The Smart Marketer Podcast

Do you take time to reflect on your accomplishments? (You should!)  In this episode, Ezra joins Molly and John to wrap up this 2-part series on what they've learned from working together over the last year, taking a moment to reflect on and appreciate how far they've come as peers and individuals. We hope you use this episode as motivation to reinvest in product creation, build processes ahead of...

What have we learned after 1 year of running Smart Marketer? In Part 1 of this two part review, our hosts chat with Ezra about why they joined Smart Marketer and share some big lessons learned in their new roles as CEO (Molly) and CMO (John). Ezra also talks about the challenges of giving up creative control and why it was the best thing for the company. A year later, Smart Marketer is growing, mo...

Do you want to be more productive? We know how challenging it can to start new routines or change old ones. So, in this 2-part series, our hosts share how they overcame bad habits and how that led to more productivity at work and at home. We discuss the power of consistency, finding balance in a remote setting, and how to develop new routines that promote personal growth.  YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!...

Can you tell the difference between good & bad business opportunities? Join us as Ezra Firestone reveals what the "perfect" business opportunity looks like and which business models to avoid. Many variables will impact your success and pleasure when starting a new business, and to help steer you in the right direction, Ezra goes deep on the opportunities and drawbacks of different business types,...

How do you get out of a work slump? Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw are joined by Ezra Firestone to discuss how they pull themselves out of creative slumps and regain their enthusiasm for work. Molly shares the 5 tips she uses to her own worklife, while John and Ezra each share what does the trick for them. If you could use a boost of inspiration today, then this is the episode for you.  YOUR ENGA...

Do you have communication structures in place? In part 3 of this 3-part series on Communication, Ezra Firestone talks about the need for open communication at work and at home. He shares a few tactics for strong communication, explains "emotional charge" and "value judgments," and much more. (To hear Molly's and John's thoughts on communication, go back and listen to episodes 24 and 26.) YOUR ENGA...

How can you improve your ad campaigns? Molly Pittman plays the role of detective in this #WeOutHere segment focused on campaign optimization. Molly believes optimization and scaling are both huge mental games, and in this episode she shares her 5-step process for uncovering the clues and cracking the case when it comes to improving any Facebook campaign. Put on your detective cap and get ready to...

Do you take care of your business relationships? In part 2 of this 3-part series on Communication, our hosts talk about cultivating and maintaining strong business relationships. Molly describes how a lack of communication can destroy a successful business, and John gives us a rundown of a book that improved his communication skills. You'll also hear how John's parents approached communication, wh...

Now that you've collected campaign data, what's next? In this #WeOutHere segment, John Grimshaw shares the simple formula he created to help media buyers know whether it's time to scale a campaign or to go back and make improvements. You'll learn how to set your scaling budget, the timeline to follow, and why John compares scaling to cooking rice. :)  YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!  Here's how you can m...

How are your communication skills? Join hosts Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw as they begin a new 3-part series on communication and the impact it has on relationships. Drawing from her "Balanced Being" course, Molly shares why she began focusing on building stronger interpersonal relationships both inside and outside of work. Molly also talks about the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-do...

Are you ready to implement new testing strategies in 2021? Hosts Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw give us an in-depth look at how they plan to test and optimize their ads now that there's a decline in in-platform data. John explains conversion "attribution" and gives examples of software and non-software attribution models and services. Plus, he shares the 3 key categories of his tracking strategy,...

How do you know who to hire, and when? Ezra Firestone joins the podcast to share how he went from "solo-preneur" to running a team of over 100 people. He explains the differences between insourcing and outsourcing, and reveals the two positions you should fill first when hiring. Tune in to learn how to delegate, invest in new hires and inspire your team! YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!  Here's how you ca...

How are you improving your ad strategy from last year? Ezra Firestone hosts today's podcast to share his new 5-point ad strategy for 2021. With the number of ecommerce businesses on the rise, competition is increasing and standing out in your market is more important than ever. Thankfully, Ezra's here to give you ad strategies that will give you a big advantage. You'll learn about content library...

Do you have your preparedness checklist for iOS 14? In part 2 of this 2-part segment of #WeOutHere, our hosts Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw get tactical. Big changes are coming from iOS 14 in Q1, and Facebook advertisers need to do to a few simple things to minimize ad disruptions. John and Molly wrap up by discussing the silver lining of the "iOS-ocalypse." Namely, how advertisers with good fun...

How does the founder of three 7- and 8-figure companies set goals for the year? In this episode, Ezra Firestone (BOOM!, Zipify, Smart Marketer) shares how he internalizes past results and makes future goals for himself, his loved ones, and his companies. As the founder of multiple 7- and 8-figure companies, Ezra has a full plate in the business world — but what people don't see is that he invests...

iOS 14 changes everything for marketers. In part 1 of this 2-part segment of #WeOutHere, our hosts Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw talk about how iOS 14 is transforming Facebook advertising forever. They discuss the Big Tech cold war driving this change, why 30% or more of your audience will be affected, and (most importantly) some of the key strategies you'll need to survive this upheaval. YOUR E...

Do you need a break from social media? Many of us don't realize just how much time we spend on social, whether for business or for pleasure. Recently, Molly accidentally went on a 6-week break from social media and what she discovered made her want to intentionally take more of them. Listen as she chats with John Grimshaw about the pros and cons of social media and the measures she's taking to spe...

It's the start of a new year and that means it's time for Ezra's annual team kick-off call. Tune in to go behind the scenes of our team call to hear the message our leadership team shared with our employees. We discuss how challenges can become valuable lessons, the importance of taking care of yourself, why every role in the company is as important as the next, and so much more.   Now's the time...

How comfortable are you with traveling right now? Our beloved hosts, Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw , invite Ezra Firestone to discuss the current climate of domestic and international travel since the announcement of Covid. In this segment of #NotBusiness, they discuss how travel can be both exciting and stressful, and how every trip requires a different type of energy. Tune in to find out how o...

Our e-commerce company, BOOM! By Cindy Joseph, just passed $100 million in total revenue. And Ezra Firestone believes that if you master the basics, your business can accomplish this too! In the latest #WeOutHere episode, Ezra shares the 5 big dominoes (AKA 5 lessons) that helped BOOM! achieve this milestone. You'll learn how to think about product, how to leverage video advertising, why engaging...

How will current and future Data & Privacy laws impact your marketing strategy in 2021? In part 3 of this 3-part segment of #WeOutHere, our host John Grimshaw shares his final 4 predictions of what's to come in 2021. Consumer data is becoming the new oil and it appears to be more valuable day by day. Because of this, legal changes to the acquisition and usage of customer data is trending in favor...

What will paid traffic look like in 2021? In part 2 of this 3-part segment of #WeOutHere, our host John Grimshaw offers 7 predictions on how paid traffic will change in 2021. Ads are the lifeblood of most businesses because they enable scalable, repeatable growth. You don't want to miss John breaking down how Facebook's recent acquisitions will evolve the platform over the next year. If you haven'...

How do you deal with negative feedback? If you're in the business of serving customers or sharing yourself or your stories, then you're likely no stranger to haters. And while constructive feedback has real value, complaints and even insults can are harder to swallow and not so helpful.  I struggle with negative feedback, and I know a lot of you do, too. So I got Ezra to weigh in on how he manages...

What will the global economy look like in 2021? In part 1 of this 3-part segment of #WeOutHere, our hosts Molly Pittman and John Grimshaw offer 8 predictions on what's coming next year and how you can steer your business toward a successful 2021. John shares data to help you make informed decisions about the actions you need to take, as well as which markets you should avoid and which ones you sho...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if it is broke…  In this latest installment of #WeOutHere , hosts Molly Pittman (SM CEO) and John Grimshaw (CMO) give us their 4-step system for fixing a broken marketing campaign. They break down the 3 secondary metrics you should be tracking in Facebook, ideal target performance benchmarks, audience overlap, and lots more. Now pull up that broken campaign and...