03 – $101K projected lift from automations alone 27:48 – Targets: hitting 25%+ email revenue by year’s end 30:05 – Is SafeSleeve a unicorn or a typical case study? 33:16 – Omnisend’s “customer-funded” approach & ROI promise 35:27 – Why automations drive the biggest long-term wins 39:55 – AI’s role in scaling automations for the future 41:52 – Ezra & Rytis on AI vs authenticity: why real stories still win 44:48 – Closing thoughts & special Omnisend offer Call to Action Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share with fellow entrepreneurs and marketers. 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 with #WeOutHere Have feedback? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Episode 235: Email Deliverability Troubleshooting: A Real-World Case Study from Mentor Table Office Hours Episode Description Your emails might look great, but are they even landing in inboxes? In this Mentor Table Email Office Hours session, you'll sit in on a real-time troubleshooting call with Heather and Matt from the Smart Marketer email team as they help a founder navigate a frustrating deliverability issue. If you’re sending emails and seeing sudden dips in opens, strange bounce patterns, or deliverability issues with major inbox providers then this is for you. “It's difficult to diagnose any one thing. A lot of it is just making sure you're tightening up sending practices.” – Matt You'll hear common mistakes, how to fix them, and advanced tips to keep your list healthy and compliant so you can keep driving sales. You Will Learn: How to identify and troubleshoot bounce-related email issues The DNS records you must have configured (SPF, DKIM, DMARC—and how to check them) What a branded sending domain is and why it's now required by major email providers How to use tools like Litmus, MX Toolbox, and Sender Score to test and monitor Why exclusion segments and list hygiene matter more than ever When to consider switching to a dedicated IP address and how to know if you’re ready Links & Resources: Smart Marketer Mentor Table Omnisend for Email & SMS (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Litmus Email Testing Tool MX Toolbox – DNS & Blacklist Lookup EasyDMARC – Email Security Platform Sender Score – Email Reputation Check Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Mentor Table Email Office Hours 01:12 – Ezra’s Omnisend Recommendation 02:16 – The Deliverability Problem: Rising Bounces and Email Errors 04:50 – Policy-Related Bounce Messages Explained 07:15 – Tools to Test Inbox Appearance & Placement (Litmus) 08:53 – How to Check DNS Setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) 13:01 – Using Zoho & Klaviyo Separately for Deliverability 15:01 – Exclusion Segments & List Hygiene Tactics 16:06 – Should You Move to a Dedicated IP? 18:35 – Diagnosing Blacklists & Using Lookup Tools 22:04 – Sender Score, EasyDMARC, and MX Toolbox 25:08 – Final Thoughts & Action Plan for Inbox Recovery Call to Action: Enjoyed this episode? We’d love your support. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here Share the episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere Feedback or questions? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.  

Episode 234: How to Build High-Converting Product Pages (with Kurt Elster) Episode Description Are your product detail pages costing you conversions? In this episode, Shopify expert Kurt Elster breaks down exactly what makes a high-converting PDP in today’s eCommerce landscape. Straight from a Mentor Table session, Kurt shares real examples from Amazon, Walmart, Tactical Baby Gear, and more—along with the essential elements every product page must have to convert browsers into buyers. “The product detail page... it’s where the purchase decision happens.” – Kurt Elster This is one of those episodes you’ll want to take notes on. Let’s level up your product pages. You Will Learn: The 6 elements Google requires on your PDP (and why they matter) Why stock status should never be hidden (and how Amazon nails it) The most overlooked layout improvement that boosts conversion instantly What Shopify’s new AI + SEO tools mean for your product visibility Simple PDP enhancements that 10x perceived value (without new tech) Why review photos and breadcrumb trails are gold for usability How to apply big-brand best practices to your small store Links & Resources:  Mentor Table - Apply Today! Kurt Elster Google Merchant Center PDP Guidelines Shopify Knowledge Base App Omnisend Offer: https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Smart Marketer Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Why PDPs Are the Most Important Page in Your Store 01:04 – Ezra’s Quick Tip: Why He Always Installs Omnisend First 02:08 – Meet Kurt Elster + Why PDPs Make or Break the Sale 04:47 – Google's Minimum Viable Product Page Checklist 07:04 – Big Box Store Examples: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy 12:44 – SEO for AI: Myth or Must-Do? 14:27 – Shopify’s New AI Search Tool + Structured Data Insights 16:05 – Rich Results: What They Are & Why They Matter 17:37 – Real Example: Tactical Baby Gear PDP Breakdown 19:13 – UX Enhancements: Videos, Tabs, Comparison Charts & Reviews 20:44 – Bonus Example: Harney Tea’s Complex Catalog Challenge 21:46 – Final Takeaway: What Truly Makes a PDP Convert 22:10 – Outro: Subscribe and Leave a Review! Your Engagement Matters Thanks for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to: Follow or subscribe to the Smart Marketer Podcast Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407 Share this episode on social and tag us using #WeOutHere Send feedback to support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!

Facebook ads are evolving, and fresh strategies are key for 2025. Learn how to simplify your campaign structure for quicker insights. Discover the 'Golden Triangle' tracking method that reveals true ROI. Get tips on keeping your ads vibrant and effective over time, while testing creatives without starting from scratch. Maximize your budget with targeted offers in each campaign. Embrace a data-driven approach, focusing on backend numbers to guide your advertising success!

Episode 232: From $1/Day to $100,000/Day – Scaling Your Facebook Ad Spend (The Right Way) Episode Description Every business starts at zero. In this tactical training, Pepijn Hufen breaks down exactly what it takes to scale from $1/day to $100,000/day in ad spend—based entirely on what’s working right now inside Smart Marketer brands. “If you want to scale your ads, it all comes down to messaging, offers, and tracking.” – Pepijn Hufen Whether you're running ads for the first time or managing big budgets, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to scale responsibly—without burning cash. You Will Learn Why even $1/day ad spend can make a meaningful impact The number one focus when you're spending $100/day Why “transformation” matters more than features in your ad copy What tracking metrics matter most at $1,000/day The strategy behind scaling with multiple front-end offers What it really takes to manage $100K/day in spend Links & Resources Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off 3 months) Boom! by Cindy Joseph – https://boombeauty.com/ Pretty Farm Girl – https://www.prettyfarmgirl.com NutriPaw – https://nutri-paw.com Watch on YouTube: $1/Day vs. $100,000/Day Facebook Ad Account – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKq0IK7FkT4 Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00 – Intro by Anthony: Why this episode matters now 01:56 – “Every business starts at zero” – Pepijn Hufen 02:43 – Level 1: $1/Day – Boost organic posts or keep ad account active 03:34 – Why even $1/day can reach 72,000 people per year 04:23 – Level 2: $100/Day – “Your only objective is to validate your offer, validate your messaging, and hit a certain cost per outcome that works for your business.” 05:14 – “They sell confidence, they don’t sell makeup.” (Boom Beauty example) 06:44 – Creative tips: “You want to test different hooks with the opening of your ad copy… and as overlays on your ads.” 07:30 – Where to send traffic: “You can send your ads to a product page, a pre-sale article or sales page, a collection page… or an opt-in page.” 08:16 – Example: Boom’s pre-sale article, “5 makeup tips for older women” 09:02 – “For opt-in pages, we’re trying to hit a conversion rate between 25 and 40%.” 09:52 – Level 3: $1,000/Day – Add robust tracking and creative volume 11:23 – “The backend is the source of truth.” 12:12 – Custom tracking sheets: “Without having to look at any tracking tool, I have a fairly good idea how good our business is doing.” 13:08 – Meta’s advice: “Focus on creative and aim for mixed assets.” 13:54 – Level 4: $10,000/Day – Run 2–4 front-end offers to reach more subgroups 14:42 – Level 5: $100,000/Day – “Making a mistake can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.” 15:23 – “At some point, they’re all just numbers.” 16:14 – Creative volume and team: “We were testing 40 to 60 creatives per week.” 17:24 – Final takeaway: “The process of analyzing the core principles of messaging are very similar to an ad account spending $10,000 a day.” Your Engagement Matters Thank you for listening to the Smart Marketer Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share with fellow entrepreneurs and marketers. 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 Have feedback? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Discover how to effectively double your ad spend while boosting revenue significantly. Explore the creative strategies and ad structures that led to remarkable results, including a case study on Boom Beauty's impressive growth in average order value. Learn about navigating changes in Meta's campaign structure and the importance of combating creative fatigue. Gain insights into leveraging AI for smarter marketing strategies and optimizing both ad performance and consumer engagement.

Episode 230: What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 4, Mindset (Part 2) "My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It’s Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That’s Happened in My Life" Episode Description In this powerful continuation, Molly Pittman picks up where Part 1 left off and shares the final seven lessons she learned after losing her father. This isn’t just about grief. It’s about redefining success, leadership, and what it means to fully live. If you’re feeling stretched, stuck, or just want to lead with more presence, this episode will move you. “Presence is often more healing than fixing.” – Molly Pittman These reflections will shift how you build your business, love your people, and show up for yourself. You Will Learn: Why your business should be able to run without you The surprising gift of giving people space to choose How community accelerates healing and growth The reason you should stop delaying joy Why duality is the secret to peace A radical new definition of self-care The power of presence over problem-solving Links & 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) Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com Instagram – @mollypittmandigital Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue – fofdogrescue.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro, Picking up where Part 1 left off 01:53 – Lesson 7: The Power of Community 05:52 – Lesson 8: Stepping Away Is Healthy (And Your Systems Should Support It) 09:42 – Lesson 9: Don’t Wait to Live 11:03 – Living Now, Not Someday 12:13 – Lesson 10: Let People Choose (It Builds Independence) 14:47 – Lesson 11: Embrace the Duality of Life 16:59 – Lesson 12: I Will No Longer Deprive Myself 18:20 – Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy Life 19:25 – Lesson 13: Presence Over Fixing 20:43 – Final Reflections and Gratitude 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Episode 229: What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 4 – Mindset (Part 1) "My Dad Died and It Sucked, But It’s Also Been the Most Beautiful Thing That’s Happened in My Life" Episode Description In this deeply personal episode, Molly Pittman reflects on the sudden loss of her father, and the powerful lessons it’s taught her about life, business, and what truly matters. If you’re navigating grief, burnout, or just feeling disconnected from your purpose, this raw and reflective solo episode will meet you where you are. “Our only sole purpose here on Earth is to be ourselves and to give and receive love.” – Molly Pittman From presence to portals, Molly shares six transformative insights that have shifted how she leads, lives, and loves. You Will Learn: Why presence is the most powerful leadership tool How grief rewires your understanding of time and energy Why emotional and physical wellbeing must come first A new lens on purpose (and why you can stop searching for it) How to resolve regret before it owns you Why travel isn't indulgent, it's medicine for your creativity Links & 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) Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com Instagram – @mollypittmandigital Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue – fofdogrescue.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: A Personal Episode About Loss, Mindset and Growth 02:06 – Why Molly Felt Compelled to Record This (Grief, Growth, and Business) 05:34 – The Last Night She Spent With Her Dad 13:00 – Life After Loss: Honoring Her Dad and Healing 15:29 – Lesson 1: Presence Is Everything 18:37 – Lesson 2: Money Matters, But You Can’t Take It With You 21:56 – Lesson 3: You Can’t Undo Regret, Resolve It Now 24:10 – Lesson 4: Our Sole Purpose Is to Love and Be Ourselves 28:04 – Lesson 5: Your Emotional and Physical State Is Everything 30:16 – Lesson 6: Travel Heals and Sparks Creativity 33:41 – Walking Through Portals, Why Movement Creates Momentum 34:50 – Preview, What’s Coming in Part 2 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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Dive into the intriguing world of conversion rate optimization! Discover how one brand nearly doubled its average order value with a new front-end offer. Learn why simplified landing pages are outperforming their complex counterparts. A navigation tweak helped another brand skyrocket conversions, and insights from headline tests reveal what resonates with customers. Plus, find out how small adjustments led to impressive conversion boosts. It's all about proactive strategies to enhance user experience and drive growth!

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 support@smartmarketer.com Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.