Episode: Growing a Group Program to 100+ Members with Nicole Eldridge

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Volume Podcast, host Vix welcomes Nicole Eldridge, local ads expert and founder of Hometown Advantage. Nicole shares her journey from elementary school teacher to Facebook ads strategist, and how she grew her group program to over 100 members in just a year. The conversation dives deep into the realities of launching, scaling, and refining a group program for local businesses, including the challenges, mindset shifts, and systems that made it possible.

Guest:

Nicole Eldridge

• Local ads expert
• Founder of Hometown Advantage
• Specializes in helping local businesses succeed with Facebook ads

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Nicole’s transition from teaching to digital marketing and content creation
• The power of starting small: launching with just three members and iterating from there
• Using Facebook ads as an upfront investment to test and grow a new program
• The importance of refining curriculum and delivery based on real client feedback
• How to balance organic and paid traffic for group program launches
• The compounding effect of repeated launches: from 3 to 8 to 20+ members per launch
• Building systems and hiring support to scale client experience as the program grows
• The value of community, feedback, and direct coaching in programs like Sales Spice
• Mindset shifts around scaling, reinvesting in your business, and overcoming imposter syndrome

Actionable Insights:

• Don’t be afraid to launch before everything is “proven”—use early rounds to learn and improve
• Invest in both traffic (ads) and conversion (offer, messaging, follow-up) for successful launches
• Share every client result, big or small, to build credibility and momentum
• As your program grows, reinvest in systems, support, and client experience
• Seek out communities and coaching for feedback, accountability, and new ideas

Connect with Nicole:

• Instagram: @nicoleeldridgeads
• Threads: @nicoleeldridgeads
• Website: nicoleeldridgemedia.com

Learn more about Sales Spice:

• Applications open until November 14th
• Apply at: vixmildew.com/spice

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with your fellow business owners. For more behind-the-scenes stories and actionable strategies, stay tuned for upcoming episodes!