Paid Ads and Funnels: A Digital Marketing Talk for Business Owners

Where to advertise first, and how to fix the funnel before you buy more traffic. A practical talk for owners of service businesses.

Keynote or hands-on workshop. In person or virtual.

Michael Preston speaking on paid ads at Jason Capital's event in Orange County, 2018

Speaking on paid ads at Jason Capital’s event in Orange County, 2018.

The Talk in One Paragraph

Most owners start with the wrong question. They ask which ad platform is best. The better question is where your buyers already look, and what happens after they click. In this talk I walk through how a service business picks where to advertise first: Google, Meta or TikTok. Then I show why the funnel has to work before you pay for more traffic, and how Google Ads and SEO work as one system that feeds the same bookings.

If you need a digital marketing speaker who keeps it practical, this is the talk. No theory, no jargon and no pitch. Your audience leaves with steps they can use the same week.

What the Talk Covers

01
Where to advertise first

How to match the platform to how your buyers search and scroll. Search ads reach people who already want the service. Social ads reach people who do not know you yet.

02
Fix the funnel before buying traffic

The common leaks between the click and the booked call: a slow page, an unclear offer, a form that asks too much and slow follow up.

03
Google Ads and SEO together

Why paid and organic search should share the same keywords, pages and tracking, and how one tells you what to build in the other.

04
The 5-Point Funnel Audit

A short checklist your audience can run on their own funnel the same day. See the Funnel Audit.

Key Takeaways

What your audience can do after the talk.

  • Pick one platform to start, based on where your buyers already are.
  • Fix the page, the offer and the follow up before you raise the budget.
  • Track calls and form fills, not just clicks.
  • Use what paid search shows you to decide what to build for SEO.
  • Run a short checklist on their own funnel.

Who This Talk Is For

Rooms full of owners and managers who make the marketing calls themselves.

  • Chambers of commerce
  • Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
  • Service business associations
  • Franchise owner meetings

Where I've Taught This

  • Jason Capital’s event, Orange County, 2018. I spoke about paid ads to a group Jason ran.
  • Elevate Media Podcast. I talked about the do’s and don’ts of digital advertising. Watch the episode.
  • More interviews. See all my podcast interviews.

Why the Funnel Comes First

Example only, not a client story. Picture a roofing company that runs search ads. The ads get clicks, but few people call. The owner wants to raise the budget. In the talk I walk through what to check first: Does the page load fast on a phone? Does it say what the company does and where in one line? Is the phone number easy to tap? Does someone call back the same day?

Fixing those leaks costs less than buying more clicks, and it makes every future click worth more. That is the core idea of the talk.

How I Shape It to Your Room

01
Your audience first

Before the event I ask who will be in the room, what they sell and what they already know. Then I pick the examples to match.

02
Keynote or workshop

As a keynote, the whole room gets the ideas and a clear next step. As a workshop, people work on their own business while I teach.

03
In person or virtual

I can travel to your event or teach live over video. The content is the same either way.

Paid Ads and Funnels Talk FAQ

Who is this talk for?

Owners and managers of service businesses, and the groups that serve them, like chambers of commerce, SBDCs and service business associations.

Do I need ad experience to follow it?

No. I explain each idea in plain English. People who already run ads also get a checklist to audit what they have.

Can you give this talk in person or virtually?

Both. I can travel to your event or speak live over video. It also works as a keynote or a hands-on workshop.

Will you sell from the stage?

No. The talk teaches. It is not a sales pitch.

Request This Talk

Tell me about your event and your audience. Mention the Paid Ads and Funnels talk in your message, and I’ll reply by email.

Available in person and virtual.

Fees depend on format, travel and date.

Reach Out

Questions before you book? Send me a note and I will reply by email.