The Pubcast with Jon Loomer
Facebook ads news, strategies, and discussion in a quick 5-10 minute "Shot" format. Started in 2013, the full Pubcast was originally an interview format where Jon and his guest discussed business topics over a beer. The format changed, but the name has endured.
Episodes
7 Things That Aren't Worth Your Time
Most advertisers obsess over placement performance, demographic distribution, ad-level micromanagement, and data discrepancies between Ads Manager and other platforms, but Jon spends almost no time on any of it. Jon explains why these seven common concerns are rarely worth your energy when optimizing for conversions, why the exceptions are narrower than most advertisers think, and where to focus i
Every Change You Make Should Solve a Problem
Advertisers love restricting demographics, removing placements, and splitting budgets across ad sets, but most of these decisions are based on feelings rather than data. Jon explains why every change that adds complexity should be tied to a specific measurable problem, why Meta's algorithm already handles most of what advertisers try to control, and why value rules should be your first move before
Can AI Actually Make You a Better Advertiser?
Today's question is about how advertisers should approach AI tools like Claude's new connection to Meta ads. AI has enormous potential for creative development, but it's not a replacement for knowledge. Jon explains why advertisers without a strong foundation will just execute bad strategies faster, why creative is the most promising use case, and why treating AI automation as a magic pill is the
The Mistakes I See in Almost Every Ad Account
Struggling ad accounts keep making the same mistakes, from undefined audience segments and unnecessary remarketing to inflated conversion results and overcomplicated campaign structures. Jon explains the most common problems he sees when auditing accounts, why each one reflects a misunderstanding of how Meta's algorithm works, and how to fix them.
Is That New Meta Feature Worth the Risk?
Today's question is about how to decide when new Meta features like push delivery or AI platform connectors are worth testing. New features carry risk because there's no track record for effectiveness or problems to watch for. Jon explains why your appetite for risk matters most, why you should only experiment when you have a specific problem to solve rather than tinkering when results are already
Stop Tinkering with Things That Don't Matter
Advertisers fixate on delivery details like which ads Meta shows, placement distribution, or age skews, but rarely ask the most important question: is this actually a problem tied to bad results? Obsessing over inconsequential quirks almost always leads to unproductive tinkering that destroys consistency. Jon explains why you need to separate real delivery problems from gut-feeling complaints, why
Is Meta Spending Too Much on One Ad?
Today's question is about what to do when one ad takes 50% of your budget and performance starts declining over time. Jon explains why uneven budget distribution isn't necessarily a problem, how push delivery can test whether Meta's allocation is correct, and why creating new and uniquely different ads is almost always the real solution over micromanaging which ads get spend. Want your question t
Change Will Always Be Your Biggest Problem
The biggest challenge in Meta advertising isn't any single feature or update, it's the relentless pace of change that makes best practices obsolete within months. Jon explains why he stopped creating training courses after producing two that became immediately irrelevant, how he built an ad briefs library that stays current by pulling from his most recent content, and why solving the shelf-life pr
Should You Use a Funnel for High Ticket Products?
Today's question is about the right funnel strategy for high-ticket consumer products on Meta. Cheaper leads don't automatically mean cheaper conversions, and a small discount may attract the wrong people while missing buyers who would purchase without one. Jon explains why optimizing straight for the purchase should always be tested first, why a tightly connected lead magnet beats a generic disco
You're Probably Not Wasting Money on Ads
Advertisers are quick to shut off ads when results look bad, but poor short-term performance isn't the same as wasted budget. New businesses and first-time advertisers are building awareness and data even when early numbers look awful. Jon explains why overreacting to initial results is usually a mistake, when you're actually wasting money through high volumes of junk traffic or mismatched demogra
Does Adding More Ads Actually Hurt Performance?
Today's question is about whether adding too many ads to a single ad set can actually hurt delivery. Meta removed its old recommendation of no more than six ads per ad set, but that doesn't mean more is always better. Jon explains why starting small with a couple of creatively diverse ads and adding more only when needed is the smarter approach, why the delivery algorithm may get lost when it has
Don't Get Attached to Your Ad Process
Two new features are changing how Jon creates ads. Push delivery lets you force spend to any existing ad to get answers, eliminating the need to start every new ad with a creative test. And the new creative workflow lets you combine multiple images and videos into a single ad with customizable text and URLs per creative, consolidating what used to require dozens of separate ads. Jon explains why b
Are You Setting Up Client Access the Wrong Way?
Today's question is about the recommended structure and access levels between a client and agency when onboarding. Setting this up incorrectly can lead to serious problems, including getting accounts banned. Jon explains why the client should own all of their own assets and add your agency as a partner rather than a person, what access levels to grant for each asset, and why sharing login credenti
Why Meta Keeps Pushing Value Rules
Meta has spent years removing advertiser control over targeting and placements, so actively encouraging value rules seemed contradictory. But it makes sense when you see where things are headed. Jon explains how a new test version lets you bid based on custom audience labels for lead quality and customer value, why value rules fill a knowledge gap the algorithm can't solve alone, and why they'll r
How Do You Reach Only New Customers?
Today's question is about whether to exclude existing customers from your ads when you want to acquire new ones, and how to do it. Meta retargets existing customers by default, which isn't automatically a problem because those people convert easily and keep your costs down, but it can mask real performance or lower your average order value. Jon explains why you need to confirm there's an actual pr
Your Excuses Are Holding Back Your Results
Advertisers love to blame Meta when results tank, pointing to outages, Advantage+ enhancements, and automated settings as proof the platform is out to get them. There's a little truth in every complaint, which is exactly why they spread, but they're also excuses that keep you from finding actual solutions. Jon explains why blaming Meta makes you look like an amateur to clients, how to troubleshoot
Do You Need to Warm Up a New Ad Account?
Today's question is about whether a brand new ad account, Facebook page, and pixel need any special treatment before running sales campaigns. Conventional wisdom says to build followers first, run awareness campaigns, or season the pixel with top-of-funnel activity. Jon explains why these recommendations are nonsense and often counterproductive, how building low-quality engagement early can poison
Stop Hiding Your Ad Account from Clients
Agencies that hide ad accounts from clients claim their campaign setup is proprietary, but modern best practices mean minimal campaigns and simplified structures that aren't worth hiding. The real value an advertiser brings isn't something a client can copy by looking at your settings. Jon explains why hiding your work destroys trust, why the fear of being replaced means you need to rethink where
Can Your Audience Be Too Niche for Meta Ads?
Today's question is about whether a niche B2B audience can be too small for Meta ads to work effectively. Any business with a large enough real-world market to be profitable has an audience on Facebook and Instagram, so the issue isn't reach. The real question is whether Meta advertising will be worthwhile. Jon explains why no business is technically too niche for Meta, how success depends on crea
Social Proof Might Not Matter After All
Advertisers assume ads with thousands of comments and reactions perform better due to social proof, and fear making edits that would erase that engagement. But Jon duplicated an ad with 6,000 comments and the new version starting from scratch immediately matched and even beat the original's performance. He explains why we might be overvaluing social proof and why the content of your ad matters mor
Does a Higher CPM Mean You Should Spend More?
Today's question is about CPM being double in the US versus the UK and whether that means you should allocate double the budget. CPM varies by country due to competition, but higher CPM doesn't automatically mean worse performance. Jon explains when to combine countries versus split them, how Meta balances costs and conversion rates, and why you should let results guide your budget allocation inst
What Meta Isn't Telling You About Your Creative
Meta provides no transparency about which specific images or videos perform best when using flexible format, related media, or AI generated creative. Breakdowns exist but share almost no useful detail. Jon explains why this lack of transparency is intentional at this point, why it matters for creative teams who need feedback, and why Meta needs to share this information despite the risk of adverti
How Do You Advertise Products with Long Buying Cycles?
Today's question is about advertising expensive products with long buying cycles that fall outside the seven or 28 day attribution window. Should you run traffic campaigns instead of purchase campaigns if most conversions won't be tracked anyway? Jon explains why you need to confirm this is actually happening, how multiple ads for different awareness levels can keep conversions within windows, and
Meta's Conversion Reporting Is Not the Problem
Advertisers claim Meta steals credit for conversions that were actually driven by email or Google, calling conversion reporting vanity metrics. But attribution is messy and trying to assign single-source credit misses the point entirely. Jon explains what different conversion types actually mean, why obsessing over credit is foolish, and how effective campaigns require multiple channels working to
What Do Most Advertisers Get Wrong About Meta Ads?
Today's question is about the single most common point of confusion Jon wishes everyone understood about Meta ads. He can't pick just one, so he gives three. Jon explains why the algorithm being literal shapes everything, why targeting control is mostly unnecessary now, and where advertisers should actually focus when results aren't good. Want your question to be answered on a future episode? Go t
Click Attribution Isn't What It Used to Be
Meta changed how click attribution works, and it's mostly for the better, but some advertisers might see a negative impact. Click-through conversions now require an actual link click, while social clicks and other engagement moved to a new engage-through attribution with a shorter window. Jon explains what changed, why some conversions will be lost, and which strategy gets hit hardest by the updat
Should You Start New Campaigns with Creative Testing?
Today's question is whether to launch a brand new campaign with creative testing or start testing later with new creatives. There's no absolute right answer, but Jon has a preferred approach with clear reasoning behind it. He explains why starting new ads with a test answers questions you'll have later, avoids the messy workaround of duplicating existing ads, and ensures you get meaningful data fr
Why Your Ads Aren't Working Today
Ads that were working fine suddenly tank, and advertisers assume Meta changed who they're showing ads to or messed up delivery. But there's usually a simpler explanation. Jon breaks down the five real causes of sudden performance drops, including randomness, competitive variables, website issues, and event delays, and why obsessing over daily results drives you crazy when seven-day averages are wh
Does Manual Bidding Actually Work?
Today's question is about using manual bidding like cost caps to control costs while scaling budget when campaigns perform well. By default, Meta tries to get the most results while spending your entire budget, which means a mix of auction costs. Jon explains why setting manual bid controls usually leads to inconsistent delivery and questionable quality, how it might restrict you to low-quality pl
How I Actually Approach Targeting in 2026
Most advertisers obsess over targeting inputs that either do nothing or actively hurt results. Jon explains why he ignores audience suggestions, age restrictions, detailed targeting, and lookalikes entirely, how he uses value rules to handle demographic problems instead, and why the only inputs worth touching are locations and exclusions.
Do You Need Separate Ad Sets for Customer Personas?
Today's question is about testing different customer personas using the creative testing tool. Advertisers used to create separate ad sets for each persona with adjusted targeting, but that's outdated now. Jon explains why all customer personas can exist in one ad set, how Meta finds the right audience for each ad combination through creative diversification, and when splitting by persona actually
The Case for Removing Audience Suggestions
Audience suggestions cause confusion because advertisers think they're tight constraints when they're not. Jon proposes how Meta could eliminate suggestions entirely while keeping audience controls like location and exclusions. The result would strip away the illusion of control, prevent mistakes based on false assumptions, and force advertisers to focus on what actually matters without pretending
What to Do With Creative Testing Results
Today's question is about determining what works from top performing ads to inform the next batch of creative. Creative testing used to isolate single elements, but now ads generate thousands of combinations through text options, placements, and enhancements. Jon explains why finding one winning combination isn't the goal anymore, how to use the creative testing tool to identify themes instead of
Confirmation Bias Makes You a Worse Advertiser
Advertisers believe something works and only pay attention to evidence supporting it while ignoring contradictions. They blame Andromeda or the algorithm when strategies stop working instead of questioning their assumptions. Jon explains why confirmation bias makes experienced advertisers the worst offenders, how to test beliefs instead of confirming them, and why staying curious and open to being
How to Exclude Customers from Your Ads
Today's question is about preventing customers from purchasing the same audiobook bundle twice through ads. Excluding customers is a balance of risks versus benefits, and no single custom audience catches everyone. Jon explains why you should exclude multiple custom audiences including website purchasers and email lists, how to improve match rates, and why keeping audiences dynamically updated lim
Audience Suggestions Are an Illusion of Control
Audience suggestions feel like control, but Meta ignores them constantly, especially for age and gender. There's no proof they impact detailed targeting or lookalikes, yet they cause confusion and wasted effort creating multiple ad sets. Jon explains why Meta should eliminate audience suggestions entirely, how the illusion of control hurts results, and why you'd be better off without them.
Should You Use Popups on Your Landing Pages?
Today's question is whether you should remove email signup popups from landing pages when sending paid Meta traffic to them. Popups don't technically violate Meta's rules, but they can contribute to bad post-click experiences that drive up your costs if they hurt bounce rate or dwell time. Jon explains how Meta measures ad quality through landing page experiences, when popups become a problem vers
Challenge Every Choice That Adds Complexity
Advertisers have a tendency to overcomplicate their campaigns with multiple ad sets, restricted targeting, removed placements, and turned-off enhancements, often without clear reasons for these decisions. Jon challenges you to audit your current campaigns and question every piece of complexity you've added by asking why you made each decision, what problem you were solving, and whether there was a
How to Structure Seasonal Ad Campaigns
Today's question is about campaign structure for seasonal products, specifically whether to split major holidays into separate ad sets with spending limits. Seasonal businesses face a unique challenge of running evergreen products year-round while also promoting holiday-specific items for limited periods. Jon explains how to structure a CBO campaign with multiple ad sets for different seasons, whe
You Can Control Lead Quality From Meta Ads
Advertisers blame Meta when their leads are low quality, pointing to the algorithm exploiting weaknesses like age range or placements to get cheap conversions. But the real problem with lead quality usually has nothing to do with Meta or your ads. Jon explains why your follow-up process, email deliverability, sales team, and automation are what actually determine lead quality, and the specific ste
Why Campaigns Start Strong Then Decline
Today's question is why campaigns stop working after two or three weeks when the ads generated sales initially and there's no ad fatigue. Meta starts by showing ads to low hanging fruit, the people most likely to convert, which often includes your remarketing audience even with algorithmic targeting. Jon explains why this group gets exhausted quickly, how audience size and product niche affect the
Stack Creative Diversity in Phases
Creative diversification sounds great in theory, but most advertisers take Meta's recommendations too literally and waste time creating 20 ads at once that never get shown. There's a smarter way to approach creative diversity without overwhelming yourself or your budget. Jon explains how to stack creative diversity in phases using the creative testing tool, starting with one theme and learning wha
When to Use Multiple Campaigns or Ad Sets
Today's question is about when to use multiple campaigns instead of a single Advantage Plus campaign structure, especially when it comes to separating cold traffic and retargeting. Remarketing happens naturally through algorithmic targeting now, so splitting it out is usually unnecessary. Jon explains the specific situations where multiple campaigns or ad sets actually make sense, why budget split
How to Use Value Rules to Solve Problems
Meta spent years taking control away from advertisers, discouraging them from restricting targeting or removing placements, so launching Value Rules seemed like a confusing contradiction. But it actually makes perfect sense when you understand what the feature does. Jon explains why Value Rules are one of his favorite tools, how to use them to solve problems with age targeting, gender distribution
The Easiest Way to Set Up Server-Side Tracking
Today's question is about the easiest and most cost-effective way to set up server-side tracking and the Conversions API. The website pixel alone isn't reliable anymore due to privacy laws and browser settings, which means incomplete data and bad optimization. Jon explains why you need the Conversions API, the simplest setup method using the Conversions API Gateway, and when you might need to tack
Make Creative Testing Part of Your Process
Meta's creative testing tool launched in 2025, but most advertisers either aren't using it or completely misunderstand how it works. The old approach of creating separate campaigns and ad sets for testing has serious flaws that this tool solves. Jon explains why the creative testing tool should be part of your process, how to use it in stages instead of testing 20 ads at once, and why it gives you
The Biggest Meta Advertising Updates of 2025
Meta introduced 83 changes to advertising in 2025, making it nearly impossible to keep up if you weren't paying close attention. Three updates stood out above the rest and completely changed how advertisers should approach their campaigns. Jon breaks down the year of Andromeda, the creative testing tool that finally makes testing useful, and value rules that give back control where you actually ne
What Attribution Setting Should You Use?
Today's question is whether you should use 7 day click, 1 day click, or 1 day view for attribution. The best attribution setting depends entirely on what you're promoting and who you're targeting. Jon explains when to stick with Meta's defaults, when to switch to 1 day click only, and the one specific scenario where view through conversions will make your results look way better than they actually
Look Beyond Surface-Level Results
Advertisers either oversimplify results by only looking at conversions and cost per conversion, or they get lost obsessing over secondary metrics like CPM and CTR that don't actually matter much. But conversion results have multiple layers that reveal what's really happening. Jon explains how to use attribution settings, breakdowns, and backend data to dig beyond surface-level metrics and understa
Simple Isn't Always Better for Meta Ads
Simplified campaign construction is the foundation of good Meta advertising, but there are legitimate exceptions where complexity is necessary. The problem is knowing when to add complexity versus when you're hurting your own results. Jon explains how to thread the needle between too simple and too complicated, and why you should start simple and only add layers when they solve actual problems.
You're Overthinking Your Ad Setup
Advertisers get stuck planning the perfect campaign with 20 or 30 ads across different personas, messaging angles, and formats, only to watch Meta spend most of the budget on one ad after weeks of preparation. But all that upfront planning wastes time you could spend learning from actual results. Jon explains why you should start small with one or two ads, hit publish quickly, and build based on w
Stop Blaming Andromeda for Your Results
Advertisers blame Andromeda when their results tank, treating it like a boogeyman algorithm that destroyed their performance. But most don't even understand what Andromeda actually is or how it works. Jon explains what this ad retrieval engine really does, why creative diversification doesn't mean creating 50 ads, and how to use it without drowning in unnecessary work.
Understand How Meta Advertising Actually Works
Conspiracy theories about Meta advertising spread because most advertisers don't understand how things actually work, making them vulnerable to believing anything. Jon challenges you to invest time learning Meta's actual mechanics, not theory or opinion, and explains why building this foundation of fact is the only way to cut through the noise and confusion.
Embrace the Grays of Meta Advertising
Advertisers want clear rules, step-by-step checklists, and universal solutions they can apply to fix their campaigns. But Meta advertising doesn't work that way, and demanding certainty means missing where real solutions are found. Jon explains why "it depends" isn't a cop-out, why the best answers live in the grays, and how to get comfortable with the uncertainty that comes with actually understa
Focus on the What and Why, Not the How
Advertisers list every campaign detail when their results tank, like objectives, ad sets, targeting, placements, and creative counts, hoping the right setting will fix everything. But obsessing over the "how" of Meta advertising means ignoring what actually drives performance. Jon explains why you should focus on the "what" and "why" instead, and what questions you need to ask when troubleshooting
Let Go of the Excuses
Experienced advertisers who've spent millions often blame Meta when results tank, but they're missing something crucial. Jon explains why humility might be the most overlooked trait in advertising and why new advertisers often have an advantage over veterans.
What Should You Do When Your Ads Aren't Working?
When ads stop working, most advertisers tweak targeting or try new campaign structures. But there's a static list of things that actually matter, and it never changes. Jon walks through the exact troubleshooting process you should follow, starting with why complexity is your enemy.
Embrace Your Lack of Control
Advertisers resist every Meta automation because they want control over targeting, budget distribution, and creative enhancements. But this resistance isn't just about performance. Jon explains why clinging to control will make you obsolete and what you need to embrace instead.
The Learning Phase Is Just a Label
Adding a new ad is supposed to restart the learning phase, but Jon discovered it doesn't always happen. This revelation has him rethinking everything about what the learning phase actually means and why advertisers fear it unnecessarily.
Avoid the Bottomless Pit of Despair
Social media is full of advertisers blaming Meta when their results tank, creating what Jon calls the "bottomless pit of despair." They try every tactic and strategy except examining the things that actually matter. Jon explains how to escape this pit and what you should focus on instead.
When Does Remarketing Actually Make Sense?
Remarketing used to be 90% of Jon's budget, but it's mostly unnecessary now. However, there's one very specific business model where remarketing still makes perfect sense. Jon explains this exception and exactly how to set it up without falling into the usual remarketing traps.
Frequency Is Not Your Problem
Meta says performance drops 45% when frequency hits 4, but advertisers obsess over this metric without understanding the context. Jon explains why frequency isn't the villain you think it is and when a high frequency might actually help your campaigns.
How the Meta Ad Auction Works
The Meta ad auction isn't just about who bids the most. It's a complex system weighing three critical elements that determine which ads get shown and at what cost. Jon breaks down how the auction really works and why obsessing over bids is missing the point entirely.
Incremental Attribution Explained
Meta now offers two types of attribution: standard and incremental. With machine learning models predicting which conversions were actually caused by your ads, this sounds great in theory. Jon explains what incremental attribution really means and whether you should actually use it for optimization.
Creative Diversification Is the New Targeting
Meta keeps talking about "creative diversification" as the new key to advertising success, replacing the old focus on targeting. Jon breaks down what this actually means with Andromeda's launch and why you need to abandon the 6-ad limit mindset for something much bigger.
Why Aren't People Acting on Your Ads?
When ads aren't working, most advertisers blame Meta or obsess over targeting and placements. But there's one fundamental question they never ask. Jon explains why this single question changes everything and where you should actually focus your energy.
Don't Do What I Tell You to Do
Following someone's advice step-by-step without understanding why is dangerous for your advertising. Jon explains why copying strategies word-for-word leads to trouble and what you should do instead to build your own best practices based on knowledge, not gospel.
Your Cost Per Lead Is Mostly Meaningless
A $5 cost per lead means nothing without knowing what happens after the form submission. Jon breaks down why value per lead is what actually matters and explains the critical questions you should be asking when your leads aren't converting into sales.
Why 'It Depends' Is the Right Answer
When advertisers ask for clear rules about costs per lead or attribution settings, they hate hearing "it depends." But that's not a cop-out. Jon explains why this answer is actually the beginning of the right conversation and what you're missing when you demand one-size-fits-all solutions.
How to Pick the Ideal Ads Client
Nightmare clients who micromanage your strategy and expect miracles can cost you more than they pay you. Jon outlines the five priorities to consider when vetting potential ads clients, including why the wrong client is worse than no client at all.
Targeting Isn't What It Used to Be
If you're still segmenting audiences, split testing lookalikes, and restricting age and gender like it's 2017, you're making your results worse. Jon explains why most targeting inputs are now just suggestions and where real targeting actually happens in today's advertising.
It's Time to Revisit Creative Testing
Creative testing made sense when one ad meant one combination of copy and creative. But with 26 placements and potentially thousands of variations per ad, the old testing methods are impossible and unnecessary. Jon explains why finding the "winning" combination is the wrong goal.
Don't Get Emotionally Attached to Your Ads
Advertisers create separate ad sets and complex testing strategies because they're emotionally attached to their ads and want to ensure they get shown. Jon shares a fishing analogy to explain why this attachment is hurting your results and what you should focus on instead.
Your Stubbornness Is Killing Your Results
Meta advertising has changed dramatically since iOS 14, but many advertisers are still clinging to their old targeting strategies and complex campaign structures. Jon shares his own painful evolution from stubborn micro-targeting advocate to algorithmic believer, and explains why resisting change will make you irrelevant.
Correlation, Causation, and Meta Ads Mistakes
When you change your targeting and results improve, or implement GA4 integration and performance tanks, it's tempting to assume one caused the other. Jon explains why advertisers constantly mistake correlation for causation and what you should do instead of jumping to conclusions.
Features Don't Sell, But Pain Does
Most advertisers lead with features when they write ads, rattling off benefits and capabilities. But features don't move the needle. Jon explains the three-element framework that actually drives conversions and why pain points matter more than you think.
Beware of Fake Advertising Experts
The advertising space is noisier than ever with fake experts peddling guaranteed results and magical campaign structures. Jon outlines the five warning signs that should immediately make you skeptical of anyone's advertising advice, including why the loudest voices are often the ones you should trust the least.
Stop Searching for the Magical Ad Strategy
Advertisers get stuck chasing magical strategies, complex testing methods, and guru tricks when their ads aren't working. Jon explains why these targeting strategies and intricate campaign structures are pointless distractions, and what you should focus on instead.
Meta's Vision to Replace Ad Agencies with AI
Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where businesses simply tell Meta their objective and budget, and AI does everything else, including creating the ads. This isn't some distant fantasy. We're already halfway there with campaign automation, and the implications for ad agencies are massive.
When Are Ad Results Actually Meaningful?
When you "let results be your guide," make sure those results actually matter. Jon explains why advertisers often make bad decisions based on meaningless data and outlines four critical factors that determine when your metrics are truly worth acting on.
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