Before You Spend a Dollar on Ads...

Before You Spend a Dollar on Ads...

Author: Dorien Morin-van Dam July 2, 2026 Duration: 40:39

The world's top Facebook ad buyers will tell you the same thing: if your foundation isn't solid, paid traffic doesn't fix the problem. It speeds it up.

In this episode of Strategy Talks, Liana Ling, who personally manages millions in ad spend every year, shares the first question she asks every new client before running a single ad: "Have you sold anything yet?"

We get into what a business that is genuinely not ready for ads actually looks like, why AI-generated ad content is starting to blur together in people's feeds, and what Liana is seeing work right now in mid-2026 that almost nobody is talking about. Hint: it looks like it was made in 2016, and that's the point.

We also go deep on tracking — why it matters more than ever, what breaks it, and what one simple fix dropped ad costs by 30% for one of Liana's clients.

If paid ads are anywhere on your roadmap, listen to this one first.

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Liana Ling is a digital marketing strategist and lead generation expert with over a decade of experience helping service-based businesses and coaches become the obvious choice for their ideal buyers. A former practicing attorney, she brings a rare analytical rigor to marketing — blending legal-trained strategic thinking with cutting-edge digital expertise.

Recognized globally as one of the top Facebook ad buyers, Liana personally manages millions in ad spend annually, consistently delivering strong ROI for her clients. She is the founder of Power Up Strategy and former CEO of AdSkills, where she trained media buyers at scale. Today, she specializes in AI-driven traffic and lead generation systems that help experts attract the right clients — predictably and without the feast-or-famine cycle.

'Strategy Talks: Content Strategy for Small Teams', Season 5, is where content marketing meets real business results. Hosted by hands-on content strategist Dorien Morin-van Dam, each episode delivers a focused conversation with a guest expert who shares a specific, repeatable play. You'll leave with a clear problem definition and a set of steps you can take this week.

No fluff. No theory. Just strategy you can use.

New episodes each week! We stream live on LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.


Dorien Morin-van Dam knows what it's like to build a content engine without a massive budget or staff. In Strategy Talks: Content Strategy for Small Teams, she brings that practical, hands-on perspective to every conversation. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a direct line to operators who are in the trenches, sharing the specific, repeatable plays they use to turn thoughtful content into genuine business pipeline. Designed for founders, small teams, agencies, and solo consultants, each half-hour episode is tightly focused. You'll find discussions rooted in one of three critical areas: the fundamentals of content strategy and planning, the nuts and bolts of distribution and SEO, or the practical application of AI for content operations. The goal is always clarity-first, by defining a common problem many face, and then by unpacking a tangible solution. Listening to this podcast feels like having a seasoned strategist in your corner, cutting through the noise to deliver actionable insights you can apply almost immediately. If you're responsible for content but short on resources, these conversations provide the structured thinking and tactical advice to make your efforts more effective and less chaotic.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Strategy Talks: Content Strategy for Small Teams
Podcast Episodes
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If selling makes you cringe, or if you’ve ever tried to 'build rapport' and accidentally made things weirder, this one’s for you. Whether you’re pitching a product or service, or just your own ideas, adding humor can be…
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Duration: 30:58
Dare I say it? Corporate video is finally having its moment. Yet… most brands are still playing it painfully safe. In this episode of Strategy Talks, Emmy Award-winning storyteller Tony Gnau shows us how to ditch dull sc…