Start Smart Now

03/23/2026

🚫 Test a no target ad set.

You might be surprised that one of our highest-performing ad sets we run for clients is a "no target" ad set.

👉 no interests
👉 no behaviors
👉 no lookalikes

Just:
✔️ Location
✔️ Age (sometimes)

Over-targeting happens more often than you imagine, and when it happens, Meta will:

❌ Restrict delivery
❌ Increase costs
❌ Miss qualified buyers

A broad "no target" ad set can open up:

✅ Lower CPMs
✅ Better conversion rates on ad objective
✅ More scale since the audience has few limitations
✅ Better optimization over time

The key to success is:

👉 Give your ad one goal (purchase, lead, etc.)
👉 Make sure the data is accurate (pixel + conversions)
👉 Create a very strong creative featuring your ICP (Meta needs to know what you Ideal Client literally looks like in the real world.)

Need help? Book a Fix Your Ads Session with me - https://startsmartnow.com/op/fix-your-ads-in-60-minutes/.

03/21/2026

One Ad. One Job.

Trying to get view, leads, and sales from the same ad?

That’s the problem.

Your ad should have ONE objective—and everything else should fiercely align with it.

Creative. Headline. Copy. CTA. Landing page.

Pick one goal → optimize for it → results improve.

Tracking Tip: Verify your ad pixel is configured to accurately track conversions for your objective.

Analysis Tip: Research ad benchmarks to know if your objective conversion rate is below, above, or average.

Frustrated? Book a Fix Your Ads in 60 Minutes session - https://startsmartnow.com/op/fix-your-ads-in-60-minutes/.

08/03/2025

Rest is essential. It takes a lot of energy to build the business and life your dreams. To all you aspiring entrepreneurs, remember to prioritize rest. It will recharge your mind, body, and soul. You’ll be ready for your next sprint!

07/19/2025

Beautiful morning hike!

11/13/2024

If you've put off working on your brand identity, read this article for a motivational boost. Small businesses with a strong brand are more likely to have a strong bottom line. Read more to find out why!

https://keap.com/small-business-automation-blog/marketing/branding/a-complete-branding-checklist-for-your-sales-and-marketing-activities

Start Smart Now offers brand building services to small businesses. Reach out to schedule a free consultation with our Brand Strategist.

Creating a strong brand takes time—and consistency—but by putting in the work to establish a cohesive brand experience for customers, you’ll slowly start to build the kind of loyalty that will grow your business for years to come.

11/07/2024

Digital marketing is today's microphone for businesses of all sizes. However... “To some people it seems like the microphone is making people rich, but they are missing the point. The money doesn’t go to people who know how a microphone works, it goes to the people who know how to sing.” -Daniel Priestly

Don't make the mistake of overlooking the importance of having your branding dialed in all the way before you start spending a lot of time, energy, and money on digital marketing.

Learn more here -> https://startsmartnow.substack.com/p/key-1-the-singer-learning-series

10/23/2024

Can one-minute messages be powerful? My answer is ABSOLUTELY! That's why I'm creating one-minute marketing videos on YouTube. I'm challenging myself to get clear on the most important ideas I have to share about how to effectively use digital marketing to build a lasting brand.

Here's an idea I love that only took a few seconds to say, and it's at the heart of what I teach about digital marketing: “Gentlemen, this is a football!”

Legend has it that Vince Lombardi held up a football and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football!” He then had everyone open up their playbooks and start on page one, where they began to learn the fundamentals – blocking, tackling, throwing, catching, etc.

Building a lasting brand takes strategy, focus, and the right approach to digital marketing. If you're a solopreneur or small business owner who wants to gro...

09/25/2024

Can you relate to the top 3 small business marketing challenges in this Keap article? Challenge 1 - Developing content for marketing. Challenge 2 - Standing out from your competitors. Challenge 3 - Consistent customer acquisition. These are challenges that Start Smart Now helps businesses solve. Check out the article here -> https://keap.com/small-business-automation-blog/marketing/top-3-small-business-marketing-challenges. Interested in a Keap Free Trial? DM for a special link.

We discovered the top three marketing challenges small business owners had to overcome for success. Learn what they are and how to conquer them with business automation.

09/06/2024

If you’re a solopreneur aiming for 6 figures or a small business owner looking to scale, you might be feeling overwhelmed with all the latest digital marketing hacks promising the big time.

You need more than hack to solve the biggest challenge facing solopreneurs and small businesses: PROFITABLE GROWTH.

I recently read in Forbes that 38% of small businesses run out of money and 42% experience inadequate market demand. As a result, these businesses don’t last. There isn’t a hack that’s going to fix a problem this big, but there is something you can do to stay in the game!

Based on my 24 years of experience as the owner of an agency, I can confidently say that building a solid digital marketing foundation is a surefire way to beat the odds. That’s why I’m publishing a free learning series called “5 Keys to Digital Marketing That ROCK!”

I’m not trying to be clever with the title. My other passion in life is music. I’ve noticed an interesting similarity between what it takes for an artist to make it in music and an entrepreneur to make it in business.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll learn: (1) The Singer (2) The Microphone (3) The Stage (4) The Fan Club (5) The Game Plan.

Curious to find out how all this relates to marketing a lasting brand? Follow my business here on LinkedIn for updates and subscribe to my Substack here to stay tuned!

https://startsmartnow.substack.com/p/learning-series-5-keys-to-digital