The Blueprint For Profitable Paid Ads | Stephen Blackburn & Stephen Johnson #social333podcast #50

In this power-packed episode of the Social 333 Podcast, host Chris D. Bentley sits down with Stephen Blackburn and Stephen Johnson to break down the blueprint for running profitable paid ads in today’s fast-changing marketing landscape. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or marketer trying to stretch every ad dollar, this episode will show you how to stop wasting money and start scaling campaigns that actually convert.

From understanding the fundamentals to advanced targeting, both Stephens share real-world insights on how they help businesses drive growth with paid media. If you’ve ever felt like ads are a money pit, this conversation will give you clarity, strategy, and confidence to run smarter campaigns.

✅ The biggest mistakes business owners make with ads

✅ How to properly test campaigns before scaling

✅ Why creative vs. targeting matters in 2025

✅ Real case studies, including Crumble Cookie

✅ A blueprint for creating ads that bring consistent ROI

📌 CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

00:08 – Meet Stephen Blackburn & Stephen Johnson

01:15 – How both Stephens got into paid ads and digital marketing

04:22 – Inside their program and how it’s different from DIY ads

08:25 – The broke $5 ad strategy—and why it fails

13:45 – Helping Crumble Cookie grow through ads

19:22 – Old-school list building, freebies, and nurturing leads

29:10 – Why your circle isn’t enough—you need new reach

33:15 – YouTube visibility, brand reach, and unexpected leads

35:18 – The future of paid ads in the age of AI

38:00 – Why many businesses waste their ad budgets upfront

42:45 – Lessons from high-ticket sales and conversions

48:20 – Final thoughts & where to find Stephen Blackburn & Stephen Johnson

🎧 Subscribe now for more tactical conversations with entrepreneurs and marketing experts. 📣 Share this with a business owner who’s tired of wasting money on ads and ready to scale profitably.