What's New With Advertising

Struggling to break past six figures with your Meta (Facebook) ads? In this episode of The Growth Marketing Stories podcast, Aazar sits down with Ovidia, founder of the eight-figure brand Perfect Jean, to reveal actionable strategies for scaling paid media, creative operations, and unlocking consistent ad winners.

💡 What You'll Learn:

The exact strategies Ovidia used to turn Perfect Jean into an eight-figure DTC powerhouse

How to avoid the creative stagnation that stalls growth in Meta ads

The truth about creative volume vs. creative quality in paid social

Why product quality and retention are the secret weapons for profitable scaling

The game-changing importance of tight creative testing, charismatic creators, and data-driven feedback loops

Real-life examples of media buying—like campaign consolidation and CBO/ASC tactics—that led to 3-5x ad spend growth

How to refine messaging, hooks, and storytelling to engage niche audiences (including plus size/big & tall customers)

Managing agencies vs. in-house production: what really works for sustainable scaling

Optimizing for second purchase and combating rising CPMs and CAC on Meta in 2025

👖 Whether you're an ecommerce founder, DTC marketer, or growth lead, this episode will equip you with practical insights for supercharging paid social results using modern creative strategies and disciplined growth frameworks.

🔍 Keywords: scaling meta ads, Facebook ads scale, creative testing, DTC growth marketing, ad strategy 2024, ecommerce scaling, perfect jean story, creative operations, retention marketing, paid social success, winning creative, plus size ecommerce, agency vs in-house, performance creative

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Ovidia’s Background Who is Ovidia? Career recap and journey.

[00:02:44] Early Ad Creative Lessons Learning the impact of strong creative assets

[00:03:42] Launching Perfect Gene Launching with focus on unit economics, profitability.

[00:04:11] Creative Operations & Brand Voice Why attention-grabbing creative was crucial.

[00:04:42] Early Growth & Product Differentiation Great product’s impact on initial success.

[00:07:00] Hitting Scaling Roadblocks Problems with team, agencies, stale creative.

[00:08:57] Fixing Creative & Agency Feedback Changing processes, candid feedback, sharpening creative.

[00:11:55] Developing a Creative Vision Why creative diversity and quality matter.

[00:12:53] Messaging, Audiences, and Ad Angles Leaning into Plus sizes and strong messaging.

[00:14:46] Retention & Customer Loyalty Product quality driving repeat purchases.

[00:16:24] Media Buying Strategy Changes Campaign consolidation and testing with ASC.

[00:18:06] Creative Quality vs. Quantity Focus on narrative, scripting, compelling creators.

[00:20:11] Creator Selection & Agency Collaboration Choosing the right creators, balancing relationships.

[00:22:15] Creative Volume & Testing Philosophy How creative volume fits into the strategy.

[00:23:24] Coping with Rising Costs on Meta Optimizing for second purchase, channel diversification.

[00:25:08] Conclusion & Final Thoughts Operating with control and impact in marketing.

Connect with Marco and me here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aazarshad/

https://x.com/Aazarshad

https://x.com/recklessventure

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

#marketing #growthmarketing #ads #advertising #creativity #psychology #entrepreneur

In this episode, we dive into the world of media buying with insights from industry experts.

Discover how to effectively run Facebook ads in 2025 with proven strategies from seasoned agency owners. 

We explore creative diversification, ad account structuring, and optimization techniques tailored for ecommerce and DTC brands.

Learn how to reduce ad frequency, test new creatives, and balance quality versus quantity for maximum impact. 

Gain actionable advice on scaling Facebook ads, improving conversion rates, and staying ahead with the latest advertising trends.

Time stamps:

00:06:51 — ABO Testing with Multiple Variations

Isolate concepts and quickly spot winners.

00:07:00 — Immediate Scaling in Testing Phase

Don’t wait: scale right away when you see traction.

00:07:08 — Post ID Scaling to ASC+

Move winners to Advantage Shopping+ for higher budget spends.

00:07:21 — Cost Cap Strategy for Weekend Scaling

Unlock spend when conversion rates spike.

00:07:32 — Alignment: Ad Copy & Landing Page

Ensure copy, angle, and landing page match perfectly.

00:07:44 — Whitelisting Influencer Ads

Boost results through whitelisted influencer campaigns.

00:08:03 — Leveraging Topical & Tariff Messaging

Capitalize on trending topics or tariffs for relevance.

00:09:25 — Audit-First: Problem Diagnosis Before Launch

Begin with a deep audit to pinpoint big wins.

00:09:58 — Relaunching Past High-Performing Post IDs

Revive dormant winners for instant traction.

00:11:36 — Dynamic Testing Budgets & CBO Switch

Adjust testing strategy based on hit rates.

00:12:01 — Re-Optimization and Scaling Conversations

Iterate based on results: scale, re-optimize, or pull back.

00:13:58 — Team-Driven Creative Strategy Ideation

Guide in-house or external teams for fresh concepts.

00:14:48 — Mining User Content from Instagram Tags

Source genuine creative from tagged customer posts.

00:26:22 — Resurrection: Duplicating Dying Ads for New Life

Duplicate ads to ‘resurrect’ their previous performance.

Join us for a comprehensive guide to mastering media buying in the modern age. 

Check out Marin's Youtube where he shares these insights regularly: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzAGEQQ-RaqUjpXeDKGkI0Q  

Connect with Marco and me here: The Performers Newsletter:

https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe 

The Performers Agency:

https://theperformers.io/ 

The Performers Mastermind:

https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco'sAgencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/ 

https://www.shepherdagency.co/ 

#marketing #growthmarketing #ads #advertising #creativity #psychology #entrepreneur

For better visual experience, we recommend check out our ad on Youtube: https://go.aazarshad.com/dumb-ads

In this episode, we discussed dumb ads that really worked for us. Especially when we didn't think they'd win. Guess what? We might have thought they were dumb, but they worked.

The pattern?

These ads weren't actually dumb. They were:

• Memorable

• Authentic

• Simple

• Emotionally resonant

Takeaway:

Sometimes the ads that seem ridiculous in the boardroom are exactly what will cut through the noise.

The best marketing doesn't always look like marketing.

What matters isn't how clever your ad seems internally.

What matters is whether it stops the scroll, creates an emotion, and drives action

Timestamps:

00:01:21 – First ad example: “Living with low T is tough” – why this simple, ‘dumb’ ad keeps working and insights from its success.

00:02:37 – Discussion on why the ad works: simplicity, imagery, and relatable headline.

00:03:36 – Iterations and headline successes from the ad.

00:04:14 – Second ad example: cartoon-style ad for kids’ emotional regulation—format, copywriting, and why clients don’t like but audiences do.

00:06:01 – Third ad example in the same theme: “Say goodbye to boring summer” and the effectiveness of cartoon hands.

00:08:02 – Next ad analysis: “golden milk with spice”—lack of benefits in the copy and how it still lands with the right audience.

00:09:26 – Another example: Betacamp ad about building a business in summer; hands holding signs as a recurring theme.

00:10:46 – Observations about the “sign” creative theme in successful ads.

00:11:42 – Branded SaaS ad example that unexpectedly outperforms others due to clear value proposition and branding.

00:12:22 – Story about Fermat and how a landing page graphic became a winning ad.

00:14:08 – More surprising ad success stories: poorly designed or ‘mistake’ ads that excel in performance.

00:16:41 – Listening to an Ozprint ad: humor, Aussie culture, entertaining elements.

00:18:02 – Why humor and cultural cues help the Ozprint ad work so well.

00:19:50 – Another Ozprint ad: breakdown of elements, storytelling, and video structure.

00:21:25 – Discussion on editing, relatability, and final thoughts on ad creativity.

00:21:57 – Wrap-up and key takeaways: try sign ads, make mistakes, and embrace funky concepts.

If you need timestamps for any specific ad, story, or segment in more detail, just let me know!

Connect with Marco and me here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Creative Ad Strategy Bootcamp: https://theperformers.io/creative-ad-strategy-bootcamp

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

#marketing #growthmarketing #ads #advertising #creativity #psychology #entrepreneur

Attention! For better experience, we do recommend check out our Youtube video so you can see the ad examples visually too: https://go.aazarshad.com/ai-ads

In this episode of we deep into actionable ways to leverage AI for ad creation, focusing on research, ideation, and scripting—without losing the human touch.

You'll learn both hosts’ proven frameworks for using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Poppy to.

Tools:

Atria: https://tryatria.com/?linkId=lp_879287&sourceId=aazar-shad&tenantId=atria

https://aazar--cleverprogrammer.thrivecart.com/poppy-ai-checkout/

Discussion:

Do deep customer and market research

Uncover hidden motivations and buying behaviors

Find high-converting ad angles, headlines, and copy ideas

Turn real customer reviews and emotional triggers into compelling ads

Generate ad scripts and creative storyboards in under 15 minutes

Whether you’re running ads for DTC, e-commerce, or agency clients, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at real tools and methods that have generated seven figures for clients. Plus, watch as Aazar and Marco actually create an ad for a candle brand in real time—from discovering insights to writing and visualizing the ad concept!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:51 – Marco’s 7-figure AI research framework

09:21 – The first principles mindset for ad creation

09:45 – Aazar’s rapid-fire research & scripting process

16:04 – Turning insights into ad copy and creative

22:56 – Workflow, tools, and quick ideation tips

24:51 – How to apply these AI methods for your brand

If you’ve ever wondered how leading agencies use AI to shortcut ad research or want to build better creatives (without generic outputs), this episode is for you!

Connect with Marco and I here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

🎧 Listen, learn, and start creating high-converting ads with AI today!

P.S. AI Image credits goes to Joanna Lambadjieva. She has an amazing LI content on AI.

#AI #AdCreatives #GrowthMarketing #Copywriting #marketingpodcasts

In this episode, we discussed:

00:00 Importance of Structured Creative Testing

04:19 Ad Analysis and Strategy Development

09:06 Optimizing Product Advertising Headlines

11:49 Creative Testing Unlocks New Meta Audiences

13:01 Focus on Weekly Winning Ads

18:11 Decoding Customer Insights Systematically

20:36 Effective Client Campaign Strategy

23:17 Consistency Over Daily Fluctuations

26:28 Key Metrics for Creative Testing

29:49 Creative Strategy: Minor Tweaks, Concept Iteration

35:30 Creative Testing Pitfalls in Marketing

36:16 Creative Strategy and Testing Mistakes

39:26 Creative Content Generation Techniques

Connect with Marco and me here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

Show notes:

03:50 Tariff Ads

08:30 Tea DTC Ad Creative Working

11:23 Sexy Ad We Wish We Created

13:33 Meggings Appeal Dynamics

18:30 UX Familiarity Ad Format Working

21:29 90-Day Growth Roadmap To Win ANY Ad Account

90-Day Creative Roadmap link.

Connect with Marco and I here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

This week we discussed:

00:00 AI Tools That Create Stopping Brolls

07:03 Ad Format You Should Steal

11:01 How to Fix An Ad Account Struggling Suddenly

14:03 Market Challenges: Low Repeat Purchases

17:04 DTC Brand Aazar Took Over

20:19 Fashion Strategy Diverges from Ecom Trends

24:10 Fashion Ads: Why Features Are Important

26:01 Upcoming Tests & Video Ads

Connect with Marco and I here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

This week we discussed:

04:05 AI Tool Fixes Lip Sync Problem

08:06 Automated Audience Targeting with Proxima

12:50 Why this carousel ad worked for us

15:32 Business Fundamentals Beat Marketing Tools

20:34 Ad simple ad format worked for us

24:12 We stacked multiple psychology ticks in this ad

Tools we discussed:

Proxima: https://www.proxima.ai/demo?utm_source=aazar&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=platform-demo

Captions: https://captions.ai/

Connect with Marco and I here:

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

https://www.ctrfactory.com/

https://www.shepherdagency.co/

This week, we discussed:

Show notes:

00:00 Rethinking Advertising: Focus on Branding

05:51 Authentic-Looking Advertorial Strategy

06:37 Innovative Ad Pricing Strategy

12:04 Viral Success from Super Bowl Ad

13:09 Engage Audiences Without Huge Budget

17:04 Observing Social Media Trends Indirectly

20:53 Lengthy Answers Boost Engagement

Connect with Marco and I here:

Marco Lange: X I LinkedIn

Aazar Ali Shad: X I LinkedIn I TikTok I Instagram

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

• https://www.ctrfactory.com/
• https://www.shepherdagency.co/

In This Episode:

1. AI in Script Writing: The Reality Check Discover Marco's experiments with AI-only scripts versus traditional creative strategist-written content. While AI offers innovative ideas, it hasn't yet mastered the art of evoking the emotions that drive engagement. The verdict? Listen to the episode.
2. Revolutionizing Media Buying with AI Learn about the revolutionary tool, Magic X, which Marco has been testing to streamline media buying. By leveraging AI to automate decisions based on set parameters, Marco's team is witnessing more efficient and profitable campaigns. Could this be the future of media buying?
3. Grüns' Winning Creative Strategy Uncover the secrets behind Grüns' rapid growth to a $100 million brand. Their simple yet effective creative strategy emphasizes relatable content and smart positioning. Their focus on pain points—with a creative twist—shows that sometimes less is more when connecting with your audience.

Why Tune In? This episode is packed with actionable insights for leveraging AI effectively in your marketing efforts while showcasing creative strategies that yield substantial results. Whether you're a small agency or a freelance marketer, there's a nugget of wisdom here for you.

Tools we mentioned

• MadgicX

Show notes:

00:00 AI-Driven Marketing Script Debate

05:40 AI Complements Human Strategy

08:20 AI's Idea Generation vs Emotional Impact

10:25 "Automated Ad Management with AI"

13:01 "Magic X: AI Tool for Freelancers"

17:27 Targeted Ads Solve Parenting Challenges

Connect with Marco and I here:

Marco Lange: X I LinkedIn

Aazar Ali Shad: X I LinkedIn I TikTok I Instagram

The Performers Newsletter: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/subscribe

The Performers Agency: https://theperformers.io/

The Performers Mastermind:https://theperformers.io/mastermind-community

Marco's Agencies:

• https://www.ctrfactory.com/
• https://www.shepherdagency.co/