262 John Horn - From Goals to Metrics: Charting the Future of Digital Advertising

💰 Is your paid ad strategy actually working—or are you just burning money? If you’ve ever felt like your agency is speaking a different language or your ROI isn’t where it should be, this episode is for you.

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains sits down with John Horn, CEO of StubGroup, to break down how businesses can maximize their paid ads, avoid common ad account suspensions, and create high-ROI campaigns that actually convert.

Key Takeaways

00:00 – Intro: Are you wasting money on digital ads?

03:30 – Why clear agency communication is the key to ad success

07:50 – The biggest reason most PPC campaigns fail

12:10 – How to prevent your ad account from getting suspended

18:45 – Underrated ad metrics that determine campaign success

24:20 – Why AI is transforming paid ads & what companies must do

31:05 – The impact of ad tracking & privacy regulations on performance

39:15 – How B2B SaaS companies can optimize their PPC strategy

47:10 – High-ROI strategies for niche industries & B2B companies

54:25 – The future of AI-driven advertising & search intent

01:02:10 – Final thoughts: How to scale your ads without wasting money

Tweetable Quotes

"Digital ads shouldn’t be a guessing game—ROI-driven strategies make every dollar count." – John Horn

"If your agency isn’t speaking your language, you’re wasting money. Communication is key." – Jeff Mains

"AI is disrupting digital advertising. If you’re not adapting, you’re already behind." – John Horn

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Communication with your ad agency is critical – If both sides aren’t aligned, your money is wasted.

Most businesses track the wrong ad metrics – You need to focus on actual conversions & ROI, not just clicks.

AI is reshaping PPC & paid search – Companies that don’t adapt will fall behind.

Ad account suspensions can be avoided – Following platform policies & separating payment methods is crucial.

Paid ads should be a growth engine, not just a cost – If done right, they can fuel scalable, predictable revenue.

Guest Resources

Email - john@stubgroup.com

Website - https://stubgroup.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjhorn1/

Episode Sponsor

Small Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’

Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/

SaaS Fuel Resources

Website - https://championleadership.com/

Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmains

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains