Scaling Smart with Paid Ads: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)

Paid Ads That Support Sustainable Growth

Paid ads are usually sold as the fast track to growth. Flip them on, throw some money behind them, and boom: your business scales. Except that’s not how it works (that's not how any of this works). 

Ads can be incredibly powerful, but only when the timing and strategy are right. Run them too early or without a clear plan, and they’re more likely to drain your budget and shake your confidence than grow your business.

I would love to walk you through what actually works with paid ads, what doesn’t, and how to think about scaling in a way that’s smart, sustainable, and aligned with where your business truly is, not where you feel pressured to be.

If you’re here, chances are:

• You already have an offer
• You’re thoughtful with your money
• You know you have more potential, but you don’t want to guess your way to growth

And that tells me a lot about you.

Since this is my very first blog (woo-hoo!), I wanted to take a quick minute to introduce myself and share how I got here.

Hi, I’m Lauren — founder of Goldman Grows, a boutique growth marketing firm focused on helping you grow with paid ads. We offer done-with-you and done-for-you paid ad services.

I’ve spent years managing over $200M in paid ad spend for global brands like Bondi Sands, Morphe Brushes, and Obagi. And while I’m grateful for that experience, my favorite work looks a little different these days.

I now partner with smart entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to run paid ads with confidence and strategy. The kind of business owners who realize that learning this skill in-house can actually save money and create more control as they scale.

When we work together, you’re not left in the dark. You get expert eyes on your strategy, messaging, creative, and results, with real support along the way. No crowded masterminds. No trying to figure things out alone.

Building profitable paid ads truly is not overwhelming… when you don’t have to do it by yourself.

If you’re here, I am really glad you are and I hope these articles help paid ads feel clearer, calmer, and more doable as you grow.

Let’s start by clearing the noise around Paid Ads, you ready? 

The Lies You’ve Been Sold About Paid Ads

There are a few things about paid ads that may sound good on the surface, but end up costing business owners time, money, and momentum.

Let’s talk about them honestly. ⬇️ 

“Just boost a post.”

Boosting posts skips strategy. It doesn’t account for targeting, testing, or what happens after someone clicks, which is why it so often leads to disappointing results.

“Paid ads should be easy.”

Paid ads aren’t effortless. But they can be simple when there’s a real strategy behind them. Simplicity comes from a full picture, not just taking the short cuts.

“If it didn’t work in three days, it failed.”

This short-term mindset shuts ads down before they’ve had a chance to do their job. Ads need space to test, learn, and adjust. Data takes time.

“The algorithm is broken.”

Platforms evolve. Strategies shift. But the fundamentals of ads don’t change nearly as often as people think. Chasing every update isn’t the answer, understanding what consistently works is. 

What Scaling Smart Really Looks Like

There are two examples I always come back to when talking about paid ads… follow me on this...

First, you could cut your own hair. You can buy scissors on Amazon. You have a mirror.

But would you do it right before a big event?

Probably not, because you understand the value of a professional who knows shape, structure, and how to get the result you actually want (plus you’ve seen all those bang videos on TikTok right!?)

Paid ads are the same.

You can run ads on your own. But the fastest, cleanest results come from professional strategy, structure, and guidance — not trial and error.

The second example I always come back to is marathon training. 

Before having babies, I ran marathons. Literally, full 26.2 miles. I trained hard. But I never trained alone.

Why? Because pacing matters. Nutrition matters. Mental support matters. Feedback matters.

Paid ads work the same way.

It’s not just about “putting the miles in.” It’s how you prepare, how you adjust mid-race, and how you recover so you can keep going.

That’s exactly how I approach paid ads inside Ads That Grow™. I don’t just hand you a course and wish you luck, I train with you.

We look at your business together. Your goals. Your audience. Your offer. And then we build your ad strategy step by step, with support as you implement, adjust, and grow. You’re never left wondering if you’re doing it “right” or guessing what to change next — because you have expert eyes on your ads as they’re running.

The Core Truths About Paid Ads

Here’s what I want you to know, clearly and honestly.

Truth #1: You don’t need a huge budget to be successful with paid ads.

I’ve seen businesses turn $500 into $10K! Not because of their ad budget, but because the strategy was aligned! This means the messaging matched the creative, which matched the landing page… and so on. 

Truth #2: Ads don’t fix broken systems.

Ads amplify what already exists. When the foundation is strong, ads accelerate growth. When it’s not, they simply magnify the cracks. (We can help with this!)

Truth #3: Scaling requires tracking the right data.

Paid ads aren’t about vanity metrics. They’re about understanding what the numbers are telling you and using that information to make smarter decisions instead of emotional ones. If you’re not sure what you are tracking… you belong inside Ads That Grow™.

Truth #4: Ads aren’t a magic wand — but they can create consistency.

When strategy replaces guessing, ads stop feeling risky and start feeling predictable. That’s when growth becomes something you can actually plan for. (But wouldn’t it be great if there was a paid ad fairy godmother that would make all our dreams come true?! Just sayin.)

When Paid Ads Make Sense

Paid ads work best when they’re used intentionally. Let’s say it together: ads are not a last-ditch effort.

If you’re clear on your offer, understand your audience, and want consistent growth instead of spikes and stalls, ads can be a powerful next step.

And hear me when I say this: if things don’t feel clear yet, that doesn’t mean ads won’t ever work for you. It just means there’s something else we need to look at first — so you’re not forcing growth before your business is ready.

Which brings us to the real ‘ah-ha’ moment: paid ads can only work as well as the funnel behind them.

Before you spend money on ads, you need to make sure the message, offer, and path to conversion are clear… and that’s what we’ll be breaking down next.

Understanding how messaging, funnels, and ads work together is foundational.

It’s also the exact skill I focus on teaching step-by-step inside Ads That Grow™ — so business owners are looking at the full picture when it comes to running paid ads.

If you’re curious whether paid ads are the right move for your business right now, you have a couple of options:

• Reach out to work with me (you can find me in the DMs!) and we will talk through a paid ads strategy that fits your stage of business.
  
  
• Take the GROW with Paid Ads Quiz to see whether ads are your next best step or if there’s a smarter move to make first.

Scaling doesn’t have to feel like you’re throwing money at the wall and hoping something sticks. With the right approach, paid ads become something you feel confident using… because you understand what’s happening and why. 

TLDR:
📍 Paid ads aren’t a shortcut
🚫 Boosting posts ≠ strategy
🧠 Clarity + strategy beats big budgets every time
📈 Ads scale what’s already working,  not what’s broken
🤝Want support while you build? Check out Ads That Grow™ or follow Lauren on Instagram for honest paid ads strategy.