Not Your Average Online Marketing Podcast

Hey there not-so-average marketers! I'm bringing you something special today - a guest interview that I'm genuinely excited about. You know I don't bring guests on very often, but when I do, they have to bring serious value.Meet Kimberly Espinel, a London-based food photographer, Instagram expert, and author of two books including her latest "How to Make Your Food Famous." Now, you might be thinking "Zach, I don't sell food or do photography" - but here's the thing: some of the best marketing insights come from studying adjacent industries.In this episode, Kimberly shares data-driven strategies from interviewing 40+ content creators who have 100k+ followers (many with over a million). This isn't the watered-down Instagram advice you see everywhere - this is deep, strategic insight into what actually works.What we dive into:How often you really need to post for growth (spoiler: it's not daily)The real stats that matter for organic growth beyond likes and viewsWhy your first 3 seconds are make-or-break for any content pieceHow to analyze your top-performing content and actually replicate itThe difference between content that grows followers vs. content that nurtures existing audienceBio optimization that actually converts visitors into followersI'll be honest - I've paid good money for Instagram courses that didn't give me half the actionable insights Kimberly shares in this conversation. This is the kind of strategic, data-driven approach that actually moves the needle.Whether you're struggling to break out of "200 view jail" on reels or you're ready to get serious about organic Instagram growth, this episode will give you a completely new framework for approaching the platform.Links Mentioned:Kimberly's Book - How To Make Your Food Famous@TheLittlePlantation on Instagram@ZachSpuckler On Instagram

I had to address something I keep hearing from clients, students, and potential customers: "I just want it to be more passive."In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what "passive income" really looks like in the online course and membership world. Spoiler alert: it's not as passive as you think. I'm breaking down what I call the Four P's of Passive Income:Process: Your sales systems and funnelsPeople: The team you need to make it all workPredictability: How you consistently fill your funnelPersistence: The willingness to keep testing and evolvingI share real numbers from our business - we've have near daily sales this year.The truth? Passive income is really the result of active engagement, active growth, and active management. You can absolutely build systems that generate revenue while you sleep, but maintaining and growing those systems requires ongoing work.If you've been chasing the "passive income dream" or wondering why your funnels aren't running themselves, this episode will give you a realistic roadmap for what it actually takes to build sustainable, semi-passive revenue streams in your business.Links MentionedZach On InstagramThe FB & IG Ads Bootcamp

In this episode, I'm breaking down the seven biggest Facebook and Instagram ad mistakes I see businesses making repeatedly - costing them thousands in wasted ad spend and missed opportunities. Based on patterns I've observed in our membership community -- and with personal clients -- these insights will help you avoid the painful trial-and-error process most advertisers go through.Discover why skipping the testing phase is the #1 reason most ads fail (and how to properly test creative, copy, and audiences)Understand the "faucet problem" - why turning ads on and off destroys your momentum and resultsGet my practical advice on why you need at least 90-180 days to truly evaluate if ads are working for youIf you've been struggling with Facebook and Instagram ads or you're hesitant to start because you're afraid of wasting money, this episode will save you countless hours and dollars in preventable mistakes. Listen now to transform your approach to advertising and start getting the results you've been looking for!Links MentionedZach On InstagramThe FB & IG Ads Bootcamp

In this week's episode of the podcast, I'm breaking down EXACTLY what I would do if I had $1,000 to spend on ads in 90 days.The goal? Generate 200-300 new leads and create a profitable return. This step-by-step breakdown shows you how to structure your quarters and ad spend spend for maximum impact, even on a limited budget.When you tune in you're going to...Learn how to execute a proper 2-3 day testing phase (and why skipping this costs you more in the long run)Discover why listbuilding is the center of my strategy - including tripwire setup that generates revenue while you build your audienceUnderstand why the "dollar in, dollar out" mentality is killing your results (and how to think quarterly instead)If you've been hesitating to run ads because you're unsure how to allocate your budget or afraid of wasting money, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to follow. Listen now to transform your advertising approach and create sustainable growth, even with just $10 a day (about $1,000 a quarter) to spend!Link MentionedThe FB & IG Ads BootcampZach on Instagram

In this counterintuitive episode, I'm revealing why strategically "losing money" on certain types of advertising is actually the secret to long-term profitability. I break down my three-part advertising framework that creates sustainable growth while avoiding the trap of obsessing over immediate ROI.Discover the three distinct types of advertising I use (long-term, launch-term, and short-term) and why they work together as a systemLearn why I intentionally run list-building ads at a slight loss and how I offset those costs through tripwires and email sequencesUnderstand why cold traffic is getting harder to convert and how this three-part strategy solves that problemGet my step-by-step approach to implementing this strategyIf you're tired of stressing about day-to-day ad performance or feeling like advertising just "doesn't work" for your business, this episode will completely shift your perspective.Listen now to discover why zooming out and playing the long game is the true path to sustainable ad success!Links Mentioned:TheAdsBootcamp.comZach on Instagram

Discover a revolutionary approach to Facebook and Instagram ads that prioritizes long-term growth over quick returns. The discussion reveals a four-part framework designed for sustainable success during a 'trust recession.' Learn how daily ad spending will scale effectively while building audience trust through engaging content before sales pitches. The concept of compounding success is highlighted, alongside strategies for balancing evergreen funnels with live promotions, ensuring consistent cash flow and maximizing ROI quarter after quarter.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I ran a successful "non-live  live-launch" that generated nearly $7,000 in revenue without the exhaustion of showing up for live events or trainings. I'll share my honest journey of creating a simplified automated webinar funnel when I was too tired to run a traditional launch.See the five specific "rules of the game" I created to make this launch work for my energy levels and goalsLearn how I built a simple funnel using a pre-recorded webinar, thank you page sales hybrid, and deadline funnelDiscover the exact numbers: the registrants, the conversion rate, and the return on ad spendFind out why "imperfect action" (including my robotic-sounding webinar recording!) still produced resultsUnderstand the power of adaptation versus blindly following marketing blueprintsIf you've ever felt too burned out to run a live launch but still need to generate revenue, this episode shows you a practical, replicable approach that prioritizes simplicity over perfection. Listen now to see how you can adapt marketing principles to work with your energy, not against it! Links Mentioned:TheChallengeLaunchEngine.comZach on InstagramThe FB & IG Ads Bootcamp

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jena Castro-Casbon, who has used my five-day challenge framework to generate over $2.3 million in sales for her speech pathology education business.I'm pulling back the curtain on how a real student has created consistent six-figure launches in a niche market through challenges that convert at 17-18%.Discover Jena's "micro-decision" approach that guides participants through daily steps to plan their private practiceLearn how Jena scaled from a team of 3 to 8 people while creating a rinse-and-repeat challenge system that runs quarterlySee exactly how she structures her Facebook groups, content delivery, and follow-up strategyFind out why consistency and repetition (not perfection) were key to her $268K best launchHear why offering unexpected support (like 15-minute phone calls) converted 80% of fence-sitters into customersIf you've been on the fence about running challenges or wondering if they can work in specialized markets, this real-world success story will show you what's possible. Listen now to see exactly how a speech pathologist became a multi-million dollar challenge expert!Links Mentioned:Jena (@theindependentclinician on IG)Zach (@zachspuckler on IG)The Challenge Launch Engine FREE TrainingThe FB & IG Ads Bootcamp (Zach’s Challenge)

In this episode, I'm taking you behind the curtain to reveal exactly how my recent five-day challenge generated over $52,000 in sales from products priced at just $25-67. I'm sharing an unfiltered look at what actually works in my business as you'll discover:My complete financial breakdown—including $21K in ad spend, affiliate costs, and true profit marginsThe "Three C's" framework I use for challenges that converted 17.66% of participantsMy day-by-day content strategy that gets people results before they even see the sales pitchWhy I create themed challenges (like my Taylor Swift "Eras Tour" theme) for memorable experiencesThe exact email and communication strategy I use to maintain 50%+ retention across all five daysIf you're tired of launch strategies that sound too good to be true, this behind-the-scenes episode delivers the honest numbers and proven tactics you can actually implement.Listen now to transform how you approach your next launch!Links Mentioned:Zach on InstagramThe Challenge Launch Engine

Looking for a more sustainable way to generate consistent revenue? In this episode of the podcast I’m going to reveal our battle-tested 90-day framework that's transformed how we approach business growth and profitability.You'll discover:The "Triple Threat" quarterly system that creates predictable revenue without burning out—including why traditional day-to-day profit tracking might be holding you backThe counterintuitive truth about running a "boring" business - and how predictability actually creates more freedom and excitement in your lifeWhy having a dedicated "build month" could be the missing piece in your business growth (and how we use it to strengthen our systems, team, and customer experience)The crucial difference between launches and promotions - and how to strategically use both to create a "snowball effect" with your marketing budgetWhether you're struggling with inconsistent income or looking to take your already successful business to the next level, this episode will show you how to create a more predictable, profitable, and enjoyable business model.Hit play to discover how you can implement this framework in your own business starting today!Links MentionedZach on InstagramThe Challenge Launch Engine (Waitlist)Behind the Scenes of a $100k Month