Marketing Matters Podcast Episode #59: How Kimberly Tara Is Scaling to 7 Figures with Paid Ads
Host: Ashley Brock
Guest: Kimberly Tara, CPA and Certified Tax Coach
Release Date: March 14, 2025
In Episode #59 of the Marketing Matters™ Podcast for Small Business Owners, host Ashley Brock sits down with her client, Kimberly Tara, a seasoned CPA and certified tax coach, to explore how she's successfully scaling her business to seven figures through strategic use of paid advertising. This in-depth conversation delves into Kimberly's journey, the challenges she faced, the strategies she employed, and the impressive results she's achieved. Below is a comprehensive summary of their engaging discussion.
Introduction: Meeting Kimberly Tara
Ashley Brock opens the episode by introducing her guest, Kimberly Tara, highlighting her role as a CPA and her recent successes with paid ads. The atmosphere is warm and personal, with Ashley expressing excitement about their upcoming dinner date and the opportunity to dive into Kimberly's story.
Notable Quote:
"[00:00] Ashley: Welcome to the Marketing Matters podcast for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and really anyone who has anything that you want more people to find. Because you being the best kept secret helps no one."
Kimberly's Business Overview
Kimberly provides an overview of her business, Terracpafirm.com, emphasizing her focus on empowering female service providers through specialized tax strategies. She highlights her firm's nine-year history and outlines how her services help entrepreneurs keep more of their hard-earned money, leading to better work-life balance and financial freedom.
Key Points:
- Target Audience: Female service providers.
- Services Offered: Tax strategy and financial empowerment.
- Business Goals: Helping women retain more income, enabling more personal time and financial security.
Notable Quote:
"[03:27] Kimberly Tara: I'm Kimberly Tara. I'm a CPA and a certified tax coach. I have had my practice for... nine years."
Transition to Paid Ads: The Catalyst for Growth
Ashley and Kimberly discuss the pivotal moment that led Kimberly to embrace paid advertising. Initially reliant on referrals, Kimberly realized the limitations of a referral-based system—lack of control and unpredictability in scaling her business. This realization spurred her decision to learn and implement paid ads to accelerate her growth.
Key Points:
- Limitations of Referrals: Unpredictable lead flow and lack of control.
- Decision to Invest in Ads: Desire for predictable, scalable lead generation.
Notable Quotes:
"[01:25] Kimberly Tara: I didn’t have control over growing the business or finding people. Referrals can’t be turned on and off as needed."
"[09:20] Kimberly Tara: I needed to find a way that could do more of the heavy lifting for me without adding more calls to my calendar."
Overcoming Marketing Fears
Kimberly candidly shares her initial fear and intimidation towards marketing and paid ads. Despite being a confident CPA, the complexities of advertising felt daunting. Ashley emphasizes the importance of understanding the "how and why" of ads, which helped Kimberly gain confidence and take control of her marketing efforts.
Key Points:
- Initial Reluctance: Anxiety around marketing and ads.
- Empowerment through Knowledge: Gaining control and understanding reduced fear.
Notable Quotes:
"[08:15] Kimberly Tara: I didn’t like feeling like I was asking permission to run ads. I wanted to understand the whole process."
"[09:06] Kimberly Tara: Ads scare me, but I knew they were essential for achieving my business goals."
Success with Paid Ads: Achieving a 15:1 ROAS
One of the standout moments of the episode is Kimberly sharing her remarkable success with paid ads—a 15:1 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). This metric means that for every dollar she invested in advertising, she earned fifteen dollars in return. She details the strategic campaign that led to acquiring a $15,000 client with a relatively modest ad spend of $900, showcasing the efficacy of her targeted advertising approach.
Key Points:
- ROAS Achieved: 15:1
- Campaign Details: Focused strategy leading to high-value client acquisition.
- Investment Justification: High-paying clients justify higher ad costs.
Notable Quotes:
"[16:21] Kimberly Tara: We had a 15 to 1 return on ad spend. For every dollar spent, we got $15 back."
"[17:20] Kimberly Tara: Spending $25 to acquire a $15,000 client results in a net gain of $14,075."
Strategic Approach: Beyond Meta Ads
Ashley and Kimberly discuss the breadth of advertising platforms beyond the commonly used Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram). Kimberly appreciates the comprehensive approach taught in Ashley's program, which includes Google Ads and YouTube Ads, allowing her to reach potential clients across multiple channels effectively.
Key Points:
- Diverse Advertising Platforms: Utilization of Google Ads and YouTube Ads.
- Integrated Strategy: Ensuring ads work cohesively across different platforms.
- Holistic Marketing: Emphasizing a data-driven, methodical approach to advertising.
Notable Quotes:
"[10:08] Kimberly Tara: You do more than just Meta Ads; you include Google Ads and others, which was incredible for me."
"[12:25] Kimberly Tara: When you find the right fit, your marketing becomes much more effective and less intimidating."
Embracing Data and Strategy
Kimberly underscores the importance of a data-driven approach to advertising. By leveraging spreadsheets and detailed tracking, she ensures that every advertising dollar is accounted for, enabling informed decision-making and continuous optimization of her campaigns.
Key Points:
- Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing spreadsheets and analytics for tracking ad performance.
- Strategic Investment: Ensuring each dollar spent contributes to business growth.
- Continuous Improvement: Iterating and refining strategies based on data insights.
Notable Quotes:
"[15:06] Kimberly Tara: We have to think about how we’re going to measure this and build it accordingly."
"[15:17] Kimberly Tara: Talk data to me. We’re making informed decisions, not just throwing spaghetti at the wall."
The Power of Community and Mastermind
A significant portion of the conversation highlights the value of community and mastermind groups. Kimberly credits the collaborative environment and real-time feedback from the mastermind program as crucial elements in her success. The support system fosters mutual growth, accountability, and the sharing of invaluable insights.
Key Points:
- Community Support: Importance of being part of a supportive network of like-minded women.
- Mastermind Benefits: Real-time feedback, collaboration, and shared learning.
- Collective Growth: Emphasizing that “we all rise together.”
Notable Quotes:
"[27:34] Kimberly Tara: I firmly believe in community. We all rise together."
"[28:32] Kimberly Tara: There’s no amount of money that you can spend to get a gift like that [community support]."
Investing in a VIP Day: Accelerating Success
Kimberly explains her decision to participate in a VIP day with Ashley as a strategic investment for speed and efficiency. By collaborating closely and investing resources upfront, Kimberly accelerates her learning curve, effectively compressing what would typically take a year into a single day of intensive work.
Key Points:
- Investment for Speed: Paying for a VIP day to accelerate learning and implementation.
- Collaborative Effort: Intensive collaboration to achieve rapid progress.
- Long-Term Vision: Viewing the VIP day as part of a marathon, not just a sprint.
Notable Quotes:
"[21:19] Kimberly Tara: I'm paying for speed. Is that crazy? No."
"[23:57] Kimberly Tara: I will be your poster child from a VIP day tonight."
Conclusion: Empowering Entrepreneurs through Paid Ads
Ashley and Kimberly wrap up the episode by reinforcing the transformative power of paid advertising when coupled with the right strategy and community support. Kimberly’s journey exemplifies how overcoming fears, embracing data-driven strategies, and investing in growth opportunities can lead to substantial business success.
Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to consider investing in their advertising knowledge and to seek supportive communities that foster growth and collaboration. For those interested in Kimberly's tax strategies or Ashley's advertising programs, contact information is provided.
Notable Quote:
"[31:42] Kimberly Tara: If you need some tax strategy, go to my website @terracpafirm.com or visit our Instagram page, Kimberly Tacoma CPA."
Key Takeaways
- Control and Scalability: Moving from a referral-based lead system to paid ads offers greater control and scalability.
- Overcoming Fear: Gaining knowledge and understanding of paid ads can mitigate intimidation and build confidence.
- High ROI Campaigns: Strategic ad campaigns can yield significant returns, justifying higher ad spends.
- Comprehensive Strategy: Utilizing multiple advertising platforms like Google Ads and YouTube Ads enhances reach and effectiveness.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Leveraging data and analytics ensures informed decision-making and optimized ad performance.
- Community Support: Being part of a mastermind group provides essential support, accountability, and shared learning opportunities.
- Strategic Investments: Investing in intensive, collaborative sessions like VIP days can accelerate business growth and learning.
Final Thoughts: Episode #59 serves as an inspiring blueprint for small business owners seeking to harness the power of paid advertising to scale their ventures. Kimberly Tara’s honest and detailed account provides valuable insights into the practical application of marketing strategies, the importance of data, and the unparalleled benefits of a supportive community. Whether you're a CPA, an entrepreneur, or anyone looking to elevate your business, this episode offers actionable advice and motivation to take your marketing efforts to the next level.
Connect with Kimberly Tara:
- Website: terracpafirm.com
- Instagram: @kimberlyterracpa
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