Win With Paid Ads Podcast: Episode #88

Title: Top 5 Paid Ads Questions Business Owners Ask ChatGPT
Host: Ashley Brock
Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ashley Brock dives into the five most common paid advertising questions entrepreneurs ask ChatGPT. With practical examples, clear analogies, and industry insights, Ashley breaks down each query and offers actionable advice, ensuring business owners can approach paid advertising with confidence, strategy, and a focus on business growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Where Should I Run My Ads? Which Platform Is Best?

(Starts at 02:06)

• Omnichannel Advantage:
  Ashley advocates for running ads across multiple platforms (Google, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, etc.), rather than focusing on a single channel.
  • Diversification is key: “The big companies diversify, right? Your revenue could die, your business could die if all your eggs in one basket and that basket flips over, right?” (03:16)
  • Media mix and budget forecasting are crucial for allocating ad spend across platforms and seasons.
• Stat: Advertising across multiple channels can increase conversion rates by over 80% due to heightened brand trust and consistency.
• Practical Tip:
  Don't limit yourself to just one platform—your customers and competitors are everywhere.

2. How Much Money Do I Need to Spend to See Results?

(Starts at 05:43)

• Investment Mindset:
  View ad spend as an investment in data and learning, not just a cost or an outgoing expense.
  • Challenge myths of ‘spending $3 for huge returns’: “That is just not true… If you are looking for the quality lasting thing, I’m probably your person because what we do is different.” (06:23)
• Analogies:
  • “Think about it like buying a plane ticket. If a ticket costs $300, but it gets you the client who pays you $3,000? Was it expensive? Well, no. The real cost is not getting on the plane at all.” (07:11)
• Lifetime Value:
  Emphasize focusing on lifetime customer value over short-term profit:
  • “Take the time that you, like, really, really struggled with money and money stressed you out… and really think about, as a business owner, what can I tolerate to acquire a new customer? That’s what matters.” (09:32)
• Opportunity Cost:
  • Consider the “cost of not gaining.” If your business’s operational costs outweigh your ad spend, not advertising may be a bigger risk.

3. Why Are My Ads Not Converting?

(Starts at 11:36)

• Five-Part Framework for Troubleshooting:
  • Messaging: Is your message clear and focused on the customer’s benefit? (12:03)
  • Setting: Where and how often are people seeing your ads? (Frequency matters—a 1.2 frequency means most people only see the ad once.)
  • Targeting: Are you reaching the right audience?
  • Testing: Are you comparing different versions to see what works? “That’s the Pareto principle… 80% of your results will come from 20% of your ads.” (17:43)
  • Scaling & Profiting: Are you increasing spend on what works?
• Real-World Example:
  Ashley discusses auditing a 7-figure client’s funnel—fixing landing pages and checkout flows can be more important than tweaking ads themselves.
  • Quote: “You could change absolutely nothing about your ads or your targeting and you will simply convert more people through this new experience, period.” (15:18)
• Analogy:
  • “Ads are like an invitation to a party. If the invitation is beautiful but the house you show up to is a wreck, people will leave. That’s your landing page.” (19:26)

4. How Do You Know If Your Ads Are Working?

(Starts at 20:26)

• Tracking and Measuring:
  Ashley stresses the fundamental importance of proper tracking.
  • Quote: “You cannot improve something that you cannot measure. That is why the measuring aspect is so important.” (20:40)
  • Tracking is like the foundation of a house—do it once, do it right.
  • Analogy: “It’s like trying to lose weight without a scale. You’re doing it, but you have nothing to know if you actually are.” (21:22)
• Practical Advice:
  Don't trust your feelings—let data and tracking inform decisions and optimize ad spend.

5. What Kind of Ads Should You Run First?

(Starts at 22:48)

• Search & Social Go Hand-in-Hand:
  Ashley recommends starting with both Google Search (search intent) and Social Media ads for a synergistic effect.
  • Analogy: “Think of it like peanut butter and jelly. By themselves, they’re okay. Together, they’re great.” (23:23)
• Organic + Paid = Best Results:
  • Don’t separate organic social from paid ads—plan for both.
  • You can repurpose successful organic posts as ads and vice versa.
• Insight from Agency Experience:
  • Many businesses default to social, but she notes: “When I worked at the advertising agency, 90% of my clients, if not more, spent 90% of their budget or more on Google Ads.” (25:03)
  • Your audience is also on platforms like Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, so don’t overlook these.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diversification:
  “You wouldn’t put 100% of your money in one stock… Your customers, your competition, they are on multiple platforms, which is why you being on multiple platforms is better for you.” (03:02)
• On Budget Mindset:
  “Your ad spend isn’t about the exact dollar amount that you spend. It’s actually more about the return and the opportunity cost of just staying grounded and staying exactly where you are.” (07:45)
• On Troubleshooting Ads:
  “Auditing leads to spotting and spotting leads to profiting.” (14:21)
• On Testing:
  “Sometimes your ads aren’t converting because you’re simply not testing enough.” (17:35)
• On Tracking:
  “Without tracking, you’re guessing, and guessing costs you way more than measuring does.” (21:40)
• On Channel Selection:
  “It’s not is search or social better. It's and—they both work together.” (24:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:06 – Platform selection & advertising approach
• 05:43 – How much to invest & the mindset shift
• 11:36 – Diagnosing conversion problems
• 15:18 – Case example: funnel fix vs. ad tweaks
• 20:26 – The importance of tracking & measurement
• 22:48 – Where to start: Search + Social strategy
• 25:03 – Agency insight: Google Ads dominance

Closing Thoughts

Ashley closes with an invitation to submit further questions, emphasizing the ongoing nature of learning in digital advertising. The episode encourages listeners to approach advertising as a strategic, data-driven process, making decisions based on business needs, customer lifetime value, and diversified channel participation.

Useful For:

• Entrepreneurs and business owners starting with paid ads
• Marketers struggling with ad performance or scaling
• Anyone looking to level up their digital advertising approach with practical, real-world insights

Bottom Line:
Diversify, invest with strategy, focus on lifetime value, measure everything, and let organic and paid work together—and you’ll truly learn to “win with paid ads.”