Peter Guba spent 8 years working inside Google with over 1,000 different accounts before starting his own paid ads agency, Profit Mill. In this episode, he reveals why most sign shops are burning money on Google Ads and shares the simple strategy that actually works.

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Key Points Discussed:

• Why Google Ads fail: The real reasons 90% of sign shop advertising campaigns don't work (and it's not what you think)
• The $500 test: How to start Google Ads the right way without betting the farm
• Unit economics breakdown: The math every sign shop owner needs to know before spending a dollar on ads
• Local vs. product ads: Which Google ad types actually work for sign shops
• The attribution problem: How to track if your ads are actually generating sales
• Website optimization: Why your Google Ads success depends more on what happens AFTER the click
• Closing the loop: The simple question every sign shop should ask every customer

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Links:

• Profit Mill: https://profitmill.io
• Peter Guba on LinkedIn: [LinkedIn profile]

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Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:27 - Why Peter left Google after 8 years
• 04:40 - The agency problem: Why 90% don't deliver
• 09:12 - When sign shops should (and shouldn't) use Google Ads
• 13:55 - The only ad strategy sign shops actually need
• 22:12 - Local campaigns vs. search ads
• 28:07 - Biggest mistakes sign shops make
• 31:12 - Budget recommendations and unit economics
• 38:18 - Tracking results and attribution
• 43:20 - Website optimization for ad traffic
• 52:30 - How to avoid getting burned by agencies
• 57:05 - The future of Google Ads for sign shops

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Are you a sign or print shop owner? Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

In this episode, Bryant and Mike continue their deep dive into the ever-evolving world of AI, building on the discussion from the previous episode. They explore the rapid growth of AI models, highlighting both their incredible benefits and the challenges they pose within the sign industry.

Beyond discussing the impact of AI, Bryant and Mike showcase some of their favorite AI-powered tools that they use daily, offering insights into how these innovations are reshaping workflows and creativity.

Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation as we navigate the fast-paced changes AI is bringing to our world—and what the future might hold!

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In this episode...

00:00 Intro
00:32 "AI" Models Rapid Growth
07:48 Tools We Use
12:23 TypingMind
18:53 AI for SEO
25:43 Tools for Text Generation
36:27 Current AI Situation
47:20 "AI" in Everyday life
53:35 Deepseek
58:00 "AI" Thinks
01:00:25 Directus
01:02:25 Replicate
01:08:00 NotebookLM
01:12:00 Clay
01:14:15 Perplexity
01:17:50 Loveable
01:21:45 Replit
01:28:50 Takeaways
01:34:04 Outro

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Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

In this episode, Bryant and Michael take a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the sign and design industry. They explore its growing impact on the creative process, discussing whether AI is a helpful tool for designers or a force that could potentially harm the industry as a whole.

From automating routine tasks to enabling innovative design solutions, AI offers exciting possibilities, but it also raises critical questions about originality, ethics, and the future role of human designers. To bring theory into practice, Bryant and Michael put one of Michael’s banner designs to the test, leveraging AI tools to see how they measure up against traditional methods.

Join the conversation as they weigh the pros and cons of AI, debate its long-term implications, and consider how designers can adapt to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.

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In this episode...

00:00 Intro
00:32 Catching Up
08:05 Last year's learnings
12:25 Creative but uninterested in the business side
15:11 The Ominous AI
16:25 Takes on AI
21:00 AI on a daily basis
25:40 AI Impact on Creativity
36:18 Dangers of AI
39:29 Dangers for Designers
42:20 Shift of designers
46:00 Using Claud to replicate Mike's design
51:40 Tool For Creativity
01:00:39 AI for younger generation
01:05:03 Takeaways
01:07:00 Outro

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Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.