The Smart Marketer Podcast

Molly Pittman sits down with Connor Westby, an entrepreneur who successfully scaled NutriPaw a pet supplement company, into an eight-figure brand. They dive deep into the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and the strategies that helped Connor achieve massive growth. If you're looking for actionable insights on business scaling, marketing, and product expansion, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!

"You get to a place where no one truly understands your business like you do, and that's both a blessing and a curse." – Connor Westby

You Will Learn:

• How Connor transitioned from consulting to eCommerce

• The challenges of scaling a pet supplement brand

• Why NutriPaw pivoted its ad strategy for sustainable growth

• Lessons from a major business setback & how to recover

• How expanding into new markets unlocked revenue growth

• The importance of product innovation & differentiation

• Why keeping your business lean can help you scale faster

LINKS: Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com Mentor Table - Mentor Table Instagram – @smartmarketer Nutripaw – nutri-paw.com Instagram - @nutri_paw

TIME STAMPS:

00:00:26 – Meet Connor: His Background & How He Started NutriPaw 00:03:31 – The Early Challenges of Scaling a Pet Supplement Brand 00:04:42 – Key Decisions That Led to NutriPaw Growth 00:08:42 – Expanding into New Markets: Lessons & Wins 00:21:54 – Surviving a Major Business Setback & The Future of NutriPaw 00:29:15 – NutriPaw's Company Structure 00:37:42 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways from Connor's Journey

YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS! Thank you for tuning in! Your support helps keep this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to:

• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts – Click Here

• Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #SmartMarketerPodcast

• Have feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!

Molly Pittman is back with an inside look at Smart Marketer's journey and the strategies shaping 2025!

After a challenging yet transformative year, Molly shares what's been happening behind the scenes, why Smart Marketer took a break from podcasting, and the key business shifts they've made to build momentum in 2025. From simplifying operations to leveraging AI and focusing on community, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you navigate the evolving digital marketing landscape.

"2024 was tough, but it forced us to refine our business in the best way possible." – Molly Pittman

• Why Smart Marketer paused the podcast & what's changed since.

• How analyzing year-over-year performance helps predict business trends.

• Why simplifying your business model can be the key to scaling.

• The impact of retiring "Train My Traffic Person" & launching Mentor Table.

• How AI & automation are shaping Smart Marketer's 2025 strategy.

• Why building products backwards creates stronger customer connections.

• How to focus on community & coaching for long-term success.

• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com

• Instagram – @smartmarketer

• Mentor Table – Mentor Table

00:00 – Introduction: The Return of Smart Marketer Podcast: Why We Took a Break & What's Changed 00:01:25 – 2024's Challenges & What We Learned 00:09:06 – Big Business Decisions: Retiring TMTP & Launching Mentor Table 00:13:10 – How Listening to Customers Built Our Best Offer Yet 00:19:39 – Why Community & Coaching Are Smart Marketer's Future 00:25:48 – Looking Ahead: AI, Content Strategy & Scaling in 2025

Thank you for tuning in! Your support keeps this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share with fellow entrepreneurs and marketers.

📢 Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here 📲 Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere 💌 Have feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

Molly Pittman is kicking off the Brands to Watch series with Flewd Stress Care, a company transforming the bath salts industry with innovative, stress-reducing solutions. Learn how their unique product positioning, strong branding, and smart marketing tactics have made them a standout in the DTC space.

"They've taken a familiar product and made it better. This is a masterclass in branding and marketing." – Molly Pittman

You Will Learn:

• How Flewd Stress Care transformed a commodity product into a must-have wellness essential.

• The power of problem-solving product positioning and messaging.

• Why their Us vs. Them marketing strategy is so effective.

• How they use UGC and testimonials to drive conversions.

• The secret behind their subscription model success.

• What makes their promotions and bundles so compelling.

LINKS:

• Flewd Stress Care – flewdstresscare.com

• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com

• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 – Introduction: Brands to Watch: Flewd Stress Care

00:00:44 – How Molly Discovered Flewd Stress Care

00:01:39 – Why Flewd 's Product Innovation Stands Out

00:05:00 – The Power of Problem-Solving Products

00:08:09 – Marketing Strategy: From Ads to Checkout

00:12:06 – Subscription Model & Customer Retention

00:18:27 – Winning with Strategic Promotions

00:22:06 – Why Their Facebook Ads Are So Effective

00:24:59 – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!

Thank you for tuning in! Your support keeps this podcast thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, review, and share with fellow entrepreneurs and marketers.

📢 Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: Click Here

📲 Share this episode on social media, tag us, and use #WeOutHere

💌 Have feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit! 🚀

Ezra Firestone shares insights on maintaining balance and longevity in business. He explores the importance of sustainable business strategies, personal well-being, and the mindset needed to navigate entrepreneurship successfully. Through real-life experiences and reflections, Ezra highlights how consistency, self-care, and strategic decision-making contribute to long-term success. Whether you're an established entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode provides valuable perspectives on achieving both business and personal fulfillment.

"The future is shaped by those who act today. Identify your opportunities and lean into them." – Ezra Firestone

You Will Learn:

• The role of consistency in long-term success.

• How to avoid burnout and stay energized for the journey.

• Insights on setting boundaries and achieving work-life balance.

• Why routines and intentionality are critical for personal and business growth.

• Strategies for maintaining mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

• How to foster community and connection in an increasingly isolated world.

LINKS:

• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

• Mentor Table – landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/mentor-table

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Intro

00:01:03 Ezra's Tips

00:03:43 The Importance Of Work-Life Balance

00:09:03 Creating Space for Strategic Thinking

00:13:23 Why Mental Consumption Impacts Your Outcomes

00:14:47 The Power of Community and Connection

00:16:11 The Power of Concsciousness Shifts

00:17:25 Balancing Work, Life, and Personal Joy

YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!

Thank you to our listeners for your 5-star reviews and supportive messages! This podcast continues to grow thanks to YOU.

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

We'd also love it if you reposted this episode to your social media, shared your favorite episodes with friends, and tagged us in your next post, #WeOutHere.

Have feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected]. And remember, Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Molly Pittman is back with six actionable strategies to take your business to new heights in 2025. Whether you're navigating the ever-changing digital landscape or looking for fresh insights to scale your business, Molly's got you covered.

"Pick 2 or 3 strategies that resonate with you and go all in. These could be game changers for your business in 2025." – Molly Pittman

You Will Learn:

• How changes at Meta are reviving organic growth opportunities.

• The secret behind self-liquidating offers to scale customer acquisition.

• Strategies for increasing customer lifetime value.

• Why TikTok Shop is the next big thing in e-commerce.

• How to leverage AI agents to streamline your marketing.

• The importance of building community and connection.

LINKS:

• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com

• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

• Smart Paid Traffic Course – smartmarketer.com/paid-traffic

• Smart Social Marketing Course – smartmarketer.com/social-marketing

• Mentor Table – landing.smartmarketer.com/pages/mentor-table

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Intro/We are Back!

00:02:35 Introduction to the 6 Key Opportunities for 2025

00:03:22 #1 Organic Growth is Back!

00:10:03 #2 Have A Self Liquidating Offer

00:15:29 #3 Increase Life Time Value

00:17:51 #4 Live Shopping

00:23:00 #5 Leverage AI To Make Your Tasks Easier

00:25:05 #6 Building Connection and Community

YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS!

Thank you to our listeners for your 5-star reviews and supportive messages! This podcast continues to grow thanks to YOU.

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

We'd also love it if you reposted this episode to your social media, shared your favorite episodes with friends, and tagged us in your next post, #WeOutHere.

Have feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected]. And remember, Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

Molly Pittman is back from her wedding/sabbatical/vacation, and she's on the show today to share her fresh take on life and business. Listen for five key takeaways that might just provide you with a shortcut to realizing your own dreams.

"I had never had this reflection time to look back at my life and say, what do I like about this? What do I want to change? What is the reality of how I am living?" Molly Pittman

You Will Learn

• How to get off the Hamster Wheel (without a trip to Italy)

• Tips for Being More Present

• A Prescription for People-Pleasers

• Your first step to taking four weeks off!

And More!

Molly Pittman, https://mollypittman.com/

Smart Marketer, https://smartmarketer.com/

Kentucky Saving Them Together, https://www.facebook.com/KSTT.Rescue/

Smart Marketer Live, https://smartmarketer.com/live/

00:00 "Maybe there is one thing you could do that cuts out 50 percent of your workload, but you can't see that because you're moving so quickly and don't have that clarity of mind." Molly Pittman

00:28 She's BACK (Where did she go?)

03:55 "Molly, That's Not A Sabbatical"

06:16 Work To Live, Not Live To Work

08:51 Slow Is Fast

10:33 Presence Is Key

12:47 Boundaries Are Mandatory

15:09 Being ProActive versus ReActive

17:45 Recap - Five Takeaways

19:51 Give yourself permission to take time off.

Thank you to our listeners for the 5-star Reviews and meaningful messages! This Podcast has exceeded our expectations, and we have YOU to thank for that. It makes a difference when you follow us (and leave a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407) or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

We'd also love it if you reposted this episode to your social media, shared your favorite episodes with friends, and tagged us in your next post, #WeOutHere.

Have questions? Please send us an email at [email protected], and don't forget to Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit.

"Pepsi technically won the taste challenge, but Coca-Cola built the brand."

Adam Von Rothfelder is back on the show today, and we're sharing another slice of our new course, Smart Product Creation. In this episode, you will hear Adam (CEO of Strong Coffee) describe how he overhauled the Brand Identity of the E-Comm brand "Gigalabs" (A nootropic supplements brand offering "Degen Enhancements"). You will also hear about Pepsi and Coke, Liquid Death and ELF cosmetics, and Boom by Cindy Joseph as he talks with Colleen Taylor (Director of Operations at Smart Marketer), Parker Hilton (Co-Founder of Gigalabs), and our very own John Grimshaw (CMO of Smart Marketer and the host of this episode).

• Does your color scheme really matter (or is it just subjective)?

• Keys to creating a consistent experience for your consumer

• How to choose your brand elements based on your target audience

• What happens if you don't invest in your branding?

And more!

Mentioned In This Episode:

Smart Product Creation *NEW* Course, https://smartmarketer.com/smart-product-creation/

Parkers Company, https://gigalabs.com/

Adam Von Rothfelder, https://www.linkedin.com/in/vonrothfelder/

For more Episodes and Resources, https://smartmarketer.com/blog/?cat=podcasts

John Grimshaw,https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwgrimshaw/

Smart Marketer Courses, https://smartmarketer.com/courses/

00:00 John sets the stage.

00:55 Let's Dive In

04:38 Capturing The Spirit Of A Brand (e.g. Gigalabs)

06:18 Having a consistent 'look' versus having a consistent color

08:42 "Pepsi just buys celebrity-ism. Coca-Cola owns it".

12:04 Parker Hilton talks about honing in on their target audience through Branding

13:00 Colleen Taylor talks about their Boom Re-Brand

14:32 "Being wishy-washy with your branding leads to increased costs because you're attracting a bunch of people who say, yeah, maybe, but no."John Grimshaw

16:13 How Liquid Death "created a new Social Lubricant".

17:52 Branding effects Acquisition costs.

If you're interested in learning more about how you can create new products in your business without having to do all of the legwork yourself, check out Smart Product Creation here: https://smartmarketer.com/smart-product-creation/

Thank you to our listeners for the 5-Star Reviews and meaningful messages! This podcast has surpassed our expectations, and we have you to thank for that!

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

And Follow and Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Please also share these episodes on social media and tag us on your next post #WeOutHere Instagram: @SmartMarketerIG, @mollypittmandigital, @johngrimmshawdigital, @pep_hufen.

Although many of our episodes are urgent "do this now" type content to keep you on the front edge of this Marketing life, we also have episodes packed with timeless and true, evergreen content. To celebrate 200 episodes, we picked five such clips that you may have missed that we believe you will love to hear (and need to hear).

You Will Hear,

• Ezra Firestone on How To Stop Overworking

• Molly Pittman and Kurt Elster on What Marketers Get Wrong With Storytelling

• John Grimshaw sharing one of his 8 Immutable Laws for Email Marketing

• Pepijn Hufen on where he would begin if he were starting over

• Gabby Bernstein and Molly Pittman on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Clip 1: Episode 148 https://smartmarketer.com/how-to-stop-over-working-and-why-with-ezra-firestone/

Clip 2: Episode 132, https://smartmarketer.com/is-it-the-market-or-is-it-your-marketing-with-kurt-elster-and-molly-pittman/

Clip 3: Episode 143, https://smartmarketer.com/the-8-immutable-laws-of-email-marketing-with-john-grimshaw-2/

Clip 4: Episode 166,

https://smartmarketer.com/a-solid-strategy-for-your-first-1000-in-facebook-ads/

Clip 5: Episode 120,

https://smartmarketer.com/whats-holding-you-back-as-a-digital-entrepreneur-special-episode-with-gabby-bernstein/

"If you're an entrepreneur, your career is a relationship. Your business is your relationship. It's a very intimate relationship. That relationship is revealing to you the unresolved parts of your shadow side that need to be". Gabby Bernstein

01:16 Thank you for your support. Here's what's coming up.

04:12 Ezra Firestone: How To Stop Overworking

07:26 Molly Pittman and Kurt Elster on Storytelling: Have you Learned the Basics yet?

13:10 John Grimshaw on How to Make Your Emails Stand Out in the Inbox.

20:24 Pepijn Hufen on A Strategy For Your First $1k As An Entrepreneur

27:21 Gabby Bernstein and Molly Pittman on How Personal Growth Allows You To Succeed

33:04 A Gentle Nudge From John Grimshaw

Thank you to our listeners for the 5-Star Reviews and meaningful messages! This podcast has surpassed our expectations, and we have you to thank for that!

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

And Follow and Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Please also share these episodes on social media and tag us on your next post #WeOutHere Instagram: @SmartMarketerIG, @mollypittmandigital, @johngrimmshawdigital, @pep_hufen.

You wouldn't believe how many Marketers and Entrepreneurs don't understand the subject of Offers. Fortunately, John Grimshaw is passionate about this, and he's on the show today to share three proven offer formulas that you can consider using for your next product launch.

John and his team at Smart Marketer have seen these Offers work for themselves, their clients, and for businesses of all shapes and sizes. As he unpacks each formula with examples, you will start to recognize these strategies in use all around you, and you will be able to implement them for your next product launch.

• The Greatest Enemy To Selling Your Product

• When to use the Buzz-Builder Launch

• When the Pre-Order (Or Beta) Launch works best

• The Key to Achieving Growth and Scale

And more!

Mentioned In This Episode:

Smart Product Creation, https://smartmarketer.com/smart-product-creation/

For more Episodes and Resources, https://smartmarketer.com/blog/?cat=podcasts

John Grimshaw,https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwgrimshaw/

01:20 Why This Topic Gets Overlooked and Skimmed Over

02:32 The Basics of John's 5-Step Offer Formula

07:28 Proven Offer #1:The Buzz Builder Launch

12:37 Proven Offer #2: The Pre-Order (Or Beta) Launch

"Pre-orders (in general) work well when they leverage highly engaged existing audiences who have a lifestyle or hobbyist connection to whatever you're selling." John Grimshaw

19:53 Proven Offer #3: The Seasonal Event Launch

22:18 "This Is Where the Marketing Comes In"

24:34 In Summary

Thank you to our listeners for the 5-Star Reviews and meaningful messages! This podcast has surpassed our expectations, and we have you to thank for that!

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

And Follow and Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Please also share these episodes on social media and tag us on your next post #WeOutHere Instagram: @SmartMarketerIG, @mollypittmandigital, @johngrimmshawdigital, @pep_hufen.

Does your business need to be profitable every month? Pepijn Hufen (CEO of the Smart Marketer Agency) is back with a topic that's crucial for any business owner: Cost Per Acquisition (CPA).

As an entrepreneur or marketer, you're sure to be familiar with the term, but today, Pep shares the approach he and his team use with their clients at the Smart Marketer Agency. Plus, he introduces an alternative metric that he prefers using for business growth and scaling.

• Why you can't look at CPA in isolation (context is crucial)

• How to set the right goals for your unique business

• How powerful a Blended ROAS Goal is for profitability

• How Customer Value over the first year informs your decisions about CPA

LINKS

Pepijn Hufen, on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ and Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pep_hufen/

The Smart Marketer Agency, https://smartmarketeragency.com/

For more Episodes and Resources, https://smartmarketer.com/blog/?cat=podcasts

Thank you to our listeners for the 5-Star Reviews and meaningful messages! This podcast has surpassed our expectations, and we have you to thank for that!

If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to follow us (and leave us a review) on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-marketer-podcast/id1522629407)

And/Or Follow and Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Please also share these episodes on social media and tag us on your next post #WeOutHere Instagram: @SmartMarketerIG, @mollypittmandigital, @johngrimmshawdigital, @pep_hufen.

"Understanding how much you can spend to acquire a customer (and how to approach this) is different for every business, but it's incredibly important. You need new customers; they're the lifeblood of your business, but every month, your business needs to be profitable". Pepijn Hufen

01:24 Let's Dive In

05:28 Set your Blended ROAS goal.

07:21 If You're More Advanced In Your Business Journey

08:01 Balancing new customer acquisition with existing customer monetization

10:37 Increase your average order value

14:09 In Summary

"In my opinion, new customer ROAS should always be in the conversation because it's just a more useful metric than just CPA." Pepijn Hufen