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: 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.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?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/

Hi Everyone! We changed the name and switched the pod concept and format. Everything in the pod, listen to it. Show notes: 00:00 Advertising Enthusiasts Discuss Latest Trends 06:08 Scaling AI Models for Realism 08:48 Authentic LTV Showcase Strategy 10:53 Improving Ad Performance Metrics 15:53 Effective Comparison Advertising Strategy 18:07 Effective Ad Tweaks Impact Results 20:11 Effective Ad Strategies The tools we mentioned: IconPoppy AI Show notes: Introduction to the Podcast Aazar introduces the podcast "Growth Marketing Stories" and explains the new format.Marco Lange is introduced as Aazar's partner for the new format. Discussion on Advertising Aazar and Marco express their passion for advertising and its dynamic nature.They highlight the noise in platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. What’s New in Advertising Aazar introduces a new advertising tool called Icon Me.The capabilities and potential of Icon Me as an end-to-end advertising tool are discussed.Specific features and predictions about the tool are highlighted. Marco’s Agency and Projects Marco shares information about his agency, Shepherd, and the services they provide.The Creative Factory project and its focus on performance-based ad creation is explained. Aazar’s Current Focus Aazar discusses his transition from growth marketing to advertising.Emphasis on his work with education, health, and tech companies. The Role of AI in Advertising Aazar elaborates on the use of AI tools like Icon Me and their impact on advertising jobs.Issues with onboarding and lip-syncing in AI-generated content are discussed. Advertising Tools and Solutions Detailed insights into the Poppy AI tool.How Poppy AI aids in script creation and the integration of multiple functionalities.Personal experiences and testimonials on the effectiveness of Poppy AI are shared. Successful Advertising Strategies Marco shares a successful ad strategy using a comparison format against competitors.Details of how to highlight product advantages and the impact on customer interest.Aazar discusses the effectiveness of Venn diagram ads.The importance of finding key benefits that resonate with the audience is mentioned. 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/

This podcast is all about how a simple change could lead to 2x increase in average order value and reduced the cost in half. If you like this episode then: Connect with Toby WinchAnd check out my newsletter where I share tactical content to improve your paid marketing: https://www.blog.theperformers.io/

This is the behind-the-scenes story of my mastermind call that I am sharing with you. If you are interested in my mastermind group, DM me on Twitter for more. Timestamps: 1:42 - Dara's story about how she got into paid social marketing 6:08 - Who inspires Dara to look up to? 8:34 - What Dara has changed her mind about Facebook Ads? 13:24 - How do you fight the low ROAS? 14:40 - What if the CTR is above 1% but conversions are still low 17:29 - How do you fight attribution on Apple store post IOS14? 19:33 - Key scaling lessons 22:33 - UGC vs IGC content 27:48 - Is retargeting still relevant in 2022 and beyond? 30:52 - What are your Black Friday lessons Links Dara is pretty active on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DenneyDara And her YouTube channel is worth following: https://www.youtube.com/@DaraDenney Join our Paid Social Mastermind here if you are interested: https://forms.gle/LyW9VHiecQ3qB1TS6

Growth marketing stories will have more paid social marketing guests. Here's our first one: Cody Plofker. This was discussed in our mastermind group; if you want to level up your paid social marketing skills, join our group here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMAeF1jMu7oukDdCYNJfVacxUmTjv85W8IKQNMw09rQx6dqg/viewform?usp=send_form In this episode, we discussed the following: Education on paid socialAd account structureCreative testing processThe new meta guidelinesTikTok vs Meta ads Links: Check out Cody's content and profile to learn more: TwitterDown to Chat PodcastCody's newsletter

You can also read these lessons here: If you want these lessons in text: https://twitter.com/Aazarshad/status/1414585344058564611 Join my newsletter where I share marketing frameworks I learn and I ask my guests to share it too: https://aazarshad.com/newsletter/ Join the paid social mastermind here: https://forms.gle/a7m2G4bQGueFdLWV6

In this episode, Daphne broke down her process how she increased her company's conversion rate. Below are some timestamps: 00:59 - A bit about Daphne's growth background 03:22 - The heights story of increasing 300% conversion rate 12:03 - How they drilled down 16 to 3 key value props 13:38 - How churned customers helped 15:35 - How founders were a key persona and why they should not have ignored it. 19:22 - 3 key mental models from this story Leave your feedback here: https://galas.fm/episode/1c037a73-33ac-59e1-a6e1-232baa825a21 Show notes Daphne's LI profile300% increase articleMy LI and Twitter if you wanna connect.

15 tactics of cold email I am sharing from my last 10 year experience. And here's a good email as an example: https://twitter.com/Aazarshad/status/1555179700087029766

Here are the show notes: The main thread: https://twitter.com/Aazarshad/status/1432689651823742978How to launch on Product Hunt: https://www.swipefiles.com/articles/how-to-launch-on-product-huntQuora Marketing: https://albacross.com/newsroom/organic-quora-marketing/Slack marketing: https://awario.com/blog/slack-for-social-media-marketing-user-acquisition/Newsletter for more: aazarshad.com/newsletter

You can see these lessons here: My Twitter Thread: https://twitter.com/Aazarshad/status/1434864249650630659My Newsletter: https://aazarshad.com/newsletter/

Ron Shah was kind enough to share his e-commerce business lessons (not very common). Here's what we've discussed: 1:52 - The beginning of MyObvi: How three friends wanted to build their own brand 8:41 - How they used scarcity and social proof to create FOMO 10:53 - Journey till 200K 13:35 - What changed at $1mn revenue 14:50 - What changed at $10mn revenue 15:49 - What they different from $10-30Mn revenue 17:01 - How do they build a community as an ecommerce company? 18:48 - Mental models to grow Instagram organic 21:04 - How everyone is a CEO at My Obvi Key links My newsletter to get 10 best learning from all these podcasts: https://aazarshad.com/newsletter/ Ron's Tweet thread on his business: https://twitter.com/obviceo/status/1509933638154133513 Check out Myobvi Ash is a great follow to learn performance marketing: https://twitter.com/ashvinmelwani