Notes from inside the ad account

The Journal

plain talk about paid ads

What's actually working in paid ads right now, what's quietly wasting your money, and what to do about both. Written for the person paying for it, not the person running it.

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For Artists

Paid Ads for Musicians: How to Grow Streams, Fans & Ticket Sales

July 27, 2026 · 7 min + free guide read

A straightforward guide to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok ads for independent artists. How to promote a single, run a pre-save campaign, sell concert tickets, and grow real fans, not just streams. Free download.

Read the piece →

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How Meta ads actually work (free guide)

Everything a small business owner needs to understand about Facebook and Instagram ads, and nothing you don't. Free to download.

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Your ads are running blind, and nobody told you

Most small ad accounts are quietly losing 30 to 50% of their conversion data. Here's what that actually means for your money, and the fix.

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Advantage+ is great. If you're spending $10,000 a month.

Meta's automation is genuinely good. It's also being recommended to people whose budgets can't afford to fund its education.

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Decoded

Ads Manager, translated

Every metric you keep nodding at, explained the way I'd explain it to a friend who owns a bakery. No lectures, no condescension.

July 7, 2026 · 7 min
The Green Room

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