How Milton Brown Gets 1,000 subscribers for under $20 - AdSkills Pro Podcast EP.2

Unknown Speaker : 0:08

So Hey everybody, you're listening to the ad skills pro Podcast, where we share case studies from real life campaigns that are run by our top ad buyers. And of course, as you know, the best part is at the end of each show, you will have the opportunity to hire our pros. So my name is Kate buck. I'm the host and today I'm sitting down with Milton Brown, a top ad buyer here at add skills pro to share with you is best case studies. Welcome, Milton.

Unknown Speaker : 0:41

It is a pleasure to be here. Thanks for having me.

Unknown Speaker : 0:45

Yeah, I'm so glad that you're here. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background and what got what inspired you to get going in become a media buyer.

Unknown Speaker : 0:56

Okay, great. Um, I have a stream launch. But I've cut it down to bite sized chunk for you. And also want to thank you it's my birthday. So this is a great present to be on this episode on my birthday. So I'm like over the moon right now.

Unknown Speaker : 1:15

Oh my gosh, congratulations. Happy birthday. How exciting.

Unknown Speaker : 1:19

Thank you. So how I got started internet is the internet is always been a special place for me. I'm growing up. I even had a computer in my room when I was around five years old and I'm talking about this is way back when the discs were as big as you before even the floppy disk. So and then I discovered arm around my probably around 1415 that you could actually make money from the internet. And that piqued my curiosity because I was like I love this if I can make money from this that That would be an ideal situation for me. So I started buying books. I bought Yannick Silver's moonlighting, the internet, saved a little money, I had to buy that book really do implement some of the things he mentioned. But I took the knowledge and I began learning. And as I grew, I began learning how to build websites. I'm in my college dorm room, I was creating websites putting Google AdSense on him. I was playing fast and loose, I got banned by Google AdSense. But I took it as a learning experience. So I continue to grow and as I increase capital and the money because I actually created my own major at NC State adolescent development, and I went into teaching but while I was teaching, I was still investing in education because the more you know, the better you can be to sharpen your skill set. And I always knew that digital marking Marketing is going to be for me. So I just kept sharpening the skills, sharpening skills, learning more, getting side projects, all while still being a teacher. Actually, this is my last year teaching.

Unknown Speaker : 3:12

So many things to congratulate you on today. That's awesome. Thank you. Um,

Unknown Speaker : 3:18

I was just, I was juggling my digital marketing and my teaching because I can because children hold a special place in my heart. We also have a nonprofit we helped over 700 children receive free after school care and tutorial services and summer camp. Because of the pandemic, we're going to have to cut back on a summer camp. We were expecting 150 kids this year, but we might have to cut it back to 50. And cut our field trips, we're taking the children, places that they a lot of them never left the city before in their whole life. So we will take them to places like on the Safari and they could see zebras, they can Feed the have Austria's just come up to the cart and feed them and expose them to different things in their life because my two passions are digital marketing and our youth. But fast forward, I started I learned SEO, I learned Facebook ads. I learned all of this and then I started hearing about just a Brooks, Brook sorry. And I started doing some research and seeing some of the things he did. I'm like, wow, I need to learn from this guy. Because if you learn from the best, you can avoid all the pitfalls along the way. So I went in a startup file following him and I put the notification on so anything he posted. I'll see it first. And then I ponied up the money invested in at schools skills, and it took my media buying to a whole nother level. And I so I was doing that for about a year and then one of his team members met contacted me, he's a wonderful guy, by the way. And he talked to me about the media master's program. So I was on the fence for that because I mean, it is quite a bit of an investment. But the more he talked, the more I looked into it. And the more I knew already knew about the reputation of background, I said, You know what, I'm gonna go forward and went and got that program and became certified. And once I became certified, that took me to a whole nother level because not only do I have that information, I have access to the Pro League. So now I can listen to ideas, pitch ideas, and pretty much have an environment where everyone is helping each other succeed and there's some heavy hitters in the Pro League. So I was comparing myself to them not thinking I'm doing too well. But because those are some all stars in there, but I just kept with it and I actually reached out to Justin and told him what I was doing. about it. In December, I was managing about 16 K, a monthly spin. And he said Oh, you're doing great and gave me some information. And I was like, okay that that gave me the confidence booster that needed. And now I'm fast forward to now last month, I manage a little over 88,000 in spend. And this month I'm on track to be meant to manage in about 100 k spent. So

Unknown Speaker : 6:27

that's awesome. This is we're going to title this the congratulations. I'm not sure what they're actually going to title it but wow, that is amazing. So the you've been doing the full time teaching plus you have the nonprofit and then Am I understanding you right that you're managing adspend for clients on the side or Are these your own projects that you're doing this media buying for?

Unknown Speaker : 6:51

For clients, I have a digital marketing agency and what happens is because of the work I've done for other people And other agencies, they've reached out to me. So I really haven't had to go and chase for a client. That word of mouth has been coming. So I know once I actually run my own ads, it's going to grow even more.

Unknown Speaker : 7:14

That's awesome. Um, tell me about. I do want to mention I thought it was awesome hearing you're getting started story, it is your birthday. And you were kind of dating yourself by saying the book that you had purchased and how long you've been studying this stuff. But then of course, you mentioned that you are in college at the time. So that means oh my gosh, you were learning this in high school. How awesome is that? See, we would call you You almost pretty close to digital native. In other words, you've grown up with technology and the phone and internet in your hands.

Unknown Speaker : 7:52

Yes, I'm very familiar with I love Marc Prensky. I believe he's the one who turned to the coined the term digital native identity definitely him. And yeah, it's true. The brain actually develops differently because of this technology. And I can see it in my daughter, as well. She can take my iPad phone or whatever. And it's like, she was born with it in her hand, and she's only six. I'm like,

Unknown Speaker : 8:21

Wow, that's amazing. So tell me about some of these clients that you've been working with what types of clients have found their way to you via this word of mouth?

Unknown Speaker : 8:31

I've had the opportunity right now, one of my biggest clients is the university because I'm working with other agencies. I can't say the names, but I've worked with universities currently work with universities, funeral homes, multiple funeral homes. I've worked with nonprofits I've worked with the school, um, and I've provided a set some inkind service first for the school that I'm in and actually helped ranking on Google. That's awesome. And they actually made me shut down to ad campaigns because we were filled to capacity.

Unknown Speaker : 9:13

That's actually not you know, it's like that's a good problem to have, right? I love how philanthropic you are with your, with your skills that you're using them for profit and for good in the world as well. That's really inspiring. Thank you

Unknown Speaker : 9:27

that those, and I really appreciate that. And, um, those are the main clients I've worked with. I've also worked with plumbers in the past. I've done some work for local barber shops on local businesses, but mostly, my work has been in education.

Unknown Speaker : 9:46

That's what I was gonna say I'm leaving with some education, education, nonprofit, local business, and particularly in local business. You have worked at some funeral homes, so that sounds like an interesting nice To be in,

Unknown Speaker : 10:01

that was an interesting niche when when they first came to us, and they asked me that I want this project I was a little hesitant at first like it's a funeral home Do I have to be morbid and I'm very big on mindset and filling your mind with things that are positive and I'm like, Am I gonna have to research depression and all this but it actually, I found a way where instead of focusing on that we focus on the healing process, and is we've actually been able to increase their conversions pretty much month over month. Um, and we're taking out competition into the area. We're gonna talk about,

Unknown Speaker : 10:47

let's talk about some of the brag worthy campaigns and maybe this is one of them like, I'd love to kind of hear like a bit of a before and after. So before this one, you know, when we started working them here was kind of like State of the Union for work. What they were doing and then maybe some of the strategies that you use to optimize or implement and media for them. And then you know what those results have been? Do you have a couple campaigns that you'd like to?

Unknown Speaker : 11:15

Yeah. So I will give you two examples. One is for a past client that we had it was a magazine company in the educational niche, and we were able to get them just under 1000 leads all from the US with less than a $20 ad spin

Unknown Speaker : 11:39

tier one traffic so

Unknown Speaker : 11:41

Wow, okay. What would you say could you can you share what maybe the you think the the magic was that happened there?

Unknown Speaker : 11:51

It goes back to one of the very, very beginning things that they teach you and as skill is creating that avatar And knowing their heaven in hell. So we knew that because they're based in schools, and it's mostly geared towards present parents, we needed to focus on the things that they're interested in, in order to get them to give us that email. So we went in, and one of the biggest things is the unsung heroes, the teachers and too, they are always there. They want to brag about their student they want to brag about their school that you see all the honor roll sticker boned bumper stickers, I have a daughter I know the feeling. So we said let's combine those two together. And we designed a campaign around the teachers. And we got a we actually got chick fil a to come on board to support what we were doing. So now we had a big back of everyone knows with leverage and leverage that brand. And then just the S base to it. We made it a competence tician versus a couple of other schools. And that went on like gangbusters. So we promoted on less take care of our educators. But also, let's show on that your educators are better than their educators, even though we're on the same team. And then we took a I did the app Sumo use this quite often with arm with some of their competitions with the ones they're in. Here's how you can get extra bonus points that actually run Yeah, running one now or just ran one. So we added that element with there. We had tools that if they shared here or shared there or get someone else to sign up into school, they could get extra points for the school. And yeah,

Unknown Speaker : 13:49

I love that Sumo app. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker : 13:52

that contest one. So we only ran it for about two and a half to three weeks. No, not even two and a half, about two to two and a half weeks $20 spin. And it was 987 somewhere around there. I was so I was happy but I wasn't happy because I was like if I could break 1000 with less than $20

Unknown Speaker : 14:24

here, just right there, right there just under 1000. That's so cool, though. That's an amazing result. I bet that client was elated.

Unknown Speaker : 14:32

Oh, yeah, they definitely were. They was extremely, they were extremely happy. And then we'll shake it up and go from education to funeral home. So for funeral home campaign campaign went on. I remember even on the trainings, Justin was doing this, like, um, a lot of them aren't as put together as you think when you're going in and competing against others. So we had a chance to look into Their campaign and it was a big mess. Like the conversions what they were tracking as a conversions were off, some of the conversion weren't working. Some of the ad groups weren't put together the some of the URLs were off, we were going to the wrong thing. So we had to pretty much do an overhaul. And once we began that overhaul and cleaning it up a lot of it, streamline is through the templates and the information I learned in add skills of how to properly set up the the back end of Google ads and once we had it set up and we had our keyword research and everything, we actually took over the market, for the most part for that very now the first beginning when we were teaching the system, it was a little shaky, but once we had it dialed in Pretty much anytime you someone in that area was looking for a funeral home, they were calling this particular one we did so well, that they actually sold off quite a few because it was a franchise.

Unknown Speaker : 16:16

Not a franchise group,

Unknown Speaker : 16:17

but it was a controlling group that had multiple funeral homes across the United States. And they sold off about half of them because they were so profitable that they could continue moving. And now I'm down to less. Can't less accounts for them, but it's a good thing.

Unknown Speaker : 16:44

I gotcha. There you were able to increase the profitability that the company was able to position itself for sale, some of this locations because that's

Unknown Speaker : 16:54

it and I didn't know that was one of their

Unknown Speaker : 16:58

goals. That was one of the They kind of left out to me. I don't I don't know, maybe they thought I wouldn't be here for the long haul since they're gonna. I was like, No, we're working together as a team you don't you don't need to hide these things but I was very happy that we were able without even knowing that piece of knowledge that we were able to rise up to the occasion and um Those are my two big ones besides University, but there's some things in that one is universities a different ballpark so I can't really say too much about those campaigns. But

Unknown Speaker : 17:36

those are and those are really are that wouldn't what those are longer sales cycles. So there's like more components. I mean, the traffic is a lot of brand awareness, right? Yes. Or am I incorrect about that? Okay.

Unknown Speaker : 17:48

Oh, no brand awareness. You really

Unknown Speaker : 17:50

have to track that huge part. Okay.

Unknown Speaker : 17:54

And in your in your convincing, maybe, maybe I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you're convincing on both sides. You've got brand awareness with the kid and then you've also kind of got to do this other brand awareness with the parent. Right?

Unknown Speaker : 18:06

Exactly. And we have to do the retargeting the whole nine yards in this one where I primarily do Google search ads, that's pretty much my specialty.

Unknown Speaker : 18:17

But

Unknown Speaker : 18:18

we put in display ads and this that there we're actually looking into implementing YouTube ads as well which I'm extremely excited about so I'm about to go right back into ad skills and brush up on that so hopefully how I can give you an update as I have a another story for you.

Unknown Speaker : 18:42

That would be so much fun so um, so you I had did also hear you say just now that Google Search Network is kind of you said like, where you your your specialty, so to speak, but you do work on Google Display. Looking at YouTube, as well do you just play in the Google family Or do you do social Facebook, Instagram or any of the other? I

Unknown Speaker : 19:05

don't I do all of them. Actually, when I'm helping run a campaign for LinkedIn, I've done Facebook. All the Google's the Google Display Google search, YouTube. But my pocket right now is Google search. And I've actually one of the biggest things getting started with client work was video. I started out editing video and then learning the video, SEO behind it. And that's what got me into client work. I'm super excited about the YouTube campaign.

Unknown Speaker : 19:47

That's awesome. Well, I can't wait till you do get to follow up and we can have another we'll record another episode. When you get there. So tell people that are listening how they can reach out if they are interested. And working with you on some of their campaigns.

Unknown Speaker : 20:02

Great. So I have the domain work with Milton calm if they go to work with Milton calm, it will take them somewhere where they can contact me. It may be different when you hear this because I'm still playing with different landing pages but no matter when you access it, it will take you somewhere where you can contact me.

Unknown Speaker : 20:25

I love that make it super simple. It's we don't have to spell it. It's work with Milton calm and you can contact Milton. If you're watching on YouTube, we'll put that link in the description if you're listening to the podcast, that'll be in the show notes for this episode. So I just want to take a moment and say thank you so much Milton for being here. Again all the kudos for quitting your job and going full time media buyer this year for your your success in your ad spends going up so many ads Happy birthday as well, so many cool things to celebrate on this episode. Thanks for being here.

Unknown Speaker : 21:05

Oh, it's my pleasure. Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.

Unknown Speaker : 21:09

I love it. This was fun. I smiled so much during this you have such a great positive, upbeat energy to you. So thank you and to everyone that's listening. Thank you so much for being here. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast or subscribe to the YouTube channel as well so that you can get more episodes from our top media buyers. Thanks for being here, and I'll see you on the next episode. Transcribed by https://otter.ai