Hi, It's Dakota. I wanted to bring something up that most people miss. I've been studying Google Ads for clients for a long time. And a whole lot of things have changed. But one thing has remained the same: "Simple beats complex." As far as we know, the straight line is the shortest route between two points. The moment you start deviating is the moment you start introducing static. And static kills conversions. In non-marketer speak, if you complicate things, you just confuse

Hi, It's Dakota. Today I was going over some strategy stuff. Main takeaway was that it's actually quite easy to win if you just do ONE thing as a local business. It's as close to a magic bullet as you can get. Most local businesses don't advertise much. And when they do, they advertise their service or product. Plumbers. Chiropractors. Divorce attorneys. You name it. Just for fun, Google 'divorce attorney' and then add your city. See what shows up. It's one of the most expens

Hi, It's Dakota. Ran into something superweird, and I'm almost positive you've had a similar experience. I'm running ads for a client, and they're doing extremely well. Roughly speaking, they're making $4 for every $1 invested in ads. So I'm talking to the client and going over the account, just looking at these ads and seeing where we can further optimize. At some point, the client asks me: 'So, if we wanted to double the amount of leads coming in... how would you do it?' An

Hi, It's Dakota. Quick one this time. If you run a local business, you need to use Google Ads. There is no local business that would be hurt by using Google ads. Every local business would benefit from running Google Ads. Every. Single. One. I guarantee it. BUT. If you're using it you do need to know what you're doing. Because every time I log in to a Google ads account for a new client I see that they're using the dreaded 'Performance Max' campaign. And every time it's perfo

Hi, It's Dakota. Everyone wants to be #1 on Google… but it’s not just about bragging rights — it’s about serious business growth. Here’s why that top spot matters more than most people realize: -Trust Starts at the Top People trust Google. If your business ranks first, you’re instantly seen as more credible than your competitors — even if they offer the same service. -The Clicks Go to #1 The top result on Google gets 27–35% of all clicks . Compare that to just 2–3% for busine

Let me ask you something… When someone’s got a plumbing emergency — maybe a leaking pipe, no hot water, or a clogged drain — what’s the first thing they do? They grab their phone and search “plumbers near me.” Here’s where it gets real… if your business isn’t the first thing they see, your competitor’s phone is ringing — not yours. 👉 It’s not about being the best-kept secret anymore — it’s about being the first business they lay eyes on . And honestly, that changes everythin

Let’s be honest — if your business isn’t showing up at the top of Google, your competitors are winning the customers that should be calling you. We live in a “search-first” world. Whether someone needs a plumber, fitness coach, lawn care service, or a chiropractor — the first thing they do? Google it. Here’s why ranking #1 on Google in your local area can completely change the game for your business: You Get Found First — and That Means More Leads Studies show that the first

Ever had the experience where some product just keeps chasing you? You check out a certain type of lawnmower or power drill and before you know it your Internet feed gets haunted for a full week, showing you the same ads everywhere you go. It’s called ‘retargeting’ and it’s a shame that it’s used in such a sloppy way. Because not only is there a way to make this work, if you use it right it will give you some of the best return on investment on your marketing dollars.  Let me

What's the first thing you do in the morning?   And let's be real here. I'm not talking about the influencer morning ritual. You're...

Was talking to my business partner yesterday. We were talking about how to improve ad performance. Let me give you one of the easiest ways to beat any ad. Doesn't cost money. Can implement it immediately. It's all good. Remember the Jurassic Park scene with the T-Rex? That was awesome. Also, they said that the T-Rex could only see you if you moved. Don't know if that's true, never met a T-Rex personally, but we do know that predators are very focused on movement. Guess who's

Good writing is the best way to get attention, attract more clients, grow your business, show people you’re a pro at what you do, and...

Hi,   It's Dakota.   Quick one this time.    If you run a local business you need to be using Google ads.   There is no local business...

Hi, It's Dakota. Going over some strategy stuff today. Main takeaway was that it's actually quite easy to win if you just do ONE thing...

Hi, It's Dakota. Ever been so busy your daily todolist looks like a week list? That's been my week. Can't complain because it's mostly...

Hi, It's Dakota. Was talking to a business owner yesterday. We covered something you'll find interesting too. We were going over his...

Hi, It's Dakota. Got an insight for you that will be useful in business. Seems paradoxical but it's really not. I enjoy exercising as a...

Most marketing advice really really sucks. I studied marketing for years in school. Then I started my own business. Tried to implement...

Plenty of brands and companies have top of mind awareness. Think about cola and what brand comes to mind? Think about a search engine and...

The Pareto Principle states that 20% of content online gets 80% of the views. That’s what they taught me in business school. And it’s...

Spending money on ads is scary because you just don’t know if that money is coming back. Hopefully bringing some of his friends. ...