Let me tell you a story. Back in 2021, I was working with a local HVAC company that was barely scraping by. They’d tried “doing Facebook” for six months with zero results. After we sat down and rebuilt their strategy from the ground up? They booked $87,000 in new business within 90 days.
That’s when I realized most digital marketing advice is complete BS.
The Dirty Little Secret of Online Marketing
Here’s what nobody tells you:
90% of “gurus” have never actually run a successful campaign – They’re just repackaging free information from Google’s help docs
Platforms want you to fail – Meta doesn’t care if you make sales, they care if you keep spending
Most agencies are glorified ad buyers – If they’re not showing you clear ROI, run
What Actually Works in 2024 (From My Real Client Results)
For Service Businesses:
Google Guaranteed leads are converting at 28% for my plumbing clients
Simple 30-second “problem/solution” videos outperform fancy productions 3:1
An email sequence I call the “No-Pitch Follow-Up” gets 47% open rates
For Ecommerce:
TikTok Shop has been crushing it for sub-$50 products
YouTube ads with raw customer testimonials work better than polished ads
Abandoned cart SMS at 3pm on weekdays gets 22% recovery rates
The 3 Metrics That Actually Matter
Cost Per Qualified Lead – Not just any lead, one that actually shows up/calls
Customer Lifetime Value – That $200 first sale might be worth $2,000 over time
Net Profit After All Costs – Including refunds, labor, overhead
My Biggest Pet Peeve
Business owners who say “we tried Facebook ads and they didn’t work.”
Did you:
Track conversions properly?
Let the algorithm optimize?
Test different audiences/creatives?
Follow up with leads?
If not, you didn’t “try Facebook ads” – you threw money at Meta and hoped.
The Hard Truth
Digital marketing isn’t about:
❌ Going viral
❌ Getting likes
❌ “Brand awareness” (unless you’re Nike)
It’s about:
âś… Getting in front of people actively looking for your solution
âś… Making an offer they can’t refuse
âś… Following up until they buy or die
Want Real Results? Do This First
Install proper tracking (GTM + GA4 at minimum)
Document your current customer journey
Find just ONE channel that works before expanding
I’ve seen too many businesses fail because they tried to do everything at once. Master one thing, then scale.
Final Thought:
The businesses killing it with digital marketing aren’t smarter than you – they’re just more consistent and willing to track what actually matters.
What’s your biggest struggle right now? Comment below and I’ll give you my no-BS take on how to fix it.