I’m Barry Hott, and I help brands scale profitably with high-performing paid media strategies, creative testing systems, and conversion-focused insights.

I’ve personally managed over $600 million in paid media spend since 2008, overseeing Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn campaigns for brands like True Classic, Harry’s, Happy V, Lone River, The Perfect Jean, and many more. I specialize in scaling direct-to-consumer and startup brands spending $200K+ per month on ads with strategies grounded in first principles, logic, and contextualized data insights (tracking what the system sees that you can’t).

I’m known for making ugly ads that convert. Clients trust me to optimize every aspect of their acquisition, from raw creative that cuts through the noise to counterintuitive buying strategies that maximize ROI.

Recent brands I’ve helped grow include Happy V, Keeps, Nuts.com, UrbanStems, MoneyLion, Lumin, Cerebral, Wandering Bear Coffee, Mirror, Athletic Greens, and Spartan Race. In 2020, I helped launch Lone River Ranch Water, which was acquired by Diageo in 2021. All three companies I worked with in 2021 were acquired: Lone River, Thesis, and Jump450.

If you’re a decision maker who wants profitable, scalable ad growth, shoot me a DM.

Barry Hott

You don’t need the most beautifully designed pages in the world.

Too many sites and landing pages are overdesigned.

A lot of "ugly" pages win not because they're ugly, but simply because they're easier to read than their prettier counterparts.

A clean white page with black text in a familiar, unbranded, highly-readable font is easier to consume than a beautiful but busy design 99% of the time.

Does this vary by product, audience, and price point? Of course! As with everything else in marketing:

IT DEPENDS.

But if you prioritize the consumer above all, you usually end up in the same place.

What do they expect?
What do they want to see?
What do they NEED to get them to buy?

What wins regardless of the design:

1. Immediate relevance 🎯

2. CLARITY, readability, and scannability 👓

3. Strong relevant copy and storytelling ✍️

4. LOTS OF relevant real social proof in a variety of styles: text, images, videos ⭐

5. Authority + trust 🛡️

6. SPEED 🏎️

7. Reducing friction ⛸️

8. Handling objections 🙋

9. Minimal distractions and undesired exits 🔇

10. A clear offer and path to purchase 🛒

Growing businesses with ugly ads, streamlined execution, and deep consumer empathy.

I worked at an adtech startup 10 years ago and I remember we had a hackathon, and the coolest idea that got built was a chatbot that could answer questions about your ads.

It never really got built out or worked well, but I always dreamed of having something like that so I can just Slack a bot to get a question answered about my ads.

10 years later and Parker from my biz partner Alex Cooper made this dream a reality. Plus, it does so much more!

I'm excited for y'all to try it:

AI & advertising. Helping you make better direct response creatives. Co-Founder @ Adcrate.

Introducing Parker: the world’s first AI Creative Director. Parker allows any brand to produce 10x more viral ads without hiring more people. 

Here’s how it works:

1) Connect your ad account:
Parker analyzes your historical performance and creative data across your ad account.

2) Add Parker to Slack
Tag Parker like a real employee.
Ask questions. Generate briefs. Break down performance.
Parker works inside your team’s workflow.

3) Enable Autonomous Mode
While you sleep, Parker scans TikTok, identifies winning ad patterns, and delivers production-ready concepts directly to Slack—tagging your team with ads to review.

Parker is not another AI ad maker. AI ad tools are wrappers on top of models like Sora, Veo, or Kling. AI avatars are solved.

What no one solves is the research, analysis, and strategic thinking required to create ads that actually go viral.

Parker solves that.

Check it out here: heyparker.ai
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100+ brands including Grüns, Lume Deodorant, and Legends already use Parker to generate more viral ads.

I compiled a list of 100+ AI prompt engineers for hire trained in AI ad creation, including their rates, portfolios, and contact info.

Comment “Parker” and I’ll send it to you. 
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If you’ve read this far from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Everything in my life has lead to this moment:

In 2021, I quit a 100k/yr corporate job with no plan. 

I started an ad creative agency and scaled that business to 45 people and $3m/yr making the best ads in the world for David, Huel, Harry's and 50+ more.

Everything I learned, every ad we ever made trained Parker.

Let's normalize turning off our Meta ads one week per year, just to see what happens to the rest of the business (and to take a vacation).

Every brand should do this.

Curiosity

Senior Digital Manager, Paid Social

Paid Social Strategist

NHN Global

Developed marketing and lead gen strategies through audience segmentation, split testing, data analytics, and reporting. Planned and managed campaigns for TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and ASO.

Marketing Specialist

toddstreet

Coordinated video, event, and creative packages. Managed production schedules, content calendars, vendors, and freelancers. Produced and edited in-house social media content.

Junior Project Manager

Collaborated with producers and creative directors on major product launch. Organized vendor information to streamline selection.

Video Production Intern

Columbia Photography Association

Led staff of 50+ freelance photographers. Recruited and led executive board to oversee finances and operations. Developed ‘New Member Handbook’ for semester orientation sessions.

President

Coordinated 150+ jobs/semester. Helped organize recruitment and promotional campaigns to increase staff and client network.

Vice President

Community Impact at Columbia University

Developed and taught a seminar College Readiness course for adult learners with TASC or HSE certification. Instructed a Level 4 Math TASC certification course.

TASC Coordinator

Senior Digital Manager at Curiosity

Marketing strategist with a focus on SNS/PPC. Passionate about content, data, and their overlap. Completed dual degrees in Film & Media Studies and Sociology at Columbia University. Interested in video content and the evolving digital ads space.

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The Battle

Barry Hott

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The Battle

Barry Hott

Matt Pugh

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Barry Hott's LinkedIn Performance

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