Ready, Set, Paid Ads

Do not spend another cent on paid advertising, until you listen to this Podcast! Welcome to Ready, Set, Paid Ads, the podcast that helps business owners and marketing professionals to take back control of their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Google ads! I’m your host - Mary-Anne Amies founder of award winning Digital Marketing Agency, Wise Up Marketing. With a career in marketing spanning more than two decades, I am a passionate mentor, coach and speaker, who is dedicated to helping business owners and marketing professionals to succeed. I have managed millions of dollars in paid advertising for clients big and small, and have seen inside thousands of paid ads accounts. I’ve seen the good, the bad and the just plain mind-boggling set-ups. I started this podcast to help you create digital marketing for paid ads success. Each fortnight you’ll hear from me and together we’ll work through the essential ads knowledge and skills, and on alternate fortnights you’ll hear from big names in business and marketing, as I interview them to hear how they tackle paid ads, what has worked well, and what have been their biggest learnings. Whether you are DIYing or outsourcing, you will learn the foundations you need to succeed, plus grab insider agency tips on how to make every dollar work harder. It’s time to subscribe and listen, and unleash the power of Paid Ads to its full potential!

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Episodes

4 days ago

In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, we are joined by Angela Pickett, an experienced copywriter and aspiring romance writer, to explore the synergy between sales pages and paid ads.
Angela discusses the art of creating effective sales pages, comparing them to the structure of romance stories, and highlights the importance of transparency, structure, and relationship building in sales copy.
The conversation dives into the necessity of aligning ad copy with landing pages, testing various elements to ensure effectiveness, and continuously evolving digital content to maintain relevance and improve results.
Whether you're about to launch a campaign or refine your tactics, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right away. Listen now!
You can connect with Angela across Instagram and LinkedIn, by searching Angela Pickett or https://www.angelapickett.com.au/

Thursday Mar 20, 2025

In this episode of Ready, Set, Ads, we explore effective strategies to make the most out of your Google Ads budget, with beginner friends tweaks you can make to your Google Ads search campaigns to help save money and drive more clicks to your website.
We dive into the technical aspects of Google Ads, often overlooked due to its less aesthetic-driven nature. Key topics include the importance of the search terms report, the role of ad extensions, and the significance of continual optimisation. 
By understanding search behaviour and making incremental adjustments based on data, you can significantly enhance your ad account performance, driving the results you need for sustainable marketing.

Do You Ads? With Shannon Stone

Thursday Mar 13, 2025

Thursday Mar 13, 2025

Welcome to another episode of Ready, Set, Ads, I’m joined by business and marketing consultant Shannon Stone, and we dive into the big question: Do you need ads to grow your business? 
 
Shannon shares her insights on when ads make sense, why they sometimes don’t work, and how businesses can optimise their marketing ecosystem before pouring money into paid strategies. We discuss the importance of data, pricing strategies, customer retention, and why small tweaks can make a massive impact on conversions.
 
Shannon also breaks down the mindset shifts business owners need when it comes to marketing, the dangers of jumping on every new trend, and why ads should never be your lifeboat. Whether you're running ads or just thinking about it, this episode will help you make smarter decisions for sustainable business growth.
 
You can connect with Shannon across Instagram and LinkedIn, by searching Shannon Stone or on her website.

Thursday Mar 06, 2025

When it comes to paid advertising, not all platforms are created equal. In this episode, we break down the best ad platforms for small businesses, helping you decide where to invest your budget for maximum results.
We explore Facebook & Instagram Ads, TikTok Ads, Google Ads, YouTube Ads, and LinkedIn Ads, highlighting which business types thrive on each platform. Whether you're running an e-commerce store, a service-based business, or a personal brand, we give real-world examples to guide your strategy.
 
Plus, we discuss how your budget impacts your platform choice, from low-cost organic strategies to high-budget scaling techniques. 
 
By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap to choosing the right ad platform for your business goals.

Thursday Feb 27, 2025

In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, I sit down with Nataleigh Elzein from Pinch Studios to talk about the big mistake so many businesses make—thinking paid ads are the magic solution to their sales problems. Spoiler: they’re not!
 
Nataleigh brings her expertise in holistic marketing, sales processes, and systems to explain why marketing and sales need to work together (instead of in silos), and why businesses get burned when they dive into ads without the right foundations in place.
 
We cover the biggest gaps that cause ads to fail (and how to fix them), why sales and marketing need to be BFFs for business growth, the power of CRM and automation in converting leads and so much more!
 
Nataleigh shares her insights on building a business that actually converts, not just one that generates leads that go nowhere. Whether you’re considering ads or looking to refine your marketing strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.  
 
You can learn more about Pinch Studios and connect with Nataleigh at https://www.pinchstudios.com.au/  

Thursday Feb 20, 2025

Get ready to unpack the complexities and frustrations of AI-powered ad campaigns in this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads. 
 
We are being told more and more to "leave it to the platform" and in this episode we look at the benefits of letting AI optimise your campaigns and make adjustments, versus the drawbacks of limited lack transparency. 
 
I dive in to Meta's Advantage Plus and Google's Performance Max to discuss the challenges of not knowing where your brand is being served, who is seeing your ads, and how conversions are tracked. I breakdown when and why AI powered campaigns may be a good go to, and how to use them wisely.
 
The episode is filled with practical tips and case studies to help you understand when to use AI Campaigns and when to go back to basics.
 
If you're looking to learn even more about AI-Powered Campaigns or the Basics, enrol in a live 2 Hour workshop https://thedigitalupgrade.com.au/book-online-workshop/   

Do You Ads? With Whitney Keir

Thursday Feb 13, 2025

Thursday Feb 13, 2025

Whitney Keir is an operations strategist and the founder of Lava Virtual that is dedicated to helping business owners manage operational challenges. 
In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, she shares how her company has grown backed by the power of paid ads. She shares insights on lead generation, the effectiveness of lead magnets, and the importance of being familiar with ad platforms like Ads Manager. We dive into the pitfalls of boosting posts without clear strategy and the value of understanding marketing data for better decision-making. 
A great episode for anyone looking to dive into Ads for their business!
You can connect with Whitney and learn more at https://www.instagram.com/lava.virtual/ 

Thursday Feb 06, 2025

In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, we explore how Organic & Paid are The Ultimate Social Media Power Couple!  
We explore how paid ads can be transformative for your business, but they can't succeed fully without a solid organic foundation. Diving into why a strong organic presence can help refine audience targeting and content effectiveness for paid campaigns, and how paid ads can, in turn, boost organic visibility and engagement. 
Packed with real-world examples that highlight the benefits of this symbiotic approach, you'll find new ways to integrate both strategies for maximum ROI.

Do You Ads? With Bel Irvine

Thursday Jan 30, 2025

Thursday Jan 30, 2025

In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, I'm joined by Google Ads specialist Bel Irvine. 
Bel shares her journey from initially disliking Google Ads to becoming a dedicated expert in the field. She explains the nuances of managing ad campaigns, addresses common misconceptions, and emphasises the importance of assessing the viability of Google Ads for different businesses. 
Throughout the conversation, Bel highlights the importance of having good digital assets, understanding key business metrics, and the need for active client engagement to maximise advertising success. 
Bel also compares Google Ads to Meta ads, underlining the high intent of search-based advertising. This discussion is essential for businesses considering Google Ads as part of their marketing strategy.
You can find out more about Bel at https://belindairvine.com/ and explore her Google Ads viability calculator at https://beldigital.com.au/viability-general  

Thursday Jan 23, 2025

Paid ads can feel out of reach for small businesses, but they don't have to be. In this episode of Ready, Set, Paid Ads, we dive into actionable strategies for running effective, low-cost campaigns on both Google and Meta. 
Learn how to:
Master Google Ads on a budget: Discover keyword research tactics, campaign types, and optimisation strategies to maximise your ROI without overspending. Avoid common pitfalls like Google Ads Express and learn the power of negative keywords.
Unlock Meta's potential for less: Explore cost-effective campaign objectives, audience targeting strategies (including lookalikes and retargeting), and creative formats (video, stories, reels, carousels) to engage your audience and drive results.
Integrate your ecosystem: Understand the crucial role of your website, email marketing, and organic social media in maximising your paid ad investment.
This episode is packed with practical tips and advice to empower you to take control of your paid advertising and achieve real results, even with a limited budget. 
If you're looking to learn even more about DIYing your Ads, enrol in a live 2 Hour workshop https://thedigitalupgrade.com.au/book-online-workshop/ 

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