What if your ad creative system could think more like Meta's algorithm?

In this live session from Mentor Table Nashville, Smart Marketer's Director of Creative Ben Bennett and Creative Operations Manager Melvin Cotton III break down the exact system they use to plan, produce, analyze, and scale paid social creative in the age of AI and Andromeda.

From diagnosing what's actually working inside your ad account to building scalable creator systems and using AI to uncover hidden performance insights, this episode is a masterclass in modern paid creative strategy.

"Our overall goal is to establish a strong system that provides us good creative and strong feedback." – Melvin Cotton III

If you're tired of guessing what makes ads work and want a smarter process for creating winning creative, this episode is for you.

• Why marketers are overcomplicating "Andromeda" and what actually matters

• The difference between what Meta sees in your ads vs. what it knows about users

• How to use AI to analyze creative at scale

• The creative variables Smart Marketer tracks across every ad

• Why "creative volume" alone isn't enough anymore

• How to identify gaps in your messaging and creative strategy

• The framework for building a scalable creative production system

• Different ways to source UGC and creator content effectively

• Why operational systems are critical for creative scale

• How feedback loops improve ad performance over time

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

• Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/

• Smart Marketer Agency: https://smartmarketeragency.com/

• Mentor Table: https://smartmarketer.com/mentor-table/

• OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend
  Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months.

00:00:17 – Introduction: The Paid Ads Machine
00:01:19 – Ezra Firestone on Why He Uses OmniSend
00:02:41 – Live from Mentor Table Nashville
00:03:55 – How Ben Bennett Joined Smart Marketer
00:06:18 – Creative Planning in the Age of Andromeda
00:08:18 – Why AI & Andromeda Feel Like a "Black Box"
00:12:55 – Using AI to Analyze Creative at Scale
00:17:08 – Building an AI-Powered Creative Data Lab
00:22:34 – Closed Variables vs Open Variables in Creative Analysis
00:25:55 – Applying Marketing Frameworks to Ad Creative
00:29:20 – Turning Creative Data Into Actionable Insights
00:33:32 – What AI Reveals About Winning Creative Patterns
00:36:07 – Why Beginner-Focused Ads Outperformed Problem-Aware Messaging
00:40:56 – Transitioning from Analysis to Production Systems
00:42:01 – Building a Creative Menu for Your Team
00:45:16 – Different Systems for Sourcing UGC & Creator Content
00:48:20 – Creator Compensation & Contracts
00:49:59 – Managing Creative Operations & Tracking Systems
00:51:48 – Identifying Where You Are on the Creative Spectrum
00:52:23 – Final Thoughts & Downloadable Resources

Thank you for tuning into the Smart Marketer Podcast! Your support helps us continue bringing you actionable marketing strategies, behind-the-scenes systems, and real-world business insights.

If you enjoyed this episode:

Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode on social media and tag @smartmarketer
Send feedback or questions to support@smartmarketer.com

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit!

AI can help you write faster, but that does not mean it should be writing your ads for you.

In this podcast episode taken from our Smart Paid Traffic Live training, Senior Paid Performance Specialist Dominique Nobel breaks down her step-by-step process for using AI to create stronger Meta ad copy. You will learn how to build a brand intelligence document, generate better hooks, write stronger body copy, improve headlines and descriptions, and use AI as a volume tool while keeping strategy, judgment, and customer insight in human hands.

"AI is the volume producer, and us humans, we are the ones that are going to be doing the judgement and be the filter." – Dominique Nobel

If you have been using AI and getting copy that feels bland, generic, or a little off, this episode will show you a smarter way to prompt, edit, and test.

• Why vague AI prompts lead to vague, generic ad copy

• How to create a brand intelligence document before asking AI to write anything

• Dominique's step-by-step prompt process for Meta ad copy

• How to generate hooks that stop the scroll and open curiosity loops

• Why body copy should focus on mechanisms, transformation, and objections

• How to write headlines and descriptions that support the click

• Why your CTA should include both a clear action and an objection crusher

• How to use AI for volume while keeping human strategy, fact-checking, and editing in control

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

• Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/

• Smart Paid Traffic: https://smartmarketer.com/smart-paid-traffic/

• OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)

00:00:16 - Introduction: Using AI to Write Stronger Meta Ad Copy
00:01:13 - Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend
00:02:18 - Meet Dominique Nobel and Today's AI Training Agenda
00:04:02 - Rule #1: Your AI Output Is Only as Good as Your Input
00:05:43 - Why You Must Fact-Check and Humanize AI Copy
00:07:40 - AI as the Volume Producer, Humans as the Filter
00:08:45 - Start With a Brand Intelligence Document
00:10:45 - What to Include in Your Competitive Intelligence Prompt
00:13:19 - Writing Better Hooks for Meta Ads
00:20:26 - Building the Body Copy After the Hook
00:26:39 - Why Headlines and Descriptions Still Matter
00:31:08 - Writing CTAs That Drive Action and Handle Objections
00:34:28 - How Hook, Body, CTA, Headline, and Description Work Together
00:35:21 - Live Case Study: Building AI Ad Copy for a Supplement Brand
00:38:16 - Prompt Cowboy AI and Choosing the Right AI Tool
00:39:11 - Final Recap: Test, Iterate, Edit, and Humanize
00:40:27 - Closing Message

If you enjoyed this episode, help us get it in front of more marketers.

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

If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer.

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit

Episode 273: Scaling to $300M+: Paid Media, Attribution & Building Teams That Win

What does it really take to scale to $300M+ in revenue and spend $300K per day on ads?

In this live Mentor Table session from Nashville, Molly Pittman sits down with entrepreneur Rob Schmidt to break down what actually changes as you grow, from attribution and paid media to leadership and team building.

"You have to be really comfortable relying on your other leaders… You need to find good people to surround yourself with that you can trust because you can't do it all yourself. And even if you do, you're not going to be able to put your all into what actually matters for you." – Rob Schmidt

If you're trying to grow, simplify, or step into your role as a true operator, this episode will challenge how you think about scaling.

• Why you cannot scale without trusting your team and how to delegate effectively

• What changes when you are spending millions per month on paid media

• How to think about attribution across multiple models and time windows

• Why relying on a single attribution model can lead to poor decisions

• How to evaluate new channels and big marketing bets

• The truth about brand versus direct response and what actually drives growth

• How to use data and internal tracking to make better marketing decisions

• Why top operators constantly revisit fundamentals and keep learning

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

• Smart Marketer Free Trainings & Resources: https://smartmarketer.com/free-resources/

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

• OmniSend (Sponsor): https://smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use code SMART for 50% off your first three months)

00:00:16 – Introduction & Live Mentor Table Session
00:01:13 – Sponsor: Why Ezra Uses OmniSend
00:02:16 – Meet Rob Schmidt & His $300M Brands
00:03:18 – Inside Winona & Willow
00:04:10 – Rob's Journey from Agency to Operator
00:07:20 – Leadership Shift: Delegation and Hiring
00:09:31 – Paid Media at Scale: What Actually Changes
00:10:39 – Attribution Challenges and Data Complexity
00:12:46 – Direct Response vs Brand Marketing
00:15:10 – Making Big Bets and Testing New Channels
00:17:39 – What Winning Looks Like Moving Forward
00:21:48 – Q&A: Attribution Tools and Data Strategy
00:25:41 – Measuring Organic Traffic and SEO Impact
00:28:21 – Brand vs Direct Response Budget Decisions
00:29:42 – Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

If you enjoyed this episode, help us get it in front of more marketers.

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

If you are ready to grow faster, check out our free trainings and resources at Smart Marketer.

Serve the World Unselfishly and Profit