Most entrepreneurs are stuck optimizing the wrong things.

In this Mentor Table conversation, Ezra Firestone and John Grimshaw break down the real levers that drive business growth from customer acquisition and profitability to product strategy and operational focus.

If you have been buried in the weeds, this episode will help you zoom out, simplify, and focus on what actually moves the needle.

"Don't quit before the miracle, man, just keep going. I am telling you that it is shocking how effective that strategy is." – Ezra Firestone

• The 3 core levers that drive sustainable business growth
• Why most businesses waste time on micro optimizations
• How to balance profitability versus growth
• What makes a true hero offer and how to find yours
• The truth about customer acquisition versus retention
• How to simplify your business and cut what does not matter
• Why creative is the number one lever in paid traffic right now
• How top brands are using AI and creators to scale content

• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com/
• The Smart Marketer Show – https://smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show/
• OmniSend (50% Off) – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
• Mentor Table – https://landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/mentor-table

00:00:16 Introduction: Business Strategy and Growth Levers
00:03:48 Why AI adoption is failing and how to fix it
00:05:53 The 3 core levers of business growth
00:06:42 Micro versus macro and where real growth comes from
00:08:54 Key metrics: new versus returning customers
00:10:46 Profitability, margins and marketing spend
00:13:23 Why your offer not your ads is the real problem
00:14:09 The lifecycle of a winning product
00:17:05 The 3 elements of a winning offer
00:20:23 Simplifying operations and cutting what does not matter
00:21:36 Building a scalable creative system
00:27:57 Paid creators versus influencers versus ambassadors
00:31:46 Leveraging customer data for influencer outreach
00:38:20 The KPI dashboard every business needs
00:45:39 Product development: hero versus supporting SKUs
00:53:10 The future of digital marketing and policy
00:57:20 Final advice: staying in the game long enough to win

Thank you for tuning in. Your support helps this podcast grow.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, review, and share it with someone who would benefit.

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Send feedback to support@smartmarketer.com

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Are you overthinking your campaign structure while missing what actually drives results?

In this episode of the Smart Marketer Podcast, Molly Pittman and Smart Marketer's Director of Advertising, Denis Paskalev, continue the Meta Ads Q&A series, diving into retargeting, targeting strategy, and how the algorithm is really working in 2026.

From whether you still need separate retargeting campaigns to how creative is now doing the heavy lifting, this conversation breaks down where marketers should actually be focusing their time and energy.

"You don't really need to have a separate retargeting campaign because the algorithm is going to do a lot of this." – Denis Paskalev

If you are still relying on outdated targeting tactics or overcomplicating your setup, this episode will help you simplify and win.

• Whether Meta automatically handles retargeting inside consolidated campaigns
• When it actually makes sense to run separate retargeting campaigns
• Why broad targeting is becoming the default and what that means for your strategy
• How creative and ad copy now act as your primary targeting tools
• The role of messaging in attracting different customer avatars
• How Meta uses signals like visuals, text, and audio to find the right audience
• When to use interest targeting and why it may disappear soon
• How to approach testing campaigns with broad versus guided targeting
• Practical ways to research and validate customer avatars
• How to uncover new audiences using customer data, reviews, and competitors

• Free Meta Ads Mini Class – https://smartmarketer.com/meta-ads-mini-class-v3/
• Smart Marketer – https://smartmarketer.com
• Molly Pittman – https://mollypittman.com
• Omnisend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)

00:00:17 – Introduction: Continuing the Meta Ads Q&A Series
00:01:12 – Ezra Firestone on Omnisend and Email and SMS Growth
00:02:16 – Does Meta Handle Retargeting Automatically
00:03:20 – When You Should Use a Separate Retargeting Campaign
00:03:26 – Is Interest Targeting Still Relevant
00:04:27 – How Creative Becomes the New Targeting
00:05:07 – How Meta Indexes Creative, Copy, and Audio Signals
00:07:17 – Broad vs Interest Targeting for Testing Campaigns
00:09:03 – How to Research and Validate Customer Avatars
00:10:21 – Using AI and Customer Reviews for Avatar Insights
00:11:32 – Leveraging Reddit, Forums, and Ad Comments
00:12:43 – Identifying New Avatars from Real Customer Behavior
00:14:51 – Why Business Owners Miss New Opportunities
00:15:06 – Using Competitor Research and Meta Data to Refine Targeting
00:16:20 – Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

Thank you for tuning in to the Smart Marketer Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing actionable insights for marketers and entrepreneurs around the world.

If you enjoyed this episode:

Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with a fellow marketer or entrepreneur
Tag us on social media and use #WeOutHere

Have feedback or questions
Email us at support@smartmarketer.com

Serve the world unselfishly and profit.

Episode 270: Organic Social vs Paid Ads What's Actually Working Right Now (And Why Most Brands Get It Wrong)

Most brands are doing organic social completely wrong and it's costing them growth.

In this episode, Zach Dampier breaks down what's actually working with organic social right now… and how to use it alongside paid ads without burning out or chasing the wrong metrics.

If your organic content feels like an afterthought or just a weaker version of your ads, this episode will completely reframe your strategy.

"Organic and paid are not competing for your resources. They're doing completely different jobs in your customer's journey."- Zach Dampier

• Why organic social is not just "free ads" (and what it should be instead)

• The real role of organic content in your customer journey

• How to create content that builds connection, trust, and loyalty

• The biggest mistake brands make when measuring organic performance

• Why follower count can actually hurt your growth if you're not careful

• When to prioritize paid ads vs. organic (and how to scale both together)

• The 3-phase framework to build a sustainable organic strategy

• How to turn organic content into a paid traffic flywheel

• Simple ways to make organic more measurable (without overcomplicating it)

• Smart Marketer – https://www.smartmarketer.com/

• The Smart Marketer Show – https://smartmarketer.com/smart-marketer-show/

• OmniSend – https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend

• Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months

00:00:15 – Introduction: Why Organic Social Feels Like an Afterthought
00:00:53 – Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend for Email & SMS
00:01:56 – Organic vs Paid: The Core Misunderstanding
00:03:42 – The #1 Mistake Brands Make with Organic Content
00:04:27 – The Real Job of Organic vs Paid Ads
00:06:05 – What's Actually Working: Real Organic Content Examples
00:07:42 – Why Authenticity & Storytelling Drive Engagement
00:10:14 – Vulnerability, Trust & Building Real Brand Connection
00:11:04 – The Problem with Chasing the Wrong Metrics
00:11:52 – Why Your Social Metrics Might Be Misleading
00:13:32 – The Truth About Follower Count (And Why It Can Hurt You)
00:15:41 – Reels vs Carousels: What's Working Right Now
00:17:25 – The Metrics You Should Actually Track
00:18:15 – How Organic & Paid Work Together (The Right Way)
00:19:08 – When to Focus on Paid vs Organic (Early-Stage Strategy)
00:21:24 – Organic as "Meta Insurance" Explained
00:23:13 – Turning Organic Content into a Paid Flywheel
00:24:50 – Making Organic Measurable with Tools Like ManyChat
00:25:43 – The 3 Phases of a Winning Organic Strategy
00:27:32 – Final Takeaways: Long-Term vs Short-Term Growth

If you enjoyed this episode, don't keep it to yourself

Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode and tag us using #WeOutHere
Have questions or feedback? Email us at support@smartmarketer.com

Your support helps us bring you more actionable strategies every week

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit