The Get Paid Podcast: The Stark Reality of Entrepreneurship and Being Your Own Boss

What happens when an Egyptologist with a PhD decides to stop relying on YouTube and test ads for the first time? In this episode, Egyptologist Melinda Nelson-Hurst shares how she finally tested Facebook ads (after years of relying on YouTube), spent about $1,565, and generated 1,812 webinar registrants at an average of $0.86/lead—even though she reused the same image ads, skipped video entirely, and called the whole thing a "C-minus launch." This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: How Melinda turned recycled image ads into 1,812 webinar registrants (with her first Absolute FB Ads campaign) Why her results were still strong even with a big mistake: accidentally leaving double opt-in on Exactly how duplicating her prior campaign saved her hours (and rescued her from a weird Meta "authentication limbo") What it looks like when ads are truly "set it and forget it" (including when she expanded beyond the U.S.) About Melinda Nelson Hurst: Melinda Nelson Hurst is an Egyptologist with a PhD who fell in love with ancient Egypt as a child. After nearly becoming an accountant (yes, really), she made her way back to her first passion and now teaches people how to read hieroglyphs for themselves—without having to go back to college to do it. She runs two programs: Scribal School (a year-long course for $587) and Master Scribes (a six-month mastermind for $2,500). After years of relying on YouTube for organic growth, Melinda decided to test Facebook ads—and discovered she could scale her audience without creating more content. Mentioned in this episode: Melinda Nelson Hurst Scribal School Voices of Ancient Egypt (YouTube channel) Half-Hour Hieroglyphs (Free Guide) Absolute FB Ads Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Visit my website at clairepells.com for more strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

What happens when you take a webinar that's already working… and put real traffic behind it? In this episode, Gina Knox shares the moment she realized she didn't have a launch problem at all. She had a leads problem. And fixing that one bottleneck is what helped her rebuild momentum, grow her list to over 10,000 subscribers, and cross the million-dollar mark in cash collected this year. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The simple decision that brought in thousands of new leads she wasn't getting organically Why running one webinar a week changed her entire sales rhythm What surprised her when one creative started outperforming everything else Exactly how a ~$2,000 ad spend turned into ~$17,500 in revenue with her first Absolute FB Ads campaign What she's learned about consistency vs. complexity now that she's hit seven figures About Gina Knox: Gina Knox is a financial strategist for small business owners with inconsistent income. A former QuickBooks researcher turned coach, she's helped clients save over $9 million and build 6 and 7-figure wealth portfolios. Gina is the creator of Small Business Money School and the 7 Figure Wealth Mastermind, where she teaches entrepreneurs how to stop panicking about cash flow and start growing lasting wealth. Her approach blends design thinking, financial strategy, and behavioral coaching, rejecting outdated advice like "just budget" in favor of money systems that actually work for business owners. Mentioned in this episode: Gina Knox Small Business Money School Absolute FB Ads Meta Ads Library Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Visit my website at clairepells.com for more strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Phew! That's a wrap. I just finished leading the live class 1,000 New Leads: Explode Your Audience with Easy Button Ads, and wow this one had more questions than any workshop I've ever taught. Here are a few of my favorites: What's the minimum amount of "validation" you need before running ads to your offer? My business has basically stalled this year. I know I need more visibility, but the risk feels high. What should I do? Why is my brain an asshole? (No one actually asked that one. I said it myself. And yes, I explained exactly what I meant.) If you missed the class or want to revisit anything, you can watch the full replay here: https://clairepells.com/enroll Inside the training, I walk you through the Easy Button Ad strategy that reliably brings new people into your world every single day without relying on the content hamster wheel or hoping the algorithm feels generous. This is the strategy I want you to use as you head into 2026. Join Absolute FB Ads Before December 16th If the class resonated with you, now is the time to join Absolute FB Ads. I updated the entire course this weekend, and when you enroll before December 16th, you'll also get access to a $1,000 bonus: A Done-With-You Ads Session you can use any time in 2026. I explain exactly how it works inside the replay. Get the replay and join here: https://clairepells.com/enroll Have Questions? You can reach me directly: • Send me a DM on Instagram • Or email my team at hey@clairepells.com

If you've ever thought "I'd love to run ads, but I just don't have the budget," this episode will help you see things differently. I break down a simple, practical way to plan for ads in 2026, especially if consistent visibility has been on your mind but feels out of reach financially. This episode is all about shifting ads from something you hope to afford…into something your business is designed to support. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: Why $5/day is the most realistic and effective place to start How to treat ad spend like any other normal monthly business expense The long-term payoff of visibility ads (even when ROI isn't immediate) What budgeting for ads actually looks like inside a real business Mentioned in this episode: Register for the Dec 8 live class: 1,000 New Leads: Explode Your Audience with Easy Button Ads Absolute FB Ads enrollment (Dec 8–16) Get Paid Podcast Episode 326: Steph Crowder: How to Create Money Safety with a Spreadsheet Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

If you've wondered whether ads would actually work for your business, today's episode gives you a clear answer. Claire breaks down the six business models that consistently do well with Facebook and Instagram ads — and why they tend to see strong results even at low daily spend. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The 6 business models that typically thrive with ads Local businesses 1:1 service providers 1:1 coaches Retreat hosts Digital product businesses Group programs, masterminds & memberships Why these models benefit from steady visibility When ads help… and when they don't How to tell if now is the right time for you Mentioned in this episode: Absolute FB Ads (opens Dec 8–16) Done-with-you Ads Session bonus + January Boot Camp AFA Waitlist – clairepells.com/waitlist Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

This is the episode you might not want to hear… but absolutely need. Launches aren't getting easier. Warm audiences aren't magically appearing. And the businesses growing in 2026 will be the ones that implement certain strategies now. In this episode, I'm sharing the truth about what launches actually require these days, and how to set yourself up long before cart open. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: Why your next launch starts months before you think What's really changed in online marketing (and why it matters) Why "being everywhere" matters more now… without doing more How ads quietly warm up your audience long before launch week Mentioned in this episode: Absolute FB Ads 1,000 New Leads: Explode Your Audience with Easy Button Ads (Live Class – Dec 8) January Q&A Call + January Boot Camp (for AFA clients) Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

If ads feel confusing, overwhelming, or like everyone else "gets it" but you… I promise, it's simpler than it looks. In today's episode, I'm breaking down the exact ways ads fit into an online business marketing strategy. I promise, it's way simpler than you think! This is the episode I wish I could put in every beginner's hands. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The three places ads belong in your business (no more guessing) Why most people start in the wrong place How to think about ads in a calm, grounded way The first ad I wish more entrepreneurs would run Mentioned in this episode: Absolute FB Ads 1,000 New Leads: Explode Your Audience with Easy Button Ads (Live Class – Dec 8) Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

What if one tiny, consistent action completely changed how your business grows next year? In today's episode, I'm sharing how a quiet $5/day ad can do more for your 2026 visibility, confidence, and momentum than any "perfect" piece of organic content. No pressure or overwhelm; just something small that compounds in a big way. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: Why small, steady ads build more momentum than big, stressful campaigns How ads keep growing your audience even on the days you can't What low-cost ads quietly reveal about your offer long before launch The subtle way ads expand your visibility without burning you out Mentioned in this episode: Absolute FB Ads 1,000 New Leads: Explode Your Audience with Easy Button Ads (Live Class – Dec 8) Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Everyone talks about lead generation like it's just a sales tool — grow your list, sell your offer, repeat. But what if it's actually the secret to being seen? This week, I'm sharing what really happens when you commit to consistent lead gen — how it quietly builds your reputation, expands your reach, and gets your name showing up in rooms you didn't even know existed. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The invisible ripple effect of consistent lead gen How visibility opens doors long before you pitch yourself The moment my own ads led to an unexpected full-circle moment Why "being seen" is often what gets you paid next Mentioned in this episode: Laura Roeder lauraroeder.com Precious Little Sleep (book by Alexis Dubief) https://a.co/d/0q4nJEx Absolute FB Ads (join the waitlist at clairepells.com/absolute) Now, it's time to go get yourself paid Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Ever wonder why your launches start strong… then flatline? I just wrapped up our latest Get Paid Marketing launch, and the biggest lesson I learned hit harder than any number could. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The real reason great offers still miss the mark What most business owners forget between launches How to keep your "jelly bean jar" full all year long Three fresh, low-effort ways to get leads in 2026 Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing - https://clairepells.com/waitlist Absolute FB Ads - https://clairepells.com/afa Meta Ad Library (search "Claire Pelletreau") - https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2532806153780605 Now, it's time to go get yourself paid Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.