In this episode of the Marketing Without Rules podcast, Lewis is joined by Matt Thibeau of Savant Marketing Agency (https://www.savantmarketingagency.com/) to discuss the effectiveness of ads, with a particular focus on Facebook ads.

The conversation delves into key factors that contribute to successful ad campaigns, including the importance of having the right budget, diversity in ad creatives, clear messaging, proper targeting, and effective call to actions.

Matt emphasizes the necessity of quick follow-ups with leads and shares insights into pipeline management and lead nurturing. He also offers strategies for addressing common problems like bad-quality leads and the impact of rising ad costs.

This episode is packed with actionable tips for both DIY advertisers and those considering hiring an agency.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:47 The Reality of Running an Agency

01:23 Do Ads Work for Businesses?

01:47 Why Focus on Facebook Ads?

06:20 Effective Facebook Ad Strategies

08:47 Common Mistakes in Facebook Ads

17:18 Targeting and Call to Action

26:00 Lead Form Follow-Up

26:07 Google Ads Horror Stories

26:20 Click Fraud and Protection

28:49 Display Ads Mismanagement

30:22 Lead Form Issues and Solutions

34:02 Speed to Lead Importance

38:53 Pipeline Management Strategies

39:22 Reactivation Campaigns

43:04 Effective CRM Usage

46:50 Genuine Connection in Ads

50:49 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions welcomes back PJ for part two of their conversation about unconventional marketing strategies.

Having built his junk removal business from sleeping in U-Haul trucks to becoming a central figure in his community, PJ shares how he's transformed traditional business relationships into powerful marketing opportunities.

PJ details his company's innovative approaches, from restaurant takeovers that reimagine Chamber of Commerce mixers to community-nominated giveaways that build lasting relationships. He reveals how these strategies helped reduce his dependence on Google advertising from 95% to less than 50% of leads - all while maintaining the same Google performance. Through compelling examples, including a current initiative to give away a refurbished car to someone in need, PJ demonstrates how businesses can create meaningful community impact while gaining authentic publicity.

The conversation explores practical steps for implementing community-focused marketing, detailed explanations of press release strategies, and insights into managing a consistent social media presence. Despite requiring significant time investment (20+ hours weekly), PJ backs each approach with real-world results, showing how authentic community engagement can transform both a business's growth trajectory and its market position.

In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions is joined by Clifton, an entrepreneur who transformed a guerrilla-style fax marketing campaign into a blueprint for building customer relationships that last a lifetime.

They dive deep into unconventional marketing strategies that challenge the traditional focus on ROI, introducing instead the concept of ROR - Return on Relationship.

Through real-world case studies, including a deck-building company that slashed marketing costs from 20% to 2.5% while approaching eight figures in revenue, Clifton details how businesses can create "raving fans" through systematic relationship building. He shares actionable insights about the psychology of appreciation, the pitfalls of branded merchandise, and how simple handwritten notes can transform customer loyalty.

The conversation explores what Clifton calls "automating happiness," demonstrating how businesses can combine high-tech automation with high-touch personal connection to create memorable customer experiences. Despite going against conventional marketing wisdom, Clifton backs each approach with concrete results, showing how businesses from home services to engineering firms can achieve 60%+ referral rates with minimal marketing spend.