Episode 220: Marketing That Actually Works: Ezra & John’s Real-Time Q&A for Entrepreneurs
Release Date: 05/21/2025
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
The Smart Marketer Podcast
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...
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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
The Smart Marketer Podcast
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...
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Episode 228: What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 3, Conversion Rate Optimization with John Grimshaw
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Episode 227: What’s Working Mid-2025, Part 2 - Improving Retention and Monetization Strategies with Email and SMS
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Episode 226: What’s Working Mid-2025 In Paid Traffic - 5 Paid Ad & Offer Strategies Driving Results
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Episode 225: How We Scaled Meta Ad Spend from $500/Day to $5K/Day
The Smart Marketer Podcast
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...
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The Smart Marketer Podcast
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Episode 222: Build Your E-Commerce Site Right: How to Turn Browsers into Buyers
The Smart Marketer Podcast
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 ...
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Episode 221: The 5 AI Tools I Use Daily as a CEO (to Save 10+ Hours per Week)
The Smart Marketer Podcast
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...
info_outlineEpisode 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:
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How a homepage redesign boosted conversions by 16%
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Ezra’s smart framework for splitting ad spend between paid media, influencers, and ambassadors
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How to deal with rising tariffs without sacrificing Q4 sales
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Ways to market an info product without showing your face
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How to identify when it’s time to pivot (or quit) a business
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The truth about tracking data, profit margins, and “source of truth”
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Honest advice for staying grounded through grief or hardship
Links & Resources
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✅ 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.
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