Why Your $50K Ad Budget Is Losing to an iPhone artwork
Marketing Smores Podcast

Why Your $50K Ad Budget Is Losing to an iPhone

  • S1E8
  • 13:35
  • March 10th 2026

Meta's algorithm no longer rewards polish — it rewards realness. In today's episode, Jacob breaks down why "ugly" lo-fi ads are outperforming expensive studio creative on Meta right now, and what that means for your Cost Per Acquisition this week. He also covers Meta's new prompt-based audience targeting that cuts campaign setup from hours to minutes, why AI chatbots are quietly eating retail media's $38 billion search market (and what to do before your search ad ROI takes a hit), and a new tool called Timelaps that finally tells you whether your brand is actually growing — or if you're just renting customers one click at a time.

If you're spending money on paid ads and you want to know why your numbers feel off, this episode is your answer.

Topics covered:

Meta's Andromeda AI and the "ugly ad" revolution · Prompt-based audience targeting · AI chatbots disrupting retail search · Meta's attribution cleanup · Tool Watch: Timelaps

Marketing Smores Podcast

Welcome to Marketing S'mores, where we ignite the campfire of creativity and innovation in the world of marketing. Hosted by Jacob Campos, this podcast is your go-to guide in the wilderness of today's dynamic marketing landscape.

Each week, we gather around our digital campfire to roast the marshmallows of marketing wisdom. From SEO to social media, content marketing to email strategies, we unpack it all, serving you a delightful mix of insights, tips, and trends. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just setting up your tent, we've got the perfect s'more of knowledge for you.

We also host expert guests who share their unique experiences and strategies, helping you blaze a trail to success. And don't miss our S'mores Q&A, where we answer your burning questions about all things marketing.

So, pull up a log, and join us around the campfire as we explore the world of marketing one s'more at a time.