Straight answers on ads, websites and more calls.
What we've learned building and running Google and Meta ads and websites for service businesses, written the way we'd say it across the table.
Why "Just Boost It" Isn't the Same as Running Ads
The Boost button is right there, it's cheap, and it feels like advertising. Here's what it actually does, and where it quietly costs you money.
Should You Pause Your Ads on Weekends and Holidays?
Turning ads off when the office is closed feels smart. For a lot of businesses it quietly costs them the best leads of the week. Here's how to decide.
Why Your Ad Budget Doesn't Work the Way You Think
Your daily budget is an average. Your money buys auctions, not leads, and doubling it rarely doubles the calls. Here's how ad spend really moves.
Your First 30 Days of Ads, Week by Week
The first month of a new ad campaign has a shape. Here's what happens before launch, in the learning weeks, and when the first report lands.
Why Someone Clicked Your Ad and Then Vanished
Sixty clicks, four calls. Where did everyone else go? Some never left, some were never buyers, and some left over something you can fix this week.
What Belongs in Your Ad Before You Spend a Dollar
Most ad copy problems trace back to what the ad promises and who it promises it to. Here's what a paid ad has to say before it earns a click worth paying for.
Why Negative Keywords Save More Money Than a Bigger Budget
Most wasted Google Ads spend isn't about bidding too high. It's about paying for searches that were never going to become customers. Negative keywords fix that.
What Does a Marketing Agency Actually Do All Month?
The ads are built and Google is showing them. So what are you paying for every month? Here's the week-by-week work behind a managed ad account.
What a Good Cost Per Lead Looks Like for Your Business
There's no universal good cost per lead. Here's how to work out yours from your job value, your margin and your close rate, with real examples.
Should You Run Ads Yourself or Hire Someone?
Running your own ads can work. So can hiring an agency. Here's how to tell which one fits where your business is right now.
How Many Keywords Should You Actually Bid On?
More keywords doesn't mean more leads. Here's how to think about keyword count in a Google Ads campaign, and why a short, tight list usually wins.
How Fast Do You Really Need to Call a New Lead?
You can run great ads and still lose the sale by being slow to call back. Here's why lead speed decides more than most business owners think.
Why Your Ads Aren't Converting (When the Clicks Look Fine)
Your ads are getting clicks but the phone isn't ringing. That gap almost always lives in one of a few specific places. Here's where to look first.
Why Your First Month of Ads Isn't Supposed to Be Profitable
Most business owners judge their ads too early and pull the plug right before they'd have worked. Here's what the first three months actually look like.
How Much Should a Small Business Actually Spend on Ads?
There's no magic number for an ad budget. But there is a way to figure out what's enough to learn something instead of just burning cash.
If You Fire Your Agency, Do You Keep Your Ad Account?
Whether you keep your ad account after leaving an agency is decided the week you sign. Here's what you can lose and how to check where you stand today.
What Should Happen After Someone Clicks Your Ad?
Most ad money leaks out after the click, not before it. Here's what a real lead journey looks like and where small businesses lose the people they paid to reach.
Is Your Business Ready for Google Ads?
Budget isn't the real qualifier. Here's what actually determines whether Google Ads will work for your business right now, and what to fix first if it won't.
Google Ads vs. Meta Ads: Which Should You Start With?
The question we get asked most. The honest answer depends on whether your customers are searching for you or need to be introduced to you.
Why Your Landing Page Matters More Than Your Ad
A great ad with a weak landing page just buys expensive clicks that go nowhere. Here's what a page actually needs to do to turn clicks into customers.
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