Small Business PR Avoid These 3 Costly Mistakes When Hiring an Ad Agency w/ Zach Spuckler
In this no-fluff, straight-talking episode of Small Business PR Podcast, host Gloria Chou sits down with seasoned ads expert and agency owner Zach Spuckler of Heart, Soul & Hustle to answer one of the most common (and costly) questions small business owners face:
“Should I hire a marketing or ads agency—or do it myself?”
With over 10 years of experience, millions spent on ads, and hundreds of clients under his belt, Zach breaks down exactly when it makes sense to hire help—and when it’s a waste of money. From red flags to look for, to knowing your numbers, to building a business that’s sustainable without giving up control, this episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur navigating growth.
🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode
- ✅ Why most small businesses shouldn’t hire an agency too early
- 🚩 The biggest red flags to watch for when hiring a marketing agency
- 📊 The difference between traffic, leads, and sales (and why it matters)
- 🔎 How to identify your most profitable, high-ROI tasks
- 🧯 Why “doing all the things” is a dangerous myth in small biz culture
- 💰 How to know if you’re financially ready to outsource your marketing
- 🔁 What it means to build a long-term brand—not just chase viral trends
Hiring a marketing or ads agency can be a powerful move—but only if your business is truly ready. As Zach Spuckler shared, the right agency can amplify what’s already working, but the wrong one can drain your time, budget, and momentum.
Before you sign any contracts, make sure you have a proven offer, a repeatable sales system, and a clear understanding of your numbers. And if you're not there yet? That’s okay—there’s strength in DIY marketing when it’s done with strategy and intention.
🎯 Whether you're scaling up, refining your marketing, or just getting started, this episode gives you the tools to make smarter decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
Learn more about Zach Spuckler
🌐 Zach’s Website – Heart, Soul & Hustle
📲 Follow Zach on Instagram @ZachSpuckler
🚀 Join Zach’s Ads Bootcamp
If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass.
- Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days
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- Download the 10 ways to get free PR for your small business
- DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr
- Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.link<