Meta Ads: Under the Hood

Megan Winter
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Meta Ads: Under the Hood, the podcast where we explore what drives high-performing Facebook and Instagram ads. Your host, Megan Winter (who has over a decade of digital marketing experience, has mentored hundreds of business owners at The Facebook Ads Academy, and runs her own ads agency) is here to lift the hood on Facebook and Instagram ads. Each week Megan breaks down the mechanics of meta ads, unpacks real campaigns, and shares how she uses ads to drive results - and how you can do the same. Ready to take a look under the hood? Let's dive in!

  1. 3d ago

    PART 1: 6 steps to profitable Meta ads

    Are you throwing money at Meta ads without a real plan and wondering why your ads aren't converting? In this episode, I'm breaking down the very first step in my PROFIT Method for creating profitable Meta ads in 2026. Because Meta ads can suck your time, energy and bank account when you run them without strategy. But they can also get amazing results when you understand how to use them properly. Learn more about working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads Learn how to run your own ads I talk about why ads are an amplifier, not a magic wand, and why strategy needs to come before tactics every single time. I walk you through how to create SMART marketing goals that support profitable growth, how to reverse-engineer your Meta ads budget, and why your marketing efficiency ratio matters if you want sustainable ecommerce growth.  We also talk about the difference between growth goals and profit goals, how to stop wasting money on ads that don't work, and why your ads strategy should never operate in isolation from your wider marketing ecosystem. If you've ever wondered how much you should spend on Meta ads, why ads aren't working, or how to create a clear marketing strategy that supports profitable Meta ads, this episode will help you think much more strategically about your advertising.  I also share some honest truths about discount pop-ups, relying on cookie-cutter ecommerce advice, and why purpose-led brands need a human-first marketing strategy instead of silver bullets and hacks.  Because good Meta ads management isn't about gambling with your budget and hoping for the best. It's about understanding your business goals, your audience, your promotion strategy and where Meta ads fit into the bigger picture.  Whether you run a product-based business, service-based business or personal brand, this episode will help you stop guessing, start thinking more strategically about your marketing, and build Meta ads that support the bigger picture of your business. What's one marketing goal you're focusing on right now? Come connect with us and let me know over on Instagram @lumemarketing Contact details mentioned: Fi Johnston, Profit First expert at Peach Connect with Lume Marketing on Instagram, Facebook of via our website Megan Winter on LinkedIn Loved the pod?  Leave a review and you may just find yourself getting a shoutout on the pod, just like Sheri D did. She is the owner of Anneva Boutique on Instagram. Resources Should you run your own ads or partner with an agency? Take the quiz here to find out. 10 most common Meta ads red flags, and how to avoid them. Download for free here.

    21 min

  2. May 25

    INTRO: 6 steps to profitable Meta ads

    Ever feel like Meta ads are just sucking your time, energy, and bank account? In this episode I'm kicking off a brand new six-part series where I break down exactly how to run profitable Meta ads in 2026 using my proprietary PROFIT Method. Because Facebook and Instagram ads are not a magic wand. They won't save a sinking ship business. But when you understand how ads work, how to stop wasting money on poor strategy, and how to use ads as an amplifier for profitable growth, they can completely change the trajectory of your business.  Learn more about working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads Learn how to run your own ads I talk about why so many businesses are still struggling with Meta ads, despite all the noise online about "hacking the algorithm" or finding some secret formula. I explain why the algorithm didn't suddenly change overnight, why creative has always mattered, and why the best Meta ads strategy for small business owners is usually much simpler than people think.  We discuss the difference between search and discovery marketing, why Meta ads are a discovery tool, and why ads should sit inside a bigger marketing ecosystem rather than carrying the entire weight of your growth strategy. If you've ever wondered why your ads aren't converting, why your ROAS feels inconsistent, or whether you should hire a Meta ads agency or learn to run ads yourself, this episode will help you think about ads differently.  I also walk you through the six steps of the PROFIT Method including planning to win, refining your offer, understanding your audience, fixing conversion leaks, implementing an uncomplicated ads setup, and learning how to test, measure and optimise properly. This episode is packed with practical advice for ecommerce brands, founders, service businesses and purpose-led brands who want profitable Meta ads without the overwhelm, or guru nonsense. Because ads are an amplifier. They will either amplify profit or amplify loss. And I want you using Meta ads for sustainable business growth, not burnout.  What's one thing you've found frustrating about Facebook or Instagram ads lately? Come tell us over on Instagram and let's chat. Connect with us on Instagram @lume marketing Contact details mentioned: Connect with Lume Marketing on Instagram, Facebook of via our website Megan Winter on LinkedIn Loved the pod?  Leave a review and you may just find yourself getting a shoutout on the pod, just like Miss Chardy did. She is @miss.chardy on Instagram.  Resources Should you run your own ads or partner with an agency? Take the quiz here to find out. 10 most common Meta ads red flags, and how to avoid them. Download for free here.

    13 min

  3. May 18

    The truth about profitable Meta ads for retail brands

    Want to grow your business with Meta ads without losing the heart of what makes your brand special?  This episode has honest conversations about sustainable business growth, profitable Meta ads, customer loyalty, and how to create marketing that feels human. If you've ever wondered why your Facebook or Instagram ads aren't converting, whether your business is ready for traffic, or how to grow without losing your values in the process, this episode is for you. Learn more about working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads Learn how to run your own ads I sit down with Jan Goakes from Savida Shoes to talk about what happens when you combine exceptional customer service, a genuinely great product, and a clear Facebook ads strategy. Jan has built her business over 25 years through trust, referrals, and loyal customers who come back again and again. Then she decided it was time to grow that with Meta ads. We talk about the reality of running Meta ads for a product-based business, why ads are an amplifier and not a magic wand, and what ethical ecommerce growth looks like in practice.  Jan shares how Savida Shoes grew both online sales and in-store traffic after partnering with Lume Marketing, why showing up as a real human online matters more than ever, and how trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in online marketing. We also chat about the power of founder-led content, doing the "unscalable" things like picking up the phone to customers, and why purpose-led businesses can compete online without racing to the bottom on price.  What's one thing your business does that keeps customers coming back again and again? Come and tell me over on Instagram: @lumemarketing Contact details mentioned: Connect with Savida Shoes on Instagram, Facebook or via their website Connect with Lume Marketing on Instagram, Facebook of via our website Megan Winter on LinkedIn Resources Should you run your own ads or partner with an agency? Take the quiz here to find out. 10 most common Meta ads red flags, and how to avoid them. Download for free here.

    26 min

  4. Mar 10

    A must-listen for successful meta ads: brand first, ads last

    In this conversation, Megan Winter sits down with Rachelle Saevil, founder of creative agency Saevil Row, to unpack why meta ads don't "fix" a shaky foundation. Meta ads amplify what's already there. Learn More About Working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads for you Learn how to run your own ads In this episode Rachelle and Megan talk about the difference between business strategy, brand strategy, and marketing strategy (with a brilliant house analogy), how to spot when your brand no longer fits, and what "aligned" actually looks like across every touchpoint: ads, landing pages, emails, website, packaging, and beyond. By listening to this episode small business owners and entrepreneurs will learn why strong ad performance is built on clarity. Who you're for, what you stand for, and how you make customers feel. And how to create a cohesive brand experience that converts and protects long-term brand equity (instead of chasing short-term trends like "ugly ads" that can erode trust). A must listen if you are running meta ads. Connect with Saevil Row on Instagram or via their website. Connect with Lume Marketing on Instagram or via our website.

    30 min

  5. Feb 23

    How to create 'good' creative for meta ads that actually convert

    You've probably heard that creative is the most important element in meta ads now. And that's true (as long as you have the right set up and understand how to read the data) but what do we mean when we say creative, and how do you create good creative? That's exactly what we dive into in this episode.  Learn More About Working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads for you Learn how to run your own ads In this episode, Megan breaks down what "creative" actually means in the context of Meta ads, and why your messaging strategy is the real foundation everything else is built on. What you'll learn in this episode: What the three creative elements of a Meta ad actually are (image/video, headline, and primary text) and what their job is Why most businesses get their messaging wrong — and how to fix it A simple four-question framework to develop messaging that meets your customer where they're at What ethnographic research is and why it's one of the most underused tools in marketing The concept of "desire paths" and how the best brands use them to stop forcing customers onto the wrong path Real-world examples covered: Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce, Febreze, and Listerine — three iconic case studies showing how repositioning a product around what customers actually want (not what you think they should want) can completely transform a business. Key takeaway: 95% of great creative is done before you ever open Ads Manager. Get the messaging right first, and the creative almost writes itself.

    20 min

  6. Feb 9

    What a data expert wants you to know about meta ads

    Megan Winter interviews Brooke Huckerby from Penn & Lytics to educate, empower, and enhance your knowledge and skills to understand the incredible possibilities within your marketing data.  Learn More About Working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads for you Learn how to run your own ads Brooke's links:  Penn & Lytics website

    47 min

  7. Feb 4

    Secrets to successful meta ads in 2026 - part 2

    Learn more about working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads for you Learn how to run your own ads

    27 min

  8. Jan 30

    Secrets to successful meta ads in 2026 - part 1

    Learn more about working with Lume Marketing Hire us to run your ads for you Learn how to run your own ads

    31 min
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About

Welcome to Meta Ads: Under the Hood, the podcast where we explore what drives high-performing Facebook and Instagram ads. Your host, Megan Winter (who has over a decade of digital marketing experience, has mentored hundreds of business owners at The Facebook Ads Academy, and runs her own ads agency) is here to lift the hood on Facebook and Instagram ads. Each week Megan breaks down the mechanics of meta ads, unpacks real campaigns, and shares how she uses ads to drive results - and how you can do the same. Ready to take a look under the hood? Let's dive in!

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