Content Is Profit - Episode Summary Episode: 10X Return? The Simple & Effective Ads Formula with Nickolas Natali
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Hosts: BIZBROS

Introduction

In episode "10X Return? The Simple & Effective Ads Formula with Nickolas Natali," hosted by BIZBROS, listeners delve into the complexities of running effective ad campaigns for service-based businesses. The episode features Nickolas Natali, a top 1% podcaster and founder of a successful "done for you" ads agency. The discussion centers around simplifying ad strategies, offer validation, platform selection, and integrating organic and paid content to maximize revenue.

Guest Background

Nickolas Natali brings a wealth of experience from managing content frameworks for prominent companies like Red Bull and Orangetheory Fitness. He leads a boutique agency specializing in high-converting media strategies, paid ads, short-form content, and lead generation for service-based businesses.

Nickolas Natali [02:39]: "We pretty much run the game on service space. Econ too is great, but service, that's awesome."

Overcoming Ad Intimidation

The conversation begins with addressing common fears associated with running ads, such as the complexity of setting up campaigns or fears of wasting money without guaranteed returns.

BIZBROS Host [00:00]: "Have you ever felt intimidated by running ads? Do you even know how to do it?"

Nickolas emphasizes that a clear, simple roadmap can demystify the ad process, making it accessible even for those new to advertising.

Offer Validation and Types of Offers

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the importance of validating your offer before scaling ad spend. Nickolas suggests starting with small tests to gauge market response.

Nickolas Natali [05:06]: "Start with $500 to a thousand because the first 30 days... that's when you're going to start getting a lot of real data."

The hosts explore different types of offers—Low Ticket, Mid Ticket, and High Ticket—and how to determine which fits best for your business model. Nickolas recommends beginning with a "Done For You" high-ticket offer to establish a robust foundation before introducing other tiers.

Choosing the Right Advertising Platforms

The duo discusses selecting the appropriate platforms based on business needs. Meta (Facebook) is highlighted for its ability to generate a high volume of leads, albeit with varying quality.

Nickolas Natali [11:05]: "Meta is typically great for volume of leads, not necessarily quality... Google Ads... are usually a little bit more high quality because those are people who are actively searching."

Nickolas contrasts this with Google Ads, which, while costing more per lead, often yield higher-quality prospects due to the intent-driven nature of searches.

Balancing Lead Quality and Ad Spend

A key insight revolves around the concept of "friction" in lead generation forms to enhance lead quality. Adding qualifying questions can filter out unqualified leads, though it may increase the cost per lead.

Nickolas Natali [20:32]: "If you are getting so many leads and you're finding that most of them are unqualified, you want to add some steps."

This balance is crucial for optimizing ad spend, ensuring that the leads generated are more likely to convert into paying customers.

Defining Success in Ad Campaigns

Success metrics for ad campaigns are essential for evaluating performance. Nickolas outlines several key indicators:

1. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): The primary metric to determine profitability.

   Nickolas Natali [30:25]: "Are you putting $1 in and getting $2 out, $5 out?"

2. Cost Per Lead (CPL) & Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): Understanding the cost-effectiveness of acquiring each lead and customer.

3. Click-Through Rate (CTR): Assessing the effectiveness of ad copy and overall engagement.

Nickolas recommends maintaining a ROAS of at least 3:1 as a baseline for healthy campaigns.

Integrating Organic and Paid Content

The episode stresses the synergy between organic content and paid advertising. Organic content serves as a powerful tool for lead nurturing, building trust and authority before a sales conversation.

Nickolas Natali [34:20]: "Having content that supports your paid ad campaigns is crucial... it showcases your process and it gives you a launch pad for that sales conversation."

This integration ensures that prospects are well-informed and more likely to convert when they engage with ads.

Customer Journey and Upselling

Nickolas discusses structuring the customer journey starting with low-ticket offers that serve as entry points. From there, businesses can upsell to high-ticket offers, increasing the lifetime value of each customer.

Nickolas Natali [27:58]: "If you start them on a low ticket and you have a customer journey that ends up building to the high ticket, your lifetime value of that customer is much longer."

This strategy not only maximizes revenue but also fosters long-term relationships with customers.

Using Podcasts in Lead Nurturing

Leveraging podcasts as a tool for lead nurturing is another focal point. Nickolas suggests using podcasts to build relationships and trust, which can later be tapped into through ad campaigns.

Nickolas Natali [38:24]: "I've been using the podcast as part of the lead nurturing process... it's a part of building that trust."

This method aligns well with the authentic and relationship-driven nature of podcasting, enhancing overall marketing efforts.

Unique Content Strategies

The hosts explore innovative content strategies, such as creating sitcom-like content to engage audiences uniquely. While Nickolas hasn't tried this specific approach, he acknowledges its potential for brand awareness and customer engagement.

Nickolas Natali [37:36]: "A sitcom that's on your socials... could get them to like you. And then obviously, the topics that you cover would get you to trust you."

This highlights the importance of creativity in content creation to stand out in competitive markets.

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

As the episode concludes, key takeaways include:

• Simplicity is Key: Start with a straightforward ad strategy and gradually optimize.

  Nickolas Natali [39:19]: "Just keep it simple."

• Qualify Your Audience Early: Use headlines and ad copy to filter out undesired leads from the outset.

  Nickolas Natali [39:43]: "Qualify people right away and then don't even worry about the rest."

• Continuous Improvement: Regularly revisit and refine your offers and ad strategies based on performance data.

  Nickolas Natali [27:12]: "It's more in positioning than it is the service themselves."

• Balance Organic and Paid Efforts: Both strategies should complement each other to build a robust marketing ecosystem.

The episode wraps up with mutual appreciation between the hosts and Nickolas, emphasizing the value of authentic relationships and continuous learning in business growth.

Notable Quotes

• Nickolas Natali [05:06]: "Start with $500 to a thousand because the first 30 days... that's when you're going to start getting a lot of real data."
• Nickolas Natali [20:32]: "If you are getting so many leads and you're finding that most of them are unqualified, you want to add some steps."
• Nickolas Natali [30:25]: "Are you putting $1 in and getting $2 out, $5 out?"
• Nickolas Natali [34:20]: "Having content that supports your paid ad campaigns is crucial... it showcases your process and it gives you a launch pad for that sales conversation."
• Nickolas Natali [39:19]: "Just keep it simple."
• Nickolas Natali [39:43]: "Qualify people right away and then don't even worry about the rest."

Conclusion

This episode of Content Is Profit offers a comprehensive guide to running effective ad campaigns for service-based businesses. With actionable insights from Nickolas Natali, listeners gain valuable knowledge on simplifying ad strategies, validating offers, choosing the right platforms, balancing lead quality with ad spend, and integrating organic content to maximize profitability. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, the lessons shared provide a roadmap to turning content into substantial profit.

Connect with Nickolas Natali: For more insights and to engage with Nickolas, tune into his podcast "Nicholas Show" and explore his agency’s offerings.