Let me kick things off with a confession: I used to think business was supposed to be hard. Sleepless nights, nose to the grindstone, endless hustling—maybe you’ve been there too. But after seeing one method radically transform not just my work, but dozens of companies in my orbit, I realized something wild: sometimes, business really can feel like ‘easy mode.’ (And no, this isn’t another empty-promise internet brag.) Today, I want to walk you through the four steps that made everything click for me, plus the quirks, surprises, and missteps along the way. Ready for a story that might just flip your script on marketing? Let’s get honest.
Step One: The Art of Getting Noticed—Why 'Just Make an Ad' is a Trap
When someone says "make an ad," what pops into your mind? Is it a polished Facebook campaign that comes to mind? Have you considered creating a glossy magazine spread? That limited thinking is precisely what's holding you back.
Breaking the Ad Box
Here's the thing: ads can be anything from a DM to a viral video. Seriously. Don't box yourself in with outdated definitions.
Last year, our portfolio at Acquisition.com crossed $250 million in aggregate revenue. I'm not saying this to brag or promise similar results. I'm showing you this system works when applied correctly.
"The first step here is that we're going to have some sort of advertisement. Now, that ad might be somebody reaching out..."
See what I mean? Advertising isn't just paid placements. It's about visibility through whatever channel reaches your people.
The Simple Formula That Actually Works
Organic content + strong CTA = shockingly powerful results
Paid ads remain the fastest scaling path (but skill trumps budget)
Creative outreach, organic content, even DMs - all can function as ads
What is the actual challenge? Show something authentic to the right person
I have observed that businesses often struggle for years with complex marketing strategies, while two simple frameworks consistently deliver better results.
"Organic + CTA"
"Hook + Meat + CTA"
The beauty? You don't need perfection. You need disruption.
"Like the fact that hooks are short is a gift from God for advertisers that we can actually have the most important thing not require a ton of work."
Starting Small, Thinking Big
Have you considered making your next "ad" a personalized message to 10 individuals who could benefit from your offering? Could you produce content that addresses a particular issue?
The key is visibility—showing your offer through the right channel and then optimizing that process until the business scales. Occasionally, the pace of growth can be unexpectedly swift.
When you strip away the complexity, business growth becomes simpler. It's not effortless, but it's more transparent. First, attract attention. Then deliver value. Then ask for the sale.
Most people overcomplicate this first step. Don't be most people.
Two Wildly Different—and Equally Effective—Ad Frameworks (with a Tangent on Oddball Hooks)
I'm going to introduce you to two ad frameworks that are currently performing exceptionally well for us. And trust me, they're simpler than you'd think.
Framework 1: Organic + CTA
This first approach is incredibly simple yet effective. Here's the formula:
Create organic content related to what you sell (duh, right?)
Identify your top performers (let the algorithm do the heavy lifting)
Add an irresistible call-to-action at the end
Why does this work so well? You've already demonstrated the content's ability to engage your audience! It's like getting free test shots before spending a penny on ads.
Framework 2: Hook + Meat + CTA
The second framework is a bit more structured:
Hook - The attention-grabber (80% of your ad's success lives here)
Meat - The substance that builds interest
CTA - The clear next step you want people to take
The hook part is where most people mess up. They tend to overthink the situation or stick too closely to their brand. Big mistake.
The Oddball Hook Philosophy
"Hooks just convert across way different audiences because it just draws attention..
Don't limit yourself to hooks from your industry! I've seen finance hooks work brilliantly for hotels. Why? The reason for this is that attention is inherently focused.
And here's where most advertisers fall short—you need Many hooks. Like, seriously, I'm talking 50+ different ones. You're thinking that's crazy, right?
"You can never have too many ads."
Whether you're spending $10k or $100k monthly, variety feeds the algorithm better than big budgets alone. More creativity, less overthinking—that's the weird mantra that actually works.
The beauty of hooks Being short is a gift! It means the most impactful part of your ad requires the least production time. Have you conducted the research beforehand? That's where the real work happens.
Next time you're creating ads, remember to either leverage your proven organic winners or craft attention-grabbing hooks from any industry that is gaining popularity. Then just add your CTA and watch what happens.
Making Persuasion Simple: The Four Angles Nobody Talks About
I've spent years working on ad campaigns, and I'm always amazed at how many businesses overcomplicate persuasion. The truth is, persuasion is not a complex process. Breaking it down actually makes it pretty simple.
The Four-Step Persuasion Framework
Effective advertisements primarily focus on addressing a single, straightforward question: what benefits the customer? More specifically:
More good stuff if you take action
Less bad stuff if you take action
More bad stuff if you don't take action
Less good stuff if you don't take action
That's it. There are four perspectives that can revolutionize your marketing strategy.
"You're going to get more good stuff if you do the thing I want you to do. You're going to get less bad stuff if you do the thing I want you to do."
Let People Imagine Concrete Moments
Making these benefits tangible creates the magic. Don't just tell people they'll "feel better"—help" them imagine specific moments.
For example, instead of saying "You'll have more energy," try "Imagine bending down to tie your shoes without getting winded" or "Picture playing with your kids at the park without needing to sit down every 10 minutes."
I once wrote ads that simply told a story about tying shoes without getting winded—conversion rates went up! Why? People were able to visualize themselves in that instant.
Paint the Future (Both Good and Bad)
Let's say you're selling fitness programs. Your persuasion angles might look like
More beneficial: "You'll have energy to play with your kids all afternoon."
Less bad: "No more brain fog or feeling like you can't keep up"
It will be worse if no action is taken: "If you're currently 50 pounds overweight, how will it feel to be 70 pounds overweight in three years?"
Less good if ignored: "Those happy memories with family? You'll have fewer because you physically can't participate."
When you make your ad copy about real, tangible moments (imagine picking up your kid without strain), you connect far deeper than with big, abstract promises.
Think in moments—describe specific events, not vague feelings. Relatability often beats sophistication. People want to find themselves in your ad, not be impressed by your vocabulary.
The most powerful copy gets concrete. Anecdotes tilt the needle. Stories sell.
The 'Feel Better' Test: Why Specific Moments Sell (Not Vague Promises)
Ever noticed how some ads make you roll your eyes while others stop your scroll? The difference often comes down to one thing: specificity.
I've dedicated years to examining what drives copy conversion, and the harsh reality is that people don't purchase "feel better." People purchase the moment when they will feel better.
Turn Vague Feelings into Vivid Moments
"Think in moments. What is the moment that someone thinks, wow, I feel better?"
This simple shift transforms mediocre copy into something magnetic. Rather than simply promising "more energy," please demonstrate:
Bending down to tie my shoes while standing—without getting winded
Picking up my grandkid without worrying about my back giving out
Walking up stairs without needing to pause halfway
See the difference? One is a greeting card platitude; the other creates a picture I can actually imagine experiencing.
Steal Your Customers' Language (Seriously)
Want to know exactly which moments matter? Do these three things:
Mine Amazon reviews in your space—even if you sell services. People spill their raw emotions there.
Eavesdrop on real conversations in forums, social media, or even coffee shops where your audience hangs out.
Please gather the exact language used by your current customers. Their words have built-in authenticity you can't fake.
The Parallel Universe Test
Here's my favorite reality check: Imagine a parallel universe version of yourself encountering your ad.
Would you
Stop and think, "Finally, someone gets it!"
Or roll your eyes at yet another vague promise?
If your copy sounds like something on a motivational poster, it probably won't convert.
Remember—moments anchor emotion in reality. When someone can visualize themselves experiencing a specific improvement (like "tying shoes standing up" instead of "better mobility"), they're halfway to becoming your customer.
So ditch the vague promises. Sell the moment instead.
Step Two-and-a-Half: Call To Action—Why It's So Much More Than 'Click Here' (Tiny Rant Included)
I must express my frustration: I've grown weary of ineffective call-to-actions. You know the ones—"Click Here," "Learn More," "Submit." Yawn.
When was the last time you felt genuinely compelled by a call-to-action button? It's quite uncommon, isn't it? Why are we continuing to replicate strategies that clearly aren't effective?
The Psychology Behind Effective CTAs
A clear CTA isn't just being polite to your visitors—it's leveraging powerful psychology. The best ones don't just tell people what to do; they show what happens next, both visually and verbally.
Consider this: when someone views your advertisement, clicks on it, and the landing page fulfills their expectations, a remarkable transformation occurs. As the source explains:
"The person who actually made the recommendation, who made the suggestion to go to the page also increases in influence because when you say something's going to happen and then it happens, the person consciously or subconsciously..."
...starts trusting you more. Science doesn't care whether this happens consciously or not—it works either way!
Setting Clear Expectations = Fewer Bounces
Here's a simple truth: expectation-setting in your CTA (and overall page design) means fewer people leave and more stick around.
Would you like a simplistic example? If I want someone to click "Next Page":
I should literally show the button while I'm talking about it
The button should say exactly what I promised
The next page should match what they expected to see
This creates what persuasion experts call "congruence." When you set expectations and then meet them, people stop bouncing off your page. Even small tweaks like this can dramatically lift conversion rates.
Building Long-Term Influence
Every prediction you make that comes true builds your credibility. If your page matches what your ad promises, you're not just getting a one-time conversion—you're building lasting influence.
The science is clear: people will believe your next prediction with greater certainty when you've been right before.
Therefore, I implore you to refrain from overlooking your CTAs. They deserve at least as much attention as your headline. When you illustrate a specific, congruent next step, rather than just writing it, it instills confidence in people, enabling them to continue their journey and develop greater trust in you in the future.
Conclusion: When 'Easy Mode' Marketing Fails—and Why That's Still the Best Thing That Can Happen
Let's be real for a second. Even with the ideal framework, your initial attempts at marketing may not succeed. Mine certainly did.
I've had campaigns I was certain would explode with success... only to watch them fizzle out like a wet firecracker. But here's the beautiful part—those failures weren't defeats. They were stepping stones.
"Iterate, don't idolize" became my unofficial motto after too many failed campaigns to count. And that's the secret sauce most marketing gurus won't tell you.
Perfection isn't the goal. Never was. The magic—and the sales—happen in the space between attempts, in those "let's try next time instead" moments that eventually lead to breakthrough.
The Beautiful Mess of Progress
Most ads that generate significant revenue are not inherently flawless. They evolved from piles of "almost, but not quite" attempts. Each version gradually approaches the point where your audience realizes, "Wait, this person understands me."
If your business currently feels excessively complex, I'm confident that you're overcomplicating it. And guess what? Your leads feel that complexity too—and they're running from it.
The "easy mode" system proves itself through revenue and simplification. But not everyone will nail it on the first try. That's not just okay—it's expected.
The One Thing I Wish I'd Known
If I could hop in a time machine and give my earlier self one tip, it'd be to celebrate the fails that edge you closer to a win. Each failure narrows the path to success.
I used to beat myself up over campaigns that didn't convert. Now? I pop champagne when I find out what doesn't work—because I'm one step closer to what does.
In the end, easy mode is a mindset (and a method), not a myth. The more you experiment, the simpler it gets—even when it fails. This is especially true when you experience failure.
The unpredictability, the creative pivots—they're not bugs in the system. They're features. They're the very process that leads to payoff.
So go ahead. Build your campaigns. Observe some campaigns fail miserably. Then take what works, ditch what doesn't, and build something even better.
That's not just marketing. That's business on "easy mode."
