How to Plan Your Paid Ads for 2026

Meta Just Changed Agencies Forever. Here's What To Do Next

In this episode, I'm joined by Dan Sodergren — TEDx speaker, BBC AI expert, and author of The Fifth Industrial Revolution — to talk about the biggest shift hitting the marketing industry right now. Meta's acquisition of Manus AI signals something most agencies aren't ready for: a future where you connect your bank account, and the platform handles everything else. No creative brief. No media buyer. No agency. Dan predicted this was coming. We get into why, how fast it's moving, and — most importantly — what you actually do about it. We cover: * Why Meta buying Manus AI changes everything for agencies * Zuckerberg's vision for fully automated ad delivery * The "crofters on other people's land" problem agencies have always had * Why you've got roughly 18 months to 2 years to adapt * What skills and roles actually survive the automation wave * Why data is soil, not oil — and what agencies got wrong Plus Dan's free Leadership Guide to the Times of AI — just mention this podcast to get your copy.

Creative Testing on Meta Ads in 2026 (With Jon Loomer)

If you’re still running Meta ads like it’s 2017, this episode might sting a little. In this week’s conversation, I sit down with Jon Loomer to talk about what’s actually changed inside Meta Ads and why so many advertisers are still clinging to tactics that no longer move the needle. We get into: • Why micro targeting is no longer your edge • The illusion of control inside Ads Manager • What Andromeda actually is • Why creative now matters more than targeting • What creative diversification really means • Why you don’t need 50 ads to test properly • Whether Meta will fully automate ads in the future This is a strategic, honest discussion about how Meta advertising works in 2025 and where it’s heading in 2026. If you run ads for your own business, manage client campaigns, or feel like performance has shifted and you’re not sure why, this episode will give you clarity.

How to Plan Your Paid Ads for 2026

Ads work best when they’re planned — not switched on in a panic. In this episode, I walk you through how to think about your paid ads across the year, including: * why ads don’t work instantly * how seasonality affects what people buy (and when) * when you should be testing offers instead of selling * how to give platforms time to learn * how to think about budget across different offers This episode is for small business owners, social media managers, and ads managers who want ads to feel strategic, calm, and predictable and not reactive. If you plan your ads, you plan your year.

Why Facebook Ad Targeting Doesn’t Work Like It Used To

You’re still trying to run Facebook ads like it’s 2018 — tight exclusions, interest stacking, demographic slicing. Meanwhile, Meta is ignoring most of it. In this solo episode, I walk you through: * What actually changed with iOS 14+ * Why old-school retargeting is barely functioning * What broad targeting really means (and why it works) * The shift from who you target to how you speak to them 📍 Ready to stop wasting budget? Book a review → https://sales.socialadssquad.com/ad-audit-strategic-test-plan/ [https://sales.socialadssquad.com/ad-audit-strategic-test-plan/] Or come DM me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok @marketingmadesocial

Why Your Ads Aren’t Converting (And What To Fix Instead)

In this episode of Marketing Made Social, I’m dishing out some tough love: if your ads are getting clicks but no one’s buying, the problem probably isn’t the ads.We’re talking through:➡️ What a good click-through rate really means➡️ Why your landing page might be killing conversions➡️ How 2025 ad platforms like Meta and Google actually work now➡️ The common mistakes I see in lead gen funnels➡️ What to fix first before spending another penny on adsWhether you’re a business owner running your own campaigns, or working with someone else, this episode will help you look in the right places when things aren't converting.Found this useful?👉 Come say hi on LinkedIn, TikTok or Instagram – @marketingmade.socialOr join the email list for more no-fluff advice here: https://marketingmade.social/podcast/